The day is getting away from me. So my post for today will have to wait. I am playing around with a new tool today at work. Thought I might try it as a way to map out all my D&D 5 campaigns and games.
The tool is called Coggle and it used for multi-user mind-maps and flow charts.
You can click here to see the public version.
I'll add the characters then hyper-link everything to the proper resource (DriveThru, DMsGuild, D&D Beyond). Build it up as I go. It's a nice organizational tool and a way for me to keep track of various items, especially characters. Had a player lose his character sheet so we recreated what we knew but said he lost all of his equipment and magic items.
I can see a lot of uses for this.
Showing posts with label adventures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventures. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Shrine of St. Aleena for 5e
In a very nice surprise this morning I was given the word that a conversion I did a bit ago is now live on DMSGuild.
The Shrine of St. Aleena, Small Niche Games and Pete Spahn's classic OSR adventure is now available for 5e thanks to yours truly. Love the colorized cover!
You can read my review of the original on its product page.
The 5e version remains faithful and adds some new 5e features such as the Monastic Order of St. Aleena. Now you can play a Monk dedicated to the service of this most revered saint.
I want to thank Pete for giving me a chance to play around in his world here for a bit.
At under 5 bucks this is a steal!
You can still the OSR version too.
The Shrine of St. Aleena, Small Niche Games and Pete Spahn's classic OSR adventure is now available for 5e thanks to yours truly. Love the colorized cover!
You can read my review of the original on its product page.
The 5e version remains faithful and adds some new 5e features such as the Monastic Order of St. Aleena. Now you can play a Monk dedicated to the service of this most revered saint.
I want to thank Pete for giving me a chance to play around in his world here for a bit.
At under 5 bucks this is a steal!
You can still the OSR version too.
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Into the Borderlands
I stopped by my favorite local game store, Games Plus, today and picked up my copy of the "new" Goodman Games Into the Borderlands.
It's a huge book.
Almost 400 pages (380) and full of nostalgic content.
There are several essays from people involved with the originals and the new project.
Some full-color panels of the covers and maps.
Inside the covers where they belong!
So interesting tidbits I never saw in the earlier modules.
It compares favorably to the originals, but it's size makes it awkward for the game table. I am hoping that Goodman Games comes out with a PDF so I can just print the sections I want.
This book also has some new spells and some "new" monsters, or really monsters ported over from the Fiend Folio for the most part.
The large number "1" in the upper left-hand corner is quite conspicuous. I am wondering if we will get a "2" with Palace of the Silver Princess and Ilse of Dread? A detailed treatment of B3 Palace of the Silver Princess would be fantastic, to be honest.
Is it worth the $50 price tag? Maybe not to new gamers, but certainly to gamers of my age bracket.
I think it is pretty damn fun in my opinion!
It's a huge book.
Almost 400 pages (380) and full of nostalgic content.
There are several essays from people involved with the originals and the new project.
Some full-color panels of the covers and maps.
Inside the covers where they belong!
So interesting tidbits I never saw in the earlier modules.
It compares favorably to the originals, but it's size makes it awkward for the game table. I am hoping that Goodman Games comes out with a PDF so I can just print the sections I want.
This book also has some new spells and some "new" monsters, or really monsters ported over from the Fiend Folio for the most part.
The large number "1" in the upper left-hand corner is quite conspicuous. I am wondering if we will get a "2" with Palace of the Silver Princess and Ilse of Dread? A detailed treatment of B3 Palace of the Silver Princess would be fantastic, to be honest.
Is it worth the $50 price tag? Maybe not to new gamers, but certainly to gamers of my age bracket.
I think it is pretty damn fun in my opinion!
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Campaign Updates:2018
Work has me crazy busy, but this is a good thing. The downside is I have not had the time to blog as much as I want or even get in the campaign prep in at night. So I thought I would kill two birds today and see where I am in my games.
Active Games
The Dragon Slayers
A 3.x game that was briefly 5e and now fully converted to 1st Edition AD&D. The characters were trapped in Baba Yaga's Hut for nearly a year. They freed the Old Crone and her daughter Elena the Fair. Up next the final battle. I am using the Tom Moldvay adventure Twilight Calling for this.
Next are my three interlinked 5th edition games collectively known as Come Endless Darkness. Tharizdûn is returning to the multiverse and the PCs of the three campaigns need to stop him.
The Order of the Platinum Dragon
The Order has defeated all the giants and are now wandering the Underdark looking for the Drow. The big bads here are Lolth and Graz'zt. Graz'zt is setting up Lolth much like he is described doing in Expedition to the Demonweb Pits (for 3.5e). I try to focus on classic monsters in this one.
Second Campaign
The Treasure Hunters of the Second Campaign have just entered the Forbidden City. Here the big bad is Demogorgon. Here the focus is on other creatures that might not see normal games.
Into the Netir Vale
Known by my kids as the Orcus campaign. This is my revived and converted 4e campaign brought over whole cloth. I might lessed the involvement with the Raven Queen and play up Shar since this is part of the Forgotten Realms in my house.
All three games will meet up at the Temple of Elemental Evil to battle it out with the risen Tharizdûn. So roughly 18 characters of 18th to 20th level. It's gonna be wild.
