A Half-Orc Barbarian Wearing Glasses?!
Ladies and gentlemen, my original title had I blogged this earlier. Before October. Lacks the Halloween-flair, don't you think?
Why is this virtually the first Halloween 2017 blog entry you may ask? Why, because the events transcribed below occurred Halloween night on 2016. Shadowrun Missions had been planned that evening. Alas, we didn't have enough players that evening so that game was cancelled. One may call it a Halloween trick if they may. Deciding to salvage our gaming session that All Hallows Eve, the four of us decided to replay a two-hour Adventurers League (D&D 5E) module.
That module was *dun dun dun* Hillsfar Reclaimed a Year 3 module tied to the Out of the Abyss storyline.
Your humble narrator of those events can regale you with the events that followed because I took notes. Now, my note-taking was in its infancy in those days, although to be honest its still developing to this day, so your humble narrator must * ahem * decipher his own notes. Plus, think this is among the first of the much promised game write-ups I have been mentioning...
The cast: My PC - Grogg the Half-Orc Barbarian. Believe he was 2nd level at the time. The other two PC's were Jared a war cleric and Pax the cleric of a domain I do know. Trickery wouldn't surprise me though given how the PC acted. Believe they were both human but not sure as I didn't record such at the time but they were both level 4.
I'm going to forego much of the background and many of salient points of the adventure so while there be spoilers many of them will be out of context.
Our intrepid adventurers had to access a secret entrance while underneath in the sewer system. Grogg was dismayed to encounter a swarm of rats and utters a 'why did it have to be rats!' ala Indiana Jones talking about snakes. Unfortunately, the rat swarm really, really liked Grogg and proceeded to swarm him. Feeling left out, another rat swarm assaults poor Grogg and crits! Poor Grogg is ineffectual at defending himself. He also *ahem* forgot to rage. Upon realizing that, I decided to make the * tactical * decision to not rage all combat. Thank goodness for two 4th level clerics nearby!
One of the clerics, the war cleric Jared vanquishes one of the swarms. Alas, poor Grogg is downed by the swarm. Uhm, yeah I forgot about the half-orc's ability to avoid that... One of the clerics heals Grogg. Again, as it was the early days of my note-taking I do not know if it was Jared or Pax. The rat swarm nibbles on Grogg dropping him to 1 hp. After missing three strikes, Grogg finally connects and downs the remaining rat swarm with his great axe! Rummaging through rubble, Pax and Jared find a pair of glasses. Out of jest, Pax places the glasses onto Grogg. Hence, the original title. Pax convinces the puzzled Grogg to continue wearing them.
Eventually, the adventuring trio are hired to infiltrate a nobleman, who hates nonhumans, costume party. We're provided magical means to disguise ourselves. Grogg adopts the nondescript moniker of 'Bob'. While weaving our way through the crowded streets, the befuddled Grogg dodges an errant horse. Despite Jared's attempt to calm the horse, Pax is struck. Since we're down on hit points and there's plenty of time to infiltrate the costume party, we short rest. I rolled a 12 on the hit die healing!
The trio reach the keep where we're each individually interviewed as to why we should be hired on as extra help. Grogg: "I am Bob. Just got here. I work cheaply and move heavy objects." The interviewer listens to each of us with blatant disgust. Desperate to be done with his sordid task he hires us on and we're ushered on.
While being signed in, Grogg discovers the glasses are tremendous help while performing a quick investigation of the desk. With advantage, he gets a natural 20 and discovers the schedule we seek. After sign-in, Grogg receives 1 GP and true to his human peasant disguise he celebrates as if he acquired hundreds of gold pieces. As its a costume party and the lord hosting detests nonhumans, we're given the option of wearing masks whose depiction is a mockery of several non-human PC races. The magically-disguised-as-human Grogg decides to slyly rib the nobles by selecting... the half-orc costume. Meanwhile, Pax chooses to heckle Grogg while also selecting the half-orc costume.
Well, there's a party and party stuff happens. Eventually, as with all D&D modules, combat occurs. The two clerics and their half-orc barbarian discover that two of the human nobles aren't who we thought they were. They were magically disguised too! Except they weren't disguised PC races. They were actually demons! Hmm, guess the mod is more Halloween-related than I thought! Plus, Out of the Abyss does have a connection to the Abyss and demons and year 3 modules did contain the occasional demon. But I digress.
The demons were succubus and an incubus. Fortunately, the incubus didn't actively engage in battle. As for succubus, battle was joined!
Unfortunately, she uses her wiles of a succubus and gazes at Pax. Who promptly fails his Wisdom save and strikes Grogg. Fortunately for Pax, the then raging barbarian Grogg had decided to focus his fury on the demon instead due to the unease he felt toward it due to his tribal upbringing. Afterwards, Pax would feel his wrath. The succubus kisses Pax, which saps Pax of much of his hit points but enabling him to break his compulsion. Grogg's swings at the succubus experiences the same luck as with the rats as he misses terribly. She, however, does not miss him. Jared strikes her with his magical weapon (which he may have cast earlier...) and then attacks again with a spiritual weapon he brings forth with a prayer. Pax using his priestly magic calls upon the Radiant of Dawn onto both fiends. The incubus who had stayed out of the battle reacts by going ethereal and flees. The succubus attempts her succubus wiles on Grogg. Unlike Pax the cleric had, Grogg shrugs off her charm! Grogg then realizing Pax must not have been so lucky decides to attack her instead. Finally, Jared's spiritual weapon vanquishes her.
The adventurers get everything sorted out and manage to leave the keep unmolested by the very, very embarrassed guard.
Pax's trick on Grogg with the glasses turns out to be more of a Halloween treat as they're magical glasses. The barbarian * ahem* keeps them. Grogg also leveled too!
And that folks, is what transpired during my unexpected D&D session on All Hallows' Eve last year.
Happy Gaming!
Next time.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Teenage Monk Ninja Tortles and Other Charities!
Old-time gamers will get the reference of the title right away. Yep, it's true. It is a play on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness.
Growing up, I was (heck, I still am!) a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan. Before I played my very first game of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, I sifted through the pages of Palladium Books' TMNT & Other Strangeness, Revised Edition. Being unfamiliar with RPGs, the stats were pretty greek to me. Then when the door to RPGs were opened to me, I just had to try it out. We never did play TMNT & Other Strangeness much. Plus, I never did play a mutant turtle.
Around the same time, TSR released an expansion to it's AD&D Mystara line called Red Steel. Red Steel was quite the exotic setting. Among the new races included was the tortle. A tortle is exactly what it sounds like: a humanoid turtle. Cue ninja turtle jokes. Boy, did those jokes fly. We never did create those ninja tortles nor used Red Steel very much.
Flash forward a couple decades, (sigh has it been this long?!) Fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons debuts. The monk class contains a subclass called the Way of the Shadow. Ninjas are referenced as examples of such monks. If you're thinking I got ideas about creating a ninja, you'd be right.
Over the last several months, social media was abuzz with folks inquiring about WOTC adapting the tortle to 5E. Their response is encouraging.
And just like that, WOTC unveiled the torle as a playable race, and AL legal too!, as part of package where proceeds go to their Extra Life charity initiative, which donates to Children's Miracle Network. WOTC is engaging in other activities besides the Tortle Package for Extra Life and you can read about them (and the Tortle Package) HERE. It's pretty cool!
So donate to Extra Life, watch the games on Twitch, attend the sponsored tables in Game-Hole Con in Wisconsin, and/or purchase the Tortle Package if you want to contribute to Children's Miracle Network.
Don't know about you but I am itching to play a teenage monk ninja tortle myself.
Happy Gaming!
Next time.
Growing up, I was (heck, I still am!) a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan. Before I played my very first game of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, I sifted through the pages of Palladium Books' TMNT & Other Strangeness, Revised Edition. Being unfamiliar with RPGs, the stats were pretty greek to me. Then when the door to RPGs were opened to me, I just had to try it out. We never did play TMNT & Other Strangeness much. Plus, I never did play a mutant turtle.
Around the same time, TSR released an expansion to it's AD&D Mystara line called Red Steel. Red Steel was quite the exotic setting. Among the new races included was the tortle. A tortle is exactly what it sounds like: a humanoid turtle. Cue ninja turtle jokes. Boy, did those jokes fly. We never did create those ninja tortles nor used Red Steel very much.
Flash forward a couple decades, (sigh has it been this long?!) Fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons debuts. The monk class contains a subclass called the Way of the Shadow. Ninjas are referenced as examples of such monks. If you're thinking I got ideas about creating a ninja, you'd be right.
Over the last several months, social media was abuzz with folks inquiring about WOTC adapting the tortle to 5E. Their response is encouraging.
