Dungeon Tiles are Here!

Hooray, it's here! Despite the tracking number I was given never showing anything, my tiles have arrived.  Dungeons & Dragons Lost Caverns of the Underdark.  I can now custom build underground terrain on the fly (or even plan ahead) without having to draw.  I hate drawing.

I'll post some pictures of some caverns I designed after our game Saturday.  Can't spoil the surprises quite yet.

Almost Game Time

Wow, over a week off from playing D&D.  Refreshing, but I am ready to go back at it.  During the break I "volunteered" (read: pushed) to DM for the Wednesday night Encounters games.  On the plus side, I get D&D stuff for doing it, including a few cool paper maps, AND our usual DM may get a chance to play.

Also, since we last played, I have been able to flesh out some more encounters for "Thank you, but our princess is in another castle."  I have over 10 encounters detailed out (all but the map layouts) and have completion on a minor quest story line.

My dear wife has ordered me my first set of DM Dungeon tiles for Christmas, that I hope arrive in time for Saturday's game.  Hopefully this will make building all these quest maps easy, varied, and fun.   I'll report back on the results.

Now, off to add more encounters for the main story line.

Race & Appeal

So a friend of mind loaned me his collection of ancient D&D artifacts.  I was actually afraid to unseal most of them from their anti-aging blankets, but a few whose seals were already broke I took a peak at.  Specifically of interest I read about the temporary companionship that can be gained at taverns through the land.  The article advised, that as DM, to help determine their price I also have to take into account their race. 

You see, certain races get certain bonuses and may fetch a fairer price.  These involve the attributes of Discretion and Appeal (which are no longer used in D&D).  Elves and Orcs have a -1 Discretion.  Okay, I can buy that (bad pun - I know).  But an Orc still has +1 appeal?!?   Am I looking at the wrong Orc artwork?  Oh, and a hobbit has more appeal than a half-elf or a human.  Really?!?  And while I am ranting, when the hobbit-suffrage movement occur that caused us to have to call them halflings now?  I think hobbit seems more accurate that to insinuate that they are only half of anything especially half of a "ling".

Back to the "business" at hand, without venturing too far into PG-13 territory, who has more appeal for you?  Pick one and post a comment:

• Human
• Elf
• Half-Elf
• Hobbit
• Orc

Now to keep my players from worrying, while these companions are certainly wondering about town, I don't think any of them will be open for business when PCs are around.  There is reason I choose to turn off the sound when I play Fall-Out 3 or New Vegas on my Xbox, and why I avoid certain areas of the game while playing Fable 2 or 3 when my kids are in the house.  Heck, I blush when I play that part of the game, and insist I only have to get the Xbox achievement.

D&D Miniatures

Yes, those are Lego people!   I started off my D&D experience with a fellow player who brought some extra miniatures.  It was a great experience.  Immediately after, I was plunged back into the world of using cardboard disks with a character's face factory drawn in.  It just wasn't the same.  My wife came up with the idea of using our Lego people as miniatures.  My kids immediately started making characters, and its been a blast ever since. 

Now, back to being cheap, in case someone as cheap as me is reading this. Lego people are NOT any cheaper than D&D miniatures.  However, they are more customizable, in my opinion more readily available, and my kids financed the purchases.  It cost ME nothing.  It's what my kids request from family and friends for birthdays and Christmas, so I am all set an no additional cost.

To my family and Friends who provide Lego's to my kids (and my wife who picks them up at garage sales, too):  For Christmas they want Lego people, especially things that look medieval, fantasy-like, or even elves and orcs.  I promise they will get used :)

I am saving a really cool post for the next time my brother brings his Lego character, Shava, over.  I will take a picture of it and post it along with the awesome details on how he plays his character in and out of game.

Session 3 - "Thank you, but our princess is in another castle!"

Session 3:

Your party met Abraxus, a dragonborn Warlord (Marshal) in the great hall.  She looked “fighty” and speaks Draconic which was your justification to your party members and the king for allowing him to join the party.

