Monday Night Miserable Bastards - Session 1

Hilarious!

I got together with Tim, Matt, Joe and Erik to play some nerd games last night.  7 PM my time, which works out perfectly actually.  It took me a bit to figure out what was going on, as this was my first game with these guys.  They had previously played in the campaign so they had some ideas as to what was going on.

The premise that Tim has come up with is pretty cool.  We are basically out on the borderlands, and there are a few different factions vying for control.  My character "skord" had previously worked with Erik's character "rathgar".  I won't get too much into his background, as the guys may read this.

Speaking of backgrounds, Tim sent me a 6 page background/what's up with the setting pdf.  Which is awesome! I was blown away honestly.

So basically the party was sorta split.  Rathgar was in the tavern in the small town of Hounds Head (like seriously small town, the blacksmith can't even make arrows!)

The other 2 characters had just finished finding the body of a knight in the outskirts.

They eventually made their way back to town.  Where i was introduced.

We decided to talk with the sorta know it all sage of the town who gave us some good ideas.

We stayed in the tavern over night, and woke up to disguises left in our room.

Apparently the cleric Rathgar was met in the night by someone, who gave him a quest.  He gave us the very briefest of explanations and we were off.

Prior to leaving the halfling had a signet ring that he found on the body of a dead knight, he decided to stash it away in the eaves of the tavern roof.   We then headed out of town and caught up with a merchant caravan (one wagon) and two guards.  Some of the party took their time scoping out the situation.

What proceeded was one of the best roleplaying moments I've been involved in.  Cue some monty python playing women antics (complete with high pitched voices).

Basically the funniest distraction ever.  The merchant was so confused with these older women talking to him about all kinds of random things.  The halfling jumped up and basically robbed the caravan of moonstones.  Then got the horse and cart rolling away from the action.   Skord the warrior acted as the meat and restrained one of the guards.

Seriously so funny.  I can't even remember all of what was said, but my throat was sore from laughing so hard.   We left off with the moonstones in tow having escaped the situation without blodshed (which was what we needed to do).  The next plan was to go and check out a grotto covered in spiderwebs.  I cannot fucking wait for Monday (whose every said that before!).  Thanks guys! that was fucking fantastic.

Tim went and did a podcast about monday evening, and it's awesome (good recap!)
https://anchor.fm/gothridgemanor/episodes/Best-Heist-EVAR--With-a-gaggle-of-call-ins-e489kb


I gotta say I learned something from Tim's DMing style (and from listening to Froth's cast).  Sometimes it's the best thing in the world to sit back and just let the players go.  I often worry too much about planning things out.  Just sit back and let it happen! 

As some of you may know, I'm currently working on a Man cave in the basement.  It's a bit of a work in progress at this point, but I should hopefully be down there before the next session.  The last few times I've played on line, I've used my tablet (which works well) however the mic on it is on the back so I basically have to hold it in my lap.  As well (see picture) I've been in this small room with a bunch of crap, sitting in front of a small sewing desk.

As you can see it's not ideal.

I currently have a few ideas for a computer solution.  Just deciding on what the best plan is for me.

I ended up using roll20 on my laptop to see what was going on and for rolling dice, and hangouts for talking.

I got a line on a few computers.  Just figuring stuff out.

Solo play - Basic D&D - The Haunted Keep

The only thing that went thru Thock's elven mind was gold.  He had left in a panic from the black eagle barony, taxes were due, and he didn't have any money, the guards came and took his family into slavery.  He had made his way into the small village of Luln, with only a silver piece in his boot.  His stomach full from breakfast, he had at least a good sleep, probably the last for awhile.  Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he stretches and get's up from the Inn table.  What to do?   

"aye, I've heard tales of that old keep, most people stay away from it.  Give it a wide berth when travelling".  A customer mutters to another.  "If I were you I wouldn't go that way on your trip". 

Thock's intrigued and walks over to discuss the keep with the customer.  "Where is that place located? What makes it so scary?"  

The customer (an older gentleman wearing a dirty tunic) says "An elf!  I haven't seen an elf in these parts for years!". 

