tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46929829534894740052024-03-13T22:58:26.272-05:00Notsonoble's Rants<b>Go see my products at <a href="http://paizo.com/store/games/roleplayingGames/p/pathfinderRPG/notSoNoblesGaming">paizo.com</a>, or <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=4455"> rpgnow.</a>!</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-71568834388452546852014-07-18T17:30:00.000-05:002014-07-18T17:30:00.971-05:00Nirmathas, MTTC, PFRPG Chase mechanicHere's the latest. I know the post is short, but somethings can't quite be said yet.
<h3>Nirmathas</h3>
The Open-ended Golarion game seems to be going well. They players are running about Nirmathas in search of a Bloodstone of Arazni. Several factions are also in play. I'd talk more but at least one player reads this blog (when entries are made). Feel free to follow along at <a href="https://open-golarion-ii.obsidianportal.com/adventure-log">the game's adventure log on obsidian portal.</a>
<br>
<h3>MTTC</h3>
It seems I'm playing two characters now. The other is Yuuta, a Tokyo bike cop, who has no particular tie to any faction. He's not really a fan of the Cataclysm Division either, and is in a bit of a tight spot between the legal thing and the right thing. Shinyai is currently involved with a Mihoist, but how long that lasts depend on how much she sees.
<br>
<h3>PFRPG's Chase Mechanic</h3>
In <i>The Gamemastery Guide</i> there's a mechanic for chase scenes. I got to play with it in the above Nirmathas game. It's fun. I need to use it a few more times to really get it down, but it's definitely going into games when I can. I've purchased the two decks of chase cards paizo did for it, but I'm betting I'll make my own larger ones. The mechanic describes placing figures on the card to determine where they are in the chase, and the skill check needed to proceed are on the card. So they might be a bit small for use.
<br>
<h3>Other notes</h3>
My kickstarter rewards for Rise of the Drow are in, I'll pick those up soon. Selling printed copies of the character sheet is still restricted to the store in Abilene. I don't make enough off of it to pay the membership involved to sell physical product on paizo or rpgnow yet. My personal setting has finished migrating to a google hosted wiki, and some more development has happened. I might keep hoping to have something setting wise available. I think I'll be there soon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-49543246007021196532014-05-16T18:00:00.000-05:002014-05-16T18:00:02.041-05:00RotR, Reapercon, GMing again, MTTC, moving closer to the rules<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Rise of the Runelords</h3>
So that RotR game I was invited to way back that had the pixie incident. Yeah, it finally ended at 3am this past sunday morning. It's been a crazy ride, at the end Karzug killed one of us, and had several of us below 10 hit points multiple times. Some of the spells we had access to were late book spells, and may have skewed the power in our favor, but in the end it was the longest, toughest, craziest five rounds of combat I've ever seen.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Reapercon 2014</h3>
<div>
Yes, we went. It was a blast. My brother and I played several warlord games, and painted. I painted up a <a href="https://reapercon.com/mspopen/2014/artist/Noble%20Hays" target="_blank">battletech warhammer</a> that got a certificate of recognition. My brother's <a href="https://reapercon.com/mspopen/2014/artist/Benji%20Van%20Fleet" target="_blank">Mina</a> won a silver. The new hotel for the event is really nice, and despite my fears, its still the close and friendly feel that reapercon 2013 was. We played some great custom R.A.G.E. games, including their dungeon crawl, and <a href="http://www.reapermini.com/Games/CowboysandGunslingers" target="_blank">cowboys and gunslingers</a>. C&G is probably the most fun I've had with the rage system yet. We found we were playing the tough rule in warlord way wrong, so we're rehashing our army builds and plan to actually play in the tournament next year. Ben and I have several paint project ideas in mind. Our goals are to both score better than this year with everything we enter. I'm also gonna push for two entries.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
GMing again</h3>
<div>
Well, with Runelords over, and the other GMs I was playing under out of town for 4-6 months, its time to step behind the screen again. I'm looking at three games at the moment. One is online for the MTTC people I've been playing with. Several of them are new to Pathfinder, and one is new to Pen&Paper as a whole. The next is picking up the slot from the runelords GM since his schedule is wonky now, I'll also be adding a kiddo of the players. We'll start with the beginner's box and go from there. The third is continuing the game I was running for Ben and the parents. I've got good notes for that already, I just don't remember how far they got last session.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
MTTC</h3>
<div>
Speaking of MegaTokyo:The Clans, that has indeed started up cleanly again. We're now playing at <a href="http://www.rpgclans.org/">www.rpgclans.org</a> bewarned though, mature content. Shinyai was just getting adapted to tokyo when things started getting crazy, and the government has put up devices that might as well be anti-magic fields. So even the average thug is an interesting fight. However, someone nasty is about to step out of the shadows and into the fray!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Getting back to the rules</h3>
<div>
For no good reason what-so-ever, I was stat-blocking Kenshin Himora from the anime Rurouni Kenshin this week. I've noticed a lot of things that have been in games I'm in are actually house rules (nat 1 meaning something bad on attacks, such high stats, CMD for feints). So far these haven't really been problems, but I think I'm going to move my games closer to the regular rules for a while. I think some of the house rules that can kick a player in the chin are actually to "balance" characters with really high stats. So I'd like to see what happens if things are closer to the book after all. It also means toning down my npcs, but hey that's fine, they were built powerful to deal with powerful characters.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-47092962073836254032013-11-14T10:13:00.002-06:002013-11-14T10:13:53.504-06:00Pirates and Council Continue, DMing for Thanksgiving, and other stuffOddly we're hitting book two of <i>Skulls and Shackles</i> and <i>Council of Thieves</i> at roughly the same time. In <i>Skulls</i> we survived the first month under the lash of Plug and Scourge until the wyrmwood's first prey came into view. Lysandros (the rogue) ended up leader of our small boarding team. Our team was also made part of the prize crew to send the ship back to Port Peril for sale. However, it wasn't long before we could tell that Plug and Scourge had other plans, which we wouldn't survive.<br />
<br />
With support of a handful of NPCs we'd befriended along the way we mutinied and took control for ourselves, only to get swept away in a storm and beached for a few days while repairing the ship and rescuing two NPCs from the grindylows who attacked during that same horrid storm. Now with our new ship afloat, and our new captain (Lysandros, the rogue) in charge we head for the same port Plug was headed for, hoping to complete a crew and squib the ship.<br />
<br />
In <i>Council</i> things are a little weirder. Our first few days involved dodging hellknights, killing shadow beasts at night, and goblins during the day. Then, a gang known as "The Bastards of Erebus" pushed too hard, and our little group of less that legitimate vigilantes asked us to do what the guard still refused to do.<br />
<br />
After a successful raid of the Bastards hideout, and capture of their Asmodian cleric and leader, we've built a little bit of reputation with the populus. Now we've been approached by a member of the Pathfinder Society asking us to help get back into an old lodge in Westcrown. How? We get to be actors, in a murder play! If we do well, we get invited to drunken debauchery at the Lord Mayor's home, in which we'll get to dig through his home looking for info on how to get back into the lodge.<br />
<br />
I'm also the DM for the family and most of these two groups for two thanksgiving dinner and oneshot games. If your not in one of those games and have suggestions, comment here or on G+!<br />
<br />
Amtgard has also hit a new state. Skywatch is no longer the infant shire, the new Shire of Nightglade has risen in mundane San Angelo, and along with Ninewillows (midland) we're helping them get on their feet. As one of my household's members said, it's odd being the veterans visiting the new field.<br />
<br />
That's about it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-1000248910501569702013-10-10T10:57:00.002-05:002013-10-10T10:57:36.023-05:00No Kings made, Death's hands changed, off to the Seas, and down with the hellknights! So here's this random-time-period's news.<br />
<br />
First, the <i>Kingmaker</i> game with the sibling meets tomorrow for its last time. The campaign will continue with others, but the DMs schedule means we're out. I would've liked to give it another go, but I'm actually not all that torn up about it. Some other time I'll either run or play through it with another group. The sibling and I aren't without a game to play yet though, more on that below.<br />
<br />
Second, the <i>four horsemen</i> game I was running is now finished. The party constantly changed and only settled down near the end. I didn't really finish Famine's arc but kinda needed to wrap up. So the final battle happened in Abaddon. When I had them cross a small section of Styx, they decided to use flight instead of a raft. This was fine, but instead of completing their move to cross they hovered over it and dropped spells on some daemons that attacked them. The daemons in question had dispel magic. The cleric and one sorcerer ended up in the river brain and soul wiped.<br />
<br />
The remaining sorcerer and the cavalier ran for it. Came across a pair of boatmen, and went to pay them passage back to the regular world. After some conversation they discovered that Death had the boats and all but a few boatmen destroyed. They then convinced these two boatmen to help fight Death. So when they got to the machine Death and his preferred two boatmen assembled, (pretty much a giant soul blender that pumped energy into Death and his lackeys) it was two boatmen and two players vs two advanced boatmen and Death. (I didn't have a statblock for death, so it he was just a really advanced boatmen with some extra nasty abilities.)<br />
<br />
The game ended with the cavalier shouting "I want your JOB!" while dealing the final damage to Death. Death dissipated and the cavalier sat on the throne, and restored things back to before the soul blender. As a final "favor" to the rest of the party he had the two in the river reincarnated and kicked back into the world with no memories and no stuff. The sorcerer he had booted back to the real world with all the other people's (except his own) gear. So now there's a well outfitted goblin dragon disciple somewhere in the world who death owes a favor, and the other sorcerer and cleric have started over at level 1 with no memory but their names in a <i>Reign of Winter</i> game run by the player of the surviving sorcerer.<br />
