Ian Hewitt's page

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Did any PCs attend the premier of 'The Harpy's Curse' at the Sandpoint Theatre?

I have a bard PC with the Eager Performer Campaign Trait, so she has a strong motivation to attend the play, network meet with diva Allishandra and the rest of the actors. Has anyone tackled this?


I would love to hear other DM's experiences with this module.

For example, the text "the Gallancz facade is easily penetrated..." but doesn't give any advice as to how Gallancz and Damaris might react if confronted or questioned by PCs on their deception.

Has this come up for anyone?


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I know it's not Paizo, but it's pedigree certainly is... has there been any discussion of the module here? Where would be the appropriate place to ask a few questions?


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I'm a fan of Erik Mona's 'dragonchess' game as played in the Green Dragon Inn (Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk).

Are there any other examples of dice/card/board games, or encounters featuring games, that the PCs can actually play in character...


Can anyone help to jog my memory... it could have been in Dungeon or one of the earlier AP's but I remember an encounter where a building - or perhaps many buildings - are on fire and the PCs were required to be really creative in fighting the fire.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks.


I'm enjoying the hell out of the game, but 2 simple questions...

How does Amiri rage? I can't find any way of activating her ability.

How does the Power Attack feat work? I see it as an icon on my character portrait but cannot figure out how to use it.


Has anyone experienced using Skype to play their games?

Is it even plausible for all of the players and the DM to be on Skype and still run a good game? I would foresee the following problems:

1) Dice rolling. There are enough online dice rollers, but I would be happy to trust players with their own dice even if the dice are not actually on camera. Provided they trust me likewise, of course...

2) Character sheets. I already use Obsidian Portal as a base for my campaign, so digital character sheets are taken care of.

3) Mini's and battle mats. I am a big fan, but I can't see a way around this one. Either I, as DM, set up a battle mat that can be viewed my camera (which is practically impossible without a separate webcam).

Or perhaps there is some program for shared documents, something like d20Pro, but I feel they lack the spontaneity of a sharpie and battle mat. I have no talent when it comes to setting up digital battle mats.

4) Lastly, does skype even support conference calls? Or would all my players need to gather behind one webcam, with me behind another?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with any insight/advice.

Cheers


Has anyone ever produced a cheat sheet for Skill conversions between Pathfinder and Monte Cook's AE? Or is there anyone out there kind enough to summarize the differences between the Skill chapters?

It seems to me that the Pathfinder skills are more akin to AE than to 3.5.


Here's what I remember... it was a pull-out module in the center pages, on glossy paper in the Second Edition days when the magazine was stapled on news paper.

The adventure featured a dungeon, a bridge over a river/canyon, there may have been a dramatic fight on that bridge...

Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about..?


www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/the-world-of-llowellen

A short Play by Post game for as many PCs as wish to join.
Begins 22 September 2011

It was a dark, hot room with no ventilation, that bumped and rocked gently as the great wagon was pulled steadily across the desert by giant tortoise-like beasts. The wagon was heavily laden with it’s human cargo, as others in the caravan were burdened with building supplies.

The slaves were secured with elven hair ropes and shackles; men and women alike were manacled at the wrist, ankle and collar. They had enough reach in their manacles to reach a shared chamber pot in the middle of the slave hold, further ridding them of any dignity they may once have had.

The caravan labored under the flag of Merchant House Summonel, a company that had fallen on ill luck and bad times. It was heavily guarded by hired mercenaries; sibeccai outriders, mounted on two-legged lizards capable of crossing the dunes at a great gallop; and lines of troglodyte ghilman bearing shield and spear.

Among the slaves was the witch Meloria. Meloria had, until recently, been an adviser to a Merchant-Captain employed by this very same Merchant House. Meloria’s caravan had been attacked by pirates, and she was lucky enough to have fled into the desert. But there her luck ran out, she was found by a separate caravan and press-ganged into the slave hold. Her pleas for release fell on deaf ears.Mysticsibeccai

Now, she and her fellow slaves were bound for the brickyards of Yhakkoth.


The World of Llowellen is looking for players to join a Play by Forum game hosted at Obsidian Portal.

http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/the-world-of-llowellen/wikis/main-pa ge

Interested players can investigate the campaign setting in a sandbox style or participate in an ongoing campaign path.


