I agree with nearly everything in this post, save one point: that every encounter in your adventure has to further the plot of the adventure.
I’ll clarify my position by saying that every encounter should have a specific purpose, but I don’t think that that purpose must be attached to the current plot. [...]

Critical Hits is working on something that I’d really like to see happen, and would really like to be a part of. Go check it out.

Here’s some holiday fun for all you 4th Edition fans out there. This was made using Asmor’s Monster Maker, which is a cool little program. Enjoy.

I just created my first encounters in 4th Edition D&D today. I actually created a series of connected encounters: two social encounters and a combat encounter that can be avoided entirely if the social encounters go well.
The social encounters were a breeze to create, and were a lot of fun, too. The skill [...]

It should come as no surprise that I’ll be starting up a D&D campaign soon. It’s a given. I’ve even got some players lined up for the big show. And that got me thinking about the classic conundrum of D&D: where do these guys meet, and why do they adventure together? [...]

Here’s what I know about powers in 4E as they relate to skills:
1. Some powers require training in skills. The rogue’s Tumble power requires that you be trained in Acrobatics.
2. The rogue has been described as being able to do more with skills than other classes.
3. Mike Mearls is working on 4E mechanics. [...]

So, Paizo Publishing has decided to put out a product that will, I suppose, compete with 4th Edition. In a bold and, I think, savvy move, they have released an alpha version of The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, so that people can read it, play it, and provide them with feedback that they will use [...]

Yesterday, I ran another proto-4E module; this time, instead of using one that I downloaded from the Internet, I created one myself. And yes, I have observations on that process:
1. Re-purposing monsters is easy. I mean, really easy. On the one hand, monsters are pretty distinct from each other, and each have [...]

I don’t believe I’ve shared this yet, but I’ve sort of been on an unofficial hiatus from game design. As in, I’ve just been too lazy to do it. At any rate, I’ve been bitten by the bug again, so I’m going back to designing Wild Blue. I’ve had some ideas regarding [...]

It’s been quite a while since my last post, and for that I apologize. I have no particular excuse other than the usual: games and lack of motivation. At any rate, I read something just now that motivated me to make a post: the Monster Manual entry for the 4th Edition Pit Fiend.
Here’s [...]