tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70409132024-02-19T04:09:07.689-08:00Dave's weekly RPG gameThoughts and notes about roleplaying game sessions in Dungeons & Dragons (mostly as a Dungeon Master, some as a player). A number of Magic: The Gathering tournament notes, and early entries from playing the Star Wars RPG.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-59327484669154708992014-06-14T08:46:00.000-07:002014-06-15T10:26:07.174-07:00Aftermath of Golden Heroes (B Team)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The B Team vs monstrous ape temple guardians. Minis: Dave Pierik<br />
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Hive</h2>
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Long ago, the Golden Heroes defeated an arch-villain named Jaramon, who was bent on transforming the world through polymorphic magic, mutation and other means. His passionate commitment and philosophy of change brought him many enemies but also a cultlike following. The heroes defeated him and his cult at his Temple of Transformation. But not before Jaramon was able to breed many new monsters in his failed attempts to sculpt the perfect creature. The heroes declared victory, left and went on to many other adventures.</div>
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Now, there are still some problems. </div>
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In the remote desert village of Madhu, somewhere in the Sikglo desert of Ganis, a gnome known as Sod is effectively the Mayor, however reluctant he is to fill that role. </div>
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At one time Madhu had a couple of dozen businesses and serves as a minor waypoint along the caravan routes. Points of interest include Broken Fountain, the Wall Tower Inn, the Hex-Side Temple of Aspirations, a Temple to Pelor and another to Kord, and a few temples shared by clerics and priests when they visit. She-Deal's Supplies, a Statue of Dhuma, a Gambler's Hall, the Rally Station (where the town militia trains to prepare for emergencies) the storm tunnels, Desert Flower & Fashion, Mystical Mel's, Gerchon's Kitchen, The Madhu Madhouse tavern, a General Store, Flute's Rake and Shovel Shop, Cork-Screw & Grape wine shop, Applonia's Pineapple, Lookout Tower, Well & Ration House (Sod's business, he controls the water) Fardham the Great's Apothecary, Slingee's House of Gemstone, Love of the Witch Potion House, Desert Farm Supply, Mel's Camels and Crynyor's Alehouse. </div>
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Now, take the first half of the above list and keep it. The second half is mostly gone. It may perhaps return in some form but the owners of most of those businesses (with the exception of Sod and Mystical Mel) are deceased. Visitor's have slim choices in terms of food, drink and entertainment. Cactus juice and expensive water quench thirst. Ale is cheaper than water. Ostrich eggs, cashews, butterflies and blue-green ants are the main things people eat around here.</div>
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This oasis owes everything to Sod the Gnome, who refuses to actually run it as a town. People take turns volunteering to do what needs to get done such as creating and enforcing laws. All the places that were built here, including the Wall Tower and the Storm Tunnels, came about this way.<br />
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The previous session, the B Team fought giant mutated wasps after finding people in town covered in cocoons. The town population were being turned into insectoid monsters one by one. Fortunately the party found the gigantic hive and burned it. So the population Madhu went from about 200, to about 12. Now, after caravans of refugees came from the South, it's back up to about 200 due to settlers.<br />
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In the most recent game session, the Temple of Kord was rescued from temple guardian apes by the B Team. Gnoll visited the local taverns to gather information, Tiger Lily did some exploration and Nightshade did a bit of gambling, got herself kicked out and returned in disguise to do some more gambling.<br />
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The party ventured South by sandskiff and fought intellect devourerers on their way to Dron's hometown , Long Ridge, in the northern part of the Mantix Mountains of Ganis. The plan is for the party to continue South against the tide of refugees, through Demynville, to Barren Heights. Mel Mel is hoping to rescue her lost love Tim Duncan there. She finally learned of his location from a Madhu wizard who happens to be named Mystical Mel.<br />
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Long Ridge is a hidden mountaintop dwarven keep and most of Dron's family live there. Dron's cousin Felix went mad some time ago after an encounter while hunting intellect devourers and now roams the area with madness and luck on his side. Dron's father, Gurston the Gurston is a stern traditional dwarf and head of the clan but his mother and her friends were very accommodating for the B Team in light of the fact that it was they who brought Dron safely home to visit. Gurston almost smiled a couple of times even though the group includes an elf, two humans, and even a half orc. But this is a time of strife and the Gurston clan welcome all the help and allies they can get.<br />
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<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-78124335980717055822014-05-04T16:07:00.001-07:002014-06-13T22:00:58.111-07:00Peninsula College<a href="http://davepierik.com/wordpress/2014/05/peninsula-college/">Peninsula College</a><br />
I have been learning a great deal about multimedia through the program at Peninsula College. I am now a Certified Web Designer, Photographer and Digital Photo Editor. I can get around comfortably in the Adobe Creative Suite 6: Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop and also Audition among other things. HTML, CSS and PHP are not the strange terms they once were to me – I have <i>done</i> things with those...<br />
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This blog is going to get some upgrades and attention as a result of these new (to me anyway) skills. So what has been lost in game entries while I've been in school might be made up for with a fresher look...<br />
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I have also learned how to format and publish e-books. <a href="http://davepierik.com/" target="_blank">If you would like to see some of my stuff, visit davepierik.com.</a><br />
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Thank you for looking, now back to your regularly scheduled adventure logs...Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-12830993626653992812013-12-06T11:03:00.000-08:002013-12-06T11:03:03.641-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From July 21, 2013 game<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-8032954505725589682013-10-21T22:28:00.002-07:002013-10-21T22:28:55.518-07:002013 GamingBoy have I been gaming less this year. My time is very crunched since I still have a full time job, plus I've gone back to school full time.<br />
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That being said, I should report that I've been playing Magic: The Gathering off and on. I even played at a tournament at Olympic Cards & Comics recently.<br />
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Go Boros!<br />
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I did okay, out of a field of 64 players I won the first 4 rounds, then lost, then won then lost or something like that. I did okay. Red/White aggro is a pretty good build. I love red/white anyway but that little deck was super fast.<br />
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I haven't really played much if any D&D this year.<br />
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Anyway... I just looked at my blog and saw that I really had not posted in a long time. I'm still here.<br />
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One of my new favorite non-gaming game-like things is LootCrate. When PAX sold out before we could get tickets, this was the next best thing, maybe even better in terms of swag anyway. Hopefully next year.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-7186006011542501782012-08-13T11:22:00.000-07:002012-08-13T11:22:01.928-07:00Long Live the... Who?Lance's high level campaign was very interesting Saturday. B, me (Dave), Mat & Ava, Rob, Rod, and Jesse B. enjoyed some political intrigue with good roleplay and then a good combat.
Whitewall's king has been missing for 4 days. Esmarelda is uneasy as are the other inner circle advisors. Queen Verisa pays the heroes of Whitewall their wages, 50,000 gp each. She is 8 months pregnant with the crown prince. She happens to be an elf.
A tiefling appears almost out of nowhere. "Hey friend," he says. He's wearing fine clothes that are hanging off of him with about 3,000 years of dusty aging and seems not to care. He has been spying on our conversation in a routine and reckless way. His name is Carsh Tarkassis and the more he tries to gain trust the less he is trusted. He seems eager to help but Ruin is highly skeptical, this new guy seems slippery.
Regarding the king, whenever questions are asked, members of the inner circle make uncomfortable faces, look away and change the subject. The curious among the heroes begin to quietly dig to learn what they can. Conspiracy theories abound: was King Leonid grabbed by a tentacle and dragged to the Far Realm? Did the orcs of Gorkni kidnap him? Or... dare we think the unthinkable and speculate the king could be dead? No one is saying anything.
In the meantime, we are mercenaries with a new boss: Queen Verisa. As far as we are concerned that's good enough for us. Our marching orders are to go to Gorkni and fight the orcs there. As we near the city we make some basic preparations to not be too obvious about or plans.
Kontor encamps his 400 giants some distance away and prepares teleportation circles to bring them close when the time comes. Giants are not easy to hide otherwise.
Carsh Tarkassis "befriends" a couple of orc scouts who are then slain anyway by Zuzu and Kontor. Carsh is not pleased, and neither is Esmarelda or Ruin because not only can we not question the scouts, Gorkni will know something is up when they don't report in. So we will have to attack immediately this night and not in the morning as originally planned. So be it.
Just before Ruin blows up Gorkni's wall with his alchemical charges, B's ranger makes a ladder out of arrows and Zuzu charges up them. The ranger and the fighter leap from the wall to the tower behind it right before it collapses inward on the enemy behind it. Atop the tower appear to be enemy commanders or dignitaries of some kind and Zuzu is making a beeline for them, right up the tower.
On the other side of the wall it is not orcs who await the heroes, but mind flayers. The orcs are effectively their cattle, being bred and herded to fight for them but cattle nonetheless. The mind flayers are gigantic too, not typical and seem to be under the command of the dignitaries on the tower.
100' or so atop the tower, Zuzu is fighting Dorsain, Dr. Wiley and Crotus. They should be much more than he can handle but he doesn't care. Kontor summons a huge monster made of chains to join the fight up there but otherwise the party are focused on the mind flayers.
