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| Charles Phipps01-16-08, 04:04 PM | I just thought I'd share this with you all. We've made the transition to 4E for the most part and are currently dealing with the aftermaths of it. Here's the OOC conversation more or less as it happened. Me, El DM: Okay guys, it's time to start playing the new Forgotten Realms. We're going with the assumption it'll be about a hundred year time skip because that's what was in the Drizzt Books. Phillip, Dwarf Lovin Player: I'd like to repeat my objections to doing this time skip. Me, El DM: Noted and you've been overruled by our game group's majority decree. Phillip, Dwarf Lovin Player: This is why Dwarves prefer monarchy. Me, El DM: As King, we're still time-skipping. Michael, Snake Girl Lover: I'll be playing new characters. I'm going to have the daughter of my previous two characters. A Naga-Sorceress like her mom. Phillip, Dwarf Lovin Player: Will Sorcerers and Magic users still exist in this New World? Me, El DM: A Snake Girl Sorceress, Big surprise there. Michael, Snake Girl Lover: She's also a thief! Me, El DM: I'll be continuing to play Fuji when it's my turn to play and not DM. Phillip, Dwarf Lovin Player: How can you continue to play Fuji? He's a human from Rokugan. Me, El DM: *WA*, not Rokugan. Phillip, Dwarf Lovin Player: You played Wa exactly like Rokugan. Me, El DM: Blame, Wizards of the Coast for not releasing Oriental Adventures with Kara-Tur. Kyle, Apathetic Gamer: I'm playing my guy as well. Chris, Gnome Player: Gnomes still exist in Forgotten Realms? Vecna didn't wipe them out retroactively, right? Michael, Snake Girl Lover: No, Vecna did 3E Realm's changes. Chris, Gnome Player: So when did Bane die and the time of Troubles? Michael, Snake Girl Lover: SECOND edition. Me, The DM: Okay, first Order of Business. It's been approximately one hundred years since our heroes participated in the Time of Troubles and helped Cormyr successfully defend itself against the Demon Dragon and the Tuigan horde. Michael, Snake Girl Lover: Which should have been like decades apart. Me, The DM: Shut it. The Church of Cyric has grown exorbiantly across the Land and spread through every corner of Faerun despite the best efforts of our heroes to preach what an utter scumbag Cyric was. Thus, did the Churches of the Dark Triad fall to nothingness and evil spread across the land in a more subtle form. Chris, Gnome Player: Remember when I used to make Cyric shine our boots when he was our henchman? Kyle, Apathetic Player: Shhh, I need to hear this. Me, The DM: Wealthy and famous for their activities; your previous player characters retired to great fanfare and respect as, despite the corrupting effects of Cyric's influence, you helped secure a time of peace and security for the whole of Faerun. You join the Annals of the Knights of Myth Drannor and the Nine for famous heroes. Chris, Gnome Player: Hey, we killed BANE and Myrkul, we're damn well better than those losers. Phillip, Dwarf Lover: My character retires to a pleasant life of metal-working and fathers a new Clan of Dwarves that will be my new character. Kyle, Apathetic Player: Will you guys shut up? Me, The DM: Alusair names Fuji as her consort and Calandei serves royally in both in and out of the bed chamber. Players: *Groan* Me, The DM: Hey, I cleared this with Michael. *ahem* The Empire of Cormyr grows well under the Steel Regent before passing to King Azoun V and now passing it onto his son. Chris, Gnome Player: I can't believe you killed Tanalasta. I had a thing with her. Kyle, Apathetic Player: That was in the books and your Gnome never had an affair with her. You just insisted you did. Me, El DM: The Peace of Faerun was shattered then, in a collosol and terrible disaster nine months ago with the advent of the Spell Plague. Chris, The Gnome Player: The Hootchie wah? Phillip, Dwarf Lover: The Stupidiest Plotline ever. Kyle, Apathetic Player: Can you guys just let him finish? Me, El DM: A terrifying madness possesses most of the Wizards in the world and compells them to go off killing one another left and right as magic runs wild. Haruula has been almost destroyed while Thay enters a degenerate civil war. Countless magicians are slain by heroes great and small while many of the brightest stars of the world are killed trying to put an end to the magical madness. The Constellation of Mystra the Third, greatest of the deities, then falls to nothingness. Chris, The Gnome Player: What, someone killed midnight? Philip, Dwarf Lover: You didn't read the e-mail? Chris, The Gnome Player: I have a life. Me, El DM: No one yet knows the cause but a terrible catastrophe seems to have sparked a Second Godswar. Others think of it as a new Time of Troubles. The Constellations of Helm, Deneir, and other gods fall to the sky to the despair of the whole of Faerun. Michael, Snake Girl Player: I'm going to need a list of dead gods for my notes, after the session. Kyle, Apathetic Player: It's like being stuck in the theatre during Star Wars' Opening Crawl. Me, El DM: Worse, above all the other stars, a terrible burning and familiar Red Star blazes. The terrible Eye of Bane once more stares down at the whole of toril while unnatural storms brew in the desert of Anauroch. Phillip, Dwarf Player: Huh? Michael, Snake Girl Player: He's tying the return of Shade to the Spell Plague. Phillip, Dwarf Player: So we retconned out the Return of the Archwizards? Good, something good came out of this. Me, El DM: Vast sweeping hordes have poured out of the Northern Wastes of the Silver Marches, conquering everything in their path, and the devastation of the Spell Plague on Evermeet has forced vast numbers to retreat back to Cormanthor where they have declared an end to the Retreat. The Elves, despite the vast sickness, have weathered the disease best and now are the greatest source of magic on Faerun....which they intend to repay the weakened human race for the vast number of indignities they've suffered in kind. Phillip, Dwarf Player: Elves are evil now? Chris, The Gnome Player: Elves aren't normally evil? Phillip, Dwarf Player: WOW is not Faerun. Remember? Chris, The Gnome Player: Oh right. Me, El DM: And our heroes debate these terrible happenings while Planes shift and reality re-arranges itself in the place that it always begins.... Michael, Snake Girl Player: We're starting in the Old Skull Tavern? Me, El DM: Some things never change. |
