Return to the Megadungeon: The Dragon Sublevel
A couple of years ago, this blog presented readers with the first ten levels of a miniature mega-dungeon. The series ended abruptly when the hard drive on which it rested gave up the digital ghost. Over the last few months a few loyal readers have asked for an explanation,...
Charging For the Use of Rods, Staves, and Wands
The concept of ‘charges’ for rods, staves, and wands has never really sat well with me. It makes sense from a play standpoint; it limits the power of otherwise game-breaking magic items, and it fits well with the sub-game of logistic optimization. The need for players to balance out...
Roll All the Dice – Starting Equipment
Whereas; Purchasing equipment for those first level D&D characters is sometimes a tedious exercise in juggling weight and cost and when can we just get to the dungeon already, Whereas; Most of a character’s generation is already random, Whereas; Choosing the right niche item “just in case we meet...
Tyrrany of Dragons – A Fluid Situation
Last session saw our band of adventurers complete their scouting/invasion of the Cult of the Dragon’s local cavern headquarters. In addition to slaying the local warlord and his pet roper, they captured low level boss-cleric Frulam Mondath. At the cost of one party member, second line dwarven fighter Henry...
Megaduneon to be Named Later – Overland Player Map
As if this blogger didn’t have enough irons in the gaming fire, I’ve been inspired by the likes of Peter Dell’Orto, Dyson Logos, and a host of others to start in on a new megadungeon. As with so many others, it may never see the light of an adventurer’s torch....
Under Construction – One Page Dungeon
Hey everybody, big fan of the One Page Dungeon contest here. One of my prouder gaming moments came a few years back when Bryce, of tenfootpole.org reviewed my last entry. He’s a cranky old bastard, and his personality shines in his many take-downs of the failures of most published work, let...
Tyranny of Dragons – The Boneyard
A running tally of those heroes fallen in their quest to prevent Faerun’s Cult of the Dragon from ushering in a new dark age by summoning the dread god Tiamat. Raane, half-elf illusionist – fell from the walls of Greenest Keep while attempting to sneak out to save The...
Tyranny of Dragons – Vengeance and Death
With apologies for the cell phone pic. When last we left our band of plucky heroes, they had captured the leader of the attack on Greenest, the mad cleric Frulam Mondath. A quick scan of his office revealed a significant intelligence coup; the group had discovered marching order to...
Tyranny of Dragons Actual Plays
As I’ve mentioned before, one advantage to playing a pre-packaged rpg campaign is the opportunity it opens up to swap war stories with fellow players who have been through the same meat-grinder. Also mentioned repeatedly has been my group’s adventures, mis- and otherwise, along the Tyranny of Dragons campaign....
Campaign Creation – Inspirational Shortcuts and Political Mnemonics
Chris, over at the Hill Cantons has a great post up about Special Snowflakes. Really inspirational stuff. Those of you who run games should take the three minutes to read it, if you haven’t already. he’s quite the muse, that one. Make sure to stick around for the comments...