A wonderful 3D sculpture of Larry Elmore's famous art piece for the cover of the BECMI D&D edition appeared this November atLucca Comics & Games 2024 (Italy) and it was painted live for the audience by artist Silvia Corso.
Since I started playing Dungeons & Dragons back there in 1987 I've had many characters. With some of them I played long-term campaigns and with others just a few sessions. With time I started playing other games than D&D. This blog is dedicated to all of them and the hours of fun we've had together. Here they are along with other musings...
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
BECMI D&D cover 3D sculpture at Lucca Games & Comics 2024
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Campaign update
The characters were in part also responsible of the failure of the Eilservs' plans with the giants in the surface. After dealing with the problems in the Vault, Eclavdra would certainly seek vengeance, directly or through proxies, for all these setbacks.
Taking advantage of this schism, the dissidents of the Vault decided to push forward their plans. Through their leader, Nilonim, they came in contact with the party, helping them leaving the Vault. They managed to do this disguised as slaves in a drow merchant caravan.
In return, the rebel leader asked them for their support in one of two important missions to the cause: 1) rescue Teregim, Nilonim's second in command and recently captured, from the dungeons of the Fane of Lolth before the priestesses have the chance to torture and question him, or 2) help Captain Eclan and his crew (Area B2/24 Encyclopaedia Subterranica) hijack the two galleys from the Fane's wharf cavern (Area 20 D3 Vault of the Drow).
"Captain Eclan has been in contact with Nilonim and together they plan an uprising in Erelhei-Cinlu. In the chaos of the uprising, they hope to lead a mass escape of slaves and other disaffected inhabitants of the Vault by way of boats and barges on the Pitchy Flow."
Encyclopaedi Subterranica p.99
Monday, October 07, 2024
Virtual Greyhawk Con 5
The first game was Shield Land Patrol run by Anna B. Meyer who was testing an early build of her Hawk Tales FRPG ruleset.
Friday, October 04, 2024
Norebo's Gamble
I came up with this house rule for a player's character, half-orc fighter/cleric, to add some flavor to the class.
Clerics of Norebo can call their deity's favor once a day. All results are valid for the round the call is made.
Roll 2d8.
2. Gambler automatically hits his next attack or makes the next saving throw.
3. One enemy gets a -3 to his next attack or saving throw.
4. Gambler gets a +2 to his next attack or save.
5. One enemy gets a -1 to his next attack or saving throw.
6. Gambler does maximum damage on his next attack.
7. Nothing happens. Lose 50 gp/level.
8-10. Nothing happens. Lose 100 gp/level.
11. Nothing happens. Lose 50 gp/level.
12. One enemy does minimum damage on his next attack.
13. Gambler gets a +1 to his next attack or saving throw.
14. One enemy gets a -2 to his next attack or saving throw.
15. Gambler gets a +3 to his next attack or saving throw.
16. One enemy automatically misses his next attack or saving throw.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Order of the Gauntlet
- Gleep Wurp the Eyebiter (human, MU12)
- Cloyer Bulse the Magsman (human, T13)
- Roaky Swerked (human, C12)
- Frush O'Suggill (human, F14)
- Fonkin Hoddypeak (high elf, F5/MU8)
- Flerd Trantle (human, C9)
- Redmod Dumple (dwarf, F9)
- Faffle Dwe'o-mercraeft (human, MU9)
- Beek Gwenders of Croodle (half-elf, R9)
Friday, August 23, 2024
Patreon
I financially support the following content creators on Patreon:
- Hobbs & Friends - RPG podcasts, zines, and other RPG related material
- Anna B. Meyer - Fantasy Cartography
- casl Entertainment - unique Role-Playing Game experiences
- Greyhawk Grognard - videos and articles about gaming, and quarterly adventures
- The Greyhawk Project - new and exciting material inspired and influenced by the first two great fantasy role-playing campaign settings.
- Oerth Odysseys - Mason Fantasy Cartography, D&D Campaign Adventures
- Gaxx Worx - Explore the World of Okkorim with Luke Gygax
- Kristian Richards - terrain, props, maps and miniatures for TTRPGs
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Familiar Link
I introduced this ability to the magic-user class as a house rule in my AD&D 1e game, in order to give more flavor to the bond between the magic-user and his familiar.
Familiar Link: The magic-user, if he concentrates as when casting a spell, has a 10%/level ability to establish a telepathic connection with the familiar. This percentage is modified by the distance to the familiar (-2% per mile) and the maximum distance to establish the connection is equal to the range of the Find Familiar spell (1 mile/level). The connection will last as long as the magic-user is focused on maintaining it. Through that connection he will be able to feel the same as the familiar feels, and also send simple commands, as long as they do not go against the familiar's survival instinct.