King Hrothgar finally sent his page for you and you appeared before the King in his war room just off the great hall.  He first apologized for summoning you to the arena and then explained why he has done so and what is afoot.  In summary, he was looking for a brave group of heroes who could not only stand toe to toe with beast and foe, but a group that could think on their feet to solve any issue laid before them.  You see, an encampment has been setup NW of town, and they had raided the castle (quite stealthily I might add).  The spoils of that raid were the king’s eldest daughter, Lorgar.  The King has asked that you return her safely for a reward of 5000gp, but there is a catch.  That encampment in the NW bares the coat of arms of Hilliana, ruled by King Helgon, a longtime friend of King Hrothgar.  Hrothgar knows something is wrong in Hilliana and is trying to prevent war.  He is even willing to sacrifice his daughter if it means preventing a war that will kill thousands (though he will do just about anything else for her).  Therefor he also offers you a 2000gp reward for returning Lorgar’s body, if you can get revenge and not implicate Palancia in any way.  While you are up north in Hilliana, he will also offer an additional 1000gp reward for information on what the heck is going on in Hilliana.  Your party was respectful to the king and accepted his quests.

The King then pulled from the chest in his war room some rewards for your fight in the Arena of Trials that he said you could use in any way to aid you in your quest.  You received:

·         an Amulet of Protection (+1 Fortitude, Reflex, Will and resist 5 poison)

·         a Magic Staff (+1 attack and damage as implement, critical hits do 1d6 extra damage)

·         a Darkleaf Leather Armor (+1 Armor Class, +2 Armor Class against first attack each encounter)

·         500 gp

·         6 horses (including 1 war horse)

·         The services of the King’s mage who can enchant Shields with a 50% success rate (failure destroys the object).

·         Lodging in the palace for the night.

You accept his gifts, distribute them as appropriate to your party, and request a large and small shield be enchanted.  Both attempts fail, destroying the shields.

Late in Day 2: Your party decides to head into town to find Keira and spend some hard earned gold.  At the town crossroads, a group of 12 kids surrounds with sticks and starts to fight you.  They are playful but probably a little over stimulated from the recent Arena battle they witnessed.  During your encounter with them they shouted things they heard in the arena.  Fortunately, using spells such as sleep, and several Intimidating yells and growls, you are able to scare them all off without having to hurt any of them.

Jadis, Varis, and Glyth suddenly feel stronger and stand outside the tavern to discuss how to utilize their new found strength.  Abraxus, Shava, and Yelsha visit the armorer and buy him out of scale armor, large shields, and small shields.  The party regroups and enters the Tavern to retrieve Keira.  Upon entering the tavern, you find Keira drinking ale with a body bleeding out at her feet.  She is surrounded by four other bandits and a berserker.  The confines of the tavern are limiting, but your party, with the aid of Keira, manages to dispatch the foes.  “This town is falling apart by the minute.  Let’s get out of here,” says Keira.

You head back to the palace for a good night’s rest before setting off. 

Early in Day 3: After about 6 hours of sleeping, the elves in your party are awakened by noises down the hall.   The party is woken and you creep down the hall, in the pitch black, all the way back to the great hall.  There are 4 guards fighting 2 other guards into the corner.  Once spotted, each group of guards pleads for your help claiming the other group is spies.  Jadis casts sleep on most of the group and finds success in only the group of two, but the four others continue to attack the sleeping guards.  Your party uses that clue to begin attacking the group of four.  Once attacked, each guard in that group of four reveals their true identities as doppleganger sneaks.  Your party kills the four spies, and helps the guards up.  They run off to report the incident and tell King Hrothgar of your cunning and bravery.

Your party then heads to the stable to secure your promised horses and you find your latest challenge in getting the heck out of town…   Abraxus weighs too much to ride on a horse without slowing down the party.  You overcome the challenge by spending your hard earned gold on an additional horse and a wagon.  You then send a page to request the court mage to try enchanting your new shields.  He succeeds on a small shield, destroying a small and a large shield in the process.  Fortunately, the enchantment on the small shield negates the loss of the large shield to its wielder, Shava.

