Spells not on scrolls

During our BX game last night, we had a brief discussion about spell scrolls and house rules.  Generally speaking the DM "grants" the spells for a wizard thru scrolls that are found as part of treasure.  What I realized is that it would be SUPER funny and entertaining to grant these spells but in a way that isn't as clear as a scroll.  Here are a few examples.

1.  Behind the gygaxian tapestry written on a wall

2.  On a lit torch 

3.  On a treasure chest key 

4.  On the side of a healing potion bottle

5.  On the back of a treasure map 

6.  Not on the dead wizard the PCs just defeated, but safely stored on the Wizard's hireling (likely in a backpack).

7.  On a staff 

8.  A message in a bottle

Sticky heroic situations

While rewatching game of thrones I realized that I need to incorporate more sticky situations for PC's.

In one moment in season two the assassin is in a wagon surrounded by fire.  He's asking Arya to let him out.

Id like to incorporate more of those types of situations in games.  Gandalf hanging by one hand and needing to be pulled up.

Here's a few ideas:

Walls closing in (star wars)

Scaling a flat wall 

Someone falling off a cliff needing a hand up.

Surrounded by fire 

A rope bridge that is falling apart

Large boulder in dungeon tunnel (Indiana  Jones).

Using a rope to get out of a window to escape.  Rope not long enough.

Obviously these types of things happen organically.  Design wise there usually needs to be one other alternative that is less dangerous.  Usually the PCs will take that route.

Another thing I want to incorporate more are chases.  Of course this depends on the PCs actually attempting to flee.  That said the bad guys can always try to flee.

A lot of dnd is straight up fight to the death combat.  Which is fine, but it reminds me to check morale! Which goes for the monsters and hirelings.

Just some random thoughts today while I wait to go to work.

The google drive of unfinished projects

 You maybe like me? You may have a pile of half started unfinished projects on google drive.  It seemed like a good idea, you got 8 pages, then moved onto the next thing.  It's totally fine! What I'm doing is reorganizing my drive, purging things and saving actual good ideas for later.

I've come to the conclusion that I will likely not finish the gygax challenge, I've started and quit 3 times.  I've often wondered about working backwards thru the booklet.. What I have realized is that I every time I run a game I never have anything really ready to go.  I get bogged down in the minutiae. Sometimes I create a map thinking about possibly a future release.  Or start self editing. This is unproductive. What I am going to do is use all of the awesome content generation tools available to me and actually get a concrete world and adventure locations ready to go.

https://watabou.itch.io/ is one such amazing tool.

Matt Jacksons maps are another great resource http://www.msjx.org/

I don't think it's worth making a list of the unfinished projects, suffice to say it's a lot.

When I get this done, the next step is to run it and tweak.  Then keep running it.

Long term goal is to have it ready to go. 

Gygax challenge map

 I think the map is done. I'm leaving some room for additions. 

A few random ideas. 

The drej is abandoned but maybe inhabitanted by bandits now. 

Slain is a trap. Once you check in you can never leave. The town is back in time with savage vikings. If you try to leave the road changes and you are back in town. 

Added a temple of old worship. Not shown 

Tvin is old and there are Rumours about it. No one makes the trek. 

Working on monsters and random tables 

Inspiration 

https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/monsters-demons-celtic-myth

Gygax Challenge Part 2

It's January of a new year.  This means a new beginning!  It's time to get working on things.  I know the hallowed halls of the 3 Toadstools pub & eatery have been awfully quiet.  I apologize patrons, It's been a bit of a thing.  I lost my mojo for gaming for awhile and wallowed in the muck of this forever pan.... you know what we are not going to talk about that are we!  What we are going to talk about is that I decided to redo the gygax challenge created by Mr. Ray Otus Plundergrounds • A podcast on Anchor

Ray set this all on fire a few years ago (maybe last year? no one is counting at this point).  If you would like to participate again go here: The Gygax 75 Challenge by Ray Otus (itch.io)

So without further ado, I restarted and this is what I've got.  

