Heroes of the Feywild: The Witch

So I picked up the Heroes of the Feywild a while back.  I had been looking forward to this one for a while, especially when I saw that the Witch was going to be one of the character class options.
I then spent some time working on various witch characters and builds (and yes I did them all by hand). Here are my insights.

In General
Like Heroes of Shadow, Heroes of the Feywild assumes that these characters are either from or have strong ties to their "homeland" in this case the Feywild.  IF you have any interest at all in the Feywild or any sort of land of the Faerie (such as Avalon, Alfheim or any number of others) then this is a good book.  While not really compatible with older editions of D&D there is still plenty that can be used.  The feats even are written that they could even be used with Pathfinder or D&D 3.x.  I found plenty I can use for my current 3.x game that I run with the kids and Ghosts of Albion.  I actually ended up liking this book more than the Heroes of Shadow book out earlier.

The Witch
The witch is a new "sub-class" of wizard that basically learned in the Feywild.   On one level I didn't like this since the witch isn't really a type of wizard.  But in reading it I can get past it since the witch is only a type of wizard "mechanically", she uses the same rules as a wizard and thus all the same powers, feats, magic items, Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies the wizard can use.  In this respect it makes her more like what I have done in the past where wizards and witches are both a type of "magic-user".   It gives the witch a lot of power to choose from.

The witch has two builds or covens she can choose from, a Full Moon Coven and a Dark Moon Coven, or if you prefer a good witch and a bad witch.  The covens have some powers associated with them, but the witch is still free to choose powers as she sees fit.
Only Paragon Path is given, the Legendary Witch, and it focuses on the two covens.  It lacks any strong thematic element, but this is a complaint I have had of the Paragon Paths of the post Essentials line.
The Epic Destiny, the Witch Queen, though is quite good.  I had done something similar as a Prestige Class for 3.5.  This one is different but there are some interesting powers and effects.

Powers and Spells
What sets this witch apart from another Wizard or a Warlock are her spells and powers.  The witch relies on her familiar to learn magic.  Something I have seen more and more of late in FRPG versions of the witch. Her magic has a distinct feel to it different than that of the warlock, even if there seems to be some overlap.  Witches do get a minor healing power from the Full Moon Coven, and her magics in general are more subtle. She does not for example have a fireball like spell, but she can change monsters into other animals and they take damage for it.  Heavy on the charms and transformations.  Lots of powers with the Psychic key-word.  Some are similar in theme to the Warlock; Horde of Puckish Sprites is not too different, save in level, than Pixie War Band.

I would like to see more on the relationship of Witches and Warlocks.  Especially given the Fey commonalities and interactions with Patrons.  I think I'll have to write that myself.

Non-Witch Material
There are three new races to play that are well suited to a Feywild/Faerie World sort of game.  The Hammadryad, the Satyr and the Pixie. All have something very interesting about them and I'll stat up some witches for each race as well.  There are other class builds as well the Berserker (Barbarian), Protector (Druid) and Skald (Bard).  All great for a psuedo-Celtic themed game of D&D.  Just add Player's Handbook 2 to the mix to get the base Bard and Gnome and you are set.  Honestly there is enough here to run a high-magic game and never leave the Feywild.

Overall I am very pleased with this witch class.  It's not perfect, but it is very, very close.  I might try a multi-classed warlock, but that might be splitting my roles a bit too much.

Give the gift of Adventure! Part 2

I think my intentions for my last post were not 100% clear.  I am going to blame the antihistamines and try it again with a  different point of view.

This holiday season I'd like to challenge the members of the Old School Community (and the New School and No School ones as well) to give a gift of your favorite game.  It really doesn't matter which one to be honest.
The only requirements are you need to give it to a kid who has not played before, or who has only played a little, and then promise them you will show them how to play.

So pick the D&D 4E boxed set or the Pathfinder one.
OR for the normal audience of this blog, pick a game from the OSR and give it to them.

My favorites are Labyrinth Lord, Basic Fantasy RPG and Spellcraft & Swordplay.  Order them now so you can have the print version in time to give.

Speaking of which DriveThruRPG is running a special this week on Teach Your Kids to Game.  There are a ton of great games here, many of which are not even discussed int he OSR realm or in the 4E/Pathfinder realms.
Here are some of the ones they suggested that I have reviewed in the past.
Adventures in Oz: Fantasy Roleplaying Beyond the Yellow Brick Road - great game and available in softcover.
Cartoon Action Hour 2 - great easy game to learn and a great hook, play your favorite cartoon!
Cat - John Wick has been putting out some fun little games lately.  Cat might be one of my favorites.  Play a cat and fight monsters.
DC Adventures - what kid today doesn't like super heroes? And why not play the greatest super heroes in the world!
Meddling Kids - Got younger kids?  Maybe ones that like to watch shows with kids solving mysteries with their animal side kick?  Then this is the game for you!
Witch Girls Adventures - great game for kids that love magic, wizards and monsters.

These are ones I have known about but have not reviewed yet.
Toy War - grab some toys and play!
Faery's Tale - an excellent game that I really need to review.
Kids, Castles & Caves - I have this, but have not read it yet.  Looks great for younger kids.


So here are my questions.
Where are some good places to give games for those of you that don't have kids of your own?
What other ideas do you have to give the gift of gaming to others?

Give the gift of Adventure!

I was out shopping today with my kids today at the toy store.  I was looking down the alisle of games and it got me thinking about Christmas and games.
I was thinking it would be a great idea to give a game this year for Christmas.  It can be anything, really the new Pathfinder box set, the D&D4 box set from last year, or even your favorite OSR product.

The idea here is to buy a game for someone, a kid or a group and introduce them to the hobby.  