| MarkusTay6301-16-08, 04:13 PM | Me, El DM: Worse, above all the other stars, a terrible burning and familiar Red Star blazes. The terrible Eye of Bane once more stares down at the whole of Krynn while unnatural storms brew in the desert of Anauroch.Ummmm... I thought you gamed in the Forgotten Realms? :confused: This is the FR board, in case you're lost... :rolleyes: BTW, I've decided to move to 4e as well, but in my game the Spellplague was over in 1390 DR, so no one had to die (PCs, lots of others did). ;) |
| Charles Phipps01-16-08, 04:24 PM | Typo, fixed. |
| MarkusTay6301-16-08, 04:27 PM | Thats what I figured it was. :D Anyhow, I enjoyed that game-session; thats pretty much how they all go down, with the DM having to shout over his players... Too bad you had to kill everybody. Also, how are you moving your game to 4e already, when we don't have the rules in out hands yet? :confused: |
| Charles Phipps01-16-08, 04:35 PM | Actually, I gave everyone the option of having their player characters still be alive or retiring them in favor of new Player Characters. My players have a healthy mix of those who want to be new player character (and try out those new Prestige Classes) with those who are very fond of their existing characters. Those characters that did die were done so voluntarilly with Rose the Bard going to Evermeet to ascend to Arvandor and other suitably mythic journeys. Philip wouldn't have had to retire his Dwarf, Chris his Gnome, Michael his Naga, or Kyle his Elf but they chose to do so for the chance for new characters. 100 years isn't that long for those races. Honestly, I was surprised everyone but me wanted to change over their characters but were just concerned that I didn't arbitrarilly KILL them. They were happy to write their own epilogues or were okay so long as I left them alive. My character, the only human in the bunch, I asked specifically to recieve a Eternal Youth Clause from his status as a Developing Chosen. At this point, we're using Spoilers for 4E to seague over. We already have a fairly good idea that the Magic System is going to more strongly resemble something Non-Vancian while the Book of Nine Swords will be available for all Fighting Classes. Thus, we're familiarizing ourselves with the latest material there. When the actual rules change over, we're going to just adapt our characters to them. |
| Uzzy01-16-08, 05:57 PM | I lolled. A lot! Charles, I love you. Your posts from your gaming group are always entertaining. I loved this line too Me, The DM: Alusair names Fuji as her consort and Calandei serves royally in both in and out of the bed chamber. Players: *Groan* |
| The_Mess01-16-08, 07:32 PM | The Mess objects to being characterized as a Naga-girl obsessed. The Mess has played MANY different characters. Most of them have not been Naga. You have no proof of your wild aspersions upon my character! None! None! Besides, "obsessed" is such a strong word and hardly describes me. So what if four or five or twenty characters have been and/or referenced Naga in some fashion... IT MEANS NOTHING! Now, about my next character, I was thinking PSIONIC NAGA-GIRL! (Next you'll be telling everyone I still live with my parents... sheesh.) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin01-16-08, 07:36 PM | My character retires to a pleasant life of metal-working and fathers a new Clan of Dwarves that will be my new character. His new character will be a clan of dwarves? :heehee |
| MarkusTay6301-16-08, 07:37 PM | Yup - he's not taking ANY chances. :P Chris, Gnome Player: I can't believe you killed Tanalasta. I had a thing with her. Kyle, Apathetic Player: That was in the books and your Gnome never had an affair with her. You just insisted you did.That one was my favorite. :D |
| Charles Phipps01-16-08, 07:49 PM | Oddly, that's exactly what he meant. He's so afraid that 4E will be a trap, he wants an entire clan to draw from like the Knights of the dinner table do. |
| GreenKnight01-16-08, 07:52 PM | Heh, I've got the same for a current campaign I'm playing. My character has two brothers for just such an eventuality. My Paladin of the Silver Flame, Arrius, just died? Damn. Well, then here's his brother, Darius, who's ALSO a Paladin of the Silver Flame (They were raised in the same orphanage). He died, to? Shucks! Well, good thing their little brother Garius is about, and he, too, is a Paladin of the Silver Flame. :D |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin01-16-08, 08:00 PM | Oddly, that's exactly what he meant. He's so afraid that 4E will be a trap, he wants an entire clan to draw from like the Knights of the dinner table do. I see...:uh-huh: |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin01-16-08, 08:01 PM | Heh, I've got the same for a current campaign I'm playing. My character has two brothers for just such an eventuality. My Paladin of the Silver Flame, Arrius, just died? Damn. Well, then here's his brother, Darius, who's ALSO a Paladin of the Silver Flame (They were raised in the same orphanage). He died, to? Shucks! Well, good thing their little brother Garius is about, and he, too, is a Paladin of the Silver Flame. :D That's sneaky and funny at the same time. :rofl: |
| Charles Phipps01-16-08, 08:25 PM | Overall, the campaign is going rather smoothly. The Player Characters are familiar with the idea of Large-Scale Disasters in the Realms and the Time Skip has allowed them the artificial sense that the past 100 years have been largely peaceful because of their own actions. I confess, I'm debating who to keep and who to not amongst NPCs because I'm not really going to be able to hold up my campaign because of waiting for the new casts either. I just want to avoid "And this is Piergeiron the Third. He's a lot like his grandfather, also named Piergeiron." Of course, Kyriani is also going to be largely unchanged ;-) |
| Dark Wizard01-16-08, 09:00 PM | Me, El DM: I'll be continuing to play Fuji when it's my turn to play and not DM. Phillip, Dwarf Lovin Player: How can you continue to play Fuji? He's a human from Rokugan. Me, El DM: *WA*, not Rokugan. Phillip, Dwarf Lovin Player: You played Wa exactly like Rokugan. Me, El DM: Blame, Wizards of the Coast for not releasing Oriental Adventures with Kara-Tur. Near and dear to my heart. I like this exchange. |
