Third Year Anniversery Contest

Tomorrow, Gothridge Manor will be three years old.  I want to do a thank you to those who slog through my Sleestak Sundays, Villains and Game Recaps.  I thought it would be interesting to do a contest.  I'm not sure what kind as of yet.  I'll announce it tonight or tomorrow morning.  And by that time I will have figured out what to give away.  So stay tuned.

Two OSR Indiegogo Projects and an Orc

Not much going on in the Manor these days.  So I thought I would post some links to some OSR indiegogo projects.

Greg announced on his Discourse & Dragons blog he started a pledge drive for Barrowmaze II.  Smart move.  With the huge success of the the original Barrowmaze I think he'll have an easy time reaching his goal.  I'm curious to see how far over his goal he'll get.

Stuart Robertson, creator of the Weird West RPG announced he started a pledge drive to create six miniatures for his game.  The six miniatures include, Abraham Lincoln, Billy the Kid, American Werewolf, Victorian Vampire, Indian Princess and the Mummy Outlaw.  For some reason I've been digging western themes, probably in part I've been playing a lot of Red Dead Redemption.  So the timing of this one sounds cool.  I'm hoping to see sketches of the proposed miniatures.  The mummy outlaw...I gotta see that one.

Dylan Hartwell over at Digital Orc released his follow up project called the Horrendous Heap of Sixteen Cities.  He does his own artwork that I enjoy.  It's got a original angle for gaming.  At least one I have not heard of before.  I plan on snagging this one after I get done writing this post.  And if you get a chance download his Digital Orc fanzines.  They are on the right column to look at.

That's all for now.  Support these guys if you have the means and the desire to do so.  All three of them have proven to put out good, if not great products.

Sleestak Sunday

Just when you thought all places for sleestaks to hide was exhausted, they've found a new place.  Under a bottle cap.  Go over to Patrick Kendall's site, Bottlecap Monsters, where he has some great critters hiding under the caps.  What a great oddity this sleestaks have me finding. 

Village of Lost Artifacts and Non-Scary Places

The Smoldering Ruins of Eptoch is over that hill.  Since it is the ever smoldering ruins its easy to find.  With the smoldering and all.  Yeah, lots of cool stories about what happened there.  An uprising of demons or vampires or handmaidens, I'm not sure I get mixed up, but nothing much going on there now.  Once a month some young bard comes along and wants to see it.  I try to tell them it's just smoldering and they get all puffy and want to sees it anyway.  Pays for me bar tab.  Most of the time.

Yep.  That's the Standing Stone of Infinity so they say.  Some religious relic.  Some of the priests come through here all googly-eyes like they were staring as Sherri at the tavern.  Now she is a holy relic.  Anyway, they claim it's a piece of a piece of some god stone that will reveal the secrets of the universe.  Well if its a piece of the piece then its broke.  No secret there.  If it was an artifact it shouldn't break.  And why would they stick a chunk of it in that field?  I guess it they are the creators of the universe and they broke their stone and put a piece in that field that might explain why everything is so ass backwards.

Now if you look toward the west you'll find the Doom Swamp.  Scary sounding eh.  Doom and all.  But some good berry bushes grow on the edge that make good wine.  Henry at the tavern makes a good batch every so often.  Hmm?  Oh yeah, there are monsters in there, but we don't feed them.  We trap along the edges and catch some bigguns, but most of the time they just ruin the traps.  Then I have to go to Kurn, he's our smith, and get it fixed.  Man's got no teeth and thinks Sherri is in love with him.  Been sniffing those forge fumes too long.

I'd tell you about that colossus statue in the middle of the village, but don't know much about it yet.  Although I can tell you if you walk under it, that statue has got all the parts.  Ha.  Yeah the ladies got a kick out of that one.  Nah, ain't moved at all, but only been here a few days.  We had one statue get up and run.  Made a racket.  Ran into the Doom Swamp and sank.  You can still see the top of its head a hundred strides in.

I'd suggest staying away from The River Valley of Death.  The fishing is fantastic there, but there's lots of flooding going on now.  I can tell you the rest over at the tavern.  Sherri's working and Henry said today his swamp berry wine would be ready.

My Take on Hit Points

Under the big red moon of gaming there is a great debate of what hit points mean. Interpretations, edition differences and house ruling have spread the concept of hit points all over the spectrum. In the 1st Edition DMG hit points are considered an abstract thing where it’s not considered how much damage a person can take, but a combination of factors, not just physical damage. 

I know there was an interesting conversation over on Google+ about saving throws vs. poison. The save vs. death specifically. I think one of the points of contention was if an elephant gets bit by a snake and it failed it save would it die? Depends how fricking big the snake was I guess. This is where things get too nitpicky for me. Asp vs. elephant, though the rules may say a failed save results in death I would use my powers of GM and make a ruling I thought made sense. If you want to get into the debate of whether the snake can bite through the elephant’s hide then you are talking about another type of system that takes natural toughness into account. I think some of the disagreements come when people argue across systems or editions about a subject.