Inactive/On-hold Games
These games are all inactive for a number of reasons.
Star Trek: Voyages of the USS Protector
This game is will be using White Star with my own "Black Star" rules modifications. I have the first adventures ready to go, "The Stars Are Right" and "These Are the Voyages". I have two more nearly ready "Ghost Ship" and "Abraxas Down". I want to do two more. I have been scribbling notes on rule changes and feel like the rest I can do while the game is moving along.
What is really slowing me down is the wiring of the LED lights I want to put into my USS Protector Model!
Spirit of '76
On indefinite hold.
Hero's Journey to Middle Earth
This one is requiring some significant reading on my part. As my first REALY foray into Middle Earth as a game world I want to do it right.
Magic School
This one is on hold till I am done with Come Endless Darkness. Since this one will use D&D Rules Cyclopedia and I really want it to feel like a separate game. Plus things that happen in CED will change the world of the Magic School and I don't know what those are yet!
War of the Witch Queens
This is the higher level version of the Magic School kids. What happens here will also be determined by what the PCs do in CED. I have all the adventures for this, just not the end game.
The Incredibly Awesome (and Not At All Made-Up) Adventures of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle!
Huh...ok this one was a little bit of a joke, but I keep getting asked about it. I do have one adventure worked out that introduces the PCs to the world. Called "Damn It Barry Allen!" it sets up Booster and Blue as the true heroes of the DC world, it's just that no one can remember them.
I still have to get my new Blue Rose campaign going. I ran the first adventure, Kingdom of Rain, and it went great.
Active Games
The Dragon Slayers
A 3.x game that was briefly 5e and now fully converted to 1st Edition AD&D. The characters were trapped in Baba Yaga's Hut for nearly a year. They freed the Old Crone and her daughter Elena the Fair. Up next the final battle. I am using the Tom Moldvay adventure Twilight Calling for this.
Next are my three interlinked 5th edition games collectively known as Come Endless Darkness. Tharizdûn is returning to the multiverse and the PCs of the three campaigns need to stop him.
The Order of the Platinum Dragon
The Order has defeated all the giants and are now wandering the Underdark looking for the Drow. The big bads here are Lolth and Graz'zt. Graz'zt is setting up Lolth much like he is described doing in Expedition to the Demonweb Pits (for 3.5e). I try to focus on classic monsters in this one.
Second Campaign
The Treasure Hunters of the Second Campaign have just entered the Forbidden City. Here the big bad is Demogorgon. Here the focus is on other creatures that might not see normal games.
Into the Netir Vale
Known by my kids as the Orcus campaign. This is my revived and converted 4e campaign brought over whole cloth. I might lessed the involvement with the Raven Queen and play up Shar since this is part of the Forgotten Realms in my house.
All three games will meet up at the Temple of Elemental Evil to battle it out with the risen Tharizdûn. So roughly 18 characters of 18th to 20th level. It's gonna be wild.
Inactive/On-hold Games
These games are all inactive for a number of reasons.
Star Trek: Voyages of the USS Protector
This game is will be using White Star with my own "Black Star" rules modifications. I have the first adventures ready to go, "The Stars Are Right" and "These Are the Voyages". I have two more nearly ready "Ghost Ship" and "Abraxas Down". I want to do two more. I have been scribbling notes on rule changes and feel like the rest I can do while the game is moving along.
What is really slowing me down is the wiring of the LED lights I want to put into my USS Protector Model!
Spirit of '76
On indefinite hold.
Hero's Journey to Middle Earth
This one is requiring some significant reading on my part. As my first REALY foray into Middle Earth as a game world I want to do it right.
Magic School
This one is on hold till I am done with Come Endless Darkness. Since this one will use D&D Rules Cyclopedia and I really want it to feel like a separate game. Plus things that happen in CED will change the world of the Magic School and I don't know what those are yet!
War of the Witch Queens
This is the higher level version of the Magic School kids. What happens here will also be determined by what the PCs do in CED. I have all the adventures for this, just not the end game.
The Incredibly Awesome (and Not At All Made-Up) Adventures of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle!
Huh...ok this one was a little bit of a joke, but I keep getting asked about it. I do have one adventure worked out that introduces the PCs to the world. Called "Damn It Barry Allen!" it sets up Booster and Blue as the true heroes of the DC world, it's just that no one can remember them.
I still have to get my new Blue Rose campaign going. I ran the first adventure, Kingdom of Rain, and it went great.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Uncle Matt's D&D Studio, Part 2 Adventure Design
Whole family was sick over the weekend so no gaming.
But part 2 of my interview with +Matt Finch is up over at Uncle Matt's D&D Studio.
In this one we discuss adventure design. I talk about my three different D&D games, developing adventures for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ghosts of Albion and where do I get ideas.
Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe to his Youtube channel!
But part 2 of my interview with +Matt Finch is up over at Uncle Matt's D&D Studio.
In this one we discuss adventure design. I talk about my three different D&D games, developing adventures for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ghosts of Albion and where do I get ideas.
Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe to his Youtube channel!
Monday, November 20, 2017
Weekend Gaming: The Second Campaign
Got some great gaming in on the weekend.
I building up the idea that a cult is growing in this world and the PCs will be the ones to stop it.
