Month: July 2021

3 Steps to Establishing Locations in Dungeons & Dragons

The Nerdd

If you’ve ever run a game of Dungeons & Dragons, or are the Dungeon Master, I know for a fact that you’ve said this sentence:

As you arrive to the [LOCATION], you notice [INTERESTING FACT] and [IMPORTANT INFORMATION]. What do you do?

The game is constantly about going to new places, meeting new people, and probably hitting them with something sharp. In fact, that’s literally the three pillars of the game, Exploration, Social, Combat. Well, the rule books cover combat in depth, and socializing is something that happens naturally, as this is a social game, but the exploration part gets overlooked by the rules, and it’s hard to really nail down what exploration is. So today, I’m going to give you the three steps I use to establish a new location when the party arrives.

I’m also going to use three example locations to give you actionable ideas…

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Boss Rush Bucket List Week 5: Leveling Up with the Best RPGs, Part I

Welcome to week five of theBoss Rush Bucket List! The writing staff at Boss Rush has curated a list of the top 50 games released since 2014 that are a must-play. Five games surrounding a genre or theme will be featured every Friday at 10a.m. until September 3rd. The fifth game of each article will count down the top ten, so stick with us to find out which title is our number one recommended game!

RPGs are a fan-favorite genre in the gaming community. Here are some top-tier RPGs to level up on!

Bloodborne

By: Block

Developer: FromSoftware. Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Release Date: 03/24/2015. Platform(s): PS4

Bloodbornein three words: Brutal, gothic nightmare.

Few games have defined the past decade as the Dark Souls franchise, but spiritual spin-off Bloodborne comes extremely close. Bloodborne does much to distance itself from its genre sibling, trading the…

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Hammers Hall

Dyson's Dodecahedron

Hammers Hall (300 dpi promotional)

This crafter’s shrine is hidden away under ruins in the mournlands and will likely either be found by complete luck, or more likely by those searching specifically for this one shrine based on old maps and descriptions of where essential research lead to Aarren d’Cannith’s breakthrough to creating the first sentient warforged. While not one a Aarren’s workshops, this shrine was used by another scion of Merrix d’Cannith as they sought the means to imbue their constructs with true life.

Hammers Hall (1200 dpi)

Rumours maintain that important precursors to the creation forges are still down here for those who can find the site and know what they are looking for.

Hammers Hall (1200 dpi – no grid)

The 1200 dpi versions of the map were drawn at a scale of 300 pixels per square and are 5,400 pixels (18 squares) wide. To use this…

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Boss Rush Banter: Which Moment in a Video Game Truly Surprised You?

Over the past few days, I have been playingThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD pretty much non-stop. I’m a huge Zelda fan, but I have a really bad habit of never finishing games that I start, andSkyward Sword in 2011 was no different. I’m committed to completing it this time and am already further than I got in my original play through. Last night, as I was making my way through the game’s excellent fourth dungeon, I came across a part that genuinely surprised me in a way that doesn’t happen very often—it only happens in the best of games. I was behind a barred wall, and there was a bokoblin pacing back and forth on the other side with a key shining in the light on his hip. I walked around looking for holes that I could dig through or tunnels I could swim through when…

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Fists of the Ruby Phoenix #3: A Roof Over Our Heads

Pathfinders' Guild of Berkeley

In the missing first two chapters of our story, our heroes had escaped prison and were continually on the run, and have joined the worldwide Ruby Phoenix Tournament to obtain immunity from law-enforcement agencies. They are now one of 32 teams who must compete to be the first eight teams to gather a phoenix necklace and 10 silver feathers on “Danger Island.” They begin to clear out their home base, an ancient temple to Irori. The party’s hobgoblin fighter tells their story. –GM

8th of Erastus, 4721 AR

There was nothing in this room that suggested any danger. Just some sticks of incense and metal bowls with rods in them. Maybe this is where the monks used to go to meditate, cool off, relax after a long day of karate. Surely there would be no ghosts in here.

