DungeonmasterCal's House of Respite

[quibblemuch]

Everyone who's affected by the bitter cold surviving? Krikey, it's like the opening of the Reign of Winter Adventure Path.

[DungeonmasterCal]

I'm doing ok here (Conway, Arkansas). We ended up with about 18 inches of snow in total. The city just announced a water conservation request as a neighboring town's entire water supply was lost to freezing and bursting pipes so we're sharing water with them. No non-essential water usage until further notice. Now I have an actual excuse for not doing the dishes. We've had temperatures as cold or even colder than we did when I was a kid, with some nights falling to -5 and wind chill factors of -20. Things have begun to warm up again, though. We have rain forecast for Sunday, which will freeze on the snow and streets overnight so Monday will be interesting.

The main streets are clear in town but I can't get out and go anywhere, though. Last week when I saw what the forecast was bringing I ordered a grocery pick-up. As I was leaving to go get it Sunday afternoon the winter stuff started. I got my groceries and drove back home whereupon my left rear tire suddenly just deflated as I watched it...lol. Here's a tip for anyone wanting to purchase a car like mine, a Kia Soul: They don't come with spare tires or even the little emergency donut things. Or a jack. All Kia puts into the little space underneath the mat in the back end are jumper cables and a can of tire sealant. That's it. Sealant won't fix the hole in my tire. I was planning on getting new tires when the next gubment check arrived, so I'm just hoping it eventually does.

I've been pretty lucky compared to some folks, I guess. My pipes haven't burst and my electricity stayed on. I bought groceries ahead of time (and my friend Norman makes fun of me for watching the forecasts. Whose laughing now, Norm???). I am out of milk and Mtn. Dew, though. So I just sit and stare forlornly at the cereal box and useless jar of Ovaltine and I'm also having massive caffeine withdrawal headaches. But, it could be much worse (glances at Texas).

Hope everyone's doing ok!

[quibblemuch]

Gah! Sorry to hear about the tire. That stinks. But good you've kept power and haven't had to deal with exploding water pipes. Sheesh. It's chaos out there.

At this point it's starting to look like an experiment. Like some angry, vengeful toddler god is just poking humanity and poking humanity and poking humanity... until finally we snap.

Hmmm... maybe I need to go outside and get some fresh air.

[DungeonmasterCal]

LOL

I just knocked down what was essentially a wall of ice cycles that had been hanging from the side of my carport. It's too bad we can post photos here because it was pretty impressive. A friend told me it looked like I was building my own Fortress of Solitude, and it kinda did. And I kinda wish that was true.

[Drejk]

Fantasy Monster: Blaster Wyrmling. A small but fierce three-headed dragon.

[DungeonmasterCal]

Drejk wrote:

Fantasy Monster: Blaster Wyrmling. A small but fierce three-headed dragon.

Man, you make some great stuff!

[Mr. Pilkington, Philosoraptor]

quibblemuch wrote:

At this point it's starting to look like an experiment. Like some angry, vengeful toddler god is just poking humanity and poking humanity and poking humanity... until finally we snap.

Do you suppose the people who get wished into the cornfield are at least warmer there?

[Scientific Scrutiny]

Only Orville Redenbacher knows for sure...

[Mark Hoover 330]

AC 15; 17 against ranged attacks when swimming and making Full Attacks; if swimming and using the water for Partial Cover, or making a single Ranged attack and then using a Move action to use the water for Cover to get a 19 AC. Three good saves. 28 HP. A 30 Fly with Good maneuverability meaning it can Hover at 60' on a 1 (modified by wind of course) and still make Full Attacks.

This monster is sometimes found in a forest, so it could Hover in the same square as Light Trees and gain Partial Cover from ranged attacks. It has a 60' range on three spit attacks so it can make a full attacks from some level of Cover in most of it's environments.

With a 30 Fly and Good maneuverability it can likely match a PC's speed unless they are mounted and with 60' range on a Touch attack they are likely to hit with at least 1 spit attack for multiple rounds even if being out paced.