+Pete Spahn's adventure converts nicely to 5e and the "Spawn of the Infamous One" work great as tiefling warlocks. Maybe their patron is Bargel. ;)
Fun was had by all, but when the goblins and bugbears fled the shrine and regrouped outside there was a huge battle.
I also used Devilswine from the Expert Set. In my world were-boars are the only type of lycanthrope that orcs can become. It was a lot of fun to use them again. Though there are no Wereboar or Devil Swine stats, so I faked it with a werewolf.
That's when I noticed this.
The art in the 5e MM is very, very similar to the one in the BECMI Rules Cyclopedia! Nice bit of nostalgia there.
The characters are only 200 or so XP away from 4th level. I think they might have to encounter something along the way.
Now. Here is the problem I am having.
I want there to be a big bad. The kids love having those. I just have not figured out if it should be Asmodeus or Demogorgon. I have never used either in a game before and really want too.
Moved forward more with the Second Campaign.
But it turns out the characters are only 3rd level, and at the start of 3rd really. So not really ready for the Forbidden City and its jungles. So instead I thought up some minor encounters to get them from where they are now, closer to the jungle. Have not decided 100% if that jungle is in Hempoland or Chult, but at the moment that is fine.
I thought about taking them to the Ilse of Dread again and maybe even setting I1 there.
But through the course of play, something else happened and we ended up at the Shrine of St. Aleena.
I building up the idea that a cult is growing in this world and the PCs will be the ones to stop it.
+Pete Spahn's adventure converts nicely to 5e and the "Spawn of the Infamous One" work great as tiefling warlocks. Maybe their patron is Bargel. ;)
Fun was had by all, but when the goblins and bugbears fled the shrine and regrouped outside there was a huge battle.
I also used Devilswine from the Expert Set. In my world were-boars are the only type of lycanthrope that orcs can become. It was a lot of fun to use them again. Though there are no Wereboar or Devil Swine stats, so I faked it with a werewolf.
That's when I noticed this.
The art in the 5e MM is very, very similar to the one in the BECMI Rules Cyclopedia! Nice bit of nostalgia there.
The characters are only 200 or so XP away from 4th level. I think they might have to encounter something along the way.
Now. Here is the problem I am having.
I want there to be a big bad. The kids love having those. I just have not figured out if it should be Asmodeus or Demogorgon. I have never used either in a game before and really want too.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Weekend Gaming: Halloween Gaming, Return of the Vampire Queen
It was our weekend of Halloween gaming. It's was also my oldest son's birthday weekend.
He ran games all night long and while he slept today I ran "Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen" again, this time for my younger son and his group.
It was 2014 when I first ran this adventure for my oldest son, so I wanted to run it again this year for my youngest since they would have been the same ages. Very different experiences!
I picked up this adventure back when +Mark Taormino kickstarted a few years back and it is one of my favorites. It's just so much fun. I also combine it a lot with the classic Palace of the Vampire Queen and the sequels made by Bill Barsh at Pacesetter.
Combined they really make for a great full palace, dungeons, and vampire pits.
Today's group got much further. I made some changes based on previous runnings and some advice from Mark.
Combined with mins from three different companies this represents one of the things I love the best about this hobby; everyone coming together to provide something new and exciting.
Standing Lady Neeblack is the Vampire from Reaper Minis.
Ok and a bunch of tombstones and coffins from Michaels.
Oh and an old D&D action figure Umber Hulk to represent a giant Umber Hulk. Yeah, they were scared about that.
They managed to survive long enough to face the Succubi Sin and Diabolica and finally Lady Neeblack the Vampire Queen herself.
I can't say enough good things about these adventures. It would not be Halloween without them.
He ran games all night long and while he slept today I ran "Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen" again, this time for my younger son and his group.
It was 2014 when I first ran this adventure for my oldest son, so I wanted to run it again this year for my youngest since they would have been the same ages. Very different experiences!
I picked up this adventure back when +Mark Taormino kickstarted a few years back and it is one of my favorites. It's just so much fun. I also combine it a lot with the classic Palace of the Vampire Queen and the sequels made by Bill Barsh at Pacesetter.
Combined they really make for a great full palace, dungeons, and vampire pits.
Today's group got much further. I made some changes based on previous runnings and some advice from Mark.
 |
| Sin, the Queen on her throne, Diabolica, and the Queen ready to attack |
Standing Lady Neeblack is the Vampire from Reaper Minis.
Ok and a bunch of tombstones and coffins from Michaels.
Oh and an old D&D action figure Umber Hulk to represent a giant Umber Hulk. Yeah, they were scared about that.
They managed to survive long enough to face the Succubi Sin and Diabolica and finally Lady Neeblack the Vampire Queen herself.
I can't say enough good things about these adventures. It would not be Halloween without them.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Kickstart Your Weekend: Adventures at End of the World Collection
Well according to the latest Doomsday theory tomorrow is the end of the World. Again.
But hey don't let that stop you! There are some great Kickstarters to be had.
Up first is another one from mad wizard +Mark Taormino.
Dark Wizard Games: Double Mayhem Adventures
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marktaormino/dark-wizard-games-double-mayhem-adventures
This one updates Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen and Secret Machines of the the Star Spawn. With new art and editing. There is also the chance to get updates of other modules.
