Calatin ab'Halla's page

Due to character drop-out, there is a vacancy in this game.

I'll let the other players explain what they are looking for...

I'm not quite sure where this belongs, or even if it is of interest to anyone but myself but...

On 30 December 2002, my RPG Resource site was launched!

So today is my website's 10th birthday... not bad for a hobby site :)

Megan
http://www.rpg-resource.org.uk/

Since the latest rebuild (yesterday?), the note beside a dotted thread that tells you how many posts since you last read that thread is not clearing down... bit confusing when working through the games I run, keep rereading stuff I've already read!

Something seems to have gone wrong with the review submission system: I cannot see the link 'Write a review of this product'... is this me, or is something strange happening?

Here's my review, as the review page system seems to have crashed :(

In 2011, Goodman Games were busy working on their Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, and had already released a set of beta-test rules, so they took the opportunity of Free RPG Day to provide a couple of adventures to play with them. (Now, of course, you can run them with the final publication version of the ruleset!)

Starting with what is now becoming iconic art for this game and a page describing what the DCC RPG is and is not, the core game mechanic is then presented in sufficient detail that you could probably play a game without other information (especially if you are an experienced role-player) although having the beta-test rules - or now the full core book - is recommended. If nothing else, it is only there that you will be introduced to the concept of the 'character funnel' where each player starts off with several 0-level characters generated in a truly random manner, developing those that survive the first few adventures.

The first adventure, The Portal Under the Stars by Joseph Goodman, is a Level 0-1 adventure designed to exploit this character funnel, to winnow out the unlucky and the feeble and to set the survivors on the path to become heroes: a process core to this game's philosophy. While focussing on tricks and traps rather than combat there are opportunities for a good mass brawl as well, as the characters venture through a portal that only appears every half-century or so to raid a long-dead wizard's tomb.

With a brief introduction to get the characters to the threshold of this portal, and a little background for the GM, they step through to find out what perils and riches lay beyond. Descriptions are evocative, with encounters laid out clearly accompanied by a map that lays the tomb out well for the GM. However the adventure has no real conclusion, although if a certain act is performed the characters will be pointed towards further opportunities, indeed the potential for a whole campaign, if the GM so chooses (and is prepared to develop it for himself!).

So, on to the second adventure, a 5th-level one from Harley Stroh called The Infernal Crucible of Sezrekan the Mad. Remember that in DCC RPG 5th-level is regarded as quite high level, thus this adventure provides a nice contrast with the one proceeding it. Here we have yet another long-dead powerful figure who has left plenty of stuff behind that the daring may attempt to steal. Naturally, those venturing here will have to fight and figure things out... and there's a delightful sting in the tail here, potentially requiring an awful decision to be made.

It is left up to you to determine how the characters find out about Sezrekan and what he has left behind, the adventure beginning with them having cleared the entrace to what is, in effect, an inverted wizard's tower extending down into the ground rather than up into the sky. It's well mapped and described for the GM, with everything laid out for ease of running. Again it is a simple and short exploration with no clear ending - except, perhaps, the sheer challenge of getting back out again!

Overall, these two adventures give a fair flavour of what you will get with the full Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, and after reading or playing them you should be able to decide if this is a game for you. It might have been improved - particularly when after Free RPG Day, you have to pay for even the PDF version - with adventures that did not seem to end without much of a conclusion, but they do give a good impression of what the game is like and so achieve the purpose of this product.

Calling all those standing... and those interested in quizzing them!

Have YOU decided who you are going to vote for, or would you like to ask us a few questions first?

I for one shall be lurking here to talk with anyone who'd like a chat, but welcome the other candidates to come and join in.

I was just discussing where my mage character got his training with my GM, and we suddenly came to the conclusion.... that for a cod-mediaeval world, Golarion is extremely well-blessed with seats of learning!

I think it's time to create a 'College Catalogue' for all those bright young folks thinking about what and where they'd like to study in Golarion. It might be a fun exercise... maybe I'll start on it once the current review is written.

Incidentally, has the printing press been invented yet, or are all the college libraries filled with monk-xeroxed tomes?