There is no recharge between spits like with standard dragons so this creature can likely take 5' steps using Fly or Swim speeds and still make full attacks every round. These full attacks deliver 15 avg damage from three different energy types so if a PC is resistant to 1 they still take damage. They are targeting Touch AC and are as fast or faster on Initiative than most PCs of this level.

Most PCs observing WBL by level 3 have a Perception check somewhere between +7 - +13, barring Class Abilities or a specific focus on the skill. This creature's Stealth is +12, so it's Stealth beats PC Perception checks on all but the high end of average PCs. Targeting Touch, potentially while a PC is also Surprised or Flat Footed (with it's initiative it could get both), the dragon likely has anywhere from a 65% to a 75% chance to hit with any one Spit attack whether it has been detected or not.

In a straight up battle where all sides are active, typical level 3 PCs have between a 10 - 16 Touch AC; this puts the mean average at 13. Based on this the Blaster Wyrmling only has about a 27% - 28% chance of hitting a PC with all three spit attacks on a full attack. However, if it DOES manage this feat, it deals an average of 15 damage. Most level 3 PCs, before Rage, have an average range of between 8 - 54 HP, but a typical level 3 full caster has, on average, around 19 HP.

So let's set a scene:

The PCs are trekking through an alpine forest and decide to leave the treeline and head down to a lakeside meadow for a lunch break. The dragon is 30' out in the water, watching them like a 3-headed croc. The PCs, based on the law of averages and the -3 penalty for distance, likely don't see the dragon.

Surprise round: the dragon has a 5 Int; not spectacular but good enough to pick out the weakest looking "prey" that has maybe a book on it's hip or is talking to some Tiny sized animal and doesn't appear to be wearing armor (the party's full caster). The dragon crests the water and spits, dealing 5 damage to the unsuspecting caster! It finishes the round taking a 5' step backwards in the water making it 35' from the party.

Round 1: the caster has a Dex 16 for a +3 Initiative; the dragon beats their average roll by 3. Let's say that some of the PCs make attacks on the dragon before it attacks, but they've got to hit a 17 AC without the benefit of attacking at Short Range (no Point Blank Shot and so on) and Short Range spells/hexes don't reach far enough to target the monster either.

Now it's the dragon's turn. Since it went before it's full caster "prey" the dragon turns all three spit attacks on this PC. If it manages to hit the unarmored, unprotected and Flat Footed Touch AC of this caster (AC 10) with a Full Attack (61% chance) the dragon deals an average of 15 more damage to this PC. That's one PC already in negative HP.

Now the party has a decision: focus all attacks on a difficult to hit foe at range or waste one PC's actions to heal the downed character?

Whatever they choose to do this monster continues full attacking from Partial Cover or making a single attack and using a Move action to move underwater (Cover) to move around the field of battle.

If the PCs wade into the water to get closer, it has advantage with a Swim speed. If the PCs attempt to flee back to the tree line for Cover the dragon matches their speed AND has superior maneuverability to most other dragons. If the party stands and fights they must have martials optimized for ranged attacks or the ability to get airborne to deliver the full effect of their combat prowess.

This is honestly the best option for success by the party - getting a martial PC into melee with the Blaster Wyrmling. All other attack strategies see the dragon matching or exceeding the abilities of an individual Level 3 PC.

Basically you've made a 5th level spellcaster with unlimited daily uses of an Enlarged Scorching Ray spell that goes 60' instead of the normal 30', only said caster is flying, has an average of 5.6 HP/Hit Die, has 3 Good saves, 3/4 BAB and has a 15 Dex, an amulet of Natural Armor +2 and is Small sized.

That is... brutal.

[DungeonmasterCal]

Nature will kill you at every opportunity.

[TriOmegaZero]

Tactical withdrawal is an important tool in an adventurer's tool box.