At last, your party takes the road between the stables and the castle to the road North.  Once behind the castle you ride NW toward the reported camp.  After a several hours ride, you spot smoke which leads you to the campfire of the camp. 

Midday Day 3: Approaching the camp, you encounter a group of 2 guards, 3 lackeys (who seemed to never miss), and a pseudodragon.  During the encounter, which you quickly handled, a guard managed to throw some sort of capsule into the fire that caused an explosion that did damage to one of your party and themselves.  More importantly, it alerted a nearby party with high red smoke, who now has you surrounded.

You’ll have to come back December 3^rd to find out what happens next.  Will you find any clues as to what is happening in Hilliana?  Will you find the princess and is she still alive?  How will you handle the quest for the old man?  Is Keira really worthy of your trust?

                Experience Points:

                                Encounter 4 (Kids) – 372 XP
                                Encounter 5 (Tavern) – 550 XP
                                Encounter 3 (Spies) – 600 XP
                                Encounter 6.1 (Camp – 1^st wave) – 725 XP

                                Total XP: 2247 XP divided among 7 (6 PC and 1 NPC) for 321 XP each.

DM Ruling on the NPC, Keira’s, effect on XP.  Keira is quite a powerful striker and as such your party is stronger.  Therefor your XP will be divided to include her in the division.  You can gain more XP per encounter by asking her to leave. 

D&D Session 2 Update

Like keeping minutes and then having the minutes ratified at the next meeting, our players requested some changes to the Session 2 Adventure Notes.  Glad to see you guys reading them!  Please note, that the original Session 2 Advernture Notes have been updated to give credit (or blame as your perspective may be) to Varis as helping to slay the dragon.

Our next session is schedule for Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at 4pm at the same location in Richmond Hill, GA. 

A shout out to those who like the story but can't play for whatever reason.  I would love to hear your ideas for where you think this story is headed, or where you would like it to. 

The lands around Palancia continue to develop and I see quiet an adventure in store for Palancia.  Session 3 notes from last night will be coming out in the next few days.  Hope to see you all soon.

One more underperforming awesome movie

My wife and I watched Season of the Witch with Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman this weekend.  The trailer intrigued us before it came out to theaters, but with tickets as much as $14 (each!) in little Savannah, GA and we have a rule about going to see movies for full price.

Rule 1: Only see it if its a big screen must (read Sci-Fi with special effects)
Rule 2: Only see it if you are desperate for a date OUT.

So, Season of the Witch finally comes to Netflix and it is totally awesome.  Part time period piece, part supernatural, part horror.  I Also felt like the pacing and story would make for an excellent DND adventure. 

Let me know your thoughts on this movie or other sleeper hits.

Second Session of my very own D&D Campaign

Second Session: 

Late in Day 1: You begin during your short rest between the fifth and sixth waves of monsters.  You’ve noted that this looks like a Total Party Kill.  The DM only has to say at this point, “I find your lack of faith disturbing.” 

Arboris and Symion are resting with your party when their stares off into the distance suddenly go cold and they drop to the ground.  They must have had some medical condition as you find them dead on the battle field.   Suddenly, your odds of surviving this contest, bleak to begin with, just got worse.  If only there was some way to replace them…