<br />
My witch for <i>Kingmaker</i> got a new name, a little different history, and is now in a <i>Skulls and Shackles</i> game with my brother (run by the person who's cavalier became death, and is the <i>Runelords</i> DM). The party involves her, my brother's female inquisitor of besmara, a female half-orc barbarian played by one friend, and a male human pirate(rogue archetype) played by the dm of my the other game that's now on tuesdays <i>Council of Thieves. </i>She completes a completely gender-bending party, all by chance but her. It's fun.<br />
<br />
As for her <i>Council</i> game. She's starting a blog as well. I think the two of us will try and keep consistent posts about that game here and there. You can visit <a href="http://selvaron.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Selvaron's blog here.</a> I'm playing a chelaxian native human freehand fighter (archetype). He's a former member of the Dottari, who decided he'd be more useful to westcrown investigating things on his own.<br />
<br />
I've gone from two APs that I'm playing in and one freeform game I was DMing, to <i>four</i> APs. I'm also considering starting <i>Legacy of Fire</i>. I'm pretty sure that this is one of the definitions of insanity, but that's fine by me.<br />
<br />
Now for something a little different, the Shire of Skywatch is still doing okay. I'm not playing as hard as I was when it started, but I'm still enjoying the occasional visit. What's interesting is there's another startup field starting in November. So on the 10th I'll be going to San Angelo's Nightglade field's opening day.<br />
<br />
Add to all this a free form RWBY game we hope to get off soon, and other madness, and I'm happily lost in too much stuff to do again!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-30182554657595770032013-08-02T23:22:00.001-05:002013-08-02T23:22:11.023-05:00Marcello's Last Moments<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Marcello has passed on in Rise of the Runelords, here's his last few moments.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
"All I see is
Dash..." Marcello said with a look of confusion on his face.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
"Wait, there's a
door just there. Someone's hidden it with an illusion." Turie
said after stepping into the room.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Marcello and Alice both
turned to where Turie was pointing, with a little concentration they
could see the door. Marcello waited while Alice checked it and opened
it.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
"More fog. I'll
go." Alice said and stepped through the threshold.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As the rest of the band
started shuffling into the small room Marcello pulled his staff and
slammed it into the door jam, once again pushing the fog away. A long
narrow corridor was revealed, but Alice was no where in site.
Marcello stepped through as the fog re-coalesced around him.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Marcello! Your in
danger!</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Manus?</i> Marcello
thought to the sudden voice of his dead brother in his mind.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Your new friends
have been tainted by the magics of Lhamastu in the crypt. They're
about to try and sacrifice you!</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>But...</i> Marcello
returned, <i>how...</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Quickly, defend
yourself brother!</i> the voice replied.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Marcello accepted it,
despite no evidence, and ran blindly down the hall. He didn't know
how it happened, but he had to get back out of this place, and
hopefully find a way to quickly remove the taint and restore their
minds. He flicked his hand behind him, and brought up a wall of acid,
expecting it to give him time to think.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Time however, wasn't on
his side, Koreth was already coming at him as the wall went up, he
had rope with him, but the acid burned the rope away. Koreth grabbed
Marcello by the waist before he could get out of reach.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>It's too late.</i>
His mind worked quickly, he brought the lightning bolt he'd prepared
to disrupt other casters forward. Koreth had left his hands free.
"I'm sorry." He wove the spell and discharged it directly
through Koreth's chest. The bolt surged through him and down the
hallway. Marcello heard many of his friends cry out in pain. <It's
necessary I have to subdue them so I can find a way out and clense
them.></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Koreth response was to
slam Marcello against the wall and grab his hands. "Not as sorry
as you're goin' ta be!" He shouted in Marcello's face.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>He's crazed. Like
that damned scribbler who's been in here for so long.></i> Unable
to move, Marcello's mind was the only thing working. He had to find a
way to get loose. The scorch mark on Koreth looked pretty bad. <i>Maybe
it'll be just enough to knock him out.</i> Marcello moved the wall
over the both of him with his mind. His hopes were drowned though, as
he saw the acid move he also saw the glow of Turie's healing power
flow over Koreth. <i>She warped it around so I wasn't healed as well,
this madness has her too.</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The acid hurt, it was
hard to concentrate. But then Koreth moved, releasing his arms and
pulling them both out of the magical wall. "What ar' ya doin'?"
the dwarf yelled, and squeezed.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Marcello felt a ribs
crack and coughed up blood. His mind was in overdrive, he couldn't
get loose. They had him, but he couldn't let that monstrous bitch
win. "I will not be sacrificed to Lhamastu!" he gurgled,
and used the last of his concentration to summon a fireball. He
detonated where his and Koreth's chests met. The heat and burning was
maddening, he felt his flesh boil where Koreth's now cherry red armor
touched him.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then it was over,
Koreth let go, and stepped back. He rose his hands. "We're not
your enemy." Koreth looked like hell.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Lies, all lies. He
wants your guard down.</i> The voice said again. Marcello watched
Koreth start backing away. He mentally moved the wall between them
again. He started to feel the mental itch warning him that the spell
he'd cast to increase everyone's endurance was fading. He dug in his
pack blindly and pulled the first potion he felt, and downed it.
"Stay back!" he called as he felt the magical healing
course through him. <i>Now to get out of here.</i> He started the
process of mentally moving the wall and walking back the way he came.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just then, a door
opened through yet another illusion. Marcello saw The Scribbler look
at him with a smile, the sword slash across his body, and then
darkness.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Suddenly, he was light,
and no longer felt pain, he tried to look forward and saw that he was
standing in a long line of people leading to a throne. It was night.
He'd been here before, when the redcap cut him in two a few weeks
back before Turie pulled him back. He was dead. He was in line to be
judged.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
"Hey! Marcello!"
He heard behind him in line. He turned and saw Manus, his twin who
died in the same days that caused Marcello's exile from Westcrown.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Why are you still
here, is Pharisma's judgment that harsh?” Marcello asked with fear.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Manus' wispy form
shrugged“Don't know yet. I refused to be judged until either you
succeeded or we could be could be judged together.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“She agreed?”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yeah, she seemed
indifferent. Did you go back?”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“No.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“How'd you go?”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“With a bang.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Good enough for me.
Let's see what the Lady of Graves thinks.” Manus joined him in line
and they waited their turn.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
***</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Marcello and Manus
Crispin, who I sent to the world together, now face me. I will judge
you together.” she paused and looked at the two souls. “You
fought against the plots of devils in your homeland, and were
expelled for it. Manus's life the day Marcello fled your lands, but
he continued your mutual goals of suppressing evil's influence on the
world. You, Marcello, joined a group of fighters, was captured by
evil, and yet continued to fight. You showed moderation on occasion,
charity despite the situation, and shared whenever you could. You
vanquished enemies of piece, resisted outright slaughter for
slaughters sake, and left power with your allies even after your
passing.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pharisma stared at
Marcello for a bit, and begun again. “Your soul is still heavy. You
were quick to anger in situations you should not have, and that anger
is strongest with you now. It was your last feeling as a mortal, but
was not entirely of your own mind. I judge you worthy of celestial
peace, but can not send you there in this state.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Can something be
done?” The brothers asked.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I will send you
back, briefly. Expel it quickly and completely. If you fail you'll
join the tortured who can not move on.” She waved her hand in an
almost bored gesture.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
***</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With that, Marcello was
suddenly in a room. He saw The Scribbler's back, he was attacking
Alice. Marcello's wrath was in control, he couldn't move his body he
tried to speak and summon any spell. “You'll regret having killed
me!” He didn't sound entirely like himself, it didn't matter. He
poured his anger into the energies around him, and his most powerful
lightning bolt arched from his body into The Scribbler. He saw it
hit Alice as well, and was pained again. <i>This won't work, they'll
all die, and it'll still be my fault. This madman, that fucking
damned madman! He simply has to go.</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">He
reached into that anger again, hoping to pull fire to him. It seemed
to take longer, he still couldn't move. Then he head it.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-style: normal;">Can
you guys take that again?” A voice cried that voice, it was
familiar, and </span><i>angry</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.
