Hey lads,

So I thought that my pad worked pretty well for the gaming, and Pato was pretty happy not having the house filled with smelly(sorry) nerds and Lore didn't mind you dudes, would anyone have a problem moving the shindig to my casa from now on? I think it's a little more accessible than Timmy's and there are fewer screaming babies. Lemme know what you guys think.

Jeffer

Gaav "The Demon"

Gaav was only ten years old when his mother and father died before his very eyes. His parents had a lovely cottage in a small grassy valley that fanned out to the southern deserts on the horizon; it was from there that the savages attacked one fateful afternoon. Their horses trampled past Gaav towards the cottage his father running out of the house at the sounds of his sons scream as the young boy was slashed in the face by a Marauders axe.

He was only unconscious but moments, as he laid there his head spinning a blurred form slipped into his vision, he couldn’t seem to focus on it though he could tell by the shape it was a female, he felt soft hands on his arm, and a soft whisper in his ear... she promised him in exchange for his occasional service that she would grant him powers beyond his wildest dreams, and the strength to possibly save his family. With a faint nod Gaav felt fire sear through his body, though it was not a wracking pain but one of anger, it fuelled him and gave him an inner power he never knew he had... as his one good eye focused he could now only see the burning sun in the sky above.

Gaav rolled over and looked at his home in flames... he could not see his father or mother but the 5 savages were still there ransacking whatever they could find... the young boy stood up and slowly made his way towards them limping lightly one of his arms hanging limp at his side.

As he approached the brutes turned to face him, grinning and speaking in some guttural tongue he could not understand they moved towards him weapons in hand. As they did so he could feel a guiding hand resting on his and a soft voice telling him what to do... with a mere gesture the closest man a dark shadow seemed to descend upon the first man, with a second gesture black flames erupted from the young dragonborn’s hand, and engulfed the man, fire shooting from his eyes and mouth as it consumed him from within. The other marauders howling charged towards him, and his own shadow seemed to stretch out to devour them as they approached... and suddenly the shadow and the men were gone... And all he could hear was soft laughter on the wind.

It was at dusk that the Soldiers from the castle found the boy unconscious and lying amongst the ashes of his house, his burned and scarred body nestled in his mother’s arms. The war bands cleric gave urgent healing to the boy, though he would remain unconscious for a week to come. When Gaav did awake it was inside his grandfather’s castle, light streaming in through the window.

Over the years Gaav has had many discussions with the being that saved him, though he would never tell a soul about her existence, with her aid he learned the powers he would use to thwart evil at every turn... though he walked a fine line... Using the powers bestowed by a demon while trying to walk the righteous path of Bahamut.

As he grew older Gaav always suspected his uncle of being behind the attack on his father who was next in line to be the Lord of the castle... however he could never prove it... not until the day he was sent abroad... his grandfather wanted to forge a new alliance with the humans to the North West. It was that day that unknown to Gaav until a week after that his uncle has slain his grandfather and taken control of the keep... he learned this news at the sword point of the very dragonborn who were sworn to protect him on his journey... once again the flames inside him rose the figure above him erupting in black fire, unable to see the others he could hear their screams of pain as the darkness of the forest consumed them. Knowing that to return home now was futile Gaav continues his journey North West... one day he would return and take back what was rightfully his.

Team Combos

Hey guys,

     So, as usual, playing video games inspires my thinking on the tabletop again.  Starting next session, I'm going to implement the "team-combo" system.

COMBO BONUSES:

     The basic idea of this is to grant bonus XP to party members who combine their abilities in effective ways:  

*START OF RULE DESCRIPTION*

    If two or more party members combine their powers or abilities in a way that results in a non-minion monster being killed or bloodied that round, they will receive an amount of bonus XP equivalent to a percentage of the XP value of that monster to be divided equally between them.  The responsibility for "noticing" a combo that unintentionally occurs is the responsibility of the players.  

    There are many ways that this can happen given how deep the combat system in this edition is, but lets break them down into three vague levels for simplicity's sake.