And just like that, WOTC unveiled the torle as a playable race, and AL legal too!, as part of package where proceeds go to their Extra Life charity initiative, which donates to Children's Miracle Network. WOTC is engaging in other activities besides the Tortle Package for Extra Life and you can read about them (and the Tortle Package) HERE. It's pretty cool!
So donate to Extra Life, watch the games on Twitch, attend the sponsored tables in Game-Hole Con in Wisconsin, and/or purchase the Tortle Package if you want to contribute to Children's Miracle Network.
Don't know about you but I am itching to play a teenage monk ninja tortle myself.
Happy Gaming!
Next time.
Monday, October 16, 2017
AL: My Confusion Over Season 7 Death Curse Cleared Up
Last month, only blogged twice during September so the entry should be easy to find, I vented my confusion over the Season 7 Death Curse and how it effects older characters. PCs whom died and are unlikely to be played in Season 7 mods.
As a refresher, much of my irritations was due to the timey-wimey nature of Adventurers League. AL was never really concerned over time lines before. At my FLCS, our 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons AL characters can expect to play a regular season module one week only to play a replay of an earlier season module the next. I've had the rotten luck to only have one AL PC not need to be raised from the dead.
Turns out, the answer I sought was to be found in the Death Curse Primer downloadable from DM Guild as part of the DM packet.
First, Season 7 modules WILL cover a timeline. Sort of. For a player such as myself who has several PCs whom would be subject to the Death Curse, I can't play those characters in any Tier 1 or Tier 2 Season 7 modules or two consecutive community created content modules. Plus, the Tomb of Annihilation. Given I can only really play D&D at my FLGCS on their RPG nights, Tomb of Annihilation isn't really an option for me.
So that lead to second point, I can play all those characters in any earlier season AL module to my heart's, and FLGCS's, desire. Again, CCC (Community Created Content) mods are the exception to this. I can play one of those and only one per PC until...
Third, the new year marks the end of the AL-wide "Death Curse Banner Decree". Come January 2018, Adventurers League considers the events of Tomb Annihilation to have been completed as Tier 3 and Tier 4 modules occur after the events of the hardcover module. So all the PC that sat out, can be played once more. I'm guessing for players like your truly would have to play a surrogate for a Death Cursed-PC in a Tier 3 module in order to break the curse for said PC. That last part is a little unclear...
So there you have it, my AL Death Curse question has been answered for the most part. Simply don't play my other PCs until the New Year unless they are Season 1 - 6 and associated Hardcover modules. As for the PCs that do, I suppose January 2018 will answer that question.
Happy Gaming!
Next time.
As a refresher, much of my irritations was due to the timey-wimey nature of Adventurers League. AL was never really concerned over time lines before. At my FLCS, our 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons AL characters can expect to play a regular season module one week only to play a replay of an earlier season module the next. I've had the rotten luck to only have one AL PC not need to be raised from the dead.
Turns out, the answer I sought was to be found in the Death Curse Primer downloadable from DM Guild as part of the DM packet.
First, Season 7 modules WILL cover a timeline. Sort of. For a player such as myself who has several PCs whom would be subject to the Death Curse, I can't play those characters in any Tier 1 or Tier 2 Season 7 modules or two consecutive community created content modules. Plus, the Tomb of Annihilation. Given I can only really play D&D at my FLGCS on their RPG nights, Tomb of Annihilation isn't really an option for me.
So that lead to second point, I can play all those characters in any earlier season AL module to my heart's, and FLGCS's, desire. Again, CCC (Community Created Content) mods are the exception to this. I can play one of those and only one per PC until...
Third, the new year marks the end of the AL-wide "Death Curse Banner Decree". Come January 2018, Adventurers League considers the events of Tomb Annihilation to have been completed as Tier 3 and Tier 4 modules occur after the events of the hardcover module. So all the PC that sat out, can be played once more. I'm guessing for players like your truly would have to play a surrogate for a Death Cursed-PC in a Tier 3 module in order to break the curse for said PC. That last part is a little unclear...
So there you have it, my AL Death Curse question has been answered for the most part. Simply don't play my other PCs until the New Year unless they are Season 1 - 6 and associated Hardcover modules. As for the PCs that do, I suppose January 2018 will answer that question.
Happy Gaming!
Next time.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Follow-up to Vintage Marvel Animated on Hulu along with Marvel's Inhumans First Impressions
Friday the 13th is winding down and I figured I cap the day with... a non-Halloween/horror post. Cause it's not just Friday the 13th, today is three days after the supposed expiration of vintage (okay 1990s vintage, sheesh!) Marvel Animated shows on Hulu along with the third week (and fourth episode) of Marvel's Inhumans.
First off, everyone such as myself who had those old Marvel animated shows (Fox Spider-Man, X-Men, Spider-Man Unlimited, X-Men Evolution, Iron Man Armored Avenger) at the bottom of their queue can relax. After the 10th when I logged onto Hulu to check to see if those shows expired, not only had they not expired but Hulu treated them as brand new shows! Don't know why but it certainly provides more time to watch them. Right? Hoping this doesn't mean they are "new" shows for a couple months and then expire.
Second, speaking of Marvel shows of more recent vintage, today marks the initial broadcast of the fourth episode and third week of Marvel's Inhumans.
Now, I understand Marvel's Inhumans didn't start with the best acclaim. I suppose much of that had to due with the first two episodes being shown on IMAX first. Got to say, those first two episodes are be-yoo-ti-ful. Much glossier than the more recent two. Folks also paid money to see it; and the IMAX showing didn't contain a couple exposition scenes the television debut had. While I felt the first two episodes were stellar, I did watch them on the television. As a movie that I paid money for, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. Plus, the bad press could be because the Inhumans are new and unfair comparisons with the X-Men are being made.
Okay, I am not a fan of Maximus terragenesis on the show being transformed into a human and not a super-genius who's very, very off his rocker. Well, Maximus does come across as both very bright and high on the megalomania scale on the show though. Perhaps, the lack of Kirby tech is glaring omission?
While watching the first couple episodes, I got a Basilisk vibe when each of the characters demonstrated their Inhuman power as each power was deployed to strategic effect in a surprising manner. Much like the ninjas in that anime/manga demonstrate their unique gifts. Black Bolt and Medusa's romantic relationship, although much less tragic, along with the "dueling" families also contribute to that impression. Okay, I am kind of reading into that comparison a little too much. Haha! The body count is much, much less than Basilisk.
For the first time, I fully understand why Black Bolt doesn't and will not kill Maximus. The difference between watching on screen versus a static page.
Next time.
First off, everyone such as myself who had those old Marvel animated shows (Fox Spider-Man, X-Men, Spider-Man Unlimited, X-Men Evolution, Iron Man Armored Avenger) at the bottom of their queue can relax. After the 10th when I logged onto Hulu to check to see if those shows expired, not only had they not expired but Hulu treated them as brand new shows! Don't know why but it certainly provides more time to watch them. Right? Hoping this doesn't mean they are "new" shows for a couple months and then expire.
Second, speaking of Marvel shows of more recent vintage, today marks the initial broadcast of the fourth episode and third week of Marvel's Inhumans.
Now, I understand Marvel's Inhumans didn't start with the best acclaim. I suppose much of that had to due with the first two episodes being shown on IMAX first. Got to say, those first two episodes are be-yoo-ti-ful. Much glossier than the more recent two. Folks also paid money to see it; and the IMAX showing didn't contain a couple exposition scenes the television debut had. While I felt the first two episodes were stellar, I did watch them on the television. As a movie that I paid money for, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. Plus, the bad press could be because the Inhumans are new and unfair comparisons with the X-Men are being made.
Okay, I am not a fan of Maximus terragenesis on the show being transformed into a human and not a super-genius who's very, very off his rocker. Well, Maximus does come across as both very bright and high on the megalomania scale on the show though. Perhaps, the lack of Kirby tech is glaring omission?
While watching the first couple episodes, I got a Basilisk vibe when each of the characters demonstrated their Inhuman power as each power was deployed to strategic effect in a surprising manner. Much like the ninjas in that anime/manga demonstrate their unique gifts. Black Bolt and Medusa's romantic relationship, although much less tragic, along with the "dueling" families also contribute to that impression. Okay, I am kind of reading into that comparison a little too much. Haha! The body count is much, much less than Basilisk.
For the first time, I fully understand why Black Bolt doesn't and will not kill Maximus. The difference between watching on screen versus a static page.
Next time.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Halloween: A Compilation of Halloween Blog Entries Past
We're nearing the mid-point of the month of October. No what that means? Halloween is almost around the corner. Last couple years, I pretty much devoted the month of October and a little of November to Halloween. Plus, I'd promise to dedicate my blog entries to the holiday. While I plan on Halloween entries for 2017, I am not doing a '13 days of Halloween' nor devote the rest of the month to it. Plan on blogging about things besides Halloween this month! Whenever I do blog about something Halloween-related 'Halloween' will appear within the title.