Here’s the secret though. It doesn’t matter. Not one little drop of gnat piss. As GMs we can all make whatever ruling we choose that makes sense and is consistent with the decisions you made earlier. I like the debates, but in the end usually everyone goes away doing the same thing they came into the argument with.

Hit points for me are simply this. Don’t run out of them or you’re dead. Save vs. death for me is simple, make your save or your dead. If adventurers don’t like these options then tell them to stay home, eat owlbear potato chips, drink mind flayer ale and wait till the Grim Reaper comes to take them in their sleep.

Map Time!

I was digging through some old files and found this one lurking in a dusty file.  I like this map, but wish I'd used a subtler blue for the shallow water. Again, this one was drawn in pencil then outlined and filled in with color pencils.  Then I scanned it in, opened it up in Paint to draw in the buildings and place the numbers.

Quick Game Night Recap w/ Pictures

**Warning.  Some of the following images may disturb, nay terrify, nay make one yucky.  Read at you're own risk**

The party camped outside the tomb entrance.  The cleric excused himself  to take a pee.  This pee will last two more weeks.  They heard a scream.

"What was that?" 

"I dunno."

Sneak. Sneak.

Skeleton in armor standing over two bodies. 

Attack.

Stabby. Stab. 

Skeleton crumbles.

Armor is formed onto the bones so this makes Boog sad.

Morning.

Enter the tomb. 

Smelly.

To the north, the door is ajar.

Five skeletons inside.

Skeletons killed.

Searchy.  Search.

Door.  Secret.  Stuck.  Shit.

Boog bashes.

Fails.

Boog pries.

Fails.

Little halfling Grim pulls little level.

Succeeds.

Grim the lever puller enter crawl space.

Boog to big to fit.

Slimey in there.

Oh wait, there's something wrong.

Enveloped by a trapper!

Cough.  Couch.  Gasp.

Tavi the Bard tosses 30 hit dice of fireballs from his necklace.

Grim the lever puller, crispy, but barely alive.

Boog smears healing ointment on Grim.

Boog feels uncomfortable.

Weird screaming.

Dwarf running with a heavy backpack.

Chased by three ghouls.

Boog paralyzed.

Munchy. Munch.

Bard fillets ghoul.

Grim rubs healing ointment on Boog.

Grim feels uncomfortable.

Tavi saves dwarf.  He has lots of stuff.

Tavi makes sure dwarf is ok.

Grim goes through his things.

Finds potions.

Finds big gem.

Cuts off heavy backpack.

A large black prayer wheel falls out.

Spell shoots at Grim.

Spell Turning ring.

Grim happy.  Woohoo.

Spell lands on Tavi.

Saving throw.

Tavi falls to the ground as his skin quickly turns black.

End of session.

************************************************

So last night the party got into room one.  But it was fun.  A lot of fun.  I told them "Wait til you get to room two."

Game Night and Fire Face

Tonight is game night and I am set.  I used a few hours yesterday to prep for the game.  Something I've failed to do it the past few sessions and I think it showed.  Though we had fun I think I didn't do enough work for the session.  I'm looking forward to tonight, taking off the past couple of weeks have helped recharge the GM batteries.  Plus, I reorganized my office again.  I think my new setup will keep my notes and campaign stuff organized.

Here is something I drew while doing something else.  I think it look kinda cool and will probably come up with something for the second issue of The Manor.  Alright, time to go.  Lunch is over.

Easter Bunny Convict Tale

This story is completely true.  Except for the parts I made up.

Several years ago some where in the late 80s I was strolling through our local mall.  It was a week or so before Easter and the mall had a place where kids could sit on the Easter Bunny's lap.  Not sure why you would want to do this, but maybe they could give the bunny tips on what to put in the basket.  Anyway, it was a slow time and I walked by where the Easter Bunny was sitting and I heard.

"Hey Tim.  How's it going?"

I looked around and it's just me and the bunny.  It was a guy' voice.  One that smoked a lot.  I was completely baffled that the bunny knew my name.  "Good, I guess."

"It's me, Bob."

I have no idea why, but that was enough and knew it was a guy I knew from school.  "Wow, nice pink suit."

"Yeah, I had to get a job.  My probation officer said take the job or sit in the cell."

"You might want to reconsider your decision."

"Tell me about it."  He said and itched under his giant pink bunny head.  "It's so fucking hot in this thing."

"Take it off and take a breather."

Bob shook his bunny head.  "Can't.  Freaks out the kids."