The chain monster knocks Dorsain off of the tower and after he lands he is dominated by Carsh Tarkassis. Dr. Wiley and Dorsain are defeated, mind flayers are slain and tentacles from the Far Realm whisk Crotus and the remains of Dorsain and Dr. Wiley away.
Zuzu is challenged by a bold orc survivor and defeats him in a single attack. Zuzu's first act as new Warchief of Gorkni is to replace Gruumsh worship with Kord/Marishten. Yes, Gruumsh is not going to be happy about this!
Ruin takes the heroes aside in a confidential meeting and reveals that King Leonid had lost his mind and was decapitated by his own personal guard, to save him from himself and preserve the kingdom of Whitewall. The king's head has been preserved in a jar. The populous is not to know however. Currently the pregnant Queen Verisa and her advisors rule. Oh, and we're learning more about Ruin and his strange re-occurances. He was slain by the mind flayers, but a new version of him appears before us bearing his memories and scars, including six black horns on his pale head to represent the mental damage inflicted by the mind flayers, now repaired. Replaced, more like it.
But back to matters of the Crown. Succession might not be quite so simple. Esmeralda's bastard son could contend for the throne in theory and other developments are possible. For now, Whitewall is holding together but it is spread thin across both geography and many alliances, races and powerful armies with huge differences: orcs, elves, giants, wildlings, dragons, dragonborn, humans, heroes, golems. And in Lance's campaign resurrection is not a routine matter.
Enemies without and rumors of intrigue within. Hmm.
We are now 19th level and encouraged to make our characters pretty epic, within reason. We each get two +4 magic items.
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-11481909314834875342012-07-22T22:35:00.000-07:002012-07-22T22:35:08.561-07:00White Wall (Lance's high level)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Battle at
W H I T E W A L L (Lance’s campaign)
The Faction of Brecken Ridge and White Wall
are entangled in an arms race of epic proportion, involving dragons and worse. Of the five dragons, each the size of a city, White Wall now owns two: the green and the blue.
Armies of incredible size and power are mustering, supported by magical arsenals the like of which has never been seen, and heroes such as have not walked the world in an age.
The King of White Wall knows war is
inevitable and much is at stake.
Once again his kingdom is under attack.
Another contingent of would-be defenders
has come to him seeking employment.
He has rejected so many meek,
unworthy and unprepared warriors.
How many have died already?
He doesn't have time to worry about it.
Hopefully this group will be adequate.
Tens of thousands of orcs and ogres and their allies advance on White Wall, screaming for blood. They are met by 400 giants, constructs, a hodgepodge of other forces, and a few amazing heroes who are insanely outnumbered. The armies fight upon a gigantic field 200 miles across. Occasionally the shadow of a dragon as large as a city darkens the battlefield. Often, gigantic black tentacles and eyestalks pop out of nothing into the air, slashing and grabbing at anything in sight.
At the center of it all, the cause of this battle is the slippery figure, the Military Supplier (Shawn's character, not here for this session) of King Leofrig Middleton, (Lance's human warlord, level 16, or at least that’s the level we're at). Among his advisers is The Old B-tch (Carson's character, not here for this session) who knows it all, it would seem. She teaches and guides in a creepy way and is said to consort with the Far Realm.
The King and his advisors watch the battle with interest from within the walls. Among the King's protectors (and arguably the only one he needs) is Hector Custodes (Rob's Revanent Paladin) who as payment for a past failure must defend his King unto death. Oh but that's right, he cannot die. Hector just finished helping the King assess and hire these new heroes and he is about to see how they measure up.
The King's Hero is Esmarelda, the Paladin-Ranger (who is also Sar'in the Dragon Lady Sorceress; Rod's shapeshifter has 5 personalities) who can single-handedly defeat entire armies when near groups of dragonborn. It is said she has never been seen at the same time as her friend, the psion Ethos. Though incredibly powerful, the rumor is that she has an equally powerful Far Realm nemesis. Sar’in defeated another entire army defending one of White Wall's outlying cities just prior to the main battle. Now Esmarelda is slaying all around her, including one of the enemy heroes who had been flying on a griffin earlier.
Among the heroes on the field is Zuzu (Mat’s 1/2 orc fighter) who passed the mustering trials by swearing allegiance to the King after having proven his ability by wounding Esmarelda in a practice fight. Now Zuzu is deep in the field, going after enemy commanders with gusto. It was Madame Eeyahh (P.’s human cleric) who healed Esmarelda after that mustering trial, by smacking her upside the face for being so stupid! This is a woman not to be trifled with, dark in complexion, standing 6'2" tall and made 100% out of attitude. The cleric will patch together anyone else stupid enough to get hurt. Being healed by getting smacked and yelled at might just help in itself.
Burning everything in sight from a safe distance is Rune (Ava’s warforged warlock).
V'Ronica (Kayla's drow ranger) is having a good time fighting this battle. Moving with grace, she avoids injury while her attackers drop all around her. Ruin (Jesse's white elf rogue) is closely associated with the throne room and was an advisor during the mustering trials. He arrived mysteriously by boat, having been sent by the men in black organization. Now, Ruin is out there in the battlefield somewhere, mostly unseen as the enemy drop with equal mystery.
The giant wrangler arrived somewhat unexpectedly from the hinterlands, claiming to be Emperor Kontor Smidge Lokag, G-d Emperor of the Giants (Dave’s goliath wizard). Accompanying him are 200 fire giants and 200 earth titan giants. After initially requesting an alliance of empires, Kontor kneels before King Leofrig because the truth is they are down to half rations. “We were hungry,” he says simply upon being asked why he joined.
Giants do eat a lot, as the carcasses of a herd of sheep consumed the night before battle attest. The giants obey Kontor’s commands without question, as he is their tactician and wizard and also because he possesses the crown of their ancient king, the Eye of the Old G-ds. Kontor found the Eye accidentally while seeking other magical knowledge and spells. He stands nearly 8’ tall (okay, 7’7”) as is normal for a goliath, but his friends among the giants call him Smidge because to them he’s a pretty small giant. In battle Kontor wields a storm spells and a tome that summons nasty creatures such as the Stormstone Fury, which in turn damages foes at a distance with thunder attacks. Because he specializes in ranged magical attacks, in this battle Kontor fights from atop the crenellated white wall of White Wall itself. His giants operate fearsomely on their own, having been given simple guidelines, tactics and instructions earlier (mostly involving who would stand in close combat and who would stay back and throw rocks).
The golem wrangler, Shar-I-Zaard (Jon’s shardmind artificer) brings forth clouds of mechanical spiders that give the orcs and ogres fits, then commands a few very tough looking magical, mechanical soldiers to stand and fight in a straight line in front of him. By the end of the battle, the the strange crystalline artificer is completely untouched.