The anger seemed to make it feel familiar. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-style: normal;">Go
for it.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
”<i>GOOD!” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">and
Marcello heard the words for that same spell he'd just cast yelled in
hot rage. The spell went tearing through the air, and despite a lack
of feeling, Marcello could tell it was powerful. The familiarity sunk
in with the anger behind the casting. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Quiray, what's he
doing here?</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Marcello felt the
fireball he was reaching for ready, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">but
decided to hold it.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Marcello
watched, he felt the anger subside as he heard The Scribbler crack a
joke. Then watched Koreth </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
another </span><span style="font-style: normal;">charge past The
Scribbler in</span><span style="font-style: normal;">to</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
the room and look right at Marcello. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Koreth</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">was</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><i>angry, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">even for
Koreth.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> Marcello noticed he
was healed, and saw regret in his eyes before he turne</span><span style="font-style: normal;">d</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
and screame</span><span style="font-style: normal;">d insults at the
opponent he couldn't see</span><span style="font-style: normal;">. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">As
Marcello's emotions subsided and logic started to return he saw that
everyone else was fighting with anger, instead of reason. </span><i>Calm,
you can't fight this bastard angry. Calm down!</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
Scribbler </span><span style="font-style: normal;">revealed himself to
Koreth with an attack</span><span style="font-style: normal;">. Then
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">the elf Marcello knew was
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Quiray stepped into vision,
cast </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a spell </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
twisted his face as he saw the spell dissipate before hitting its
target.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>They're not going to
make it.</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Marcello was calm, he
sensed the strength of the fireball he had ready. It was on the
weaker side, and Quiray was always known for providing protections to
his allies. If he kept true to that, then Koreth and t</span><span style="font-style: normal;">he
other</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> should be guarded
against it. He brought it up, it would make spellcasting hard, but if
he could just hurt the Scribbler a little more, maybe Turie could get
them all out alive. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Before
he let the fireball go</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> Koreth
hit hard again, and Quiray wove a spell with flicks and dodges
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">despite his proximity to The
Scribbler</span><span style="font-style: normal;">. Marcello felt the
waves of magic purging energy bounce off of The Scribbler, then saw
two waves envelop The Scribbler, who fell.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>They made it!
</i>Marcello shoved the energies
back into the universe, and felt his anger go with it. The next thing
Marcello saw was his brother beckoning him to sit at a huge table
filled with food and wine. He sat and began chatting with his long
missed mother.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-90645942876043401602013-07-09T17:04:00.000-05:002013-07-09T17:04:00.798-05:00Skywatch CoronationThis past weekend was the first official coronation of the Shire of Skywatch. From Friday afternoon all through Saturday and into early Sunday morning Fort Griffin state historical site was <i>The Place To Be. </i>The food was great, the games were fun, and 57 amtgardians from all over texas (and even a few from New Mexico) were the best company I've been among in a long time.<br />
<br />
Friday began with (of course) setting up camp and the common/tavern area. Most of that was set before I arrived but as part of the caravan with the final hardware I still helped with that. Shortly after nightfall the games began. The regent for the shire started little roleplay/battle games involving retrieving items from other players, hunting down zombies and vampires, gladiator duels and other entertainment. After a few hours of this most everyone moved to the camping area for the bonfire and bardic.<br />
<br />
Saturday started early for some of us, I found that I didn't quite get to the site with everything needed for breakfast, but we managed. Then once more people started crawling out of tents and moving about we began ditching to wake up and followed with a small tournament. The tavern's small-games picked back up for a while and after a break for lunch we had the "Retaking of Fort Skywatch" battlegame. I went into the game as a weaponless healer, and still managed to contribute to Skywatch. This was followed by a huge spaghetti feast and court. Kesic, Jorrland, and Norgoth stepped down as Sheriff, Regent, and Champion and Antininus moved to Sherrif while Opaldragon stepped up as Regent, Gorith as Champion, and Honir moved into the empty Prime Minister slot. So started the first official reign of Antininus.<br />
<br />
It was also my first tent camping in years. I quickly discovered that I missed that as well, and really need to do it more often just to keep myself prepared for proper long-term camping.<br />
<br />
So, for a while I'll be focusing a little on getting back into the swing of camping, and amtgard style roleplay again. I'm not (with the exception of events) part of the leadership in an official status anymore for amtgard, so I'm going to focus a little more on House Ralaar-Khlu and just having a good time as an amtgardian.<br />
<br />
I still have minis to paint, Pathfinder games to play, and Warlord games to play/organize, and perhaps MTTC to try and revive. I won't be setting those aside. However, I really have found a place in amtgard I didn't feel was there the first time.<br />
<br />
As Honir texts me many times...<br />
<br />
Viviat Skywatch!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-17641211492301830382013-06-08T12:20:00.002-05:002013-07-09T14:07:25.867-05:00Not Dead YetWell, I've let this go quite a while. Not intentionally, lots of "I'll post Sunday, after all the things happening this weekend are done." Followed by forgetting.<br />
<br />
So here's how it is:<br />
<br />
<b>Amtgard:</b><br />
For a while there Skywatch was growing at 10-15 sign-ins a week. Now we seem to have settled at a stable 35-40 people without guests. Additionally, we had a day event in May, between the local presence and guests we had over 100 sign-ins! That's right, 50 of us, and 50 travelers <i>for a single day event.</i> It was insane, and great fun. Our first Coronation is July 6th, and it'll be a camping event. We're hoping for another 100+ attendance, that should be easier with a camping event, especially with Gathering of the Clans being a little off this year.<br />
<br />
The group is really doing well. Also, Antininus is running for the first full-term Monarch position. I can only see this as a good thing, he's popular with most everybody and really knows how to make a field do well. I'm not running for GMR, because we've had a good collection of reeves and one particular who wanted GMR and I think can do a far better job than I can.<br />
<br />
I've started a household (House Ralaar-Klhu) that will be an RP/field service household, compared to the field its a little behind on stability, but things are looking good.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<hr />
<br />
<b>RotR</b>: Marcello is 12th, we've had a wild time, and a rough time. Since I last spoke we've defeated a Frost Wright (the dryad's dead lover), a Necromancer, and survived a raid on Sandpoint by stone giants and dire bears and a dragon. One of the Stone Giants was captured, and after some interrogation we learned that a much larger force planed to attack very soon. So off we went to see if we could stop it.<br />
<br />
The next session (tonight or next saturday depending on a few people's attendance) will start with the epic fight against Mokmurian, the infamous Stone Giant wizard. It could very well be the end of us, but we'll give him a good fight. (I hope). The DM has also started a session in his homebrew world that'll run if for some reason we're short a player or two.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<hr />
<br />
<b>Other PFRPG:</b> My Four Horseman game has hit famine, and I plan to wrap up pretty soon. We've had a lot of new characters and drops, so the party's kinda out of whack. It was never supposed to be a long campaign, so once I've got it wrapped up I'll see if this current party would like to continue.<br />
<br />
The Kingmaker game I was invited to starts this coming Tuesday. I'm stoked to be on the same side of the table as my brother for a change. Also, Ultimate Campaign came out just in time. I'm going to loan it to the DM for looking over so that we can use the adjusted mass combat and kingdom rules. Also, a happy side effect, Brevory has a city built around an Observatory named Skywatch, so my household requirement of playing my persona in a P&P game just filled itself!<br />
<br />
My brother's single player games where you take the leadership feat are wrapping up. He's also doing a game for several of us in the fall that will be based on the areas the leadership feat games developed. Should be fun.<br />
<br />
I've started a Second Darkness campaign, unfortunately the original day we picked has turned to mush. I'll pick it up again once schedules start making since.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<b>Mt:tC, Marvel, & other:</b><br />
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
