rpg
An RPG rundown; recommendations and reviews of the best role-playing games on the market.
5 Tips for Playing Better Paladins
The paladin is one of the iconic figures of fantasy RPGs. Stalwart and noble, these knights in shining armor are conduits to the divine, and sources of hope and goodness in a world often plagued with darkness. At the same time, though, they are uniquely mortal, and just as their strengths are magnified, so too are their weaknesses. A paladin who loses her way is cut off from the power of the gods, and has to climb up the mountain to once again redeem herself. Some paladins take the divergent path though, and reach out to the forces of evil instead, becoming perverse reflections of what they once were. Bloody warriors who inflict cruelty and death on all those around them, and whose black-stained hearts give even true fiends pause.
By Neal Litherland7 years ago in Gamers
5 Tips for Playing Better Barbarians
Barbarian. As soon as we hear the word, an image comes to our minds. A tall, muscular figure with a primal might about them. A figure of nearly animalistic strength, the barbarian is unbound by modernity, and unshackled by the worries and fears of lesser men and women. However, while this archetype looms large in roleplaying games, barbarian characters don't need to fit this mold. They can grow and change in unexpected ways. If you're looking for ways to make your barbarians more memorable, and to reach beyond the typical limits put on the class, this guide should help get you started.
By Neal Litherland7 years ago in Gamers
50 Shades of Rage
The word barbarian brings to mind certain images. Snowbound brutes with fur cloaks and broad swords, their long hair whipping in the wind as they howl savage battle cries, undeterred by the exhaustion and pain that would plague merely mortal men. Hulking tribesmen on the endless tundra, their spears and hands bloody from the long day's hunt for game and enemies alike. Or, if you're a cultured sort of gamer geek, you might picture some of the old pulp magazine covers that prominently featured Conan, Kull, and the other barbarians created by Robert E. Howard and his ilk.
By Neal Litherland7 years ago in Gamers
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden—I Have Something to Say!
The first trailer of the game Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden liked the players very much. This is a post-apocalyptic world, but not the one we imagined. Game events take place in a world without people. Humanity has ruined itself.
By Andrew Samoliuk7 years ago in Gamers
'Game of Thrones': 'Dragon Age' in Westeros
Hello, and welcome back to Second Chances where the Iron Throne is reserved for the maligned and forgotten. Unlike just about every geek on the planet, I had not gotten around to watching Game of Thrones yet. What can I say? I don't have HBO, and there are a bunch of other shows I'm getting up to speed on via DVD and Netflix before I sit down and see all the trouble House Lannister can get into. However, I am a devout gamer, and when I saw that a full-fledged RPG was made in the official universe, I was immediately interested.
By Adam Wallace7 years ago in Gamers
5 Tips for Playing Better Noble Characters
Fantasy stories are replete with tales of noble adventurers. From princes like Charming and Valiant, to knights in shining (or dented and hard-used) armor, to sorcerer queens and pirate lords, it seems like you can't go more than a few chapters before finding someone with a title and a piece of land to call their own.
By Neal Litherland7 years ago in Gamers
5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Next LARP
LARPs come in all different sizes and genres. Whether you're a sword-swinging half-orc in a fantasy setting, a rugged survivor in the post-apocalypse, or a bloodsucking creature of the night making your play to take over the city, there are all kinds of games out there.
By Neal Litherland7 years ago in Gamers
Character Growth
Last year, I was invited to join a Dungeon and Dragons campaign that my friend DMed. It seemed like fun and a way to stretch my imagination, perhaps even learn a new skill (or genre in this case). After agreeing, my friend patiently worked with me on creating a character, but that was not necessary as I ended up taking over one that had already been established. After a couple of months, I joined a new campaign and created my own character for the first time. It was a rush, even for a writer who produces more than 3,000 words a day! After a recent session, it finally dawned on me, I am no longer terrible at role-playing.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in Gamers
5 Tips For Playing Better Gnomes
Gnomes tend to be thought of as a mixture of irritating tricksters and half-mad inventors, with a hefty dash of poor impulse control just for spice. However, there is a lot going on with gnomes just beneath the surface. For players looking to step outside the stereotypes of this inherently magical race, there are all sorts of wild possibilities for who (and what) you could become.
By Neal Litherland7 years ago in Gamers
Writer Create Thy Self
"You have such great characterization." That's a compliment I get a lot for my novels and short stories. Part of that is because going into a story, I know who the characters are, and their complete backgrounds. Recently I signed up for a new RPG with a friend of a friend, and the DM sent out the character sheets. My first thought was why is this in a foreign language. My next thought was that my friend had better be prepared to help me. He was and did. And I still messed up.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in Gamers