Monday, August 05, 2024
Colonial RPG project
Friday, July 19, 2024
Morfans
Morfans el Feo |
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Spiral Con 3
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Unnakhon
Unnakhon is a young human magic-user sent to a prision island accused of the death of his master. After being dropped unceremoniously on a rocky beach and a couple of hours walking inland he arrived at the town of Oily Messy. The entrance to the Black Maw mega-dungeon (a Dungeon23 creation of Michael "ChgoWiz" Shorten) on a hill near the beach. It's the place where everyone goes inside to get rich enough to get out of the island or die trying...
Ther rest of the party are:
Elmon, the elven fighter
Fenric, cleric of Gulliver
J, the coughing fighter
Guy Pasteur, cleric of La Matron
Scale, the elven mage
Tuesday, July 09, 2024
Quildor
Quildor is an elf from the forests near the city of Pentastadion (Fomalhaut). He casts his spells not from a spellbook, but from styled vine tattoos on his skin. Once a spell is cast, the leaves of the vine wither. To restore spells he must rest with the tattoos in contact with the ground, regaining Nature's force.
S 15, I 12, W 11, D 14, Co 15, Ch 15
Friday, July 05, 2024
Virtual Greyhawk Con 5
Save the dates and get your badge now at https://tabletop.events/conventions/virtual-greyhawk-con-2024
Wednesday, July 03, 2024
Gary Con XVI
A long postponed Gary Con XVI post.
After about 19 hours that included three flights (Montevideo - San Pablo, San Pablo - Atlanta and Atlanta - Milwaukee), we finally arrived at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and took an Uber to Lake Geneva. I was travelling with Javier, a long time friend and player in my Greyhawk campaigns.
Almost there! |
Stu, Jason, Bill, James and Javier |
Diogo Nogueira |
Stu, Javier, me and Aron Clark |
Thursday 21st - We had our first scheduled game "The Sample Dungeon" from Holmes Basic rulebook run by Thom Hall. Awesome game! At the exhibitor's hall met with Doug Kovacs, also after 10 years. Met with Carlos Mondragón an online fellow gamer and Greyhawk fan from Mexico. Meeting Larry Elmore & Jeff Easley again was a great pleasure and honor, and Darlene for the first time too. Bought signed prints from all of them. Then headed for a Greyhawk Seminar where I met Mike Bridges, who signed the Complete Castle Greyhawk comic book. Just before dinner had the chance to meet Luke Gygax and after dinner we had an Old School Essentials game run by Jason Hobbs.
The Sample Dungeon (DM Thom) |
Diogo, Doug Kovacs and Javier |
Carlos Mondragón |
Larry Elmore |
Jeff Easley |
Darlene |
Mike Bridges |
Luke Gygax |
Jason, ?, Aron and Javier |
Snow! |
Michael Shorten |
The Doom Beneath Welkwood (DM Tim) |
Carlos A. S. Lising |
Moathouse |
Temple of Elemental Evil |
Saturday 23rd - We stayed in Lake Geneva and did the D&D Pilgrimage Tour. I guess we were the only people walking around town. Visited the Horticultural Hall, the Gygax Memorial, the Library, RJK's childhood home, Gary's childhood home, and the Birthplace of D&D house. There we had a Chainmail Miniatures game at Gary's basement. It was my first minis game ever! Then visited the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum and spent some time talking with the owner.
D&D Pilgrimage Tour map |
Gen Con I was here |
Gary Gygax Memorial |
Appendix N corner & Throne of Reading |
RJK's home |
Gary's home |
Chainmail game |
TSR's first HQ |
At Gary's former office |
Justin Lanasa |
Sunday 24th - Last day of the Con had an early game with Carlos A. S. Lising where we playtested a scenario. Loved his DMing style. Then had another miniatures game, Chaos Wars, with Michael Shorten. Headed to the exhibitor's hall for some last minute purchases. Met with Allan "grodog" Grohe who was manning his Black Blade publishing booth. I have the pleasure of playing in his online Castle Greyhawk game. Also after 10 years, met again with Wayne Snyder at the DCC booth (no picture duh).
casl game |
Chaos Wars game |
Allan Grohe |
Monday 25th - Breakfast with Allan Grohe, Victor Raymond, Javier and Aron Clark, where we talked about the hobby, Greyhawk, Empire of the Petal Throne and more. Can't believe we forgot to get a picture. Then visited the Lake Geneva Museum to get the D&D 50th Anniversary t-shirt before heading to Milwaukee to catch the plane back home.
Lake Geneva Museum |
Cheers to a life well played! |
It was a dream come true. A once in a lifetime experience. So glad of personally meeting for the first time so many people I've known online for so long (Aron, Hobbs, Stu, James, Michael, Allan, Jarret), meeting some new ones (both Carlos, Mike, Jay, Anna, Victor), and to see others again after many years (Adam, Katie, Doug, Diogo). Had a great time!
Finally, thanks Javi for joining me in this adventure, Aron for letting us crash at that wonderful cottage, my wife Rous for her support, and my son Ivan for forgiving that I missed his 13th birthday.