The day began badly. You were interrupted in the course of your normal activities to be informed of the death of Professor Petros Lorrimor. For some of you, the sadness of the loss of a friend. For others, more of a passing acquaintance. For all of you, that brief shudder of remembrance that for all of us, one day, death will come calling, and our friends will receive a message informing them of our demise.

The message came as a personal one from Lorrimor's daughter, Kendra. Some of you may remember her as a small child, always inquisitive and boding fair to become an impressive scholar in her own right. She writes that some 15 years ago, her father had retired from the University of Lepidstadt and had made his home in the town of Ravengro, although still making research trips and the odd lecture tour. He met his demise in a tragic accident whilst conducting research in the environs of Ravengro, and in the copious instructions that he had left, requested that you each be summoned to attend his funeral and to hear the reading of his Last Will and Testament.

And so you have come, from the far corners of the Inner Sea and beyond, drawn by conflicting emotions: respect, curiousity, admiration, even fear...

The day and time of the interment is now at hand. Kendra's message requested that you come to The Restlands, as the town burial ground is known, and meet her at the gate. She hinted that perhaps some of you might feel moved to act as pall-bearers for this, his last journey.

After the ceremony, Kendra has offered the hospitality of the family home. A wake, of course. The formal reading of the will. And of course you will be welcome to stay a while before you return to, well, whatever you were doing when this missive arrived.

Here is a map of Ravengro

You'll have time to explore in due course, and I shall use the letters as reference to the various locations of interest. For now, The Restlands is indicated by P, off the map to the north of town.

In that delightful machination that's the DM's perogrative, you have all arrived precisely at the time you need to present yourselves at the graveyard gates to attend the funeral. So please describe yourselves as you arrive... you may have travelled with friends who are also invited, or you may discover that people you know are standing there as a small crowd gathers to await the appointed time.

Overwhelmed by the kindness of players who actually go and buy the AP for me so that I can run it for them, let's get going :)

Welcome, I just hope I can live up to the expectations and kindness!

BBC feature on how time zones affect everyday life... you may be interested in the last story!

Time Zones story

I have just finished running an online game - we have run according to PFS rules regarding character generation, players & characters registered with the Society here, etc.

Now I want to complete the after-game administration.

I see how the system works, and was intending to use the end-date of our play as the session date. Obviously participant & GM data will be entered as usual.

As for the certification, I want to e-mail the players with their documentation. Is there a version of the certificate that's ameniable to being completed electronically? (Due to a stroke I no longer hand-write so printing them out, scribbling on them and scanning them isn't feasible.) I can firkle PDFs readily, but was wondering if there's a Word or form-fillable PDF already available.

What should I use for the GM signature? I was thinking of putting my e-mail address - which anyone with a query would be able to use if they needed to check anything. Would that be acceptable?

Given that you like 'across the table' talk, here's somewhere for a good chat outside of the actual game thread.

Grab a beverage of your choice and a slice of pie, set you down and chat away!

I am running PFS on the RPOL site - my game is HERE

After a bit of a shaky start - we lost the original GM so my character went for a beer and I took over - the first game is drawing to a close. The players all want to continue, but there's room for more.

I am happy to accept existing PFS or new ones... so please come on over and join us if you'd like to be in an online game. Perfect if you cannot find PFS in your area, or if games are too infrequent for your taste!

I am running PFS on the RPOL site - my game is HERE

After a bit of a shaky start - we lost the original GM so my character went for a beer and I took over - the first game is drawing to a close. The players all want to continue, but there's room for more.

I am happy to accept existing PFS or new ones... so please come on over and join us if you'd like to be in an online game. Perfect if you cannot find PFS in your area, or if games are too infrequent for your taste!

Welcome one and all, let's create a legend that will be told for all time!

We begin with you all travelling together in a caravan from the town of Solku to an unknown destination in the northern scrublands of Katapesh. You all were hired by a no-nonsense human called Garavel, who has told you little more than that he is major-domo to a merchant princess, one well in with the Pactmasters themselves, who has need of people of your skills. It suited each of you to hire on, yet the journey so far has been dusty and dreary, and you all are heartily sick of camels. They smell, they spit, and their gait is strange...

It is evening, and it so happens that none of you have been tapped for guard duty, so you are sitting around a crackling fire, huddled against the chill of a desert night and enjoying some roast goat. Despite having been on the road for the better part of a week, this is the first chance you have had to chat and size each other up.

