What are y'all up to these days?

[chuckdee]

Holy shit!

Glad to see you back, Dumarest !

I think she echoes everyone's thoughts on that matter!

 

[Ronnie Sanford]

Also played 5th edition D&D for the first time last year or the year before (it all blurs) with my son as DM since they're his books that he got for getting good grades. Too many rules for me, but he likes it and spends lots of time crafting his little campaign world and scenarios and statting out monster ideas and various characters from fiction.

Hey! Glad to have you back!

 

[ffilz]

Also played 5th edition D&D for the first time last year or the year before (it all blurs) with my son as DM since they're his books that he got for getting good grades. Too many rules for me, but he likes it and spends lots of time crafting his little campaign world and scenarios and statting out monster ideas and various characters from fiction.

To echo others, welcome back!

 

[Dumarest]

​

 

[Mankcam]

View attachment 66818​

Hey welcome back Dumarest !!!
We knew you'ld eventually show up around these parts again
Really great to know you're posting and gaming again mate!

 

[AsenRG]

Also played 5th edition D&D for the first time last year or the year before (it all blurs) with my son as DM since they're his books that he got for getting good grades. Too many rules for me, but he likes it and spends lots of time crafting his little campaign world and scenarios and statting out monster ideas and various characters from fiction.

Welcome back, man, glad to have you here!

(Now we only need Black Vulmea as well...)

View attachment 66818​

Just resign to your fate, it's going to be easier that way!

 

[Dumarest]

Welcome back, man, glad to have you here!

(Now we only need Black Vulmea as well...)


Just resign to your fate, it's going to be easier that way!

I just assumed Black Vulmea split the difference with Doc Sammy and they sailed off together to a Captain Harlock convention.

 

[AsenRG]

I just assumed Black Vulmea split the difference with Doc Sammy and they sailed off together to a Captain Harlock convention.

...there's something to that theory that deserves more detailed investigation!

 

[AsenRG]

On the more personal side, I am having lots of fun playing - yes, actually playing - Art of Wuxia! Granted, some NPCs are inspired by Vampire Elders, but that's what you get when your GM is a fan of V:tM's setting. I knew that much going in, anyway, we're not playing for the first time.

Either way, I can tolerate them just fine, if it means breaking my "default GM" spell!

Besides, the Referee is fine with my idea of me running a couple extra characters in different parts of the setting. Admittedly, my OOC goal is to reduce the amount of travel we need to do, by simply switching the characters for next session...
Also helps in moving between social strata, BTW. Ancient China is a really stratified society, even though her setting is more China-inspired fantasy. (Again, I knew that going in, so it's fine).

IMO, the best place for OOC mechanics is between sessions. Once we get IC, we stay IC. OK, I do, at least, she's mostly trying not to interrupt me, it's way harder for the Referee.


Later today, I should get to the PF2 game, too. I note the session is announced with the title "End of Chapter 1", too (it's the Abomination Vaults Adventure Path, but please, if you have any spoilers, spoilertag them)!

 

[Picaroon Jack]

I have two campaigns up, one is once a week and the other is twice a month, but the summer has been rough with cancelations. I'm hoping things settle down as we roll into the fall.

 

[MoonHunter]

I want to be up for more, but my concentration has been shot for the last 10 days or so. I am good for about 500 words at a time before I start losing focus. (Grammarly has become my friend rather than an annoyance.... perhaps an annoying friend.) Thus while I am not doing much on my game, I am doing a lot of creative things in short bursts.

 

[Mankcam]

My GM time has come again!!!
My plans for the next six months, in this order - 13th Age, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and possibly Broken Compass

Normally there are four of us, we all take turns for a few months being GM, often I do several stints in a row.