| Mr_Miscellany01-17-08, 01:27 AM | Michael, Snake Girl Player: We're starting in the Old Skull Tavern? Me, El DM: Some things never change. That last part....I liked it, a lot. It's about good friends and good times and just getting down to the business of having fun. The smart-allecky stuff was good too. Lots of that at my table also. |
| MarkusTay6301-17-08, 02:32 AM | You know... I can't remember any group that wasn't smart-allecky, come to think of it. Has anyone here ever played in a totally serious group? :confused: |
| Mr_Miscellany01-17-08, 02:43 AM | Has anyone here ever played in a totally serious group? :confused: Word of advice: DON'T. No fun at all. |
| Uzzy01-17-08, 03:07 AM | Hmm. Calednei has to retire and find some potions of longevity for both herself and Alusair. Solve the NPC problem that way! Potions of Longevity all round. |
| MarkusTay6301-17-08, 03:33 AM | Now there's a thought - people find a humongous stash of Netherese longevity Potions and EVERYONE takes them! Come 4e, EVERYTHING is the same... Oh... and Mystra, Sevras, Helm, and some Dwarf Gods come out of hiding after all those years... ;) |
| MazrimTaim01-17-08, 03:54 AM | the Potion of Longevity is produced on a massive scale while the Spellplague temporarily (about 104 years thereabouts) renders the entire population of Faerun infertile due to the blacklash from Mystra's death. In the meantime, the remaining Chosen laugh as they hold the essence of Mystra (hey, it's cannon!) in themselves and release her in 1475 and she pokes AO who wakes up from his power nap (to an overdeity, a hundred years is probably a few minutes) and goes "WTF" and retcons 4e Realms to dust. :eek: |
| Charles Phipps01-17-08, 02:10 PM | I'm going to be giving some of the group's reaction to the events of 4E if people are interested. most of it isn't funny ha-ha but it shows how they reacted to various elements. |
| Alediran01-17-08, 02:21 PM | Go on, it's always interesting to see different reactions. |
| Charles Phipps01-17-08, 04:05 PM | Part II Oddly, I'm going to admit that some of this makes me look bad, but....well, that's the way it crumbles. Part 3 will have everyone's reactions to the Gods changes. Me, The DM: Okay, it's night in Shadowdale and and you're all gathered in the Old Skull Inn for a typical round of ale or Gnomish wine while waiting for some hint of greater things to come to rescue you from the mundanity of Dale-life. Phillip: You're not even hiding that we're waiting for a plotline, are you? Me, The DM: And Phillip's dwarf is hit by lightning. Phillip: hey! Me, The DM: The gods are fickle in the post, Pre, and during Spell-plague period. Michael: So, who runs the Old Skull Inn now? The previous owners have to be dead. Me, The DM: It was purchased by your old character, Musim the half-elf who moved in here with Imzel the Snake Girl and the two had a large get that now compromises much of Shadowdale's employed population, descendents wise. Phillip: much of Shadowdale's population is snake people? Me, The DM: No, they're mostly human. Michael: Pity. Chris: Bah, we should all be Kings and ruling over vast empires with the kind of stuff we pulled. Me, The DM: I remind you, your character was the King of Gnomedale in the Thunder Peaks before you robbed its treasury and ran away. Chris: Ah, the joys of Chaotic Neutrality. Me, The DM: Ill tidings and black news is spreading across the Free lands of Faerun in recent months. Kyle: can we not use black as a pejorative? Me, The DM: For the African Americans amongst our group, BLEAK news is spread. Kyle: Thank you....and Drow have blue or purple skin. Ditto Duegar. Me, The DM: ANYyyway, the fires of Zhentil Keeps forges have been working non-stop as the ancient and decrypt Empire of Emperor Fzoul Chembyrl the Merciless has once more begun movement. News of massive bloody purges of Cyricists fill the air as the Church of Xvim disappears overnight. Countless caravans have been raided for sacrifices as people once more fear the ill tidings of Bane. Phillip: Great, we're going to be facing Zhents. 100 years in the future and it's still the Zhents. Michael: Charles' Zhents don't suck, recall? Phillip: I don't believe him. Chris: I like Drow. *whip noises* Me, The DM: Mystrans have been killed from Hillsfar to Daggerdale as magic is no longer welcome in a land that once welcomed them. Countless Refugees have poured into Shadowdale with the town of Spelldale destroyed overnight. Elminster's Hutt has been destroyed in a mysterious explosion while Storm's Cabin is abandoned. Chris: My gnome had ghost-sex with Sylune, once. Storm too. Kyle, Michael, Phillip: Yes...we know. Me, The DM: Every adult male in Shadowdale has had sex with Storm. It's a rite of passage around here. Phillip: So, when's the creepy and mysterious stranger going to show up? Me, The Dm: How did you.....uhhh.....oh dammit. Fine, the door opens up to reveal the weather beaten and dillapidated hooded figure of an unfamiliar man. Phillip: HA! I knew it. Me, The DM: Wait, it isn't unfamiliar at all....it's FUJI the Samurai! Lost for over a year. Phillip: Dammit, he's using his character to fill us in on information again. Me, The DM: Musim wonders how many holes he'll have to patch in the roof tile from all the lightning pouring down on the Dwarf. Philip: Oh dammit! [To be Continued] |
| MarkusTay6301-17-08, 04:13 PM | Running Commentary - Gnomish Wine will ONLY be available in the Monster Manual in 4e. Does Chris really use the word 'Bah'? Spelldale? :confused: |
| dethmetal01-17-08, 04:36 PM | Me, El DM[/b]: A terrifying madness possesses most of the Wizards in the world and compells them to go off killing one another left and right as magic runs wild. Haruula has been almost destroyed while Thay enters a degenerate civil war. Countless magicians are slain by heroes great and small while many of the brightest stars of the world are killed trying to put an end to the magical madness. The Constellation of Mystra the Third, greatest of the deities, then falls to nothingness. I thought the goddly concelations was a Krynn thing? |
