The first session that I ran for Rob & Randy went really well. I found that with the aid of a module, I wasn't nervous about running the game at all. The guys seemed to really be interested in the game and jumped right in without much direction from me - the benefit of playing with veteran gamers, I suppose. There were a few times where I stopped the game to ask for direction regarding the rules or aspects of the role playing and they were really helpful in that respect, too. I did surprise myself, though, in that I knew the rules of combat and/or the character classes a lot better than I thought I did.
The PC's started out in the Forlorn Hope Tavern (the name inspired by Badelaire) in the town of Falcon's Hollow, a lumbering town located on the outskirts of the Chondalwood. As I said in my campaign notes, they were just getting settled in when a bloodied & beaten man burst through the doors. After ascertaining that no one in the room was going to the man's aide, the PC's made their way to his side where the elven ranger/sorcerer healed him. Before they could begin questioning him, they were joined by a man named Kreed, the leader of the lumber consortium & Falcon's Hollow.
Between questions asked by the PC's & Kreed, they learned that something had attacked the cutting yard although the man, Mutters, wasn't sure what had attacked them. The PC's offered to go to the cutting yard to search out the trouble - to which Kreed clarified that they were volunteering for the duty. When they answered in the affirmative, he told them he would send a few of his thugs to show them where the cutting yard was. This was a point of clarification for me because the module said that Kreed was to offer to pay the PC's if they would do this task, however since they volunteered for the job Kreed doesn't have to pay them a single gold piece. I wasn't sure if I should still offer up the money since Kreed is a greedy character and they said I did the right thing in not doing so.
The PC's took off through the woods and I had them roll a random encounter, which turned out to be the bones of a megaraptor that had recently been unearthed due to an earthquake. Robbie is playing a barbarian and since he has a greater endurance/strength, he picked up Randy's character & the NPC rogue and took off running through the woods. This put the PC's at some distance from the NPC's that had been sent to help them, so the PC's had to fight the megaraptor by themselves. They had very little trouble with the creature and were able to dispatch it before the NPC's joined up with them.
I got a little confused because the module had a trap waiting for the PC's once they entered the cutting yard but there was no description of the trap or indication of it on the map that I had. It wasn't until reading further into the module that I realized the trap was supposed to go off when they entered a certain area. I suppose this was an area where the DM (me) was supposed to improvise but I dropped the ball here. The guys were ok with it, though, simply pointing out that I should give more detail next time. It was at this point that they realize they are facing kobolds & kobold zombies. The creatures themselves were pretty easy to dispatch, the module relying on traps to do more damage than the monsters.
Randy's PC had flown up to the top of a building and so I gave him a perception check to notice a kobold lurking at the next trap (vs his hide check) & the PC made it, thereby avoiding the trap (for the most part). I had created an NPC rogue for the guys and as she ran past the tower she warned them that it was also trapped (thanks to the trap spotter talent that rogues get in Pathfinder). The module didn't account for the PC's getting on top of any buildings so I made a call and allowed them the perception check. The kobold panicked when he realized the PC's were heading towards him & he released the trap prematurely, killing one of the kobold zombies, 2 NPC's, & trapping a myrmidon in the tower.
The PC's found a man who had been held as bait and he informed them that the kobolds had taken several living prisoners. The PC's were able to find the tracks leading out of camp and set off to follow them, thereby bypassing the rest of the traps in the cutting yard. I had the PC's roll a random encounter because they were running through the forest in the middle of the night, although the module didn't call for one. This time they encountered evil grigs that had been corrupted by some unknown force. The PC's spoke to the grigs and they learned that a demon was somehow involved in the chaos.
As they were talking to the grig's they noticed an influx of vermin in the area. I had them roll perception checks to notice the kobold druid & his disciples and I think they both made it. They both survived this attack as well, although I forgot about the druid's vermin companion - a large scorpion. Oh well. They decided to camp in the clearing after defeating the evil druid, although the NPC tried to persuade them to continue on. (His name is Peydey and Randy said that the word peydey [not sure of the correct spelling] in Portuguese means, "I farted".)
So the PC's have made it about halfway through the module and the guys want me to finish running it for them on Friday. One of the things that made it difficult for me was that I kept loosing my place in the module because I'd have to flip to different pages for NPC/monster stats. I need to come up with a better system for Friday and it's going to involve my netbook. Randy informed me that the Pathfinder SRD was available online and that's going to be a big help in looking up monster stats. The guys also told me that I should have let them have some time at the beginning of the game to do character descriptions, etc. instead of jumping right into the module.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Alternate Uses For Magic Items*
I am currently sitting outside while I write this post, which would be cool except it's kind of chilly and overcast today. It's supposed to get up into the 80's next week and that will be nice. I figured I could put this time to good use while the boys run around the yard and burn off some energy. I am writing this on my new netbook that Aaron bought me last weekend. It was a very thoughtful gift from him and I love how tiny & cute it is.
Next week is spring break and I'm formulating a long list of stuff to do around the house. The weather will be gorgeous so I can send the boys out into the backyard while I do some spring cleaning. I will be putting together honey-do list at some point and I'm going to try to cut down on my internet/gaming time next week. The key word being try.
Rob let me borrow his copy of Dante's Inferno and I've been playing that since Sunday. The game, while a bit creepy and bizarre, is visually very pretty. The unblessed infants and lust seductresses are perhaps the most disturbing. The lust seductresses have these weird snake things that come out from their vaginal region & they attack you with those. The unblessed babies in limbo are undead and they have knives coming out of the ends of their arms, instead of hands. Xander said they were zombie babies. I try to send the boys out of the room while I play that game but sometimes they sneak back in while I'm engrossed in a difficult spot. The game is really cool but it does have a lot of frustrating points, where it seems like it's almost impossible to proceed. I've skipped over quite a bit in my frustration, trying to balance having fun with unlocking achievements.
I also got my copy of Dragon Age: Origins - Awakenings. I want to replay the original game before I play the sequel. I don't know why I want to play the first again, except to get a different result from the first time I played it. I had already started another game before Rob let me borrow DI & I created a noble human warrior. I plan on trying to seduce Leliana and sacrificing my character at the end. I'm also going to side with the opposite factions this time. Randy & I got an early birthday present for Rob; we bought him a copy of DOA: A.
It will be hard to put the game aside next week while I try to get stuff done around the house. However, since I don't have to get up early to take the boys to school, I might be able to get some time on the Xbox in after everyone goes to bed...
*This random title is brought to you by a conversation we had at last Sunday's Harrowdale session. We found a magical sword that glows and we were joking around about using it to light our way to the bathroom in the middle of the night or using a vorpal knife to chop vegetables, etc.
Next week is spring break and I'm formulating a long list of stuff to do around the house. The weather will be gorgeous so I can send the boys out into the backyard while I do some spring cleaning. I will be putting together honey-do list at some point and I'm going to try to cut down on my internet/gaming time next week. The key word being try.
Rob let me borrow his copy of Dante's Inferno and I've been playing that since Sunday. The game, while a bit creepy and bizarre, is visually very pretty. The unblessed infants and lust seductresses are perhaps the most disturbing. The lust seductresses have these weird snake things that come out from their vaginal region & they attack you with those. The unblessed babies in limbo are undead and they have knives coming out of the ends of their arms, instead of hands. Xander said they were zombie babies. I try to send the boys out of the room while I play that game but sometimes they sneak back in while I'm engrossed in a difficult spot. The game is really cool but it does have a lot of frustrating points, where it seems like it's almost impossible to proceed. I've skipped over quite a bit in my frustration, trying to balance having fun with unlocking achievements.
I also got my copy of Dragon Age: Origins - Awakenings. I want to replay the original game before I play the sequel. I don't know why I want to play the first again, except to get a different result from the first time I played it. I had already started another game before Rob let me borrow DI & I created a noble human warrior. I plan on trying to seduce Leliana and sacrificing my character at the end. I'm also going to side with the opposite factions this time. Randy & I got an early birthday present for Rob; we bought him a copy of DOA: A.
It will be hard to put the game aside next week while I try to get stuff done around the house. However, since I don't have to get up early to take the boys to school, I might be able to get some time on the Xbox in after everyone goes to bed...
*This random title is brought to you by a conversation we had at last Sunday's Harrowdale session. We found a magical sword that glows and we were joking around about using it to light our way to the bathroom in the middle of the night or using a vorpal knife to chop vegetables, etc.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Harrowdale Campaign - Game #3
We were sitting down to our breakfast when we heard Gerard arguing with someone in his study. It is not uncommon for him to have guests so early in the day but they don't normally yell at him until after lunch. I overheard a woman tell him to mind his own business and then she stormed out of the room. As she passed by the dining room, she paused to warn us as well. "And as for you," she snarled, "you also need to quit meddling in affairs that don't concern you." Then she was gone.