Burial Plots for the Cryptworld Game
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1895361773/burial-plots
This book has five new adventures for the Cryptworld game. +Dan P does some really great things with Cryptworld. I wish I had the time to play it more to be honest.
Baker Street: Strange Cases and Hood: Beyond the Forest
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fearlightgames/baker-street-strange-cases-and-hood-beyond-the-for/
A new casebook for Baker Street and adventures for Hood: Swashbuckling Adventures in Sherwood. Adventures Beyond the Forest. +Bryce Whitacre has done a great job and Baker Street is a lot of fun. I have not played Hood, but if it is half as fun as it sounds then we are in good shape.
And what is the end of the world without demons?
Hell Awaits... Wave 1
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/552604905/hell-awaits-wave-1
Some more demons based on old woodcuts. Pretty cool if you ask me.
So go out and spend your money! We could all be dead tomorrow! ;)
But hey don't let that stop you! There are some great Kickstarters to be had.
Up first is another one from mad wizard +Mark Taormino.
Dark Wizard Games: Double Mayhem Adventures
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marktaormino/dark-wizard-games-double-mayhem-adventures
This one updates Hanging Coffins of the Vampire Queen and Secret Machines of the the Star Spawn. With new art and editing. There is also the chance to get updates of other modules.
Burial Plots for the Cryptworld Game
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1895361773/burial-plots
This book has five new adventures for the Cryptworld game. +Dan P does some really great things with Cryptworld. I wish I had the time to play it more to be honest.
Baker Street: Strange Cases and Hood: Beyond the Forest
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fearlightgames/baker-street-strange-cases-and-hood-beyond-the-for/
A new casebook for Baker Street and adventures for Hood: Swashbuckling Adventures in Sherwood. Adventures Beyond the Forest. +Bryce Whitacre has done a great job and Baker Street is a lot of fun. I have not played Hood, but if it is half as fun as it sounds then we are in good shape.
And what is the end of the world without demons?
Hell Awaits... Wave 1
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/552604905/hell-awaits-wave-1
Some more demons based on old woodcuts. Pretty cool if you ask me.
So go out and spend your money! We could all be dead tomorrow! ;)
Thursday, August 17, 2017
This Old Dragon: Issue #83
Letters cover the usual questions about psionics and where someone can get an article reprint. Hang tight, you will be able to buy everything on CD-ROM in about 15 years. There is also a letter on the longest continuous game of D&D at 100 hours. I think the longest game I ever played was a combo Ravenloft I6/I10 game at 48 hours.
Ads for James Bond and Cities of Hârn.
Michael Lowrey is up first with The many facets of gems. Since a lot of my D&D game play is 70s and 80s fueled I always wanted to use gems as a means of storing magical energy in my games. I never quite got it the way I wanted it to be honest (still working on it) but this article was a huge help back in the day. It is also a pretty long article.
Ed Greenwood is back with the Ecology of the Stirge. Is it a bug? Is it a bird? Going back and rereading these now I admire how well Ed could take even the most banal monster and turn it into something interesting. While I used to find his "in universe" writing a little twee now I am genuinely amused by it. I can imagine some Academy in the Forgotten Realms where monster experts debate the finer points of monster biology and killing methods, all safe in their academic halls and ivory towers.
Sign of the times. The fiction section is not only by Margaret Weis, it is the first Dragonlance story in the pages of Dragon magazine. Test of the Twins features the twins Caramon and Raistlin. A lot of ink and pixels have been spilled over the effect on D&D by Dragonlance. Whatever your point of view on this the Dragonlance era starts here and now with this issue. The story is a pivotable one in the Dragonlance saga. So much so that I have read it, or versions of it, in other books before I saw it here.
The centerfold is the massive adventure from Roger Moore, the Dancing Hut. This was such a great adventure then that I had to rerun for my kids. Though I combined it with bits of the 2nd Edition version that came out much later. This one is a keeper.
Baba Yaga is such a historic figure in D&D it is no surprise there are so many adventures built around her.
Roger Moore follows this up with a simplified unarmed fighting system in How to Finish Fights Faster. Frankly, I never used it.
There is a Top Secret article here, but mine was cut out.
There is another ad and a long review of the James Bond 007 game.
I am a HUGE Bond fan. My first Bond movie was Live and Let Die. It gave me a life long obsession with Bond, Voodoo and Jane Seymour.
Despite this, I have never played a James Bond game. My loss to be sure. I'll need to fix that someday.
My first Bond may have been the late great Roger Moore (no relation of course to the above-mentioned RM), the BEST Bond is Daniel Craig.
Ads...an order form for the Mail Order Hobby Shop to get back issues of Dragons.
In the comics section we get a rare celestial conjunction; Wormy, What's New with Phili and Dixie AND Snarf Quest all in one issue. There is even an entry of Talanalan here.
A great issue really, if for nothing else than for the Baba Yaga adventure.
March 1984 was also a good issue of White Dwarf. Check that out on my White Dwarf Wednesday Issue #51.