| Charles Phipps01-17-08, 05:02 PM | Yes, he actually does the Dogbert wave when he says "Bah" too. Spelldale is one of the acknowledgements that I throw in that there's more villages and communities than just the ones listed in the actual Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting books. I think that's a very Greenwood bit of lore and one to always be remembered. I don't think we ever visited Spelldale (nor will we now) but it's present along with half a dozen other Dales I mentioned that each have a theme (Gnomedale was mentioned, there's also Metaldale and Wooddale---it's like a bunch of Megaman villains) I thought the goddly concelations was a Krynn thing? I think there's something similiar in the Realms (with Selune and Lathander clearly as a major portion of the Realms and Chauntaea as the ground), but I adopted the fact "Every God has a Constellation" during the Time of Troubles simply because it was a neat visual cue. |
| dethmetal01-17-08, 05:16 PM | I think it's a good addition, I've allways been a bigger fan of DL, then FR. |
| Bonzai01-17-08, 06:28 PM | Heh, everytime I talk about the 4th edition changes with the other player who likes to Dm in the realms, his response has uniformly been, "Well... thats not going to happen in my Realms", and I tend to agree. |
| Charles Phipps01-18-08, 02:01 AM | Part 3 Phillip: You know, we don't need all this. We've all kept up with 4E's monstrouscity. Chris: Speak for yourself. So, stuff changed? Phillip: :rolleyes: Me, The DM: Fuji has spent the past nine-months meditating on a mountain as the overwhelming horror of the Spell Plague overwhelmed his mystic senses and nearly drove him mad. Michael: Speaking of which, Charles, I need you to send me your updated character sheet. Fuji is no longer a monk but a Swordsage, right? Kyle: Maybe the world's best swordsman can actually hit something now. Me, The DM: Kyle... Kyle: I'm just saying, it was kinda sad the way that your Monk of Kelemvor practiced in-story non-stop and yet was constantly dealing less damage than our fighters. Me, The DM: The Former Chosen of Shar was gifted with a terrible vision of what has occurred in the divine realm. Phillip: Speaking of which, what have the rest of us been doing for the past 9 months while the world goes to Hell? Michael: Also, just as a note, I think the Time Skip is supposed to be Spell-Plague THEN 100 years not 100 years THEN Spell Plague. Chris: I'm confused. Sword-sage? Kyle: It's a neat book with prestige class.... Chris: Nevermind, not interested. Kyle: One last thing before you get started... Me, the DM: Ughhhhhh we have started. Kyle: Why does Fuji get to be a former Chosen of Shar? I mean, what do we get? Me, The DM: Kyle, what's your character and what does he wield? Kyle: I'm a Chaotic Evil Bhaalspawn Warblade out to slay Cyric. I wield the Fang of Bhaal, the former sword of my father. Phillip: My Dwarf Paladin maintains his powers despite hanging out with him, right? Me, The DM: So long as he keeps his mass homicide confined to bad people. *waves hand* It's a divine indulgence from Moradin. Kyle: But yes, I don't know why you don't let some of that Chosen Goodness fly our way. Me, The DM: Irony, Kyle, look it up. Michael: I'm content just being a snake girl. [DM's Note: Ironically, Michael's Character is made Chosen of Mask in a later session] Chris: My Gnome just wants the Ladies and is not afraid to use magic to get them. Me, the Dm: ANYWAYyyy, back to the plot exposition. Fuji orders up his usual hot water and makes his tea before sitting by the Fireplace in what I'm sure Phillip will suggest is either ripped off from the Lord of the Rings or Dragonlance. Chris: What lance? Philip: Just as long as you're clear you haven't an original bone in your body. At least it's not Elminster this time. Kyle: Hey, Elminster is cool! He occasionally gives magic items for quests! Chris: Speak for yourself, the guy stole *my* Scepter of the Sorcerer Kings Kyle: We were recovering it FOR him. Chris: MINE. Me, the Dm: Fuji shares his nightmare with you. He relates that he believes it was Shar that sent this dream to torment him. It was of the Fall of Mystra and the end of the Age of Magic that has devastated the whole of Abber-Toril. Michael: "Shar destroyed Mystra?" Lisa asks. Phillip: We already know it was... Michael: Lisa gives Phillip's character a Noogie to stay in character. Me, the Dm: "It was not Shar that destroyed Mystra", Fuji relates. "But Cyric. The Dark Sun has been biding his time these past centuries. Making Fel alliances and growing powerful evil magics in the depths of his Abyssal throne." Chris: *actually whispering for once* I thought Cyric lived in the Supreme Throne? Phillip: 3E, we still use the Great Wheel. Chris: The wha? Phillip: Manual of the Planes. Chris: *whispers* God, why can't we just stick to 3 books like normal people. Me, the Dm: "From there, he made a terrible alliance with Velsharoon and Shar. Probing the ancient arts of darkness, they restored to life the Tyrant God Bane which distracted Mystra long enough for the Lord of Assassins to strike at her fast enough with a blade forged of Primordial Evil cast in Ghaundaur's Evil Light to smote her ruin." Chris: I have no idea what you just said but it sounds really cool. Kyle: Shhh. I'm getting in the mood. Michael: Lisa says "But Mystra has returned every time she's died before!" Me, The DM: "Not this time. For the blow struck by Cyric did not merely destroy Mystra's astral body but destroyed the whole of the Weave itself. Like a tidal wave, the Elder Evil Power washed over creation and destroyed dozens of divine realms as it drove mad all wizards unwilling to cast away their sorcery." Phillip: *speaking in Dwarf tones* "Bah, urrr, shouldna the Chosen have been enough to preserve the Weave." Me, The DM: Fuji shakes his head "I do not know, but the Shadow Weave seems to have been broken by the experience as well and for that we must be grateful. I may be but wishfully hoping, however." Michael: "Yes, if Shar has access to the only source of magic on Faerun, it may be the doom of us all!" Lisa says. Chris: Shar's the sexy night lady, right? Me, The DM: Was that in character? Chris: Uhh...yes. Me, The DM: Everyone looks at your Gnome like he's drunk, as usual. Chris: I go back to ignoring Fuji and pinching waitresses. Me, the DM: "Worse, the Triad had already been broken by this time for Cyric had woven a potion of madness with the essence of Shar's power to poison Helm's mind. Helm had long been lovers with Tymora the Luck Goddess...." Phillip: Since when? Me, The Dm: Listen, we play the Realms as God and Greenwood intended. That means the Gods are like the Elves and the Elves are like White Wolf characters. They have lots of sex because