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Player Resources

In Anticipation of GenCon: Don’t Be a Dick – 4 Tips for Following Wheaton’s Law

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With only a few days until GenCon, many of the gaming blogs will be sharing their list of dos and don’ts for making your GenCon experience great. Today and tomorrow Dungeon’s Master offers some tips on what you can do to help make everyone else’s GenCon experience great.

While you’re busy trying to enjoy the best four days in gaming make sure that you’re not ruining someone else’s. Although most gamers I’ve met are pretty well behaved, there are some who are completely oblivious and don’t realize that their poor behaviour will have a negative impact on those around them. So be mindful of others when you’re at GenCon (or at your local FLGS for that matter) and give this article from the archives another once over.

Originally published on July 16, 2012, Dungeon’s Master once again presents Don’t Be a Dick – 4 Tips for Following Wheaton’s Law.

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D&D Encounters Player Resources

In Anticipation of GenCon: 8 Things I Learned at D&D Encounters

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I’m going to share some important words of wisdom with all the DMs out there – running a public play game is very different than running a home game. So for everyone who’s going to be running a game at GenCon next week I suggest you read on and take notes.

Public play games are certainly a lot of fun. Personally I think I’ve become a better DM since I started DMing public play games (LFR, D&D Encounters, and Lair Assault). But improvement wasn’t immediate, it took time for me to learn the dos and don’ts of DMing public play games. To help the uninitiated I complied a list of tips that I think you’ll find helpful. Many of these tips will be especially relevant if you happen to have younger or brand new players at your table. Good luck!

Originally published on September 12, 2011, Dungeon’s Master once again presents 8 Things I Learned at D&D Encounters.

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D&D Encounters D&D Next

D&D Encounters: Murder in Baldur’s Gate – Preview

murder-in-baldurs-gate-coverNext week begins season 15 of D&D Encounters: Murder in Baldur’s Gate. August 14 is the week 0 character generation session, with things kicking off officially with the D&D Launch weekend event August 17-18. There are a lot of changes this time around, so read on for a preview of what to expect.

Today Dungeon’s Master welcomes our newest contributor, Joe Lastowski (a.k.a. The Average Joe). Joe has over 20 years of gaming experience and has participated in the public play program including D&D Encounters for many years now.

Normally I write the D&D Encounters preview article each season, however, changes to the program now require the DMs to purchase the materials. My FLGS hasn’t yet received their copies, but as luck would have it Joe got his hands on the materials earlier this week. I think Joe does a great job of explaining what’s in store during season 15 and I think his initial impression of the materials aligns with mine (based on what I’ve seen and read so far). We welcome your feedback and encourage you to leave your comments below.
– Ameron

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D&D Encounters D&D Next

D&D Encounters: Search for the Diamond Staff (Week 8.)

search-for-the-diamond-staff-coverDuring last week’s session the PCs ventured into the Vault of Song. After they figured out how to open the sealed doorway by manipulating the statue of the five Elf maidens, they faced off against a gargantuan Uvaeran Dragon. With the Dragon’s defeat the PCs took a quick breather before proceeding onward to the final chamber.

We had a good showing for the final session at Silver Snail in Toronto. The 4e table had seven players and my D&D Next table had seven players. My party consisted of a Human Fighter, Elf Ranger, Elf Wizard #1, Elf Wizard #2, Human Wizard, Halfling Rogue (re-skinned as a Bard), and Half-Elf Paladin.

Although a new playtest packet was released over the weekend, we decided not to adopt any of those changes for the final encounter. We’d played with these rules for seven weeks and we didn’t see the value in changing now.

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Actual Play Podcast at Harry T North (Season 14 Week 8) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Actual Play Podcast at Silver Snail (Season 14 Week 8) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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DM Resources Player Resources

In Anticipation of GenCon: Convention Tips 6 for Players, 6 for DMs

gencon-logo-01In one week throngs of gamers will descend upon downtown Indianapolis for GenCon 2013. Although the best four days in gaming doesn’t officially begin until Thursday, August 15, most convention goers will arrive on Wednesday. We’ve searched through the Dungeon’s Master archives and everyday leading up to GenCon we’ll share articles that provide tips for players and DMs that are specifically related to conventions and public play. Of course these tips are often just as valid in your home games so even if you’re not going to GenCon we think you’ll find these tips applicable. Be sure to visit Dungeon’s Master every day between now and GenCon to see what kind of tips we’re sharing.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources Friday Favourites

Friday Favourite: Traps & Hazards: The Sword in the Stone

sword-in-a-stoneOn Friday we comb through our extensive archives to find an older article that we feel deserves another look. From May 19, 2010, Dungeon’s Master once again presents: Traps & Hazards: The Sword in the Stone.

