A Company of Fools - Blog

[EvilGinger]

Episode Twenty Write up

An Urban Interlude Part 6- Rats a Respite and Escape  

Dramatis Personae

Leon – a Brandobian Human Fighter & self styled hero

Nyadryn – a Brandobian Human, fighter

Esme– a Brandobian human, a loud over enthusiastic person, Nyadryn’s girl friend

Siskin – a Halfling Cleric of Chance

Larifus – a Gnome,

Quelsteine– a Gnome

Lori – a Gnome, rescued captive

Briana – a Half Elven fighter magic user 

Aeneste – a Brandobian? Human rescued captive 

Varill – a Brandobian Human the tanners apprentice and rescued captive

Location

Some where in the sewers under the new town of Vayham, across Vayham town finishing off in the containment cells under the Temple of the Caregiver at the Great Hospital

Events

(These take place during episode XV of the main story and they follow on exactly from the end of the previous session of an Urban Interlude)

They had dragged Lori’s nerveless body out of the rat hole and she lay on the floor breathing weakly as Brianne knelt by her and tried to think what she could do, and was at a loss she had never seen anyone this cut up before as she had at least three other wounds besides the rat bite which had finally taken her down it was miracle enough that she was still breathing at all. Whilst all that was stopping them being swamped by carrion eating  centipedes from the Compost heap was the flaming torches being brandished at them by Leon and the tanners apprentice. Every one else almost cowered in the corner of the room inside the circle of protective fire and all where beginning to feel quite ill and almost feverish, perhaps it was the present danger and the cloying smell of the rotting vegetable scraps   and the presence of the flaming brands so close. Nyadryn was fussing over Esme who now she was actually hurt was not protesting quite so avidly as before  and Siskin who was the only one present who did not feel in the least rough was starting to get a bit bored the thrill of striking the killing blow on the rat was fading. Up till now silent in the back Aeneste who had been focused on not succumbing to her own wounds spoke up I can help her she said to Brianne but you will have to be my hands as I am in no fit state to be crouching down working on anyone quite so wounded as I think the she gnome is. Brianne agreed even latter she was not sure why but for all the woman was a filthy street wretch she had the quiet confident tones of one who knows what she is talking about. Brianne followed Aeneste’s instructions to the letter and shortly Lori’s breathing became easier and she began to rouse a little and after she had looked over and dressed her wounds she came round entirely puling herself unsteadily to her feet with the aid of the wall and kicking the dead rat with some feeling whilst cursing in gnomish using words that Quelsteine seldom had occasion to even when curled up into a ball for fear of the red worms and which Larifus with his good upbringing and expensive education had never even heard before though he could clearly imagine his mother or his aunt wanting his mouth washed out with soap & lyre if he did.

Siskin decided to throw the dead rat on the compost pile and did so with a little difficulty, fortunately the beast seemed less heavy than he had expected so he managed to heave it into the midst of the hissing snapping hungry centipedes successfully and they descended upon it with savagery.

 

Gap to fill

They moved south past the entrances to the Abattoir room and the room where fighting pit was with the cells beyond and moved further down the passage which continued beyond. The did so with some caution expecting attack at any time and knowing that their being surprised could be fatal for them all. Siskin found this slow pace boring, where was the risk? So he idly trailed his fingers along the lower decorative strip 

Gap to fill

Detained at the Great Hospital the company had the chance to reflect on their recent experience and also discover the unpleasant fact that Quirrel had doubly dropped them in the mire. First as they had already worked out by being at least in part responsible for them getting trapped in the smugglers lair and associated areas which was in truth something they already suspected but worse by the reasons that he had given for having this done. Reasons which came back to the company via the lesser temple staff and trainee priests who where tending to them in their isolation as extremely damaging to the companies reputation. The tale which came back painted the Company as traitors one and all and Quirrel as quite the hero in the tale as he had single handedly thwarted their evil plots, though details of what exactly those might have been did vary according to the teller. Further variations on the tale and the rumor mill in the frenzied atmosphere of the siege had quite gone to town on it, it had them in the pay of the same Dwarven Sorcerer who was behind the goblins and said that they where going to open a secret passage and allow the goblins in under the walls to murder every one in their beds or worse. It probably did not help here that when Aeneste had finally been tracked down about a day after every one else she had resisted arrest by trying to cast a spell either even if she had by this point been so delirious that the spell had failed and she had collapsed from the effort. So some versions of the tale had her down as one of the Dwarf’s apprentices.

