Heathy's Isle of Dread Thread

Game Master Heathansson

Heh heh heh.....you guys see
Dok do a treelike Nightcrawler "bamf" and step out of the treeline right behind the four guys with the gubs.

Man, that's the coolest move, man.

Emrael "tsks" and steps forward 5' to M12.

As she steps forward and feels the haste take effect, she uses a swift action to enhance her katana from her arcane pool making it a +5 holy keen katana and uses Lunge to attack Beldan's target, striking for nonlethal damage. Not including Pip's inspire bonus because I assume that will come next round.

Attacks include arcane pool, haste, nonlethal penalty, power attack penalty and damage includes power attack and arcane pool.

Haste attack 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 4 + 1 - 4 = 21
Damage 1d10 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 19 + 4 = 33

Regular attack 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 4 + 1 - 4 = 34
Damage 1d10 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 19 + 4 = 30
If this hits, it is a crit threat, so confirmation roll...
Regular attack 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 15 + 4 + 1 - 4 = 17 not so much
Damage 1d10 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 19 + 4 = 31

Regular attack 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 4 + 1 - 4 = 15
Damage 1d10 + 19 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 19 + 4 = 27

Emrael's AC is 32 because she's using Lunge.

The haste attack misses.

The crit isn't a crit.

The samurai takes 30 more in damage, and

112+30=142;

the samurai adds another gouging katana stab that punches through her do maru's breastplate and spills copious blood on the road.

She spits out; "reeee.....splect.......gakh...." and is having trouble talking smack with all those bolts in her neck.

Satari, Elgan, Altai'n'Claw are up; Pip busted a haste on the group....

and I remember Dok's held action/aoo when they get their turn.

HUZZAH!!!

Wow ... that big guy is fast, and quiet. Thinks Beldan.

“Well I’ll give these samurai one thing, they’re tough. I don’t know too many warriors who’d be still standing after that many vital wounds,” Beldan says to Emrael. “Are they human?”

c'mon, man......DM Herculoid in the house here; you gotta ask that? ;)

Heh heh. The overly long arms was an early give away, but I figure Beldan still hasn’t 100% got his head around what a ‘samurai’ is – whether being superhuman is part of the whole deal.

heh heh. They're megaultrahuman. They have to be. They wield katana.

I know, I’m bracing myself for 2d20 +30 damage per hit, overcomes all DR, crits on 13-20 ... I mean they are katanas after all.

Modern Samurai on You tube....this guy cuts a pea pod in half. Long way.

gotta crash. Nitey Nite!
Also I'm on call Fri, Sat, Sun, so I'll be around when I'm around.

Elgan sighs. He looks sad.

"Dey Jes. Nevuh. Lern." He shakes his head, steps slightly forward, and shimmers into his treant-form.

His leafy arms burst into flames, trailing sparks and frost.

"WHOOOSE NEEEXT?!?" Elgantree bellows at the remaining would-be bullies.

If they don't run, Elgan will lay the smack-down on them. :) (and with high level # of attacks, and haste, that's a lot of smackin'!) :D

Here's the map again.

"Aw, for Boccob's sake... Count on Beldan to just gently poke foes with his fancy new sword. HEY BELDAN! GET ON WITH IT! LIKE THIS!"

Move to L26 before casting Hungry pit at the LM 8-9 intersection. The hole fills L8, L9, M8 and M9. Those in that area must make a REFLEX 26 save or topple in. Those next to the pit (i.e. all the other samurai types) must succeed on a REFLEX 24 save or fall in as well.

The pit is 70' deep, so everyone that falls in take 7d6 falling damage. They are then munched and rattled for 4d6 (REFLEX 26 half) for the next 14 rounds. A successful Climb 35 check gets them out.

Claw moves to JK 25-26 to shield Altai from the inevitable incoming fusillade.

Ack, didn't realize that Elgan was so safe, er, so far away from the ensuing chaos. ;P So he'll make a full move forward, THEn shift into treeform, hopefully protecting Altai from normal missiles in the process.

If he runs (double move), then shifts (free action) he should be close to L,M/25,26 when he goes all Captain Planet. (Or would that be Swamp Thing?)

Haste adds 50' to our move, so you can actually get up to 100' closer to the gunmen with a double move if you want to.

Also, an important reminder: STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THE PIT'S EDGES!!! Remember the fight at the weapons factory entrance in the Eberron campaign? This pit is ten times worse than that one.

50'? I thought it was 30'

You're right - it is "30' extra, but no more than twice your speed". My bad.