[Scientific Scrutiny]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

Nature will kill you at every opportunity.

Yep. This checks out.

[Mark Hoover 330]

TriOmegaZero wrote:

Tactical withdrawal is an important tool in an adventurer's tool box.

My players all belong to the "No Retreat, No Surrender" school of thought. Also if you try to retreat from the Blaster Wyrmling it likely keeps pace with you and eventually freeze-fries you.

Nature does kill you, but sometimes it leaves you "Caution: do not enter" signs along the way. If I were going to throw a 3-headed murder dragon in my game and PCs were 4th level or below I'd likely telegraph it pretty well. Tracks that start and end with deeper impressions than the trail they leave, sloughed off scales in the undergrowth, the bones of the monster's former prey still showing scorches or electrical burns.

[Drejk]

Note that those numbers are within ranges advised for CR 3 enemy by the monster creation system - the sole exception of average damage which is 2 points above the CR 3 high.

[TriOmegaZero]

Mark Hoover 330 wrote:

My players all belong to the "No Retreat, No Surrender" school of thought. Also if you try to retreat from the Blaster Wyrmling it likely keeps pace with you and eventually freeze-fries you.

If you retreat to a position where you have cover and it doesn't, the fight is better matched.

[quibblemuch]

Friday! Woot woot!

*waves shirt over head*

How's everyone doing?

[Mark Hoover 330]

Not too bad Muscle Man, how 'bout you?

@Drejk: I just reread what I posted above. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to come off as sounding like such a giant jerkhead. I apologize Master Dragon. Your stuff is magnifique and I don't give you enough praise. I've even used a couple of your gremlins in my fey-themed Lands of Karnoss homebrew setting.

I guess my concern isn't even really the numbers. At level 3 most PCs don't have a good, reliable way to inflict 28 damage with ranged attacks unless they're using Energy damage and this creature is resistant to 3 types. Its almost like combining a minor demon's defenses with a dragon's offense. Plus with the Good maneuverability...

Well, I guess I just panicked for the poor, beleaguered level 3 party that has to face that is all. Again, I apologize for the nitpicking. It wasn't cool and I really shouldn't do it. Honestly, that's probably the challenge level I SHOULD be putting my PCs against in my own games. For CR3 I usually just throw an ogre or a pair of ghouls or something at mine. Predictably they wipe the floor with the encounter and then I whine about how easy combat is for my players.

I will try to be more cognizant of the numbers in the future Drejk. Thank you again for the terrific stuff on your blog!

[DungeonmasterCal]

quibblemuch wrote:

Friday! Woot woot!

*waves shirt over head*

How's everyone doing?

I'm doing alright on this end, I suppose. Pain levels have been manageable and I'm finally settling down over losing Rosie. My friends have been astounding while I've made the adjustments brought about by her passing and I think I'm over the worst part of everything. I even managed to do some actual housework yesterday, something that had been piling up for a long time. I've had to come up with a substitute adventure since one of my group can't be here tomorrow and I think it's about ready, too. So, all in all, things aren't too bad at all. How about you?

[Scintillae]

So I spent this morning making a mock research paper outline about the Cats stage show because I can guarantee there isn't a single kid in my school willing to sacrifice their dignity enough to steal that example for their paper.

[Ed Reppert]

Housework? What is "housework"? :-)

[Mark Hoover 330]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

quibblemuch wrote:

Friday! Woot woot!

*waves shirt over head*

How's everyone doing?

I'm doing alright on this end, I suppose. Pain levels have been manageable and I'm finally settling down over losing Rosie. My friends have been astounding while I've made the adjustments brought about by her passing and I think I'm over the worst part of everything. I even managed to do some actual housework yesterday, something that had been piling up for a long time. I've had to come up with a substitute adventure since one of my group can't be here tomorrow and I think it's about ready, too. So, all in all, things aren't too bad at all. How about you?

Little steps. Glad to hear your pain is manageable too Cal. My condolences and hope for more good days going forward.