So what are some of choices for gifts?
The Pathfinder box set is nice, but the 4E one beats it in one key respect, the 4E starter set is only 20 bucks; a great intro price.

 What would you like to give?
Who would like to give it too?

Zatannurday: Zatanna XXX in 3D

I am not even sure I should post this one or not.
Obviously I have noting against porn or anything like that.  But this blog tends to be more PG or PG-13 rated.

So forwarned is forearmed.

Zatanna will be the star in a new Super Hero Parody Porn.

You can read all about it here, http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/11/10/zatanna-and-emma-frost-come-to-superhero-parody-porn-xxx-in-3d/

It stars Chanel Preston as Zee.
Honestly she is not that bad as this pic will show,  no worries, this is a safe one.

I have no idea what the story is about but it features Catwoman, Supergirl and oddly enough, Emma Frost.

Did I also mention it is in 3D?
No? Well yeah it is in 3D.  The Red/Green type, but still.

If you are curious here is a link, Not safe for work.
http://superheroine3d.com/

Up for pre-order now, and you can use your 3D glasses on the website too.  How's that for value add.

Red Sonja: She Devil with a Sword: Red Sonja / Witchblade Crossover

Red Sonja: She Devil with a Sword: Red Sonja / Witchblade Crossover: Dynamite Entertainment (Press Release) Join Dynamite Entertainment and Top Cow Productions as they bring two of comics most celebrated ...

Read More at Red Sonja: she Devil with a Sword

Rethinking Immortality in my games

I never played the "Basic" D&D game all the way through to the Immortals set.  Mostly because I was more B/X than BECMI.
I had also gone on to AD&D and "looked down" on the "kids game" of Basic D&D.  But some characters in my games did achieve immortality, others had it thrust on them.
Like many gamers of my age I saw Immortality not as a pathway to Godhood, but rather a Kewl Way of Not Dying.  Eventually what was considered immortality became heavily influenced by the Highlander movie.  And that was that for a number of years.  I only have one immortal character and I don't play him very often.

A while back I was watching "Morgane et ses Nymphes" for the October Challenge and I started thinking about immortals and immortality some more.   Over the weekend I re-watched one of my favorite old Doctor Who episodes, The Brain of Morbius and this got me thinking about it again.  In BoM there is the Sisterhood of Karn, protectors of the Sacred Flame.  I have used them as inspiration before for my own Daughters of the Flame coven.  Like the "nymphes" of Morgan Le Fay, this was a sisterhood of immortals.  They also had something else in common, they never changed.  They not only never grew old, they never learned anything new, never experienced anything different.  In one scene in "Morgane" two girls are play chess and one complains she has never won.  Why? Simple she could never learn anything from all her past games their ability was frozen in time at the point they became immortals.

Now think about vampire tales of the last few years.  Where is it you usually find vampires?  Well not crypts anymore and if it is outside of Bon Temps, then it seems to be in High School.  Buffy, Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, My Babysitter's a Vampire; the list goes on.  The issue is vamps, like other immortals, are stuck in the mentality of when they were made immortal.  Yes Anne Rice goes in a completely different direction with this.  Ignoring Lestat's "I'm the super vampire and perfect in every way" schtick, there is the horrifying reality of Claudia; a intelligent woman trapped in the body of a child.

Immortals then need to work hard to overcome this lack of inertia. In games with skills I think I will have Immortal characters have to pay twice the listed cost for skills. This would help explain why and how an immortal character/npc is stuck in older modes of thinking and doing things (or just hanging out at high schools all the time).

Now with D&D like games?  Maybe I'd follow the lead of the demi-human races.  Since an immortal can't die, I'd have to give them a huge bump in XP per level.  Maybe a 20% penalty.

Just some random thoughts.

TRPBTNTWA

I know I am about a week late on this one.  But here is my contribution to "Things Role Playing Bloggers Tend Not To Write About".  You can see the original posting at Monsters and Manuals, followed by Back to the Keep, Tower of the Archmage and Stargazer's World.

Book binding.
Maybe I have been lucky, but even some of the most notorious examples of crappy binding in RPG biz have held up for me.  So it hasn't been an issue.

"Doing a voice".
I do voices all the time.  It helps set the tone of the game and the NPC I am portraying.  Plus my kids like it.

Breaks. How often do you have breaks within sessions?
At least one break for snacks or lunch.  The characters can get a short rest, why not the players.

Description. Exactly how florid are your descriptions?
Description is the difference between a game and an immersive experience. I want the players to be able to see in their minds eye just as vivid as their characters would.

Where do you strike the balance between "doing what your character would do" and "acting like a dickhead"?
As a player I don't play dick-heads.  I think PC-on-PC violence is stupid (see below) and regardless of the story at hand the group is supposed to be acting like a group of heroes.

PC-on-PC violence. Do your players tend to avoid it, or do you ban it? Or does anything go?
As  a player I don't do it.  As GM I forbid it. It has no place at my table.  Act like the heroes you are supposed to be, not the asshole you think you can get away with being. I don't find it fun and that is not why I play.
(Actually bloggers tend to talk about this one a lot)

How do you explain what a role playing game is to a stranger who is also a non-player?
Most people know about D&D so I say it is like that.

Alcohol at the table?
Eh. I did it a couple of times in college and it never really worked out.
Now I am at an age where I don't need to have a beer at every social gathering.  Mt. Dew is still fine with me.

What's acceptable to do to a PC whose player is absent from the session? Is whatever happens their fault for not being there, or are there some limits?
Players have lives outside of the game.  If they can't make it they can't make it.  If so then I work out an excuse for the character to be absent or GM-PC them in passive mode.  They are there, but not contributing as much.