The Players Secrets to Endier
Oh, yeah, and Vornheim!
I haven't gotten very far into it yet, but Wow...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Going to a weird place...
I placed an order with Noble Knight games for something I've been wanting for a long time...
The Players Secrets to Endier
Oh, yeah, and Vornheim!
I haven't gotten very far into it yet, but Wow...
The Players Secrets to Endier
Oh, yeah, and Vornheim!
I haven't gotten very far into it yet, but Wow...
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thunderspire Session 4 pt. 2 & 5
I’m actually a bit behind on my session reports. I still owe you part 2 of session 4 (from 11/12), and all of session 5 (from 12/21). Because we should be finishing up Thunderspire today, I’m going to give a quick recap of the events.
After evading the shadow dragon again, and sending the gnoll army down into a deep crevasse. Using the clues they discovered, they found the path to the Well of Demons. They confronted and defeated several more groups of gnolls in the outer rooms, as well as finding and freeing the giant boar that they’ve been keeping their eyes open for. Making their way into the central portion of the Well they encountered 3 ghosts that told them how the Well works, and what items they needed to collect.
Searching around they barely managed to survive a chamber of pillars with magic mirrors, almost becoming forever trapped in an oubliette. Then they fought some demons in a room full of acidic blood while being whipped by giant minotaur statues. Finally they retried the last item from a series of chambers with demons and demonic pillars that attacked them with a variety of powers.
With all the focuses needed to open the inner sanctum doors, the adventurers place the items, and the door begins to slowly open. It also summons the final guardian - the shadow dragon!! In a running battle that spans the entire inner area of the Well the adventurers defeat the dragon for the 3rd and final time!
The great doors open, and within a demonic gnoll leads a foul ritual that seems to be draining the life out of the final two slaves taken from Winterhaven.
I’m really looking forward to today’s game, and not just because we’ll be wrapping up Thunderspire. Even more than that I’m really looking forward to is the return of Kalarel - an encounter you’ll only know about if you downloaded the Myrhdraak H2 Orcus Conversion!
After evading the shadow dragon again, and sending the gnoll army down into a deep crevasse. Using the clues they discovered, they found the path to the Well of Demons. They confronted and defeated several more groups of gnolls in the outer rooms, as well as finding and freeing the giant boar that they’ve been keeping their eyes open for. Making their way into the central portion of the Well they encountered 3 ghosts that told them how the Well works, and what items they needed to collect.
Searching around they barely managed to survive a chamber of pillars with magic mirrors, almost becoming forever trapped in an oubliette. Then they fought some demons in a room full of acidic blood while being whipped by giant minotaur statues. Finally they retried the last item from a series of chambers with demons and demonic pillars that attacked them with a variety of powers.
With all the focuses needed to open the inner sanctum doors, the adventurers place the items, and the door begins to slowly open. It also summons the final guardian - the shadow dragon!! In a running battle that spans the entire inner area of the Well the adventurers defeat the dragon for the 3rd and final time!
The great doors open, and within a demonic gnoll leads a foul ritual that seems to be draining the life out of the final two slaves taken from Winterhaven.
I’m really looking forward to today’s game, and not just because we’ll be wrapping up Thunderspire. Even more than that I’m really looking forward to is the return of Kalarel - an encounter you’ll only know about if you downloaded the Myrhdraak H2 Orcus Conversion!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Qualta Blades
The hobgoblins formed a battle line, shields interlocked and spears pointed toward the adventurers. Standing in the center of the line, a chief wielding a fat broadsword. “Surrender!” he called out.
Rathgar flexed his neck before glancing back at his companions. “There’s only a dozen of them.”
“And I don’t fancy surrendering to hobgoblins” Nimble added.
“We could run” Feris offered.
“They’d catch us” Allianora pointed out.
“Right” Rathgar turned back toward the hobgoblins and yelled “We accept your surrender!”
The chief grunted and pointed the sword directly at Rathgar. The blade seemed to split down the middle of its length, each half of the blade sliding to the end of the crossguard. With a loud crack a a bolt of energy shot from between the blades straight at Rathgar.
Rathgar fell backward, pinning Nimble beneath him.
Qualta Blade
These rare blades were once forged in great numbers by hobgoblins, though the art of their making is thought lost. Today they can still be found in the hands of hobgoblin chiefs, handed down through the generations, and those who have defeated them.