it's fun and they're all hedonist Greeks. Helm is lovers with probably everyone at one point in his immortal life. Chris: Here here. Me, The DM: "And the marriage between Tyr and Tymora set by Sune to unite the powers of good against the rise of Bane was disrupted. Helm charged forth and a duel emerged. Tyr's power was mightier but Helm's fury was incurable and the God of Justice was forced to smote his own dearest friend....to Cyric's evil laughter." Chris: I'm so proud of Cyric, I taught him everything he knows. Phillip: My Dwarf looks sad, vows revenge for Helm, and orders a pint in his honor. Chris: I take the pint because it's free booze. Philip: So, get to the good part where the Dwarf gods smite the Duegar gods. Me, The DM: Well that's unimportant right now. Phillip: Oh dammit! Me, The Dm: "A terrible war is waged with the Gods Deneir and Milil slain by Mask. Ultimately, Cyric's madness curse spreads through all of Mystra's chosen and as the lands of magic burn....Unther is dominated by terrible creatures and Mulhorandi devastated. Chaos reigns across the land. There is one bright spot for Cyric's power has not been unpunished. Tyr, Sune, and Lathander joined forces and have bound him at the bottom of the Abyss." Phillip: Isn't the Abyss infinite? Me, the Dm: Yes, which means he's bound really really :censored: deep. Michael: Lisa says "He'll be more eager than ever to escape now and wreck havok on the world." Kyle: My character laughs manically at all the carnage and his chance to seize Cyric's powr. Michael: Out of Character, the Denier and Milil thing is your invention, right? Me, The DM: Too many music gods. Finder is taking over the roles and Oghma. Kyle: There's like 70 gods and we're only killing like six? Me, The DM: Fuji shakes his head and says "A terrible power has subsumed most of the Realms in carnage. Heroes are needed now more than ever and I ask you to accompany me to Cormyr to join in defense of the King from the horrors particularly unleashed there by way of Daggerdale." Michael: Whose King now? Me, The DM: Azoun the...Fifth. He has two heirs. Michael: Who? Me, the Dm: Uhhh :shifty: Tanalasta and Alusair....the Seconds. Philip: Oh come on, Who rules Daggerdale? Me, The Dm: Rand....OLF Morn. He's Randal's half-elven son. Phillip: Not enough time for proper notes yet, huh. Me, The DM: Lightning hits your dwarf unconicous. |
| Caemun01-18-08, 01:50 PM | I love your gaming group. |
| Charles Phipps01-18-08, 02:49 PM | Part Four ends the discussions we've had on Fourth Edition so far, this may change as new information becomes available. OOC-Conversation. Michael, Fellow DM: Okay, just so we've established some ground rules, all of the campaign we've established thus far is potentially subject to ret-con as increasing information about 4E becomes available. Me, DM: Yes, though the plotlines will remain the same and parts that don't contradict will be merged. Michael, Fellow DM: That includes your mistake on the Spell plague. Me, Dm: can we get off that? Phillip, Also there because he's Michael's brother: I can't believe that they destroyed Sembia! Me, DM: They didn't destroy Sembia, it's just part of netheril now. Phillip: Sembia is one of my favorite Realms! Me, DM: Everyone hates Sembia. Sembia combines the worst stereotypes of corporate america with Venicean politics. It exists to be vilified. Phillip: I happen to LIKE Tolnedria. Me, DM: Huh? Phillip: You've never read the Belgariad? Me, DM: Now I know how Chris feels. [Actually, I read it, I was just screwing with him] Michael: Sembians stole Musim and Imzel's horse. Me, DM: The fact a bunch of wizards control a bunch of evil bankers doesn't keep it from being a bunch of evil bankers. Kyle: Hey guys! Me, DM: Uh....hi kyle, what are you doing here? Kyle: I thought we'd get a game in. Me, DM: Well Chris isn't here... Kyle: His gnome can guard the horses. Me, DM: Listen... Kyle: Oh did you hear the latest 4E Reams spoilers. ALL the gods don't exist that are racial pantheon members. Me, DM: I'll believe that when I see it. Michael, Fellow DM: Actually, I prefer a larger pantheon to the indistinct entities of Eberron. Phillip: we need a game of Eberron. Me, DM: I remind you, after what you did to my last one, we won't be doing that. Kyle: No, this means they'll be only like twelve gods! It'll be cool! Me, DM: They'll be more than 12 gods. Kyle: So how are we going to be implementing this. Phillip: IN *OUR* Campaign world, kyle, we've seen plenty of deities. Remember, we had Hanelli and Sune bathe together. Kyle: Which was neat but, it'll....be like her bathing with herself. Me, DM: Which fits her, I know. However, I like Talos more than Gruumsh. Kyle: I thought you liked the idea that all the gods were different faces of one another. Me, DM: Yes, but unfortunately they all have different personalities and I couldn't make it work. Kyle: Meh, the Gods are just schizophrenic. We knew that. Me, DM: Whatveer Kyle, we'll wait and see what it says. |
| MarkusTay6301-18-08, 04:01 PM | More commentary - Number one - you obviously bend the rules quite a bit (especially concerning alignment). Thats cool, I do the same - as long as everyone's having fun the rules are only suggestions. Also, I like the constellation thing too - obviously you borrow from many settings, as do I. :thumbsup: Part 3 [DM's Note: Ironically, Michael's Character is made Chosen of Mask in a later session]Nice DMing there, I'm a big fan of philosophy - "Those who seek power are usually least fit to wield it" and "The best man for the job is usually one who doesn't want it" Phillip: Isn't the Abyss infinite?Its finite now (4e), so you were quite correct. I've tried to incorporate a DMPC into my sessions, but my players hate him - how do you handle that? :confused: You do have the Spellplague backwards, but hey, it's YOUR game. Its spelled Tolnedra, and if there is any FR analogy to the empire (and there really isn't), it would have the be the Shoon Imperium - they were the only ones who got heavily into building highways everywhere to move their troops about more quickly. Other then that, though, there's really not much else they have in common. Tolnedra was obviously an analogy of Rome, if anything. Keep going - your group definately sounds like one I'd enjoy playing in (although I usually prefer more low-lev types myself). |
