Robot Viking

Player’s Handbook 3 introduces the psionic power source, with several new psionic classes (along with one divine and one primal class). I’ll be reviewing the new classes one at a time over the next week or so. To start things off, we’ve got a good exemplar of the new psionics system — the Ardent.

Contributing author Ryk Perry takes us on a tour of the vastly improved D&D Insider Monster Builder. Create enemies from scratch, or customize any creature in the entire pantheon of 4E monsters. Plus, an updated version of Ryk’s home-brew Famine Spirit.

For the last year, whenever I’ve reviewed one of White Wolf’s World of Darkness books, I’ve raved about how the books were full of amazing background stories, fantastic characters and fascinating plot hooks, and how you could easily transmute them into another RPG. I’m finally putting my money where my mouth is (or my fluff, [...]

If your Fourth Edition character is a fighter, ranger, warlord or rogue, you’ll find plenty of new options, variant builds and an endless supply of Paragon Paths in Martial Power 2. If you’re not? I’m sure Arcane Power 2 will be along any week now.

Am I the only one who skims past any feats that provide a damage bonus? +2 to damage? Why bother? Here’s a quick idea to make those damage feats more appealing.

Every adventurer journeys to the Underdark at some point in her career. It’s a rite of passage. Now your 4E characters can make the trip. Just don’t go to any of the silly places.

Ryk Perry’s continuing series on playing realistic knights in fantasy RPG campaigns picks up with part 2. Now that we’ve learned about the economic realities of knighthood, what fun things could a knight character do? Ryk has some suggestions, along with a few new powers for mounted combat in D&D 4E.

Ryk Perry digs into the economic realities of life as a knight in Medieval Europe, and what it means for your newly landed PC. It ain’t all ale and princesses, that’s for sure.

To get your D&D game in the holiday spirit, you could tie jingle bells to your horse, hang mistletoe on your helm, or wrap your greataxe in garland. Or, you could just be Sinterklaas (the old Dutch version of Saint Nicholas upon which certain Christmas traditions are based). Ho Ho Hoooooooooooooooooooooo!

Crash Test Magic (where we design and test new spells, cards or features for our favorite games) has been away too long. Don’t call it a comeback — this new 4E monster power will make even low-level minions into a serious threat.

Having trouble finding enough adventure in the mortal world? Does the Feywild feel tame? The Shadowfell not double-dark enough for you? Then I guess it’s time to go sailing through the Elemental Chaos, where any old random nonsense can happen.

The first edition of the Draconomicon gave us all the inside info on chromatic dragons for D&D fourth edition. What about the good guys? The latest Draconomicon fleshes out the gold, silver, brass, bronze, copper, orium, iron, steel, mercury and other metallic dragons. Beware: they’re not as noble as you might remember them.

Fourth Edition D&D is a cool system, and combat is usually a lot of fun (and more interactive and interesting than 3rd edition combat), but it has one flaw: it sometimes takes forever. Our gaming group has been experimenting with different ways to speed things along, and I think we’ve hit on something that works.

The first two years of Paizo’s RPG Superstar competition created some amazing adventures, plus a bunch unique items and villains. The third edition begins this week, as the first round of the open RPG talent contest was announced yesterday. Bring out your best wondrous item.