Since I have blogged using Halloween themes for a couple years, I decided I would kick off my Halloween theme by compiling my blog posts of Halloweens past. So if you've read them before, you take a trip down nostalgia lane with me by revisiting all 15 entries. If not, here ya go.
2015
The 2015 OBS Jack O' Lantern Haul can be found HERE. Got to say, I forgot I had some of these! With any luck I will get around to reading and reviewing some of them before the end of the month.
Vertigo 2015 Preview can be found HERE. Alas, I never did pick up nor read most of these titles. While I purchased the first couple issues of Clean Room and Unfollow, they became more wait for the trade. Did acquire more issues of Lucifer though, including duplicates of the first issue! Unfortunately, I hadn't added Lucifer to my pull list so there's gaps in my collection. Some reviews would be quite fitting wouldn't they?
My review for the movie the Last Witch Hunter is HERE. One of my rare movie reviews.
Howling Commandos of SHIELD #1 (ANAD) Review can be found HERE. Might actually be my only review from Marvel's All-New All-Different banner. Really should read the remaining five issues then they could be reviewed under my On the bubble/Cancelled heading that I haven't gone beyond announcing...
Halloween-related shows reviewed during the week of Halloween can be found HERE. I had done a weekly recap of what I considered were Halloween-related shows. They were: iZombie, The Player, Sleepy Hollow, and Grimm.
2016
Exorcist the series write-ups can be found HERE and HERE. Still haven't finished the rest of the first season or started the second season yet. Once again, I am considering covering this year.
2016 OBS Trick or Treat Haul is HERE. Yeah, if I OBS does a Jack O' Lantern thing again this year, you can be certain I will blog about it.
Ghost Rider Arc for Marvels Agents of SHIELD: PART 1 and Part 2.
The Walking Dead Season 5 Write-Up is HERE. I did marathon viewing of season 5 of The Walking Dead and composed my thoughts. Neither season 6 nor season 7 were available to me then. Now, I have access to them on Netflix...
Ash meets Cthulhu?! - another comic book review.
Halloween 2016 Game NIGHT. Several future blog entries will be tied to this...
Samhain/All Saint's Day readings. A bunch of stuff I read on that day.
November 2nd: My final installment on All Soul's Day included my thoughts on the origins of Ghost Rider in Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, how Mexico decided to copy the James Bond film Spectre, and a shoutout for Disney's Giant Halloween Hex #1. I've been meaning to write a review for Giant Halloween Hex #1 for awhile. What do you know? It's Halloween season again!
So here's my look back at Halloween blog posts' past.
Next time.
Since I have blogged using Halloween themes for a couple years, I decided I would kick off my Halloween theme by compiling my blog posts of Halloweens past. So if you've read them before, you take a trip down nostalgia lane with me by revisiting all 15 entries. If not, here ya go.
2015
The 2015 OBS Jack O' Lantern Haul can be found HERE. Got to say, I forgot I had some of these! With any luck I will get around to reading and reviewing some of them before the end of the month.
Vertigo 2015 Preview can be found HERE. Alas, I never did pick up nor read most of these titles. While I purchased the first couple issues of Clean Room and Unfollow, they became more wait for the trade. Did acquire more issues of Lucifer though, including duplicates of the first issue! Unfortunately, I hadn't added Lucifer to my pull list so there's gaps in my collection. Some reviews would be quite fitting wouldn't they?
My review for the movie the Last Witch Hunter is HERE. One of my rare movie reviews.
Howling Commandos of SHIELD #1 (ANAD) Review can be found HERE. Might actually be my only review from Marvel's All-New All-Different banner. Really should read the remaining five issues then they could be reviewed under my On the bubble/Cancelled heading that I haven't gone beyond announcing...
Halloween-related shows reviewed during the week of Halloween can be found HERE. I had done a weekly recap of what I considered were Halloween-related shows. They were: iZombie, The Player, Sleepy Hollow, and Grimm.
2016
Exorcist the series write-ups can be found HERE and HERE. Still haven't finished the rest of the first season or started the second season yet. Once again, I am considering covering this year.
2016 OBS Trick or Treat Haul is HERE. Yeah, if I OBS does a Jack O' Lantern thing again this year, you can be certain I will blog about it.
Ghost Rider Arc for Marvels Agents of SHIELD: PART 1 and Part 2.
The Walking Dead Season 5 Write-Up is HERE. I did marathon viewing of season 5 of The Walking Dead and composed my thoughts. Neither season 6 nor season 7 were available to me then. Now, I have access to them on Netflix...
Ash meets Cthulhu?! - another comic book review.
Halloween 2016 Game NIGHT. Several future blog entries will be tied to this...
Samhain/All Saint's Day readings. A bunch of stuff I read on that day.
November 2nd: My final installment on All Soul's Day included my thoughts on the origins of Ghost Rider in Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, how Mexico decided to copy the James Bond film Spectre, and a shoutout for Disney's Giant Halloween Hex #1. I've been meaning to write a review for Giant Halloween Hex #1 for awhile. What do you know? It's Halloween season again!
So here's my look back at Halloween blog posts' past.
Next time.
Friday, October 6, 2017
DC's Version of Marvel Legacy Makes Sense
Slowly, the comics news sites are revealing DC titles are resuming older numbering, which pre-dates Rebirth, and probably New 52, numbering. Kind of like Marvel Legacy. However, I hazard to say DC's Legacy makes more sense actually.
While Marvel Legacy is essentially a PR move, DC's rumored re-numbering is more about time. DC Rebirth is meant to restore the classic elements New 52 chucked aside. Well, spoilers, Rebirth is really much more than that. See, New 52 wasn't really a new reality; but a cosmic alteration of the Post-Crisis DC many readers grew up on. The story of Rebirth is about gradually taking the New 52 and slowly easing the DC universe back to what it was before. Without disrespecting the readers who came aboard for New 52.
Since DC is going back to what it was before storywise, only fitting the titles resume their old legacy numbering.
Happy Reading
Next time.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Time to Revise Gun vs Knight History Books!
We've read the history books. The Age of the Knight came to an end with advent of the gun. Secrets of the Shining Knight the Nova documentary on PBS examines both that question and the nature of the shiny plate armor the knight wore itself.
I am not going to discuss much of what Secrets of the Shining Knight here. It's a very excellent documentary. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. Get to watch plate mail forged!
So did guns eliminate the knight? Not quite the way the history books say. Yes, most armor isn't very effective against muskets. Remember the ridiculous looking lobster armor the knight is popularized as wearing? Not only is lobster armor the ultimate evolution of plate and medieval armor; but it worked against the musket balls of its time. Secrets of the Shining Knight demonstrates that quite excellently.
The following is an insight I gleaned from hints Secrets of the Shining Knight provides.
If the lobster armor worked, why did the shining knight go the way of the dodo? Because the lobster armor was expensive and the emerging nation-states with their standing armies didn't need the wealthy knight who wore the armor to fight their battles.
Shining knight armor disappeared because it was too expensive to field an army with the lobster armor required to resist the muskets of the time. Thus, began the trend of focusing on firepower over armor.
Talk about PBS's billing of 'Think Wednesday' living up to its moniker! Never would have thought of this post' s topic without seeing today's documentary.
Next time.
I am not going to discuss much of what Secrets of the Shining Knight here. It's a very excellent documentary. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. Get to watch plate mail forged!
So did guns eliminate the knight? Not quite the way the history books say. Yes, most armor isn't very effective against muskets. Remember the ridiculous looking lobster armor the knight is popularized as wearing? Not only is lobster armor the ultimate evolution of plate and medieval armor; but it worked against the musket balls of its time. Secrets of the Shining Knight demonstrates that quite excellently.
The following is an insight I gleaned from hints Secrets of the Shining Knight provides.
If the lobster armor worked, why did the shining knight go the way of the dodo? Because the lobster armor was expensive and the emerging nation-states with their standing armies didn't need the wealthy knight who wore the armor to fight their battles.
Shining knight armor disappeared because it was too expensive to field an army with the lobster armor required to resist the muskets of the time. Thus, began the trend of focusing on firepower over armor.
Talk about PBS's billing of 'Think Wednesday' living up to its moniker! Never would have thought of this post' s topic without seeing today's documentary.
Next time.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Apparently, Hulu's Marvel Animated Shows Are Leaving Later This Month
When I first returned to Hulu after a several years' hiatus, I added a slew of (vintage) Marvel animated shows to my watch list. The nineties Fox Kids shows Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, and X-men. X-Men Evolution and Iron Man: Armored Avenger too. X-Men Evolution has been available on Hulu for about as long as the streaming service existed.
My intent was to watch those shows much like a stroll down nostalgia lane at my leisure. Other shows took priority. Mostly because many were expiring. There's certain irony here...