The battle is fierce but the invisible siege devices of the orc army are not found in time to save one of White Wall’s towers. It falls atop the final enemy commander who is flung beneath it by Esmarelda. But the fall of his tower dismays the king who is happy the battle is won by his army but gives the tower and its former inhabitants a heartfelt eulogy. Kontor, who climbed that very grand tower on his way to the top of the wall, puts his giants to work replacing the original materials where they go, guided by a prolonged illusion from a scroll provided by the king’s wizards, of the tower as it appeared when it was standing. Though many have died, the orcs might be a bit crestfallen because by appearances from a distance, the tower is somehow still standing after all.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-39242178580871582572012-03-07T13:50:00.004-08:002012-03-17T23:29:10.816-07:00Lava Tubes continueSo the B team continue to explore the Lava Tubes. The other direction, where we didn't go previously is the way we now find ourselves forced to go due to volcanic activity around the caldera. <br /><br />Ava ran again, we started early and it was a short session due to time commitments. Players: B, me, Mat & Ava, Jon, Carson, Lance, Robby. Thank you Ava. We fought lava monsters and a fire eye beholder. The party leveled to 7th, our current experience should be 10,020. No treasure this time but please note that the previous session we got 1,500 gp and a 6th level magic item. To be continued. Thank you Mat & Ava, I hope the rest of your weekend goes well. <br /><br />Later on we were joined by Rod, then by Walter. Due to time being short we played Sentinels of the Multiverse, including the new Rook City expansion. Man I love the quality of this game, I don't get bored of it. I'm working my way through each of the characters, villains and settings because I don't want to miss anything. Today I got to play Mr. Fixer, one of the new heroes. He's pretty cool, kind of reminds me of Casey Jones from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book. He's a hero, but yeah you get the sense he's a bit touched in the head. We went up against The Organization, which includes a couple of villains who would be fairly tough, but since we didn't use the advanced rules for our 6 players we won pretty quickly. Carson played Legacy, Rob - Ra, Jon played the villains The Operative with The Chairman as well as the new Rook City environment, plus a hero. Rod played Visionary, Lance played Haka, I played Mr. Fixer and B played The Wraith. Most likely just our family will play Sentinels again tomorrow.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-47414983530907773752012-02-26T19:29:00.016-08:002012-02-26T19:40:21.349-08:00Terrain Photos Etc.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ81TzsU985vOjgCRA5CxRUxCM-Wrt_PrnkXFnfC010T_EKEREQOuQumAXPFDOM0QE5vzzf3eygeGiaD0LXz24hhKhhr0s1x16M_az4unVP5nwQporl2DF1W5VTUlgs3HnqkkGcQ/s1600/2012-02-25_22-20-21_633.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ81TzsU985vOjgCRA5CxRUxCM-Wrt_PrnkXFnfC010T_EKEREQOuQumAXPFDOM0QE5vzzf3eygeGiaD0LXz24hhKhhr0s1x16M_az4unVP5nwQporl2DF1W5VTUlgs3HnqkkGcQ/s200/2012-02-25_22-20-21_633.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713655178844628130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqM32_Dbq7QNusJW_vLtqpkN6U30YSUkm0mMeYc95svalBdf6Yge-W69cQGuBiEziA4PkSzFu5af677N-stlP97_yjdYW42hTg1aBsns24UY940Kev1HK-ryCV3Q7hhfe9TIjvLw/s1600/2012-02-25_21-57-45_31.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqM32_Dbq7QNusJW_vLtqpkN6U30YSUkm0mMeYc95svalBdf6Yge-W69cQGuBiEziA4PkSzFu5af677N-stlP97_yjdYW42hTg1aBsns24UY940Kev1HK-ryCV3Q7hhfe9TIjvLw/s200/2012-02-25_21-57-45_31.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713655067957937634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0U3l0JBLoQVerQe2mzhffCM8WOsnNzbW4IirosRh4Ej6rVc3Zm2BZLPhRVcSUmtFrWX8HBJIo9nGAFbhlv6IEfeivWHywM0QEhz8d6WiehjWvi3tlG9mQbMqUNiTcjLmlJQMnA/s1600/2012-02-25_20-01-46_324.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0U3l0JBLoQVerQe2mzhffCM8WOsnNzbW4IirosRh4Ej6rVc3Zm2BZLPhRVcSUmtFrWX8HBJIo9nGAFbhlv6IEfeivWHywM0QEhz8d6WiehjWvi3tlG9mQbMqUNiTcjLmlJQMnA/s200/2012-02-25_20-01-46_324.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713654949144049202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCnu4bhDUDWw0X_IsrY0CLakOMvRcboWpzT7BQUqwYNzBViDmxDtLaVr54QXJvCY-nhLbirz7P9LqS0XyZaiEP2z6fTyJat9nn5Q1qTOinCbUufh96v6Kyrw7jBfE6rrjLa_xCA/s1600/2012-02-25_17-41-09_172.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdwdUsWQ4Rc7tjHv2jOHi9Fb1ksvyBJ7YwRv-yCbtEH9oXDwrpx8aib0GHNoz0EwYyOZCGCmGLLi-WO3Qx5mJwfSgH1_b3js20dc6pnW_sbgrKwHvMaCsFE0fTUbNkO8vXW74zw/s200/2011-08-28_14-10-35_735.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713651874729706642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46ZnnIMiBb2jWlZvlatG9vwC0tFW9_1LpakAPktI2hnuKHSC_Xn6b7D371pXmZymPjgqJIw3IHf4q1sPGV-DR3v3OVmxlyiMpWJa_uY-NX-nJ_aPXryVsToveiseRtxYBGVokRw/s1600/2011-08-26_17-24-00_55.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46ZnnIMiBb2jWlZvlatG9vwC0tFW9_1LpakAPktI2hnuKHSC_Xn6b7D371pXmZymPjgqJIw3IHf4q1sPGV-DR3v3OVmxlyiMpWJa_uY-NX-nJ_aPXryVsToveiseRtxYBGVokRw/s200/2011-08-26_17-24-00_55.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713651687364224530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTyd5B5lBFZSktlte_SWjjJMHfYtsW2KfOL-F27I0C-2U6W4PVKo1_vYTfmuVAuMfnb5LO_3Fa-zVQTve8Ewxen8Tkv_ktDXFTmrkewe2PzXLgBxEt3DljnQW1G1yDTAfeM8hzg/s1600/2011-08-26_21-16-30_723.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTyd5B5lBFZSktlte_SWjjJMHfYtsW2KfOL-F27I0C-2U6W4PVKo1_vYTfmuVAuMfnb5LO_3Fa-zVQTve8Ewxen8Tkv_ktDXFTmrkewe2PzXLgBxEt3DljnQW1G1yDTAfeM8hzg/s200/2011-08-26_21-16-30_723.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713651532416817202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie2z0Syti7_yvhsy-DGUrQJ2GLfvZbDs5hgJS99KcLzw2GkuD7z-n50cgsG8FoWIleZhGAXBHmsSLHc3PPlCQ-SJ5Kz9ViQ4Iz2paVLasmyHXiEpJbvJcrIy7XeJwcPF0vD5nGw/s1600/2011-08-27_15-17-30_639.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie2z0Syti7_yvhsy-DGUrQJ2GLfvZbDs5hgJS99KcLzw2GkuD7z-n50cgsG8FoWIleZhGAXBHmsSLHc3PPlCQ-SJ5Kz9ViQ4Iz2paVLasmyHXiEpJbvJcrIy7XeJwcPF0vD5nGw/s200/2011-08-27_15-17-30_639.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713651355359484770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o0zPS89pNJpw21ruaN9lL-xV8WspYz8KoqshHz5kIJQSiYwUiPuP6JGKXMplKz5CepeGehhoNRBs-ZjuYKgxqHxp9oxBMM7jlXVd4_ZjUkglvCe55R79fvI-guvH7k7Vteh2Tg/s1600/2011-08-28_12-32-16_124.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o0zPS89pNJpw21ruaN9lL-xV8WspYz8KoqshHz5kIJQSiYwUiPuP6JGKXMplKz5CepeGehhoNRBs-ZjuYKgxqHxp9oxBMM7jlXVd4_ZjUkglvCe55R79fvI-guvH7k7Vteh2Tg/s200/2011-08-28_12-32-16_124.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713651108271290194" /></a>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-28460925102498566212012-02-26T14:56:00.004-08:002012-02-26T19:44:30.798-08:00B Team at EmberwakeAva ran an excellent session starting from where B. left off from some of her suggestions. Sam R. and Shane T. made new characters. Jon and Mat meanwhile played some furious duels of Magic while Ava prepped the adventure. B. and I printed updated versions of Min, Tiger Lily and Nightshade. Ava also played Cyn'Dar as kind of a back-seat character (the typical way to do that when running). For this session Jon played Gnoll and Nightshade; Mat played Scourge and Tiger Lily and I just played Min (and Scrabble on my phone between turns admittedly...) and took care of terrain, the dog, pretzels etc.<br /><br />The B Team, (AKA Aftermath of the Golden Heroes campaign group), left from the undercity (see previous entry) by way of a lava tube that looked ripe for exploration. The network of obsidian-walled caverns went on for miles. Cyn'dar, Gnoll, Min, Scourge, Tiger Lily and Nightshade gradually worked their way toward the surface. On their way up through the lava tubes, they met with two more adventurers who converged from a different tube. They were seeking a dragon's treasure, had some idea where to go and wouldn't mind some reinforcement given the rumors they had heard. Brark, a Duargar assassin armed with poisons and a wicked looking flail, agreed to join the group. The group were just happy he was on their side after having recently fought Duargar. With him was Krunk Eyemind, a Minotaur Psion equipped with what looked to be a little-used morningstar and crossbow over his back and carrying in his hand a well-worn staff. Krunk, something of a quiet guy, was glad to join the group.<br /><br />The characters were under the mountains of Emberwake, not far from the Coast of Eternal Steam. There were lava beds all around, with lava tubes underneath. Brark said the rumor he had heard was that the Burning Rage Cult were fanatically serving a Red Wyrm, Scorchblood - the kind of impossibly old, gigantic and powerful dragon that destroys entire cities. We knew this would be way too much for us, but the other half of the rumor was that this was where Scorchblood's treasure might be found and our hope was to um, maybe steal some of it without him missing it. Not far from here was the Eternal Eruption of the Cinder Crater. <br /><br />Making our way upward, we came to a definite left-right fork and thought we heard distant noises in both directions. Taking the cavern to to the right, it opened up into a higher-ceilinged chamber several hundred yards later where we were descended upon by Fire Bats, who had been hanging upside-down from a ledge ahead of us. These things were annoying because of their echo-location and swarming tactics but the group had the right mix of classes to overcome them. Because our group includes a Fire Wizard, many of us have been loading up on magic items with fire resistance, which was very helpful for this encounter.<br /><br />After a short rest we continued ahead, where after several hundred more yards we encountered the Cult of Scorchblood, the Burning Rage guys we had heard about. They were kobolds and their priest spoke Draconic. Only a couple of us could make out what they were blabbering about but they seemed to be getting pretty worked up. Scourge (Undead Deva Cleric) ran forward wielding his scythe and singing badly in draconic about how stupid they were. Brark (Duargar Assassin) snuck up the right wall of the cavern and quietly garroted one of the kobold slingers perched there. Tiger Lily (female Human Monk, age 9 1/2) bounded deep into a cluster of kobold fighters and spun fists and feet into all of their faces. Nightshade (female Human Rogue, age 11) snuck close enough to launch dagger and crossbow attacks into the throats of more of the kobold slingers before they could attack us. Gnoll (Half-Orc Battlemind) charged forward, gave us cover behind him and telekinetically hurled a 30-lb. boulder at one of the bad guys. Min Vizardio (Gnome Warden) launched a javelin at the kobold priest, then took ram form and charged the left group of fighters, keeping them busy with his shortsword and shield. Cyn'Dar (Dragonborn Wizard) stayed back and launched fire attacks with both her breath and spells. Krunk Eyemind (Minotaur Psion) took cover behind a rock and psychically attacked groups of kobold fighters. Even though the B team are not racially talented in their respective classes and were initially far outnumbered, they fought ferociously with cohesive teamwork and soon the odds were even, then in their favor, and then they were victorious.