Category Archives: Dungeons & Dragons

What I Learned from “LOST”: The Flash Forward Encounter

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

“Lost” is one of my favorite TV shows from the past decade.  A narrative device used in every episode of that show was the flashback sequence, where we learned more about each individual character, showcasing important events from their life … Continue reading →

Posted in D&D, DM Advice, Dungeons & Dragons, Roleplaying | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Can A Leader-Less Party Work?

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

As is becoming typical, Monte Cooke’s latest Legends and Lore article sparked quite a discussion on Twitter.  Many folks didn’t like the “requirement” for having a cleric in the oldest editions of D&D, and some felt the same about the similar … Continue reading →

Posted in D&D, DM Advice, Dungeons & Dragons, Roleplaying | Tagged , | 3 Comments

What I Learned from Using Poker Chips

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

A good DM should always be on the lookout for new additions to his or her bag of tricks.  One of the simplest and yet most useful such tricks, in my experience, is picking up a set or two of … Continue reading →

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D&Development: The D&D Basic “Red Box”

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

The first real Dungeons & Dragons product I owned (apart from Endless Quest books, I suppose) was the Basic Rules “Red Box” set, pictured above.  I distinctly remember driving to my local Waldenbooks to purchase it with some hard earned … Continue reading →

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Quick and Dirty Combats in 4E: The Brawl Encounter

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

If you’ve played 4E D&D for any length of time, you know that the typical combat encounter can take quite a long time to resolve.  It’s not uncommon for a fight to take an hour or more, in my experience. … Continue reading →

Posted in D&D, DM Advice, Dungeons & Dragons, Roleplaying | Tagged | 27 Comments

Winter Is Coming!

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

Nights stretch longer and longer, and when morning finally breaks, there is a chill crispness to the air.  Winter is coming! Over at Wombat’s Gaming Den of Iniquity (a great blog with a snappy title), several RPG bloggers have teamed … Continue reading →

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“Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale” Review

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

In my opinion, one of the best products from the Essentials line is the Monster Vault.  There’s just so much to love!  It includes a huge assortment of tokens representing all of the included monsters.  “Cairn of the Winter King” is … Continue reading →

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Plastic Stands + Monster Tokens = Awesome

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

4E D&D is different from its forebears in many ways, perhaps none so much as the emphasis on tactical combat.  The battle map is a prerequisite for most combat encounters, and you need some way to keep track of player … Continue reading →

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“One Fight Per Night ” in 4E D&D

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

I’ve got two sessions of D&D under my belt after our summer hiatus.  The group is now smaller, with only four PCs, so I had expected that fights would be quicker and I’d easily be able to get in two … Continue reading →

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D&Development: The Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Author Marc Allie

When I’m not making battle maps, thinking of reasons why I shouldn’t purchase new minis, or otherwise thinking about D&D, I read comic books.  I still have a good sized collection from my childhood, and I’ve been rereading some of … Continue reading →

Posted in D&D, DM Advice, Dungeons & Dragons, Roleplaying | Tagged , | 6 Comments