I've been looking around for a really good ship/boat template scaled for D&D Miniatures. I have the Gamemastery Waterfront pack in my cart, but haven't been able to find any really good screen shots for it yet.

The ship featured in the GameMastery Flip-Mat looks nice but too large of a boat for my needs - and I need more than one to stage some great ship-to-ship scraps.

I remember seeing a game being played at Gen Con with what looked like constructable, thin wooden pieces... does anyone, who can send me a link, have any idea what I'm talking about?

Or any good suggestions?


I'm searching high and low for a good Kraken mini. I'd love to find one for an upcoming set piece battle... does anyone have any good recommendations?

Cheers
Ian


I read somewhere - and I can't remember where, apologies - about the expiration of the d20 License. Does someone want to jump into this quagmire and explain what this does to third-arty publishers?

I barely grasp the difference between the d20 License and the OGL, and I do understand that Pathfinder is basically a rebranding (with a few tinkers along the way) of D&D 3.5... but what will be the fate of the small, nay, the tiny third-party publishers? Will intrepid folks still be able to publish their homebrewed 3.5 pdf's on EN World and such places? Or will that trickle dry up and fade away because of legal issues or even a shift of interest?


Has anyone here played through Wolfgang Baur's Oasis of the Blood Moon (from Six Arabian Nights)? I will be quickstarting a new campaign very soon with Oasis as my opening act. I would curious to hear from anyone who DM-ed or played through on any advice or troubleshooting that you might be able to offer.


Has anyone ever had, or been to, a geek-themed wedding or wedding reception? Not necessarily d20 themed, but geek themed in general.

I'm planning just such and throught I would plum the boards for any suggestions and advice.

Cheers!


I've been archiving my own campaign log on my blog. If anyone is interested in reading about a Dark Sun-inspired, Mesopotamian-themed, high adventure, v3.5 campaign I invite you all to visit An Ordinary Life at http://ianehewitt.blogspot.com

The campaign log can be found under the Genesis tag: http://ianehewitt.blogspot.com/search/label/Genesis

Cheers
Ian


I'll apologize now because this is a shameless plug for my own blog, but I'm trying to attract a litle traffic and so here I am.

Among other things, I have recently begun posting book reviews. Most recently I have reviewed The Qualinesti and A Hero's Justice both by Paul B. Thompson and Tonya C. Cook; Galen Beknighted by Michael Williams; and the timeless The Test of the Twins by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman.

If you're interested in reading these reviews and providing me with any feedback (you can leave comments or you can help me kickstart my forums) I'd be really grateful.

My blog is called An Ordinary Life - the book reviews are labelled with the 'Jackanory' tag - and it is at http://ianehewitt.blogspot.com/

Cheers
Ian


If I remember correctly, in the 1e DMG somewhere in the back or in the appendices were a few games that could be played with dice and maybe cards.

These games were supposed to represent games that might be played by the characters and they conveniently used the things the players probably had at the table.

Is anyone kind enough to provide a summary/copy of those games here?

Cheers
Llowellen


I opted to collect back issues with my remaining credit. Thing is, I;m good for 41 back issues but I only actually need 17. I have my 17 checked, but because I still have 24 issues to select it won't let me 'save changes' to complete my order.

Is it possible for me to order the 17 and then apply then remaining to my Pathfinder sub?

Please help,
Ian Hewitt

PS
The back issues I would like are:
(ALL PRINT. NO PDF)

Drag #311, 315, 317, 321, 323, 324, 325, 329, 332, 333, 339, 340, 341, 342,
Dragon d20 Special,
D&D Savage Tide Player's Guide,
Dungeon #147

PPS
It was only when sorting through my back issues that I realized I never recieved Dungeon 147 as part of my subscription...


My intention is to emulate the MP Arcana Evolved racial and evolved levels to come up with a playable version of the lamia. I don't want to use ECL, I want to create a balanced version of the lamia that by the time it gets to 6th level (assuming no regular character class levels) is pretty close to the MM, but not completely unbalanced from any other 6th level PC. Or as close as I can get.

This is what I have so far, I suspect it needs some tweaking, but I'd really appreciate feedback.

Lamia Racial Traits:
Medium: As Medium creatures, lamia have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Lamia base speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision: Lamia can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and lamia can function just fine with no light at all.