Bah, I was hoping I was remembering 3.5 rules and they've improved it... ;-)

Satari stands and watches, amazed. These 'men' from the daimyo are nothing such, and arrogant with it. The besetting sin of the noble and inhuman alike. The strangers, however, are not easily cowed, and violence erupts more quickly than Satari expected. He notes in passing and with pleasure that the miem woman displays very good footwork.

The old man takes a single step back and prepares to defend himself against either the fallen samurai or the strangers, as needed.

Hello everyone! That's quite some introduction to what the group can do :) Satari will join in if needed, otherwise he's happy watching all y'all for now. I had a submission to finish for Wayfinder #7 and by the time I was done it was all on...

I'm looking at all the spellcasting involved here; trying to get it right. My update might be slower than the other thread, but I'll get to it eventually in the next few.

Haste adds 50' to our move, so you can actually get up to 100' closer to the gunmen with a double move if you want to.

Also, an important reminder: STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THE PIT'S EDGES!!! Remember the fight at the weapons factory entrance in the Eberron campaign? This pit is ten times worse than that one.

Right on; do you guys want Elgan elsewhere; I put him in front of Altai, but feel free to move him elsewhere if you like.

"Aw, for Boccob's sake... Count on Beldan to just gently poke foes with his fancy new sword. HEY BELDAN! GET ON WITH IT! LIKE THIS!"

Move to L26 before casting Hungry pit at the LM 8-9 intersection. The hole fills L8, L9, M8 and M9. Those in that area must make a REFLEX 26 save or topple in. Those next to the pit (i.e. all the other samurai types) must succeed on a REFLEX 24 save or fall in as well.

The pit is 70' deep, so everyone that falls in take 7d6 falling damage. They are then munched and rattled for 4d6 (REFLEX 26 half) for the next 14 rounds. A successful Climb 35 check gets them out.

renamed them k1-k4; the warriors with katana.

k1 stays where they were. No fall.

k2 "critical success saves," and does a flip in the air all cool like to land in n9.

K3 falls.

K4 falls.

WN, the leader with the naginata, saves, and stays put.

So, two of them fell in,

oh; oops......the really messed up one, with the bolts in her neck and the katana wound?.....she fell in.

So three fell in, three still standing up front, and four in back with gubs, being snuck up on by Dok;

just need a confirmation on Elgan's movement and whether or not Satari wants to open up a canfull of whupass on these guys, we can do their enemy attacks.

HUZZAH!!!

That spot is probably ok for Elgan, sounds like roughly where he wants to be.

We'll go with it.

Now.

First things first: the gubmen.

They all draw out their muskets pointing them in the direction of Beldan and Emrael.

So, Dok has the option of AOOing one of them; if he has the combat reflexes feat or some obscure feat or class ability that I am not intimately aware of or familiar with, he can aoo some more of them.

(don't see combat reflexes,....)

Oh, and.....good news, guys; I found my old "Jade Dragons and Hungry Ghosts" book I've been looking for for two weeks.

HUZZZZAH!!!

Hurrah! And, no, Satari is keeping an open mind (or, is not quite clear on what the hell he has just walked into), and does not attack.

Satari's left foot turns slides two inches across the ground, and he sinks his weight almost imperceptibly into his knees. +3 AC from Combat Expertise.

Dok rips his falchion from it's scabbard with practiced speed. In one fluid motion, he uses that momentum to bring the blade up in a sweeping arc. Dok's muscles accelerate the falchion's descent toward the back of one of the men in front of him as it bursts into flames at his command (Taking a whack at the one in B7, please).

Two-handed attack: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (13) + 22 = 35
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (2, 3) + 10 = 15 and 1d6 ⇒ 5 fire damage

Pip, having set up Haste and launched into a rousing war chant, leaves his sword to do the singing and starts plinking away Rd 2. He sees the katana weilder K2 do his cool flip thing and decides that one needs to get quilled.

Move Pip up to the others so he can get a good bead on the samurai

Finally sat down and cyphered out a cut-n-paste bow attack. Nice feature on profile the dice don't roll so you can set things up nice

Attacks (on K2) (with haste):

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 291d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 261d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 241d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 231d8 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 181d8 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 181d8 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 251d8 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Hello;

on call and called in; I'll be back maybe 6-7 hours I guess?

Hurrah! And, no, Satari is keeping an open mind (or, is not quite clear on what the hell he has just walked into), and does not attack.