An elf cleric named Shava, inspired by your bravery and possibly hoping to partake in the spoils, gracefully leaps from the stands and joins the fray.  The sixth wave begins.  A Bloodseeker Drake enters the arena and picks up the scent of an unseen assailant.  As it approaches, a death jump spider leaps out.  Satisfied, at what is smelled, the Bloodseeker Drake picks up the scent of the party and approaches.  Varis becomes bloodied, and in an attempt to step away from the Drake, the BloodSeeker drake took a massive bite out of Varis, dropping him instantly in death.   Glyth sheds tears as she continues the battle around her fallen partner. The death jump spider continued to jump into the party for an attack and then retreat. In the next wave, two bandits and a town guard were fairly easily dispatched.  For the next wave, the court mage cast a complicated spell a raised some of the humans just dispatch from their recent slumber and accidentally summons a much larger creature from the pit trap.  The party dropped the zombies pretty quickly, including the one that was raised still in the pit, and couldn’t climb out.  But they kept reanimating until you hit the bodies once they dropped.  The next wave was a large swarm of Stirge minions that kept pouring out the various portcullises.  Your party was able to dispatch the Stirges practically before they could close the distance to your defensive position in the center of the arena.

Expecting the next wave, you catch your breath.  After a longer than usual pause, the king announces that due to unfortunate circumstances, the next challenge would not be ready today, and that you may rest in the palace guest quarters.  He is also impressed enough that he offers his court healer to attempt to revive Varis.  You gain a long needed restful sleep while being guarded by the palace guards. 

Early Day 2: Refreshed and ready for a battle, you are escorted back to the arena at the crack of dawn.  Along the way, a newly whole Varis rejoins the party with quite an excited and not all-together kid appropriate kiss from Glyth.

As soon as you enter the arena, a frost dragon fledgling is wrangled through the eastern keep with a complicated series of portcullis opens and closes to keep the dragon confined and the guards safe.  You wonder if this extreme caution has something to do with yesterday’s unfortunate accident.
The dragon is chained at each leg with a long length of chain and tries to fly away.  Shava and Yelsha begin hacking at the chain with some success, but the movement of the drago causes numerous misses and slow going as Jadis, Varis, and Glyth try to kill the dragon.  Ultimately one chain is broken just as the dragon is slain by Glyth, Varis, and Jadis.

Gathering your strength as you anticipate your reward for ten rounds well fought and the loss of three comrades, a rope ladder appears over the NW wall.  You are faced with six humanoids who demand from the king a second chance to earn their share of reward by battling these new heroes.  The exchange includes references to the importance of the task requiring the best, and the King agrees.  (These six humanoids were based off of recent Wednesday night Encounters Games)
The battle went well, but our heroes were reluctant to kill the last two remaining combatants, who we learned are named Valanae and Keira.  Keira, an elf rogue is knocked unconscious, and despite pleas from our heroes Valanea, a fey (eladrin) cleric, would not submit, and was killed by a final spell.
At battles end, the king declares our heroes victorious and invites them to a grand feast in their honor.  Keira was awakened, and asked to join the party.  With only a slight hesitation she agreed.  A few spoils of war were found on the battle field, mostly additional weapons and ammo rounding out our heroes’ equipment.  The new and improved larger party headed for the feast.  Keira was stopped at the gate into the castle and not permitted to enter.  The heroes gave her 3 gp and 5 daggers (as she was raided as a spoil of war herself) and asked her to wait at the tavern.

Midday Day 2: The heroes enjoyed a large feast of boarturduckins and upon having their fill, the King slips off into a back room saying he will send you for shortly.  Your party was then engaged in conversation by an old man named Faelwyn.  He was an hero of old himself, and on his last adventure, over a decade ago, he captured the fledgling white dragon you fought in the arena, and retired off of his sale of the dragon to King Hrothgar.    He offered you 1200gp for its return.  He lives in the first house east of the Clothier.

Next, a well dress man named Billani Jobe approaches you.  You find out he is the Guild Master for the Palancia Guild of Commerce.  He challenges you to participate in a wager on dance contest.  Glyth, Varis, and Jadis all fault their excessive eating on bowing out of the contest.  Shava and Yelsha agree to participate for 10gp each.  Billani gathers six other contestants from the halls and the contest ensues.  Shava is eliminated after about 8 rounds and Yelsha after 16 rounds.  (I should note that the only players that participated were not athletic or acrobatic).  Dancer #6 won the competition around round 24.  Shava and Yelsha earned 50XP each for participating.
Before leaving the Great Hall, Bellani whispers to you that if you would like to discuss “commerce” in a more private setting to meet him at his house, the 2^nd house east of the Clothier.