A couple days ago I checked the expiring section of my watch list which is my custom. Lo and behold, all the aforementioned Marvel Animated shows are set to expire! I scroll over and discover that as of this moment, all those shows are supposed to leave Hulu on the 10th. Of October.
Okay, okay, I have observed Hulu will push the expiration of show past the initial date by weeks or a couple months. In theory, I could binge watch a show or two.
The problem is other than Spider-Man Unlimited those other shows ran twenty-plus episodes. I ain't got time to binge-watch all of 'em! There's other shows that I don't want to eventually play the same game as the expiring-priority game is a zero-sum game indeed. Furthermore, the new television season has begun. Hulu is like a back up DVR and provided I view an episode in a timely manner an indirect way of influencing ratings. So unfortunately, I won't be making an effort to watch any of the classic (boy I feel old writing this!) Marvel Animated shows on Hulu.
Hopefully, the notice that Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, X-Men, X-Men Evolution, and Iron Man: Armored Avenger is expiring on the 10th of October (or later during the month) is meant to boost viewings on the shows can remain on Hulu for a little bit longer. Or return.
Don't believe Disney's proposed streaming service is starting anytime soon...
Next Time
My intent was to watch those shows much like a stroll down nostalgia lane at my leisure. Other shows took priority. Mostly because many were expiring. There's certain irony here...
A couple days ago I checked the expiring section of my watch list which is my custom. Lo and behold, all the aforementioned Marvel Animated shows are set to expire! I scroll over and discover that as of this moment, all those shows are supposed to leave Hulu on the 10th. Of October.
Okay, okay, I have observed Hulu will push the expiration of show past the initial date by weeks or a couple months. In theory, I could binge watch a show or two.
The problem is other than Spider-Man Unlimited those other shows ran twenty-plus episodes. I ain't got time to binge-watch all of 'em! There's other shows that I don't want to eventually play the same game as the expiring-priority game is a zero-sum game indeed. Furthermore, the new television season has begun. Hulu is like a back up DVR and provided I view an episode in a timely manner an indirect way of influencing ratings. So unfortunately, I won't be making an effort to watch any of the classic (boy I feel old writing this!) Marvel Animated shows on Hulu.
Hopefully, the notice that Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, X-Men, X-Men Evolution, and Iron Man: Armored Avenger is expiring on the 10th of October (or later during the month) is meant to boost viewings on the shows can remain on Hulu for a little bit longer. Or return.
Don't believe Disney's proposed streaming service is starting anytime soon...
Next Time
Friday, September 22, 2017
AL: Started Season 7 Unexpectedly in an Unexpected Fashion
Earlier this month, I expressed my concern over how AL was handling the Death Curse especially for characters whom haven't participated in Tomb of Annihilation (the module Season 7 is ties with) or Season 7 modules. At the time of my writing, my FLGCS wouldn't start running Season 7 modules until October. Oh and I had volunteered to run a low Tier 1 (levels 1 - 4) table.
Yep, I may DM my very first Adventurers League Module with DDAL07-01! Although that's looking like a maybe...
When I started participating in Adventurers League, I was asked if I would be willing to help run modules, and thus broaden the GM pool, at the FLGCS. Due to my lack of familiarity with D&D 5E and my schedule during that time period, I declined. However, due to a character being unavailable because a lack of down time prevents him from leaving Barovia, I decided I would DM replays of Season 5 (tie-in with Storm Kings Thunder). Downloaded the DM packet and DM rewards too! Never did DM. Once again, my sporadic gaming schedule kicked in such that I never played much Season 5 so there went my condition to run it.
My schedule has changed such that I can participate regularly on Adventurers League nights.
With a schedule that allows full participation and Death Curse-wariness, I pondered DMing AL mods once again. While purchasing a couple bundles (part of the subject of a future blog entry), I decided to buy DDAL07-01 on a whim. As such why not try my hand at running a module! Therefore, I was expecting my first foray into season 7 would be as a DM and not a player.
Best laid plans of mice and men and all that, the scheduled module was bumped due to an unforeseen absence. Rather then several players anticipating playing a Tier 2 (5 - 10 ) calling it a night, the store decided to run the Tier 2 "intro" (DDAL07-02) for Season 7 early. Well, one or two missions anyway. Since my planned PC hasn't died yet, I played my first season 7 module.
We only finished the first mission (out of five). Absolutely loved the jungle pulp action vibe. The DMs ability to story-tell under time crunch will make or break the experience! Our table wasn't too challenged despite playing strong (or very strong) probably because we had PCs whom excelled facing foes we fought. The final battle of the first mission is very evocative of Howard (of Conan fame).
So yeah, I wasn't expecting to play Season 7 modules as a player so soon. By the time I have to worry about how the Death Curse applies to non-Season 7 modules, an answer to my question should be available.
Next Time,
Happy Gaming!
Yep, I may DM my very first Adventurers League Module with DDAL07-01! Although that's looking like a maybe...
When I started participating in Adventurers League, I was asked if I would be willing to help run modules, and thus broaden the GM pool, at the FLGCS. Due to my lack of familiarity with D&D 5E and my schedule during that time period, I declined. However, due to a character being unavailable because a lack of down time prevents him from leaving Barovia, I decided I would DM replays of Season 5 (tie-in with Storm Kings Thunder). Downloaded the DM packet and DM rewards too! Never did DM. Once again, my sporadic gaming schedule kicked in such that I never played much Season 5 so there went my condition to run it.
My schedule has changed such that I can participate regularly on Adventurers League nights.
With a schedule that allows full participation and Death Curse-wariness, I pondered DMing AL mods once again. While purchasing a couple bundles (part of the subject of a future blog entry), I decided to buy DDAL07-01 on a whim. As such why not try my hand at running a module! Therefore, I was expecting my first foray into season 7 would be as a DM and not a player.
Best laid plans of mice and men and all that, the scheduled module was bumped due to an unforeseen absence. Rather then several players anticipating playing a Tier 2 (5 - 10 ) calling it a night, the store decided to run the Tier 2 "intro" (DDAL07-02) for Season 7 early. Well, one or two missions anyway. Since my planned PC hasn't died yet, I played my first season 7 module.
We only finished the first mission (out of five). Absolutely loved the jungle pulp action vibe. The DMs ability to story-tell under time crunch will make or break the experience! Our table wasn't too challenged despite playing strong (or very strong) probably because we had PCs whom excelled facing foes we fought. The final battle of the first mission is very evocative of Howard (of Conan fame).
So yeah, I wasn't expecting to play Season 7 modules as a player so soon. By the time I have to worry about how the Death Curse applies to non-Season 7 modules, an answer to my question should be available.
Next Time,
Happy Gaming!
Sunday, September 17, 2017
AL: Death Curse Without Season 7 Mods?!
So season 7 modules, based on Tomb of Annihilation, started. So has the Death Curse.
What's the Death Curse? The Death Curse prevents any magic from bringing dead characters back to live and slowly kills those whom have been. It's the major stick for the arc.
There is some confusion whether or not all characters are under it. Including those who haven't played any Season 7 mods or Tomb of Annihilation.
So three of my PCs are relatively unplayable. My local FLGCS doesn't start Season 7 until October.
Now, I understand a table with PCs subject to the Death Curse and others not would cause chaos. However, Adenturers League has always waved at continuity and watched as it goes by. I can start with a year 5 mod then play a year 1 mod and follow it with a year 3 mod. Only one's starting year impacted one's PC before.
Now AL has suggested new PCs but hasn't provided any answers for older characters. Very frustrating.
Next time. Happy Gaming!
What's the Death Curse? The Death Curse prevents any magic from bringing dead characters back to live and slowly kills those whom have been. It's the major stick for the arc.
There is some confusion whether or not all characters are under it. Including those who haven't played any Season 7 mods or Tomb of Annihilation.
So three of my PCs are relatively unplayable. My local FLGCS doesn't start Season 7 until October.
Now, I understand a table with PCs subject to the Death Curse and others not would cause chaos. However, Adenturers League has always waved at continuity and watched as it goes by. I can start with a year 5 mod then play a year 1 mod and follow it with a year 3 mod. Only one's starting year impacted one's PC before.
Now AL has suggested new PCs but hasn't provided any answers for older characters. Very frustrating.
Next time. Happy Gaming!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
SR5 Not Dead Yet Not Same As SR3 Hand of God
Last night while playing a Shadowrun Missions module for Shadowrun 5th edition our table had the rather exciting situation of two PCs caught within the blast radius of all the grenades on grenade belt exploding. One of the PCs is not the subject of today's entry as will become clear once I finally write the session write-up (from a player perspective). Yeah, a plethora awaits.
See, even though role-playing games allow PCs to withstand powerful attacks like a grenade, several grenades exploding at once is still hazardous for one's health.
Fortunately, the other PC had an Edge rating.
Shadowrun 5th edition allows PCs to burn a point of Edge such that they are not dead yet.