Also, I'm sure your "substitute adventure" will be as good or better than a lot of published one-shots. Seriously, if folks ever get the chance, peep some of Cal's regular campaign. The breadth, scope and epicness of his stuff is fantastic!

[DungeonmasterCal]

Mark Hoover 330 wrote:

Also, I'm sure your "substitute adventure" will be as good or better than a lot of published one-shots. Seriously, if folks ever get the chance, peep some of Cal's regular campaign. The breadth, scope and epicness of his stuff is fantastic!

Awwww, shucks (scuffs rock with the toe of my shoe). But seriously Mark, thank you. I started building this homebrew campaign in 1991. Sadly, I have rarely written down much of anything, relying on my own memory and the memories of players to keep things going. I will admit to being pretty proud of what we have built in the last thirty years. I always say "we" because without my longtime core group and the others who've come and gone over three decades none of it would have lasted this long. I suppose at some point I should write down some of the more important bits. But yeah, I can and sometimes will drone on incessantly about it...LOL

[quibblemuch]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

quibblemuch wrote:

Friday! Woot woot!

*waves shirt over head*

How's everyone doing?

So, all in all, things aren't too bad at all. How about you?

I'm good! Busier than a one-tentacled shoggoth in a PC-grappling contest. It's been a wild week--85% of it is super exciting and the remaining 15% is that crisis stuff that I *swear* people save up until busy-exciting-time happens and then suddenly begin flailing their arms and wailing.

We even got sunshine this week. SUNSHINE!

(I may be solar powered; or at least capable of emotional photosynthesis).

[CrystalSeas]

quibblemuch wrote:

capable of emotional photosynthesis

I'm so stealing that concept to explain why I have so much more cheeriness on sunny days.

[Drejk]

Fantasy Monster: Pyrodendron

[quibblemuch]

That’s awesome! I love the visuals and can see describing this to my players and really worrying them! :)

[quibblemuch]

So I'm excited.

I have a couple friends who each have kids who are 12/13, super smart and very shy. Both friends have reached maximum "OMG I can't take my reclusive child in quarantine any more, they have to socialize with someone other than me and the cat" levels. So I volunteered to run a D&D game for them (the kids have 5e stuff so I'll have to learn that).

The exciting part for me is I'm going to adapt the Baldur's Gate Saga CRPG to a tabletop campaign! It's one of my absolute favorite campaigns ever, but my regular group of grown-ups all know too much for me to ever run it. These kids have never even been to the Forgotten Realms!

(And I'm killing off Elminster pre-emptively. They'll never know and sweet Jebus that guy bugs me. I mean, is there any problem in the Realms he shouldn't be able to just solve? Why even HAVE PCs if you have Elminister... *wanders off angry grognard grumbling*)

I think it'll be fun.

Spoiler? It's Baldur's Gate! Ok...:

I've decided they'll BOTH be Bhaalspawn. If Imoen and the PC in the original game could co-exist as Bhaalspawn, I see no reason why it can't work.

[DungeonmasterCal]

I'm 100% with you on the Elminster thing. Ugh.

Sounds like you'll have a blast!

[quibblemuch]

Elminster: With great power comes walking around in a stupid hat and a stupid beard doing nothing and making nonsensical observations in a punchably smug tone.

[Feros]

But...but...how else will an insecure DM humble his players to make himself feel better?

Will no one think of bullies?!?

[Vanykrye]

The only thing I'll throw out as a possible counter to "Elminster can solve anything" is the Manshoon clones...if they would ever stop trying to kill each other, they could likely take out Elminster.

And they should.

Then they can go back to killing each other.

[90s Simpsons Referotron]

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter...

[Limeylongears]

quibblemuch wrote:

Elminster: With great power comes walking around in a stupid hat and a stupid beard doing nothing and making nonsensical observations in a punchably smug tone.

When not leering at teenage sorceresses, or having it away with the goddess of magic (who probably looks like Cher).