| Alediran01-18-08, 04:49 PM | I have a DMPC in my campaign (it's Alediran) and at least nobody hates him. He's the only full arcane spellcaster of the party and the rest of the characters rely on him when obscure knowledge or a mighty spell is required to do the job. Since the DM controls the most versatile Spellcaster then I can give them different situations for which Alediran "isn't prepared" if I want them to resolve the puzzle. |
| Charles Phipps01-18-08, 05:05 PM | Fuji wasn't a DMPC per say with as Michael is our DM more than half the time, it's just the fact that "The Mess" (see earlier on this page) hasn't been posting any of my humorous observations on 4E. But basically, I always make it a point to remember two rules when I do use something similiar to them... 1. Never make them the lead: No matter how cool your character is, no one wants to be his supporting cast and if you want to DM that then you should be writing a novel. Instead, you should always make them auxillary. If they have to do something cool then make sure everyone else has done something equal or better beforehand. 2. Info-Dumping: One of the best uses for DMNPCs is the fact that they should be a ready and willing source of information. A well-travelled NPC whose familiar with the surroundings and can be asked about stuff is always important. 3. Rarely make them the quest hook: It may become too much like railroading. |
| MarkusTay6301-18-08, 05:06 PM | I'm still not sure what to do with mine - I created him for the sole pupose of 'showing up' at opportune times, in order to 'nudge' players in certain directions. Unfortunetly, instead of coming to rely on him, they come to resent his presence. Its kind of like the effect some people claim about FR - that the NPCs 'overshadow' the PCs. It was all good, until the players did some TRULY STUPID things during an encounter, and risked getting slaughtered (easily). the encounter was supposed to be a very simple introduction to a possible future 'patron' (Harpers and what-not), but they somehow mangled things so badly that something that should have been like CR1 was CREAMING them! So, my DMPC steps in, and handily dispatches the bady - and since then they've hated him. They actually resented me saving their lives! :eek: I probably should have let them all die, but it was their very first adventure, and I didn't feel like spending another several hours helping them make characters; plus, that would have made them not like the game (or so I thought). So I've had to move the guy from being 'in the background' to being not there at all. It sort of destroyed an entire campaign-arc I had in mind, but oh well... they are onto another set of adventures now. With NO help... :( |
| Charles Phipps01-18-08, 05:16 PM | That was a major mistake on your part because your player characters aren't going to be necessarilly too attached to their characters by that point. You honestly should have let the dice roll where they may or you should have done something that I call "Encounter Aids" which are a form of cheating but ones that players tend to have less of a problem. Whenever the dice are screwing with your story, you turn to an Encounter Aid. Example The player characters are getting their ass handed to them by the Vampire in a broken and desecrated cemetary. You make a Spot check and then one of the player characters "finds" a gnarled piece of wood from the old cemetary church that was once part of Torm's Holy Cross. The PCs can use this to gain a bonus that allows them to slay the beast. Or frankly, if you use a DM screen or keep the results to yourself, just say it made a critical failure and let them kill it. But yes, you made the classic mistake of essentially making your player characters, Lois Lane. No one likes Lois Lane but when Superman swoops in at the last minute, you have got to feel sorry for her. But yes, my recommendation is that you ditch the character....and if at all possible. Reintroduce him. Change the name and some basic facts about him but otherwise keep the character and salvage as much of your plot arc as well. I've used Alexander Seer on a dozen occassions. Alexander Seer has been a Vampire, A Mage, a Bard, and a dozen other titles but he's always worked because the same basic character traits are all that matter. A good way to introduce the character is making him beholden to THEM. When I first introduced Elminster, he came to THEM for help (even though they were low level). Specifically, he needed someone that was an Unknown to sneak into Zhentil Keep. Some good suggestions are... 1. The next adventure hook depends on him. 2. The character has been badly beaten by monsters and the PCs have to rescue him. 3. He's heard of the PCs and wants to hang out with them for awhile. It's best to also never try and insert a Higher Level DMPC than the players, they should never be more than 1-2 levels higher. Remember, the DMPC should never be the player's "Boss" as well or they'll hate him with Office Space levels of loathing. |
| The_Mess01-18-08, 09:59 PM | Nice DMing there, I'm a big fan of philosophy - "Those who seek power are usually least fit to wield it" and "The best man for the job is usually one who doesn't want it" Note, we're using "lesser" chosen rules we sorta make up as we go along. Lisa's picking up minor powers as she develops. She's not weilding a ton of power: She has shadowcaster levels! I've tried to incorporate a DMPC into my sessions, but my players hate him - how do you handle that? :confused: Oh, we all hate him, so it's not a problem! :-) But, seriously, Charlie's right. When someone else takes over DMing for a plot, our character receeds quietly into the background... while becoming strangely more knowledgeable about things than they ever were otherwise. DMPCs always have Bardic Knowledge and always succeed at knowledge checks! Saving PCs from their own stupidity (or what looks like stupidity from the DM side) requires cleverness sometimes. I like to introduce random subplots. Lord Evillus: "I will give you one chance to earn your lives. If you retrieve for me a certain artifact... {insert spiel} ... And I'm taking your DMPC hostage while my underling, Kadon the Warblade, goes with you." Charlie: "DMPC swap! This is because he just got Book of 9 Swords." Me: "Lighting strikes Fuji." |
