This giant area (Room 13) has three exits. One on each side of the room and one ahead. The first on the left is Room 18.
This ornate tomb is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs. The doors are locked but can be picked.
This is the tomb of Dortya, the handmaiden to the Vampire Queen.
She is a 10 HD Vampire. She has Boots of Speed, Bracers of Defence AC +3, and a sword +2 / +3 vs. Clerics. Her tomb has Treasure Type F x3.
Her only task is to keep people away from her queen.
This section of the larger area is the home to the graves of the Queen's Elven sacrifices. Rising from the graves are Grave Terrors, the halfling undead.
Grave Terror are halfling wights.
Grave Terror
Armor Class: 5
Hit Dice: 3d8+6 (31 hp)
Movement: 90" (30")
Attacks: 1 claw or weapon (+2 to hit, 1d6+2 damage)
Special Attacks: Fear aura, Spectral Blades
Special Defenses: Immune to sleep, charm, and hold spells
Saves: As 3rd level Fighter
Morale: 12 (Fanatic)
Treasure: Nil (grave goods destroyed with their undeath)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
These creatures were warriors among the halflings until they were cursed to undeath. They had high Strength and Constitution scores while alive (16+ each) and were formidable fighters.
They attack with a claw or a rusty sword for 1d6+2 points of damage. They can also summon a spectral blade to attack another opponent at the same level of proficiency.
These undead creatures have Aura of Fear that acts like the spell Fear 15' Radius. They are immune to sleep, charm, and hold spells. They are turned as Ghouls.
This section of the larger area is the home to the graves of the Queen's Elven sacrifices. Rising from the graves are Alp, the elven undead.
Alp are the undead forms of elves.
There are at least six here and the potential for many more.
Interesting one this week. I am unsure if I am calling people to support it. My purpose here is often to shed some light on a crowdfunded project you may not have seen. This one though is at $3 Million right now so it doesn't need my help. But that is not why I am talking about this one today.
But first, the campaign.
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/mcdm-productions/mcdm-rpg?ref=theotherside
This is a new big FRPG from Matt Colville (the "MC" in the name I am guessing). It is obviously modeled on D&D style play and it is being pitched as a D&D alternative in all but name. Back in the day we would have called this a Fantasy Heartbreaker.
The game looks slick as hell and it will certainly be a lot of fun and look good. Matt does good work on his design so I have no doubt this will be a good game.
BUT...(there is always a but) there are a few things about it that I am not quite connecting with.
If you take D&D as the middle ground and go far out on the gritty/old-school side you get another wildly successful RPG ShadowDark. Go the same distance in the other direction and you will have MCDM RPG. Many of the selling points about this game read like "everything ShadowDark is, we are not." For example from the project page:
NOW PLEASE UNDERSTAND. I am not trying to set up a MCDM vs. ShadowDark thing here. I think both games are great and their respective successes give evidence that both games are wanted and needed. AND (more to the point) both provide that D&D-alternative to those that want it.
I think having a good D&D-alternative is a good thing given the bookend events from Wizards/Hasbro this 2023.
Just as I don't click well with some of the things in ShadowDark, I also don't click very well with some of the things in MCDM. I *do* want monsters to be able to avoid spells sometimes. I *do* want there to be a chance that the PCs can fail. I do want some grit. But I also want hope. My preferred gaming experience is somewhere in the middle.
Also, reading through the material, I get the sense that the design is not 100% complete yet. That is a red flag for me these days. When NIGHT SHIFT went to Kickstarter the book was done and playtesting complete. When Wasted Lands went to Kickstarter the playtesting on the new mechanics was done, the core rules were done, and the Gazeteer was nearly complete. Both games shipped early. My concern is this game won't ship for a while.
I have seen online people calling this a "D&D Killer" which I have my doubts about. Pathfinder is a great game but it was not a D&D killer. I have seen a lot of so-called D&D Killers over the years. I don't think this one will be either. But it might get WotC to pay attention. Maybe.
Even if it doesn't make WotC/Hasbro take notice it will provide a new game to people who love this sort of style and help keep role-playing going for a bit longer. Who knows, maybe I'll pick it up as well one day.
This section of the larger area is the home to the graves of the Queen's Dwarven sacrifices. Rising from the graves are Haugbui, the dwarven undead.
Haugbui
Armor Class 4 [15]
Hit Dice 6+6 (33hp)***
Attacks 2 × claws (1d6+4), 1 bite (1d4+4) + Ability Drain
THAC0 14 [+5]
Movement 120’ (40’)
Saving Throws D10 W11 P12 B13 S14 (6)
Morale 12
Alignment Chaos
XP 1,025
Number Appearing 1d8 (1d8)
Treasure Type None
Haugbui are undead dwarves of fierce warriors cursed to remain in their barrows and underground chambers.
The attack with a claw, claw, bite routine. On a successful bite attack, they can drain blood at 1 point of Constitution per round. The get these undead unattached requires a strength ability check to pull them off.
These creatures are very strong; Strength 20 and silver is required to hit them.
These creatures turn as Wights.
This section of the larger area is the home to the graves of many horses.
There are Undead Horses and Nightmares here.
Undead Horses
Armor Class 7 [12]
Hit Dice 4 (18hp)
Attacks 2 × hoof (1d6+1)
THAC0 16 [+3]
Movement 120’ (40’)
Saving Throws D10 W11 P12 B13 S14 (4)
Morale 12
Alignment Chaos
XP 125
Number Appearing 1d8 (1d8)
Treasure Type None
Undead horses are skeletal remains of normal horses. They attack much as they did in life, only now they can also be turned as Wights.
Nightmares
Armor Class -4 [24]
Hit Dice 6+6 (33hp)
Attacks 1 bite (2d4), 2 × burning hooves (2d4+2); Breath smoke
THAC0 14 [+5]
Movement 150’ (50’) / Fly 360' (90')
Saving Throws D10 W11 P12 B13 S14 (4)
Morale 12
Alignment Chaos
XP 1,025
Number Appearing 1 (1)
Treasure Type None
Nightmares are the steeds of night hags and other demons, black horses with flaming hoofs and mane. Their breath is a cloud of brimstone smoke, which causes any nearby opponent to attack at –2 (saving throw applies). These horrible creatures can become incorporeal and travel between the planes of existence, bearing their evil/chaotic riders.
(Section 15: Nightmare, Swords & Wizardry SRD)
--
Again, GMs choose as many as they need to challenge the PCs.
Thanks to the magic of Withers (and a mere pittance of 100gp), my warlock Larina from my first run can now join my paladin Johan on his current run.
The game is still rather fantastic and 300+ hours later, I am still discovering more. With some of the mods I added I don't think I'll be able to get Sinéad in there as well. The "half-elf" hireling is gone, replaced by Alfria.
