Comics & World's

 I've been going on a bit of a tear reading graphic novels latetly.  The local library has a HUGE selection.  For a long time I thought "Hey I should collect graphic novels", but I've realized that I read them once and that's it.  Which seems counterproductive moneywise.  Other than old school GI JOE and a few other choice selections I've managed to steady my hand. 

But I digress, I've been on a batman kick latetly.  There have been a LOT of writers on the batman comics over the years.   The 2 books I grabbed from the library are: 

Batman 66' 

Which is basically a throwback to the Adam west TV show, it's fucking great!  

While I prefer old school detective batman the most, i do like basically all iterations of the batman.  I have found memories of going to see the Keaton movie, and the later ones.  

*note there is a Batman 89' which I desperately need to read at some point. 

The other book I got from the library is the Scott Snyder Court Of Owls (which I just went and placed holds on a bunch of other ones in that series).  It's pretty awesome, the batman in this is a bit Frank Miller and a bit different. 

What i've come to realize is that the interesting thing about comics is that they grow and evolve.  Sometimes there are throwbacks, or different worlds, obviously different story lines.  The characters and the setting remains the same, but not always.  In some cases heroes become villains (and vice versa). 

Which leads me to D&D.  For a long time I was an overprepper, and I did not want to ruin canon!  Seriously the whole idea of canon and "Playing it wrong" bothered me for a long time.  I'm going to chalk that up to having read Dragonlance when I was a kid, and the fact that I started out playing 2nd edition in the Forgotten Realms.  At that time FR had already been around for a long time, I had the campaign set and it was filled with all this interesting lore and adventure ideas.  The more I played the more I realized if this happened, what happens to X, etc. 

Back to Batman and comics in general.  It doesn't matter if you break it, the next writer is going to come along and do something completely different.  They will resurrect the Batman in a new fucked up Gotham and the whole thing starts again. 

So Greyhawk the new 52?  Sure.  What I need to remember, and what other DM's need to remember is THIS IS YOUR VERSION OF THE WORLD PRESENTED.  Go ahead and make Vecna a good guy, or completely kill him off, Let the elemental cults sweep over the world and have the PCs pickup the pieces.  

I've been working on a saltmarsh campaign in 5e, and at first I was like "well there's no tieflings, and dragonborn in Greyhawk, how do I explain that?"  I explain it if a player wants to play one, that's how.  It's my version, who gives a rip. 

There's a note about Granny Nightshade being in a forest near saltmarsh, yet she also appears as a big bad in witchlight.  Maybe she's there, and she's brought warduke with her.  And if I run witchlight, its back or forward in time with different characters. 

Side note, here's an interesting thread about Granny in saltmarsh 

https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/buib0x/granny_nightshade_spoilers_for_those_doing_ghosts/

A couple pieces of information in Gos chapter 1 that stood out to me were 2 separate portals to other planes which exist in the greater region surrounding Saltmarsh. There's the nexus to the Shadowfell at Granny Nightshade's castle, of course. But there's also a portal to the Abyss located in the Drowned Forest (GoS p 24).

What if some demon lord wants to use these two portals as a way to invade the Shadowfell? Basically, send a demonic army into the PM plane through the Drowned Forest and into the Shadowfell by way of Saltmarsh. Could this be the real reason why Captain Xendros (Faithful Quartermaster of Iuz, GoS p 14) is in Saltmarsh? Could she be looking for the Apparatus of Kwalish in order to be able to more safely traverse the Drowned Forest? Will the Players have to side with Granny Nightshade in order to stop this invasion?

 

via ShakeWeightMyDick

·3 yr. ago

WOW I'm behind eh?  Just go that book a few weeks ago. 

Okay this has got slightly off topic.  But hey this is the 3 Toadstools and if you are a reader you know that is my typical MO right?   right! 

A long time ago I wrote a thing about "What if Batman was a D&D Character"  

http://3toadstools.blogspot.com/2014/01/if-batman-was-d-character.html

Started working on a thing and realized

So I started working on a thing, and it's basically a total rehash of something else.  Which has lead me to think about things that are needed.  But to go back one sentence, I should see where this goes and follow thru.  I don't do that.  I actually had a super interesting conversation last night prior to our D&D game about ADHD.  

I've never been diagnosed, but I clearly have it.  What we were discussing is the idea that we (adhd'ers who are creators) tend to not get things done unless there is a time line.  Well a deadline.  Because we can always just put it off.  

At some point in time, anxiety, depression etc hits and then with that comes the adrenaline rush and you just sit and get shit done.  It could be at 1 am on a tuesday when you have to work the next day.  

