CRIT ACADEMY
BLOG
Make sure you check in regularly for up-to-date Strategies, Tips & Tricks, and tons of Guides!
You can also subscribe to our newsletter!
Become a subscriber today for FREE Dungeons & Dragons Loot!
Receive a FREE copy of our electrum bestseller Challenge Accepted!
Receive a FREE resource guide that includes not only our favorite finds but some custom resources we created as well.
You will also be entered to win any PRIZES we give away on the show.
Get the latest news & updates
Be the first to know about the latest news and releases
Get notifications when a new blog or other important event occurs.
If you are looking for a specific topic or guide,
you can search our blogs here!
Tabletop Rules: How to Keep Your D&D Sessions Fun and Immersive
Whether you're a veteran Dungeon Master or stepping into your first Dungeons & Dragons campaign, setting the right tone at the table is key to a successful game. A great session isn’t just about epic storylines and clever puzzles—it’s about creating a collaborative, respectful, and immersive environment where every player feels engaged.
From handling missing players to rolling dice fairly, every group benefits from having clear table rules. These guidelines aren’t just about keeping the game organized—they’re about enhancing the fun and ensuring the focus stays on the story you’re crafting together.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective table rules for any D&D group, provide practical tips to streamline gameplay, and recommend tools that every Dungeon Master should have in their arsenal. Ready to level up your sessions? Let’s dive in!
Campaign Crafter | Exploring Different Types of D&D Games: Find the Perfect Fit for Your Table
Are you wondering how to structure your next Dungeons & Dragons game? Whether you're a Dungeon Master or a player, choosing the right game format can make all the difference. Should you go with a classic single DM campaign, try collaborative multiple DMs, or keep it simple with an episodic or one-shot game? Each style offers unique benefits and challenges, from epic storytelling to quick, low-commitment adventures. In this blog, we break down the pros and cons of each D&D game type, helping you craft a gaming experience that fits your group's needs. Find out how to avoid DM burnout, keep players engaged, and make every session unforgettable.
This guide is perfect for D&D beginners and veterans alike—read on to level up your tabletop gaming!
Campaign Crafter: Understanding Player Types
Are you a new Dungeon Master (DM) eager to run an unforgettable D&D campaign? Running a great game involves more than following rules or creating an interesting storyline; it's about understanding your players, pacing your game effectively, and creating an engaging environment. Here’s a step-by-step guide for new DMs to elevate their game and make every session memorable!
1. Know Your Players’ Types and Motivations
Understanding the different types of players in your game is crucial. Players come with different motivations and playstyles, so let’s explore each type and how you, as a DM, can engage them.
Actors: They love roleplaying and fully immersing themselves in their character's personality. To engage Actors, design social encounters, and encourage in-character dialogue.
D&D: 5 Tips on How to Be a Better Player in Dungeons & Dragons
How Do I Become a Better Dungeons & Dragons Player? You Can Start by Reading this Blog!
This isn’t a question many players ask themselves. How do I become a better Dungeon Master? This is a question almost every DM asks themselves. Why is it that making sure that the game is fun rests solely on the DM? Don’t they have enough work to do? Yes…yes they do. So not it’s your turn to put in some work!
Uncover the Dark Secrets of Fantasy's Most Intriguing Seedy Underbelly Guilds!
How to Create a Seedy Underbelly Guild in your Fantasy RPG
It's time to talk about the seedy underbelly of fantasy worlds. You know what I'm talking about - the dirty alleys, the shady deals, and the guilds that operate in the shadows. These are the organizations that the heroes love to hate, and that's what makes them so darn interesting. So today, we're going to talk about how to create some seriously compelling seedy underbelly guilds.
Worldbuilding: 20 Unique Landmarks for your Fantasy Towns
As a Game Master, creating a world that feels vibrant and alive is crucial for immersing players in your RPG game. One way to achieve this is by designing towns and cities that are full of unique and memorable landmarks. These landmarks can serve as points of interest, focal points for quests, and even as plot devices that tie into your game's overarching story.
In this blog, we will explore 20 unique village landmarks that you can use to add depth and intrigue to your game world. Each of these landmarks is designed to give players a sense of wonder and mystery as they explore the town or city they are visiting. From grand cathedrals to ominous graveyards, these features will make your game world feel more like a real place.
Adventure Cookbook: An Adventure Outline for ANY Fantasy RPG
Creating an entire, well-designed, and well-thought-out adventure for your favorite Roleplaying game is a lot of fun. With that fun, comes hours of dedicated writing, cramped hands, and blank stares at the paper or screen. Well, with this powerful outline, an “Adventure Cookbook” will give you all the ingredients of a unique adventure or campaign.
The Best Worldbuilding Tool for Dungeon Masters
Building an entire world for your roleplaying game is a HUGE amount of work. Even for experienced Dungeon Masters. What if, with a click of a button you could have a world map, regions, cities, towns, villages, and more all plotted in just a second? Well, with Azgaar’s Fantasy Map Generator, you can do just that!
Build Epic Boss Fights with Lair Actions!
Welcome Dungeon Masters, enter my domain and in this 3-part series, I shall impart to you the secrets of lair actions. I’m Devlin DM, part of the creative team for the bestselling Home-Field Advantage: A Compendium of Lair Actions. This Mithral product contains 250 unique lairs covering over 320 creatures and is available in PDF and print at DMsGuild.
In Part 1 I talked about how a monster’s lair makes a great hook for adventure. In Part 2 I showed off how to Make Monsters Scary Again. In this article, the grand finale, I’m going to give you a checklist to build your own epic boss fights using lair actions!
What’s a Lair anyway?