I can't remember what happened after, but it doesn't really matter.  How many times have you met an Easter Bunny that knew your name, had a smoker's cough, swore and was on probation.  I love the holidays.

Now that Easter is over the bunny can get back to what it does best.

Sleestak Easter Sunday

Be very careful searching for those Easter eggs.  You might find a giant sleestak instead. 

Notice of Impending Assassination

One of the props I like to use in game is a billboard.  I've written about it a couple of times.  I was cleaning up the office and found an old disc.  A group of assassins known as the Death Arrows post Death Certificates on the billboard.  Why would a assassin guild do this?

The first part of the answer is The Death Arrows are civilized and business men.  They believe it's proper to give someone a chance to put their affairs in order.   There is no known case where someone escaped a contract. 

The second part, it allows others to seek compensation for outstanding loans.

And lastly, it gives the target a sporting chance.  Though once their death is proclaimed it's only a matter of time before they assume room temperature, but the Death Arrows prefer to give a fighting man a chance to not go quietly into the ever night. 

Click to make sure its not for you.

Playing it Fast and Loose

I run a loose game.  There are several times during a session you'll hear me tell the players, just tell me what you want to do and we'll figure it out.  I'll set an arbitrary difficulty rating.  The player can chime in and debate it down and if the point it valid, down it goes.  Or I'll come up with a 'you get this bonus if you succeed or this penalty if you fail.'  I try to keep resolutions simple and fast paced.

Initiative is a simple matter for me.  Group initiative and then I take in dex modifiers after.  If the initiative monkey rolls a 3 and someone has a dex mod of +2 then they go one segment 1.  If the monkey rolls a 1, all can rejoice and go at the same time and slaughter the innocent monsters whose homes they have invaded.

I don't worry about 'you shoulds' when I play.  From the blogosphere you here many opinions on how things should be or how things should be played.  pppffffttttt.  Only requirement is having fun.  Drance over at Once More Unto the Breach!  is doing the A to Z challenge and his C is for Campaign entry spurred this post on.  I read some posts about a game report and think how boring it would have been to be included.  Some GMs just have a stranglehold on what should and shouldn't be happening.

Now I'll be the first to admit that my loose style gets me into trouble sometimes.  As I get older I have a hell of a time remembering where we left off.  I always have great intentions of taking notes and most sessions my notes of the beginning are great, but the farther I get into the game I find I get wrapped up in what's going on and forget to note things.  Luckily I have players that are more organized than me and can usually tell me where we last left off.

My prep for a game in minimal in most cases because I allow the players to drive the story.  But there will be situations going on that occur beyond the players control that often steers their actions.  Example, a war with a neighboring kingdom and the eastern iron ore mines were taken over by a small army of the rival kingdom.  All of a sudden weapon and armor prices triple and those lowly bandits along the road are now organized military ambushes.  Do the players have to do anything about what's going on, absolutely not, but they can if they choose to.

I guess with the weird convergence of reading Drace's post and watching The Hustler, Eddie Felson playing it
fast and loose made write this.  It railroaded me.  Yeah.  That's it.  I was railroaded.  And I didn't mind at all.

 

This one is mislabeled as the final pool game.  It's not.  This is part of the first game vs. Minnesota Fats.  If you haven't seen this movie or haven't seen it in a while, it's on Netflix.  Great movie.

Cancellations and Anniverseries at the Manor

A lull in the game scape at the Manor this week.  Last night's game was cancelled because one player had another commitment and I have been slammed at work the last few weeks and just needed to rest.  I spend my days talking to people all day at work and sometimes when I get home I don't want to say a word.  I was going to add a Whisk joke here, but I don't think she would find it funny and she would hit me when I wasn't expecting it.

Wednesday I had to cancel for Trey's Weird Adventures game because it is mine and Whisk's 8th Wedding Anniversery.  Very cool and looking forward to spending the day with her doing whatever.  So no gaming that night.  I'd hate to be castrated on my anniversery.  Any day for that matter. 

So what's going on?  Not all gaming activities have stopped.  The Manor is in its final leg.  Whisk is finishing a recipe and the final article I'm waiting for.  This is one instance I with I was doing a nice color zine to add one of her food pictures.  I plan on doing proofs this week.  Send copies to second readers than off to everyone in blog land.  Oh, and my mother wants a copy.  She won't understand a word of it, but she needs to have a copy of whatever I write. 

I recently cracked open my old Tunnels & Trolls.  Just to read.  I like randomly picking things off the shelf to read.  With Tenkar's gift I wanted to refresh myself on the rules.  I looked through the adventures that I bought from Ken St. Andre at Origins last year.  Fun stuff.

Lunch is over.  Time for me to return to the pepper mines.  The salt mines are so yesterday.

Game Night Cancelled

Game night cancelled due to foreseen and unforeseen circumstances.  Time to get ice cream.