The Pitch

*the dree (druids) have seen dark omens. They fear the return of the horde.
*the people of straybal are celtic\viking albeit more civilized. Each hold is ruled individually. They follow ancient traditions
*magic is light and dark. Light (clerics) is nature influenced. Practiced by druids or dree. Dark is elemental practiced by sorcerers who are shunned.
*years ago the people of straybal fought off the hordes. There remains a guard tower near the river always watching. It is forbidden to cross it.
*no elves, dwarves or halflings…they died out years ago and are mostly fairy tales now.
*grimdark setting, low magic. People eek out a living in the harsh climate.

The Map

I have a few plans for the map, still working thru the details.  I haven't decided if I'm going to complete it yet.  I may work on it as the adventures progress.  I would like to put a mountain range and a valley to the north of the manor.  I need at least one other small settlement as well. 

The Inspiration 

Having just finished the Witcher season 2, this whole thing is very much in that vein.  I went ahead and created a mood board on pinterest here: Pinterest

My hope is to have this basically a Celtic society living in the northern reaches, they are a weee bit more civilized than vikings.  Although they still keep to the old ways as far as gods are concerned. 

Speaking of gods I'm pulling directly from the 2e Legends & Lore book

My hope is to complete the challenge and start running it by the end of Feb.  I will likely post a few more details about this whole process as the month progresses.   I know this is a little bit all over the place writing wise, but I think it will be fun! 

Long story short the idea is to be very grimdark, northern slightly civilized society dealing with Celtic monsters, folklore and religion.  I will likely throw a bit of He-Man in there for good measure. 

Elf trances

 James West is working on cool stuff. http://doomslakers.blogspot.com/2021/12/doomslakers-project.html

I remember starting this challenge in the g plus days. There's likely some posts on this blog from then. 

I dunno if I'm doing this but I started thinking about elves today. 

Elves don't sleep, mostly because of the cheer amount of coffee they drink. Instead they go into a deep caffeinated trance.

1.  Detect magic with 2 miles.

2.  Heal 2 + 1 hp per level

3.  Find source of food and water.

4.  Find a solution to the next quest or puzzle.

5.  One extra first level spell for the day.

6.  Increase save VS spells for one day. 

7.  Lightfoot gain sneak thief ability for a day.

8.  Gain power to turn undead for a day.

9.  Commune with elfin home or nature.

10.  Well that's as far as I got on my lunch break....

In other news, the art punk contest is complete and released. 

https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpress.com/2021/12/11/hype-no-artpunk-vol-1-is-out/

The start of a greyhawk campaign

 I just started a new 2nd edition campaign using the Blue greyhawk boxed set. I originally intended on running a 1st level adventure from the book. "tears at the orphanage" where the players need to go out a collect presents for orphans for an upcoming festival. The players totally blew holes in the adventure and didn't take bait Hahahah. I wrote up a few of the 30 artisans they were supposed to visit.

Gran mamier : makes snow globes. It takes 6 knocks before she answers the door. You can see her pulling back the curtains every knock, but disregards the outside. She eventually opens the door but is very skittish.

Brolach the baker : sweet treats for children. The shop is super busy and the PC's are asked to wait. It is suggested they have a sweet treat while they wait. The treats contain a hallucinogens and the PC's trip balls for a half hour.

Cobbler : makes wooden toys. The Oldman is desperately trying to move a large stump from the lane into his workshop. He refuses to give anything to the PC's unless they help him. He complains that the delivery men just left the stump, didn't even wait for a signature! He keeps trying to move it with all his might, but it won't budge.

Tailor : fancy hair accessories and wristbands. The tailor is hard of hearing and thinks the PC's are trying to rob him. He yells till the night watchmen show up.

Merchant : she can't remember agreeing to giving away presents to orphans. It may take some convincing but she will eventually give the PC's money to buy gifts, expecting change back.  She claims she has no time to do it herself. She will feed the PC's biscuits. 

I'll post a rundown of what has happened soon. It's been pretty hilarious. It's become a bit of an evil campaign.