DM Tips: Organic Skill Challenges

There comes a time in all good roleplaying games where we must take a step back from combat and accomplish something that does not require swinging a sword or firing a crossbow. There is always a cliff face that needs climbing or an outraged paladin that needs to be talked down. In Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition, you can complete such tasks with a Skill Challenge. But, a lot of people find that the Skill Challenge itself is a mechanic that needs not exist. They say it "kills roleplaying".

There has been much debate on the subject and many attempts at "fixing" the problem. There are those that say you should announce when a Skill Challenge presents itself. There are those that say you should abolish the whole idea and just make a skill check when appropriate. I, for one, use a third, more organic, option.

DM Tips: Combating Newbie Disease

Do you remember what it was like during your first roleplaying game? You could do ANYTHING. The world was your burrito and damn the consequences! And then you look up and see your Dungeon Master, red faced and fuming. Maybe you later found him crying in the bathroom, flushing his notes down the toilet. In any case, there is a reason from this and no, there is nothing wrong with him. It's you. You are suffering from none other than Newbie Disease.

DM Tips: Realigning Alignments

I have the unfortunate pleasure of having a party full of uncaring bastards. To be more clear, all the PCs in the game I am running are Unaligned.

The current game I am running has four PCs, all with the Unaligned alignment; a Gnome Warlock, a Dwarven Fighter, a Human Slayer, and an Eladrin Bard. In the Warlock's defense, dark characters are his strong suit and usually come with a redemption story of sorts. I attribute the choice of alignment with the other players to Newbie Disease; the realization that you can do anything in a role playing game without any real world consequence, other than frustrating the Dungeon Master.

I got to thinking about why these players are acting out, bordering on evil at times. I am convinced that the vague nature of the Unalignment is one of the reasons for this acting out...other than Newbie Disease, a topic I wish to tackle in another article. In comparison to 3.5e, the Unaligned alignment in 4e essentially encompasses the Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, True Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, and Lawful Evil alignments from 3.5e, making Unaligned a rather vast alignment as compared to, for example, Lawful Good.

I can't decide if creating an army of undead orphans is Unaligned or not.

While I admit that I haven't done a thorough search, I have yet to find any mechanical use for alignments in 4th Edition outside of which gods to worship and frankly, that seems more flavor based than mechanics. So, without any strong mechanical use for alignments, then why don't we just revert the alignment system back to 3.5e?

If we return the alignment system to what it once was, then players that align in the gray could have a stronger focus. When it comes to moral choices, a PC in the Lawful Neutral alignment will have less difficulty considering what to do as compared to someone who is Unaligned. A character with a more focused alignment will also be subjected less to debate about what is in character or not.

As I end this article before I risk restarting the Alignment Wars of the '00s, I think the 3.5e alignment system will be making a reappearance at my gaming table soon. Next order of business, see if I can get these uncaring bastards to stop chopping off peoples' delicate body parts.

Media Inspired: Messages in Time

I have recently been watching through Stargate SG-1, mostly just so I know where certain stories fall in the series continuity, and as usual find myself thinking about its applications to role playing. One particular story element caught my attention with the episodes entitled '2010' and '2001' dealing with messages from the future.

My Own 4E Character Sheets

I designed these Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition character sheets a while back but have yet to implement them in actual games. I am hoping to do so with a one-shot game I have planned using Essentials versions of characters my players are fond of. While putting together the characters for them, due to time constraints, I have seen where I can improve in the future, but for now, tell me what you think.

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Solo Encounter Contest Entry

This is my entry to David Flor's contest for building a Solo monster encounter, complete with a pool! This encounter was built using the Angry DM's D&D Boss Fight method and the monster stat blocks were built using Power 2ool. I highly recommend using Power 2ool, especially if you have access to the Dungeons and Dragons Insider compendium.

Click HERE for the encounter.

Edit: It should be noted that the last form of Grimthyr (called Grimthyr, Bloodied) is, for all intents and purposes, mechanically considered Bloodied.

DM Tips: The DM Action Point

As I stated in my previous post, My House Rules, I mentioned how I used something I call Dungeon Master Action Points, or DMAPs, to supplement the need for Action Points in games where my players travel long distances between encounters. Unlike regular Action Points, these ones do not reset to 1 after an extended rest. You earn them and spend them.

Vampires...or as I call them, the Vahm-pyre...

There has been debate, outrage, and confusion spreading across the internets. Which ones? ALL OF THEM!

Why? Because in the newest book in the Dungeons and Dragons 4E line that is coming out from Wizards of the Coast not only seems to be built for the Essentials line, ignoring the original 4E line, but one of the newest classes available in the Heroes of Shadow is the Vampire.

"Now, wait just a minute" you may say. "This makes very little sense." I agree. However, if you are just as confused as this hypothetical person commenting on the class choice, check out Wizard's excuses HERE. Still not agreeing with the choice? Allow me to help you with that.

Passing GO! Episode 1: The Game of Life

A review of the popular board game, the Game of Life. I am being my own worst critic at the moment but posted this anyway as Episode 2 needs a predecessor.

Passing GO! Episode 0: Explaining MEAX

A quick look into what I am looking for when reviewing non-digital games. And ignore the chirping. I will learn to make the camera stop that one of these days. I promise.