Our full group won't be in regular action until Oct/Nov, so it'll likely be myself and two PCs for the next upcoming adventure scenario

Just finished char gen for 13th Age, and my first session next week:

Mornost, Male Human Sorcerer
"I See Dead People"
Icons Relationships: The Prince of Shadows (Positive), The Archmage (Conflicted), The Lich KIng (Negative)
Backgrounds: Child Magical Prodigy, Chosen By The Lich King, Turned To Crime, Escapologist Extraudinaire,

Aeronwen, Female High Elven Paladin
" A Light In The Darkness"
Icon Relationships: The Great Gold Wyrm (Positive), The Elf Queen (Conflicted), The Lich King (Negative)
Backgrounds: Last Sentinel of The Golden Citadel, Knight Errant, Folk Hero,

Going in deep this week if possible for some 13th Age session prep for the session next week.

Given that they both have negative relationships with the factions of The Lich King, then I can see who the Big Bad Villain is gonna be in these adventures.
Looking forward to this!

 

[Dumarest]

My GM time has come again!!!
My plans for the next six months, in this order - 13th Age, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and possibly Broken Compass

Just finished char gen for 13th Age, and my first session next week:

Mornost, Male Human Sorcerer
"I See Dead People"
Icons Relationships: The Prince of Shadows (Positive), The Archmage (Conflicted), The Lich KIng (Negative)
Backgrounds: Child Magical Prodigy, Chosen By The Lich King, Turned To Crime, Escapologist Extraudinaire,

Aeronwen, Female High Elven Paladin
" A Light In The Darkness"
Icon Relationships: The Great Gold Wyrm (Positive), The Elf Queen (Conflicted), The Lich King (Negative)
Backgrounds: Last Sentinel of The Golden Citadelo, Knight Errant, Folk Hero,

Going in deep this week if possible for some 13th Age session prep for the session next week.
Given that they both have negative relationships with the factions of The Lich King, then I can see who the Big Bad Villain is gonna be in these adventures.
Looking forward to this!

A swo time is guaranteed for all!

 

[Rated Aargh]

August was a fairly active month for me, with games that went through and an equal number of games that fell apart. I’d love to see that ratio improve in the coming month, as I have (I think) some great scenarios for Rōnin, Flying Swordsmen, CY_BORG, and Full Clip ready to go.


Despite the occasional failed session, I’m gaming more than I have in years. And I didn’t even mention my solo games of Rōnin and Flying Swordsmen, the CY_BORG game inspired by Ghost in the Shell I played to a natural pause, or the new one I’m doing using ICRPG.

 

[Vargold]

Join in-progress group adventuring in Dolmenwood. Yay.

My first session ends with homicidal ghost sucking life out of party cleric. TPK imminent. Sniff.

Holy crap. Somehow we lived. In fact, we were able to kill the ghost after our silvered weapons solidified it and the cleric got off a shot with a silver mace that had a vial of holy water attached to it.

 

[AsenRG]

Holy crap. Somehow we lived. In fact, we were able to kill the ghost after our silvered weapons solidified it and the cleric got off a shot with a silver mace that had a vial of holy water attached to it.

Sounds like typical PC behaviour to me...

 

[Parkaboy]

I shot a man just for snoring.

 

[Acmegamer]

I shot a man just for snoring.

John Wesley Hardin, is that you?

 

[Parkaboy]

John Wesley Hardin, is that you?

Read the book!

 

[Dumarest]

​

 

[AsenRG]

View attachment 67062​

 

[E-Rocker]

A bit frustrated with my Savage Worlds group currently, as they seem incapable of scheduling the next session. I'm happy to keep running the game for them for as long as they're interested in playing, but if they don't care enough to get a game on the calendar, well, I do also have other hobbies I could be putting the time and energy I would have spent on game prep towards.

 

[AsenRG]

In retrospect, I have been playing quite a bit in the past month, while the kids were away in the country house.

How much? Well, I got 3 sessions of PF2 in, the system is definitely a keeper compared to most other D&D clones (which it basically is). I got to play some Stara Szkola, some Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, and more than a few (more like a score*) of sessions in Art of Wuxia, after we restarted an old campaign (with another player dropping out, so it ended up being 1-on-1 with the GM).