<br /><br />The defeat of the cultists opened the way to the caldera of Scorchblood, which allowed only single-file access to within. A narrow stone bridge led through a narrow entrance to what was effectively a stone island about 50' across, surrounded by lava. Awaiting us each in turn from the center of this caldera was Scorchblood. Tiger Lily got there first. "You're smaller than I thought you would be," she declared. The rest of the party followed one at a time, attacking in their various ways. Scorchblood (Jr.) was a Young Red Dragon, the grandson of Scorchblood who was in fact away. But he was still quite a handful. Halfway through the encounter, Brark was hanging from Scorchblood's neck by his garrote like some kind of dwarf necklace. Cyn'dar was having difficulty getting past the dragon's fire resistance. The defenders, Gnoll and Min, were taking turns taunting the dragon into directing his attacks to them to protect the strikers, Tiger Lily, Nightshade and Brark. Meanwhile Krunk and Cyndar stayed back and picked away with spells, as controllers do. Scourge, our one and only leader, supported and healed any of us who needed healing as we fought on. It was a long and tough encounter but in the end Scorchblood's multiple breath weapons, action points, healing surges, nasty claw and tail attacks -- just were not enough to overcome the relentless B Team. As the dragon lay dying and the party started eagerly looking for treasure, a distant sound was heard. SKORCHBLOOD (SENIOR! Jr.'s Grandfather) was flying over. The group grabbed what treasure they could (quickly) and took off.<br /><br />After D&D we had the opportunity to play a bit of two-headed giant Magic. Mat played a white life deck that was working pretty well; Sam teamed up with Mat, using my b/w Angels deck. Ava's deck was red/black land destruction, and very good at that. As it happened I played a red Sligh-style "Magmavore" deck that teamed up well with Ava's because it includes some land destruction (though it wasn't planned that way). Later I played a Zombie deck that struggled early and then really went off late, pretty fun. Ava had something great that mana-shorted, but included green black and white I think. Mat played a great blue deck that "borrows" creatures from opponents. <br /><br />Session note: We rolled a lot of nat' 20's !<br />Current Experience: 9575 (still 6th level)<br />Treasure: 1,500 GP<br />Magic: 1 6th Level Magic Item<br />Next Session: 3pm Saturday March 10.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-87182083741122990212012-02-19T18:55:00.001-08:002012-02-26T18:35:33.711-08:00Back to "B"-asicsSo we played an entire adventure a level down. That's right, I grabbed our 5th level sheets even though we were 6th level. Oops, bound to happen every now and then. Anyway B ran B team and the party did okay. There was a small town with buildings surrounded by water and kind of a misfit vibe to it. We were given a cryptic note:<br /><br />B Team,<br />You must go to the Ocaniaa City. They are struggling to get the Unknown Force. They are plaguing Ocaniaa City, yes they will not trust you at first you have to prove it to them who you are.<br /> Good Luck<br /><br />So after talking to the distrusting locals and gathering some history, we learned that the buildings were just the tops of much taller towers of what had been a larger city that a wealthy wizard sunk for some reason. Many people died long ago. So naturally we wanted to find a passage below to go meet them. As it turned out, one of the towers had a magical elevator that took us to the under-city, where the locals were even less trusting. Although there was about a 70' tall by 300' round pocket of air down here and some light among the lower parts of the same buildings, the original drowned residents had all become animated skeletons. Also, orc raiders had arrived just before we had, probably to try to loot the area. When diplomacy failed we ended up fighting both. <br /><br />Nightshade (human rogue 6) struck early and often, her +2 hand crossbow lashing out from the shadows and striking down many a foe who never saw her. Tiger Lily (human monk 6) climbed and dove from towers with her almost unnatural poise and speed, kicking and punching like a storm of stony fists and knocking the tough enemy commanders off of their tower-top post. Min Vizardio (gnome warden 6) found himself surrounded by nearly half a dozen of the foe at one time -- just the way the liked it. Bree (wizard 6) the fighting mage went in hand to hand and seemed to be just fine. Rock (dwarf bard 6) was out on the edge of combat, making a big impact. Cyn'dar (dragonborn wizard 6) was well enough protected she could burn bad guys seemingly to her heart's content. Scourge (revenant deva cleric 6) did not realize his own resemblance to the foes around the party and fought them off while patching up the party's combat injuries. Gnoll (half orc battlemind 6) picked away at targets of opportunity.<br /><br />As it turned out, the orcs and the skeletons were working together because at no point did they fight each other. Some kind of control was in place, or perhaps some dark dealings. A tower full of prisoners became apparent, only a couple blocks away. The party fought harder and triumphed against the enemies next to us, worked our way over and Nightshade picked some locks. Upon freeing the prisoners, victory was soon achieved for the "Unknown force" were outnumbered by masses of furious people who made short work of the remaining skeletons and orcs.<br /><br />For treasure, each character found a sapphire straw worth 2,000 gp after searching the area.<br /><br />Adventure date: Feb. 11, 2012. Age of DM: 10 (DM rotates every session)<br />Current B Team experience points: 9,000<br />Character build rules of B Team campaign: No racial bonuses may apply to class<br />Next session: Sat. Feb. 25, 3pm<br />Current campaigns: Planet of the Dragons (21st), B Team (6th), Module-O-Rama (2nd)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-22837487119868130392012-01-29T20:14:00.001-08:002012-02-26T18:37:28.000-08:00Module-a-ramaFor the past couple of sessions Jon has been running D&D modules.<br /><br />Our new characters in that campaign are 2nd level now. I have a couple of characters, Oz, a Deva Wizard and Hinges, a bugbear rogue. B. has a cleric based on Bob Kelso from Scrubs. Jon has Shar-I-Zard, a shardmind artificer. Carson had to work yesterday but a couple weeks before that he played an elf warden who really kept the bad guys away from all of us caster types. In fact when the new campaign began, he said "I call Defender!" which was refreshing because so often nobody wants to play that role.<br /><br />In yesterday's session, the module featured a puzzle which B. & I figured out. Again, it was refreshing to have a puzzle instead of just the usual hack 'n slash (which I don't mind either). One of the criticisms I have heard about 4th edition is the emphasis on combat, but I have been playing since Advanced (1st edition) and each edition since then and nearly every group I have been with has preferred combat-heavy adventures. Anyway though, it's cool to see a puzzle type challenge every now and then. I would like to see a few more skill challenges too.<br /><br />Hinges was built in a big hurry so I could play two characters and fill a gap since a lot of people couldn't make it. I used Jon's newest version D&D Insider/Character Builder and it just seemed quick and easy. Yes there are more choices than ever but if you're in a hurry you can just let it choose for you. I'm pretty sure the cleric I built for B. in an older version took ten times as long to create. The new character sheets are simple looking but they are complete with information, clear and easy to read.<br /><br />Being down a character and getting into a tactical disadvantage almost got the entire party killed in the final encounter and of all things it was Hinges, the dumb bugbear rogue, who ended up saving the day. So I'm glad I took that extra minute to add him to the party. I can always flesh out more details on him before next time I play him. You wouldn't think a 7' tall monster would make a good rogue but he has +13 to his Stealth and regularly dishes out 20 damage with at-will attacks. That's probably not unusual for a striker but he was pretty fun to play.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-46479441836074831542011-12-17T23:16:00.001-08:002012-02-26T18:42:11.108-08:00Epic UprisersCarson ran Uprisers (high level campaign), and it was Jon, Lance, Mat, Ava, Shawn, Robby and me. <br /><br />To start with, we knew something would be wrong later because we were painfully being crushed by rocks but wouldn't die. At least we were together and misery loves company.<br /><br />Flashing back, yes the Uprisers made some deals with bad guys and yes we knew there could be consequences. Willikers (Rod's character) had warned us but we didn't listen. And for speaking up, Bane had rewarded him by secretly locking him into a puzzle-box. More on that later, but we hadn't seen him for a while and we didn't know what he was up to but figured it must be important adventuring stuff. More backstory reminders - Hadji had acquired 3 sections of Malice, the mace of Bane, whose main domain is tyranny and one of those with whom we had dealings in our efforts to push back the surface lords of the deep (dragon) empire. Another backstory reminder: another deal had been made involving a line 200' below the surface dividing the world above ground we were carving out, from the core of the deep empire below. It was mutually agreed, and enforced by the devil Asmodeous. <br /><br />To start with, the Dragonborn City of Tharagar had been liberated with the assistance of Bane and his armies of goblins and bugbears - and the Uprisers. As a gift, Bane wanted to give us each a statue but felt that wasn't enough. He didn't want to be an administrator so he gave us the city. Each of us decided what our roles would be in remaking the new Free Tharagar. <br />Hadji (Jon's elf ranger 20) would work with the military training forces for Bane,<br />Lancewick (Lance's bugbear/bhardgeist barbarian 20) was also doing this to oppose the remaining surface lords.<br />Aurora (Ava's shifter cleric 20) was building a temple to Pelor.<br />Lancer Unholyhell (Shawn's minotaur paladin 20) was training troops to assist Bane.<br />Wikipedia Jones (human/? bard 20) would have a music store and run the underground.<br />Shamash Kriv (dragonborn warlord 20) would assure that the slaves were free, along with the economy, and that Free Tharagar would have a strong military structure and a sports arena.<br />Jorel of the Stars (shardmind/? sorcerer 20) would see to the justice system.<br />Rholain (elf/swarm of bees druid 20) would attend to natural matters.