Satari's left foot turns slides two inches across the ground, and he sinks his weight almost imperceptibly into his knees. +3 AC from Combat Expertise.

Right on.

Checking Dok's attack; the bad guys attack in a few minutes......

Dok rips his falchion from it's scabbard with practiced speed. In one fluid motion, he uses that momentum to bring the blade up in a sweeping arc. Dok's muscles accelerate the falchion's descent toward the back of one of the men in front of him as it bursts into flames at his command (Taking a whack at the one in B7, please).

Two-handed attack: 1d20+22
Damage: 2d4+10 and 1d6 fire damage

Dok hits him as he's firing his gub.

He bleeds, but isn't dead or anything.

Now them.....

The other three gubmen fire.

One hits Beldan, he takes 21 hp in damage as his gub pops off and something slaps into his flesh.

Two fire at Emrael; one hits, and she takes a critical; 47 hp in damage.

sheeesh!

The two lesser samurai who fell in the pit fly out. (k3 and k4).

The leader with three bolts in her neck isn't in evidence at the moment.

The leader with the naginata attacks Satari.

She hits once; he takes 17 hp as the blade slices him.

K2 melees Emrael; gets excited and drops her katana.

K1 melees Beldan; also missing the rogue.

That's them.

Pip's attack:
Pip moves up, slams four arrows into K2 the foe of Emrael, and it's very messed up now, but still fighting.

Everybody else's attack!!!!!

Oh and Dok/.....the gubmen were immersed in aiming; so they didn't do anything but fire their gubs. They know you're there now though, just couldn't do anything yet........

With Lunge active, did K1 and K2 move through my threatened range? I'm not sure how to read that ability.

she can lunge aoo either of them, or both with combat reflexes.

Attack of opportunity vs K1 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20 Damage 1d10 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
Attack of opportunity vs K2 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29 Damage 1d10 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

---- New round, new adjustments to attacks

The kensai gasps from the pain of the bullet strike, narrows her eyes and hardens her gaze on her foe. Shifting her position to L11 - go get him, Beltan!, she increases her efforts on her defense Combat Expertise, +3 to AC, -3 to attack.

Letting go of her katana with her left hand, she begins muttering in a strange language as her left hand weaves a pattern in the air. As her left hand takes on a faint blue shimmer, her katana's glow also takes on a similar bluish tint. Casting Vampiric Touch defensively (DC 21 Concentration check) and delivering it via Spellstrike. I don't know if I get the bonus attack from SpellStrike and the bonus attack from Haste (I suspect not), so disregard the Haste roll if it's inappropriate.

Expending an arcane pool point for Arcane Accuracy, granting +7 to attacks this round and performing a full attack on K2

Concentration check to cast Vampiric Touch 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 39

Spellstrike attack 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (18) + 28 = 46 Damage 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Spellstrike attack (crit confirmation) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (9) + 28 = 37 Damage 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Iterative attack #1 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (19) + 28 = 47 Damage 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
Iterative attack #1 (crit confirmation) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (13) + 28 = 41 Damage 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Iterative attack #2 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (17) + 23 = 40 Damage 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Iterative attack #2 (crit confirmation) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (12) + 28 = 40 Damage 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Haste attack (if she gets it) 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (5) + 28 = 33 Damage 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

If any of the strikes hits: When the elven woman's blade bites into her foe the blue glow flows into the samurai's wound and he visibly pales for a moment.

Vampiric Touch 7d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1) = 18 damage for him, healing for her
If she crits on the attack that delivers the spell, it applies to the spell damage, also: 7d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 1, 5, 6, 5) = 31

I forgot - she has a class ability that adds her Int modifier (+7) to crit confirmation rolls. The confirmation rolls should be 44, 48, 47. I think I've created a monster...

She has a class ability - Superior Reflexes - that effectively gives her Combat Reflexes using her Int mod rather than her Dex mod. It stacks with Combat Reflexes, but she does not have that feat. I didn't think she's going to have more than 7 AoO a round very often. ;-)

That's some serious damage - if that kills her primary target, she'll turn on the other one.

AC 37

Em misses K1 and hits K2 on the aoo.

She kills k2 with her first katana shot.

She slashes down K1, critting on her first hit, and sucking energy with her vampire spellswording.

woah. These arent' really hard CR foes, but....did somebody say magus was weak somewhere? dayyum.

When they fall,.....they reveal themselves to be reptile skinned, medium ogres:

satari and emrael know these to be Kuwa oni, oni who bound themselves in human flesh, in the bodies of men.