Qualta Blades are magical broadswords (+1 to +3) that can also discharge a powerful magical bolt. In order to use the blast power, the sword must be reconfigured. This takes 1 round. To switch back also requires 1 round. Using the blade as a sword while configured to blast incurs a -2 to attack rolls (no magical bonus). The blast power is a ranged attack that deals 1d12 points of damage, and stuns the victim for 1 round on a successful hit. On an attack roll of 1 or 20 with a blast attack the blade will automatically revert to the sword configuration not be able to use it's blast attack for 24 hours.
Rathgar flexed his neck before glancing back at his companions. “There’s only a dozen of them.”
“And I don’t fancy surrendering to hobgoblins” Nimble added.
“We could run” Feris offered.
“They’d catch us” Allianora pointed out.
“Right” Rathgar turned back toward the hobgoblins and yelled “We accept your surrender!”
The chief grunted and pointed the sword directly at Rathgar. The blade seemed to split down the middle of its length, each half of the blade sliding to the end of the crossguard. With a loud crack a a bolt of energy shot from between the blades straight at Rathgar.
Rathgar fell backward, pinning Nimble beneath him.
Qualta Blade
These rare blades were once forged in great numbers by hobgoblins, though the art of their making is thought lost. Today they can still be found in the hands of hobgoblin chiefs, handed down through the generations, and those who have defeated them.
Qualta Blades are magical broadswords (+1 to +3) that can also discharge a powerful magical bolt. In order to use the blast power, the sword must be reconfigured. This takes 1 round. To switch back also requires 1 round. Using the blade as a sword while configured to blast incurs a -2 to attack rolls (no magical bonus). The blast power is a ranged attack that deals 1d12 points of damage, and stuns the victim for 1 round on a successful hit. On an attack roll of 1 or 20 with a blast attack the blade will automatically revert to the sword configuration not be able to use it's blast attack for 24 hours.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
There and Back Again
On Christmas I finished reading The Hobbit. No, not for the first time, but yes, because of the upcoming movies. The last time I read it I was in Jr. High or High School, and there was much I had forgotten. While I remember that it was much more of a children’s story than The Lord of the Rings, I didn’t remember to what extent. For example the trolls named Bill, Burt, and Tom felt very out of place in the Middle Earth of LotR. I had forgotten how they were characterized, and how vastly different they were than the cave troll from Moria.
I also didn’t remember to what extent Bilbo continuously saved the dwarves. The entire middle section of the book seemed to be a series of the company getting into trouble, the dwarves getting captured, and Bilbo rescuing them. This happens with the goblins, the spiders, and the wood elves. It probably would have happened with the wargs, but instead of Bilbo it’s the great eagles. It seemed odd that a company of 12 dwarves, a hobbit burglar, and a wizard (even if most of them were level 1-3) could get into such trouble, and that only the burglar could get them all out of it!
I did remember that for the most part the dwarves weren’t given a whole lot of personality. Beyond Thorin, Kili, Fili, and Bombur the dwarves get very little face time and no real personality! I have the feeling that even with 2 movies there will be a limit as to how far the personalities of 12 dwarves can be developed, especially as they’ll be sharing so much screen time with Bilbo and Gandalf. However, judging by the actors chosen by Peter Jackson, and the costumes they wear, a lot of their personality has already been developed. Rather amazing how much we take in visually, and how different these dwarves are as compared to Gimli.
Of course, now I have to wait an entire year to see it on the big screen, and even then only the first half!
I also didn’t remember to what extent Bilbo continuously saved the dwarves. The entire middle section of the book seemed to be a series of the company getting into trouble, the dwarves getting captured, and Bilbo rescuing them. This happens with the goblins, the spiders, and the wood elves. It probably would have happened with the wargs, but instead of Bilbo it’s the great eagles. It seemed odd that a company of 12 dwarves, a hobbit burglar, and a wizard (even if most of them were level 1-3) could get into such trouble, and that only the burglar could get them all out of it!
I did remember that for the most part the dwarves weren’t given a whole lot of personality. Beyond Thorin, Kili, Fili, and Bombur the dwarves get very little face time and no real personality! I have the feeling that even with 2 movies there will be a limit as to how far the personalities of 12 dwarves can be developed, especially as they’ll be sharing so much screen time with Bilbo and Gandalf. However, judging by the actors chosen by Peter Jackson, and the costumes they wear, a lot of their personality has already been developed. Rather amazing how much we take in visually, and how different these dwarves are as compared to Gimli.
Of course, now I have to wait an entire year to see it on the big screen, and even then only the first half!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Map - Monty’s Hall
A small, one-hour dungeon. I drew this during the final episode of season 4 of The Closer. I don’t *think* the show had any impact on the map... A different show, one I haven’t seen in years does seem to have exerted it’s influence.