Thock knowing that the customer might be concerned about his elven heritage treads lightly "Sorry sir, I didn't mean to alarm you, I just overheard you talking about that keep.  I'm down on my luck, I need a few gold pieces".  

Customer "Years ago, that keep was home to a local lord, he died a horrible death when the castle was raided by Orcs, since then people say that the Lord haunts the castle!". 

Thock thanks the old man and leaves out the front door.  Determine to explore the old keep. 

From the outskirts of the town the keep looms atop a large hill, not more than a few miles from town. 

The trip doesn't take very long, and soon Thock is standing on the steps of the old keep.  Drawing his sword he shoulders the door and steps into the darkness. 

His elven eyes adjust and he makes out a small dirty room, there are two doors.  Which one? 

East seems like a good idea.  Thru the door is a hallway, thock steps out and looks around.  It's quiet. 

Another door is across the hall.  Thock walks to it and finds it unlocked.  Inside is a large pool of water, that must have come from underground.  Laying in the centre of the pool of water is a marble statue of an elven woman.  Immediately Thock thinks of his wife.  Searching thru the pool, thock finds nothing of interest, other than a few rusted hinges and an old lock.  The remains of an old treasure chest lie at the bottom of the pool.  Nothing... Cursing his luck, Thock looks around the room. Another door. 

It is still very quiet, thock starts to get a bit more adventurous and pushes himself thru another door.  Nothing, just scraps of old clothes and the remains of a campfire.  To his right a door is open only slightly. 

Having thrown caution to the wind Thock hasn't realized that something is starting to drip from the ceiling.  Moments later, thock realizes that he is pain.  Slime drips into his eye, an he quickly swings his sword.  It has no effect and slings right thru the slime.  Thinking quickly Thock starts to wave his hands slowly.  A greenish hue emits from his wrists, a bolt of pure energy in the shape of an arrow is released from his hands.  It hits the slime, causing it to shrink.  

Thock pushes his way past the slime and into the next room.  He is starting to feel really woozy.  "If only I had thought to bring someone along with me....." 

SMACK! 

In his effort to get away from the slime, he has run into a giant crab.   "What were these two monsters doing being as close to each other as they are? This makes no actual sense?"  

Thock swings his sword and smotes one of the crabs claws directly from his body.  

He feels week, his legs are starting to get sluggish

The crab opens its giant maw and bites at Thock, blood spills from his chest. 

He falls to the floor, weakened from the bite and the slow poison that is seeping thru his system.  With one last test of strength he swings his old sword at the crab.  A hit directly into its under belly.  The crab pushes thock over and bites down, thocks stomach contents spills on the floor.  His legs have already disapeared, becoming slime.  

The last thing that thock thinks about his family, then sweet oblivion.  The crabs desperately tries to eat its lunch before it becomes a puddle of slime. 

Black Pudding 3 is out now!

Black pudding three is out! Damn I love this mag.  

Blorch! Here glorps issue #3 of Black Pudding, an OSR-styled zine of RPG goodies. Herein you'll find monsters and magic and mayhem and swords-for-hire. Herein are a handful of new character classes, such as the Shield Maiden and the Star Wizard, along with terrible creatures such as the ork wargtrainer and hag's husband. Matt Hildebrand brings us a doppelgangery adventure and we learn how to make a proper crypt golem. It's hand drawn, it's digital, and a little bit low brow.

For use with Labyrinth Lord, Swords & Wizardry, or any predecessor of similar DNA. And dice.

Did I mention there are character sheets?  

You can grab it here. 

Web hatching? Sure why not.

Last week I started playing around with a new mapping concept.  I haven't quite finished up the "Web-hatching" on this particular map yet, but it's coming along.  Pictured to the left are a before and after shot of the webbing.  I have also filled in all of the lines on the map darker (which I haven't taken a picture of yet).  What I might end up doing is scanning the map the way it stands now, and then finishing up the web hatch in pen, it's currently in pencil.  That way I can always reprint it if I don't like how it goes.

Whenever I get this into gimp, what I think I'll do is add a dark grey layer, and then possibly do some airbrush stuff and see how it comes out.