<br /><br />Later, Bane (an Upriser at the end of his trial period as an Upriser) asked for our help against Wyll Cytty, ripe for liberation from slavery and full of promise from the elves there who could join the cause of fighting the surface lords. We agreed and Bane told us to muster forces and meet him and his forces there. Not completely trusting Bane, Hadji went there quickly in advance of the 6,000+ troops we had raised. Hadji learned that Bane's forces had already defeated Wyll Cytty. It was a double-cross and Bane intended nothing less than persuading our forces to join his in a direct assault on the deep empire. Tactically, Shamash was highly concerned that we were not ready for something like that yet, especially considering the CONTRACT!<br /><br />So we ended up fighting Bane and his personal guard after being deposited in the correct chambers at an opportune moment by Asmodeus. Even with our full party at full strength, the battle was challenging, but somehow we prevailed. After we killed Bane, Asmodeus explained to each of us that Bane's sizeable portfolio would now be passed on to us, and each of us were now immortal.<br /><br />Civilization: Aurora<br />Tyranny: Wikipedia Jones<br />War: Shamash Kriv<br />Fear: Hadji<br />Desolation: Rholain<br />Brutality: Lancewick<br />Law: Jorell of the Stars<br />Strife: Roberick Willikers<br />Hatred: Lancer Unholyhell<br />Despair: Nex<br /><br />We are 21st level now, the first level of Epic. Each of us gained a 26th level magic item.<br /><br />Oh, and that puzzle box with Willikers in it? It was empty. Turns out Willikers was dropped town the bottomless pit, passing the 200' mark and violating the treaty. So we were to be pinned below crushing rocks for all eternity.<br /><br />Turns out that was 6 years. After that time, Jones' mom Eglazia freed us. Yes, that Wikipedia has some powerful relatives and rumor has it that Asmodeus might even be his grandfather.<br /><br />We returned to the surface, and things are much worse than they were before. We lost a lot of ground in 6 years and the surface and underworld have merged into a hellish place of lava and sulfur not unlike the 6th plane of hell. <br /><br />The Uprisers will have our work cut out for us.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-55095780137872107722011-11-19T23:55:00.001-08:002012-02-26T18:45:49.413-08:00Aftermath of Golden HeroesThe Golden Heroes, champions of justice and legendary dwarven saviors of the world appear on every coin everywhere. Stories of these magnificent dwarves, flawless in every respect, still echo in tavern songs years after their passing. Tales of this magnificent band of seven appear in legends, history books and nursery rhymes.<br /><br />Past victories of the Golden Heroes have not translated into a permanent "happily ever after." That's where the B Team comes in, the cleanup crew. In town after town they discover and attempt to correct the unintended negative consequences of their predecessors.<br /><br />On this occasion the group included Gnoll, a half-orc battlemind; Jon Skamos, a tiefling fighter; Min Vizardio, a gnome warden; Gibbon Ghoulish, a dwarven warlord; Gelt, a minotaur wizard, and Bubbles, an elf battlemind. Currently the party are 5th level.<br /><br />Riding on some previous success, the group continued to follow the historic path of the Golden Heroes by visiting an old dwarven roadhouse, "Fyorkbeard's." Only with stoic discipline were the new adventurers able to stay their hands from the temptation of violence, and gather the information needed to move forward. Apparently the path would continue 30 miles away at Forgemillik.<br /><br />At the treeline of Mount Dhakalon, a band of vicious orcs attacked the party. Their numbers and greataxes, along with the icy slopes made for a tricky encounter, a bit challenging for the group. Beyond, near the peak of the mountain the entrance to Forgemillik was a typical ancient ornamental stone mine entrance to a dwarven community.<br /><br />As the story goes, the Golden Heroes cleverly and powerfully defeated an entire army of drow who invaded here some five years ago. They beat them on the surface, rallied local troops and organized defenses and then delved into the underdark to defeat the drow at their source below and liberate the dwarven and human communities of the region.<br /><br />What was not in the story was that the Golden Heroes did not wash themselves after their dungeon delve. This detail lead to their unintentional delivery of the Curse of the Caveglitter Plague to the dwarven city of Forgemillik. Caveglitter are deep, magical underdark parasites that glow like lightning bugs. Unfortunately, the glowing dwarven soldiers and civilians made excellent targets for their new enemies, the orc and chitine armies that filled the strategic void once the drow were cleared out. The stout and brave dwarven residents would have been able to hold their territory if not for the disadvantage of the caveglitter curse. Their new enemies allied and attacked at night in large numbers.<br /><br />Mayor Ringbeard hired the B team to locate the Lost Rune of Rilligath Earthbeard, reputed to cure the caveglitter curse but now located deep in chitine territory once controlled by Forgemillik and its sprawling mines. <br /><br />The Chitines, a spiderlike race, ignored the small B Team group until they were immersed deep into their lair of thousands, then struck with grunts, warriors and scouts led by web crafters. The ensuing battle was even tougher than the one against the orcs, but in the end the B Team were able to locate the Lost Rune of Rilligath Earthbeard and return it to Forgemillik, and collect their reward.<br /><br />This session DM/Writer - Dave<br />Treasure: 1,000 gp each, plus one 4th level magic item.<br />Experience: 2,500 xp<br /><br />Next session -- probably 2 weeks from now.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-64493938616901966982011-10-07T16:48:00.000-07:002011-10-07T17:00:18.020-07:00Recent gamin'The past few sessions have included:<br /><br />* A Magic draft (thank you Mat & Ava for bringing boosters and Jon for joining us) that was a lot of fun. I think it was New Phyrexia, good set! <br /><br />* Several games of Sentinels of the Multiverse, a great multiplayer card game where we team up against a single foe.<br /><br />* Pokemon (!) at Rod's birthday/UW sendoff party; also we played an Illuminati-style board game (sorry I don't remember what it was called.) Awesome pizza, Mrs. W!<br /><br />* D&D B team that B ran, it was pretty good. The mayor of a little town sent us on and adventure to defeat an evil alchemist, who we later learned (from his ghost) had been betrayed by that same mayor, who we also ended up fighting at the end. Tight story, nicely done and just the right amount of combat to story. Pretty good for a 10 year old DM!<br /><br />On a sidenote, I'm still playing Plants vs. Zombies on my phone, even though I've already beaten it, and also I've discovered Space Marine, pretty good!Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-69430530004734136412011-09-05T21:30:00.000-07:002011-09-05T22:13:44.465-07:00PAXOh where to begin?<br /><br />PAX '11 was just last weekend but if feels like I've returned from another world. Several actually. Steve Jackson was there, and so were a lot of bigwig video game developers, Microsoft, Sony, Blizzard, Privateer Press, Wizards of the Coast, etc. <br /><br />And thousands of gamers, including me. I played my first game of D&D back when the hardbound books were the new thing and it was called "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons." Now we refer to that as First Edition. I have been hooked ever since, and have been one of millions of fans of the imaginative fantasy game which is now in it's Fourth Edition. I'm also a longtime player of Magic: The Gathering. These are hugely popular games worldwide and the main games I write about in this blog. But with thousands of gamers, these two games were literally a drop in the bucket. <br /><br />The new Star Wars Old Republic MMO generated huge lines. Halo had it's own event. Madden Football. The new Choplifter. So many games, thousands of players, one big weekend. And you meet a lot of the people who actually create these games, and get your chance to demo the newest.<br /><br />To learn more, Google Penny Arcade or PAX. <br /><br />So anyway, now that I've finally gone, I understand what all the fuss is about. If you're into games this is a "don't miss." I'm not trying to sell anybody on going, it's just that if anything I now regret not finding a way to get to one of these sooner. It's a great time to go and play but more than that it re-affirms that gamers, whether they use video controllers, dice, books and or cards, are a society unto ourselves. We may be labeled as geeks or dorks by people who don't understand. Many gamers have introverted personalities and spend lots of time inside. But at PAX gamers from the U.S., Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia and who knows where else came together to game and compare ideas in the industry. It gives what is in one way a potentially isolating hobby, something else - a time and place to connect with other like-minded individuals.<br /><br />All connected together by an unlikely pair of web cartoonists, who found themselves at the epicenter of gaming and the founders of the Penny Arcade Expo, which is a remarkable and unique gaming industry event.<br /><br />Speaking of the gaming industry, remember how a few years ago gaming passed the movie industry in gross annual sales? That's pretty cool, especially considering we've been kind of on a fringe of society for a long time. People outside of the gaming world look at a grown man who paints miniatures with pity. "Are you having fun with your little men?" they tease. Well maybe I am. And they are 1/35 scale science fiction and fantasy miniatures, thank you very much.<br /><br />So I played D&D. And Magic. And video games. I got to meet game developers. And be entertained by the game industry's favorite cartoonists. I got to see forums. And spend time staying, eating and walking around Seattle. <br /><br />I heard Jonny Nero Action Hero, and the Protomen. I spent some time with my friends (who are PAX veterans) but ultimately we each got so distracted by the seemingly infinite number of games and forums we each went our own way, connecting back with text messages and comparing notes over dinner. <br /><br />Blah, blah blah Dave, stop gushing you newbie.<br /><br />I will be back.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-1342284966833521432011-08-24T09:51:00.000-07:002011-08-24T10:00:37.862-07:00D&D Sessions - Uprisers & B TeamThe Uprisers have been battling mind flayers and their kin for a couple of sessions. From what we can gather, we were misled and it has been somewhat costly. We were under the impression that defeating Bledgore and liberating the city of Tharagar were connected to the mind flayers. Well, it appears we were wrong about that, and now our electro-mage, Nex has been shall we say consumed by those of the purple tentacle ilk. Rumor has it that the Uprisers will be approached by a paladin seeking to join their cause as his replacement. We are 1,000 xp away from 21st level. I will add more here when I can. Thank you Robby!