TC seems to have died completely this time around. I'll keep Shinyai the Kitsune around for something. I really want to see that character played out. Marvel finished with us defeating Sauron and finding that the Shield base just outside the Savage Lands had been up to no good. I was going to get in on an Xmen game by the same DM as Kingmaker, but due to scheduling conflicts with another player we had to pick one game each.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next weekend is FreeRPG day for lots of people. Our store didn't get in on it on time, but we're doing a rpgday/aarp birthday that weekend anyway. I'll be missing amtgard to help with it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-19286797701317659222013-04-15T23:35:00.003-05:002013-07-09T14:06:27.103-05:00"Noble" settles in SkywatchSo this is a re-write of my Amtguard persona. Getting back in has caused it to nag me for a couple of weeks now, and tonight I had one of those "muse in the shower" moments.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So here's the "dump the brain on the keyboard" draft.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Noble was, like many who found themselves in the Duchy of Irongate, lost and astray. His name was all he remembered of his family, and it was a poor choice. He was less than a commoner when he wandered into the local temple, after all commoners had a roof, work, and food.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He spent a few days in the temple simply existing. Then the town and temple were attacked, and he found he was able to, with the assistance of other adepts and holy books, channel the same energies as priests who healed and even brought back the dead.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He decided to stay for a time. He lived at the temple and studied. He helped with injured, and even fought in defense of Irongate as he could.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Later, word of his original family drew him to the road. He traveled south, and eventually west. After years of wondering and learning, his search turned up empty. Eventually he headed back east, but when he was about to turn north, he found something very different.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The shire of Skywatch had risen along the road back to Irongate. His friend Antininus was there, older, wiser, and far more powerful. Antininus asked him to stay and help with the new village. At first Noble was hesitant, but he stayed as Antininus's guest for a few days.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was at this point he met many villagers of Skywatch who showed promise as defenders and healers of the new village. It was then that he realized he'd spent all this time searching for a home, when what life wanted of him was to <i>make</i> a home.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Noble asked Antininus for some land near the edge of town. Antininus used his powers as prime minister to get Noble a land grant for a temple and a little extra for a personal home. Since then he has invited Malac, Amara, two others [sorry guys, can't remember your persona names] into that home as friends and fellow members of the temple. He's devoted himself to helping the village get on its feet, and provide healing, guidance, and protection.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Some of his new friends have helped in that regard, and show promise as protectors and healers. Antininus and the Sheriff, Kesic, petitioned the Kingdom of the Golden Plains for annexation. When the news of acceptance came so did a warning. Several Lords of the Golden Plains had decided to settle a small feud over the claim to "an as yet uncharted forest" with sword, and many had not yet heard of Skywatch's existence yet, so now the Shire would have to defend itself from many of its new brethren.</span></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
Some of this will probably have to change based on the kingdom and shire story behind the park-vs-park battle game at the inauguration celebration, and the brother's persona histroy rendition of coming to Skywatch, but there's what splatted in my head tonight.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-23359942880779636662013-03-29T17:30:00.000-05:002013-07-09T14:06:55.682-05:00RotR; Horsemen; and Amtgard;<b>Rise of the Runelords Game:</b><br />
<br />
Things are getting real. Two weeks ago we wrapped up the missing Black Arrow captain mystery. He'd been remade as a frost wight by a stone giant necromancer. Destroying the wight wasn't all that complicated, the necromancer on the other hand was not.<br />
<br />
I jumped into this campaign just before the pixie incident. Therefore, I knew that in rescuing me they fought a villain who escaped them. What I didn't expect was for her to show up so quickly. She, and a former Black Arrow were working with the Necromancer. It was a tough fight, even with the assistance of a few hags, but we defeated them. Except our cleric got within range of a stonegiant's hammer. Two crits later we had cleric goo all over the place.<br />
<br />
After a <i>reincarnate</i> spell, we now had a halfling cleric of torag. This doesn't bother the cleric or her player much.<br />
<br />
We found a note about a planned attack on Sandpoint, so after a quick wrap-up with the nymph ghost we head back to warn them. We arrive just before Sandpoint is raided by stone giants, direbears, and a red dragon. We came out on top, but, once again, at a cost. This time druid's wolf, who has saved almost everybody in the party's skin more than once... didn't make it.<br />
<br />
Worse, one of the stone giants was captured and interrogated. If seven stone giants and a red dragon are a <i>scouting party.</i> I don't want to think about a recon in force, or worse a proper invasion. Except that we've been promised exactly that, in less than a month.<br />
<br />
We're on our way to Magnimar to gather up a few remaining extra diamonds for a <i>resurrect</i> spell. Then its off to see if we can thwart a powerful stone giant caster/clan leader.<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<b>Horsemen of The Apocalypse:</b><br />
<br />
So, I'm now running a pickup Goloran campaign based on the horsemen making a move against the world. So far we have a Summoner, Cleric (of Desna), Dhamphir Rogue, Barbarian, and a Ninja.<br />
<b> </b><br />
It's interesting, first lesson it taught me though. Sickening the party with a truly disgusting dungeon sounds like a great idea for a pestilence themed area, and running lower CR monsters to make up for the sickened condition is ok, but pick something who's AC is low. A "trash mob", as the cleric calls them, of wererats with a couple extra levels in rogue didn't hurt them much, but were nearly impossible to hit. I cut a huge chunk of the dungeon out to keep players interested. I know now from conversations I probably could have left it in, but it wasn't my best session.<br />
<br />
This game's every other sunday, so I have plenty of time to prep something cool for the transition from famine to the first stage of war.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<b>Amtgard:</b><br />
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Shire-of-Skywatch-Amtgard-in-Abilene-TX/251448238324854?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">The Shire of Skywatch</a></i><b> </b>has risen in Abilene. I'm going to be at least the interim Guildmaster of Reeves (a whopping one reeve at the moment). The field keeps growing and growing. I'll probably have to make an attempt at abducting some players to reeve occasionally soon. Last week Lubbock's <i>Irongate</i> field sent visitors. We had a grate time. I might stick with it this time.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<b>Everything Else:</b><br />
<br />
I haven't even had time to keep up with RPGSuperstar. It's on its final leg. Go vote. Obsidian portal has a kickstarter to rebuild the site. I'm planning on getting into that. This month's rules demo in abilene was a bust, but I've rescheduled the same subject for next month. I've also started playing in a Marvel rpg. I'm playing Rogue... its caused me to dig for episodes of the old cartoon. It's cheezy, but still pretty good. I've found some issues with my NPC sheet at paizo.com. I'll be digging into those and updating shortly. I've done a few marauder II and panther customs and posted on the battletech board. I've painted a few battletech minis. This has been an amazing month, and with reapercon right around the corner I'm totally stoked! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-30240198704843009272013-03-06T17:30:00.000-06:002013-03-06T17:30:01.692-06:00Very Modern FIrearms for PathfinderGreg Christopher asked on <a href="https://plus.google.com/105771712753508502148/posts/TyfpBMwjfEu" target="_blank">google plus</a> about simi-auto and automatic firearms in rpgs. His question was not system specific, but having thought about firearms for my gunslinger I had a D20/PFRPG option in mind. Here's what I suggested:<br />
<br />
A real attempt to hit something (as oppose to close your eyes and
squeeze) with a simi-auto in d20 is easy, pathfinder revolver rules with
appropriate shots/round based on magazine.<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Capacity:</b> A
firearm's capacity is the number of shots it can hold at one time. When
making a full-attack action, you may fire a firearm as many times in a
round as you have attacks, up to this limit, unless you can reload the
weapon as a swift or free action while making a full-attack action. In
the case of early firearms, capacity often indicates the number of
barrels a firearm has. In the case of advanced firearms, it typically
indicates the number of chambers [or magazine<span style="font-size: x-small;"> si<span style="font-size: x-small;">ze]</span></span> the weapon has.</span> </blockquote>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Quote: PSRD</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
Free-action to replace a magazine based on training is simply another example of the rapid reload feat.<br /><br />For
those who simply pull the trigger as fast as they can make a scatter
attack, but at the -4 non-proficent penalty (even if they are
proficient, because they're not using the weapon in a controlled manner,
so a total penalty of -6) but only at the number of targets they have a
bab for (so 1 if their bab is under 6, 2 if under 12, etc).<br /><br />Automatic
weapons are treated as above except they actually have the scatter
ability so the penalty is only -2. An automatic weapon grants a
proficient user the many-shot feat, even if the user doesn't meet the
requirements. A user who has the many-shot feat already can fire 4
rounds as a single attack. (Another example of better training and
control). Manyshot options are not restricted to the first attack with
an automatic firearm.<br />
<br />
This isn't a hyper-realistic option, but d20 isn't hyper-realistic, and
shouldn't be. However, it covers controlled fire, and spray and pray,
for both classifications of weapons discussed. <br />
<br />