Of course I have a few ideas for this map.  For example, there is a crypt? is this in the basement of a church? Why are there other two entrances? Where do they lead to? A tavern basement perhaps?   Further there are also 3 sets of stairs leading into the depths.   Where do these go? what monsters lurk below?

This feels like its going to be a 3 level b/x dungeon.

With a little help from some 1e DMG random tables.

Whenever I get around to filling the map, I intend to not draw all 3 maps and then fill them.  Instead, I am going to do one at a time.  This way it's not so daunting!

f**ked up dream leads to lotfp adventure idea

A big thanks to champix and not smoking for this crazy dream.  I took my pill last night a bit later than i should have.  You are supposed to take with food, and I usually do after supper as its hard on my stomach, however I was a bit busy cooking and forgot till later. Cue insomnia. 

I'm not entirely sure if this is lotfp or just a b/x dream, it is weird nonetheless.  I'm a player character with a flint lock hand gun, a dagger and a musket on my back.  Protecting a ranch style huge house.  The architecture is heavily influenced by Mexican culture, stone roofs, etc.   

There are a bunch of us trying to keep the place secure.  It's late at night, and every single little thump or noise makes people jump.  I can see the bad guys.  They are goblin like, dressed as clowns.  And the weird thing is whenever anyone gets bit by one, the victim turns into one of these shrunken clowns.  (as a side note, i'm not one of those people who is scared of clowns).  

After the initial part of the dream where i'm helping fight these things off, my mind switches and goes to mechanics.  So these clown goblins can infect victims on a critical hit, after that I'm guessing its like 1d6 rounds before the victim is turned into these weirdo clown goblin things.  

And now I feel like I need to start the darn things out, draw up a map of this ranch and throw some PCs at it.  The weird thing was the clowns would wait out the PCs, not attack directly but hide in the shadows.  They even had weird clown goblin dogs.  At one point I was standing on one side of the fence and I could see in the shadows this goblin and its dog, I made a break for it and didn't make it.  

At some point they were all riding motorcycles, (in D&D I'd just make it horses) in a big circle around all the survivors.  

Talk about weird. 

Day 10 I believe, I've lost count now, and don't care at all about smoking. It's just the lack of sleep that's starting to get to me.  

Comic Con Score!

I couldn't contain myself and posted up pictures of my awesome deal that I got on the weekend.  My wife and I went and checked out "Manitoba Comic Con", which is a smaller event, than the Central Canada Comic Con that happens in October (both con's are ran by the same company).  I was on the look out for some D&D stuff, and I knew that one of the vendors was going to be there and they had previously advertised D&D stuff half off on their facebook page.  I stumbled on to their table and immediately found:

Dwellers Of The Forbidden City and Isle Of Dread, the combined total with 50% off came to $12.63 woo!

They had a pile of other cool stuff, including early 90's late 80's D&D, 3e, 4e stuff, hackmaster, star wars RPG, and they had against the giants which looked to be in good shape (for $50, so $25).  I happily walked away with Forbidden City & Isle of dread.

I've come to the conclusion that I really want to collect hard copies of all those cool modules.  Basically all the B/X stuff.  (vault of the drow, the lost city, saltmarsh, etc).  I'm slowly making a list of the modules that I would like to add to the collection.

Weird thing, I've always wanted to collect something, but I've never figured out exactly what I'd like to collect.  I mean I'm a MOTU, GI JOE, and Star Wars fanboy, but the idea of collecting figurines is just blah to me.

Thus far in the B/X collection I have the following:

81 Basic Rules
Keep On The Borderlands (in terrible condition)
Dwellers Of The Forbidden City
Isle Of Dread

Reprint of Basic/Expert Rules
Reprint of karameikos gazetteer

The thing about collecting this stuff is that it fulfills a need, but it's also extremely practical, because I will actually use them.  When was the last time you had a big GI JOE/COBRA fight in your basement?

After briefly reading thru Dwellers of the forbidden city, I think I can probably place it somewhere within the isle of dread with a little tweaking.  Possibly on one of the other smaller islands.