The rumors also on occasion implicated both Larifus’s uncle whose house had been attacked by the mob again on the strength of this thought given that most of the able bodied where too involved in the defense of the town to take part so the mob had been smaller and this riot had been less dangerous with no one was killed on either side, several windows where broken and the house front door sustained some damage when the mob tried to force it. However Larifus’s uncle’s family sought refuge in the keep and according to rumors at least all swore terrible oaths to the true that they and Larifus had had no part in this.  Esme’s father and brothers where also implicated in the plot which caused them to fume some what impotently as the chief priest of the Caregiver would not allow them out of the temple bounds any more than he would those of the company itself. However no one was about to attack the house of quite such a prominent man especially when the Guilds guard where deployed to protect it and several of his loyal apprentices and journeymen where quite prepared to break heads of the romour mongers for the defense of their master’s honour and made this widely known.

None the less it was defiantly true that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of all present in the company by the Count even if the only ones named in it where Leon, Siskin, Larifus, Nyadryn and Esme all the rest where included as unnamed associates. Further the Chief priest of the true had made representations to the Chief priest of the caregiver about handing the company over to his custardy for questioning; thus far he had got no where. That the two men had quite a history of not agreeing on most matters as well as having a lot of other things to deal with at the moment with the siege had likely contributed to this.

To the good there was no outbreak of the wasting sweats in the town with all the cases being confined to the company ant their immediate contacts, there was sickness in the Shambles part of the New Town but it was the lesser black rash which the company learned from their nurse geolers any way is self limiting even if its likely from the same source as the Wasting Sweats as its one of the many deceases to be caught from being around giant rats.  

Source: Episode Twenty Write up

[EvilGinger]

Holy Symbol of the PALADIN

being one of the principle deities of Elsewhere

Source: Holy Symbol of the PALADIN

[EvilGinger]

That Fateful Night Part III

The morning of the following day 

• 
  

something else for the morning

Source: That Fateful Night Part III

[EvilGinger]

Honour awards for Episode Twenty

 An urban interlude Part VI

Name	Starting   honour	Gained	Spent	Change	Final   honour
Leon	26	-5	0	-5	21
Siskin	31	-7	0	-7	24
Brianna	14	+2	0	+2	16
Larifus	35	-5	0	-5	30
Quelsteine	23	-1	0	-1	22
Lori	11	1	0	+1	12
Aeneste	7	-3	0	-3	4
Esme	26	-2	0	-2	24
Nyadryn	37	-3	0	-3	35

Every one took quite a hit as a result of Quirrel's tale of them all being traitors - there being an arrest warent out for all of them for a hanging crime,did quite a bit of damage &  those who where Quirrel's friends and relations took a worse hit largely as a result of the personal element of betrayal 

 The group is however going to be considered a group from now on so honour will begin to average around the town they are being called the Dracton Lane Gang after the lane in which the house that the smugglers tunnel started off in was on

Source: Honour awards for Episode Twenty

[EvilGinger]

Episode Twenty Write up

An Urban Interlude Part 6- Rats a Respite and Escape  

Dramatis Personae

Leon – a Brandobian Human Fighter & self styled hero

Nyadryn – a Brandobian Human, fighter

Esme– a Brandobian human, a loud over enthusiastic person, Nyadryn’s girl friend

Siskin – a Halfling Cleric of Chance

Larifus – a Gnome,

Quelsteine– a Gnome

Lori – a Gnome, rescued captive

Briana – a Half Elven fighter magic user 

Aeneste – a Brandobian? Human rescued captive 

Varill – a Brandobian Human the tanners apprentice and rescued captive

Location

Some where in the sewers under the new town of Vayham, across Vayham town finishing off in the containment cells under the Temple of the Caregiver at the Great Hospital

Events

(These take place during episode XV of the main story and they follow on exactly from the end of the previous session of an Urban Interlude)