I am not unused to such haughty behavior from sun elves but her pointed warning seemed ominous and I inquired of Gerard as to who she was. He told us that her name was Donrain but did not volunteer any further information. Whoever she is, it's apparent from her snobbish manner, her fine clothing, & her commanding airs that she is noble born.
Before we could press the issue with him, Gerard then told us that we would be meeting someone at The Standing Stone to hand over the sword we had found. Originally he had told us that we were to deliver the sword to the Sword Maidens of Eilistraee but the town of Tangled Trees was having trouble with drow and were in desperate need of assistance. We were to meet with an elf named Lothrond and hand the sword over to him.
I find it necessary to make note of the fact that the sword had been created by the Archmage Demeron as a means to enhance a wizard's powers. The sword itself was never intended to kill drow but when I touched it the sword's properties changed through means of wild magic. The sword is now a powerful weapon against drow and I think it interesting that suddenly people know of it's new properties and are petitioning for it's use.
When we inquired as the change of plans, Gerard seemed reluctant to tell us and simply told us that the town was in need of aid. He has had a lifelong fascination with magical artifacts and it seems as if finding the Goldenleaf amulet for him did nothing but turn his fascination into obsession. We have spent the past year hunting down artifacts - mostly elven made - with little success. I can see the strain taking a toll on him and he is aging before me, much the way a human must rapidly change before elven eyes.
We had several days to prepare and I spent the time by using Gerard's spellbook to make scrolls. Vicho was thoughtful enough to bring me a beautiful white cake covered in vanilla and honey frosting and decorated with sugared rose petals. His manner has changed around me, coinciding with my physical change. I find him watching me at times, with a strange look in his eyes. I can't tell what he is thinking but it seems troubling. I long to reassure him that I am the same person, despite my appearance but I don't know if that is what is bothering him. He may be critiquing my clothing and choice of accessories for all that I know. Katniss & Trey seem unaffected by my changes.
We arrived at the Standing Stone on time and entered an empty clearing. Trey started muttering to himself and went straight to the monument, where he took rubbings of the inscriptions on the stone. Katniss began to dance around the clearing, alternately picking her nose & scratching her bum while Vicho looked on in horror. That's when I noticed that we were being watched. I approached one of the figures that stood just outside of the clearing and inquired as to the whereabouts of Lothrond.
After establishing that both parties were who they said the were, we handed over the sword to Lothrond and Katniss noticed that the color of the sword's aura was subtly different from when Vicho or I had held the sword. After discussing the matter for several moments we surmised that it might be that Lothrond was not of the Ventari family. How I am related to the Ventari is beyond me, although it is true that I do not know who my real father is. Note to self: Gerard said that Vicho's mother may know who he is. I'll have to enlist Vicho's aid in obtaining that information from her.
While we were discussing the sword's strange aura, I noticed that Vicho had grown very pale and silent. The pale skin was obviously distressing but Vicho's silence was much more disturbing. He said that he was suddenly feeling nauseous but with the aid of Lothrond's druid companion, we determined that he had not been poisoned. I was able to deduce, using my knowledge of spell craft, that his illness had been brought about magically but by whom or what, I did not know. I was able to craft an alchemical potion to reduce his nausea but we decided to make camp within the clearing for the evening, in case his illness were to reoccur.
Felwind, an elven ranger & a companion of Lothrond, stayed behind to escort us to Tangled Trees. He went off to hunt for our dinner but returned with a back full of drow darts. He was near death but Katniss was able to bring him back. While we were ministering to Felwind's injuries, Vicho snuck out of camp to confer with what he thought were drow warriors. He was greeted by a shadow creature instead, an undead of some type, who warned him that Tangled Trees was going to be overrun by drow. He also told Vicho to continue to gain Gerard's trust, and ours as well, in order to betray us.
The fact that Vicho would tell us this tells me that he is to be trusted. When the others asked him why the shadow would approach him I offered that maybe the creature was counting on Vicho's drow heritage to lead him astray. Vicho asked me if I thought he was capable of betraying us and I told him that I did not and I truly believe that. He also said that the 4 of us had been mentioned in the scroll that we had found in the Goldenleaf crypt a year ago and that we were destined for something. And if he ever sneaks off without telling us where he is going again, I will kill him!
I thought it was still necessary to go to Tangled Trees, despite the dire warning or perhaps because of it. We could alert the town of the pending attack and help to defend it. I notice that Vicho wanted me to tell him what he should do and I am not sure what to make of it. Was he asking for my council to quiet his own confused thoughts? Does he value my opinion that much? Alas, in my own ignorance I did not think to ask when the town would be in danger and we camped for the night only to find the town destroyed when we reached it the next morning. I should have known that the drow would strike during the night, in the cover of darkness! I know that we could not have prevented the attack but maybe we could have warned the town and they could have been better prepared.
The number of dead suggests that the drow were here for more than slaves, either they were looking for something or they were trying to kill someone. Vicho examined the drow bodies while Katniss was able to heal some of those that had been wounded. Trey and I worked to round up those who were in need of assistance, particularly the children who could not find their parents. I asked that a message be sent back to Gerard, informing him of the attack and requesting aid for the town. Then we set off to find Lothrond and the others who were hunting down the drow responsible for the attack.
We had traveled for some time when we were attacked by a drow party that had been left behind. Katniss quickly subdued the priestess and Vicho was able to dimension door behind her for a stealthy attack (he has never used that ability before...). Using my spellfire ability in a controlled manner for the first time, I was able to kill the priestess before she could hurt anyone. The rest of the party was dispatched quickly and we continued our search for the elves but were unable to find them. I fear that at this point, we are lost in the woods.
I am not unused to such haughty behavior from sun elves but her pointed warning seemed ominous and I inquired of Gerard as to who she was. He told us that her name was Donrain but did not volunteer any further information. Whoever she is, it's apparent from her snobbish manner, her fine clothing, & her commanding airs that she is noble born.
Before we could press the issue with him, Gerard then told us that we would be meeting someone at The Standing Stone to hand over the sword we had found. Originally he had told us that we were to deliver the sword to the Sword Maidens of Eilistraee but the town of Tangled Trees was having trouble with drow and were in desperate need of assistance. We were to meet with an elf named Lothrond and hand the sword over to him.
I find it necessary to make note of the fact that the sword had been created by the Archmage Demeron as a means to enhance a wizard's powers. The sword itself was never intended to kill drow but when I touched it the sword's properties changed through means of wild magic. The sword is now a powerful weapon against drow and I think it interesting that suddenly people know of it's new properties and are petitioning for it's use.
When we inquired as the change of plans, Gerard seemed reluctant to tell us and simply told us that the town was in need of aid. He has had a lifelong fascination with magical artifacts and it seems as if finding the Goldenleaf amulet for him did nothing but turn his fascination into obsession. We have spent the past year hunting down artifacts - mostly elven made - with little success. I can see the strain taking a toll on him and he is aging before me, much the way a human must rapidly change before elven eyes.
We had several days to prepare and I spent the time by using Gerard's spellbook to make scrolls. Vicho was thoughtful enough to bring me a beautiful white cake covered in vanilla and honey frosting and decorated with sugared rose petals. His manner has changed around me, coinciding with my physical change. I find him watching me at times, with a strange look in his eyes. I can't tell what he is thinking but it seems troubling. I long to reassure him that I am the same person, despite my appearance but I don't know if that is what is bothering him. He may be critiquing my clothing and choice of accessories for all that I know. Katniss & Trey seem unaffected by my changes.
We arrived at the Standing Stone on time and entered an empty clearing. Trey started muttering to himself and went straight to the monument, where he took rubbings of the inscriptions on the stone. Katniss began to dance around the clearing, alternately picking her nose & scratching her bum while Vicho looked on in horror. That's when I noticed that we were being watched. I approached one of the figures that stood just outside of the clearing and inquired as to the whereabouts of Lothrond.
After establishing that both parties were who they said the were, we handed over the sword to Lothrond and Katniss noticed that the color of the sword's aura was subtly different from when Vicho or I had held the sword. After discussing the matter for several moments we surmised that it might be that Lothrond was not of the Ventari family. How I am related to the Ventari is beyond me, although it is true that I do not know who my real father is. Note to self: Gerard said that Vicho's mother may know who he is. I'll have to enlist Vicho's aid in obtaining that information from her.
While we were discussing the sword's strange aura, I noticed that Vicho had grown very pale and silent. The pale skin was obviously distressing but Vicho's silence was much more disturbing. He said that he was suddenly feeling nauseous but with the aid of Lothrond's druid companion, we determined that he had not been poisoned. I was able to deduce, using my knowledge of spell craft, that his illness had been brought about magically but by whom or what, I did not know. I was able to craft an alchemical potion to reduce his nausea but we decided to make camp within the clearing for the evening, in case his illness were to reoccur.