For veteran Shadowrun players such as myself who've played third edition, we automatically think of that edition's hand of god.
Except they aren't quite the same.
Sure, both allow a PC to avoid dying from effect that would otherwise spell instant doom. They work differently.
SR3's Hand of God required a PC to spend a point of Karma available within the Karma Pool and then expend all Karma in order to avoid certain death once. Once and only once would the grim reaper of all shadowrunners hand be stayed. Yours truly, utilized Hand of God when my orc street samurai sustained a deadly wound and was tossed near some alligators. Afterwards, he started from scratch karma-wise thereafter. Good times. Good times.
Meanwhile, SR5's Not Dead Yet meanwhile only allowed the PC caught within the exploding grenade chorus to burn a permanent Edge. The RAW (rules as written) don't specifically state said PC must've had a point of Edge remaining within the Edge pool. Apparently, some of the participants learned that was intended as well (RAI).
Plus unlike my poor Orc Street Samurai, said PC can use Not Dead Yet for the remainder of shadowrunning career as long as the PC never burns all Edge and/or buys a new rating of Edge.
Must confess the last caused some cognitive dissonance on my end. Read the passage over and over again. Had a hard time shaking my confusing it with the old rule. Which is why I have taken it upon myself to blog about confusing old rules with new rules. Years ago, when I had started playing third edition Shadowrun, I corrected some old time players that the rules were different now. Flash forward to now, there's been a couple times I slipped back into third edition. Rules arguments are never fun especially when at the heart of the argument is rules differences between editions.
Another thing that came up in reference to Not Dead Yet and burning Edge was one's total Karma earned would be reduced. Don't know if that's rules confusion ala Hand of God or how Shadowrun Missions wants to record it. Shadowrun already has things such as initiation ordeals that permanently reduce both attributes and attribute limits that don't negatively impact a PC's total karma earned. Furthermore, a PC could very well never have raised Edge. If so, karma was never spent on an attribute point which no longer exists. Perhaps it's for record-keeping and determination of prime runner status purposes. Maybe the RAI meant for character's Street Rep to suffer whenever Edge is burnt?
All matters for further research and discussion.
Thus ends the latest installment of rules differences between editions.
Till Next Time,
Happy Gaming!
See, even though role-playing games allow PCs to withstand powerful attacks like a grenade, several grenades exploding at once is still hazardous for one's health.
Fortunately, the other PC had an Edge rating.
Shadowrun 5th edition allows PCs to burn a point of Edge such that they are not dead yet.
For veteran Shadowrun players such as myself who've played third edition, we automatically think of that edition's hand of god.
Except they aren't quite the same.
Sure, both allow a PC to avoid dying from effect that would otherwise spell instant doom. They work differently.
SR3's Hand of God required a PC to spend a point of Karma available within the Karma Pool and then expend all Karma in order to avoid certain death once. Once and only once would the grim reaper of all shadowrunners hand be stayed. Yours truly, utilized Hand of God when my orc street samurai sustained a deadly wound and was tossed near some alligators. Afterwards, he started from scratch karma-wise thereafter. Good times. Good times.
Meanwhile, SR5's Not Dead Yet meanwhile only allowed the PC caught within the exploding grenade chorus to burn a permanent Edge. The RAW (rules as written) don't specifically state said PC must've had a point of Edge remaining within the Edge pool. Apparently, some of the participants learned that was intended as well (RAI).
Plus unlike my poor Orc Street Samurai, said PC can use Not Dead Yet for the remainder of shadowrunning career as long as the PC never burns all Edge and/or buys a new rating of Edge.
Must confess the last caused some cognitive dissonance on my end. Read the passage over and over again. Had a hard time shaking my confusing it with the old rule. Which is why I have taken it upon myself to blog about confusing old rules with new rules. Years ago, when I had started playing third edition Shadowrun, I corrected some old time players that the rules were different now. Flash forward to now, there's been a couple times I slipped back into third edition. Rules arguments are never fun especially when at the heart of the argument is rules differences between editions.
Another thing that came up in reference to Not Dead Yet and burning Edge was one's total Karma earned would be reduced. Don't know if that's rules confusion ala Hand of God or how Shadowrun Missions wants to record it. Shadowrun already has things such as initiation ordeals that permanently reduce both attributes and attribute limits that don't negatively impact a PC's total karma earned. Furthermore, a PC could very well never have raised Edge. If so, karma was never spent on an attribute point which no longer exists. Perhaps it's for record-keeping and determination of prime runner status purposes. Maybe the RAI meant for character's Street Rep to suffer whenever Edge is burnt?
All matters for further research and discussion.
Thus ends the latest installment of rules differences between editions.
Till Next Time,
Happy Gaming!
Friday, August 25, 2017
Greedo Missing Was Just A Bad Attack Role
Today I came to the realization, which I am sure the webcomic Darths & Droids already has, that Greedo missing Han could have come straight out a table-top RPG session.
What's that? Han shot first? Yes, yes, I know that. I remember watching on a television screen long, long ago and being caught by surprise when Han shot Greedo. I also recall later on but still long, long ago being surprised in local cinema seeing Greedo shooting first. And missing.
Sure, folks were riled caused Han originally shot first. Yes, Greedo shooting first in a fashion nullifies Han's character development from a sketchy rogue to a good guy. Eh, maybe. Let's be honest, everyone was like 'how did Greedo miss?! Han was right there! What was Lucas thinking?'
Okay, while I doubt Lucas has played, but any table-top role-player has been there before. Missing the target one would think impossible to miss.
Had such an experience myself this past Monday playing an Adventurers League event via D&D 5E. Both my PC and another PC probably spent one or two rounds attacking a door. And missing.
Now D&D 5E uses pre-3E notions that a to-hit role isn't just to-hit. It's to-hit and do damage. Our attacks may very well have been hitting. They just weren't effective enough to deal damage.
Third Edition/Pathfinder may have set the DC to hit at 10. There's a good chance your missing; and third had contact rules.
As does Shadowrun and old WOD. Don't score a success and you miss. Speaking of old WoD, or at least old MET Laws of (splat), I lost track of the number of times there were simple tasks failing because the storyteller went 'nah throw me chops.' Since a PC is firing a weapon, many GMs would feel justified even as something as simple as door. Same applies toward a sitting individual.
Heck, it's 2017. Thirty years of the West End Games Star Wars RPG. The WEG Star Wars game codified much of present day Star Wars lore. Using those rules as an example, there's two ways Greedo missed both involving the wild die. If you rolled a one, two things could happen. One, you subtract the wild die and the die with highest result from your total. If Greedo's player rolled low enough without those two die results included within the total such that the target number wasn't reached, failure.
The other possibility of a one on the wild die is you fail spectacular fashion. Missing someone sitting across from you would count as failing spectacularly. If WEG hadn't predated the Special Editions by a decade, I would say Greedo missing inspired the wild die...
Also, practically every table-top RPG has rules for critically missing where an attack automatically fails.
So there you have it. Greedo missing Han from across the table was just a bad roll. Rather surprised it took me so long to think of this...
Next Time.
What's that? Han shot first? Yes, yes, I know that. I remember watching on a television screen long, long ago and being caught by surprise when Han shot Greedo. I also recall later on but still long, long ago being surprised in local cinema seeing Greedo shooting first. And missing.
Sure, folks were riled caused Han originally shot first. Yes, Greedo shooting first in a fashion nullifies Han's character development from a sketchy rogue to a good guy. Eh, maybe. Let's be honest, everyone was like 'how did Greedo miss?! Han was right there! What was Lucas thinking?'
Okay, while I doubt Lucas has played, but any table-top role-player has been there before. Missing the target one would think impossible to miss.
Had such an experience myself this past Monday playing an Adventurers League event via D&D 5E. Both my PC and another PC probably spent one or two rounds attacking a door. And missing.
Now D&D 5E uses pre-3E notions that a to-hit role isn't just to-hit. It's to-hit and do damage. Our attacks may very well have been hitting. They just weren't effective enough to deal damage.
Third Edition/Pathfinder may have set the DC to hit at 10. There's a good chance your missing; and third had contact rules.
As does Shadowrun and old WOD. Don't score a success and you miss. Speaking of old WoD, or at least old MET Laws of (splat), I lost track of the number of times there were simple tasks failing because the storyteller went 'nah throw me chops.' Since a PC is firing a weapon, many GMs would feel justified even as something as simple as door. Same applies toward a sitting individual.
Heck, it's 2017. Thirty years of the West End Games Star Wars RPG. The WEG Star Wars game codified much of present day Star Wars lore. Using those rules as an example, there's two ways Greedo missed both involving the wild die. If you rolled a one, two things could happen. One, you subtract the wild die and the die with highest result from your total. If Greedo's player rolled low enough without those two die results included within the total such that the target number wasn't reached, failure.