They had dragged Lori’s nerveless body out of the rat hole and she lay on the floor breathing weakly as Brianne knelt by her and tried to think what she could do, and was at a loss she had never seen anyone this cut up before as she had at least three other wounds besides the rat bite which had finally taken her down it was miracle enough that she was still breathing at all. Whilst all that was stopping them being swamped by carrion eating  centipedes from the Compost heap was the flaming torches being brandished at them by Leon and the tanners apprentice. Every one else almost cowered in the corner of the room inside the circle of protective fire and all where beginning to feel quite ill and almost feverish, perhaps it was the present danger and the cloying smell of the rotting vegetable scraps   and the presence of the flaming brands so close. Nyadryn was fussing over Esme who now she was actually hurt was not protesting quite so avidly as before  and Siskin who was the only one present who did not feel in the least rough was starting to get a bit bored the thrill of striking the killing blow on the rat was fading. Up till now silent in the back Aeneste who had been focused on not succumbing to her own wounds spoke up I can help her she said to Brianne but you will have to be my hands as I am in no fit state to be crouching down working on anyone quite so wounded as I think the she gnome is. Brianne agreed even latter she was not sure why but for all the woman was a filthy street wretch she had the quiet confident tones of one who knows what she is talking about. Brianne followed Aeneste’s instructions to the letter and shortly Lori’s breathing became easier and she began to rouse a little and after she had looked over and dressed her wounds she came round entirely puling herself unsteadily to her feet with the aid of the wall and kicking the dead rat with some feeling whilst cursing in gnomish using words that Quelsteine seldom had occasion to even when curled up into a ball for fear of the red worms and which Larifus with his good upbringing and expensive education had never even heard before though he could clearly imagine his mother or his aunt wanting his mouth washed out with soap & lyre if he did.

Siskin decided to throw the dead rat on the compost pile and did so with a little difficulty, fortunately the beast seemed less heavy than he had expected so he managed to heave it into the midst of the hissing snapping hungry centipedes successfully and they descended upon it with savagery. This distracted the smaller but none the less giant sufficiently to allow the company to make its way around the top of the compost pile and onto the safe route that Larifus and Siskin had stumbled upon but not recognised for what it was when they had first entered the room and which the company had used in all of its previous passages through the room also without realizing it. From there and still not sure why the centipedes had not come at them again once they had devoured the rats body as they must have done in short order, given their number and their feeding frenzy, even if understandably no one in the company paused to watch and confirm this. It was a batter of moments to be thought the door and into the relative safety of the corridor beyond. Here the company drew breath and Quelsteine collapsed in a heap and simply shook for several minutes as the terror of the red worms passed.

Taking stock at this point, did not paint a great and inspiring picture as most of the company was wounded including all of its most effective fighters and all of them except oddly Siskin where feeling decidedly hot as if they where in an oven rather than in the cool dank if not actuality damp sewers and some where beginning to feel the ill effects of a long hard day and feeling distinctly weary and hungry, even if the environment was not one any sane person or even an adventurer would wish to eat in. They needed food they needed rest, they needed healing and some of the company those rescued from the cells or the fighting pit needed even basic gear and there was no opportunity for any of those and all they could press on in the uncertain hope that as Leon said the way out was down the way that the beggars had not  wanted them to go, if only some mumbles they had not paid quite such a price to learn that your enemies do not generally have your best interests at heart nor should what they say be trusted.

 

Gap to fill

They moved south past the entrances to the Abattoir room and the room where fighting pit was with the cells beyond and moved further down the passage which continued beyond. The did so with some caution expecting attack at any time and knowing that their being surprised could be fatal for them all. Siskin found this slow pace boring, where was the risk? So he idly trailed his fingers along the lower decorative strip 

Gap to fill

Detained at the Great Hospital the company had the chance to reflect on their recent experience and also discover the unpleasant fact that Quirrel had doubly dropped them in the mire. First as they had already worked out by being at least in part responsible for them getting trapped in the smugglers lair and associated areas which was in truth something they already suspected but worse by the reasons that he had given for having this done. Reasons which came back to the company via the lesser temple staff and trainee priests who where tending to them in their isolation as extremely damaging to the companies reputation. The tale which came back painted the Company as traitors one and all and Quirrel as quite the hero in the tale as he had single handedly thwarted their evil plots, though details of what exactly those might have been did vary according to the teller. Further variations on the tale and the rumor mill in the frenzied atmosphere of the siege had quite gone to town on it, it had them in the pay of the same Dwarven Sorcerer who was behind the goblins and said that they where going to open a secret passage and allow the goblins in under the walls to murder every one in their beds or worse. It probably did not help here that when Aeneste had finally been tracked down about a day after every one else she had resisted arrest by trying to cast a spell either even if she had by this point been so delirious that the spell had failed and she had collapsed from the effort. So some versions of the tale had her down as one of the Dwarf’s apprentices.