Felwind, an elven ranger & a companion of Lothrond, stayed behind to escort us to Tangled Trees. He went off to hunt for our dinner but returned with a back full of drow darts. He was near death but Katniss was able to bring him back. While we were ministering to Felwind's injuries, Vicho snuck out of camp to confer with what he thought were drow warriors. He was greeted by a shadow creature instead, an undead of some type, who warned him that Tangled Trees was going to be overrun by drow. He also told Vicho to continue to gain Gerard's trust, and ours as well, in order to betray us.
The fact that Vicho would tell us this tells me that he is to be trusted. When the others asked him why the shadow would approach him I offered that maybe the creature was counting on Vicho's drow heritage to lead him astray. Vicho asked me if I thought he was capable of betraying us and I told him that I did not and I truly believe that. He also said that the 4 of us had been mentioned in the scroll that we had found in the Goldenleaf crypt a year ago and that we were destined for something. And if he ever sneaks off without telling us where he is going again, I will kill him!
I thought it was still necessary to go to Tangled Trees, despite the dire warning or perhaps because of it. We could alert the town of the pending attack and help to defend it. I notice that Vicho wanted me to tell him what he should do and I am not sure what to make of it. Was he asking for my council to quiet his own confused thoughts? Does he value my opinion that much? Alas, in my own ignorance I did not think to ask when the town would be in danger and we camped for the night only to find the town destroyed when we reached it the next morning. I should have known that the drow would strike during the night, in the cover of darkness! I know that we could not have prevented the attack but maybe we could have warned the town and they could have been better prepared.
The number of dead suggests that the drow were here for more than slaves, either they were looking for something or they were trying to kill someone. Vicho examined the drow bodies while Katniss was able to heal some of those that had been wounded. Trey and I worked to round up those who were in need of assistance, particularly the children who could not find their parents. I asked that a message be sent back to Gerard, informing him of the attack and requesting aid for the town. Then we set off to find Lothrond and the others who were hunting down the drow responsible for the attack.
We had traveled for some time when we were attacked by a drow party that had been left behind. Katniss quickly subdued the priestess and Vicho was able to dimension door behind her for a stealthy attack (he has never used that ability before...). Using my spellfire ability in a controlled manner for the first time, I was able to kill the priestess before she could hurt anyone. The rest of the party was dispatched quickly and we continued our search for the elves but were unable to find them. I fear that at this point, we are lost in the woods.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Aiming A Spell*
When ever I get sick (which, I admit, is quite often) I usually just try to ignore it as much as I can and drown the bug in cold medicine until it's gone. That was what I had planned to do this time but Xander woke up in the middle of the night on Wednesday and cried because his ear was hurting him. He hadn't been running a fever but he had the same congestion and cough that I had, so I knew he was sick. I broke down and made doctor appointments for all 3 of us yesterday because if he did have an ear infection, he would need antibiotics and they both needed their yearly check-ups done anyway.
Both Xander and I were put on antibiotics for our colds and I got a refill on my blood pressure medication. I also asked to be put back on the Lexapro because, as noted in my last few blog posts, I really should be on some sort of antidepressant. Hopefully things will start to improve in the next few weeks because I hate feeling so down. I just get to a point where I feel like the antidepressants aren't really doing anything and so I quit taking them and then I have a really bad period and I have to start taking them again. You think I'd learn that I need to stay on the medication but I really do go through a stage where it feels like they aren't working and/or I don't need them so there's no point in taking them and I'll forget to take it one day and then it becomes two, then it's a week/month/year, etc.
The boys had to get booster shots yesterday and they have to go back in a month to get their Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. We went through a really bad period there a few years ago when Aaron wasn't working and we didn't have health insurance. I was taking them to the state health department to get their vaccinations done and I thought I had missed one for Zach. The poor babies both had to get 3 shots yesterday. I had the nurse take Zach out of the room so that we could do Xander's first. He sat on my lap and one nurse held down his legs and I held his arms while another nurse gave him the shots. He cried so much and it broke my heart. Then it was Zach's turn and the nurse gave him the first shot & he did really well. He didn't cry and all he said was, "ouch". But then he saw the needle for the second shot and he freaked out. I thought we were going to need another nurse to help us hold him down. That kid is strong for a 4 year old!
The doctor gave them cookies and a sticker when they were done and my dad bought them bug juice, too. We had to meet up with my dad to pick up his girlfriend's dog because they were going out of town for a few days. Chewbaca is a 2 year old Yorkie and he is a total sweetie. The boys are so excited to have him here. I was hoping he'd sleep with them but he's followed me around the whole time & he had to sleep with me last night. I don't know what he's going to do when I'm at my D&D game tonight and I can't see Aaron letting him sleep in the bed with him (he let me have the bed to myself last night since I'm not feeling good).
I'm in the process of updating some of the NPC's from the module that I'm going to run for the guys. It's a 3.5 module and we're using the 3.75 rules from Pathfinder. (when I played in the Pathfinder game at Who's Yer Con, I referred to the game as 3.75 and they all looked at me like I was insane because I guess it's not commonly called that) I also made my NPC for the game. Her name is...crap, what is her name? I need to look at the character sheet again (it's Kari).
Anyway, she's a 5th level halfling rogue and the PC's met her when Furi, the animal companion of Rob's character Riordain, caught her rifling through their food supplies. She was beaten and half starved and she told them that she had been held prisoner by a band of orcs, along with several humans & a half elf. She was able to lead Riordain and Ilshara (Randy's half-elf) back to the orcs, where they killed many of them and freed the other captives. Kari has basically tagged along with Riordain & Ilshara because she feels that she owes them & because wherever they are is the safest place to be!
*This blog title has nothing to do with the actual post. I couldn't think of a title and so I looked at the page of a book that I have sitting open next to me, which just happens to be the Pathfinder book, and the words "Aiming a Spell" were the first that I saw. Hence, the random title. And Varicella sounds like a totally awesome character name, even if it really is the chickenpox vaccine.
Both Xander and I were put on antibiotics for our colds and I got a refill on my blood pressure medication. I also asked to be put back on the Lexapro because, as noted in my last few blog posts, I really should be on some sort of antidepressant. Hopefully things will start to improve in the next few weeks because I hate feeling so down. I just get to a point where I feel like the antidepressants aren't really doing anything and so I quit taking them and then I have a really bad period and I have to start taking them again. You think I'd learn that I need to stay on the medication but I really do go through a stage where it feels like they aren't working and/or I don't need them so there's no point in taking them and I'll forget to take it one day and then it becomes two, then it's a week/month/year, etc.
The boys had to get booster shots yesterday and they have to go back in a month to get their Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. We went through a really bad period there a few years ago when Aaron wasn't working and we didn't have health insurance. I was taking them to the state health department to get their vaccinations done and I thought I had missed one for Zach. The poor babies both had to get 3 shots yesterday. I had the nurse take Zach out of the room so that we could do Xander's first. He sat on my lap and one nurse held down his legs and I held his arms while another nurse gave him the shots. He cried so much and it broke my heart. Then it was Zach's turn and the nurse gave him the first shot & he did really well. He didn't cry and all he said was, "ouch". But then he saw the needle for the second shot and he freaked out. I thought we were going to need another nurse to help us hold him down. That kid is strong for a 4 year old!
The doctor gave them cookies and a sticker when they were done and my dad bought them bug juice, too. We had to meet up with my dad to pick up his girlfriend's dog because they were going out of town for a few days. Chewbaca is a 2 year old Yorkie and he is a total sweetie. The boys are so excited to have him here. I was hoping he'd sleep with them but he's followed me around the whole time & he had to sleep with me last night. I don't know what he's going to do when I'm at my D&D game tonight and I can't see Aaron letting him sleep in the bed with him (he let me have the bed to myself last night since I'm not feeling good).
I'm in the process of updating some of the NPC's from the module that I'm going to run for the guys. It's a 3.5 module and we're using the 3.75 rules from Pathfinder. (when I played in the Pathfinder game at Who's Yer Con, I referred to the game as 3.75 and they all looked at me like I was insane because I guess it's not commonly called that) I also made my NPC for the game. Her name is...crap, what is her name? I need to look at the character sheet again (it's Kari).
Anyway, she's a 5th level halfling rogue and the PC's met her when Furi, the animal companion of Rob's character Riordain, caught her rifling through their food supplies. She was beaten and half starved and she told them that she had been held prisoner by a band of orcs, along with several humans & a half elf. She was able to lead Riordain and Ilshara (Randy's half-elf) back to the orcs, where they killed many of them and freed the other captives. Kari has basically tagged along with Riordain & Ilshara because she feels that she owes them & because wherever they are is the safest place to be!