Low-light Vision: Lamia can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish colour and detail under these conditions.

+4 racial bonus to Bluff and Sneak checks.

Spell-Like Abilities: At will – Disguise Self, Ventriloquism. Caster level equals character level; save DC 10 + Cha modifier + spell level. As per spells.

Automatic Languages: Faridian.
Bonus Languages: Any.
Race/Evolved Levels: Lamia.

Lamia Levels
Lamia can take up to three levels in ‘lamia’ at any time. Not all lamia, however, take racial levels (or all three of them).

Hit Die: 1d6

Skill Points at 1st Character Level: (2 + Intelligence bonus) x4.

Skill Points at Higher Levels: 2 + Intelligence bonus.

“Class” Skills: Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Sneak (Dex), Spot (Wis).

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: Lamia with levels only in lamia (no actual class levels) are proficient in the use of all simple weapons.

Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 Wis +2 Cha Speed 40'
2 +1 +0 +0 +1 +2 Con +2 Wis Speed 50'
3 +2 +1 +1 +1 +2 Str +2 Int Speed 60'

4 +2 +1 +1 +2 +2 Str Large Size Spell-Like
5 +2 +1 +1 +2 +2 Str +2 Dex Spell-Like
6 +3 +2 +2 +3 +2 Str +2 Dex Wisdom Drain

The Evolved Lamia
Lamia who undergo the Unseelie Evolution become larger than their fellows towering over their kin head, shoulder and withers. Their newfound size brings an increased physicality to their torso that brings a superhuman strength and uncanny speed and agility.

4th-Level Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day – Charm Monster, Major Image. Caster level equals character level; save DC 10 + Cha modifier + spell level. As per spells.

5th-Level Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day – Mirror Image, Suggestion. Caster level equals character level; save DC 10 + Cha modifier + spell level. As per spells.

6th-Level Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day – Deep Slumber Caster level equals character level; save DC 10 + Cha modifier + spell level. As per spell.

Wisdom Drain (Su): A lamia causes 1 point of Wisdom damage each time it threatens a critical hit with its melee touch attack. If the critical hit is confirmed the Wisdom damage is equal to 1d4 points.


I'm a new DM to the current rule set. I've always adopted a first/second edition mindset to the CR, EL and treasure value rules up until now but I want to try and get my head around them as written.

I am trying to craft the first combat encounter for my players. Four PCs all are level 1. I want to pit them against three NPCs, all level 1.

What is the encounter level? Is it 3?

Table 3-1 on p49 of the DMG is confusing me. It seems to be telling me that I should only put one or two Level 1 NPC's against my players to construct a challenging encounter. Is that correct?

Also, as per Table 3-3, if the EL is 3 does that mean I should give the NPCs no more than 900gp worth of stuff between them? Page 127 says that they should have 900gp each...

I realize that these are novice questions, but any help would be appreciated.

Cheers
Ian


I'm not sure how much off-topic this is, but I thought I'd turn to the friendliest online community I know of for advice.

My Ipod recently began experiencing problems. It was failing to sync correctly with itunes and kept citing bad files as the problem. Then random songs and podcasts began to be deleted from my library.

My solution was to say bugger it all, and I bought a new computer and started over. But now I'm a little paranoid. I love my gaming podcasts (and others), but I fear that some sort of bug/virus/worm got into my system through my itunes podcasts.

Has anyone else had any problems like this? Does anyone know of any resources to help?

Of course now I have Vista, when I had XP before, and from what I hear (I haven't experienced any so far) that could bring me a whole new pile of problems.

Help and advice appreciated.

Cheers
Ian


I realise it is all user-error. I should find myself a good website full of advice or buy Word For Dummies or something, but I have used MS Word for years and I have never been able to figure out why it randomnly changes font type, size, and bold/unbold if I choose to delete something;

or why it randomnly decides to adjust my page margins and borders;

or why sometimes, if I insert a table on one page, it will not let me use the last half of the previous page;

or why when I move a table an inch to the left it magically leaps a page backwards and lands on top of another table somewhere else.

Does anyone else have these problems? Because they drive me completely insane....

Cheers
Ian

www.llowellen.com
A d20 world design project that's waiting for your imagination.


This might be a tall order, but does anyone know of a complete listing of all products ever released under the D&D banner since its inception through all the various editions..?

Cheers
Llowellen