*Minor Combos: 

-Aid another

-General Buff to Attacking Ally

-General DeBuff to Attacked Monster.  

(Note: A "General" Buff/DeBuff is one that simply grants a universal bonus/penalty to an attack or a defense or damage roll with no additional effect.)

10% XP bonus to participating party members.

*Moderate Combos: 

-Combining 2 or more Encounter powers in the same round.

-Specific Buff to attacking ally

-Specific Debuff to attacked enemy

-Moving an enemy into a position where an ally gets a significant benefit to their attack.

-Moving an ally into a position where they gain a significant benefit to their attack.

-Allowing an ally to make use of a class feature or power that they otherwise would not have used in their attack (eg. Moving to flank with a rogue so they can Sneak Attack, Delaying your charge until after the Warlock has gone so they can use their Prime Shot, waiting until after the fighter has marked a foe that you are trying to move past so the fighter gets an OA against the foe if it OAs you, this sort of thing).

(*Note: A "specific" buff/debuff is one that somehow takes advantage of a strength or weakness of an ally or monster.  It includes things like buffing an ally's fire attack against a monster who is vulnerable to fire, Debuffing a monster so that they are vulnerable to the fire attack of your ally, Immobilizing a monster that somehow depends on movement, 

(*Note: A "significant benefit" includes being able to attack at all, moving the monster into an Area of Effect zone, moving an ally so that their AoE zone encompasses more monsters and anything else I deem "significant" at the time.)

25% XP bonus to participating  party members

*Major Combos:

-Combining 2 or more Daily Powers in the same round.

-Positioning yourself, an ally or a monster so that 2 or more party members gain a significant benefit and/or can make use of a class feature or power that they otherwise would not be able to use (see above for description of these circumstances).

50% XP bonus to participating party members

     Each PC can only get one XP bonus for each combo level (minor, moderate and major) once per encounter.  So you can only get a maximum of 185% XP out of one monster, and that's if they heal themselves at some point since you only get combo XP for bloodying or killing a monster.

*END OF RULE DESCRIPTION*

Hopefully that's clear, but feel free to post questions as comments here.  

Combo Bonuses (CBs) and Cool Description Bonuses (CDBs):

     Remember how I've been giving you guys an XP bonus for "cool descriptions" of attacks and kills?  I've decided to fix that bonus at half the combo-value of the monster you are attacking, down to a minimum of 5%.  So, if you attack a monster on your own and get the CD (cool description) bonus you will get 5% of its XP value as a bonus.  

     If you provide a CD of a combo-move, you might get up to 25% of its XP value as a bonus if its a major combo (half of the 50% CB for a major combo = a 25% CDB).  

     In practice I think it will be very difficult to come up with cool descriptions for big combos on the fly, so I would recommend figuring out some standard good combos and then whoever wants the CD bonus should write the description in advance and break it out when the combo goes off.  I'll be more lenient with CD standards for combos that aren't just straight-up combinations of encounter or daily powers, since it seems like very little work to write up a cool description of these combos.

Anyways, as I said, feel free to post questions/comments here.

Zackar the Mad

Zackar Thalion was born into a small Eladrin community in the Feywild which was closely connected to the World and the Shadowfell. Zackar was a magical prodigy with a keen interest in other realms. He excelled in his mystical studies and spent all his free time in the libraries and archives of his community learning about the planes and the history of the World. He quickly outpaced his fellow apprentices in scrying, too quickly. Growing bored with the sedate pace of his studies, Zackar began to work with his orb on his own. During one session he had a breakthrough and began to explore the universe. In the Astral Sea he caught a glimpse of the beautiful dominion of Corellon and was enchanted. He had brief flashes of the feywild, the world and the shadowfell. The flashes came faster and faster, the elemental chaos was blinding and disorientating and he fell into the Abyss unaware. At some point he seemed to become stuck in the Demonweb Pits of Llolth and he struggled to escape. He marshalled his will and before the Queen of Spider's minions could notice him, he tore free and unknowingly cast his mind into the Far Realms. In that terrible place he suddenly could feel no connection to his body, and worse some abominable intellect seemed to be studying him. When his parents found him the next day his once clear orb was dark and misty and Zackar was wracked with fever. Clerics were quickly brought in and Zackar awoke. The brilliant and curious young man's health was weakened and he became sombre and withdrawn. Zackar had seen the horrors that were lurking, waiting to attack the unwary, and swore to fight them and protect the innocent. After his education was complete he sequestered himself in the temple of Corellon and took holy orders to smite evil wherever it arose. When Zackar enters his trance he is plagued with terrible nightmares, when he wakes his dour countenance and pessimistic attitude unnerves his fellow fey. Combined with his refusal to take a new orb he became known as Zackar the Mad, or in hushed tones, BlackOrb.