*This blog title has nothing to do with the actual post. I couldn't think of a title and so I looked at the page of a book that I have sitting open next to me, which just happens to be the Pathfinder book, and the words "Aiming a Spell" were the first that I saw. Hence, the random title. And Varicella sounds like a totally awesome character name, even if it really is the chickenpox vaccine.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
New Layout
I got the idea for this layout last night - or early this A.M. I'm pretty happy with it, despite the plain-ness of it and lack of color. I thought about writing something in the scrolled banner up at the top but I think it looks better blank.
So what do you think? Is it lacking anything?
So what do you think? Is it lacking anything?
To Sleep, Perchance To Dream
Dearest Mistress O'Slumber,
Why is it, when I am ill, thou seekest to avoid me? I am in most desperate need of thine sweet surcease! It is true that without your gentle embrace, I have been inspired to craft wondrous and fantastical stories. Still, I grow irritable towards mine husband and offspring and I attempt to write in badly styled archaic English. Please tell me, what I have I done to offend thee? Come back to me, Oh Lady Nocturne! Grant me thine sweet kiss once more!
Forever Yours,
A Weary Soul
Why is it, when I am ill, thou seekest to avoid me? I am in most desperate need of thine sweet surcease! It is true that without your gentle embrace, I have been inspired to craft wondrous and fantastical stories. Still, I grow irritable towards mine husband and offspring and I attempt to write in badly styled archaic English. Please tell me, what I have I done to offend thee? Come back to me, Oh Lady Nocturne! Grant me thine sweet kiss once more!
Forever Yours,
A Weary Soul
Chondalwood Campaign Notes
I am going to be running a D&D game for Randy & Robbie on Friday! I'm nervous but excited. This will be the third time that I've run for them and they've always been very receptive to me doing so. I just get nervous because A) they are both friggin' awesome DM's and B) I find it hard to improvise when I get nervous or I'm put "on the spot".
I think I figured out what my issue is, though. Well, at least one of my issues. I always try to improvise the entire adventure from encounters to role playing and I just don't know the rules well enough to do that. Or at least the rules that go into designing encounters and monsters for the PC's to fight. So I'm going to work around that by running from a module. I can still improvise a bit with the role playing but when it comes down to the nitty gritty hack & slash, I'll be using a free module that I downloaded from paizo.com.
I'm not going to go into too many details about the module because R&R both read this blog. And that would be telling. Needless to say, it's a 3.5 module so I'm going to have to convert the NPC's and the monsters to the 3.75 rules. Bleh. Fortunately, there aren't that many of either.
I'm going to have them play gestalt characters, since it's just the 2 of them but I'll also be running an NPC to help them out. They will be 5th level and I told them to roll 2d6 and add 6 to the roll, 6 times. Rob is playing a barbarian/druid & Randy is going to be a female moon-elf ranger/sorcerer. The NPC is going to be a rogue. The module is set in the Pathfinder world but I'm going to have it take place in Forgotten Realms, instead. I'm doing this because I like FR and they are familiar and comfortable for me.
I sent them the following email:
You are heading south to poke about the ruins of an Azlanti* village that is rumored to be in the area, known as the Darkmoon Wood (an area of the Chondalwood). You have been on the road for a few days and while passing through the town of Falcon’s Hollow, you stop at a tavern for a drink. Just as you are about to raise your mug of cool, frothy ale (or chilled wine) to your lips a man, bloodied and battered bursts in through the doors. “Dead! Every one of ‘em!” He cries out before he falls to the floor in exhaustion and terror…
*Azlanti is actually the name of a fallen empire in Pathfinder but I'm going to change it and say the Azlanti were a tribe of elves that had originally settled in the area. When the Retreat came and the elves started to leave for Evermeet, the Azlanti chose to stay and the tribe began to die off. They are the forefathers of the wild elves that still inhabit the area.
Now I really need to go to bed. I couldn't sleep earlier because I had a million ideas floating around in my head and my nose was stuffy and now it's 2 AM. I'm going to be miserable tomorrow.
I think I figured out what my issue is, though. Well, at least one of my issues. I always try to improvise the entire adventure from encounters to role playing and I just don't know the rules well enough to do that. Or at least the rules that go into designing encounters and monsters for the PC's to fight. So I'm going to work around that by running from a module. I can still improvise a bit with the role playing but when it comes down to the nitty gritty hack & slash, I'll be using a free module that I downloaded from paizo.com.
I'm not going to go into too many details about the module because R&R both read this blog. And that would be telling. Needless to say, it's a 3.5 module so I'm going to have to convert the NPC's and the monsters to the 3.75 rules. Bleh. Fortunately, there aren't that many of either.
I'm going to have them play gestalt characters, since it's just the 2 of them but I'll also be running an NPC to help them out. They will be 5th level and I told them to roll 2d6 and add 6 to the roll, 6 times. Rob is playing a barbarian/druid & Randy is going to be a female moon-elf ranger/sorcerer. The NPC is going to be a rogue. The module is set in the Pathfinder world but I'm going to have it take place in Forgotten Realms, instead. I'm doing this because I like FR and they are familiar and comfortable for me.
I sent them the following email:
You are heading south to poke about the ruins of an Azlanti* village that is rumored to be in the area, known as the Darkmoon Wood (an area of the Chondalwood). You have been on the road for a few days and while passing through the town of Falcon’s Hollow, you stop at a tavern for a drink. Just as you are about to raise your mug of cool, frothy ale (or chilled wine) to your lips a man, bloodied and battered bursts in through the doors. “Dead! Every one of ‘em!” He cries out before he falls to the floor in exhaustion and terror…
*Azlanti is actually the name of a fallen empire in Pathfinder but I'm going to change it and say the Azlanti were a tribe of elves that had originally settled in the area. When the Retreat came and the elves started to leave for Evermeet, the Azlanti chose to stay and the tribe began to die off. They are the forefathers of the wild elves that still inhabit the area.
Now I really need to go to bed. I couldn't sleep earlier because I had a million ideas floating around in my head and my nose was stuffy and now it's 2 AM. I'm going to be miserable tomorrow.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Harrowdale Campaign - Game #2
We actually played this game a week ago but there are several reasons that I haven't posted about it. One of the main reasons is that my gaming blog posts tend to be really long and boring but I feel like I need to write about everything that happened because it's kind of like a record of the game. I do it this way so that my DM or the other players can go back and read the blog to refresh their memories since we play every 2 weeks.
I also feel kind of silly writing the game session blogs in first person. And I'm lazy. However, after reading Rob's post about our last game session, I've decided to write my own posts from the perspective of my character. I'm also going to try and focus on the important stuff & leave out the petty crap or random encounters. Hopefully this will make for a more entertaining read and it will still serve to refresh my DM's memories of the important events. Now if I could just figure out how to get started...
PS...in reading over my notes of last week's game I see that I notated the fact that we had a discussion about vagina outside of the game that lasted for several minutes. It had nothing to do with the game & it's only funny because it was Rob talking about how he loved the smell of vagina, something along the lines of scallops smothered in butter & wrapped in bacon or something like that.
----------------------------------------------------------------
"Here lies the family of the Keepers"
This is the inscription over the crypt where my life has changed forever. The Ventari were called the Keepers for a reason. Perhaps I should have heeded that warning. But it is too late now.
We found that which my uncle sent us to look for and the sword was indeed interred inside the crypt. Vicho found the opening to a hidden room behind the alcoves that contained the bodies of various Ventari family members. It was a long & narrow hallway and at the end of the corridor was a magical barrier that was meant to keep out those not of the Ventari family. But as fortune would have it, Vicho was first down the hall and his heritage lowered the barrier for us.
The passage led into another room that was also filled with alcoves of deceased Ventarians of a more important stature than the previous room had held. In the center of the room was a sarcophagus and I knew from my detection spell that it was the source of all magic within the crypt. Trey tried to grasp the lid of the sarcophagus but was shocked, literally, to find that he could not open it. The creators of the tomb had also placed safeguards on the sarcophagus so that only a member of the family could open it as well.
After several moments of struggling with the lid, Vicho was able to slide it aside and reveal the treasure held within. Inside was the corpse of an elven woman, dressed in elaborate elven chainmail. She was holding a well crafted shield, several beautiful jeweled rings, and in her grasp was an elven curve blade. This was the sword that Uncle...that Gerard had sent us to find. Vicho gently rapped upon the elven woman's armor and we collectively held our breaths but nothing happened so he took the sword from the sarcophagus.
