Thoughts on the end of Star Wars: Saga Edition

Some suspected it, but now it’s official: Wizards of the Coast is dropping the Star Wars license, and with it, the Star Wars: Saga Edition role-playing game and its counterpart, the Star Wars Miniatures Game. It seemed likely that this would happen sooner or later once D&D 4E was released; I’m sure it’s difficult for … Read more

Embrace Nature with D&D 4E’s Primal Power

In the revision of Dungeons and Dragons that is Wizards of the Coast’s 4th Edition, Power Sources have been created as the explanation for why the heroes of the game are so, well, heroic. As an example, the quintessential Wizards of the game can cast the spells that are their raison d’être because they can … Read more

Elemental Chaos awaits in D&D 4E’s The Plane Below

When I ran my 4E D&D playtest campaign, I decided to make it larger than life. That meant going planer. The churning unpredictability of the planes, the potential for exotic locations, the alienness of its inhabitants calls to my imagination. The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos, which details 4E’s churning elemental wastes, is … Read more

Live your own story with Dragon Age: Origins

A purple-tinged dragon unleashes its breath weapon on a warrior.

The highest compliment I can give Dragons Age: Origins is that everyone who plays it wants to tell me about their character. In a pen-and-paper RPG, that’s a major social faux paus, but with Dragon Age I think it’s a sign of just how into this game people are getting … and how well it’s … Read more

D&D 4th Edition: A Player’s Perspective

In November I had the chance to do something I’ve never done before: play Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition. Technically that’s not true – I’ve played D&D 4E plenty of times as a Dungeon Master, including my gaming group’s playtest campaign. But I’ve never sat at the table as a D&D 4E player. The last … Read more

The Tome Podcast #121: Revenge of the Giants reviewed

My gaming group recently returned to D&D 4th Edition with a megashot of the Revenge of the Giants supermodule. I talk about our experiences with Wizards of the Coast’s homage to the original 1st Edition Against the Giants tournament modules on Episode #121 of The Tome Podcast. I’m joined by Quinn Murphy of the excellent … Read more

Game Day: Return to D&D 4E

Two frost giants stand ready to fight.

Giants stalk the land, threatening one of the few flickering lights of civilization. Someone needs to deal with the threat … and it turns out that’s us. My gaming group is returning to Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition with a megashot of Revenge of the Giants, the new super module from Wizards of the Coast. … Read more

MEPACon Fall 2009 Recap

After a few years away, the Blackazor Guild and I returned to MEPACon last weekend, our local gaming convention held near Scranton, Pa. every spring and fall. We used to be regulars at the local convention scene, but over the last few years we been running our own homegrown Nuke(m)Con instead. We decided to return … Read more