The other possibility of a one on the wild die is you fail spectacular fashion. Missing someone sitting across from you would count as failing spectacularly. If WEG hadn't predated the Special Editions by a decade, I would say Greedo missing inspired the wild die...
Also, practically every table-top RPG has rules for critically missing where an attack automatically fails.
So there you have it. Greedo missing Han from across the table was just a bad roll. Rather surprised it took me so long to think of this...
Next Time.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Stranger Things, Adventurers League, and New Players
Recently, I discovered the joy of the Netflix series, Stranger Things. In addition to being an eighties movie pastiche, Stranger Things is celebration of 80's pop culture, fads, and trends. Among them is a game of particular fondness of this blog, Dungeons & Dragons. While I am not quite old enough to have played the Red Box bought from a toy store, I am old enough to have seen the advertisements. As I lamented previously, I don't recall ever seeing any of those D&D games in stores although I kind of looked...
Trip down memory lane over. Back on topic. Anyway the kid group plays D&D, which winds up playing a major role in Stranger Things. I may quibble about accuracy; but how consistently were the rules played from group to group back in those days. Especially among kids. I mean look at Monopoly. How many people actually read those rules? May not have had the disdain I held against board games for as long as I did if we had... In any case, the Dungeons & Dragons play in Stranger Things does reflect play accurately among kids of that age group. Whatever that age group is as I am not sure how old they actually are...
As an aside, the Upside-Down is a smashingly great idea that WotC should capitalize on. Sure, there's echoes of it here and there but it was never a cornerstone of any D&D game I ever participated in. When the 'Demogorgon' hops from plane to plane is very reminiscent of monsters travelling to and from the Ethereal Plane. Sure, there's the Plane of Shadow but that didn't really become into its own until 4th Edition. The Upside-Down could serve as fodder for really nasty Umbral realm or a post-apocalypse Penumbra in World of Darkness games.
So watching Stranger Things does really inspire me to play D&D. Particularly simpler D&D. Since there isn't any nearby OD&D, B/X, BECMI, or retro clone games occurring in the area, fifth edition is probably as close as I'll get. Wouldn't you know my local FLGCS runs Adventurers League games.
Recently I sat at an Adventurers League table hosted by my FLGCS and other than the adults, such as myself, playing and DMing I'd swear it was like watching the cast of Stranger Things (okay maybe younger...) game! There was same intense passion, excitement, and energy. Tactical combat? We don't need no stinking tactical combat was the mantra. Combat happened. They went full bore. In short, the one encounter adventuring day.
Adventurers League doesn't do the one encounter day. AL doesn't do 'OMG it's Demogorgon!' day. It does three encounters although the final encounter does include a boss like 'Demogorgon', ie Big Bad. Adventurers League is designed for the convention audience in mind. The serious player who wants to be challenged each encounter until final battle when they just have their weapons and cantrips against the Big Bad.
Except unlike the days of the RPGA, AL mods can be run at home or at game stores. Unlike the days of Red Box or pre-4th edition D&D (although 4th wasn't that expensive), I can't imagine young players as young or younger than the Stranger Things group plunking down $150 for the core set to play D&D. So they aren't going to play at home. They will probably play at a store. So instead of gaming among each other they'll be gaming with teens and adults. Participating in D&D play that doesn't necessarily fit their natural 'all spells at once' style.
Don't get me wrong that can be fun for a 2 hour 1 - 4 level mod that doesn't follow the typical mode of tough, tough, very tough with maybe a short rest allowed in between. Otherwise, it falls on the adults to shoulder the way through the mod while ensuring the new, young players have fun. Which is all fun and games until an adult's PC dies. Character death is one thing but no one wants to cycle through characters when they otherwise wouldn't.
Yet there's gold in them hills. Stranger Things does and has inspired a new crop of young players to try a game beloved to many gamers, Dungeons & Dragons. Adventurers League at FLCGS serve as the vehicle to try the hobby that it table-top role-playing. It would be folly not to compose modules suited to those young players play style. If not one 'Demogorgon!' encounter, but a trio of meh, meh, 'Oh, no the 'Demogorgon'! Furthermore, such a style reflects D&D's natural play style. It was only when I started playing organized play game did I encounter the tough, tough, and tough style of module. Gaming sessions wavered from the trivial to the epic. Not only would younger, newer players enjoy that style, more experienced, older players would as well.
I know I would.
So here's a call for some simpler two hour and four hour modules that new, young and older, experienced players who just want to emulate the D&D we see in Stranger Things courtesy of Adventurers League.
Next Time,
Happy Gaming
Trip down memory lane over. Back on topic. Anyway the kid group plays D&D, which winds up playing a major role in Stranger Things. I may quibble about accuracy; but how consistently were the rules played from group to group back in those days. Especially among kids. I mean look at Monopoly. How many people actually read those rules? May not have had the disdain I held against board games for as long as I did if we had... In any case, the Dungeons & Dragons play in Stranger Things does reflect play accurately among kids of that age group. Whatever that age group is as I am not sure how old they actually are...
As an aside, the Upside-Down is a smashingly great idea that WotC should capitalize on. Sure, there's echoes of it here and there but it was never a cornerstone of any D&D game I ever participated in. When the 'Demogorgon' hops from plane to plane is very reminiscent of monsters travelling to and from the Ethereal Plane. Sure, there's the Plane of Shadow but that didn't really become into its own until 4th Edition. The Upside-Down could serve as fodder for really nasty Umbral realm or a post-apocalypse Penumbra in World of Darkness games.
So watching Stranger Things does really inspire me to play D&D. Particularly simpler D&D. Since there isn't any nearby OD&D, B/X, BECMI, or retro clone games occurring in the area, fifth edition is probably as close as I'll get. Wouldn't you know my local FLGCS runs Adventurers League games.
Recently I sat at an Adventurers League table hosted by my FLGCS and other than the adults, such as myself, playing and DMing I'd swear it was like watching the cast of Stranger Things (okay maybe younger...) game! There was same intense passion, excitement, and energy. Tactical combat? We don't need no stinking tactical combat was the mantra. Combat happened. They went full bore. In short, the one encounter adventuring day.
Adventurers League doesn't do the one encounter day. AL doesn't do 'OMG it's Demogorgon!' day. It does three encounters although the final encounter does include a boss like 'Demogorgon', ie Big Bad. Adventurers League is designed for the convention audience in mind. The serious player who wants to be challenged each encounter until final battle when they just have their weapons and cantrips against the Big Bad.
Except unlike the days of the RPGA, AL mods can be run at home or at game stores. Unlike the days of Red Box or pre-4th edition D&D (although 4th wasn't that expensive), I can't imagine young players as young or younger than the Stranger Things group plunking down $150 for the core set to play D&D. So they aren't going to play at home. They will probably play at a store. So instead of gaming among each other they'll be gaming with teens and adults. Participating in D&D play that doesn't necessarily fit their natural 'all spells at once' style.
Don't get me wrong that can be fun for a 2 hour 1 - 4 level mod that doesn't follow the typical mode of tough, tough, very tough with maybe a short rest allowed in between. Otherwise, it falls on the adults to shoulder the way through the mod while ensuring the new, young players have fun. Which is all fun and games until an adult's PC dies. Character death is one thing but no one wants to cycle through characters when they otherwise wouldn't.
Yet there's gold in them hills. Stranger Things does and has inspired a new crop of young players to try a game beloved to many gamers, Dungeons & Dragons. Adventurers League at FLCGS serve as the vehicle to try the hobby that it table-top role-playing. It would be folly not to compose modules suited to those young players play style. If not one 'Demogorgon!' encounter, but a trio of meh, meh, 'Oh, no the 'Demogorgon'! Furthermore, such a style reflects D&D's natural play style. It was only when I started playing organized play game did I encounter the tough, tough, and tough style of module. Gaming sessions wavered from the trivial to the epic. Not only would younger, newer players enjoy that style, more experienced, older players would as well.
I know I would.
So here's a call for some simpler two hour and four hour modules that new, young and older, experienced players who just want to emulate the D&D we see in Stranger Things courtesy of Adventurers League.
Next Time,
Happy Gaming
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Shadowrun (5E) Missions: Which Detection Spell(s) to Select?
Last couple sessions that I played Shadowrun Missions, the lack of my combat mage's versatility has been brought up. No hard feelings on my end. The combat mage template basically does combat... and that's about it. Not bad; however, as I have mentioned via earlier posts, combat magic in 5th edition Shadowrun doesn't have the oomph it did in previous editions. So yeah, I've been feeling it alright...
So it's high time my combat mage learns some new spells. Must confess I still haven't fully worked my head around the availability rules Missions uses. So only those spells with relatively easy Availablity will be picked from. Leaves me with the Detection and Heath categories. Health - I am not a fan. Maybe if I used reagents more, and thus boosting limits, I would. But, I don't. Unlike D&D, Health spells, within a Force a caster would normally cast, is weak sauce in Shadowrun.