The rumors also on occasion implicated both Larifus’s uncle whose house had been attacked by the mob again on the strength of this thought given that most of the able bodied where too involved in the defense of the town to take part so the mob had been smaller and this riot had been less dangerous with no one was killed on either side, several windows where broken and the house front door sustained some damage when the mob tried to force it. However Larifus’s uncle’s family sought refuge in the keep and according to rumors at least all swore terrible oaths to the true that they and Larifus had had no part in this.  Esme’s father and brothers where also implicated in the plot which caused them to fume some what impotently as the chief priest of the Caregiver would not allow them out of the temple bounds any more than he would those of the company itself. However no one was about to attack the house of quite such a prominent man especially when the Guilds guard where deployed to protect it and several of his loyal apprentices and journeymen where quite prepared to break heads of the romour mongers for the defense of their master’s honour and made this widely known.

None the less it was defiantly true that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of all present in the company by the Count even if the only ones named in it where Leon, Siskin, Larifus, Nyadryn and Esme all the rest where included as unnamed associates. Further the Chief priest of the true had made representations to the Chief priest of the caregiver about handing the company over to his custardy for questioning; thus far he had got no where. That the two men had quite a history of not agreeing on most matters as well as having a lot of other things to deal with at the moment with the siege had likely contributed to this.

To the good there was no outbreak of the wasting sweats in the town with all the cases being confined to the company ant their immediate contacts, there was sickness in the Shambles part of the New Town but it was the lesser black rash which the company learned from their nurse geolers any way is self limiting even if its likely from the same source as the Wasting Sweats as its one of the many deceases to be caught from being around giant rats.  

Source: Episode Twenty Write up

[EvilGinger]

Episode Twenty Write up

An Urban Interlude Part 6- Rats a Respite and Escape  

Dramatis Personae

Leon – a Brandobian Human Fighter & self styled hero

Nyadryn – a Brandobian Human, fighter

Esme– a Brandobian human, a loud over enthusiastic person, Nyadryn’s girl friend

Siskin – a Halfling Cleric of Chance

Larifus – a Gnome,

Quelsteine– a Gnome

Lori – a Gnome, rescued captive

Briana – a Half Elven fighter magic user 

Aeneste – a Brandobian? Human rescued captive 

Varill – a Brandobian Human the tanners apprentice and rescued captive

Location

Some where in the sewers under the new town of Vayham, across Vayham town finishing off in the containment cells under the Temple of the Caregiver at the Great Hospital

Events

(These take place during episode XV of the main story and they follow on exactly from the end of the previous session of an Urban Interlude)

They had dragged Lori’s nerveless body out of the rat hole and she lay on the floor breathing weakly as Brianne knelt by her and tried to think what she could do, and was at a loss she had never seen anyone this cut up before as she had at least three other wounds besides the rat bite which had finally taken her down it was miracle enough that she was still breathing at all. Whilst all that was stopping them being swamped by carrion eating  centipedes from the Compost heap was the flaming torches being brandished at them by Leon and the tanners apprentice. Every one else almost cowered in the corner of the room inside the circle of protective fire and all where beginning to feel quite ill and almost feverish, perhaps it was the present danger and the cloying smell of the rotting vegetable scraps   and the presence of the flaming brands so close. Nyadryn was fussing over Esme who now she was actually hurt was not protesting quite so avidly as before  and Siskin who was the only one present who did not feel in the least rough was starting to get a bit bored the thrill of striking the killing blow on the rat was fading. Up till now silent in the back Aeneste who had been focused on not succumbing to her own wounds spoke up I can help her she said to Brianne but you will have to be my hands as I am in no fit state to be crouching down working on anyone quite so wounded as I think the she gnome is. Brianne agreed even latter she was not sure why but for all the woman was a filthy street wretch she had the quiet confident tones of one who knows what she is talking about. Brianne followed Aeneste’s instructions to the letter and shortly Lori’s breathing became easier and she began to rouse a little and after she had looked over and dressed her wounds she came round entirely puling herself unsteadily to her feet with the aid of the wall and kicking the dead rat with some feeling whilst cursing in gnomish using words that Quelsteine seldom had occasion to even when curled up into a ball for fear of the red worms and which Larifus with his good upbringing and expensive education had never even heard before though he could clearly imagine his mother or his aunt wanting his mouth washed out with soap & lyre if he did.