Alas, I was sorely mistaken. As soon as I stepped into the…

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2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons is underrated.

Grumpy Wizard

I started playing the game in 1987. My first experiences were with Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, or 1E as many call it. I was immediately hooked. The only D&D book I owned at that time was the Advanced D&D Players Handbook. I didn’t have the money to buy anything else. I tried to expand my collection by asking my grandma for a Dungeon Master’s Guide as a birthday present. She realized what I was playing, the Satanic Panic kicked in, and I was denied.

As I entered high school, the 2nd edition was released. Since I only owned one 1E book, I figured I might as well pick up the 2E stuff. My excruciatingly slow accumulation of game books began. Once I was 16, I acquired a driver’s license and was able drive 15 minutes to the closest place part time work that was readily available. I slopped…

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How to Play Video Games on a Budget

Playing video games is the favorite pastime of many people all over the world. Especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of video games as a whole has skyrocketed as we are confined to our homes and looking for ways to interact with people outside of texting and Zoom calls. Whether you are brand new to playing video games (welcome!), or a seasoned veteran, there is no denying that getting lost in a game can be extremely fun—but it can also be extremely expensive.

In this current generation of consoles, video games can cost upwards of $70 (USD). That’s if you already own a console. If you can find a Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, or PlayStation 5, that’s another $300 – $500 (USD) you have to drop just to play one game. That is quite the investment no matter how serious you are about gaming.

In some ways, there…

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My 20 Favorite Animal Companions In Games

Legacy of Games

Video games take us on all manner of wild adventures, but what is an adventurer without trusty companions at their side? Many a hero’s journey would’ve been doomed if it wasn’t for a loyal steed, a comforting pet, or a ferocious animal sidekick. Stian challenged me to list my favorite animal companions in games and I decided to take that challenge (too) seriously.

Here are the rules I set for myself:

  • These have to be non-playable animal characters that the player closely interacts with.
  • No purely fantastical creatures, unless they are wholly based on a real-world animal (i.e. a talking cat, a ghost, or a made-up breed)
  • Anthropomorphic characters are excluded because they are more human than animal.

Let’s go!

Dog – Dragon Age: Origins

Though I am more of a cat person myself, the dog from Dragon Age: Origins was the first entry that came to mind while brainstorming…

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Xbox Games With Gold August 2021

Xbox just recently announced new games for Xbox Gold subscribers for August for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One owners!

  • Darksiders III: Available August 1st to 31st
  • Yooka-Laylee: Available August 16th to September 15th
  • Lost Planet 3: Available August 1st to 15th
  • Garou: Mark of the Wolves: Available August 16th to 31st

Both Lost Planet 3 and Garou: Mark of the Wolves are Xbox 360 games, which further cements Xbox’s commitment to its backwards compatibility. Darksiders III and Yooka-Laylee are playable on the Xbox One and the Series X/S.

Darksiders III, Lost Planet 3, and Yooka-Laylee are great single player experiences, and Garou: Mark of the Wolves is the last entry in the fighting game series Fatal Fury.

Xbox Gold is $9.99 (USD) a month, which allows you to play most multiplayer games with your friends, or enemies!

Let us know what you…

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Boss Rush Banter: Which 3DS Games Should Make the Jump to Switch?

The 3DS is a beloved handheld console from Nintendo, and since its release in 2011 the little machine has sold approximately 76 million units worldwide. It’s no surprise then that the system had tons of incredible software to help it reach that high number.

Recently though, rumors have spread that Nintendo will be removing the option to purchase from the 3DS and the Wii U using the credit card option, as well as removing the ability for developers to submit games for either console, becoming effective January of next year. While support for the consoles is pretty much nonexistent at the present, this may well be the final nail in the coffin for either system.

With interest and support for the 3DS dwindling, many of its games could find renown life on the Nintendo Switch. The Switch has a larger install base after all, selling close to 85 million…

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