Out of the Box D&D Encounters, Series 2, #2: Black Circle
To expand on an opinion expressed by others more famous than myself (an easy achievement to accomplish), much of what we assume in D&D comes from a generic fantasy world. We tend to also assume the appearance and behavior of certain cultures and races. What I’d like to do in this encounter is bring an event which may have already occurred in this generic setting and describe it in a more primitive setting.
Jeff Mach talks steampunk and geek culture with Nerdarchy
Jeff Mach creates geek events like Steampunk World’s Fair
Jeff Mach from Jeff Mach Events stopped by for a Nerdarchy live chat to talk about conventions, steampunk culture and creating strange, wonderful new homes for people whose interests lie outside the norm. As one of the east coast’s largest creators of unique events for non-normal people, Jeff Mach Events runs the world’s largest indoor Renaissance Faire, Wicked Faire, Steampunk World’s Fair and more.
E44 YR1- The Underdark Drow, Duergar, and Svirneblin Oh My| Terrible Terrain Podcast
Episode 44 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One This another episode where we did a terrible terrain video. Our terrible terrains are about the environment and locations just as much as it is about monsters or NPCs. In this case we discuss the Underdark and how different...
Top Ten Best Shinies in Pokemon
Let me open with a confession: I spent hours last night on my Nintendo 3DS running a little animated version of myself back and forth from a girl standing next to a bipedal cow in a hood, to a little fence enclosed area, and running in aimless circles on a three-tailed bull so some pixelated eggs would hatch on the off chance I’d find a fire larva of a slightly different color than the other fire larva.
I’ve already done this 300 times.
If that doesn’t sound crazy enough, I’m prepared to do it another 200 times before I start getting frustrated, and probably another 500 more before I give up for a while.
E43 YR1- We’re Talking The Maze Marauding Minotaur |Dungeons & Dragons Monsters Podcast
Episode 43 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One Here is another one of our early Dungeons and Dragons Monster vids. Minotaur has been a favorite monster for our group from the beginning. My love for this monster has roots in Dragonlance. I've been hooked since I was...
Designing Dungeons & Dragons Races: Aatier
Very recently, in the wake of writing articles about modern firearms, I wrote a couple of articles about the ways we should think about designing and implementing various types of mechanics. Similar to the way that I shared my thoughts on modern firearms, I wanted to go over my thoughts on designing races, and the whys, whens, and wheres of doing it.
5E D&D in space with Spelljammer is back!
Spelljammer thrusts your D&D adventures into space
Concordance of Arcane Space is one of the books included with the original Spelljammer Campaign Setting boxed set. Art by Jim Holloway
In last week’s column I shared a cobbled-together homebrew system for handling ship-to-ship combat from the homebrew 5E D&D Spelljammer campaign that I run for my friends. With the Memorial Day weekend keeping my players busy we did not gather around the gaming table this week, which means playtesting those rules will have to wait.
Spoilers for any of my players reading this before our next session – they will encounter a potential ship-to-ship combat situation. Or did they think commandeering that mercenary ship was going to be easy?
E42 YR1- 10th Level Multi-Class Character Concepts |5e D&D Character Class Builds Podcast
Episode 42 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One We had a viewer suggest a video for us to do. They wanted to see us do a mid-high level multi-class character builds. So of course we've obliged them. This is Nerdarchy's first foray into creating a multi-class character...
D&D 5E initiative from the Mike Mearls AMA gets a look from Nerdarchy
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNpLHTHLKWo&w=560&h=315]
During a May 15 Reddit AMA with Mike Mearls, lead designer of 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons at Wizards of the Coast, he mentioned how the D&D 5E initiative system bugged him and shared a house rule method he uses for his own games.
Top 10 Stereotypical Roleplaying Gamers
Here we go again. I like top tens. They have a certain charm to them. Being a gamer, I get to see a lot of roles played by an amazing variety of people such as yourself. I know that they can be good, bad, or just plain hilarious. Can you think of the various role players you have seen at your table? I am sure if you think hard enough, something your great mind is highly capable of doing, you can match up at least a few of those listed below with your table. In no particular order, here is the repeated role player types I have seen. Some of these I like, and some I do not. Though I would love to hear your opinions and stories on such.
Yes, YOU can take part in a Marvel Superheroes RPG online!
Hey guys, Professor Bill from Comic Book University, and I’m going to talk (write) about the game I’m running for Nerdarchy on Thursdays. Marvel Superheroes Role Playing Game is an old love for many of us, but that’s not the crux of what I want...
Geek and Sundry’s GM Tips with Nerdarchy
Satine Phoenix to feature Nerdarchy [caption id="attachment_19970" align="alignright" width="150"] Satine Phoenix is the host of Geek and Sundry's GM Tips[/caption] Following on the heels of Satine Phoenix's appearance on the Nerdarchy live chat, Nerdarchy is going on an adventure! Nerdarchists Dave and Ted and Nate the Nerdarch...
E41 YR1- Tabletop Super Hero Role-Playing Games Pros and Cons of RPG Genres Podcast
Episode 41 of Nerdarchy the Podcast Year One We delve back into our pros and cons series for genres of tabletop role-playing games. With each of these videos podcast we look at different genres and weigh out why one might want or not want to play...
Blast from the Past: Nerdarchy Invades the Marvel Universe
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpBK1lZg32c&w=560&h=315] Class was in session when Professor Bill from Comic Book University (aka Nerdarchy staff writer William C.) took a group of mild-mannered nerds for a trip to the heart of the Marvel Universe for a game of the Marvel Super Heroes Role-Playing Game. [caption id="attachment_19932"...
Wayward Leather puts Designs on Nerdarchy Live Chat
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O50YCw_lqAc&w=560&h=315] Nerdarchists Dave and Ted welcomed artist and craftsperson Mellie Z. to the Nerdarchy live chat to talk shop about her fantasy-themed leatherwork creations. Mellie hand-crafts fantastic pieces for display, wearable garments and accessories, bags and "monster boxes." [caption id="attachment_19924" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Mellie Z. creates handmade, fantasy-themed...