New Products are interesting

I'm looking at the three new items for 4E Halls of the Giant King Dungeon Tiles, Character Sheep pack and The Thunderspire Labyrinth. I just opened the Character sheet pack. While the character sheets are much the same as the ones you can download it give you a folder to keep your stuff together and power cards that are blank... I wish I had known that last bit earlier. The Dungeon tiles are nice but there are a few tiles that look like they should have been put in another set or just have added more of them. I'm going to peruse the Thunderspire Labyrinth over lunch.

TGiD&D

I use to say that even though D&D is what started it all for me that there were better games out there. Now that we and D&D are older I'm finding that as D&D has changed over the years so have my tastes for games. D&D 4e is probably the best thing out there right now and while I do have my dislikes for some of the way they decided to put together the new edition I think over all its a positive thing and will make gamers pleased.

I'm currently playing Dark heresy and man is that ever a brutal system. There are somethings I like for the look and feel which is why I like DH but I cannot recommend it to someone who wants to try a new RPG. I still like WFRP (Warhammer Fantasy Role-play) and I actually think its a bit better of a system. IMO though D&D4E kicks their ass in everything but fluff and background material.

TGiD&D

Durin Foehammer

Durin Foehammer, a dwarven priest from the Skarsfell mountains, was born the third child of Bain Foehammer, head of the Foehammer Clan and a Warlord of repute based in the dwarven capitol of Duro-dun (aka “The Forge”). When Durin was but still a beardless child his father took the clan on a mission to re-establish a mining settlement under the peak of Baro-Karak, which had been overrun by goblinoids two centuries past. Little resistance was found upon the return and Bain and his followers quickly established a stronghold and within two years time the ore began to flow once more. Being one of few settlements outside the Forge, many dwarfs immigrated to, what was now known as Baro-ka-gein (aka “Fortress Foehammer”). As the population swelled, so did the attention of the dwarfs eon-long enemies. 20 years after the settlement was retaken, the peace was broken. Goblins, Orcs, Ogres and Giants were gathered under the banner of an Orcish Warlord by the name of Urmat the Bloody. Urmat sent wave after wave of troops against Bain’s forces. Bain leading from the front ranks inspired his troops and did not let the Foehammer fall. In a desperate last move Urmat himself took the field of battle. Urmat’s forces were shattered, but not before Urmat had slew Bain in single combat. Urmat, aided by arcane powers, disappeared and has not been seen since.

After the death of his father, Dain Foehammer, Durin’s eldest brother and first born, took the leadership of the clan Foehammer. Dain was also a warlord possessing both a tactical and political genius, but unlike his father he was far more stern and unforgiving. Dain acted as almost a second father to Durin during his youth. However Dain’s relationship with his family was very much a mirror to his political life, and while Durin respected Dain, there was little love compared to the relationship he had with his father. Dain ever scorned Durin’s choice of becoming a priest, believing that Durin should follow in the family tradition of being Warlords. However Durin had known since before his father’s death that something different was required of his life. He was meant to serve a higher power, and to rise above the worldy struggles of day-to-day administration of their mining operation. For the past decade Durin has served as both a priest of Moradin in Fortress Foehammer and as one of Dain’s counsel. Durin was always satisfied with his work as a priest and his ability to help the common dwarf, but was not satisfied working along side his brother Dain. Dain frequently dismissed Durin’s advice and in some instances openly mocked him. In the last such episode Durin and he got into a heated argument. Things were said that should not have been, and Durin was told that his services were no longer required. Fearful that the feud would escalate if Durin remained in the Foehammer, the High Priest of Moradin urged Durin to take this as a sign from Moradin that he was needed elsewhere, and suggested he take this opportunity to explore the world. With his maul in one hand and his holy symbol in the other, Durin Foehammer marched out of the mountain and into his destiny.