Monty’s Hall
The first three doors of the hall are all unlocked, but only one set my be open at a time. Whichever doors are not opened will magically remain closed. When the adventurers try to open any other door within, roll a d3. The door may only be opened if the number matches the door used to enter the dungeon.
The map was drawn with a fine black pen (0.5) in a graph paper composition notebook. Nothing fancy, like a moleskin book with parchment paper, just a cheap one I picked up at the college bookstore. I did use Google’s creative kit to get rid of the graph lines as best I could.
I’m not happy with the two tombs on the middle level. I need to work on that.
Monty’s Hall
The first three doors of the hall are all unlocked, but only one set my be open at a time. Whichever doors are not opened will magically remain closed. When the adventurers try to open any other door within, roll a d3. The door may only be opened if the number matches the door used to enter the dungeon.
The map was drawn with a fine black pen (0.5) in a graph paper composition notebook. Nothing fancy, like a moleskin book with parchment paper, just a cheap one I picked up at the college bookstore. I did use Google’s creative kit to get rid of the graph lines as best I could.
I’m not happy with the two tombs on the middle level. I need to work on that.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Looking Ahead
As 2011 has come to a close, and 2012 begins its relentless drive toward 2013 it is time to review the State of the Blog.
2011 was, on the whole, a pretty good year for the Tower of the Archmage. I hosted a blog carnival, participated in several others, made it to pundit level and am well on my way to gaining another level. I participated in several contests, and even hosted one here.
There have also been a few things that have stalled out do to a variety of factors. The biggest two were switching jobs and working on my Masters Degree. While the job and school work continue, I’d like to get back to some of the projects I put aside. Starport Saturdays, Tim Curry Tuesdays, and my Megadungeon are all at the top of the list.
This year did see me return to making terrain. I built and painted several ruins as well as the fieldstone bell tower. I’m planning on continuing that trend, and making more items for my terrain table. I’m at this point seriously considering a small village to go with the bell tower and ruins that I already have, but that isn’t set in stone, or even cast bricks.
Related to terrain building is painting minis and sculpting. I didn’t paint a single mini in 2011, and I haven’t sculpted anything in years. The sculpting isn’t a big deal because I have no lack of minis to paint, however I have a dragon mini that has lost the top of its head. There is another dragon that I’ve lost its arm. I have no idea where either part is. Since I want to paint them, I need them built. To built them I need to replace the missing bits. To replace the missing bits, without buying new minis, I need to sculpt. Therefore, sculpting is back on the agenda!
I will continue to write reviews, actual play reports, monsters, magic items, and to share links and maps, and all of the other things that I (ir)regularly post. I have a small stack of products to review, and shelves of gaming material to mine for ideas. And in case I run out of ideas or inspiration there are always the random blog post generators.
What this means for you, dear reader, is that there is lots more to come! Thank you for sticking with me, and I hope you continue to enjoy the ride!
2011 was, on the whole, a pretty good year for the Tower of the Archmage. I hosted a blog carnival, participated in several others, made it to pundit level and am well on my way to gaining another level. I participated in several contests, and even hosted one here.
There have also been a few things that have stalled out do to a variety of factors. The biggest two were switching jobs and working on my Masters Degree. While the job and school work continue, I’d like to get back to some of the projects I put aside. Starport Saturdays, Tim Curry Tuesdays, and my Megadungeon are all at the top of the list.
This year did see me return to making terrain. I built and painted several ruins as well as the fieldstone bell tower. I’m planning on continuing that trend, and making more items for my terrain table. I’m at this point seriously considering a small village to go with the bell tower and ruins that I already have, but that isn’t set in stone, or even cast bricks.
Related to terrain building is painting minis and sculpting. I didn’t paint a single mini in 2011, and I haven’t sculpted anything in years. The sculpting isn’t a big deal because I have no lack of minis to paint, however I have a dragon mini that has lost the top of its head. There is another dragon that I’ve lost its arm. I have no idea where either part is. Since I want to paint them, I need them built. To built them I need to replace the missing bits. To replace the missing bits, without buying new minis, I need to sculpt. Therefore, sculpting is back on the agenda!
I will continue to write reviews, actual play reports, monsters, magic items, and to share links and maps, and all of the other things that I (ir)regularly post. I have a small stack of products to review, and shelves of gaming material to mine for ideas. And in case I run out of ideas or inspiration there are always the random blog post generators.
What this means for you, dear reader, is that there is lots more to come! Thank you for sticking with me, and I hope you continue to enjoy the ride!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)