Feel free to tear it apart for me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-22029284654958011082013-03-04T20:44:00.000-06:002013-03-04T20:44:03.003-06:00PixiesThis maybe a "you had to be there post" but here's a recap of the best random encounter I've been in to date:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The game: Rise of the Runelords</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The scene: a wooded trail on the way to the Shimmerglens</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The characters: Male Human Druid, large and armoured Wolf Companion, Male Human Evoker(me), Female Dwarven Cleric, Female Dwarven Gunslinger, Male Dwarven Fighter, Male Elf Bard, Female (?) Rogue/Magus, and 5 bored Pixies.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The group is walking when the dm asks for a perception check. Most of us rolled pretty low, but the gunslinger manages to hear a child like laughter from nowhere, so our first warning is the gunslinger drawing weapons and moving out in front of the party. This is followed by quick "corner of the eye" flashes of pixies with bows, and the wolf suddenly passing out.<br />
<br />
Next up, I raise my hands above my head and move forward, announcing that we mean no harm and wish to precode with out harm to us. The answer comes in a whisper "Harm is such a relative term" and more laughter.<br />
<br />
More of us move forward, and we get to the pixies again. Now the pixies using <i>permanent image</i> to manifest a huge spider-like creature in front of the bard, and a <i>Glabrezu</i> in front of the fighter. The bard is now screaming in panic at nothing, and the dwarf charges to the side of the party and is swinging at mid-air. One pixie attempts <i>irresistible dance</i> on the druid, but the druid makes the save.<br />
<br />
The druid has figured out he can't wake the wolf, and ask the party for assistance. For some reason, all the party ignores him. I spend my turn trying to figure out whats wrong with the bard and fighter, and convince them they're seeing things. The cleric succeeds on a <i>dispel magic</i> on the bard.<br />
<br />
The round comes back to the druid, he asks for help to carry his wolf again, and doesn't see any signs of assistance, so starts dancing anyway. Apparently, pixies think druids can't dance. So when the perform check is low, one of the pixies looses it, and becomes visible, literally rolling on the ground laughing.<br />
<br />
The magus/rogue things this is a good chance to bring some sanity to the situation, and grabs the pixie. The pixie's ill health is now noticeable, so the magus asks what's wrong. The pixie proceeds to point at the dancing druid and continue laughing. "Silly time" has struck the table.<br />
<br />
Back around to me, I move back towards the party, and attempt to convince the fighter it's all in his head. Once again, no luck. The cleric attempts to <i>dispel</i> the image on the fighter, fumbles, the DM determines that this instead dispels the <i>barkskin</i> potion the fighter had taken, and that the fighter sees the image wiggle its claws as the barkskin is dispelled. Oh joy.<br />
<br />
The gunslinger, who was just going to leave, decides that maybe it'd be wiser to help the people that rescued him from a fort basement prison, and comes back to help convince the fighter its all in his head. More on that later.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to bet to the druid to help with picking up the wolf, but I’m still thinking "logically" hence my <i>it's all good, I'll cast enlarge person from here an the druid can carry the wolf on his own.</i> So I cast <i>enlarge person</i>, druid grows, but what does the druid do on his turn? He picks up the paws of the unconscious wolf and continues to dance.<br />
<br />
Now we have three laughing, prone, visible pixies. The cleric attempts grappling a second pixie, and misses, badly... and once again asks what made them this way. She's referring to their sickly appearance. DM rolls percentile for the three of them, determines that they all point at the druid. Cleric is annoyed.<br />
<br />
Okay so the gunslinger's idea of "helping" fighter realize its an illusion is to get in front of the fighter, and stand there dodging swings and ask what the fighter's fighting. Roll for disbelieve illusion, fail, fighter sees the demon eat the gunslinger. The fighter continues attacking.<br />
<br />
The bard has his head on straight again, so he attempts a knowledge nature check to see whats wrong with the pixies. He rolls a 1. I know skill checks can't be fumbled, well DM says they can. So the bard's player says "Wait, I'm not at the bank!" to represent his fumble. Next is one of the remaining pixies.<br />
<br />
<i>Permanent Image</i> again, failed roll again, the bard IS at the bank.<br />
<br />
Magus? She's making friends with the pixie she's got by the waist.<br />
<br />
Druid continues dancing.<br />
<br />
Gunslinger, attempts to pistol whip the fighter prone. Hits, doesn't knock prone, fighter things the demon hit him. This really only makes him angry.<br />
<br />
Cleric asks again, this time she specifically asks "Why are you sick?" Pixie makes a knowledge nature check, rolls a 6, answers "Umm, something down in whitewillow... must have... pthththth." yeah, the pixie shrugs and raspberries. Cleric looks at the dm with a look. Dm says "I rolled a 6!" Of course, the someone asks of the pixie really broke the fourth wall... Dm rolls percentile, and determines, yet again that weirdness happened. The pixie really does answer "I rolled a 6!"<br />
<br />
<br />
Me, I'm ready for a little sanity, my staff is the UE <i>Hurricane Staff</i> it's already over my head, so a couple of spins, "Enough of this Tomfoolery!" and <i>gust of wind.</i> I knock the two pixies who'd stood back up prone again, and the one in front of me (who I couldn't see) falls prone and is also visible.<br />
<br />
It doesn't really help, but someone loudly asks if anyone knows what happened to the pixies. The final pixie voluntarily becomes visible and explains that none of them were there for whatever happened, but for it to affect pixies this far out, something very bad must have happened in Whitewillow.<br />
<br />
Peace is made, we offer to help, since we're headed that direction anyway and looking for a lost human who was obviously in love with a nymph. They mention they've not seen him in quite some time. We head off.<br />
<br />
As a leaving gesture, the (remember female) magus/rogue attempts to steal a pixie's underwear. They aren't wearing any.<br />
<br />
So a "combat" that lasted maybe four rounds in game (that I probably don't recall the proper order of things happening). Took most of the night, and made the night like no planned encounter ever could have. It was mad, goofy, and excellent, and I expect this game to have more nights like it before its over.<br />
<br />
Most of all, I don't know if I'll ever be able to say the word pixies with a straight face again.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-59463491324174610062013-02-15T21:46:00.001-06:002013-02-15T21:46:27.713-06:00Lots going on, little to say<p>So here's a rundown of the things that have happened lately. I've meet several of the players the brother wanted me to, they're cool. I expect to step into a few games. One should fold me in Sunday, one is a Kingmaker AP run starting I'm the spring, and I'll be running two. This doesn't include family games.</p>
<p>Tabletop Forge folded into roll20. Some have been upset, some are thrilled, I am amongst the latter. For those that aren't, it's the same as one company buying another. Sometimes it kills a product, sometimes the company folds technologies into their product. This is the later, and is saving an otherwise doomed vision.</p>
<p>RPG superstar is in round 2 voting, some interesting monsters showed up. Check it out.</p>
<p>Finally, I purchased my reapercon ticket today. It'll be my first real convention. Should be fun!</p>
<p>That's about it for now. A note, I wrote this post on my cyanogened nook. I'm still not good at using it for serious typing.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0Abilene, Abilene32.44874 -99.73315tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-2359892099759153992013-01-25T13:46:00.002-06:002013-01-25T13:46:16.809-06:00Abilene, A Gungslinger, RPG Superstar 2013, Paizo's 10 year rideSo, I've been a little quiet lately. Mostly because once again, I've changed cities. This time, back to Abilene. I've only been here a week though, and feel far better settled than other moves. I'm sure that's partially because I already know people, but really I think it'll work this time.<br />
<br />
For example, my brother moved here a while back, and found a large chunk of the pathfinder players I kept looking for. Also, a promising game store has opened. I've been by three times now. Nice space, plenty of tables, and a great stock for a startup. They also opened a few months before their original plan. I think despite some challenges it presented them, it's actually a good thing.<br />
<br />
I haven't even moved into my own place yet, and I've watched an organized play session, and had a one on one session with the brother. This one in a fantastic race infused western setting. I'm playing a gunslinger. Wow they're powerful, even without the insta-death gunshots lots of people I've conversed with over firearms in RPGs. I didn't walk the floor that night by any means, but I held my own in a situation that should have been bad for a solo character.<br />
<br />
That said the character's gonna be a blast (pun only partially intended). I expect to completely enjoy this game. Session reports upon permission.<br />
<br />
On a different note, the <a href="http://paizo.com/rpgsuperstar" target="_blank">2013 RPG Superstar 32</a> were announced this week. I haven't looked over the whole list yet, but what I've seen so far seems promising. I think this'll be a interesting year, despite no currently twisted tasks.<br />
<br />
This year's RPGsuperstar, the mmo, Gamemastery's name change, Rasputin, lots of interesting things coming from Paizo this year. Not surprising considering the truly impressive ten years they've had so far. <br />
<br />
Lisa Stevens, Paizo's CEO, spent some time last year talking about that. If you haven't read her 10th anniversary retrospective series. Do so. They really show just how wild their ride has been. Below are links to each entry:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ld43?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 0 2002</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5lda6?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 1 2003</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5lddb?Paizo-Publishing-s-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 2 2004</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ldhf?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 3 2005</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ldkp?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 4 2006</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ldp4?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 5 2007</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ldv5?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 6 2008</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ldxl?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 7 2009</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5le0w?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 8 2010</a>, <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5le3w?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 9 2011</a> <a href="http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5leb1?Paizo-Publishings-10th-Anniversary" target="_blank">Year 10 2012</a><br />