Penny Arcade guys play D&D

This is a pretty funny podcast to listen to while thinking about D&D:

www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20080530

There are like 6 episodes of it posted in their archive.

Rescheduling

Dudes,

     Jeff has a conflict this thursday.  Can we play on Tuesday or Wednesday instead?  I vote for Tuesday since Ryan won't be at work until 7 that day.

Valaris the Elf

"Elves, especially the older ones, are haughty and pretentious. None of them no how to enjoy themselves or hold their liquor."
-Said by Valaris the elf while drinking one night in the village of Cronomir and then promptly passed out into his own fluids.

The Elves of the woods have long been in a constant struggle with their neighbours. Logging from the humans, Mining from the dwarfs, pillaging from goblinoids and orcs. While reluctant to engage in fighting elves are a passionate people and some elves are asked to make the sacrifice and become protectors of their people. Some are born with a passion that is greater than others. The passion to strive to become being that is looked upon as a hero of his people. When I speak of these elves the name Valaris unfortunately comes to mind. Valaris is what elves like to call Natures Challenged.

Valaris grew up in a village close to a human settlement. While growing he would sneak off and learn about human culture and their heroes. When he talked with the other elves about the stories they would always say things like "oh yes I remember that human paragon of his people... I believe he smelled bad and was loud". Valaris thought the elves were a bit harsh considering that the humans in question couldn't defend themselves because they were dead. Valaris grew more stubborn and would try and stick up for humans. While he could beat up most elves that were his own age the elders were much tougher and didn't take kindly to being verbally and physically attacked. Eventually the elders decided to make Valaris a Forest Guardian in training to protect the forest from the dangers the elves had to face and perhaps allow the rebellious elf to mellow out. Valaris excelled at fighting but when it can to nature lore or stealth he could make make a blind dwarf look good. Eventually he was given the status of forest guardian and given the duty to hold ground against a small goblin community that had recently come into conflict with the elves. After a number of years he became a daunting warrior against the foes of the woods and it was thought that he had earned a new duty of watching the human communities that were encroaching. After a few months of this it appeared that there were a number of newly felled areas of trees on the outskirts of elven lands. When asked by the elders what had happened to the woods in those areas Valaris replied "The human settlement was attacked and burned down by the goblins that we had forced from our woods. So instead of fighting with the humans over weather they could have our trees I just gave them some trees so they could rebuild some of there larger defensive building. As they were in great need of shelter I though it wise to give them the ability create there own shelter in stead of imposing on us to shelter them... I was only thinking of the elders in this regard as sheltering the humans would result in a loud and smelly bunch of guests for who knows how long." While in the eyes of the elf community he had done a selfless deed he had also angered the elders. As a result he was given a duty to go to the settlement and aid them in the rebuilding and to find a different source of lumber. He was not to return until the settlement had been completely rebuilt as it had been or better. Valaris didn't enjoy the prospect as much as he though he might, you see he began to notice that humans were loud and they did smell. After the rebuilding of the settlement Valaris hooked up with a surly dwarf and and his companions... none of which was a human.

Post the First

Hey all,

     This blog has been created to support our D&D 4th edition campaign.  Anyone can see what we waste our time doing, I guess.

For the players:

Hey guys, to cut down on obnoxiously long and confusing e-mail threads, I thought we could all just post our thoughts on this blog.  I also plan to post session recaps, bits of history and flavour from the world and other stuff that I feel like posting here.  It would be cool if you guys could post your character backgrounds here to start.