May 15

NewbieDM.com recently called upon fellow DMs to share their binders with the RPG community. A grand idea indeed – let’s see what lies behind Ben’s screen on any given game night.
Everything starts with a running campaign outline filled with core characters and key plot points. Ben is running the Shadowfell three-part module series and this outline has helped remove some of the story complexities.
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Mar 26

Ben decided to give you some food for thought at your next D&D game. Let’s explore he how typically feeds the troops.
We can most certainly all agree that the simple act of gathering around a big ol’ table with good friends is half the game night fun. But did you realize your menu can play a real role in upping the fun. Choose wisely and you can save some extra expendable gp for more important things (including more game gear).
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Mar 19

“Five characters walk into a bar and the bartender says…” Oh no, not that line again. Thankfully, the Oracles of Eight – the Octagons of Fate kit fills in the role playing blanks.
Translated from the French fortune telling game, “Evening of Readings”, the premise is rather simple. Roll three different eight-sided jumbo dice. Then calculate a numeric result: The blue color represents the first number, purple becomes the second and black signifies the third.
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Feb 12

D&D Fortune cards finally fell on Ben’s game table this week and there are reasons to celebrate including fun game implementation options and the card art/text themselves.
I’ve encountered some crazy Podcasts episodes and Twitter posts that say that the Dungeons and Dragons Shadow over Nentir Vale Fortune Cards are a dagger to 4E’s core game mechanics. Seriously? It’s an optional supplement – plain and simple. How are these bonus cards any different from something like Paizo’s critical hit and miss decks?
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Jun 18

Every battle-forged game group has their unique spin on our beloved game of Dungeons and Dragons. Whether it’s a couple classic carryovers from previous editions, a learned online tip, or simply an original thought, all these combined tweaks will truly help make the game your own.
And BensRPGPile.com is no different. We’ve played together for quite some time now and consequently are dreaming up new ways to keep things fun and entertaining.
With that said, here are Ben’s Top 10 D&D House Rules to play by:
1. Fumble P1: Roll a 1 & your turn is immediately done (even if actions remain).
2. Fumble P2: Roll a 1 & your next attack ain’t no fun (-2 attack on next turn).
3. Fumble P3: Roll a 1 & you’ve won…a shot (but it’s the drinker’s alcohol of choice).
4. Corpse Country: Two dead bodies in a square becomes difficult terrain.
5. Torch Throw: We roll certain dice to determine the distance of a tossed object.
6. Enemy Targeting: Roll the corresponding die for the 1st target & go clockwise.
7. Saving Grace: If you forget, you can only roll a save anytime before your next turn.
8. Rule Review: DM makes immediate call. Twitter or WotC forum confirms for future.
9. Achievements: Good & bad game play gets you Encounters-like rewards.
10. Go Team: We all contribute to our game and to BensRPGPile.com anytime we can.
All our little game idiosyncrasies are constantly evolving and we encourage you to do the same. Take it from Ben: Don’t get stuck in your ways. Avoid the mundane and always try new things. Keep reading the myriad of amazing D&D blogs. Listen to podcasts. Stay connected on Twitter. And be sure to tell us what house rules you guys use?
This surreal D&D community will welcome you with open arms – just remember to hug back.
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