<br />
<br />The B Team -
<br />Cleaning up after "better" heroes is an endless and thankless task. Sometimes just going from one place to another is hazardous! We encountered giant scorpions that shocked and burned us among other nasty things. Still up and going, and as far as I remember we're still 4th level. I will add more. Thank you Mat!Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-53508413986459160332011-06-19T09:11:00.000-07:002011-06-19T11:02:29.341-07:00Tyranny & Bane at TharagarRod & Carson came up with this; Rod (Robrick Willikers, drow rogue) ran and Carson (Rholain, elf druid) role-played Bane (god of tyranny). Phil (Nex, changeling sorceror), Garza (Hadji, elf ranger), Lance (Lancewik Willikers, drow rogue), Robby (Jorel of the Stars, unique, unique), B. (Valda, elf ranger) and I (Shamash Kriv, dragonborn warlord) played. Ava (Aurora, shifter cleric) and Mat (Wikipedia Jones, human bard) were meanwhile off on another adventure. During this session we leveled to 20th. This blog entry is unlikely to do a great D&D session justice, thank you Rod & Carson! <br /><br />The Uprisers emerged from the Purple Worm tunnels into a forgotten portion portion of the Dragonborn City of Tharagar. The dream district is full of towering ancient buildings designed for the surface lords long ago by Deva architects. Now they are dusty and empty, and it is silent except for the sound that is not a sound but a howling screech within the minds of visitors. What we hear but don't hear are the dream lives of the inhabitants, whose comatose bodies lie in powerful magical stasis in living crypts beneath the buildings in which they once resided, guarded by magic in their vaults. Their nagpa caretakers look like elderly men but have the heads of vultures. The sole resident of the dream district we meet is Arsung, a nagpa who was banished by the Council of Bledgore for advising Bledgore not to take Bane's (artifact) mace. <br /><br />"I told him not to take it, and they banished me," he says in a harsh voice.<br /><br />Hadji nearly killed Arsung, but Shamash insisted on talking to him to gain information. Okay, interrogating him. We wanted Bledgore and we wanted the Mace because from a tactical point of view, Bledgore being a dragonborn meant that if he took Tharagar it would simply be a transfer from one draconic surface lord to another; a huge setback for the goals of the Uprisers to free at least the peoples of the surface from slavery to the lizards. Okay, Hadji just wanted the mace. Lancewick, Hadji and Foxy caused Arsung to regret noncooperation with Shamash's questions, with the result being that Lancewick at one point removed a finger/clawtip from Arsung, who returned the favor. Arsung sang like, well he sang like a bird though he obviously wasn't happy about it. <br /><br />We learned that Bledgore was not here, he was dreaming. Only by entering the dream world could we see him, find him or acquire the mace. And only the very council that had banished Arsung had the knowledge to perform the complicated magic that would allow entry. Even then, whoever entered would be in Bledgore's dream and at the mercy of of his wicked mind. So of course we marched Arsung to the Council, told them that he was our emissary and after a lot of protesting, "trial by rock" and diplomacy, the Council (there were 7 or 9 of them, perched high atop a curved wall in their chambers looking down upon us) were persuaded to put the Uprisers into Bledgore's dream. <br /><br />Nex entered first, his body suddenly going limp as his consciousness entered the dream. The lightning specialist was in a field at night and people were running away from a terrible storm. The Mace lay upon the ground and told Nex it could give him command of the sky. It was heavy in his hand and screamed blood from itself, more wielding him than he it. So not really wanting the responsibility Nex threw it into the sky. A hand appeared from nowhere and grabbed it away. It was Bledgore.<br /><br />Shamash entered next, a few red scales flaking from his icy nose as it hit the stone in the nagpa's chambers. Upon entering Blegore's dream world he appeared next to a red dragon so large, the top of Shamash's head came to the upper arc of a single claw of the foot. He and the dragon, (who he knew to be Tiamat, evil enemy of his own good dragon god, Bahamut) were atop a high perch. Tiamat was ordering all of the Deep Empire around, threatening commanders and slave-masters (Shamash's old job long ago). There were hoards and throngs of them down below, living in fear and misery. The Mace lay at Shamash's feet, beckoning him to just pick it up and use it. Tiamat's head was leaning over right next to him, barking his commands and insults in words that were like jibberish compared to the clear voice of the Mace. Shamash picked up the Mace, leaped high and smashed Tiamat's head with it. The artifact lay waste to the enormous head in a single blow, melting and disintegrating it. The Deep Empire were in awe and fear of Shamash. He told them to they were free now and they turned on their masters in an awesome display of bloodshed. They would do anything Shamash wished because they were so afraid of the Mace. With every request and command he gave them, they trembled as they obeyed. He wanted them to build things, learn things, stop killing each other. Yet he found himself commanding them to kneel before him, the Mace mixing with his inner voice the justification that if they were kneeling they weren't clobbering each other. At once he could see the Mace twisting his good wishes and intentions into malice and bloodshed.<br /><br />And so it went. Lancewick entered upon a Willikers family reunion full of the golden apples, gold and treasure he never got to have before. Robrick made him sit at the kid's table. There was the Mace among the other treasures. Lancewick wanted it, he wanted all of it and he started robbing his cousins and uncles. "No!" Robrick commanded, "Not family!" So Lancewick hit him with the Mace and kept doing what he wanted to do because with the Mace he could have anything he wanted.<br /><br />Hadji's vision was simple and brutal. He took the Mace from Bledgore, then fought Bane to keep it. Shortly thereafter Bane, the one who had sent Hadji to recover the Mace in the first place lay dead upon the dream-ground. Hadji's foot twisted in Bane's dead eyes as he pumped the mace in the sky in triumph. (Okay I did some wordsmithing there).<br /><br />Jorel's consciousness being ancient and unique, he was more like a BB within Bledgore's mind. I've left off that at one point within what each of the Uprisers saw, Jorel appeared and advised them that none of this was real. He got hit with the Mace a few times but again, it wasn't real. Until Valda used the Mace to get candy and toys. Glass stood between her and the treasure, and all she had to do was break it with the Mace. Then a boy stood in her way and she commanded him to move or she would hit him with the Mace. She ended up knocking him down, then Jorel interposed himself as he had done before. But this time was different; when Valda hit Jorel with the Mace, actual damage appeared on his metallic body. She had the real Mace.<br /><br />The Uprisers were able to refocus on their mission, each imagining the vision Nex had had so they could see Bledgore. Jorel worked to reopen the portal while Lancewick, Rholain and Nex learned six details from the dreamscape about where Bledgore's sleeping body lay. The nagpa council's gigantic faces were visible through the portal, but they barred the party from leaving until they defeated Bledgore, with physical jail bars appearing across it. Hadji, Shamash, Valda, Nex and the rest of the party who weren't otherwise occupied fought Bledgore and his bodyguards, pushing and bumping him until they pushed him out of the portal. This created a vortex, like the whirlpool of the drain in a bathtub as the dream world swirled and exited, collapsing through the portal. Though dreamscape's end would probably have killed them, the party were able to leave in time to be safe. According to the nagpa council though (experts on the dream worlds) Bledgore would almost certainly not have survived this.<br /><br />So as each of the Uprisers returned to their bodies in the Chamber and awakened, they each held the Mace. Somehow, it had made copies of itself. This didn't seem like a good thing... Then Bane, the god of tyranny appeared in person. He smiled, thanked the party and politely asked for his property to be returned. Some of us gave him our portion of the Mace and some didn't. Yet the Mace is almost just an idea... Anyway Shamash and a couple others of us handed our Mace's over, a few of us threw ours away and some kept theirs. Each one we gave Bane made his Mace appear to get larger and more powerful. Bane asked us to join him, to follow him and press the fight against the Deep Empire. We refused. Bane again flattered us on the impact the Uprisers have had on the surface world, how he admired the difference we were making, how our reputation was making an impact.