I'm liking how that round went... How many temporary hp does she gain from Vampiric Touch?

I reckon 49 hp.

OK, cool. Just wanted to check. Just enough to off-set that crit the gub-shooter dealt to me. Too bad I didn't prep Dimension Door today. I would so love to be in his face when he tries that **** again.

Altai wrinkles his nose in disgust as the samurai come flying out of his magical pit. "Try flying away from this, willya?", he mutters, making a yanking motion with his hand.

I'm casting Telekinesis on G4, intending to throw him at WN. Will save 27 or he goes flying. Attack roll 12+7+3(bard)+1(haste)=touch AC 23, damage is 1d6 per 25 pounds of gubman weight; G4 ends up prone, dunno about WN.

Neither Altai nor Claw moves from their spots.

Man, he just misses his wil save too. One point.

I'll say 250 lbs; 5d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 1, 6) = 16

She does't get knocked prone; he does.

Dok exhales; now he only has to kill three of them; a little more manageable.

Neither Altai nor Claw moves from their spots.

Right on.

Looks like Elgan, Beldan, Satari, and Dok are up to bat.

OK, cool. Just wanted to check. Just enough to off-set that crit the gub-shooter dealt to me. Too bad I didn't prep Dimension Door today. I would so love to be in his face when he tries that **** again.

I know, right? heh heh......

Hey Mothman, I have an English usage question: what do you guys call ketchup/catsup down there in Australia?

(a) Ketchup
(b) Catsup
(c) Tomato Sauce
(d) Other

My earlier answer to this seems to have vanished - wonder if it'll show up later?

C, unless its from Maccas, in which case A. Never B (that I've heard).

Rough day at work; car problems; couldn't post much during the day...

Bummer man. Car working ok now?

dungeonmaster heathy wrote:

Rough day at work; car problems; couldn't post much during the day...

Bummer man. Car working ok now?

Yeah. I filled up the other night, and it was bone dry this morning.

Kruelaid wrote:

Hey Mothman, I have an English usage question: what do you guys call ketchup/catsup down there in Australia?

(a) Ketchup
(b) Catsup
(c) Tomato Sauce
(d) Other

My earlier answer to this seems to have vanished - wonder if it'll show up later?

C, unless its from Maccas, in which case A. Never B (that I've heard).

Wow, my wife accidentally bought a lot of Ketchup.

um ... yeah?

Imported from Australia.

She was planning to make spaghetti sauce.

yeah, she may have bought ketchup.

Spaghetti sauce would be tomato pasta sauce.

yeah, she may have bought ketchup.

Spaghetti sauce would be tomato pasta sauce.

You answered my next question before I asked it. Your power is great, master.

Hey Mothman, I have an English usage question: what do you guys call ketchup/catsup down there in Australia?

(a) Ketchup
(b) Catsup
(c) Tomato Sauce
(d) Other

What a stupid question! Everyone knows they don't speak English in Australia.

We speak 'Straayen.

Hee-hee, Beldan's gonna get rolled in an alley! This'll be cool to watch.

(lol) anybody see Scarface? The first deal?

Just kidding.

Think gnomes might've invented chainsaws yet?

Hey Alex, Vatters; just a little update: after the barfight, you guys have 381.43 g.p. each. Buy whatever; magic, scrolls, it's all good...
Alex has a suit of full plate as well.
Protect the cleric!!!!!

Allright, I'm going to take my kids to see Thomas the Tank Engine.
See you guys later this evening, or whatever.

Allright, I'm back. What's everybody doing?

Allright, I'm back. What's everybody doing?

Riese is with Stiggy and whoever else, waiting to do a 'Ghostbusters' impersonation.

Who ya gonna call?

What time of day do youse guys head out, ya reckon?

I just finished cobbling up a writein for y'all up to the house.

Haunted House? I guess we should go at night....

Haunted House? I guess we should go at night....

Nuttin' wrong wit' dat logic at all....

We're gonna be needin' some Tenser Snax. "Rime rot roin' in rere!" How about for a Tenser Snak? "Ree!" Three?!? Ok, here you go. "Chomp! Rank roo!"

Well, you got a druid wit' entanglement to trap the BBEG disguised as an alien robot yeti to scare folks away so the kobolds from the far realm can dig mystic uranium from under the house unhindered by outsiders so you can pull his mask off and he can deliver the lines.