So, overall, it was a good month roleplaying-wise!

...but all is not roses and sunshine: I have my suspicions that the GM might get in one of her worse spells. Those have ended multiple campaigns, too...so I'm crossing some fingers, here!


I copied this post in my thread as well, but added some clarifications on the main characters I've been playing, so you might want to check that.

*I mean, I made not one, but three PCs which are playing in different parts and strata of the setting. I am positive I got somewhere between 6 and 10 sessions between them (not counting those before the restart).

 

[Necrozius]

Had surgery yesterday morning (inguinal hernia). Surgery went fine, was at a very friendly small hospital in a small town.

The post-surgey pain is something else though. The drugs work better today, that's for sure.

Never experienced this sort of thing before. Thoroughly unpleasant.

At least I don't have to go back to the office for 4 weeks.

 

[AsenRG]

Had surgery yesterday morning (inguinal hernia). Surgery went fine, was at a very friendly small hospital in a small town.

The post-surgey pain is something else though. The drugs work better today, that's for sure.

Never experienced this sort of thing before. Thoroughly unpleasant.

At least I don't have to go back to the office for 4 weeks.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[Necrozius]

Cheers. Day two is going better so far.

 

[3rik]

A bit frustrated with my Savage Worlds group currently, as they seem incapable of scheduling the next session. I'm happy to keep running the game for them for as long as they're interested in playing, but if they don't care enough to get a game on the calendar, well, I do also have other hobbies I could be putting the time and energy I would have spent on game prep towards.

I feel ya.

 

[Certified]

Quality Gear
This week we kick off a new series exploring Gear, Power Level, and design concepts.

Quality Gear - House Dok Productions

When we published Metahumans Rising, included in the Power and Gear Examples, Pg. 69 – 75, are a number of weapons and items. A lot of this Gear has been scaled to play at the Classic power level. To let everyone behind the curtain for a moment, this is because we could list powers without […]

housedok.com

 

[Tulpa Girl]

No gaming this week. My online DC Heroes GM was getting his badge at DragonCon on Thursday night, and my face-to-face group all have this weird condition called "having a life" which means they actually have other stuff they do on holiday weekends.

 

[Dumarest]

No gaming this week. My online DC Heroes GM was getting his badge at DragonCon on Thursday night, and my face-to-face group all have this weird condition called "having a life" which means they actually have other stuff they do on holiday weekends.

​

 

[Bill Reich]

Mundane Classes

Not every adventurer starts out as a well-prepared pro

OneBookShelf

www.drivethrurpg.com

 

[Triumvir]

Recently joined an online group playing Mythras in the Meeros setting. Having an absolute blast.

We had an epic 3-hour battle with over a dozen participants in latest session. It zipped along - there was some nice creative use of special effects with minimal analysis paralysis (I was probably the worst offender).

Otherwise, trying to rustle up a group on discord for Hyperborea, but it's slow going. I recently heard good things about game finding on Roll20 and may try there too.

 

[Rich H]

I really liked the Pure Plant scenario. Lots of different ways to deal with the encounter. My PC's had no issues with the Trash Hawk, sadly, and ended up becoming allies with the ghouls by helping them fix the plant. Now they have a clean water source, but its very far from the Ark...

Been a while since my last update but we've had Sessions 3 and 4 now...

Session 3
They took out the Trash Hawk and found the diary note foreshadowing Eden and then managed to negotiate leaving with lots of water - trading away two pretty amazing rifles as part of the deal as well as improving the performance of the Pure Plant. Looks like they could develop a trade route/alliance with them in the future but their Ark really needs some development before they can really offer anything more in return. I finished the session with the PCs returning to the Ark, its lit cabins in sight, just as a light streaked across the night sky and landing with a soundless explosion far to the east (ie, the Starfall threat card).