<br /><br />Then something unexpected happened. Bane asked the Uprisers if he could become an Upriser. That's right, he formally requested to join the party. Bickering ensued. Negotiations. Arguments. Our typical thing. If Bane were to join us, he would be responsible for regular camp and watch duties, equal with the rest of us. He would have a four-month trial for whether he could remain. He agreed to leave his armies and travel with us as an Upriser. Sure, he's not a "good" guy exactly but then how many in the party are? And how better to stand against Tiamat when the time comes... Not to mention a lot of party members are looking at their epic destinies, and Bane mentioned how great it would be to adventure with a group of young demigods again. So yeah, it might be a mistake but it could be great too. Here we go. Carson will play Bane whenever situations arise that call for it.<br /><br />Experience: 9,000 (we're 20th level now, with a bit of extra xp). Treasure: two 20th level magic items and possible gifts from Bane to be announced later.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-17549241843891338462011-05-29T20:28:00.000-07:002011-05-29T21:40:19.256-07:00Apples and a scaly dustupJones & Aurora, Robrick & Lancewick Willikers, Hadji & Foxy, Shamash & Valda, Jorel were searching the area following the encounter (see previous entry)<br /><br />Hadji followed the wide tunnel left by the purple worm earlier, being careful not to step beyond the 200'deep level. He knew as well as the rest of the Uprisers, that violating that treaty with Asmodeus would be a bad idea. As an underdark ranger who spent most of his life below the surface, dungeoneering came naturally. He read the geological striations along the walls of the new cave like the back of his hand. at 175' below, light shone from an area further back. The purple worm had pierced the edge of a spherical area with no other entrances. In the center stood a perfectly symmetrical tree with visible, symmetrical roots. It had gold and silver leaves.<br /><br />Lancewick ran into the room and picked three apples, ready to eat them all. In his usual contrary fashion, Robrick dashed in and threw an apple at his face. "Don't eat that, wait for Hadji first!" Lancewick only got a few bites of one of the apples. <br /><br />Jorel knew some of its history, but although his ritual allowed him to look back in time the 14378 years to when the tree was magically buried here, he didn't know what to make of the situation. Needing neither food nor drink he had no interest in the apples.<br /><br />Hadji cut a quarter of an apple, ate it, and fed the rest to Foxy.<br /><br /> Aurora prayed to Pelor and ate an apple.<br /><br />Jones borrowed a dagger from Willikers, cut an apple up (it was more like a pomegranate on the inside) pocketed the seeds and ate the rest.<br /><br />Nex picked an apple and put it in his bag.<br /><br />Shamash and Valda each ate an apple, and picked several of the leaves.<br /><br />The apples, if eaten in the chamber, bestow immortality (well, un-aging at least). If taken out of the chamber without eating, they create pustules (-10 charisma per apple for 1 year per apple). <br /><br />Since Jones took a bite, he gained the benefit but the seeds and the tree spoke to him, requesting that when the opportunity presents itself, Jones is to plant one seed on each different world he visits. There is a limit of one such tree per world. The leaves, with a limit of one occurrence per individual became "anything" items, 21st level magic items. Also, being a master diplomat he negotiated a reduction of Nex's charisma penalty to a period of 1 week.<br /><br />Once everyone left the chamber, new apples and leaves appeared and the entire chamber popped away, as though nothing had happened. <br /><br />And so ends that little detour.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Phil continued our battle with Bane's mace thief, Bledgore or his general or his general's delivery boys or whatever. Turns out the leaders of this group were in the underdark. We fought koa-toa, drakkor or drakoliths or something, some flying CR 25 things. The larger encounter/rest of it was saved for later; some bad guys retreated behind a magical wall that closed after them. Something we fought must have had about 500 hp or something, it just took forever to get it bloodied. If I have more details later I will update this paragraph. <br /><br />Aurora had hoped for more of the enemy to have the dragon subtype rather than a bunch of scaly reptiles and fish. If the bad guys had been draconic she could have "gone nuke," with her abilities.<br /><br />Our group of strikers and leaders mowed through the enemy like a hot knife through butter.<br /><br />XP was 3 or 4k and we got a 19th level magic item and about 3000 gp.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-5569855426093759822011-05-15T12:36:00.000-07:002011-05-15T13:08:03.324-07:00The Other Two EncountersSo picking up from where the party killed the Nagas, when the Primordial Naga was dying, he let his friends know somehow. As a result, a couple of big encounters followed. Robrick & Lancewick Willikers, Jorel, Aurora, Jones, Shamash, Nex, Valda, Hadji & Foxy were more than a match for them however. Three leaders and six strikers make quite a combination.<br /><br />First, an Elder Purple Worm arrived, preceded by an earthquake that sent boulders from the ceiling of the cavern crashing all around the Uprisers. The gargantuan monster was hard to hurt, and managed to swallow the party's cleric (Aurora) before being defeated. Luckily, she survived the acid and constriction since she was swallowed late in the encounter. A deep screech, like that of a bat only muffled and much lower in pitch filled the cavern, and then the remains of the Worm exploded gooey guts everywhere, coating the cavern and the party. Found within the remains were bits of some strange giant batlike creature from the underdark, possibly even a demon or devil of some type -- probably something the Worm ate earlier. The trail left behind by the Worm was impressive too, and lead to an alternate, unintended entrance to a hidden cavern, where the party fought...<br /><br />An ancient green dragon and six banshrae warriors. This was a bit tougher, but for most of the encounter the dragon was affected by so many conditions it didn't get that many actions really. In the end there were 3 of the banshrae warriors left, and Jones told them they work for Hadji now. After all they are somewhat like-minded: unaligned but brutal. They probably picked the wings off of bugs as kids.<br /><br />Treasure will follow next time. Obviously this number of powerful guardian monsters must be guarding something. Spoiler alert: The party spotted a magical tree in the deep cavern. But this time treasure will need to be handled in a roleplaying situation, please don't give yourself any magic items yet for this.<br /><br />Our current xp total should be 135,000 each I believe, we're about 2 sessions away from leveling to 20th.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-21262261351607525862011-04-24T01:31:00.000-07:002011-05-15T13:09:39.264-07:00Rashasa Naga & Assoc.Mat & Ava brought a box of Magic boosters, one of the new sets but with Mirrodin in the name, artifact-heavy. Jon had the best record with his black-heavy deck,followed by Phil, me (Dave), Ava and Mat. It was fun.<br /><br /><br />So B. set up ideas and encounters for the 19th level Planet of the Dragons 4th ed.D&D. We are on our way somewhere and fought mixed encounters of Hobgoblins, Rashaksa, Dragonborn and Nagas (dark & primordial). Shane, Carson, Rod, Lance, Rob and Alma joined the rest of us. Great to see everybody.<br /><br />Experience: 4,230<br />Treasure: 11,025 GP each, and one 23rd lvl. Item each.<br /><br />Next session in a couple weeks.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-78984000809494143072011-04-10T18:33:00.000-07:002011-04-10T18:51:28.852-07:00Who does #2 work for?So Willikers is not overjoyed that Hadji has the whole party working for Bane, to get his mace back from Bledgore the betrayer. But forward we go anyway. Shamash just wants tiamat defeated. If that means helping Bane for a while, so be it.<br /><br />Hadji, Shamash, Willikers, Rholain, Joseph and Nex defeated some annoying lava tube glass guys and some kind of volcano dragon. Apparently our next foe is a demigod, Bledgore and his minions.