<br />
I've only really followed Paizo since late 2008, but that four and a half years was wild just to watch. I know some are talking about how some of their 2013 products seem like they've jumped the shark. I know some think D&D next is supposed to bring WOtC back to the top. Yet everything (except the MMO) I've heard of Paizo's future releases sounds just as awesome as my first read through the PFRPG beta download. So congrats, good luck, and here's hoping we see ten more years of Paizo and Pathfinder!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-40552014692380230952012-12-08T14:46:00.002-06:002012-12-08T14:46:51.823-06:00Mask finished, RPG Superstar, So the campaign my brother was running for me and the family is at an "endpoint". His first two plot-lines are done, and now we the characters are at a "anything could happen" stage. We're now official heads for a island colony belonging to the realm we adventured in.<br />
<br />
Here's a (very) short description of the last session:<br />
<br />
We started the session on the galley <i>Magic Carpet</i> headed for a island a professor from the school the wizard attended wished to return to for study. We did not however, make it to the island.<br />
<br />
Our ship was attacked by slaver/pirates. We assisted the crew in defeating the pirates, and captured their ship in the process. We didn't really have enough survivors for a stable prize crew, and interrogation of a captured pirate survivor revealed that they were specifically looking for an immigration ship commissioned by the king. We were only a few days from the port the ship was expected to sail from, so we turned back at the professor's order.<br />
<br />
On our return, we discovered the immigration/colony ship hadn't even been announced yet. This, along with an assassination attempt on the king (which we thwarted) provided the king with enough evidence to accuse the person behind these deeds.<br />
<br />
At this point, the truth of the immigration/colony ship is revealed. It's commissioned to provide a group of catfolk who the king had been helping defend with a new home. So instead of a single ship,<i> </i>three ships made the trip.<br />
<br />
It wasn't quite over once we arrived. The professor's familiar scouted the docks for us and provided back images of the ruined docks and undead. The ruined docks were expected, this colony attempt is actually the second, what wasn't was the undead.<br />
<br />
So, the party is shuffled into one of the lifeboats so we can row out, clear the undead, and prep the area for docking ships. After a small skirmish with a combo of gouls, zombies, skeletons, and other midrange undead. The ships land and we go further in to explore.<br />
<br />
The previous colony settled the cavern network close to the docks. Exploration discovered evidence that the colony came into conflict with a tribe of lizardmen, and moved deeper for safety. As more of the fate of the previous colony unfolded before us, we discover a temple haunted by the ghost of a catfolk priestess. We're not welcome, but before we can get more info or decide to leave, the ghost re-inhabits its body and attacks. (I'll save why it does this instead of simply attacking for the actual module publication its too good to spoil).<br />
<br />
The fight brings out one other very nasty enemy, the truth behind the ghost's presence, and why some of the party's been having some really creepy nightmares. I'll only say that before the party can actually defeat all the presences, they inadvertently provide the ghost with what it needs to rest peacefully. The mask the whole game is named after comes to play as well, but I won't spoil how.<br />
<br />
The next session is actually supposed to skip a year in time, and allow the characters and npcs to settle into the new village. We're supposed to switch to me GMing and my brother playing... and I'm not sure I want to skip quite the entire time before the next session... There's all sorts of things a new colony can be exposed to that I think the party would enjoy.<br />
<br />
Now, on to other things... next up: It's that time again...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://paizo.com/rpgsuperstar/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://paizo.com/image/content/Logos/RPGSuperstar2013_360.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yep, Paizo's doing RPG Superstar! 2013. I don't have much time to get my wondrous item ready, but after the confirmation last year that I'm still eligible, I'm gonna take another shot at it.<br />
<br />
As a quick previous post I also linked to the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1675907842/pathfinder-online-a-fantasy-sandbox-mmo" target="_blank">Pathfinder Online Kickstarter</a> last week. I'll follow this a little as it goes.<br />
<br />
There's also a new android app for GMs and Players alike. <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lateensoft.pathfinder.toolkit" target="_blank">Pathfinder Toolkit</a> so far looks to be a really nice android 4+ app. I'll mess with it a little more and provide a serious review soon, right now I only have access to one device that supports it, but that should change. If someone who has a 4+ device wants to do a review and send to me, then I'll happily post it here.<br />
<br />
I've got a few other ideas to work on for NSNGaming, but right now they're on the back burner, I'm trying to figure out how far I'll actually be moving in January, and what changes to my budget that will make.<br />
<br />
Until later...<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-26729844245115698632012-11-28T17:23:00.000-06:002012-11-28T17:29:46.015-06:00Pathfinder Online KickstarterPathfinder Online is doing a second kickstarter. This time its for the actual game.<br />
<br />
Not sure if I'll do this one, but I figure passing it along is probably needed.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1675907842/pathfinder-online-a-fantasy-sandbox-mmo/widget/video.html" width="480"> </iframe><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-10216995391722479032012-11-09T20:52:00.000-06:002012-11-09T20:52:10.022-06:00Digging up old stuff helps!So... the new map to work from is done. I still need to do maps of individual regions, but not having to re-work several realms geographical info and still get realm populations that I can work with helped a lot.<br />
<br />
I started back up work on some of those realms. I dug out old thumb drives and external drives and found a lot of my older notes. Doing so actually filled some holes in my newer ideas. I really should have checked on this stuff earlier. I thought I'd already merged all of it into the wiki and current Krenna folders, but apparently not.<br />
<br />
I also found some really wild stuff, like my 3.5 Zergling and Hydralisk conversions. Those have to get updated to pathfinder and put online... just for fun.<br />
<br />
MTTC is kinda on hold. I'm waiting on others to post at this point.<br />
<br />
I'm reading PFT: Queen of Thorns right now. I still find Gross harder to read than some of the other authors, and he's made Varian and Radovan harder to be interested in by only writing about them. The good news is we've got three more novels coming up and none are about previous main characters.<br />
<br />
On a side note. I had to replace my aging printer. So far I'm finding the HP Officejet Pro 8600 pretty linux friendly. Which allowed me to do a lot of work on my setting today. I've been having days where I can't look at a computer screen for more than 10 minutes before walking away in pain. Paper notes made stuff lots nicer today (and hopefully will on Sunday.) I was hoping I could print some prototype stuff with the new printer at something that looked professional quality. I think it'll do the trick, but I'm gonna have to get off crappy paper.<br />
<br />
<br />
That's about it. Later.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-85425759701883179472012-10-27T18:43:00.001-05:002012-10-27T18:44:50.483-05:00Size and PopulationsOkay so I've used <a href="http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/blueroom/demog.htm" target="_blank">this article</a> many times to try and set up the population of nations in my Krenna setting. Every time I've done this the populations were huge, and I was wondering if I was doing something wrong. Yet I'd talk to other GMs, compare to real world countries, and even have people double check my math everything looked right.<br />
<br />
Then it clicked, non of my forgotten realm books, or my pathfinder books provide acreage for realms.<br />
<br />
I'd always seen the scale on the maps, so I had a feel for how long it would take someone to get from one town to the next, but never bothered to consider just how small a lot of the FR and Golarion realms were.<br />
<br />
Most of my realms were larger than modern day germany, most FR and G realms are lots smaller than that.<br />
<br />
So what to do? Dividing up some realms makes since, and its definitely a tempting thing to do, but it would be one more aspect of how my setting was like every other setting. Some of my incomplete realms could easily be broken into complete realms and incomplete neighbours. It wouldn't reduce the amount of work that needs to be done, but it would mean some of it was ready for a stage I wasn't thinking about quite yet. However, one or two realms are far enough along that breaking them up would make more work.<br />
<br />
My current choice? Break some up, keep some intact, but cheat just a little. I've been doing these huge realms as one realm for the math in the article, but I was already breaking several of those realms into duchies or counties, after the math. I think in at least one realm that's been bugging me I'll turn around and do the splitup <i>before</i> doing the math, just to see what I get.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-25919413805060714242012-10-17T20:01:00.000-05:002012-10-27T18:44:23.931-05:00GM HangoutsOkay, so obviously if I use blogger I have a google account. Many of you know I also actually use the google+ part of the google account. So I'm considering something else to a) entertain me, and b) entertain others.
I'm thinking about doing a monthly G+ Hangout On Air for GameMasters/DungeonMasters/Storytellers/G.O.D.s
Nothing fancy, just a shoot-the-breeze online gathering...