Lol,
The original 'Ragadolf' was a mage who had been infected with lycanthropy. Once the rest of the group found out that he was a werewolf, there was no escape,...
I was the one delivering all of the required lines every time we went up against a bbeg, and if I didn;t, the others would recite them in unison until I gave in. ;P

Infected with lycanthropy....hmmm...

For those of you who want to know what the Tugger in the Dark Well was,

Original mod. had a big snake or something.

Nobody threw a copperpiece down th' well. WTF? ;)

Oh, and Becton....Ragg's...
they haven't done much yet, just fought something that pulled Stiggy into the well. Haven't gone in the house yet...

Again, like 381.43 g.p. equipment...magic...whatever...
from the barfight...
everybody pulled 120 exp from the well fight.

I have to say that I just love this party, with its odd mix of rather unheroic and just downright weird characters. For some reason, that makes them seem all the more 'real'. Keep it up, folks!

Ditto that Vat! and Heathy is one hell of a weaver of lore I love his DMing style...

Yes, this game totally rocks. All the characters are fun and a good mix (Gittik is sort of my id - very therapeutic) and Heathy's literary style and pacing (blink and you miss the fight) are great.

Hey Tobus, sorry Beldan is ignoring Harvak with heading back to the well. This place creeps him out, but he’d rather be in it and keeping busy than standing around talking about it … he’s afraid he’ll lose his nerve, and he doesn’t see much benefit in planning for the unknown (chaotic you know).

It's all good Mothman...Undead bother Harvak;)

Cool. I'm glad you guys are having a good time. I feel like I'm having a b$#@! of a time invoking paranoia with the pacing of pbp; I like the jokiness followed by moments of "wtf?!?" though. It's cool.

WRT the ettercap...I meant to have a longer, drawn out combat; I didn't expect it to be so squishy but hell....a big halforc fell on the fogger.

I have to agree, this group has made for a very weird and wild bunch. Its been a helluva fun ride.

Honestly, I keep asking if Becton would really be around this bunch of crazies, but I'd like to think his thinking is
a) Since no one has done anything outright evil, I figure its like he's working to help achieve a positive outcome - justice and all that.
b) He's seen such horrible things on the front lines in Geoff, that this is all rather mild and well-intentioned by comparason.
c) He's doing this for peity....maybe.

Frackin' site keeps kicking me out!
Am working LONG hours this week(s), will read and post as often as possible.

If required,(I take too long to respond) I will not be upset if you need to NPC Elgan.
He will either,
A) Shift and bite something,
B) Shoot at things that are too dangerous to get too close too,
C) Cast spells Entangle or Produce flame if needed.
D) Convert spells to healing for himself or others if they need it.

I am also enjoying this game,
NICE mix of eclectic personalities (Characters & players!)

Keep it up everybody!

I can't believe you guys wanna burn down the mad alchemists' mansion.
With a little elbow grease, you could refurbish it, and make it into an orphanage for baby goblins displaced by adventurers' depredations.

I dont want to burn it down! Think of the loot man, think of the loot.

S@#& Gittik's post is gone...

Are we still using group initiative?

yes 13

I thought not, given the other posts, though I don't remember Heathy saying that we weren't, I was just going with the flow.

The site seems to be playing up again - Heathy's post on my Runelord's game has vanished, though I managed to find it in his Recent Posts.

Dm Heathy
Hey I was wondering do have this all in your head or do you have notes on the game...

Oh yeah are you gonna need some banked rolls I saw your post asking Kruelaif about it.

I thought not, given the other posts, though I don't remember Heathy saying that we weren't, I was just going with the flow.

The site seems to be playing up again - Heathy's post on my Runelord's game has vanished, though I managed to find it in his Recent Posts.

Yeah, that's cool. Some people have weird sleeping habits because of the planet's roundness or something. I don't understand it, but it's cool for them to post something I reckon...

Dm Heathy

Hey I was wondering do have this all in your head or do you have notes on the game...

Oh yeah are you gonna need some banked rolls I saw your post asking Kruelaif about it.

I don't know about the banked rolls yet.

I have an old adventure module with a broken spine, some notes, some ideas percolating from years to months to generating daily;
If I have a good idea, I feel free to chuck the notes on the spot and run with it.

It's easy to riff off of brainstorms, whether character inspired or from my demented brain, in this pbp setup, because you have so much time to sit back and actually write something up, or look it up.

I came up with the whole Granny thing driving home one day, and said, "I can do this. I HAVE to do this. Ruth Gordon is funny."