Please introduce yourselves, and speak as much - or as little - as you please about why you're here. Although everyone has posted copious amounts of background both during generation and on the Google site (thanks, a DM's dream!) please treat that as OOC, and go on what is said here!

Could this be set to 'whole word only' please?

I wanted to refer to a sporting contest between adult male poultry in one of my PbP games, and ran foul of the filter.

Greetings, and welcome to Westcrown. Let's see if we can make it a nicer place!!!

Over the past few days, each of you has been approached by a dark-haired female who gives the name of Janiven. Meeting with each of you someplace you cannot be overheard, she says that - like you - she's none too happy with the current governance of Westcrown and wants to explore how to improve matters for the citizens. She says that she and a friend would like to meet with you for dinner and conversation at Vizio's Tavern...

... the meeting is tonight.

If anyone has any questions for Janiven during their initial conversation, please ask them now. You also may make any preparations or enquiries you wish before the meeting in Vizio's Tavern. And, although Janiven spoke with each of you separately, you may wish to talk with your friends about it (Janiven did not ask explicitly that you keep the meeting a secret, although she did imply that discretion might be a good idea!).

Welcome one and all, let's create a legend that will be told for all time!

We begin with you all travelling together in a caravan from the town of Solku to an unknown destination in the northern scrublands of Katapesh. You all were hired by a no-nonsense human called Garavel, who has told you little more than that he is major-domo to a merchant princess, one well in with the Pactmasters themselves, who has need of people of your skills. It suited each of you to hire on, yet the journey so far has been dusty and dreary, and you all are heartily sick of camels. They smell, they spit, and their gait is strange...

It is evening, and it so happens that none of you have been tapped for guard duty, so you are sitting around a crackling fire, huddled against the chill of a desert night and enjoying some roast goat. Despite having been on the road for the better part of a week, this is the first chance you have had to chat and size each other up.

Please introduce yourselves, and speak as much - or as little - as you please about why you're here. Although everyone has posted copious amounts of background (thanks, a DM's dream!) please treat that as OOC, and go on what is said here!

Welcome one and all to Riddleport!

Some of you are newcomers to town, others born and raised here or nearby, but you've all been here long enough to at least know your way around and to know the two hot items of gossip...

First - although with lack of anything more it's losing its appeal - the 'Blot'... a strange shadow in the sky. To begin with, it was just an odd dark cloud. But it's stayed there irrespective of what the weather's been doing, sometimes even moving against the wind. Scholars are still interested, but for most people it is no longer a hot topic of conversation.

Second, tonight on this Oathday the 14th day of Arodus 4708 AR there will is a grand gambling tournament "Cheat the Devil and take his Gold" to be held in the Golden Goblin Gambling Hall. Ought to be quite a spectacle, particularly as it's intended to revive the fortunes of a rather run-down establishment.

We begin in the afternoon, as you all prepare to attend the contest. This should give you a little time to ask questions, arrange employment if you want to work the event rather than play or watch, and so on.

Welcome xiN, LoreKeeper, Endraca and Wander Weir.

What characters do you want to play?

Unfortunately this was one of the few times Paizo charged for the Player's Guide. I've posted a review of it, so you can decide whether or not you want to buy it.

Ask your questions, kick around your ideas and get a suitable group together.

Is there any way to change a discussion thread's title?

You see, I've been invited to take over as DM of a pbp game that had started then the DM vanished. As the play had already started, and material relevant to the AP being played has been discussed, I don't want to start a new thread but continue in the existing one... but it's a bit silly (and hard to remember) that DM Someone Else's Curse of the Crimson Throne AP is actually mine!

Is this date accurate? The PDF is out already!

Company after company appear to be winding down popular and successful D20 Dungeons and Dragons lines. While there's always the urge to be up ahead with the current trends, do they really think that everyone's going to drop 3rd Edition D&D like a hot potato come the summer?

Even if 4th Edition D&D is as good as Wizards seem to think it will be, it's going to take time to percolate through the gaming community; while a lot of people remain ready to be convinced that the switch is worthwile at all.

Please, publishers, do not slam the door shut...