Using Baba Yaga in your games
This adventure features Baba Yaga and gives her stats ala Deities and Demigods. She is a tough one to beat too. She has 3 attacks, 135 hp, a -1 Charisma which gives her horror like effects. She fights like a 16HD and has the spell casting ability of a 25th level Magic-User, a 15th level Illusionist and a 14th level Druid. Crazy. Oh, and she has some abilities of an assassin too.
There is no doubt that she is one of, if not THE, most powerful witch in the D&D multiverse. When she is not working with her daughter Iggwilv on Oerth she is off on Golarion dealing with the Winter Witches of Irrisen. I would not be surprised to discover she has also been to Aglarond and Rashemen. And if she hasn't been there then her Hut has.
No one is better suited for a Basic Witch write-up to be honest.
I will use Roger Moore's stats as a guideline and use the witch rule from my The Witch: A sourcebook for Basic Edition fantasy games.
Baba Yaga, Witch Queen
Female, Chaotic (Nuetral Evil)
Strength 20 (+3 / +8)
Intelligence 25
Wisdom 23
Dexterity 18 (+3)
Constitution 21 (+6_
Charisma -1* (Baba Yaga uses her negative CHA the way other witches use positive. So +5)
Saving Throws
Death Ray/Poison 3
Magic Wands 3
Paralysis, Polymorph 3
Dragon Breath 3
Rods, Staffs, Spells 3
+5 to all saves via Ring of Protection
+ for Wisdom
Hit Points:
AC: -10
(Grandmother's Shawl +5, Bracers of Defense +3, Ring of Protection +5, Dex 18 -3)
THAC0: 4
(I know, THAC0 was not used in Basic D&D. You know what this means)
Occult Powers
Lesser: Familiar (crow)
Minor: Kitchen Witchery
Medial: Detect Bloodline
Greater: Curse
Major: Shape Change
Superior: Longevity
Spell Immunities
Baba Yaga is immune to the following spells:
Cause fear, charm person, command, friends, hypnotism, forget, hold person, ray of enfeeblement, scare, beguiling, bewitch, domination, fear, charm monster, confusion, emotion, fumble, suggestion, telempathic projection, chaos, feeblemind, hold monster, magic jar, mass domination, quest, geas, mass suggestion, rulership, antipathy/sympathy, finger of death, mass charm, Otto's irresistable dance and any spell created by one of her "Daughters" (for example Tasha's Hideous Uncontrollable Laughter).
Other Powers
Arcane Diversity: Baba Yaga may learn other arcane spells (Wizard, Necromancer, Illusionist). She can replace 1 Ritual spell per spell level with an arcane spell she has learned. These spells must be learned like other magic-users and recorded in her Book of Shadows.
Spells
Cantrips (8): Alarm Ward, Arcane Mark, Chill, Daze, Ghost Sound, Inflict Minor Wounds, Object Reading, Summon Vermin
1st (9+4): Bad Luck, Black Fire, Cause Fear, Charm Person, Chill Touch, Darkness, Endure Elements, Fey Sight, Ghostly Slashing, Glamour, Minor Fighting Prowess, Protection from Spirits, Silver Tongue
2nd (9+3): Agony, Biting Blade, Discord, Enthrall, ESP, Evil Eye, Ghost Touch, Hold Person, Invisibility, Mind Obscure, Phantasmal Spirit, Spell Missile
3rd (9+3): Astral Sense, Bestow Curse, Circle of Respite, Dispel Magic, Feral Spirit, Ghost Ward, Lethe's Curse, Lifeblood, Magic Circle Against Undead, Toad Mind, Witch Wail, Witch Writing
4th (9+3): Abomination, Analyze Magic, Arcane Eye, Charm Monster, Divination, Ethereal Projection, Intangible Cloak of Shadows, Phantom Lacerations, Speak with Dead, Spiritual Dagger, Tears of the Banshee, Withering Touch
5th (9+2): Baleful Polymorph, Blade Dance, Death Curse, Dreadful Bloodletting, Endless Sleep, Greater Command, Hold Monster, Magic Jar, Nightmare, Teleport, Waves of Fatigue
6th (9+1): Anchoring Rite, Anti-magic Shell, Break the Spirit, Death Blade, Eye Bite, Ethereal Banishment, Mass Agony, Mislead, True Seeing, Dismissal (Ritual)
7th (9): Call the Restless Soul, Death Aura, Draw Forth the Soul, Greater Arcane Eye, Greater Blindness, Foresight, Insanity, Wave of Mutilation, Gate (Ritual)
8th (9): Antipathy/Sympathy, Astral Projection, Destroy Life, Greater Mislead, Mystic Barrier, Pit, Trap the Soul, Ensnarement (Ritual), Imprisonment (Ritual)
Magic Items
Grandmother's Shawl (Greatest), Broom of Animated Attack, Baba Yaga's Hut, Baba Yaga's mortar and pestle.
To make her closer to the version presented here in Dragon #83 I could give her the Mind Bar from +Richard LeBlanc's Basic Psionics Handbook.
Enjoy!
Monday, July 10, 2017
Another Library Sale Haul
Working on a few things this week but I want wanted to share a recent local library sale haul I found.
12 Endless Quest/Choose Your Own Adventure books for a Quarter each.
I remember reading "Dungeon of Dread" and "Circus of Fear" back when they were new.