<br /><br />Intel from Bane's Bhardgests is that Bane's goblins are occupying all the territory we've been conquoring. Their camp is disappointed to not have the city architect plans, but hey, what are you going to do, the architects were dead when we got there. Right?Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-50809311084775650332011-03-06T22:41:00.000-08:002011-03-07T20:41:24.756-08:00Dragonborn Cityupdate on a couple of Planet of the Dragons sessions)<br />So Bane and his armies attacked Tiamat and his armies at the Dragonborn City. Action to be had, fates to be decided, fortunes to be won. Of course the Uprisers had a role to play. But not just to be patsies for Bane (well except maybe Hadji). <br />Anyway, Shamash, Aurora, Jones, Valda, Hadji and Nex (Phil’s lightning sorcerer shapechanger) and some allies went after one of the Dragonborn city provinces with an especially bad reputation for torturing slaves. Challenge rating-wise, we were above our heads in places but we made it through the encounter and gained some ground. It was a tough one but the party made a difference and now controls a province. Oh and we each gained a 21st level magic item.<br /><br />(above is just a recap of the adventure Dave ran a couple weeks ago; Phil ran yesterday – see below).<br /><br />In yesterday’s session, it became more personal. One of Bane’s generals went rogue, stole Bane’s (artifact) Mace and declared himself a god. He captured a province also and now has 5 generals of his own. So Bane wants his mace back, and he’s asked Hadji to deliver since we’re right there. We fought dragonborn, reavers or ravagers or something, a dracolich, and even a couple of beholders. It was Shamash and four strikers: Hadji, Sticky Fingers, Nex and Valda. It was brutal. We used every combo, magic item and tactic we could think of, hitting hard but giving ourselves chances to recover in a series of encounters. Shamash was bloodied at least twice, as were Valda and Hadji. Valda charging on her griffin in combo with Shamash is becoming quite effective and Hadji combines with Sticky Fingers and Foxy to defeat even the toughest adversaries. Some other combos and magic items are turning out to be handy, for example flying (hover, from a potion) with reach, from above a foe, and augmenting whetstones (though they can be expensive). In the end, we defeated the leader of another province on a small island (adjacent to the other province from the session previous). We now “control” it too, though the party is not in the business of ruling territory.<br />Anyway, between the two adventures (mostly from the 2nd one) we got just enough experience to level to 19th. <br />Also, we picked up one 18th and one 22nd level magic item each, as well as 17,000 gp each.<br />Please note that our next session will be March 26th.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-40712445952890442842011-02-08T18:06:00.000-08:002011-02-08T19:04:28.262-08:0010th Edition + B-Team & Birthdays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBVn1U0vH1Clg50nyeVo5gGNKGGKF22_21TWqnD742JCeooCoQ7erGPbUbXvRRpHJwjXVV2wmny278QtrhspDZHREQhyrYhBvSgjggZI_uFAKl9KMHNRJLygFv1Ky0YzQTQeU0Q/s1600/Cool+terrain+Dave.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBVn1U0vH1Clg50nyeVo5gGNKGGKF22_21TWqnD742JCeooCoQ7erGPbUbXvRRpHJwjXVV2wmny278QtrhspDZHREQhyrYhBvSgjggZI_uFAKl9KMHNRJLygFv1Ky0YzQTQeU0Q/s200/Cool+terrain+Dave.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571520274119863202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzQigHdTWWl6f_FSUf9Qf6P6pn1tHLeBAVyX67odY1M8eUI9QT6nPHRyRro_kTd3LlLVcZBtCiiHXXfWj8acH5IYu_DWnWTKGwrsXGRQSFGvR7Q4TaNAAO9vM8HVzslvofJzuQA/s1600/Minis+long+view.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzQigHdTWWl6f_FSUf9Qf6P6pn1tHLeBAVyX67odY1M8eUI9QT6nPHRyRro_kTd3LlLVcZBtCiiHXXfWj8acH5IYu_DWnWTKGwrsXGRQSFGvR7Q4TaNAAO9vM8HVzslvofJzuQA/s200/Minis+long+view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571516463819279874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23_aY8_31T7PaRUjtf0Rx-8RGH0Va9LmO9xxsqynI6VxhdFZPQyPP5l6hknM8uZH_V9S4Y1fA2UyB_eNrPIx-Yf2VFa96Z2fswRxzsWMdL_9b76IxJMwOS20fNiyoP1-V9HdBKw/s1600/When+DM+is+9.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23_aY8_31T7PaRUjtf0Rx-8RGH0Va9LmO9xxsqynI6VxhdFZPQyPP5l6hknM8uZH_V9S4Y1fA2UyB_eNrPIx-Yf2VFa96Z2fswRxzsWMdL_9b76IxJMwOS20fNiyoP1-V9HdBKw/s200/When+DM+is+9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571516453563614546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A_foU6-8nYNCaMOSlSL1j74bDdIxqt5WQVZ52M6wGlD7saVoMZ8CMwaAB-BOOSC7aQxn02XEZaC9acHyHkkbXlO_qAZZ3kzSDAFbCqo-D_VUQUoKjRLqj_jW7oJROeJr_SB-aA/s1600/Ava%2527s+D%2526D+BDay+Cake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A_foU6-8nYNCaMOSlSL1j74bDdIxqt5WQVZ52M6wGlD7saVoMZ8CMwaAB-BOOSC7aQxn02XEZaC9acHyHkkbXlO_qAZZ3kzSDAFbCqo-D_VUQUoKjRLqj_jW7oJROeJr_SB-aA/s200/Ava%2527s+D%2526D+BDay+Cake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571516452697010098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyR0AEh5ylXPhnCUL7d42PuN9Y-dBJRbdOLfWW6JHDh__lBQ_2awwmqZrGdcPVvTZLVS7kUQkxauZE8uivgTEfWEVW_lxkn929XKSAcoyv6uOKCD3ej6RObTeVtlAPrO07d7Ezw/s1600/Tiefling+Ftr+JS+Rob.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyR0AEh5ylXPhnCUL7d42PuN9Y-dBJRbdOLfWW6JHDh__lBQ_2awwmqZrGdcPVvTZLVS7kUQkxauZE8uivgTEfWEVW_lxkn929XKSAcoyv6uOKCD3ej6RObTeVtlAPrO07d7Ezw/s200/Tiefling+Ftr+JS+Rob.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571516446820223986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGESIF3imidS0QKU_qOgOteZD2GlEXGQsUdmM2rSp1tSc0jTdOAAn-oLSJCi4IVeAVGmlVQY2EzI6d5um7sgQ8Dt_nZd1xrbC02rQGC6xdoE0LrecKEClG1ECQUUIwa1aOvsZuA/s1600/Cyn%2527Dar+Carson+Art.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGESIF3imidS0QKU_qOgOteZD2GlEXGQsUdmM2rSp1tSc0jTdOAAn-oLSJCi4IVeAVGmlVQY2EzI6d5um7sgQ8Dt_nZd1xrbC02rQGC6xdoE0LrecKEClG1ECQUUIwa1aOvsZuA/s200/Cyn%2527Dar+Carson+Art.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571516438849186770" /></a><br />Happy Birthday Carson & Dave!<br /><br />To celebrate we had a whole day of gaming last Saturday, and it was great! Thank you Ava for the awesome cake and Jon for bringing a box of 10th Edition Magic, the draft was fantastic. 'Grats Mat on beating us all with that blue/green deck. Nothing like getting hit by a Rhox and shut down with counterspells, except maybe a Craw Wurm with shimmering wings flying over. To the rest of us losers, well it was fun, good effort. Phil, Jon and Dave had winning records and Patrick, Ava and Penny/B. didn't do as well but everybody got at least a win or two in. I was able to draft mono red, which is unheard of usually. I like 10th Edition, it's kind of like a "greatest hits" of Magic cards, with some great rares and even some stuff I hadn't seen before. <br /><br />Congratulations to Rod on getting into UW Law School, that's an achievement of a lifetime and we are all very proud of you.<br /><br />For B-Team, B. ran and it was very good. We had a great time defeating the evil wizard king and the dragon and their multiple minions; it always feels good to save the town. Player-wise we were joined by Alma, Rod, Rob and Carson. <br /><br />We are now all level 3 in the B Team campaign, and we each ended up getting one 4th and one 5th-level magic item and 750 gp in monetary treasure.<br /><br />I will be updating this later.<br /><br />Next session in a couple of weeks, probably the Uprisers (the 18th level characters).Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040913.post-4888160983375557262011-02-01T06:44:00.000-08:002011-02-01T06:58:37.903-08:00Star Wars and MagicSo a couple sessions ago we played Star Wars. The crew of Akbar's Trap found themselves on a watery world, embroiled in heavy fighting between allied Hutt and New Republic forces against a resurgent Empire. Lots of stuff was blowing up. The punchline? Garik set up more trade deals, Pieda healed some people, the Trandosian and the clone lightsabered some bad guys, Roger Roger got in a toe to toe fight with another droid and won by attritian, the Bothan gathered intel. Oh, and of course in the end Destro snuck into the enemy base, sabotaged the stabilizers and hijacked the PA system, announced an evacuation then radioed the star destroyer in orbit to turbolaser the deserters. Which they did. Everybody should still be 12th level.<br /><br />Last session, a lot of people couldn't make it so we played Magic and I tested a few new decks. Pretty fun. Thank you Jon and Phil.<br /><br />Next session: Sat., Feb. 5th. We will probably play "B team" but bring everything anyway in case that changes.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09318044981054803209noreply@blogger.com0