Vicho drew the sword from its beautifully crafted scabbard and it began to glow. The light cast from the sword was not as brilliant as that of a daylight spell but it was very close. The sword itself is unlike anything that any of us have ever seen before and it is very beautiful. I am overcome with curiosity at the sight of such a powerful magical artifact and I ask Vicho if I can hold it. I wish to see if the light will go out when a non-elf, non-family member holds the sword. Thus begins my transformation...
As I grasped the hilt a strange feeling came over me, much like the feeling I get when I am filled with more magical energy than I can possibly hold. I feel my feet start to leave the ground and my body rises in the air. The light from the sword begins to intensify and as it envelopes me, it draws forth the spellfire that has been stored inside of me. The magical fire lashes out and knocks all of us into unconsciousness.
I am unsure how long we have been unconscious but Katniss is the first to awaken. Vicho has since informed me that she was going to wake me first but upon seeing me, chose to wake the others first. My physical form was no longer that of Kaelynn, the human female. I am something else. I am now a delicate, unearthly beauty with gossamer wings and slender hands. I thought the magic from the sword had changed me into this...this creature of lightness and air and magic. I thought that maybe it was another safeguard that the Ventari had placed upon the sword.
My first thoughts were to return to Gerard as soon as was possible. If anyone could restore my true form, it would be him. As we left the crypt we were ambushed by 3 Drow warriors but we were able to dispatch of them quickly, killing one and taking the other two prisoner. One of the prisoners told us that they were told of our passing and had been sent to wait for us outside of the crypt. They wanted the sword but were unable to enter the crypt since they were not of the Ventari family.
He also informed us that there was another party waiting to ambush us further down the road, in case he & his companions failed to stop us. I had agreed to free him in exchange for his information but Vicho killed him. He also killed the second prisoner after he confirmed his companion's story. It saddened me that Vicho had to kill them but I trust his judgment in the matter. He is a good man and sometimes I forget that some of his elven blood is derived from Drow heritage, despite his skin color.
We were able to avoid the other ambush and made good time in getting home. Vicho wanted to see his mother because he had some questions about his heritage but I wanted nothing more than to see Gerard and have him reverse the polymorph spell that I was under. Vicho convinced his mother to accompany us back to Gerard's house and upon viewing me, she said, "I wouldn't want to miss this" or something along those lines.
Once we got to Gerard's I realized that my father and brother...that they were in town and staying at the house. I didn't want to alarm them with my changed appearance so I had my unseen servant deliver a message to Gerard to meet us in the stables. He was pleased that we had found the sword and told us that the sword had been created around the same time the 3 blades of Cormanthyr had been forged. It was a very powerful artifact that had been created to destroy Drow and could only be used by a Venatri.
When I asked Gerard about the protections surrounding the sword, he said that it did not contain the magic to change a person's physical form. It took me a moment to realize that he meant that the sword was not responsible for my transformation..and that I was not truly a member of the family that had raised me.
Apparently the rumors about my parentage were all true and the sword had released within me that which would have come to fruition when I had fully matured. And it had been confirmed in front of Vicho's mother, who stood there with a hateful little smirk on her face, and all of my friends. I didn't want to believe it and so I stormed into the house and confronted the man who I thought was my father. One glance at me and his face confirmed what Gerard had said. He left the house that night and I have not seen him since.
I also feel kind of silly writing the game session blogs in first person. And I'm lazy. However, after reading Rob's post about our last game session, I've decided to write my own posts from the perspective of my character. I'm also going to try and focus on the important stuff & leave out the petty crap or random encounters. Hopefully this will make for a more entertaining read and it will still serve to refresh my DM's memories of the important events. Now if I could just figure out how to get started...
PS...in reading over my notes of last week's game I see that I notated the fact that we had a discussion about vagina outside of the game that lasted for several minutes. It had nothing to do with the game & it's only funny because it was Rob talking about how he loved the smell of vagina, something along the lines of scallops smothered in butter & wrapped in bacon or something like that.
----------------------------------------------------------------
"Here lies the family of the Keepers"
This is the inscription over the crypt where my life has changed forever. The Ventari were called the Keepers for a reason. Perhaps I should have heeded that warning. But it is too late now.
We found that which my uncle sent us to look for and the sword was indeed interred inside the crypt. Vicho found the opening to a hidden room behind the alcoves that contained the bodies of various Ventari family members. It was a long & narrow hallway and at the end of the corridor was a magical barrier that was meant to keep out those not of the Ventari family. But as fortune would have it, Vicho was first down the hall and his heritage lowered the barrier for us.
The passage led into another room that was also filled with alcoves of deceased Ventarians of a more important stature than the previous room had held. In the center of the room was a sarcophagus and I knew from my detection spell that it was the source of all magic within the crypt. Trey tried to grasp the lid of the sarcophagus but was shocked, literally, to find that he could not open it. The creators of the tomb had also placed safeguards on the sarcophagus so that only a member of the family could open it as well.
After several moments of struggling with the lid, Vicho was able to slide it aside and reveal the treasure held within. Inside was the corpse of an elven woman, dressed in elaborate elven chainmail. She was holding a well crafted shield, several beautiful jeweled rings, and in her grasp was an elven curve blade. This was the sword that Uncle...that Gerard had sent us to find. Vicho gently rapped upon the elven woman's armor and we collectively held our breaths but nothing happened so he took the sword from the sarcophagus.
Vicho drew the sword from its beautifully crafted scabbard and it began to glow. The light cast from the sword was not as brilliant as that of a daylight spell but it was very close. The sword itself is unlike anything that any of us have ever seen before and it is very beautiful. I am overcome with curiosity at the sight of such a powerful magical artifact and I ask Vicho if I can hold it. I wish to see if the light will go out when a non-elf, non-family member holds the sword. Thus begins my transformation...
As I grasped the hilt a strange feeling came over me, much like the feeling I get when I am filled with more magical energy than I can possibly hold. I feel my feet start to leave the ground and my body rises in the air. The light from the sword begins to intensify and as it envelopes me, it draws forth the spellfire that has been stored inside of me. The magical fire lashes out and knocks all of us into unconsciousness.
I am unsure how long we have been unconscious but Katniss is the first to awaken. Vicho has since informed me that she was going to wake me first but upon seeing me, chose to wake the others first. My physical form was no longer that of Kaelynn, the human female. I am something else. I am now a delicate, unearthly beauty with gossamer wings and slender hands. I thought the magic from the sword had changed me into this...this creature of lightness and air and magic. I thought that maybe it was another safeguard that the Ventari had placed upon the sword.
My first thoughts were to return to Gerard as soon as was possible. If anyone could restore my true form, it would be him. As we left the crypt we were ambushed by 3 Drow warriors but we were able to dispatch of them quickly, killing one and taking the other two prisoner. One of the prisoners told us that they were told of our passing and had been sent to wait for us outside of the crypt. They wanted the sword but were unable to enter the crypt since they were not of the Ventari family.
He also informed us that there was another party waiting to ambush us further down the road, in case he & his companions failed to stop us. I had agreed to free him in exchange for his information but Vicho killed him. He also killed the second prisoner after he confirmed his companion's story. It saddened me that Vicho had to kill them but I trust his judgment in the matter. He is a good man and sometimes I forget that some of his elven blood is derived from Drow heritage, despite his skin color.
We were able to avoid the other ambush and made good time in getting home. Vicho wanted to see his mother because he had some questions about his heritage but I wanted nothing more than to see Gerard and have him reverse the polymorph spell that I was under. Vicho convinced his mother to accompany us back to Gerard's house and upon viewing me, she said, "I wouldn't want to miss this" or something along those lines.
Once we got to Gerard's I realized that my father and brother...that they were in town and staying at the house. I didn't want to alarm them with my changed appearance so I had my unseen servant deliver a message to Gerard to meet us in the stables. He was pleased that we had found the sword and told us that the sword had been created around the same time the 3 blades of Cormanthyr had been forged. It was a very powerful artifact that had been created to destroy Drow and could only be used by a Venatri.
When I asked Gerard about the protections surrounding the sword, he said that it did not contain the magic to change a person's physical form. It took me a moment to realize that he meant that the sword was not responsible for my transformation..and that I was not truly a member of the family that had raised me.
Apparently the rumors about my parentage were all true and the sword had released within me that which would have come to fruition when I had fully matured. And it had been confirmed in front of Vicho's mother, who stood there with a hateful little smirk on her face, and all of my friends. I didn't want to believe it and so I stormed into the house and confronted the man who I thought was my father. One glance at me and his face confirmed what Gerard had said. He left the house that night and I have not seen him since.
Note To Self
The house really, really, really needs to be cleaned tomorrow. Not just picked up or straightened, but hardcore cleaned. Xander found a banana under his pillow this morning. We haven't had bananas for a week...