I also found a copy of "Quag Keep" for 25 cents.
Not too bad for just over 3 bucks.
12 Endless Quest/Choose Your Own Adventure books for a Quarter each.
I remember reading "Dungeon of Dread" and "Circus of Fear" back when they were new.
I also found a copy of "Quag Keep" for 25 cents.
Not too bad for just over 3 bucks.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Classic Modules Today: Death's Ride
I have been a fan of the "Classic Modules Today" group for a bit now.
The premise is to use the leeway of the DMSGuild to produce 5e conversions of classic TSR modules.
Well you know I am all about that! So I have been buying as many as I can for the various campaigns I have been running. They are great. All the basic information I need in one place.
Could I have done these on my own? Sure. But for the price of my triple grande latte, I can grab 2-3 of these pdfs and be good to go.
Since I also believe in giving back I made my own for an adventure I have coming up.
Here is the Classic Modules today conversion of one of my favorites, CM2 Death's Ride.
You can get the conversion here on the DMSGuild and the original module too.
You will need the original, these are conversion notes, not the full product.
You can find these and all the Classic Modules Today conversions (and the original adventures) at the DMSguild.
The premise is to use the leeway of the DMSGuild to produce 5e conversions of classic TSR modules.
Well you know I am all about that! So I have been buying as many as I can for the various campaigns I have been running. They are great. All the basic information I need in one place.
Could I have done these on my own? Sure. But for the price of my triple grande latte, I can grab 2-3 of these pdfs and be good to go.
Since I also believe in giving back I made my own for an adventure I have coming up.
Here is the Classic Modules today conversion of one of my favorites, CM2 Death's Ride.
You can get the conversion here on the DMSGuild and the original module too.
You will need the original, these are conversion notes, not the full product.
You can find these and all the Classic Modules Today conversions (and the original adventures) at the DMSguild.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Into the Nentir Vale (was BECMI/4e Conversion)
Yesterday's post on my BECMI/4e conversions really took off and it seems there is a ton of interest in it. So I am going to explore the idea further.
Now I have been conversions since, well since forever really. Converting fluff, converting plots. That is easy. Can do it on the fly. Converting the monsters is also no great task, but it does require some care. Since I am already doing the work of 4e to BECMI I might as well through 5e into this too.
Why not.
When I convert say between 5e and TSR D&D (1st, 2nd, Basic) I just swap out the monsters. It works nice. When I add 3e into the mix then I want to look over the monster for any feats or powers it might have and make sure those get preserved somehow. 4e is a bit trickier.
4e, more so than either 3e or 5e, has a strict XP budget. You are expected to level up at certain points in the game. This might not be true of EVERY 4e game, but it is of HPE adventures.
The other factor working against me is the 30 levels of advancement in 4e vs. the 20 in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. BECMI helps me out here with a nice range of 36 levels.
I want characters to progress through these adventures AND still stay within their target levels.
So I am building a spreadsheet (I am a numbers guy afterall) to help me calculate the XPs given per adventure. This will help me find the appropriate monster replacement for each game, help me balance the XP so the levels come out right and give me the exercise of going through each adventure and understanding each encounter.
Open in new tab/window.
I am opening up my spreadsheet so everyone can have a look and comment. I am not opening it up to contributors yet since I also want the exercise of going through every monster in every adventure.
I added the data from yesterday's conversion and added a 5e column as well. The 5e data has the advantage of using a VLOOKUP to allow me just to put in a CR and it spits out the XP. I could do this with the 4e and BECMI ones as well, just have not done it yet. I could also easily add Swords & Wizardry to the mix if people are interested.
If you scroll to the right (Col "O" to "R") you will see I have summed up the XP per adventure and then figured out how much per character based on the default (4e) party of 5 or a party of 6. My feeling is that to make the levels work out with 5e I am going to have to assume that 6 characters are going through. This should also make the combats faster. I have not figured out what the optimal number of characters is for BECMI yet.
I will also have to convert the treasure. There are some wildly different assumptions on what treasure needs to be in different versions of the game. You get lots in 4e, not a lot in 5e, and in BECMI (or at least Basic) Treasure also gives you XP.
THEN I need to figure out what this all means for my Come Endless Darkness game. If I run this set of adventures the party goes up against Orcus. In CED I also wanted them to fight Orcus. Have to figure it out later I guess.
Other posts related to this:
Let me know what you think!
Now I have been conversions since, well since forever really. Converting fluff, converting plots. That is easy. Can do it on the fly. Converting the monsters is also no great task, but it does require some care. Since I am already doing the work of 4e to BECMI I might as well through 5e into this too.
Why not.
 |
| Crazy Delicious |
4e, more so than either 3e or 5e, has a strict XP budget. You are expected to level up at certain points in the game. This might not be true of EVERY 4e game, but it is of HPE adventures.
The other factor working against me is the 30 levels of advancement in 4e vs. the 20 in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. BECMI helps me out here with a nice range of 36 levels.
I want characters to progress through these adventures AND still stay within their target levels.
So I am building a spreadsheet (I am a numbers guy afterall) to help me calculate the XPs given per adventure. This will help me find the appropriate monster replacement for each game, help me balance the XP so the levels come out right and give me the exercise of going through each adventure and understanding each encounter.