Session 4
I've decided to do Ark development between each adventure, moving session-related bonuses/etc to adventure-related ones - I really don't like session resources. I'll offset this with milestones in the adventure to award MPs and the like. I'm using some expanded Ark/Colony rules from Drivethru' to really enhance this part of the game and the players really enjoyed stepping away from their characters and spending a session on discussing the Ark, agreeing projects, and then taking actions for their PCs where necessary. I was really impressed how they pretty much seamlessly dipped in and out of character depending on the situation.

The highlight of the session, using these expanded rules, was a coup where one of the bosses (chosen at random) was killed. I had a player roll and it transpired that it was Oskartian, the Cultist, that was going to die so I wove that into the narrative of the Starfall event - Maximon gunning him down as the nutcase attempted to leave the Ark, gathering his flock, to search out the fallen star. Later in the session, as a retcon, our Fixer PC in the confusion of the coup used his mind powers on an Enforcer, ordering him to give one of the other PCs their rifle (they had to sacrifice theirs in the negotiations with the Pure Ones in the previous session). This will definitely have repurcussions later as the NPC remembers what he's done!

They've now left the Ark to search out the location of the Starfall. I'm going to throw in a special zone sector along the way and suspect they will also realise it is New York where I've set things as they will pass the submerged Fallen Lady statue as they make their way east.

I can't quite believe how well this is landing with them - considering I was just invited/volunteered to do it. They need to play more non-D&D games as they are all saying they are enjoying MYZ a lot more. It was only meant to be a one shot too.

And I've found a new gaming group! Woot!

 

[bleys21]

Been a while since my last update but we've had Sessions 3 and 4 now...

Session 3
They took out the Trash Hawk and found the diary note foreshadowing Eden and then managed to negotiate leaving with lots of water - trading away two pretty amazing rifles as part of the deal as well as improving the performance of the Pure Plant. Looks like they could develop a trade route/alliance with them in the future but their Ark really needs some development before they can really offer anything more in return. I finished the session with the PCs returning to the Ark, its lit cabins in sight, just as a light streaked across the night sky and landing with a soundless explosion far to the east (ie, the Starfall threat card).

Session 4
I've decided to do Ark development between each adventure, moving session-related bonuses/etc to adventure-related ones - I really don't like session resources. I'll offset this with milestones in the adventure to award MPs and the like. I'm using some expanded Ark/Colony rules from Drivethru' to really enhance this part of the game and the players really enjoyed stepping away from their characters and spending a session on discussing the Ark, agreeing projects, and then taking actions for their PCs where necessary. I was really impressed how they pretty much seamlessly dipped in and out of character depending on the situation.

The highlight of the session, using these expanded rules, was a coup where one of the bosses (chosen at random) was killed. I had a player roll and it transpired that it was Oskartian, the Cultist, that was going to die so I wove that into the narrative of the Starfall event - Maximon gunning him down as the nutcase attempted to leave the Ark, gathering his flock, to search out the fallen star. Later in the session, as a retcon, our Fixer PC in the confusion of the coup used his mind powers on an Enforcer, ordering him to give one of the other PCs their rifle (they had to sacrifice theirs in the negotiations with the Pure Ones in the previous session). This will definitely have repurcussions later as the NPC remembers what he's done!

They've now left the Ark to search out the location of the Starfall. I'm going to throw in a special zone sector along the way and suspect they will also realise it is New York where I've set things as they will pass the submerged Fallen Lady statue as they make their way east.

I can't quite believe how well this is landing with them - considering I was just invited/volunteered to do it. They need to play more non-D&D games as they are all saying they are enjoying MYZ a lot more. It was only meant to be a one shot too.

And I've found a new gaming group! Woot!

That's super cool. :-) Very similar to what my group did as well, they loved the Ark building stuff, and got really attached to "their" Ark. They were all kinds of bent when I staged a big attack on the Ark that destroyed a few of their projects. Once they put out the fires, they loaded up and followed the attackers back to their hideout and wrecked the place.