Siskin decided to throw the dead rat on the compost pile and did so with a little difficulty, fortunately the beast seemed less heavy than he had expected so he managed to heave it into the midst of the hissing snapping hungry centipedes successfully and they descended upon it with savagery. This distracted the smaller but none the less giant sufficiently to allow the company to make its way around the top of the compost pile and onto the safe route that Larifus and Siskin had stumbled upon but not recognised for what it was when they had first entered the room and which the company had used in all of its previous passages through the room also without realizing it. From there and still not sure why the centipedes had not come at them again once they had devoured the rats body as they must have done in short order, given their number and their feeding frenzy, even if understandably no one in the company paused to watch and confirm this. It was a batter of moments to be thought the door and into the relative safety of the corridor beyond. Here the company drew breath and Quelsteine collapsed in a heap and simply shook for several minutes as the terror of the red worms passed.

Taking stock at this point, did not paint a great and inspiring picture as most of the company was wounded including all of its most effective fighters and all of them except oddly Siskin where feeling decidedly hot as if they where in an oven rather than in the cool dank if not actuality damp sewers and some where beginning to feel the ill effects of a long hard day and feeling distinctly weary and hungry, even if the environment was not one any sane person or even an adventurer would wish to eat in. They needed food they needed rest, they needed healing and some of the company those rescued from the cells or the fighting pit needed even basic gear and there was no opportunity for any of those and all they could press on in the uncertain hope that as Leon said the way out was down the way that the beggars had not  wanted them to go, if only some mumbles they had not paid quite such a price to learn that your enemies do not generally have your best interests at heart nor should what they say be trusted. To make matters worse it was apparent that the numerous torches the company had looted from the complex as they had passed through the first time where beginning to burn low and worse had not been replaced where they had taken them from by their foes. So they faced being plunged into total darkness when they burned out as well.

Gap to fill

They moved south past the entrances to the Abattoir room and the room where fighting pit was with the cells beyond and moved further down the passage which continued beyond. The did so with some caution expecting attack at any time and knowing that their being surprised could be fatal for them all. Siskin found this slow pace boring, where was the risk? So he idly trailed his fingers along the lower decorative strip 

Gap to fill

Detained at the Great Hospital the company had the chance to reflect on their recent experience and also discover the unpleasant fact that Quirrel had doubly dropped them in the mire. First as they had already worked out by being at least in part responsible for them getting trapped in the smugglers lair and associated areas which was in truth something they already suspected but worse by the reasons that he had given for having this done. Reasons which came back to the company via the lesser temple staff and trainee priests who where tending to them in their isolation as extremely damaging to the companies reputation. The tale which came back painted the Company as traitors one and all and Quirrel as quite the hero in the tale as he had single handedly thwarted their evil plots, though details of what exactly those might have been did vary according to the teller. Further variations on the tale and the rumor mill in the frenzied atmosphere of the siege had quite gone to town on it, it had them in the pay of the same Dwarven Sorcerer who was behind the goblins and said that they where going to open a secret passage and allow the goblins in under the walls to murder every one in their beds or worse. It probably did not help here that when Aeneste had finally been tracked down about a day after every one else she had resisted arrest by trying to cast a spell either even if she had by this point been so delirious that the spell had failed and she had collapsed from the effort. So some versions of the tale had her down as one of the Dwarf’s apprentices.

