ottarrus's page

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

You might want to mention the great big tidal wave that flushed out the center of Riddleport as well...

In the campaign I'm a player in, we've just discovered the Great Secret. My character [Muzash the Well-Adjusted Half-Orc
{F2/C13 of Sarenrae at this point}] is thoroughly sick of elves and elven politics at this point, but he's not likely to spread the news.

Your milage will, of course, vary.

Well folks, if you're like me and can remember when the Baptists were picketting game and toy stores because DnD summoned the Devil, you'll be sad to hear about the passing of another gaming great.

Two weeks ago, on 16 March, Professor MAR Barker passed away at a hospice home in Minneapolis MN.

For those who don't know of him, Professor Barker was a multiple PhD in Seriously Obscure Languages [his PhD is in Klamath tribal languages in the Southern Oregon/Northern California region] and designed the Empire of the Petal Throne/Tekumel milieu.

One of the most detailled, literate, sociologically well designed environments ever created, EPT/Tekumel was a wonder to explore. If Basic DnD was roleplaying at the kindergarten level, The Forgotten Realms was the elementary level, and Greg Stafford's Glorantha was high school, then EPT/Tekumel was post-grad study.

So, folks, in the last 4 years we've lost Gary Gygax [1938-2008], N. Robin Crossby (created HARN) [1954-2008], Dave Arneson [1947-2009], and Prof. Barker. I have no-doubt missed some people.

So, before you go blazing out to get the newest, hottest thing on the market, talk to an Old Geek and see about looking at some of the older settings like Tekumel, Skyrealms of Jorune, Talislanta, MERP, etc. What you find will amaze you.

Here are a couple links, one on Prof. Barker and another on Tekumel itself, just to give you a taste.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAR_Barker
http://tekumel.com

So, when can we expect a Player's Guide Download?

Thanks for the link, Jeff! LOTS of great stuff there.

I have a couple of resources you might find useful. If you don't know them, Osprey Publishing is one of the premier houses on military history. They publish several series of small booklets on various subjects that are both accessable for the casual fan and include excellant biblographies, and really nice photos and color artwork. The series I'm referring to are Men at Arms, Osprey Elite, and Warrior. You can find them at the Osprey website at:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/

I've found Warrior 10: Saracen Faris and several titles in the Men at Arms series to be VERY useful for illustrating to players much of what I'm describing.

My players went through my getting-to-know-scenario, 'The Caravanserai of Fat Wali' where they rescued a half-orc from the clutches of the mamluks of the Righteous.

This NPC will eventually become Kizzik the Mangler, a ranger who specializes in the spiked chain and a hatred of slavers.

@Nekyia, GREAT LINK! Thanks a bunch!
As for the ride issue, I *think* what I might do is allow the player in question to have camels and horses and then have him make Ride checks at a higher DC for more exotic mounts. I mean, the care and feeding of a horse and camel are pretty similar... But an elephant? Not so much. A griffon? Not even in the same ball park.

@Evil Lincoln, I have most of the LoF AP and I'll probably run it up to a point. What the heck, 'Howl of the Carrion King' will likely take a heck of a long time for them to get through anyway.

Ok, so I decided to put a game together in my area and after consulting some of the interested parties we all decided to do an Arabian Adventures theme, a' la Sinbad.

Rather than reinventing the wheel, I got into my boxes of old gaming stuff and pulled out my TSR al'Qadim setting. There were a couple of reasons for this. First, it neatly dodges the whole issue of Islam v Christianity and/or the Crusades. Secondly, they're waaaay better artists than I am.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has some input on converting AD&D al'Qadim Sha'ir class into a Pathfinder format.

This is a class that uses a minor genie familiar to go 'fetch' spells for the caster. It is somewhat similar to the Daivrat from the Qadira sourcebook, but adjusted to be a basic class.

One of my players is running a human sorceror with the Efreeti bloodline who wants to prestige into the Daivrat, but if I can save him some time by tooling the Sha'ir to fit, that would be better.

Second question: How do other GM's handle the Ride skill with alternate animals? Do you apply any 'adjustment time' or skill checks to a Western style knight trying to ride a camel, or worse, and elephant?

Thanks all!

So has the Jade Regent Player's Guide been released yet? If not, do we have a date for that?

I've looked, but a search under 'Jade Regent Player's Guide PDF' turned up nada.

Thanks all!

Looks like I won't be making it this time `round, as my other half is currently down sick. Also, I'm prepping for hip replacement surgery, so it may be a little while before I return.

To quote my Swedish grandmother, UFF DA, LREggers! Given that I've got a bum knee, I can certainly sympathize with you. Good luck with it and get well soon!

--Carl

So, we up for Saturday 12 FEB?

As usual, I'll have my usual suspects and look forward to seeing everyone!

--Carl

ottarrus wrote:

Anyone know of what scenarios are up for Olympic C&C this weekend?