You should probably go through the boys' stuff and throw away all of the broken toys/torn books and take down the snowflakes that have been hanging from their bedroom ceiling for a year now.
Pay some bills. Electricity is often taken for granted but it ain't free.
We could use some groceries, too. The refrigerator is lonely.
And while you're at it, could you fold the laundry and put it away?
Why don't you do some laundry, too? Clean clothes are the bomb!
And from now on, assume that unless the game says Pathfinder, 3.5, etc. it's probably going to be 4e.
Oh! And your plants would like to be watered!
Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well know is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
You should probably get your comic book review done and post your blog about Randy's last Harrowdale game at some point, too. Preferably once the above mentioned stuff is done.
Facebook will not die if you don't check it tomorrow, nor will your email. And your Xbox is not going to get lonely or run away (although your socks will if you don't wash them). And you know those TV shows that you downloaded or recorded over a month ago but haven't watched? They can wait one more day.
You should probably go through the boys' stuff and throw away all of the broken toys/torn books and take down the snowflakes that have been hanging from their bedroom ceiling for a year now.
Pay some bills. Electricity is often taken for granted but it ain't free.
We could use some groceries, too. The refrigerator is lonely.
And while you're at it, could you fold the laundry and put it away?
Why don't you do some laundry, too? Clean clothes are the bomb!
And from now on, assume that unless the game says Pathfinder, 3.5, etc. it's probably going to be 4e.
Oh! And your plants would like to be watered!
Never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well know is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!
You should probably get your comic book review done and post your blog about Randy's last Harrowdale game at some point, too. Preferably once the above mentioned stuff is done.
Facebook will not die if you don't check it tomorrow, nor will your email. And your Xbox is not going to get lonely or run away (although your socks will if you don't wash them). And you know those TV shows that you downloaded or recorded over a month ago but haven't watched? They can wait one more day.
Who's Yer Con
So I put on my big girl panties and went to the Con on Friday and it turns out that I actually had...wait for it...FUN! Well, sort of. I mean, it was fun to go to a place and hang out with people that had a similar interest and to talk about said interest without other people looking at us like we were freaks. However, I played 4th edition D&D and that was not fun but more on that later.
My stomach was in knots and my hands were shaking while I drove to the convention but I calmed down once I got there and saw that there weren't hundreds of people and there were no "booth girls" dressed up in skimpy costumes (not that I'm against the girls who wear skimpy costumes but I was already feeling insecure and they are way hotter than me). I also ran into Mark, a guy that I had gamed with a couple of times, and sat at his table while we were waiting for the games to start and that helped a lot, too.
I had signed up for 2 RPG's and while we were waiting for the first one to start, it was set in Forgotten Realms, Mark said, "so you're going to give 4th edition another shot, eh?" I know I got that look on my face that people get when they eat something sour cause another guy at the table started laughing and said something like, "I take it you don't like 4e." That's an understatement. However, I decided to stay for the game because I've only played 4e once and I thought I'd give it another shot.
Mark then says to me, "You know you need your own character for this game, right?" WTF? No where on the website did it say that it was a 4e game and that I needed my own character. Luckily, the chick who was running our game was really cool and she found me a blank character sheet & Mark let me borrow his books. I sat there for a few minutes and flipped through the books and I swear it was almost like I was reading a book in a foreign language. I didn't know what class to play, what level to make her, or what race to pick and I had 2 different books that I had to look through (PHB & PHB2) to get all of my info. Seriously, why couldn't they put all that info into one book?
The DM's husband came over and asked if I was cool and I know I looked totally lost because he sat down with me & helped me make a character in like 5 minutes. I sat through that 3 1/2 hour game and felt like everyone around me was speaking in French because I don't know how 4e works. At one point the DM told us all that we were taking damage and we had no saving throw and she didn't roll vs our AC or saves or anything. I was totally confused the whole time.
There was also very, very little role playing. I had a hard time with role playing for a very long time because I would feel stupid or silly in front of the guys but after playing with a group of total strangers, I've come to realize just how important role playing is in making the game fun. I also realize how good both Randy & Robbie are at running our games. The DM at the convention read straight from a module but in her defense, I can understand how hard it would be to improvise for a group of brand new people.
The other guys in my group were all really cool, though and not a single one gave me shit about having to create a character or acted annoyed that we got started a little later than everyone else. They also put up with my stupid questions and mistakes and complimented me when I did something cool or had a good roll (I rolled a 20 twice during that game!). So even though I felt lost & was playing 4e, it was still fun.
The second game that I signed up for was a Pathfinder game and I was pretty excited about that because I knew it wouldn't be 4e and it was a system that I would be more comfortable with. The guy running the game had his dungeon set up using the Dwarven Forge stuff and even though he also read straight from a module he knew it really well and he did different voices for each NPC.
The Third Riddle dungeon
At first the other gamers were all female so we thought we were going to have an all girl party but then a guy sat down at the table. A pair of little boys joined the group after we had gotten started and when I say they were little boys, I mean they were around 10 years old. Their dad was just going to observe the game but one of the other chicks had to leave so he took over her character - it was the cleric and we really needed her/him.
I know that the convention was open to all ages, etc but there were a couple of times that I wanted to smack the stupid little kids. They kept doing shit that was messing up the game and it got annoying after a while. The dad tried to keep them in line but they still got out of hand a few times. Our rogue wasn't doing her job, either because she was too busy talking to other people so our fighter would get impatient and do stupid shit, as well.
I tried not to take the game too seriously because its not like I had a lot of time or effort invested into the character/campaign but it still got annoying. I really thought we were going to fail the adventure but we made it out with no dead characters. It also showed me how important it is to play with a good group of people that you know because this group had no cohesion and they were all out for themselves.
Over all, it was a good experience and I'm glad I went. I've only been to Gen Con once and I didn't get to game the day that I was there. If I get to go to Gen Con this year I think I will try to play in at least one RPG because it will only make me appreciate my group more!
My stomach was in knots and my hands were shaking while I drove to the convention but I calmed down once I got there and saw that there weren't hundreds of people and there were no "booth girls" dressed up in skimpy costumes (not that I'm against the girls who wear skimpy costumes but I was already feeling insecure and they are way hotter than me). I also ran into Mark, a guy that I had gamed with a couple of times, and sat at his table while we were waiting for the games to start and that helped a lot, too.
I had signed up for 2 RPG's and while we were waiting for the first one to start, it was set in Forgotten Realms, Mark said, "so you're going to give 4th edition another shot, eh?" I know I got that look on my face that people get when they eat something sour cause another guy at the table started laughing and said something like, "I take it you don't like 4e." That's an understatement. However, I decided to stay for the game because I've only played 4e once and I thought I'd give it another shot.
Mark then says to me, "You know you need your own character for this game, right?" WTF? No where on the website did it say that it was a 4e game and that I needed my own character. Luckily, the chick who was running our game was really cool and she found me a blank character sheet & Mark let me borrow his books. I sat there for a few minutes and flipped through the books and I swear it was almost like I was reading a book in a foreign language. I didn't know what class to play, what level to make her, or what race to pick and I had 2 different books that I had to look through (PHB & PHB2) to get all of my info. Seriously, why couldn't they put all that info into one book?
The DM's husband came over and asked if I was cool and I know I looked totally lost because he sat down with me & helped me make a character in like 5 minutes. I sat through that 3 1/2 hour game and felt like everyone around me was speaking in French because I don't know how 4e works. At one point the DM told us all that we were taking damage and we had no saving throw and she didn't roll vs our AC or saves or anything. I was totally confused the whole time.
There was also very, very little role playing. I had a hard time with role playing for a very long time because I would feel stupid or silly in front of the guys but after playing with a group of total strangers, I've come to realize just how important role playing is in making the game fun. I also realize how good both Randy & Robbie are at running our games. The DM at the convention read straight from a module but in her defense, I can understand how hard it would be to improvise for a group of brand new people.
The other guys in my group were all really cool, though and not a single one gave me shit about having to create a character or acted annoyed that we got started a little later than everyone else. They also put up with my stupid questions and mistakes and complimented me when I did something cool or had a good roll (I rolled a 20 twice during that game!). So even though I felt lost & was playing 4e, it was still fun.
The second game that I signed up for was a Pathfinder game and I was pretty excited about that because I knew it wouldn't be 4e and it was a system that I would be more comfortable with. The guy running the game had his dungeon set up using the Dwarven Forge stuff and even though he also read straight from a module he knew it really well and he did different voices for each NPC.