Detection spells it is.
First, I am holding off on the analyze spells. They're neat; but they require a great deal more thought than I am willing to invest at the moment.
Mind Probe is awesome. However, Mind Probe is very situational. In Missions, I've come to feel every karma counts. As player of a magician exercises the working for the people option to garner more karma, nuyen is much more finite than it otherwise would be. With lifestyle expenses, I have to be very careful how much time is spent training. So I'll save Mind Probe for another wave. Besides, my Combat Mage has been fortunate to run with some very charismatic characters. That'll continue, right...?
Detect Object - is even more situational than Mind Probe is. So probably not.
I absolutely love the potential radar effect for the extended versions of some of the detect spells. However, Shadowrun Missions is currently located in Chicago, which is host to areas with different kinds of background counts. Probably overthinking it though. Later.
Detect Enemies is neat; but my observations lead me to be skeptical of its use in Missions. Everything is either to far away, one can already notice it, or you've wandered into a different background count. Chicago is a bit of a peach that way...
Detect Lifeform is another gem. But I really don't want to specialize.
Really digging Detect Life though. Meanwhile, Clairvoyance is an old favorite of mine. Clairaudience could have came in handy for some of the mods.
If I pick up one spell, it will be Clairvoyance. Like I said, it's one of my go-to spells. Plus, it doesn't have a success table that requires some interpretation on the GM's part like Detect Life. If two spells, Clairaudience will be the second.
And that's just the core book!
We will just have to wait and see how this latest batch of thinking out loud plays out. Which reminds me, there's some session reports that await...
Till next time,
Happy Gaming!
So it's high time my combat mage learns some new spells. Must confess I still haven't fully worked my head around the availability rules Missions uses. So only those spells with relatively easy Availablity will be picked from. Leaves me with the Detection and Heath categories. Health - I am not a fan. Maybe if I used reagents more, and thus boosting limits, I would. But, I don't. Unlike D&D, Health spells, within a Force a caster would normally cast, is weak sauce in Shadowrun.
Detection spells it is.
First, I am holding off on the analyze spells. They're neat; but they require a great deal more thought than I am willing to invest at the moment.
Mind Probe is awesome. However, Mind Probe is very situational. In Missions, I've come to feel every karma counts. As player of a magician exercises the working for the people option to garner more karma, nuyen is much more finite than it otherwise would be. With lifestyle expenses, I have to be very careful how much time is spent training. So I'll save Mind Probe for another wave. Besides, my Combat Mage has been fortunate to run with some very charismatic characters. That'll continue, right...?
Detect Object - is even more situational than Mind Probe is. So probably not.
I absolutely love the potential radar effect for the extended versions of some of the detect spells. However, Shadowrun Missions is currently located in Chicago, which is host to areas with different kinds of background counts. Probably overthinking it though. Later.
Detect Enemies is neat; but my observations lead me to be skeptical of its use in Missions. Everything is either to far away, one can already notice it, or you've wandered into a different background count. Chicago is a bit of a peach that way...
Detect Lifeform is another gem. But I really don't want to specialize.
Really digging Detect Life though. Meanwhile, Clairvoyance is an old favorite of mine. Clairaudience could have came in handy for some of the mods.
If I pick up one spell, it will be Clairvoyance. Like I said, it's one of my go-to spells. Plus, it doesn't have a success table that requires some interpretation on the GM's part like Detect Life. If two spells, Clairaudience will be the second.
And that's just the core book!
We will just have to wait and see how this latest batch of thinking out loud plays out. Which reminds me, there's some session reports that await...
Till next time,
Happy Gaming!
Friday, July 28, 2017
Gosh Adventurer's League Modules Run Far Longer than Advertised!
Picture Sean Bean's Boromir stating: 'One simply does not finish in Adventurer's League module in the time allotted!'
Sums up my feelings whenever I see the words "a two-hour module" or "a four-hour module".
Sure, some modules finish within the allotted time. Most often that's not the case. I've played two hour mods that ran three hours. Four hour mods that ran five or six hours. Heck, the two hour module I played last Monday ran for four hours!
Yes, you read that correctly. A two hour module ran for four hours.
To be fair, we had seven players. You know the more players, the more turns there are. Seven players also means a stronger table. Ok, sounds about right. Which means the module increases the number and/or strength of opponents. A seventh player increases the difficulty exponentially. So the Balrog - Gandalf bridge encounter? Too many PCs. Boromir's death? Sorry, Boromir but those four low level hobbits (halflings) means there has to be twice as many opponents. Couldn't resist the LOTR references but I swear the Adventurer's League authors take their cue from that. They also have a fondness for Fireball...
Except unlike LOTR PCs can't cover vast distances to escape. Often they're forced to fight those numbers.
Fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons is simpler than Third but it's not that much faster.
Also doesn't help that the modules don't scale well. The module played on Monday was intended for 2nd level characters. We were... well above that.
So here's my thoughts on how to truly speed up modules:
1) Run them at their intended character level. Strong parties will simply crush through them. Kind of like in real life. Just scale XP or don't. Either that or gradually scale the encounters to where the PC's are at. Players don't mind a tough end battle.
2) Don't increase the number of foes. The players will have superior numbers and the fight will end soon. Only in Organized Play is a six or seven member party a disadvantage. You could also scale up with each encounter.
I know some purists will scoff; but frankly the modules simply aren't well-timed for all levels and party sizes.
Till Next Time,
Happy Gaming.
Sums up my feelings whenever I see the words "a two-hour module" or "a four-hour module".
Sure, some modules finish within the allotted time. Most often that's not the case. I've played two hour mods that ran three hours. Four hour mods that ran five or six hours. Heck, the two hour module I played last Monday ran for four hours!
Yes, you read that correctly. A two hour module ran for four hours.
To be fair, we had seven players. You know the more players, the more turns there are. Seven players also means a stronger table. Ok, sounds about right. Which means the module increases the number and/or strength of opponents. A seventh player increases the difficulty exponentially. So the Balrog - Gandalf bridge encounter? Too many PCs. Boromir's death? Sorry, Boromir but those four low level hobbits (halflings) means there has to be twice as many opponents. Couldn't resist the LOTR references but I swear the Adventurer's League authors take their cue from that. They also have a fondness for Fireball...
Except unlike LOTR PCs can't cover vast distances to escape. Often they're forced to fight those numbers.
Fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons is simpler than Third but it's not that much faster.
Also doesn't help that the modules don't scale well. The module played on Monday was intended for 2nd level characters. We were... well above that.
So here's my thoughts on how to truly speed up modules:
1) Run them at their intended character level. Strong parties will simply crush through them. Kind of like in real life. Just scale XP or don't. Either that or gradually scale the encounters to where the PC's are at. Players don't mind a tough end battle.
2) Don't increase the number of foes. The players will have superior numbers and the fight will end soon. Only in Organized Play is a six or seven member party a disadvantage. You could also scale up with each encounter.
I know some purists will scoff; but frankly the modules simply aren't well-timed for all levels and party sizes.
Till Next Time,
Happy Gaming.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Why Marvel's Diversity Initiative Failed
By now, we've all seen the hype for Marvel's next new initiative, Legacy. A key cornerstone of Legacy is what appears to be bringing back the old characters to dialing back the diversity initiative.
What's the diversity initiative? If you're asking that, you haven't paid much attention to the world of comics. One thing Marvel Comics has tried over the last several years is enhancing the ethnic and gender diversity of the starring characters of the titles it publishes.
First, Marvel tried minor approaches such as titles starring Sif and the like using minor characters. However, unless such a title has A-list talent or receives tremendous accolades, ie critical acclaim such that sales increase massively, the comics market is far too competitive for such a title to survive. Marvel's constant new initiatives, major events, and unforgiving sales floor didn't help much either.
So what's a publisher to do if one really wants to show they're series about bringing more diversity to their line-up? In the case of Marvel, replace some of their long-standing heroes, whom also have spotty sales history, with a non-white or female replacement! It even culminated in the short-lived All-New, All-Diverse (er I meant Different) Avengers. Alas, the thirty-something plus fanbase that buys the comic books that amortizes the trades basically saw it as the publishing gimmick that it was. They didn't embrace it whole-heartedly. Neither, did the new fans Marvel hoped to attract flock to comic stores to purchase those comics to foster the sales numbers Marvel desired.
The latter is really my theory why Marvel's Diversity Initiative failed. Not sexist fanboys. Not racist fanboys. One must realize there's only so many comic readers out there. Many of them are thirty-plus. They've seen the characters they've followed for years be replaced, changed, butchered, etc. When I learnt of Sam Wilson Cap or Jane Foster Thor, I didn't scream out oh no they've changed races and genders! I went 'Oh no, not again!' like toward the end of the movie Spaceballs. This won't last was my first thought. The heavy hype only made it worse to my mind. I am betting other comic buyers thought same thing.