| MarkusTay6301-19-08, 12:22 AM | Okay... maybe I should have been a little more specific. I've used DMPCs before, in a similar situation to you guys - I used to co-DM a game for years with a friend of mine, and we'd 'drag along' our own characters on the adventure for a little extra help when needed (NEVER leading, and never getting any exp.) In this case, the players were pretty clueless. They were walking into a 'tomb' (or so they thought), to look for this Monk (my DMPC) who had 'gone missing', and another elderly Monk was worrried about him. All the old guy had was a map he found in the young Monk's room... Classic set-up... Anyhow, the Tomb wasn't really what it appeared - it was a 'test' that was set-up by Harpers to test potential members. The players may or may not have wound up being targets - the idea was that the Harpers had become interested in the Monk, and were thinking about recruiting him, so they slipped some false information his way. In this way, I would give the players a very 'iffy' connection to the Harpers early on, in case I needed them as a plothook later. the Monk could have been their contact, and would have only made occassional appearances... or at least that was the plan. The place only had 2 ghouls and a Zombie, but the zombie was 'magiked' to look and sound worse then he was (there was this illusion , see... oh, you get the idea!). Basically, it was like one of those cheesy haunted-house deals we see around Halloween, done FR style. The mage had already cast his spells - uselessly - in the first room... against a wall (don't ask). the barbarian rushes in and attacks the Ghouls... and rolls a 1. The thief decides he really doesn't want to fight, and while the others are busy, he starts searching the room for treasure (the undead are programmed to only hit what attacks them). The priest in the mean-time is dousing the zombie (who he thinks is a Lich) with beer - which he takes as an attack (don't ask). Round two - the mage continues to stand there doing nothing, and the thief continues to search arouind the perimeter, tapping on walls and what-not. The Barabrian rolls a 1... again. You think I'm kidding? I couldn't believe that kids luck (or lack thereof). By this time, both Ghouls have hit him twice, and he's down (he actually died, but I was working on blood-loss and negative hit points, here). My son (the priest player) tries to light the 'Lich' (zombie) on fire - at 16 he did not know Beer isn't flamable... :rolleyes: The zombie (me) rolls and scores a hit. Next round the thief and priest continue to do what they were doing (nothing), the Barbarian is bleeding to death on the floor, and the priest rolls... and gets a 1 (swear to god, those guys rolled three 1's in a row!!!). The Zombies and ghouls all attack him, and he takes a few hits... he's hurtin'. At this point, I can't believe what I'm seeing - this wasn't even supposed to be a real encounter!!! So I have the Monk, whom is locked in a room behind the 'alter' (the ONLY wall the thief didn't check - he was afraid of getting to close to the combat), manage to break free. I go to kick one ghoul... and roll a 20 (WOW), critical the ghoul and kill it. I was hoping to get all of the 'baddies' attacking me, so that the party could have time to just swing away at them and killl them, giving them all the glory. So now the two left turn on me (of course), and my son manages to damage the zombie... finally. The other two idiots (one being another son of mine and his friend) continue to JUST STAND THERE AND WATCH! I swing again... OH NO... another 20... this can't be happening (I NEVER roll that good when I want to) - I kill the second Ghoul. My other son finally approaches and backstabs the zombie - and kills it. That, of course, pi$$es my son off who had actually been fighting the whole time, and never got a kill - not to mention his friend who spent a good deal of the encounter face down in a pool of blood - and he's the only one who acted appropriately (crazy barbarian). So the mage was bored, the thief got in the final blow, and everyone lived (yeah!). It really was all a matter of REALLY bad luck on their rolls, and stupid-good on mine, and I wasn't rolling behind a screen (gimme a break - this was supposed to be a 'warm-up' encounter, not real). So you can see how it wasn't entirely my fault - I would have hated my Monk too. :( So now, they have no friendly harpers, and they're working for a Red wizard (un-beknownst to them). Mores the pity. |
| Charles Phipps01-19-08, 01:21 AM | Its spelled Tolnedra, and if there is any FR analogy to the empire (and there really isn't), it would have the be the Shoon Imperium - they were the only ones who got heavily into building highways everywhere to move their troops about more quickly. Other then that, though, there's really not much else they have in common. Tolnedra was obviously an analogy of Rome, if anything. My main point was that the Tolnedrans were largely role-played as a money-obsessed culture to the point of cariacture. Specifically, I use a lot of the constant scheming for more wealth as my major defining characteristic for the Sembians (which is reinforced in the books). I rather resent my players treating of the Sembians as automatic bad guys but they really are a thoroughly unsympathetic bunch to be honest. I do mark them as one of the most advanced cultures on Toril, however. Number one - you obviously bend the rules quite a bit (especially concerning alignment). Thats cool, I do the same - as long as everyone's having fun the rules are only suggestions. Yes, I tend to follow the "Belkar" rule in that Evil people are profoundly selfish and cruel individuals but there's no reason they can't have affection for small groups and behave themselves (so long as it benefits them). Just so long as they're still overly monstrous in the long run. I treat Paladins more or less like the Jedi Knight class from Star Wars D20. They are about doing whatevers most good for the galaxy so long as it isn't evil. Keep going - your group definately sounds like one I'd enjoy playing in (although I usually prefer more low-lev types myself). As Michael says, my version of Chosen is almost like a prestige class. You get abilities as Rewards for sucessfully completing tasks. |
| MarkusTay6301-19-08, 01:54 AM | Like Scooby-snacks!!! :dancin: |