The Third Riddle dungeon
At first the other gamers were all female so we thought we were going to have an all girl party but then a guy sat down at the table. A pair of little boys joined the group after we had gotten started and when I say they were little boys, I mean they were around 10 years old. Their dad was just going to observe the game but one of the other chicks had to leave so he took over her character - it was the cleric and we really needed her/him.
I know that the convention was open to all ages, etc but there were a couple of times that I wanted to smack the stupid little kids. They kept doing shit that was messing up the game and it got annoying after a while. The dad tried to keep them in line but they still got out of hand a few times. Our rogue wasn't doing her job, either because she was too busy talking to other people so our fighter would get impatient and do stupid shit, as well.
I tried not to take the game too seriously because its not like I had a lot of time or effort invested into the character/campaign but it still got annoying. I really thought we were going to fail the adventure but we made it out with no dead characters. It also showed me how important it is to play with a good group of people that you know because this group had no cohesion and they were all out for themselves.
Over all, it was a good experience and I'm glad I went. I've only been to Gen Con once and I didn't get to game the day that I was there. If I get to go to Gen Con this year I think I will try to play in at least one RPG because it will only make me appreciate my group more!
Friday, March 12, 2010
High Anxiety & Depressive Lows
This has been a weird week. My mood has fluctuated between highs and lows all week and it's normally pretty consistent at one end of the spectrum or another. I'm trying to figure out what has triggered this weirdness and the only thing I can come up with is hormones.
My cycle hasn't been normal ever since I gave birth to Zach but it's really been screwed up for the last year and I don't have normal periods. Instead of a normal 30 day cycle, with 5 days of bleeding, I get constant light bleeding with a few days of nothing, mixed in with spells of heavy bleeding. My OBGYN said that I wasn't ovulating and the lining in my uterus would build up to the point it would make me bleed all the time.
I think I just had an actual period although it's kind of hard to say with the above mentioned problems. But I had cramping, clotting, and my face broke out so I think it's safe to say this was a real period. I think it means the chemicals in my brain are all out of whack, too.
I haven't felt this depressed in a long, long time. I just don't want to do anything and I can't bring myself to care. I feel really bad about my self image, to the point that I don't want to leave the house because I don't want anyone else to see me. I'm 32 years old but I still get pimples during my time of the month. I hate that because I think it looks dirty and I'm not a dirty person. Add bloating on top of the fact that I'm already fat and I feel like I'm as huge as a house.
I was supposed to go out with some of the ladies last night for dinner and I skipped out on that because I couldn't bring myself to change out of my comfy clothes. I just didn't want to get in the car and go anywhere. I called one of my friends and told her that I wasn't going and she said that if I came over to the house, she'd pump me full of Prozac! I probably do need to get back on medication.
I'm supposed to go to Who's Yer Con today and I feel very anxious and stressed out about it. I'm sitting here at the computer desk and my right leg is bouncing up and down a million times a minute. My stomach is in knots and I really need to go get ready but I'm blogging, instead. I haven't felt like blogging all week long.
I think the thing that makes me nervous is that I'm going by myself and I'm not going to know anyone there. I'm going to be gaming with people that I don't know. I have been with my D&D group for almost 10 years now and the thought of role playing in front of other people is killing me! I've talked myself out of going several times since last night but this morning I decided that I was going to go. Now I just have to get my fat ass into the shower and get ready.
My cycle hasn't been normal ever since I gave birth to Zach but it's really been screwed up for the last year and I don't have normal periods. Instead of a normal 30 day cycle, with 5 days of bleeding, I get constant light bleeding with a few days of nothing, mixed in with spells of heavy bleeding. My OBGYN said that I wasn't ovulating and the lining in my uterus would build up to the point it would make me bleed all the time.
I think I just had an actual period although it's kind of hard to say with the above mentioned problems. But I had cramping, clotting, and my face broke out so I think it's safe to say this was a real period. I think it means the chemicals in my brain are all out of whack, too.
I haven't felt this depressed in a long, long time. I just don't want to do anything and I can't bring myself to care. I feel really bad about my self image, to the point that I don't want to leave the house because I don't want anyone else to see me. I'm 32 years old but I still get pimples during my time of the month. I hate that because I think it looks dirty and I'm not a dirty person. Add bloating on top of the fact that I'm already fat and I feel like I'm as huge as a house.
I was supposed to go out with some of the ladies last night for dinner and I skipped out on that because I couldn't bring myself to change out of my comfy clothes. I just didn't want to get in the car and go anywhere. I called one of my friends and told her that I wasn't going and she said that if I came over to the house, she'd pump me full of Prozac! I probably do need to get back on medication.
I'm supposed to go to Who's Yer Con today and I feel very anxious and stressed out about it. I'm sitting here at the computer desk and my right leg is bouncing up and down a million times a minute. My stomach is in knots and I really need to go get ready but I'm blogging, instead. I haven't felt like blogging all week long.
I think the thing that makes me nervous is that I'm going by myself and I'm not going to know anyone there. I'm going to be gaming with people that I don't know. I have been with my D&D group for almost 10 years now and the thought of role playing in front of other people is killing me! I've talked myself out of going several times since last night but this morning I decided that I was going to go. Now I just have to get my fat ass into the shower and get ready.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Information Update
This is just a blog post to tell you that I haven't been in the mood to blog for the last week or so. Nothing new or interesting is going on and even though I did play D&D last weekend, I haven't been able to get into the creative mindset needed to blog about it. Rob has also started a game blog (a glog?) and if you're curious about the last game session then visit Thief of Lust and Swords. He's much better at it, anyway.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Mix CD - 3/6/10
hatefuck - the bravery
swing life away - rise against
volcano girls - veruca salt
norway - beach house
carmen queasy - maxim
no direction - longwave
sugar crystals - airiel
why can't i be me? - the cure
orphans - beck
make it wit chu - qotsa
under the milky way - sia
girl i love you - massive attack
dickhead - kate nash
they are night zombies!! - sufjan stevens
enjoy the silence - failure
to lose my life - white lies
new fang - them crooked vultures
pretty in pink - the dresden dolls
give it to me right - melanie fiona
mother love - justin timberlake
swing life away - rise against
volcano girls - veruca salt
norway - beach house
carmen queasy - maxim
no direction - longwave
sugar crystals - airiel
why can't i be me? - the cure
orphans - beck
make it wit chu - qotsa
under the milky way - sia
girl i love you - massive attack
dickhead - kate nash
they are night zombies!! - sufjan stevens
enjoy the silence - failure
to lose my life - white lies
new fang - them crooked vultures
pretty in pink - the dresden dolls
give it to me right - melanie fiona
mother love - justin timberlake
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Blogging, Sunshine, & Movies
I haven't blogged in a couple of days so you know I haven't really had anything to talk about. I kind of feel at a loss as to what to blog about because I haven't played D&D in 2 weeks. I think this is turning into one of THOSE blogs. Or maybe I hate it when people blog just for the sake of blogging and not because they have something to say. I tend to fall into the former category a lot, just because I feel like I SHOULD have something to say.
I was trying to avoid any type of categorization - i.e. mommy blogger, sex blogger, RPG blogger - because my life is comprised of all those things and I like to talk about all of it. Well, maybe not the sex so much because...well that's a whole different post on a blog that none of you can read.
I've also been trying to limit my time on the computer to the mornings, while the one or the other of the boys is at school. I do all my Facebook crap and if I have time to blog, I will but if I don't then it doesn't get done. I'm breaking that rule today because I do want to blog but once I get done, I won't get on the computer for the rest of the day.
I've been taking the boys outside after lunch and it has done wonders to improve our moods. We walk around the block for at least a half an hour and then we come back and the boys play outside for about 20 minutes. We walked all the way to the park yesterday and they wanted to play there, although it was colder yesterday than the past couple of days because the sun wasn't shining. Today promises to be a nice day to get out.
When we get done outside, the boys seem much calmer and they'll sit on my bed and watch a cartoon, allowing me to have some "quiet time". They also seem to sleep a lot better at night. I wish I could say the same about me but my sleep is still hit or miss. Last night was a bad night and I ended up going out to the couch so that my tossing and turning and coughing wouldn't wake Aaron up. The night before that was one of the best night's sleep that I've had in a while. The funny thing was that I was more tired after the good night's sleep than I was after the crappy night's sleep. I don't get it.
I've been watching a show called ReGenesis while the boys are having their snack/movie time. It's a Canadian show that Aaron downloaded a while back. It's kind of like House but it focuses more on the science of diseases, instead of the doctor/patient relationships. Rachel, you should watch it (Seasons 1 - 3 are on hulu.com) because I think you might like it. One of the characters has Asperger's Syndrome and he's one of my favorite characters. The soundtrack to the show is also a-fucking-mazing and I want to download all the music. It's kind of ethereal and ambient and trance-y. Good stuff.