You can only ask long time readers to support short-term gimmicks for so long before they either fail to support the title or become very critical. Unfortunately, all those new readers whom sought such diversity (ie a female Thor, a black Captain America) were probably waiting to hear if the books were any good before buying trade. Irate comics readers aren't going to provide the solid reviews to foster that.
I give Marvel credit. They tried to expand their market. Alas, they did so expecting their current, much abused market to do what they always do. The market said no as did the potential market. So that's my theory why the diversity initiative failed.
Next Time.
What's the diversity initiative? If you're asking that, you haven't paid much attention to the world of comics. One thing Marvel Comics has tried over the last several years is enhancing the ethnic and gender diversity of the starring characters of the titles it publishes.
First, Marvel tried minor approaches such as titles starring Sif and the like using minor characters. However, unless such a title has A-list talent or receives tremendous accolades, ie critical acclaim such that sales increase massively, the comics market is far too competitive for such a title to survive. Marvel's constant new initiatives, major events, and unforgiving sales floor didn't help much either.
So what's a publisher to do if one really wants to show they're series about bringing more diversity to their line-up? In the case of Marvel, replace some of their long-standing heroes, whom also have spotty sales history, with a non-white or female replacement! It even culminated in the short-lived All-New, All-Diverse (er I meant Different) Avengers. Alas, the thirty-something plus fanbase that buys the comic books that amortizes the trades basically saw it as the publishing gimmick that it was. They didn't embrace it whole-heartedly. Neither, did the new fans Marvel hoped to attract flock to comic stores to purchase those comics to foster the sales numbers Marvel desired.
The latter is really my theory why Marvel's Diversity Initiative failed. Not sexist fanboys. Not racist fanboys. One must realize there's only so many comic readers out there. Many of them are thirty-plus. They've seen the characters they've followed for years be replaced, changed, butchered, etc. When I learnt of Sam Wilson Cap or Jane Foster Thor, I didn't scream out oh no they've changed races and genders! I went 'Oh no, not again!' like toward the end of the movie Spaceballs. This won't last was my first thought. The heavy hype only made it worse to my mind. I am betting other comic buyers thought same thing.
You can only ask long time readers to support short-term gimmicks for so long before they either fail to support the title or become very critical. Unfortunately, all those new readers whom sought such diversity (ie a female Thor, a black Captain America) were probably waiting to hear if the books were any good before buying trade. Irate comics readers aren't going to provide the solid reviews to foster that.
I give Marvel credit. They tried to expand their market. Alas, they did so expecting their current, much abused market to do what they always do. The market said no as did the potential market. So that's my theory why the diversity initiative failed.
Next Time.
Sunday, July 16, 2017
So Maybe the 2017- 2018 Television Season Will Be the Charm?
Last fall, I decided I would do something different. I had realized that I couldn't recall enough of a given television episode to blog about afterwards. The 2015 -2016 season had started out relatively strong with quick snippets of a show's episode that week. Then I befall behind, which led me to the conclusion notes were needed. Took notes I did.
Taking notes worked... I covered the Flash's Christmas episode. The Ghost Rider arc for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD received steady coverage from me. I actually did take notes for shows that I didn't blog about. Got to the point when enough episodes for various shows aired that I decided to wait to lump them together.
Yeah, it is mid-July now.
Most if, not all, those shows are available on Netflix now. Not exactly current or tied to the 2016 - 2017 season anymore.
Plus, I would delay watching entire shows.
Once I started watching shows on Hulu I decided that I preferred not taking notes as it removed me from the experience too much.
On the other hand, I do like providing my two cents on specific episodes.
So the notes I took for 2016 - 2017 will vanish into the aether. Once I re-watch a show or catch up I may blog about it. In fact, I may follow my approach with movies and not blog until I've seen it a second time.
I'm sure I'll think of something. Or who knows? Maybe I'll actually follow the format this 2017 - 2018 television series and provide weekly updates.
Next Time.
Taking notes worked... I covered the Flash's Christmas episode. The Ghost Rider arc for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD received steady coverage from me. I actually did take notes for shows that I didn't blog about. Got to the point when enough episodes for various shows aired that I decided to wait to lump them together.
Yeah, it is mid-July now.
Most if, not all, those shows are available on Netflix now. Not exactly current or tied to the 2016 - 2017 season anymore.
Plus, I would delay watching entire shows.
Once I started watching shows on Hulu I decided that I preferred not taking notes as it removed me from the experience too much.
On the other hand, I do like providing my two cents on specific episodes.
So the notes I took for 2016 - 2017 will vanish into the aether. Once I re-watch a show or catch up I may blog about it. In fact, I may follow my approach with movies and not blog until I've seen it a second time.
I'm sure I'll think of something. Or who knows? Maybe I'll actually follow the format this 2017 - 2018 television series and provide weekly updates.
Next Time.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Mustering on Social Media Simplifies Organized Play
A decade and half ago, sheesh has it been so long, when I first participated in organized role-playing games via the RPGA's Living Greyhawk, we used an email group to sign up for modules. We knew the module, who was playing, who was running, and the PCs. A very nice set up if you ask me.
When LFR roared upon the scene, things were less formal. However, it was circle of friends and acquaintances. Word of mouth sufficed in gathering all the information above.
Flash forward to Adventurer's League and Shadowrun Missions. The Shadowrun Missions table has been fairly consistent. Generally one table progressing through the storyline and occasionally a second table of replays aimed at newer players. We've had the same players and while a character may be switched out it feels like an ongoing campaign within an organized play framework.
Adventurer's League is the Wild West in comparison. While the module is posted on social media, there have been times a DM was not known until the day of. Players and prospective DMs would arrive unaware of the module and tier. Last year, the store that runs the events attempted mustering via social media. Initially, I felt it worked well. I signed up. Stated character and level and then showed up. Still some players simply didn't use the social media page to sign up in advance. Gradually, the situation advanced to the Wild West situation describe. The store would have to muster table come start time. Delaying the game considerably.
Finally, the store decided a minimum sized table was required or else there would be no organized D&D or Shadowrun that week. First week was a learning lesson. Game was cancelled. Second week, we had a table. The store treated those signees, of which I was one, as one mustered table and anyone who just showed up as another. This upcoming session, it appears we have our minimum table so we shall see.
It's too early to tell if more players and DMs will adopt the new social media mustering approach. Would be very nice if it wasn't just 'oh so-and-so plus myself have signed up so we'll be one table'. A larger pool allows more interactivity such that the players and their character choices can influence the table mustering. Plus, one can prep for the 'familiarity' with each other the modules often presume. Too often I have sat at a table and not known the name, race, or class of a fellow PC! Given time constraints that does dampen play quite a bit. Heck, playing continuing modules with same characters create such familiarity! That's one of the hallmarks of the Shadowrun Missions events. Would be nice if the D&D 5E Adventurer's League could achieve similar results.
Till Next time,
Happy Gaming!
When LFR roared upon the scene, things were less formal. However, it was circle of friends and acquaintances. Word of mouth sufficed in gathering all the information above.
Flash forward to Adventurer's League and Shadowrun Missions. The Shadowrun Missions table has been fairly consistent. Generally one table progressing through the storyline and occasionally a second table of replays aimed at newer players. We've had the same players and while a character may be switched out it feels like an ongoing campaign within an organized play framework.
Adventurer's League is the Wild West in comparison. While the module is posted on social media, there have been times a DM was not known until the day of. Players and prospective DMs would arrive unaware of the module and tier. Last year, the store that runs the events attempted mustering via social media. Initially, I felt it worked well. I signed up. Stated character and level and then showed up. Still some players simply didn't use the social media page to sign up in advance. Gradually, the situation advanced to the Wild West situation describe. The store would have to muster table come start time. Delaying the game considerably.
Finally, the store decided a minimum sized table was required or else there would be no organized D&D or Shadowrun that week. First week was a learning lesson. Game was cancelled. Second week, we had a table. The store treated those signees, of which I was one, as one mustered table and anyone who just showed up as another. This upcoming session, it appears we have our minimum table so we shall see.
It's too early to tell if more players and DMs will adopt the new social media mustering approach. Would be very nice if it wasn't just 'oh so-and-so plus myself have signed up so we'll be one table'. A larger pool allows more interactivity such that the players and their character choices can influence the table mustering. Plus, one can prep for the 'familiarity' with each other the modules often presume. Too often I have sat at a table and not known the name, race, or class of a fellow PC! Given time constraints that does dampen play quite a bit. Heck, playing continuing modules with same characters create such familiarity! That's one of the hallmarks of the Shadowrun Missions events. Would be nice if the D&D 5E Adventurer's League could achieve similar results.
Till Next time,
Happy Gaming!
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