                Experience Points:

Encounter 1.6:   350
Encounter 1.7:   400
Encounter 1.8:   375
Encounter 1.9:   300
Encounter 1.10: 500
Encounter 2.0 (Keira’s Party): 1000

Total XP: 2925 divided among 5 characters for 585 XP each.

Encounter 2.1 (Dancing): 50 XP ea to Shava and Yelsha, Shava and Yelsha feel stronger

My Campaign Adventure Notes

“Thank you, but our princess is in another castle!”
Adventure Notes

First Session:

Day 1: Your party arrives from the south heading north into the town of Palancia.  Nobody was at the docks.  The party talked to every merchant except the priestess and dock master (the dock master was out at the arena).  Your party bought several wares.  They also brought many armors and weapons with them from their previous travels.  Every merchant you met appears to be a member of the Palancia Guild of Commerce.  You reported to the Arena of Trials per your summons from King Hrothgar, and began battle.  The announcer told you there would be 10 rounds of battle with a short rest between each.  During battle, Symion sprang the center trap, but avoided falling into thanks to his thievery and acrobatics skill.  You fought some Dire Rat Minions.  Arboris caught an advanced type of Filth Fever, but quickly shook it off.  You then fought some Dire Rats, followed by a swarm of rats and four stirges.  In the fourth wave, you fought three guard drakes and two stirges.  The guard drakes seemed lame, and in your reluctance to fight, archers lined up around the walls and threatened you with death of a thousand piercings.  You fought and were victorious.  During the fifth wave, you fought 3 Guard Drakes and two pseudo dragons.  The pseudo dragons vexed you and knocked Glyth and Varis unconscious.  Fortunately, the Druid Yelsha was able to assist.  You are now ready to take a short rest.

                Experience Points:

Encounter 1.1:   100
Encounter 1.2:   400
Encounter 1.3:   500
Encounter 1.4:   575
Encounter 1.5:   675
Total XP: 2250 divided among 6 characters for 375 XP each.

Second Session:

Late in Day 1: You begin during your short rest between the fifth and sixth waves of monsters.  You’ve noted that this looks like a Total Party Kill.  The DM only has to say at this point, “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”

I'm Sorry, but our Princess is in Another Castle!

Yes, that is the name of my first D&D campaign.  Yes, it should sound familiar.  It's hard to believe I am been playing D&D, on average, once a week since June, I am already trying to write my own campaign.  Talk about a control freak.

My initial player invites received the following summons:

King Horthgar of Palancia has summoned you to a contest.  Only the bravest heroes have been invited.   Heroes who answer the summons will be rewarded.   To answer the summons, appear at the east end of the Arena of Trials at the sun’s apex two days before All Hollow’s Eve.

“Bring only your foot prints and buy your equipment in Palancia!” – Palancia Guild of Commerce

I am posting this after our first session, being new to blogging, to build up a history that newer players who may join us can catch up on.  I look forward to any responses, especially players and other DMs.

Hello World!

As a geek with a computer science degree, I felt it only appropriate to print my title as the very first program I, and numerous other programmers, ever wrote.   Since this serves as my introduction, I should mention that I am NOT a programmer, and not even a proper geek.  I am notoriously cheap, have been a business owner, and recently took up a hobby of playing Dungeons and Dragons (my first experience was June 2011).  Oh yeah, and I like video games, but I don't play nearly enough to call myself a gamer (according to my friends).

My primary reason for STARTING this blog, was I was looking for a central place to put some D&D stuff out to my players (especially for the one who refuses to acknowledge D&D publically on Facebook).  In the back of my mind, for the last couple of years, I have always wanted to voice my opinion about a few unimportant things and have someone actually care, and maybe even respond.  The latter may still by a pipe dream, so I will start with getting the first one done.

So, "HELLO WORLD!", I look forward to a meaningful shallow relationship with you!