Aaron and I watched Gamer last night and it was a decent movie. It had a twist that I didn't expect.
SPOILER!!! - I thought that Kable (Gerard Butler) was in prison for murdering his daughter's killer but you find out that the daughter is alive and that the guy he killed was a military buddy that had been involved in the experiment with him. And not only is the daughter alive but the guy who has her is the one responsible for actually killing the other guy, even though Kable pulled the trigger (mind control and shit). /SPOILER!!!
The movie does have an actual commentary on the whole reality show/virtual world gaming concept and it's interesting that the two haven't been combined for a movie before now. cough cough TRON cough cough.
And not only did I get to watch Gerard Butler look all manly and broody and run around with a gun and blow stuff up, but two more hot actors - Sam Witwer and Milo Ventimiglia - also made a brief appearance. (I'd like to take this moment to reassure my husband that I think that he is just as yummy as any of those actors.)
I was trying to avoid any type of categorization - i.e. mommy blogger, sex blogger, RPG blogger - because my life is comprised of all those things and I like to talk about all of it. Well, maybe not the sex so much because...well that's a whole different post on a blog that none of you can read.
I've also been trying to limit my time on the computer to the mornings, while the one or the other of the boys is at school. I do all my Facebook crap and if I have time to blog, I will but if I don't then it doesn't get done. I'm breaking that rule today because I do want to blog but once I get done, I won't get on the computer for the rest of the day.
I've been taking the boys outside after lunch and it has done wonders to improve our moods. We walk around the block for at least a half an hour and then we come back and the boys play outside for about 20 minutes. We walked all the way to the park yesterday and they wanted to play there, although it was colder yesterday than the past couple of days because the sun wasn't shining. Today promises to be a nice day to get out.
When we get done outside, the boys seem much calmer and they'll sit on my bed and watch a cartoon, allowing me to have some "quiet time". They also seem to sleep a lot better at night. I wish I could say the same about me but my sleep is still hit or miss. Last night was a bad night and I ended up going out to the couch so that my tossing and turning and coughing wouldn't wake Aaron up. The night before that was one of the best night's sleep that I've had in a while. The funny thing was that I was more tired after the good night's sleep than I was after the crappy night's sleep. I don't get it.
I've been watching a show called ReGenesis while the boys are having their snack/movie time. It's a Canadian show that Aaron downloaded a while back. It's kind of like House but it focuses more on the science of diseases, instead of the doctor/patient relationships. Rachel, you should watch it (Seasons 1 - 3 are on hulu.com) because I think you might like it. One of the characters has Asperger's Syndrome and he's one of my favorite characters. The soundtrack to the show is also a-fucking-mazing and I want to download all the music. It's kind of ethereal and ambient and trance-y. Good stuff.
Aaron and I watched Gamer last night and it was a decent movie. It had a twist that I didn't expect.
SPOILER!!! - I thought that Kable (Gerard Butler) was in prison for murdering his daughter's killer but you find out that the daughter is alive and that the guy he killed was a military buddy that had been involved in the experiment with him. And not only is the daughter alive but the guy who has her is the one responsible for actually killing the other guy, even though Kable pulled the trigger (mind control and shit). /SPOILER!!!
The movie does have an actual commentary on the whole reality show/virtual world gaming concept and it's interesting that the two haven't been combined for a movie before now. cough cough TRON cough cough.
And not only did I get to watch Gerard Butler look all manly and broody and run around with a gun and blow stuff up, but two more hot actors - Sam Witwer and Milo Ventimiglia - also made a brief appearance. (I'd like to take this moment to reassure my husband that I think that he is just as yummy as any of those actors.)
Monday, March 01, 2010
Ch Ch Ch Changes
I need to clean the house really good today and I'm so not motivated to do it. I haven't felt like taking care of my house for a while now. Not that I don't keep it picked up or clean but after the weekend, the house is usually always trashed and I am finding it harder to motivate myself on Monday's to clean it back up.
Someone made a comment the last time I bitched about cleaning that at least I don't have to worry about working a full-time job during the day and then come home and clean. I know that I am very lucky that I get to stay home to raise my kids and that I don't have to go to work, too. And even though I get irritated when people say I don't have a job just because I don't get paid, I know that I have it easier than women who do have to work. That doesn't mean that I WANT to clean just because I have more time to clean.
I think part of my problem is that I need a change. My house isn't very big so everything is already in a place to maximize the space we have. I just get tired of looking at the same damn thing all of the time. When I was little I used to rearrange my bedroom at least once a week. It used to drive my parents nuts because I would take everything out of it's place and create a huge mess and then switch everything around and clean it all up. That should've been a sign that something isn't quite right with me but I guess they chose to ignore it.
Everything has been where it's currently at since we moved into the house and it's just getting to me. I want to repaint but finding the time to do that when the boys won't mess with stuff is few and far between. I would also love to have new furniture but it's cost prohibitive. I thought about getting on Craig's List and putting up our own furniture and offer to trade with someone but the thought of using someone else's old sofa is kind of gross.
My bedroom also drives me nuts. We have 2 overstuffed bookshelves, our queen sized bed, a night stand, a dresser, and a large desk in our room. There really isn't any other place for us to put the desk or bookshelves because the boys each have their own room. I've tried to talk Aaron into putting the boys' beds in the smaller bedroom and then turning the larger bedroom into a computer/play room. The boys would share a bedroom but they would have another room to put their toys. He doesn't like the idea because he had to share a room when he was younger and he thinks they need their own space. I agree that when they get older, they should have their own rooms but right now, they could share a room.
Bleh.
I really need to go through their rooms and declutter it again. They have so many toys that they don't play with anymore and books they don't read. I just want to get rid of all of it but they freak out when I touch anything in their room. They have a crap load of Thomas trains & track that they haven't played with in years. And the amount of matchbox cars that they own is obscene.
Maybe after I get done cleaning the house today, I'll go to Menards and look at paint samples. I want to repaint the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, and all the bedrooms - the whole freaking house. It hasn't been done in a few years and everything could do with a fresh coat.
Someone made a comment the last time I bitched about cleaning that at least I don't have to worry about working a full-time job during the day and then come home and clean. I know that I am very lucky that I get to stay home to raise my kids and that I don't have to go to work, too. And even though I get irritated when people say I don't have a job just because I don't get paid, I know that I have it easier than women who do have to work. That doesn't mean that I WANT to clean just because I have more time to clean.
I think part of my problem is that I need a change. My house isn't very big so everything is already in a place to maximize the space we have. I just get tired of looking at the same damn thing all of the time. When I was little I used to rearrange my bedroom at least once a week. It used to drive my parents nuts because I would take everything out of it's place and create a huge mess and then switch everything around and clean it all up. That should've been a sign that something isn't quite right with me but I guess they chose to ignore it.
Everything has been where it's currently at since we moved into the house and it's just getting to me. I want to repaint but finding the time to do that when the boys won't mess with stuff is few and far between. I would also love to have new furniture but it's cost prohibitive. I thought about getting on Craig's List and putting up our own furniture and offer to trade with someone but the thought of using someone else's old sofa is kind of gross.
My bedroom also drives me nuts. We have 2 overstuffed bookshelves, our queen sized bed, a night stand, a dresser, and a large desk in our room. There really isn't any other place for us to put the desk or bookshelves because the boys each have their own room. I've tried to talk Aaron into putting the boys' beds in the smaller bedroom and then turning the larger bedroom into a computer/play room. The boys would share a bedroom but they would have another room to put their toys. He doesn't like the idea because he had to share a room when he was younger and he thinks they need their own space. I agree that when they get older, they should have their own rooms but right now, they could share a room.
Bleh.
I really need to go through their rooms and declutter it again. They have so many toys that they don't play with anymore and books they don't read. I just want to get rid of all of it but they freak out when I touch anything in their room. They have a crap load of Thomas trains & track that they haven't played with in years. And the amount of matchbox cars that they own is obscene.
Maybe after I get done cleaning the house today, I'll go to Menards and look at paint samples. I want to repaint the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, and all the bedrooms - the whole freaking house. It hasn't been done in a few years and everything could do with a fresh coat.
Be There!
I've signed up for a couple of different events - the Living Forgotten Realms game & a Pathfinder game on Friday. I also signed up for one on Saturday, although I don't know if we'll be in Ohio that weekend for my MIL's birthday. I didn't see anything on the website itself that says how much it costs to attend this convention so either it's free or it's insanely expensive & they don't want to scare anyone away until it's too late.
Aaron has that Friday off from work but I'm hoping to find a babysitter so that he can attend the events with me (hint hint).
FYI, I emailed the chick who organized the event about the ticket price and she said the events are free!!! You can't beat that!
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