Obviously there is a medication out there to help you focus.  But you also need to be diagnosed.  Which is a long process.  For the most part I don't want to be medicated.  I do however do a lot of self medicating.  Would I do less of that if I was medicated? Likely.   One of the biggest problems I face, is that I decide "Hey so I'm going to quit doing this thing, because it's bad".  And I make it awhile, and then all of the weirdness fills me and I fall right back into it.

Weirdness is probably the best way to describe it.

Alright D&D.  So what is actually needed? What is something I want to play?  I want to play in a domain game, and not wait to get to that point.  I've said it before I'm a really big fan of the first few levels of D&D.  (This include 5e).  I've never really played any upper level PCs.  Partially because I enjoy lower levels, and partially because I am always the one in harm's way.  Last night we got TPKd.  It was fantastic. 

So you start out at level 8 or so.  All of the PCs in the game are rulers of a small section of land.  They have a keep and are tasked with making sure everything stays up and running.  They have to fend off monsters, deal with bad crops etc.  I dunno if this sounds fun at all?  

I do know that there are some supplements out there for stuff like this (birthright) and there are rules for domain play.  Are there any OSR books that have this developed?  

If you have a hex map of the land that you live and rule on, would you know every square inch?  As a 8th level bad ass would you be out taking care of bandits? or sending the peons to deal with it?  Obviously anything like a dragon would fall on your lap.  

How would this be fun?  I know from a mathematical standpoint there are likely players out there that would super enjoy it.  I'm looking at you Joe!  Spending time selling off gear and managing the hoard can be a fun thing to do.  On some occasions its a good off game thing, via email etc. 

Circling back, I've got one full page so far in the thing that has already been done (a lot actually) and it's probably not as great but who the crap cares anyways?  Right so 64 pages that's the goal. 

And that was a ramble! 

lotfp scotland

It occurred to me this morning, that 17th century Scotland would be a fun place to play D&D.   It seems that a great many landowners buggered off to England and followed the king.  Which would likely mean that crime would be more rampant.  As well just people doing their thing, farming etc.  Without a lot of authority, rumours could spread like wildfire.  Not to mention that the population appeared to be isolated.  This is D&D folks!  

I decided to google that, and came across this smallish website with some information. 

https://www.scottisharchivesforschools.org/unioncrowns/17thCenturyScotland.asp#:~:text=17th%20century%20Scotland%20looked%20very,of%20bogs%2C%20mountains%20and%20moorland.

First things first, this map is fantastic! 

* Map (National Records of Scotland reference: RHP 1096/3. Reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland.)

I've personally been looking for a project to keep me busy for awhile.  I'm slowly falling into the seasonal depression thing.  The effect of the weather and the darkness leaves me very lackadaisical. 

Obviously the perfect system for this is Lamentations of the flame princess, as it's already set in the 17th century (at least Raggi's default game).  

I personally have Scottish & Irish roots, this idea appeals to me.  I mean I got married in a kilt! (That's obviously not any actual Scottish stret cred there, just mentioning it).  

All of this combined with the fact that I've basically side view watched Outlander at least 4 times.  My wife is obsessed.  When I say side view, I mean that I'm typically doing nothing, on my phone, playing guitar etc whilst she watches the show.  I should note that the show is set in 1743, so it's a bit later.  But there is some inspiration there. 

Here's a little blog post with Scottish folklore & monsters. 

https://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/news-offers/the-creatures-of-scottish-folklore

and some more https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Scottish_legendary_creatures

*Photo courtesy of https://www.chantelledione.com/

Considering I've started and not finished the Gygax Challenge numerous times, maybe it's time to do that?  Sure why not.  

I think what I'm going to do though, is not follow the challenge in the way it is laid out as I always get hung up.  Instead I think what I'll do is pick a monster from the above list and create an adventure with it.  Then rinse and repeat.  It seems like a more organic way to write stuff to me.   

Now to state out a Brownie that sweeps the kitchen while the farmers sleep.  Hmm.... maybe the brownie decided to steal some chickens or one of the farmers kids?   Perhaps.  By the time the farmer realizes it, the child is long gone.  Willie trots off to town to raise the alarm bells, and that is where the PCs come in. 

Of course they have been busy drinking and the ravings of the farmer fall on deaf ears.  Until it happens again! 

Interesting thread at grognardia

 Interesting thread http://grognardia.blogspot.com/2022/10/affection-for-second-edition.html?m=1

I posted the following comments

I think 2e does get the blunt end of the stick sometimes. I'm 43 and I grew up with 2e. A lot of guys I play with nowadays played 2e but started with earlier editions. In some cases I think guys my age just never went back. They either started playing 5w after a long break from 2e. Or they are playing with people that want to play older editions. I'm guessing we will get a 2e Rennasance soon. I know there's people out there playing it now. But it's definitely not as popular as the other games.

Maybe my next online campaign will be a 2e game.  I've got a pile of modules I'd like to run.