That, I do not know. But, I do know that the list of adventures that I, and my players other personnas are able to play appears to be growing short.

Quote:

Second thing, did anyone pick up my character [Heurney White-Eye] clipboard and pencil on the 08 JAN? I thought I put it in my bag and I must have left it.

You may have to inquire with Gabi on that.

Thanks Al. I'll get with her on that and I'll see you tomorrow!

I have a question regarding the Paizo PFS Character Registration website.

I was putting together a second character for PFS last night and somehow the system registered it as the wrong name. How do I erase a character that has not been played from the site so I can start over?

Any help at all would be gratefully received.

Thanks all!

Two things.

Anyone know of what scenarios are up for Olympic C&C this weekend?

Second thing, did anyone pick up my character [Heurney White-Eye] clipboard and pencil on the 08 JAN? I thought I put it in my bag and I must have left it.

Thanks all,

--Carl

So, is PFS up for Saturday January 8? If so, I'll be there!

Last I heard [on 13 Nov] that the Olympia Comics and Cards group was on for the 27th.
Sadly, my family Thanksgiving has been postponed until then so I'll have to pass on the game, dammit.

Sorry guys,

--Carl aka Heurney White-Eye [da orky-est half ork in Absolom!]

Ok, I really, really did look in the archives before I posted this, but I have a couple quick questions in re: the falcata.

Firstly, I get the impression that the falcata stats in the APG are final. Is that right?

Second, is there any source for falcata specific feats other than the Campaign Guide's 'Taldori Duelling Style'? I was pretty disappointed to see that the Taldor book had nothing about the supposed cultural weapon of the country.

Thanks all!

Hey *I* plan on being at OC&C this Saturday :). See, from my place in Tacoma it's only two traffic jams [Tacoma Dome and Ft. Lewis] instead of three to four to get to Redmond. Lets face it, in the Puget Sound we don't count miles, we count traffic jams. *chuckle*

Nevertheless, my only toon, Huerny White-Eye, will be on hand to deal falcata damage to all and sundry.

James and Steve,
Thanks very much for the replies, but I think that I want to make the point that Iuz's home plane IS Oerth. He is a diety that player characters can actually encounter (albeit when things go horribly, horribly wrong....) and so some sort of thumbnail stat block would be useful. HOWever, I can see where statting up a freak like Iuz would easily kill a full workday (or three). Like James, I'm thinking that's something worth avoiding.

OK, I really like all this about Iggwilv (sorry, but 'Iggy' means Iggy Popp to me...), but what about statting Iuz? Yes, I admit that he gets alot of attention, but he IS the Oerth's resident Evil Supervillain after all....

ottarrus wrote:

Maybe even a writeup on Iggwilv herself....

Try this.

or this.

Thanks for the links, D.

BOW DOWN TO THE GREYHAWKY UBER-GEEK STAT-CRUNCHINESS!!

I'd just like SOMEBODY to admit that there is ANYBODY on Oerth that would give Elminster (or, as I call him el Min/Maxista) a few nightmares.

<putters down the hall towards the Old Fart Lounge to play his 1st Ed psionic bard, muttering something about splitting xp three ways... :) >

Iggwilv, at the very least, finally gets herself a stat block in Dungeon #149. For what that's worth.

Great news Jake! Thanks! She was one villainess that should have been in the Epic Level Handbook, along with her stunted spawnling.

Still, my main question/request/plea remains unanswered... Any chance of those reprints?

Thanks for responding so quickly.

First of all, I'm deeply saddened to see Dragon and Dungeon go into that good night. As a longtime geek (I lost my first toon in Temple of the Frog when it was the ONLY 'dungeon' out there...), all I can say is that it won't be the same game without them. Still, KUDOS to the staffers at Paizo, WotC, and TSR! The magazines are going down on a very high note. Thanks for the memories.

Next thing: Silly question. Is Paizo barred from reprinting D20 material from Dragon/Dungeon now that the decision has been made? If not, I would like to put in a humble request: PLEASE reprint the Core Beliefs and Demonomicon of Iggwilv series of articles in a bound format!! These have been the articles that I've been most enthusiastic about in years, and I'd looked forward to them for quite awhile! Most especially, GIVE IUZ A FULL WRITEUP!! Maybe even a writeup on Iggwilv herself....

Look, we all know that Greyhawk is dead from WotC's point of view, and your support for my favorite game milieu/world/whatever has been a beacon of light in a world awash in Realmsian...uh, stuff. :) And, yes, I know that was a market-driven decision, and I know about the upcoming Expedition to Greyhawks Ruins, but I still miss Zagyg's cackle...

Again, thanks for your time, effort, sweat, blood, tears, stomach ulcers, and stess-induced early onset male pattern baldness.

One geek to another, you folks did/have done/are doing a hell of a job.