If your interested. Use the G+ link at the bottom to tell me so!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-81560474446070025822012-10-13T20:18:00.001-05:002012-10-27T18:44:02.704-05:001 year, more stuffSo I missed this two weeks ago, but I haven't forgotten.<br />
<br />
First up. Yes I'm running everything half of for the month of October at paizo.com. It's been a year (and a month) since I started this, and I've enjoyed it so far. Turning the character sheet and realm worksheet into finished "products" has helped with lots of other gaming projects. It's encouraged me to do a few other things as well. <br />
<br />
So far it looks like no one's taken advantage of the sale. It only goes for another couple of weeks. Also, as soon as paizo approves it, an NPC focused worksheet will also be available. It's a different take and honestly a little bit of an experiment. If it does well I'll consider making changes to other products based on new ideas in the NPC sheet.<br />
<br />
I have two other bigger game aids in mind. The realm booklet is near the front again, and a campaign management workbook is in the works as well. I've got an idea for keeping physical copies customizable as well. I don't know how soon they'll be ready, but the realm booklet is being tested out (and helping me continue Krenna work).<br />
<br />
My MTTC character hasn't done much lately, and I still don't have a local game, but tabletop forge is making progress on the developer version. So I may be looking into trying online gaming again soon.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I'm slowly working my way into helping out at http://www.d20pfsrd.com/. I don't know much help I'll be but we'll see.<br />
<br />
That's all for now.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-28640926419448896162012-09-14T19:42:00.002-05:002012-09-14T22:31:15.680-05:00RPG Now, Snakes Among Us Playtesting, MTTCFirst the progress, because of an unexpected time off period from my day job I got to gather some people for playtesting parts of Snakes Among Us... The result is I have more major encounters for throughout the story, but some reworking is definitely needed. Everybody had fun though, and getting away from the day job was a good thing. Also, Spirit Naga's out of the Bestiary are a definitely not something a APL 8 party should go at without some serious planning and tactics. Just a warning for all those that play.<br />
<br />
Looks like a plot idea I had for MTTC has been "approved" so I'll be working on that some this weekend. The player list is still kinda small right now. So any forum roleplayers that enjoy the megatokyo comic, stop by the forums (largo's corner, forum rpgs) and look for the mttc threads.<br />
<br />
I considered going to EPCON this year. Why not, I'm in El Paso, and could afford the tickets, but I'm really not seeing anything on the list of events or guests that intrigues me. I think I'll save my money for next years Reapercon and Paizocon. Hopefully I can go to Paizo next year, I have a feeling it'll really be worth it.<br />
<br />
Finally, as you'll see at the top of the page, all of my products are now on sale at RPG Now. So far they haven't sold even a quarter as well as they are still selling on paizo. I'm not sure what to do about that at the moment, but there it is.<br />
<br />
Anywho, that's all for now until something interesting develops in mttc or the games. My brother's game will probably have another session soon, so be watching for that.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-81857288518270921982012-09-02T01:09:00.002-05:002012-09-14T19:43:12.420-05:00Megatokyo The Clans Character: ShinyaiFirst of my MT:TC characters: Shinyai the Kitsune, the concept here is that she was an actual pathfinder rpg character suddenly plopped down in MT. Here character is build at the point right before the sudden change. (The xp column is her xp total, not what you'd earn by defeating her.) Remember she's still built for Megatokyo, so while a urban barbarian might not make a whole lot of sense in Golaron, it's going to be hilarious in MT:TC. Also, I did use <i>Ultimate Equipment</i> for gear, just to see how sick it could get.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="background-color: orange;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Shinyai Mugi-ite</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>XP</b>: 105,000</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Female Kitsune Urban Barbarian 11</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">NG Medium Humanoid (Shapechanger)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Init</b>: +3, <b>Senses</b>: Perception +15, <i>Low-Light Vision </i></span><br />
<hr />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Defences</span></span></b>
<br />
<hr />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>AC</b>: 25 (28), Touch: 13 (16), Flat-Footed 21 (21) (+6 <i>+1 mithral kikko of moderate fortification</i>, +4 (5) Dex, + 1(2) Dodge, +2 <i>ring of protection</i>, +2 <i>amulet of natural Armor</i> (Raging and or Guarded stance)) +2 to all vs one opponent (<i>ring of foe focus)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Damage Reduction 2/-</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>HP: </b>130 (11d12+55) (141)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fort:</b> +12, <b>Refl:</b> +7 (8), <b>Will:</b> +5 </span><span style="font-size: small;">+2 to all vs one opponent (<i>ring of foe focus)</i></span><br />
<hr />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Offence</span></span></b><br />
<hr />
<b>Speed:</b> 30ft;<br />
<b>Melee: </b><i>+1 keen katana </i>+14/+9/+4 (15/10/5) (1d8+5(7) 15-20x2)<i>, </i> <i>bite</i> +14(15) (1d4 x2) (kitsune form only), <i>(improved unarmed strike)</i> + 14/+9/+4 (1d3+3 x2) (raging)<br />
<b>Ranged: </b><i>masterwork amentum javelins (3)</i> <i>+</i>15(16) (1d6+3(4) x2)<br />
<b>Special Attacks: </b>Body Bludgeon +14 (1d6 to both target and wielded), improved trip, improved grapple<br />
<b>Spell-Like Abilities:</b> (CL 11)<br />
3/day- <i>dancing lights</i><br />
<hr />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Statistics</span></span></b><br />
<hr />
<b>STR:</b> 14(16), <b>DEX:</b> 19(21), <b>CON:</b> 20(22), <b>INT:</b> 16, <b>WIS:</b> 14, <b>CHA:</b> 16<br />
<b>BAB:</b> +11, <b>CMB:</b> +13 (14 raging) (15(16) trip or grapple), <b>CMD:</b> 26 (28 raging)<br />
<b>Feats:</b> catch off guard, dodge, intimidating prowess, improved grapple, improved trip, fox shape<br />
<b>Skills:</b> Acrobatics +19(20), Climb +16(17), Craft (jewlery) +17, Diplomacy +17, Intimidate +19(20), Perception +15, Knowledge (local) +17, Knowledge (nobility) +17<br />
<b>Languages:</b> Common*, Sylvan, Tien, Hwan, Dtang, Hon-la, Minatan, Minkaian, Senzar, Vudrani, Taldane, Auran, Elven, Abyssal, Tengu, Samsaran<br />
<b>SQ:</b> Kitsune Magic, Agile, Natural Weapons, Controlled Rage, Crowd Control, Brawler, Uncanny Dodge, Trapsense +3, Damage Reduction 2/-, Guarded Stance, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Intimidating Glare, No Escape, Body Bludgeon, Greater Rage<br />
<b>Combat Gear:<i> </i></b><i>3 potions cure moderate wounds, 1 potion invisibility</i><br />
<b>Other Gear: </b><i>+2 ring of protection, ring of foe focus, +2 amulet of natural armor</i>, <i>+1 mithral kikko of moderate fortification, +2 belt of physical might (dex and con), corset of the vishkanya, cloak of resistance +2</i>,<i> longarm bracers, bag of holding IV, backpack, belt pouch, flint & steel, iron pot, soap, sunrod, trail rations (5 days), waterskin, compass, mess kit, silk rope 100ft, healers kit, 2 explorers outfits, 2057 gold pieces</i><br />
<hr />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Special Abilities</span></span></b>
<br />
<hr />
Later<br />
<br />
History<br />Character's point of view:<br />Shinyai's family was proud and well treated until she was an adolecent, at which point her family's true nature was discovered. As such their status in society fell, and Shinyai grew used to being alone and treated with suspicion. She grew up fighting her way through the day. Eventually she moved on to adventuring, hoping to bring in money and glory back to her family.<br /><br />During a particularly nasty fight with a daemon servant of the Horseman, she was knocked unconcious, instead of dying or waking in saftey with her latest party of delvers, she woke in Tokyo after the demon invasion.<br /><br />World's Point of View:<br />Shinyai is a bit meta, she's on of the D&D characters out of Noble's old gaming notebook. After the demon invasion, something blanked the sheet, and Shinyai manifested in the MT world.<br /><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-66826834642820161132012-08-27T21:49:00.002-05:002012-09-14T19:43:39.376-05:00A Cold, The friendly visit, and MT:TCSo I've been neglecting this again, but I haven't had a lot of time even think about whether I had something to say.<br />
<br />
Today's send home and Dr. visit changed that.<br />
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Weekend before last some college friends came up, I ran them through the first two phases of the first part of Rise of the Runelords using the anniversary edition. At first I thought things were missing, but no. The format is a little different, and in the end I liked it, now that I've seen it running again will be straight forward and enjoyable. Just a warning to people who ran it from the original prints, read through and find everything first.<br />
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Other than that, something possessed me to catch up on megatokyo this weekend, and now I'm looking into rejoining the MT:TC forum rpg. There's a lot fewer people now, but perhaps some new people will come along (or I won't be the only returnee).<br />
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I'm hoping this round will improve my story telling as much as the last one did. MTTC is what got me from gaming to trying to create my own world (thanks again Aree, wherever you are).<br />
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That's about it for now. I'll probably do some character describing here on my new TC character. (I've decided new characters are the way to go, fresh start and all.) So watch for that.<br />
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L8RZ.<br />
|\|0750|\|08L3<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-47697443873105940892012-08-10T18:15:00.000-05:002012-08-10T18:15:00.327-05:00Of Kickstarters, and SiblingsFirst, one of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4-PfGmJPEo&list=UU9-EE_9NTDDW0lHad0YOlzQ&index=1&feature=plcp" target="_blank">Linux video bloggers</a> I follow griped about Kickstarters today. So let me get my view of Kickstarters out.<br />
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One: Some Kickstarters are started before they should be.<br />
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I've seen a few kickstarters for projects that felt as vaporware as TWIL was worried about. Sometimes I share them and sometimes I don't, but unless updates show more promise they don't get any money from me. I think you should have proof that you are going somewhere with your project first. (A side note, OUYA already had prototype devices, so I thought it was a bad example.) This is one of the reasons I haven't done a kickstarter for Krenna.<br />
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Two: Like any sales pitch, you should who its coming from as well as what it is.<br />
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TWIL was really worried about kickstarter projects finishing. Look at kickstarters the way you would any money loan, or purchase. Do at least some light research, and consider the people behind the project. If you wouldn't trust them to provide before the concept of kickstarters, nothing about kickstarter will really change that. This is a second reason I haven't done a kickstarter for Krenna. There's nothing out there for anyone to judge whether I will do well or poorly. I need to prove I can produce to myself before I try to pitch to you all.<br />
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Three: Kickstarters are an investment risk, same as all investment risks before them.<br />
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The difference between a kickstarter, and a business loan is who your borrowing the money from, and how you pay it back. In a buisness loan you make a pitch to a bank based not only on how much money you think you need, but what you plan to do with it. This is what a kickstarter is, but now your making it to the people you hope want what you're trying to make or do. When you borrow from a bank, you pay the bank back money, when you borrow from a kickstarter, you pay the people back by finishing the product (and usually providing free stuff to the people who funded the kickstarter.)<br />