[Monocle Popoff]

*SPOING!*

[quibblemuch]

Adolescents in my Baldur's Gate Saga session 1, shunning a side quest:

"They SAY they want brave adventurers. But are we brave adventurers? Are we really? We are not. Let's keep going."

[DungeonmasterCal]

quibblemuch wrote:

Adolescents in my Baldur's Gate Saga session 1, shunning a side quest:

"They SAY they want brave adventurers. But are we brave adventurers? Are we really? We are not. Let's keep going."

That's probably the best bit of roleplaying bit of dialog I have EVER read.

[quibblemuch]

I think I pulled something not busting out laughing.

And then later both of them deconstructed the "murdered mentor trope" while I was murdering their mentor. Jaded and hilarious...

[Drejk]

Fantasy Monster: Tears Of Pain And Sorrow, this ooze swarm will ease your pain, forever...

[DungeonmasterCal]

Drejk wrote:

Fantasy Monster: Tears Of Pain And Sorrow, this ooze swarm will ease your pain, forever...

OMG...Drejk, you are a timely genius! My next villain for my group to face is a Lacridaemon Assassin that the populace has named The Weeping Man. This creature is a perfect compliment to him! Wooooooo!

[Feros]

Drejk wrote:

Fantasy Monster: Tears Of Pain And Sorrow, this ooze swarm will ease your pain, forever...

Ah, the Tequila Sunrise of oozes...

[Drejk]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

Drejk wrote:

Fantasy Monster: Tears Of Pain And Sorrow, this ooze swarm will ease your pain, forever...

OMG...Drejk, you are a timely genius! My next villain for my group to face is a Lacridaemon Assassin that the populace has named The Weeping Man. This creature is a perfect compliment to him! Wooooooo!

Note it can be potentially very dangerous monster because it is immune to weapon damage. If you need it to fight lower level groups, it could be made into swarm of Tiny oozes, with AC 12, and half weapon damage (it might need a boost to its hp then, though).

On the other hand, I deliberately gave it a very low speed so anyone incapable of harming it should be able to outrun it (terrain permitting).

[DungeonmasterCal]

Ever have one of those days that just seems to suck all the life from you because of one minuscule thing? I just spent over an hour trying to get my phone to find my wifi network router. I did all the things they tell you to do before sending out a technician; unplugging everything, waiting 60 seconds, plugging it all back in, rebooting the computer, rebooting the phone, researching the router specs and trouble-shooting tips online, and so forth. I was just about to give up and had pretty much resigned myself to saving up for a new wireless router when, while I was placing it back down in its usual place on my desk, my finger accidentally pressed a button which suddenly lit up with a clear, white light. Looking more closely, it was the "on/off" switch for the wifi and somehow it had been switched off.

So I'm now going to bed before I accidentally press any other buttons with Lord only knows what the possible consequences might be.

[quibblemuch]

I just saw a post on a kidlit forum celebrating a new picture book about Hedy Lamarr.

MY BRAIN: “Don’t say ‘That’s Hedley’, don’t say ‘That’s Hedley’, don’t say ‘That’s Hedley’...

MY FINGERS: “We’re typing ‘That’s Hedley.’”

[DungeonmasterCal]

Did it also elicit a "Harrumph" from you?

[William J. Le Petomane]

Harumph! Harumph!

[Mark Hoover 330]

You'd do it for Randolph Scott.

[Randolph Scott]

♫ME!♫

[Drejk]

Fantasy Monster: Dire Squirrel Swarm

[quibblemuch]

Brilliant as always, but one minor quibble: Squirrels are chaotic evil. Definitely chaotic evil.

[quibblemuch]

Observation from this weekend's Baldur's Gate campaign:

There's something really special about the gleam in a young nerdawan's eye the first time they get a crit with a greataxe...

...of course when they return home and proudly announce to their mother "I decapitated someone!" you do have some awkward explaining to do.