If you're a Dungeons & Dragons fan, you've surely thought of becoming a Dungeon Master. Learning to be a DM isn't as hard as you might think, especially if you have "Dungeon Master 4th Edition For Dummies" tucked into your bag of tricks

From organizing your first D&D game to dealing with difficult players, this book covers everything a DM needs to know. Written for the newest edition of D&D by the experts at Wizards of the Coast, creators of the game, it shows you how to: Build challenging encounters, make reasonable rulings, and manage disagreementsRecognize all the common codes, tables, and spellsUnderstand the parts of a D&D adventure and how to create dungeon maps and craft monstersShape storylines and write your own adventuresFind your style as a DM and develop a game style that plays to your strengthsScript an encounter, vary the terrain and challenges, and establish rewards (experience points and treasure)Decide whether to use published adventuresUse and follow the official "Dungeon Master's Guide"Develop a campaign with exciting themes, memorable villains, and plots that keep players entranced

If you're getting the urge to lead the charge in a D&D game of your own, "Dungeon Master 4th Edition For Dummies" will introduce you to the DM's many jobs. With the information you need to start your own game, craft exciting stories, and set up epic adventures, you'll be on your way

'The Power' is back. King of the oche and a legend in the game, Phil Taylor is largely responsible for taking darts into the 21st century. Recently crowned world champion for an unprecedented eleventh time, Taylor is a complete one-off - the Tiger Woods of his sport - and the most phenomenal player ever to throw a dart. Brought up in the back streets of the Potteries, where his Dad tried to turn him into a boxer, Taylor's first job saw him earning GBP75 a week in a factory making ceramic toilet handles - and by the age of 25 he had hardly thrown a dart in anger. Then he attended an Eric Bristow darts exhibition, and the 'Crafty Cockney' became his mentor and friend and loaned him GBP10,000 to play the pro circuit. Within five years Taylor had won the first of his eleven world titles ... In his book, Taylor describes how Bristow coaxed, bullied, humiliated and often literally punched him into making it as a pro. He is candid about the booze culture of the game, while revisiting the memorable matches and recalling vivid stories featuring the likes of Bristow, Cliff Lazarenko (who once had 20 cans of lager before a match), John Lowe and the legendary Jocky Wilson. A dispute between the professional players and the British Darts Organisation in 1992 almost led to a dispirited Taylor giving up the game for good. And he retraces the worst six months of his life, during which time he was convicted of sexually assaulting two female fans and had his MBE rescinded. The pain for his family was hard to bear. This is a story of a man having to come to terms with unparalleled success in his professional life after a career setback that would have destroyed many others; a unique sportsman whose steely-eyed determination won him an unprecedented eleventh world title in 2004 in what many observers described as the best professional darts match in living memory.

Two compelling titles now brought together in one volume! ----- Beating Unusual Chess Defences: 1 e4: Dealing with the Scandinavian, Pirc, Modern, Alekhine and other tricky lines by Andrew Greet. ----- Anyone who plays 1 e4 as White must be prepared not only for Black's main defences but also an assortment of less popular lines. These, when taken together, represent a significant percentage of the replies you can expect to meet when opening 1 e4. Dealing with these slightly offbeat variations is often a daunting task, especially since your opponents are likely to be specialists in these lines and therefore know them inside out. ----- Beating Unusual Chess Defences provides the perfect solution. International Master Andrew Greet gets to grips with each of these tricky openings. He identifies how to exploit their weaknesses whilst avoiding their strengths, thus constructing a practical and dependable repertoire for White. This book covers everything a 1 e4 player needs to know about facing these defences. ----- Beating Unusual Chess Openings: Dealing with the English, Reti, King's Indian Attack and other annoying systems by Richard Palliser ----- Beating Unusual Chess Openings is a godsend to those chess players fed up with struggling against all opening moves other than White's main two: 1 e4 and 1 d4. From the respectable (English Opening, Reti and King's Indian Attack) through to theoffbeat (Nimzo-Larsen Attack, Bird's Opening) and the totally bizarre (Orang-utan, Grob); everything Black needs to know about facing unusual openings is covered within these pages. Richard Palliser gets to grips with all of White's possibilities, examining their strengths and weaknesses and in turn organizing a reliable and practical repertoire for Black.

Death is not the end! In a world filled with undead, resurrection, and beings from beyond the mortal plane, long-dead mistakes can still cause problems for the living-or provide opportunity. Pathfinder Player Companion: Haunted Heroes Handbook takes aim at possessing forces of all sorts, from worldly magic to spirits of the dead, and provides you with options to rid yourself of that influence, take back control, or profit by cunning bargains with forces in need of a mortal vessel. This handbook also provides valuable information on the places, organizations, and faiths especially concerned with spirits, hauntings, and possession, and how any of these can affect your outlook and abilities. Each monthly 32-page Pathfinder Player Companion contains several player-focused articles exploring the volume's theme as well as short articles with innovative new rules for all types of characters, as well as traits to better anchor the player to the campaign.