What do you do when you discover an ancient red dragon living in your neighbourhood? You get adventurers to kill it, of course. But what happens if the adventurers don’t kill the dragon? It will be angry that you tried to kill it and it will likely destroy your village. If only there was a way to keep sending adventurers against the dragon while avoiding the dragon’s wrath after each failed attempt. The inhabitants of Burrow’s Scar have come up with just such a plan. Unfortunately for your PCs, they are likely to be the next heroes tricked into face the dragon.

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D&D Encounters D&D Next

D&D Encounters: Search for the Diamond Staff (Week 7)

search-for-the-diamond-staff-coverDuring the last session the PCs fought Chitines (spider-creatures) in the Elvin ruins of Uvaeren. After defeating the monsters the heroes discovered a doorway. Heaps of fresh earth and discarded picks and shovels indicated it was cleared recently. This must be where Phoedele and the Zhentarim soldier went; underground into the lost Vault of Song.

The heroes were in no shape to continue so they returned to the old plaza with the statues and the pillars. They felt that they’d be safe resting there since the Chitines clearly didn’t come near the ancient residual Elvin magic. After a long rest the party leveled up (to level 6) and proceeded down the stairs.

This week at Silver Snail in Toronto we ran one table of 4e and one table of D&D Next. The 4e table was once again packed (eight players) while I had six players at my D&D Next table. The party consisted of Elf Ranger, Elf Wizard #1, Elf Wizard #2, Human Wizard, Halfling Rogue (re-skinned as a Bard), and Half-Elf Paladin.

The Zhents had a huge head start on the party. It didn’t really make sense for the party to stop and rest when they did, but mechanically speaking it was necessary. To account for this I tweaked the encounter a bit.

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Actual Play Podcast at Harry T North (Season 14 Week 7) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Actual Play Podcast at Silver Snail (Season 14 Week 7) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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D&D Next Player Resources

D&D Next at GenCon: 8 Dos and Don’ts for Players

gencon-logo-01With GenCon coming up many of the gaming blogs (this one included) will start running a series of articles sharing advice on things to do, things not to do, and general tips for making you convention experience great. Today I want to focus specifically on the masses that will be playing D&D Next at this year’s GenCon. Some of the tips and suggestions I make will be common sense things that apply to any edition of D&D or any RPG for that matter; others will be specific to D&D Next. If you’re play D&D at GenCon I encourage you to review the list below and try to remember as many of these as possible while at the con.

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Friday Favourites Player Resources

Friday Favourite: 8 Ways to Get Out of a Gaming Slump and Make Your Game More Exciting

On Friday we comb through our extensive archives to find an older article that we feel deserves another look. From March 2, 2012, Dungeon’s Master once again presents: 8 Ways to Get Out of a Gaming Slump and Make Your Game More Exciting.

It’s common for people in long-term relationships to talk about how the romance is gone. They remember how it used to be: the anticipation, the excitement, the thrill. But now things are just so-so. They go through the motions and wonder where it all went. They still love their partner and want stay with them, but they know the need a change. They look for ways to spice things up in an attempt to rekindle the lost romance.

A similar phenomenon can happen to gamers who play a lot of D&D (believe me, I know). You enjoy D&D and you’re not looking to play a different game, you just want to make each session a little bit more exciting. Sure you face new challenges and new monsters each time you play but so much of the gaming experience has become repetitive and routine. How do you bring back the romance and ignite the spark of excitement you once had when you first started playing D&D? We have 8 ways to get out of a gaming slump and make your game more exciting.

These suggestions are ways for individual players in a larger gaming group to make changes that will really only affect them. After all, it’s possible that the rest of the group is having a great time and wouldn’t change a thing if they could. These ideas can spice up your D&D experience without intruding or ruining anyone else’s good time.

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D&D Encounters D&D Next

D&D Encounters: Search for the Diamond Staff (Week 6)

search-for-the-diamond-staff-coverOur heroes managed to talk their way past combat during the past two weeks; this week they were not as lucky and nearly suffered a TPK. The session began when the party arrived at the edge of the Elvin runes where the spotted the Zhentarim’s campsite. There were no signs of the soldiers, Phoedele, or the Diamond Staff. Whether the PCs wanted to or not, they were going to have to venture deeper into the woods in search of their prize.

This week at the Silver Snail in Toronto we ran two tables. The 4e table was packed with seven players and the D&D Next table (which I ran) was down to five players. The party consisted of an Elf Wizard, Human Fighter, Human Wizard, Halfling Rogue (re-skinned as a Bard), and Half-Elf Cleric.

In a clearing at the edge of the woods the PCs found the Zhent’s horses. The horses were skittish, but not because of the PCs. Unfortunately with the Ranger absent none of the other PCs were able to get a read on why the horses were acting strangely. Ignoring the campsite and the mundane equipment left behind, the PCs proceeded cautiously into the woods. The path before them was shrouded by sheets of thick spider webs.

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Actual Play Podcast at Harry T North (Season 14 Week 6) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Actual Play Podcast at Silver Snail (Season 14 Week 6) Play Now | Play in Popup | Download