Open in new tab/window.
I am opening up my spreadsheet so everyone can have a look and comment. I am not opening it up to contributors yet since I also want the exercise of going through every monster in every adventure.
I added the data from yesterday's conversion and added a 5e column as well. The 5e data has the advantage of using a VLOOKUP to allow me just to put in a CR and it spits out the XP. I could do this with the 4e and BECMI ones as well, just have not done it yet. I could also easily add Swords & Wizardry to the mix if people are interested.
If you scroll to the right (Col "O" to "R") you will see I have summed up the XP per adventure and then figured out how much per character based on the default (4e) party of 5 or a party of 6. My feeling is that to make the levels work out with 5e I am going to have to assume that 6 characters are going through. This should also make the combats faster. I have not figured out what the optimal number of characters is for BECMI yet.
I will also have to convert the treasure. There are some wildly different assumptions on what treasure needs to be in different versions of the game. You get lots in 4e, not a lot in 5e, and in BECMI (or at least Basic) Treasure also gives you XP.
THEN I need to figure out what this all means for my Come Endless Darkness game. If I run this set of adventures the party goes up against Orcus. In CED I also wanted them to fight Orcus. Have to figure it out later I guess.
Other posts related to this:
- BECMI/4e Conversion, Ghost Tower of the Witchlight Fens
- RPGS and the Sunk Costs
- Plays Well With Others: D&D 4th Edition and D&D 5th Edition
- The Road to Winterhaven
- Come Endless Darkness
Let me know what you think!
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
RPGS and the Sunk Costs
Often you will hear people exclaim that they don't need to buy any more/new RPGs because they have more than they will ever play in their lifetime OR they have found the only one they ever need.
I can certainly appreciate both of these claims. I DO have more than I'll ever play AND I have the game (or really 3 games) I could play forever and never need a new one.
Yet. I still buy games.
I am fortunate really. I can make my hobby pay for itself. I can buy the books I want, when I want.
Thankfully my needs are also small and specific, so I also tend to write the material I want more out need of the material than out of a cost saving feature.
Sometimes though I buy something and I never use it, or, I never use as I wanted to use it.
Take for example D&D 4e.
I have a lot of 4e books. Many I bought REALLY cheap, but some I got new. In any case it represents a sunk cost for me. Even if I unload them all at my FLGS auction, I am not likely to make anything at all back from it.
I'd love to do something with it someday, but am I playing into a Sunk Cost Fallacy?
That is I'll never make my money (time, resources) back by put more money/time/resources int it.
I would love to the run the HPE adventures that are centered around Orcus and the Raven Queen. I have read through them many times and started them and think it would be fun.
There are three scenarios I am considering.
1. Run them under 5e. This one is more of a thought experiment for me really. I'd try to run it as a 4e/5e hybrid to scale 4e's 30 levels down too 5e's 20. I like this idea since it would make for an interesting experiment and test my knowledge on both systems. Converting 4e to 5e is easier than say converting 4e to something else.
2. Convert 4e to Something else. I am honestly thinking of doing this under BECMI. Using the honest to goodness Red Boxes and everything. This idea appeals to me on a lot of levels. BECMI's 1-36 levels map nicely onto 4e's 1-30. Both end in characters being immortals. Naturally this is the hardest to do and appeals to me the most, though I have done it before. The level differences and system differences would allow me to start H1 Keep on the Shadowfell at BECMI level 4 or 5 and give me 1-3 for other adventures. Maybe even the Aleena adventure in the Red Box and the Witchlight Fens adventure in the...Red Box.
The more I think about this the more I like it really. I would need to decided on Class and Race (like AD&D) or Race as Class (as BECMI). In truth it would not be difficult. The 4e races all have a class they seem to prefer. Dragonborn would all be Paladins, Tieflings all are Warlocks, Half-Orcs are all Barbarians and so on. Plus there is a lot I still like about BECMI that I want to do.
This is something I think needs delving into further.
3. Run the adventures under 4e. The simplest solution, naturally, has no appeal to me.
Am I sinking more resources into a fruitless endeavor? Should I cut my losses and run?
No idea yet. But I think I can invest a *little* more resources with out (too much) loss.
I can certainly appreciate both of these claims. I DO have more than I'll ever play AND I have the game (or really 3 games) I could play forever and never need a new one.
Yet. I still buy games.
I am fortunate really. I can make my hobby pay for itself. I can buy the books I want, when I want.
Thankfully my needs are also small and specific, so I also tend to write the material I want more out need of the material than out of a cost saving feature.
Sometimes though I buy something and I never use it, or, I never use as I wanted to use it.
Take for example D&D 4e.
I have a lot of 4e books. Many I bought REALLY cheap, but some I got new. In any case it represents a sunk cost for me. Even if I unload them all at my FLGS auction, I am not likely to make anything at all back from it.
I'd love to do something with it someday, but am I playing into a Sunk Cost Fallacy?
That is I'll never make my money (time, resources) back by put more money/time/resources int it.
I would love to the run the HPE adventures that are centered around Orcus and the Raven Queen. I have read through them many times and started them and think it would be fun.