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So there are differences between kickstarters and a bank loan, but what are the differences between kickstarters and personal investors? None, a backing a kickstarter is the same as investing in a small business project pitched to you in person. Kickstarter has allowed those investments to be smaller and more frequent, but they're the exact same idea. Now some will say, "but even the higher end rewards don't offer the same kind of return or long term voice that a private investment usually offers." So, investments that have long term voice are long term investments, or HUGE investments. I haven't seen any rewards in the $10,000 range, which is where "returns" like that would start.<br />
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So, in the end kickstarters only difference between what we had before is publicity, and the ability to make more smaller investments. Oh, and one more thing...<br />
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Four: Kickstarters are public, and loud<br />
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Like anything on the internet, kickstarters will get shared with others. This is why they've done great things for projects, but this is also why people are starting to be annoyed with them. They're loud. They're on facebook, twitter, google+, reddit, and peoples blogs. Battletech's message board has already banned non catalyst game lab kickstarter links and discussions, it won't be long before other business discussion sites follow suit. Can this be annoying, you bet. Is it bad, probably not, advertisement has been with us since before the newspaper, when its tasteful its tasteful, when its annoying we get annoyed.<br />
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I think Kickstarters are here to stay, and thats fine by me.<br />
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Now, for a buisness kicking up that doesn't involve a Kickstarter (yet)... my brother's officially taking commissions for miniature painting.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gcqT3VF1gXU/UCWTCLcMVdI/AAAAAAAAAng/JHSj5RuKXEY/s1600/Sacred+Squire+Modern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gcqT3VF1gXU/UCWTCLcMVdI/AAAAAAAAAng/JHSj5RuKXEY/s320/Sacred+Squire+Modern.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<b>Sacred Squire Fine Artistry </b>will now be taking painting commissions for miniatures under the following options:<br />
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Men-At-Arms (basic quality), Knight Standard, Color Guard, and Lord (Highest quality)<br />
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I'll have more info soon. He's already taken his first few commissions and started the legal stuff, we're just trying to get him a website setup. (I hope to have this done for him by end of next week.)<br />
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In the mean time, if you want to talk to him about some work. Shoot me an email or message with contact info and I'll get word to him.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-51398539330395346592012-07-27T17:04:00.001-05:002012-07-27T17:06:10.296-05:00<br />
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My brother's campaign is going quite well. The second session (which I forgot to post about) was about 30 hours of stopping only for food and sleep. Our first attempt at patrolling the area as a member of the guard involved stumbling over the home of a Nymph. However the ranger is uncomfortable around fey, so we didn't stick around to meet the resident. We escorted a small caravan that had been raided back to town, and picked up a npc paladin as a companion.<br />
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This is when things got interesting. We went back out to patrol the next day. Our first encounter was a woman trying to fix a broken wagon. The closer we got the more it seemed like a trap. The ranger and wizard stopped approaching to watch as me and the Paladin continued forward (failing at hiding our suspicion). Then the Green Crows struck.<br />
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The ambush was well set, but this group hadn't dealt with prepared fighters before, we took on six thugs, four went down, two got away. After a little investigating we found a camp just off the road. The ambush point was obviously an outpost, but not the main location of the crows.<br />
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Another trip back to town with bodies and evidence provided us with more answers (the priestess in town isn't quite as squeamish about using necromancy to interrogate the dead) and rumours of a missing caravan that should have come from the south.<br />
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Off we went the next morning, after a days travel we ran up against a second ambush site, this time a centaur camp. This almost got us, but everyone survived long enough for the final centaur to run. A day of healing (magical and mundane) allowed us to continue.<br />
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Two more days travel brought us to what should have been an abandoned hamlet. Instead we found a well guarded camp in the remaining ruins of a temple and tavern. After some scouting we came up with a plan and attacked that night.<br />
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Under the cover of thick overgrowth and night, we made it back into site of the camp. My character prayed for a blanket of silence on what we expected to be the tent of the gang leader, blessing for battle, and various protective spells. The tent was up against the overgrowth, so we were able to sneak up to it and cut in the back.<br />
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Unfortunately what we found was a large carriage with markings for the school of our wizard, an inspection showed a lack of occupants, and left us with the trouble of covering open ground to the temple.<br />
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The ranger went first, unfortunately, said ranger tripped on and squeaked. This stirred the only guard that was looking about inside the camp (the other four were in lookout towers but looking away from camp). A quick casting of hold person and a well placed arrow allowed us to continue without alarming anyone.<br />
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We were at the temple door, there was light spilling out of a window and the hushed notes of conversation, and a very recently dead man in a cage hanging next to the door. If this wasn't the place, it was still bad enough to investigate. It was time for stealthiness to end. We opened the doors.<br />
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Where one would expect an alter there was instead a desk, where one would expect pews for worshippers there were piles of boxes and loot, most notably, where one would expect a priest speaking, there was a man in all green, and a cap with died crows feathers. Snarky comments were made, and then combat started.<br />
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A Paladin, Cleric, Evoker, and Ranger are sort of outnumbered against 6 rogues and a fighter on their won turf, spells and arrows went back and forth, and it wasn't long before I was out of channel energy uses, but we were down to just the leader and his senior minion. Then it hit.<br />
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Dad's Evoker was having spell issues all night. He was down to his last two spells, a true strike and a scorching ray. He cast true strike and then waited for his round to come again. A few arrows and a mace dispatched the minion, but the boss was still standing, and had dug a potion out of his belt pouch at the end of his turn. Dad then rolled for scorching ray.<br />
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20 on the die, 18 on the die. 18 + 5 + 20 is a confirmed crit on a ranged touch spell.<br />
3d6 + 2 (dad's a level 3 evoker at this point, yay for intense spells). 6+6+3+2 x2 = 30 points. The dm described it as the spell burning a whole clean through the chest of the boss.<br />
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On the same initiative as dad, a few of the guard from outside finally heard the commotion and came in to check. They saw their boss roasted alive, and decided to run. Some exploring of the area found a basement to the temple, and two captives. Turns out they were from the school dad's wizard studied at, and were supposed to deliver magically enhanced farm equipment to the town to help grow food to ship north for the war effort.<br />
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We returned to town, heroes. It looked like the Green Crows were beaten beyond retaliation, and now the roads were safe.<br />
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Now for the session from last weekend.<br />
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This time I went to Lubbock, so we were joined by one of my high school buddies and a member of the star trek club my parents are still in. The party added a ninja, and a druid.<br />
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The squire asked us to take on a personal quest, not for the town, but for him.<br />
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I won't tell the whole story in detail, but this was mom and dad's exposure to a basic dungeon delve. We were after a diamond needed for a resurrection spell, not much role play, lots of combat, and at the end of it all, a CHIMERA! Whats worse, the chimera dropped my cleric in turn 1 of combat. (-1, but stabilized)<br />
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Our advantages:<br />
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First, the passage to the nest was low and narrow (but not so much as to squeeze the chimera) and had a sharp bend. <br />
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Second: The chimera had 3 eggs very near hatching. Chasing someone out of the nest wasn't enough, she had to come down from the air and fight us on the ground in the passage.<br />
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So the ninja and ranger continued to fight while the evoker tried to get at things, when the ninja getting low he yanked me out from under the chimera and shoved a potion down my throat. I woke up channelled, and buffed the ninja.<br />
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Now that I was awake, the evoker was having trouble getting spells off again. A second channel and I was back in the chimera's face with the mace, dad rolls a 1 on his last scorching ray... well crap. Then he's reminded about the re-use of a spell from his bonded item. So final true strike, reuse slot, and max damage (no crit).<br />
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We returned with the diamond, it was used, and next up we head out with the wizard from dads school on a archaeology expedition.<br />
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We had lots of fun. The party is complete, and now starts the story the sibling wants to tell. I'm looking forward to the next session.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4692982953489474005.post-73962342776193098442012-06-15T18:52:00.000-05:002012-06-15T18:52:00.163-05:00Tabletop Forge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshuha/tabletop-forge-the-virtual-tabletop-for-google-han" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-kSeaE_DTE/T8-807JcoBI/AAAAAAAABMw/QdBYaonbiec/s320/TTFGPlus.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<a href="http://tabletopforge.com/" target="_blank"><i>Tabletop Forge</i></a> is a new(ish) virtual table top I've talked about before. It differs from rptools Maptool greatly. The coolest feature is that it's built as a google hangouts application. This removes the need for an gathering everybody up on skype or teamspeak, making sure the dm's firewall is configured correctly, and various other things that have to be done separately in other VTs.<br />
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But that's not what I'm talking about today. Today I'm pointing out neat stuff that's happened for the TF team.<br />
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Their kickstarter is doing very well, it's already past its second stretch goal. Also lots of really cool people have offered material or to run games in the VT. So its become quite popular.<br />
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So popular infact that the team has been <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/110771920494591644897/posts/bn8qhUU38jD" target="_blank"><i>invited</i> to google I/O.</a><br />
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The family/Mask game is moving to TF as well apparently so as that moves I'll review the software. In the mean time congrats to Tabletop Forge!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13097734394098853764noreply@blogger.com0