Add a touch of class to your poker table with some of the most exciting literary figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. Fifty-four writers have been chosen from the following categories: Modern, Mid-Century, Postmodern, Contemporary. Marcel George's stunning watercolour portraits of writers of fiction - including Samuel Beckett, Doris Lessing, Roberto Bolano and Zadie Smith - ensure that even if you don't win you're in good company.

teNeues NYC Stationery is proud to share our newest offering, classic Playing Cards with our signature style curated from museum art and illustrations from our favourite artists around the world printed on embossed, premium blue-core card stock in a gift box with flip-top magnetic closure. Red Cardinal by Allyn Howard is a charming rendition of a beloved back-yard bird, a favourite among all ages. Our little portable box is giftable and great for travel, fits in any bag and the magnetic closure keeps the cards together between games. Standard deck of 54 playing cards including 2x joker cards Full-colour, richly -printed artwork on embossed, blue-core card stock Giftable flip-top box with magnetic closure Box measures: 69 x 95 x 25 mm Allyn Howard is a painter and illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. Inspired by her childhood, her work reflects an interest in nature, often from the vantage point of small curious animals. Allyn uses water-based acrylics on wood, paper, and canvas, merging a decorative style with a colourful, painterly one.

"This is the book I have been waiting for all my life. A delightful reminder of how real games with real people are just about the most fun you can have..." - Stephen Fry "Game On is literally the best book I could own. I must buy one and for everyone I know." - Olivia Colman Featuring over 50 classic and new games to make your get-togethers unforgettable. Game On makes your party, weekend escape or holiday more fun, with a range of classic games which everyone will know (but often don't remember how to play!) such as Mafia or The Hat Game, as well as an array of modern games that will soon become firm favourites with family and friends. Most games don't need any special equipment (occasionally items such as pens, paper or some playing cards are needed). With a sleek, fun and interactive design, clear instructions and guidance for number of players and possible modifications, this is the perfect gift for those looking for fun new ways to interact with friends and family, as well as for avid gamers.

Do you instinctively know what to do in every type of chess position or are you often uncertain about how to proceed? Wouldn't it be really useful to know the best chess strategies and to recognise when they should be used? In this book Sam Collins examines key games from both the classical and modern eras. He analyses the major strategic ideas that have stood the test of time and notes their considerable influence on his own games. Studying classic examples from great players allows us to create a personal library of standard ideas. This helps us recognize key positions, making it easier to determine the most effective ways to attack and defend. Crucially, it helps us find the right path much more quickly than we would by relying on calculation alone. * An essential guide to chess strategy * Covers opening, middlegame and endgame play * Ideal for players of all levels

Written by the holder of several Guinness World Records for cardstacking, this is the first complete, fully illustrated guide to the art of building mind-boggling, multilevel structures with ordinary playing cards.

In Stacking the Deck, Bryan Berg reveals the secret to successful cardstacking with his simple four-card-cell structure and expanded grid techniques. Using illustrations and step-by-step instructions, he guides readers on to more elaborate -- and incredibly strong -- creations. He covers a wide range of architectural styles, from classic to whimsical, and various types of structures, including pyramids, shrines, stadiums, churches, an oil derrick, and even the Empire State Building. Since first setting the height record in 1992, Bryan's built awe-inspiring card models of a Japanese shrine, the Iowa State Capitol building, Ebbets Field, and his latest tower, which is more than twenty-five feet tall! This book includes photographs of some of these amazing pieces, illustrating just how appealing and enduring a "house of cards" can be. Stacking the Deck will inspire everyone from youngsters experimenting with their first deck of cards to adults, who can create their own private skyscrapers.

Once you've read Stacking the Deck, you'll never look at a deck of cards the same way again.

Hugely entertaining descriptions of the most spectacular and amusing disasters suffered by the world's top players There are two reasons for studying the most famous bridge disasters from the top level of play. Readers can both learn from them and, combining learning with laughter, they can enjoy them. Readers will be directly involved in the action at various stages, invited to make their own choice of bid, lead, or play. This is excitement in itself, for the hands are all taken from top-class matches. Here is a wonderful chance to laugh, sympathize, and learn under David Bird's expert guidance.

"Secrets of Sit'n'gos" is the ULTIMATE GUIDE to one of the most popular forms of poker. Sit'n'go tournaments are single table events usually starting with nine or ten players and paying prizes for the top three finishers. ALL serious poker websites and casinos offer Sit'n'gos - a fun and profitable way to get started in poker without having to risk a lot of money or make many difficult decisions. This book will teach you everything you need to know whether you are a beginner or an experienced poker player, including: * how to go from being a novice to a winner using basic all-in or fold strategies * how to apply more advanced Sit'n'go concepts such as ICM to become an expert player * how to use computer programs effectively in making critical decisions * how to play optimally when heads-up (one-on-one) with high blinds * how to buiild a $200 bankroll to $100,000 in one year purely in Sit'n'go events Phil Shaw will guide you through the early, middle and late stages of play, with clear explanations of the strategies required for success at each.