There are three scenarios I am considering.
1. Run them under 5e. This one is more of a thought experiment for me really. I'd try to run it as a 4e/5e hybrid to scale 4e's 30 levels down too 5e's 20. I like this idea since it would make for an interesting experiment and test my knowledge on both systems. Converting 4e to 5e is easier than say converting 4e to something else.
2. Convert 4e to Something else. I am honestly thinking of doing this under BECMI. Using the honest to goodness Red Boxes and everything. This idea appeals to me on a lot of levels. BECMI's 1-36 levels map nicely onto 4e's 1-30. Both end in characters being immortals. Naturally this is the hardest to do and appeals to me the most, though I have done it before. The level differences and system differences would allow me to start H1 Keep on the Shadowfell at BECMI level 4 or 5 and give me 1-3 for other adventures. Maybe even the Aleena adventure in the Red Box and the Witchlight Fens adventure in the...Red Box.
The more I think about this the more I like it really. I would need to decided on Class and Race (like AD&D) or Race as Class (as BECMI). In truth it would not be difficult. The 4e races all have a class they seem to prefer. Dragonborn would all be Paladins, Tieflings all are Warlocks, Half-Orcs are all Barbarians and so on. Plus there is a lot I still like about BECMI that I want to do.
This is something I think needs delving into further.
3. Run the adventures under 4e. The simplest solution, naturally, has no appeal to me.
Am I sinking more resources into a fruitless endeavor? Should I cut my losses and run?
No idea yet. But I think I can invest a *little* more resources with out (too much) loss.
Friday, March 24, 2017
Tales from the Yawning Portal
Grabbed the Tales from the Yawning Portal today.
It's a lot of fun. A lot of great adventures updated for 5e.
It has another version of the Tomb of Horrors. Noticed that there wasn't the slightest complaint like there was when the 4e version came out.
I am looking forward to running G3 here soon using these conversions vs. my own.
There are also a few Forgotten Realms adventures I am looking forward to trying out.
I will be at Gary Con tomorrow.
Look for me, I'll be the middle-aged gamer with glasses and a goatee.
Er...wait. I'll also be wearing a Games Plus 35th Anniversary shirt.
It's a lot of fun. A lot of great adventures updated for 5e.
It has another version of the Tomb of Horrors. Noticed that there wasn't the slightest complaint like there was when the 4e version came out.
I am looking forward to running G3 here soon using these conversions vs. my own.
There are also a few Forgotten Realms adventures I am looking forward to trying out.
I will be at Gary Con tomorrow.
Look for me, I'll be the middle-aged gamer with glasses and a goatee.
Er...wait. I'll also be wearing a Games Plus 35th Anniversary shirt.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
New Adventure, Character and Resources
So I'll share some resources and new adventure I am reading.
First up is the adventure.
The Witch of Monte Rosa is from Bill Barsh over at Pacesetter Games.
For 12 bucks you get an old-school like adventure and PDF. This adventure is for low-level characters using OSRIC or your favorite OSR rule-set.
It is a sanbox adventure designed to be dropped into any campaign and is adaptable to higher levels. The main focus though is the titular witch and the damage she is causing to nearby life.
There are some new monsters and some new magic items that look like a lot of fun.
The main antagonist is Helena, a "Cauldron Witch".
It would not take much at all to retune this to work with my Witch class. "Cauldron Witch" becomes a tradition with some alchemy based powers. Instead of Magic-User spells, give her witch spells.
Here is my take on her.
Helena
9th level Witch, Cauldron Tradition
Chaotic Evil
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 17
Saves
Death Ray or Poison: 11
Magic wand or devices: 12
Paralysis, Polymorph or Turn to Stone: 11
Dragon Breath: 14
Rods, Staffs, and Spells: 13
Hit Points: 50
AC: 7 (Leather Armor)
To hit AC 0: 16
Weapon: Staff (1d6+2)
Familiar: Cauldron* (her connection to her cauldron is explained in the adventure)
Lesser: Immune to the Affects of Undead
Spells
Cantrips (6): Black Flame, Ghost Sound, Inflict Minor Wounds, Quick Sleeping, Spark, Summon Vermin
First (3+2): Bewitch, Black Fire, Burning Hands, Cause Fear, Charm Person
Second (3+2): Agony, Biting Blade, Blast Shield, Hold Person, Spell Missile
Third (2+2): Bestow Curse, Danse Macabre, Ghost Ward, Scry
Fourth (2+1): Arcane Eye, Elemental Armor, Spiritual Dagger
Fifth (1): Death Curse
Certainly a worthy opponent!
What sold me on this adventure was that she was described as a "Witch Queen, long forgotten."
Kinda makes it perfect for my War of the Witch Queens adventures. So perfect in fact I am going to use this as the introduction to the series.
Going to be a blast really!
Here are free resources on witches and witchcraft.
- The Cornell University Witchcraft Collection
- Medieval Sourcebook: Witchcraft Documents [15th Century]
- Penn Libraries: History of Witchcraft - Research Guide
- Mysterious Britain & Ireland: The Occult / Traditions / Witchcraft
- Of course: Pacesetter H2 The Witch of Monte Rosa
Though if you are like me these are all very familiar sites.
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