The rumors also on occasion implicated both Larifus’s uncle whose house had been attacked by the mob again on the strength of this thought given that most of the able bodied where too involved in the defense of the town to take part so the mob had been smaller and this riot had been less dangerous with no one was killed on either side, several windows where broken and the house front door sustained some damage when the mob tried to force it. However Larifus’s uncle’s family sought refuge in the keep and according to rumors at least all swore terrible oaths to the true that they and Larifus had had no part in this.  Esme’s father and brothers where also implicated in the plot which caused them to fume some what impotently as the chief priest of the Caregiver would not allow them out of the temple bounds any more than he would those of the company itself. However no one was about to attack the house of quite such a prominent man especially when the Guilds guard where deployed to protect it and several of his loyal apprentices and journeymen where quite prepared to break heads of the romour mongers for the defense of their master’s honour and made this widely known.

None the less it was defiantly true that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of all present in the company by the Count even if the only ones named in it where Leon, Siskin, Larifus, Nyadryn and Esme all the rest where included as unnamed associates. Further the Chief priest of the true had made representations to the Chief priest of the caregiver about handing the company over to his custardy for questioning; thus far he had got no where. That the two men had quite a history of not agreeing on most matters as well as having a lot of other things to deal with at the moment with the siege had likely contributed to this.

To the good there was no outbreak of the wasting sweats in the town with all the cases being confined to the company ant their immediate contacts, there was sickness in the Shambles part of the New Town but it was the lesser black rash which the company learned from their nurse geolers any way is self limiting even if its likely from the same source as the Wasting Sweats as its one of the many deceases to be caught from being around giant rats.  

Source: Episode Twenty Write up

[EvilGinger]

A bit quiet here yesterday

I was plodding on though 

I still however got quite a bit done but between work & the very splendid Strange World of Random Doom game in the evening I had relativity little time for bloging but I did get quite a bit done on the write up of  Episode Twenty and finished off the accompanying articles. The pace will pick up and there will be developments.

I would also recommend any of the games run by Jaberwoky of the Kenzer Forum of which the Strange world of Random Doom is the one I am in & is likely full but the his Saturday and Monday games will be as good & still have places, find Jaberwoky is here on Google plus

Source: A bit quiet here yesterday

[EvilGinger]

The detail form the wall of the unexpected sewer

a work in progress

two bands of this design in bass relief on the walls about 2 1/2 & 5 feet off the ground being a variation of one of the Rot lords sacred symbols - needs more work on the worms but also some on the skulls but I hope the idea is coming accoss

Source: The detail form the wall of the unexpected sewer

[EvilGinger]

A Strange world of Random Doom Screen shots - episode six

No write up and I got rather too involved in the game to take as many as I would have liked to but this is the start of the game up until just before we decided to leave the ant problem till after we had a re think on the tactics we where using before they got us all killed.

red and surprise

what looks like a Total Party Kill in the offing

Pressing on with some reservations

The bandits sounded so much more straight forward after that

Source: A Strange world of Random Doom Screen shots - episode six

[EvilGinger]

Building Dungeons

My way

being a distillation of  my accumulated prejudices and experience of may years of doing this 

Source: Building Dungeons

[Introduction]

D&D 5e

Some thoughts

Introduction

What follows may be a little off topic  as this bolg is first and foremost about a particular HackMaster 5e and started off being about one particular game and has spread to several others and associated topics. I did however start playing D&D with the pale blue starter box in 1976 & got My first copy of an AD&D book the soft cover players hand book for Christmas that year and moved to running AD&D first edition in early 1977 as the GMG and then the  Monster Manual came out and continued to be a player and a GM for some considerable time there after even if Traveller and particularly Runequest became my games of choice as both where less constraining character wise than the strictly class based Basic and Advanced D&D . I have played every other version of D&D/AD&D since even if I have not run a game with all of them and I liked the recent fourth edition up until the whole essentials fiasco and the killing of the stand alone character support programs which rather put me off with what I considered rather unnecessary rules changes indeed the only negative thing I could say about AD&D 4e was that it departed from the mechanics and the path of development which had started with AD&D 1e indeed it was even easier for a new player to grasp than previous editions and the core tier structure was rather nicely implemented and the introductory  adventure  Keep on the Shadow fell was fun from a player prospective. Indeed its on my list of adventures I would like to run for HM5e.