A Guide to Chess Improvement features the very best of Dan Heisman's multi-award winning chess column Novice Nook, which has run for the past ten years at the popular website ChessCafe.com. This book is full of valuable instruction, insight and practical advice on a wide range of key subjects: general improvement, thought processes, planning and strategy, tactics, endgame play, technique, time management and much more besides. Heisman has thoroughly revised, expanded and updated his work to produce an easy-to-navigate guide. He has also included brand new and exclusive columns. Any player from beginner to expert who is serious about improving their chess should read this book! *An essential guide to chess improvement *Covers in depth all the key areas of chess *Written by a distinguished chess instructor

Across the globe, therapists are using tabletop roleplaying games (RPG) such as Dungeons & Dragons as a part of their practice. This book provides an overview of what RPGs are and what makes them such an effective and powerful tool for therapy. By examining research on gaming, flow, immersion and role-play, readers will gain a better understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and how to skilfully and ethically use RPGs in their own practices. The author also looks at the history of RPGs, specifically focusing on issues of diversity and representation to help providers understand some possible pitfalls that exist within the medium. The book utilises an example group to walk through everything from conception, planning, running, documentation and termination of the group.

Focusing on the recovery of chess in Spain and Europe after World War II, this book traces the development of the International Chess Tournaments in Gijon from 1944 to 1965. The author covers the decline of world champion Alekhine and the rise of the child prodigy Arturo Pomar, along with the great chess of Euwe, Rossolimo, Prins, Medina, Larsen and others. Drawing on primary sources and testimonies of former players and organizers, chapters feature the tournament tables, winner's biographies, historical commentaries and 213 of the best games. Appendices with biographical notes and tables of participants for each year are included.

With videogames now one of the world's most popular diversions, the virtual world has increasing psychological influence on real-world players. This book examines the relationships between virtual and non-virtual identity in visual role-playing games. Utilizing James Gee's theoretical constructs of real-world identity, virtual-world identity, and projective identity, this research shows dynamic, varying and complex relationships between the virtual avatar and the players sense of self and makes recommendations of terminology for future identity researchers. Features 15 photographs of videogame screens, bibliography, and an appendix of sample videogame transcription data.

The pen is mightier than the sword, but whose pen is the mightiest of them all? Who was more prolific, Charlotte Brontë or Fyodor Dostoyevsky? Who created more memorable characters, Jane Austen or William Shakespeare? Whose life was more eventful, Cervantes or Byron? Pit 32 of the greatest writers of all time against each other with these illustrated cards.

Journalist and poker fanatic Andy Bellin takes readers on a raucous journey into the shut-up-and-deal world of professional poker. From basement games to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, you'll look over his shoulder as he learns to count cards, read a legendary player's body language, hang in there when the chips are down, and take his beatings like a man. Even if you don't know the difference between a flop and a river card, Bellin keeps you in the game with his portraits of the colorful players, dreamers, hustlers, and eccentrics who populate this strange subculture. Along with learning what goes on behind the scenes in illegal poker clubs, you'll get great advice on how to play Texas Hold'em, today's game of choice for big-money players.

Are you tired of playing the same old openings time and time again? Perhaps it's time for a change, but you cannot decide between the numerous options available? Here's the answer: choose "Dangerous Weapons" and amaze your opponents with new and exciting opening ideas!In this book," "four renowned opening experts get together to take a revolutionary look at the Benoni, the Benko and all their associated variations. Instead of travelling down well-trodden and analysed paths, they concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations, selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colours. Whether playing White or Black, a study of this book will leave you confident and fully-armed, and your opponents running for cover!"Dangerous Weapons" is a series of opening books which supply the reader with an abundance of hard-hitting ideas to revitalize his or her opening repertoire. Many of the carefully chosen weapons are innovative, visually shocking, incredibly tricky, or have been unfairly discarded; they are guaranteed to throw even your most experienced opponent off balance. *The Benoni and Benko in a whole new light*Packed with original ideas and analysis*Ideal lines to shock your opponents

Chess For the Gifted and Busy cuts through the mysteries of strategy and tactics to show you just what you need to know and delivers all the essential knowledge.

Learn how to play bridge with this simple step-by-step guide. While good bridge classes are, of course, of great value, this book is itself the complete tutorial. It will help you to learn properly without other help and give you a solid foundation on which to start playing this absorbing game. Work at your own pace Understand the key basic principles Learn about the Acol system of bidding Discover how to play a hand, both as declarer and in defence

Improve your memory, improve your game! The aim is to encourage players to improve their bridge by solving the puzzles This challenging book of puzzles will help you to improve your game by concentrating on defensive play. By the time you have solved the last puzzle, your astonished partners will be well advised to secure copies for themselves. Whatever the situation, this splendid selection of defensive play puzzles will test your skills - and you will learn from the detailed explanation that Ron Klinger gives on the page following each puzzle.