When I ran a one shot I decided to not use any optional rules and was surprised at how very bx it was.

If you have a hankering to play the game you can grab 

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/156530

What do I look for?

 What do I, what do you look for in your game?

This brought to you by a Reddit thread that got me thinking.  Reddit has started inspiring me to write more again about osr stuffs.

https://www.reddit.com/r/osr/comments/y3wir3/osrnsrbrosr_oh_my/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Actually just one comment that turned my add brain onto this.

My "what I look for in a game is"

Exploring the world.  Interesting NPCs with different ideas and plots.  Roleplaying not just in the tavern.  Player agency.  Good chance of death or dismemberment.  

What I don't like is tactical grid combat, exploration, wargame mentality.

You?

Ghosts of saltmarsh

Good Morning! 

I recently purchased Princes of the apocalypse because I thought at some point I'd like to run it.   I believe that module came out in like 2014 or 2015.  And I'd often thought if I buy one 5e module that would be the one.  I know silly right?  I read thru the first like 10 pages, and just realized it's totally not my thing.  It just seems like a bunch of dungeon crawls with a sorta story, and once you finish killing off one cult it's onto the next one.   I didn't find it that inspiring.  Obviously this was at the start of fifth edition, and the system has evolved a lot in the last few years.  I find it quite funny that I'm now purchasing modules for a system that is being re-written.  It's very typical me.  It's also very typical me to think about something for a very long time before purchasing it.  

The good news is, if I feel like running Elemental evil, I have the reprint of the original.  

Alright, so I go down to the local hobby shop (if you are in Winnipeg, MB you gotta check it out) https://gameknight.ca/

I switcheroo princes for Saltmarsh.  I was originally going to grab Queen of the dragon hoard, as it's a good tie in with Lost Mines.  Unfortunately they did not have a copy.  Which was a blessing in disguise. 

I grabbed Saltmarsh, not having read much up on it.  

Holy was I pleasantly surprised.  It's actually set I Greyhawk! Not retconned into the Forgotten Realms.  Nice.  

side note:  This makes me excited, the wizards have basically put out almost all the world's in brief in the adventures to date.  Leaving just a few left Dark Sun, Al-Quadim (which technically could be FR) and Mystara!  They did paint a brief picture of Mystars in the PHB or DMG, and this gives me some hope that it would happen.  If you want to run 5e mystara here is an unofficial guide https://www.rpgmp3.com/files/pdf/Mystara_Players_Guide_5e.pdf

As is typical I know have super gamer A.D.D. and want to run Saltmarsh.  I made the old man mistake of having a nap yesterday afternoon, which made me not sleep well.  In turn I was up half the night thinking about building a gazateer for the players.  Which is exactly what I'm going to do when I complete this blog post. 

I will in all likely hood complete the Starter set adventure with a few of the essential adventures thrown in for good measure, and then we will move on to Saltmarsh and a new campaign.   

One thing I noticed on the Keoland map was the Tower of Zenupus, and that reminded me of this conversion. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/301308/The-Ruined-Tower-of-Zenopus 

Once you exhaust the possibilities of the saltmarsh book you can always throw in some homemade dungeons, Tales from the yawning portal, even TOEE if you feel up to it. 

As far as the gazateer is concerned, I'm going to lay out basically everything that the players will need in one pdf.  Races & Classes allowed, actual modifications to the classes (only up to level 12) using copy and paste from https://www.5esrd.com/ and Gods etc.  And of course the backgrounds from Saltmarsh.

Super nifty! 

Right that was an obvious ramble.  

Vampyre Coven

Upon a hill south of a dusty valley lies the manor house of Granville.  Within it is a small vampire coven of six.  The dark cloud coven as they like to call themselves are esteemed members of society.  They own merchant companies, tradehouses, inns, local governments, villages and a keep.  

The have agents, informants everywhere.  

The manor is a meeting place where plans are devised and discussed.   Within it's multiple story building are immense treasures, ancient books, and a vault made of dwarven hewn rock.  It is said the only way into the vault is with the blood of a vampire.

Unlike their feral cousins, the black cloud coven do not run around the countryside terrorizing citizens.   In fact they have attempted to keep their secret as safe as possible.  Venturing out into the wilderness to hunt down large animals.

It should be noted that they have an ongoing feud with all lyncanthropes, and don't hesitate to hunt them down or pay to have them killed.

The coven prides themselves on their secrecy. They will do anything to maintain their position. 

To kill the coven one must kill all of them first before their leader, lest he will raise them again.

Speaking of, the coven has the ability to raise the dead for a hefty price.  First you must find them, then pay up.  In return they ask for a massive amount of gold and a land title, or something of similar value.

There are people who know how to find them.

The actual manor is protected very well.  It appears as a run down old house, which is a massive illusion.  The front yard is surrounded by razor sharp vines.