AD&D 5e

I have as yet not played this thought I am due to be playing a trial game at spirit Games on Tuesday which is tomorrow as I write this article and I have downloaded and browsed through the Basic download rules these I have to say did not grip me as the game felt more than a little bland and a bit limited but that might be just my reading of  what are when all said and done a set of starter rules and when I did the same a couple or three years back with the HackMaster Basic PDF it grabbed me by the collar and dragged me down Spirit Games to go on a hard copy hunt  and I have been an increasing HackMaster fan ever since This didn't I have to say but I am more than prepared to see how it works in practice even if I have this feeling its not going to knock HackMaster of its pedestal for me 

I will report back likely on Wednesday

AD&D 5e starter box review here

Anyway with this posted I will get back on topic

Source: D&D 5e

[EvilGinger]

There is an open invite to the Trial game at Spirit Games just so you know

 Ginger

[EvilGinger]

Building Dungeons

My way

Being a distillation of my accumulated prejudices and experience of many years of doing this 

Preamble

I learned a lot form the advice articles published in the early role playing games I read particularly those by Greg Stafford then of Chaosisum for Runequest and Ed Simblast for Chivalry and Sorcery, as well as articles in the first edition AD&D Games Masters Guide most of this was about things other than directly dungeon design indeed much of it was about how best to run games and how to present believable monsters and NPC’s which where not pots of experience points to be claimed at the risk of character death. The stuff by Judges Guild for D&D was something I read a lot of and can even now recall it as a prime example of how I did not want to write adventures.

I ran and read even more modules and adventures mostly by TSR, Chaosisum and GDW but also by others who I can’t at this point recall the names of and magazines such as Dragon, White Dwarf, before it became what it later became, Imagine and others many of which where very short lived and I absorbed it all into the creative stew. To this I added influences from the how to articles in the story telling type games when Ars Magica first edition surfaced and in subsequent iterations and variations I like exalted and the first three editions of the world of Darkness (OWD). Though I do think you can take story telling style games too far which is why I am not a fan of such things as the burning wheel based ones and FATE & its derivatives

To all of this as I am an avid reader blended in the all sorts of influences from life and form literature  on how and how not to tell a story which draws you in and keeps you interested.

That however is more general how does it all boil down to how I write dungeons?

Well this is it

• The Dungeon should never be inescapably deadly.
• The Dungeon needs to tell a story even if the      players don’t ever realise it or work out what it is
• The Dungeon needs to have a theme or themes to give      it a feeling of verisimilitude  
• Dungeons should have a history and clues to this      should be left for the players to find and puzzle over
• Dungeons and indeed every other element in the game      must be believable with in the context of the game
• The Dungeon and its inhabitants should serve a      specific role within the larger game and each encounter within the whole      should be a part of that
• The Inhabitants should make sense and there needs      to be reasons for them to be where they are and doing what they are doing      they have a life beyond being sword & spell  fodder or at least seem to have
• The structural features of a Dungeon should also      make sense, i.e. traps in inhabited or heavily travelled areas should be      able to be turned off for the most part or have a way round them the      inhabitants are aware of.
• They should not be too big even Mega dungeons I      think are best built in smaller sections the same way you should I believe      build a campaign world
• Big Dungeons should have relatively quiet sections      the party can hole up in for a while when wounded or out of rechargeable      assets such as spells or spell points.
• That said there should not be so many of these that      the dungeon does not stretch the party’s abilities and resources.
• The Dungeon should challenge the characters in ways      in keeping with the theme  and the      story of the place
• The Dungeon should give the players a chance to      role play their characters
• The Dungeon should generally should allow multiple      bites at the cherry & normally players should not be trapped in them      for prolonged periods
• The Dungeon may change if the party take multiple      bites at the cherry as this is not a computer game and the inhabitants at      least should get the chance to adapt to the limit of their abilities as      much as the players do.

I hope that makes some sort of sense in the end

Source: Building Dungeons

[EvilGinger]

Ars Medicae - a treatise on dealing with battlefield injury's

and how to apply it to HackMaster 

Had this sitting around in my head for a while must get it done

Source: Ars Medicae - a treatise on dealing with battlefield injury's

[EvilGinger]

An overview of Salvery in Telene Part II

An overview of Slavery in Telene Part II

A consideration of slave trading

Gap to fill

Regional analysis 

Pel Brolenon

Is as might be expected rather a law unto itself. 

The Wild lands 

Source: An overview of Salvery in Telene Part II