Hey Heathy,

by chance I stumbled upon your profile as DMheathy and noticed that you listed my campaign journal as one of your resources. While I´m somewhat flattered, I wondered if it was indeed useful to you? Or did you just save the link "just in case" it might prove helpful?

Stefan

I hadn't had time to read much of it, but the focus on "knightly play" coupled with the Greyhawk location intrigued me. I'm running in southern Keoland, which I've envisioned on the brink of a possible civil war, and I thought the subject of your thread might prove useful; at least for anecdotes/history to aid in immersion, or as a guide to precedence for behaviors or situations in a noble milieu.
The game I'm running so far is a haunted house; hasn't been too much courtly intrigue yet, other than a barfight cum assassination attempt.

It's hard to say what is or isn't useful for me. I'm about to use something I thought up for a Dark Sun game I never got around to running 10 years ago. It's fermented in the attic of my brain for a good long while.....

Hmm... I´ve envisioned the Shield Lands as a society where the action lies at the border of the country, less at intrigues within - you know, having a paladin as leader and being basically LG, with revering a war god makes for quite straightforward stories. So, intrigue-wise, you will not find much here. At the moment, though, I´m trying to incorporate the secession of Zeech Redhand into my game. This will be some kind of intrigue, mixed with action.

Keoland leaves the impression with me of a more political society than the Shield Lands are, with more potential for intrigue.

Stefan

OK, I think I've finally cracked. Mr. Whiskerkins!?!?! I think I need to be fitted for my new coat with the long arms.

A wise guy, aah? nyuknyuknyuknyuknyuk!

Hmm... I´ve envisioned the Shield Lands as a society where the action lies at the border of the country, less at intrigues within - you know, having a paladin as leader and being basically LG, with revering a war god makes for quite straightforward stories. So, intrigue-wise, you will not find much here. At the moment, though, I´m trying to incorporate the secession of Zeech Redhand into my game. This will be some kind of intrigue, mixed with action.

Keoland leaves the impression with me of a more political society than the Shield Lands are, with more potential for intrigue.

Stefan

Well, I read the first five or so; slow at work today...

for Stefan:

Hey, Aubrey...wrt the "TOEE" thread, you said you don't fancy big dungeons...
What's your upper limit of a decent-sized dungeon?

It isn't really hard and fast. The problem with dungeons is that they are basically combat zones - you find the baddies, you kill them. Nothing wrong with that, but if that is all there is in a game it can get a bit dull and repetitive. If there is something else running in parallel, then it is fine, and with the group here there is almost always something running parallel, perpendicular, and wherever, due to the eccentric nature of the PCs.

I just remember DM'ing RttToEE and feeling quite oppressed by the extent of the Crater Ridge Mines. To be fair, that group were fairly crap and didn't know the rules well, so it was a bit of a grind DM'ing for them (not their fault, plus I was pretty new to the 3e rules at the time too and not especially experienced in DM'ing either). That section of the module is really of the find-baddies-kill-them-repeat mould, and I got bored. In addition, the plot kind of got lost and I was left wondering what people's motivation was (including mine). I guess that is the key - if I feel motivated as a character to go down a big dungeon, and stay motivated, then it is probably fine. So it probably needs to have plot developed while I am actually down there as well as just creeping about slaying things.

As a practical example, I guess my tolerance in my Eberron game is kind of begining to niggle with the Triune's warren (the issue is my design of the adventure, I hasten to add, not the way it has been played, which is always exemplary and a joy to participate in) but I know where you are in that and so I'm fairly relaxed (assuming everyone else is happy - I can move it along otherwise). But I'm also feeling an urge to get you back to the mean streets of Sharn and push the plot along. I'm glad in a sense that rescuing Norn has taken a while, for two reasons - firstly, to give the impression that the distances involved, and the dangers faced, are not to be trifled with, and secondly, to get you up some levels so I can chuck some really nasty opposition at you (heh heh). But my niggle is probably also due to me losing my grip a bit over the last few weeks, when I was either in a plane or an airport or recovering from the same - I've got my mojo back now so I'm more chilled.

Well, I read the first five or so; slow at work today...
I feel good that I'm not the only one who appreciates the bone creatures (or in my case) corpse creatures from the BoVD...

for Stefan:
** spoiler omitted **

Heh. The Corpse Creature was very useful for me, and I need more undead in the campaign, to give the Pelor priest occasions to shine.

Regarding your spoiler

Stefan

Stefan:

Oh, for everybody else: Stefan's spoilers are more for his pc's than you guys; don't think they're around but you never know...