I also adjusted some of the timing of things. It didn't always make sense to do Ark stuff, or events, at each session. Sometimes they had long adventurers that could last 3-5 sessions. I'd just track stuff happening at home in the Ark, and surprise them with stuff when they finally dragged their asses back home.

Oh, and the realization of where they are located is super fun. I purposely picked Tokyo to be a little vague, but eventually one of my players pieced it together after seeing a few landmarks.

 

[Simlasa]

Today was the first day of D&D Club at school... a session zero to figure out what kids wanted to play.
I was thinking I'd use Magic World or DCC for fairly straight fantasy... but it looks like the theme is going to be Mighty Morphin Monster Mayhem, with Arcane Luchadores fighting alien robot dinosaurs and whatnot.
I've got some research to do... but I'm thinking I might use Mythras Imperative/Destined. We ran a practice battle and everyone seemed on board with the basic concepts.

 

[chuckdee]

In my DnD5e game, the newbies got to learn about risk vs reward. The Risk of 4 1st level characters going up against 2 gnolls vs the reward of what might be in the warehouse guarded by said gnolls. We decided to take the road of escape (I was glad of that), and otherwise had a very uneventful evening, with our mission to deliver goods from one city to the other for an innkeeper going relatively without a hitch. I had to keep reminding them we were under a deadline, because they kept wanting to stop for all these little hooks the GM threw out, but we could come back later to explore.

 

[Certified]

Today was the first day of D&D Club at school... a session zero to figure out what kids wanted to play.
I was thinking I'd use Magic World or DCC for fairly straight fantasy... but it looks like the theme is going to be Mighty Morphin Monster Mayhem, with Arcane Luchadores fighting alien robot dinosaurs and whatnot.
I've got some research to do... but I'm thinking I might use Mythras Imperative/Destined. We ran a practice battle and everyone seemed on board with the basic concepts.

That sounds like a solid vision, and an inspired setting.If you are a Savage Worlds fan, there is also Savage Tokusatsu (https://bpbgames.itch.io/savage-tokusatsu)

 

[Fenris-77]

I've been pissing about with Mythras for a while now with an eye to hacking it to run Planescape. It occurred to me just now that if I was going to hack and reskin a system for Planescape then for a conucopia of reasons Swords of the Serpentine is probably a much stronger pick. I'm going to dig into that idea a little tonight and see how happy I am with it.

 

[Mankcam]

Ran our first session of 13th Age last night.
I've had it for years, collected supplements etc but never actually ran it.

Things went really well, we're liking it so far, it's much better than D&D for this group
They are only Adventurer Tier, and I may keep them within the Level 1 to Level 4 range for some time
However they are very profficient straight out the gate, and each level-up will advance them significantly

The setting is the default of 13th Age's The Dragon Empire, which is both very rich in flavour and key setting details, yet also described in very broad brushstrokes with lots of room for making the setting our own

Due to the epic nature of the setting, I'm liberally mixing the core foundation European Medieaval Fantasy with Ancient Asian Epic flavour (Vedic and Ancient Chinese). For the background canvas basically think Franksia/Carolingian Europe with A Song Of Fire & Ice and The Silmarillion, meets Journey To The West and Ramayana / Mahabharata. The epic stuff is more background at this stage, but the characters will get more inmersed in the very heart of it the more they level up.

Really looking forward to seeing where we go with this

 

[Raleel]

I love that you are tossing in the Vedic stuff. Honestly, I feel like it gives it a breath of fresh air and communicates a lot about the setting. Just gotta show that one commercial with the two guys firing arrows at each other and everyone gets it. That or the more recent palm trees as human catapults.

Somewhere in the mid levels you may find it a bit hard to challenge the party in combat. I found I had to add in a pack of mooks just to make it more interesting. Maybe I was doing it wrong, but heads up.