| Charles Phipps01-28-08, 11:13 PM | Almost a verbatim conversation at my PC's last session. Fuji: Okay, now we have to go rescue the Princess. Edgar the Gnome: Why? Fuji: Hmmm? Edgar the Gnome: Who died and made us the defenders of Cormyr's problems? Fuji: Edgar... Imzel: She's a friend! Edgar The Gnome: No, I'll say my peace. I'm getting sick of this. No matter where we go, there's :censored: hitting the fan of some sort. The local lord has been overthrown, there's an invasion of Githyanki, someone's child has been kidnapped, or there's an excursion of Giants. Fuji: Errr... Edgar The Gnome: Seriously, it's like the whole world is going to pot. Sometimes, weird, I think that the dung doesn't hit the windmill right until we visit the place! It's like the Gods of Evil hold off their plans right until we walk into town JUST so that we'll be compelled to stick our nose in things. Galan: Edgar... Edgar the Gnome: Just let me phrase this simply. Next town, I don't care if BANE HIMSELF is going to show up and challenge me to an arm wrestling match... Lisa: You'd lose. Edgar the Gnome: I am going to keep my head down and just HAVE MY BEER without interruption. Fuji: Are you done? Edgar the Gnome: Do we even get paid for this? I thought we were mercenaries and thieves!? |
| Charles Phipps02-04-08, 12:12 AM | A Conversation on Orcs and Human Beings in 4E Lisa the Thief: So, Fuji, Orcs and humans. Fuji the Samurai: Hmm, what? Lisa the Thief: So, what's the deal. Galan, the Half Orc Ranger: Orcs are soulless rampaging killing machines. Marcus the Tiefling Paladin: I think she's asking you why Orcs and Humans don't get along. Fuji the Samurai: Why are you asking me? Lisa the Theif: err, you're a couple of centuries old. You've lived with Orcs. You're not evil. You're the Ex-Chosen of Shar. I figure we'd get your perspective on the issue. OOC Kyle: You're doing stock land description Chuck and I want you to settle a bet with me and Chris. OOC Michael: I like your random lore. OOC Chris: I've read Chucks posts, they're Daleks. I'M FROM BUENOS AIRES AND I SAY KILL EM ALL! OOC Charles: Was that in character? Edgar: *ahem* I'm from Gnomedale and I say kill em all! Galan: Agreed. Edgar: They're ugly and dark skinned. OOKyle: My character hits Edgar repeatedly. Is there a latrine to flush the gnome down? Or throw him in, I guess? OO Charles: Yes. Fuji The Samurai: Alright, Eggs. Lisa: Eh? Fuji The Samurai: Eggs is the secret of Orcs and Evil. OOC Kyle: God, he's doing that stupid Cryptic thing again. OOCharles: I could just e-mail the information if you don't want me to talk in character. OOC Michael: Can we let the guy speak. Edgar the Gnome: We should eliminate all ugly races as a matter of course. Bugbears, gnolls, and so on. Halflings are okay but Gnomes and Dwarves will be purged. At least the males. Fuji The Samurai: You're a Gnome. Edgar the Gnome: VICIOUS AND SLANDEROUS *LIES*! Fuji The Samurai: Allow me to explain. Orcs require roughly about ten pounds of fresh meat a day. They're a carnivorous race that often finds itself depopulating the surrounding areas around them of fresh game and ranching requires fairly vast amounts of cattle that will swiftly be gone through. Though orcs and pigs have worked wonders, the issue still applies, they eat a lot of meat. Galan the Half Orc: Which is why they eat the flesh of man. Fuji The Samurai: More or less, to combat starvation, orcs have a habit of eating their own dead and the sickly. They have no cannibal problems amongst themselves, so that other races and their dead are another issue. Lisa the Thief: I see. Fuji the Samurai: In every area where Orcs and Humans live in relative peace. The Orcs have taken up raising chickens. Eggs are like porrige to Orcs. Bland, tasteless, but nourishing. Orcish packs tend to be filled with Raw eggs. When Orcs have eggs, they tend to refrain from psychotically attacking their neighbors every winter. Lisa the Thief: So, the trick to making peace with Orcs is to give them chickens? Fuji the Samurai: I didn't say they LIKED eggs, Lisa. It's a subsistance food. They could, however, with eggs also start large scale cattle ranching as some places in Thar have done thanks to Zhent influence and be reasonably civilized. It'll never happen though. Edgar The Gnome: Because, they're filthy filthy ugly people! Like Half...human...half GNOMES! [DM's Note: The joke is that Edgar hates Gnomes because his ego was, at this time, still bruised from being banished by his own people for gross incompetence. Really, his alignment is Chaotic Neutral but it seems clear at times he verges on CE whenever dealing with the poor, ugly, or blatant Earth-paralells.] Fuji the Samurai: More, because humans and elves can't spare that land. Humans need large amounts of farm land to support their territories. Likewise, elves need large amounts of virgin wilderness so they can bind their spirits to the forrests and gain immortality. [DM's note: My excuse for elven longeveity] Lisa the Thief: So you're saying, they'll always be conflict because of basic biological differences? Fuji the Samurai: Probably. |
| Priamon02-04-08, 07:11 AM | http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080108a There we go, everyone pony up 5 grand and a buisness license and We can awnser a ton of questions! :plotting: :devil: :schemes: :$$: |
| Charles Phipps02-06-08, 10:35 PM | http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080108a There we go, everyone pony up 5 grand and a buisness license and We can awnser a ton of questions! :plotting: :devil: :schemes: :$$: I personally have a dream. I have a dream of being the guy who writes the Honor Harrington D20 RPG. I have no problem ponying up whatever cash is necessary to do the project. I'd gladly dip into my pockets to become part of the world, nor as a not entirely successful professional writer, would I have any problem doing the actual grunt work. No, the problem would be the fact that even if I bought the license by selling the kidneys of others (after selling my own), did the Honor Harrington RPG with full write-up, then I would still be a guy with no company or way of distributing it. *le sigh* The same problem afflicts my desire to do my own fantasy setting and books. |
| The_Mess02-06-08, 10:59 PM | This is what RPGNow is for. You think those guys have their own company? |
| Charles Phipps02-06-08, 11:13 PM | .... Sorry, I'd probably need a physical book Michael. I used to be part of an RPG company. The irony was that our bad deals forced us into RPG now and...it was all downhill from there. |