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Whoops - how did I miss this thread? *blush* I remember these old games.

This one happened a long time ago (early 2nd edition) so I don't remember the whole thing or the actual game we were playing, but I remember the details of this particular incident.

We were fighting a giant next to a temple. One of our players was playing a minotaur. Big character. I had the bright idea that if you cast an enlarging spell on a character, cast on the one who is already the biggest to make him ridiculously large and powerful. So we now have a sixteen foot tall minotaur who goes into a charge attack. With the boosts and all, the only way he could miss is if he rolled a 1.

Guess what he rolled?

In the middle of his charge, he trips, goes stumbling by and crashes head first into the side of the temple, collapsing the wall on top of him.

Oh, thanks for this! This reminds me...

So... where do I start?

So my former boss of my current job (his name is Dom), left to move to Seattle with his wife (who got a great job with Disney).
So, me, him and his wife all used to play an MMO called EverQuest (I didn't play with Dom and his wife, we just all played the game).
So a group of people brought the original EverQuest back (unofficially), and so Dom was like, "Let's play!"
So Dom, his wife and myself started playing - they brought in friends (Anita, who had never played) and Kara (who used to play).
Anita also lived in San Diego, Kara somewhere in the midwest. So there was many weeks (once a week) where we'd all jump on and play.
So I got to "know" Anita and Kara through gaming with them (using Discord to speak).
Fast forward a year, I run into Anita at a Brewery and we chat for 5 minutes, first and only time I had met her in person, up to this point.
Fast forward a few months, and she posts a photo of her at a local Brewery called "Battle Mage" where it's all D&D themed - and for the first time, she had played D&D that night.
I saw the DM screen and pointed out, it was the same DM screen I got for Christmas (but mine was customized with my name on it). So then she said, "Oh, so you just volunteered to DM a game?"
And I immediately jumped at the chance -
And almost immediately regretted it - all the people she invited were all first time to D&D. (And Anita herself had only played D&D once before!) Everyone's impression of D&D was going to be on me... which was extremely intimidating.
Not only that, the majority seemed to be women. I get that more and more women play D&D... but, it still intimidates me because I don't know what they expect.
So I immediately flipped through the monster manual and made up a story.
We gathered and played - and while everyone was rolling up characters and I was answering questions - it was very much like the movie MAVERICK (the one with Mel Gibson) where he promises to lose, and during that time he's learning all of their tells... I did the same thing... I listened and learned each of their sense of humor... and knew that I had a group that would be very fun to DM for.
What I did not anticipate was HOW much they got into it.
They were literally enthralled - and Miranda was so deep into the story and the plight of the old man I had used to start their adventure...
It was one of the coolest moments. To be a story teller, a DM for everyone's first time exposure to D&D (except Anita who had played the one time before at Battle Mage), and to have all of them knee deep in the story and their characters.

I don't think any of them understood that there was no real "limits" to their characters - they could do, and interact with whoever - or whatever they wanted - and me, as the DM had to have the answers to each of their actions. They couldn't understand how I had done that, and I said, "I make up responses depending on what you do." And they were all like, "But you didn't pause - it's like you knew everything we were going to do."

It was incredible.

How cool. Now I wish I could DM. (I only DMed once, and that was with a pre-built 3.5ED adventure, running for one player and me).

Never DMed again. Never played D&D again, either. Just couldn't find a group within distance.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 3:01 am How cool. Now I wish I could DM. (I only DMed once, and that was with a pre-built 3.5ED adventure, running for one player and me).

Never DMed again. Never played D&D again, either. Just couldn't find a group within distance.

DMing is my favorite thing to do. I'd rather DM than be a player. I love doing stories and having people interact.

I normally do sessions I have created myself - but my normal group of D&D people I game with (folks I have known for eons) - this last time I tried "Storm King's Thunder" (5e D&D Module), and it's just not as fun.

As for people and distance - there's stuff for that now - check out: https://roll20.net/

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:13 am This one happened a long time ago (early 2nd edition) so I don't remember the whole thing or the actual game we were playing, but I remember the details of this particular incident.
We were fighting a giant next to a temple. One of our players was playing a minotaur. Big character. I had the bright idea that if you cast an enlarging spell on a character, cast on the one who is already the biggest to make him ridiculously large and powerful. So we now have a sixteen foot tall minotaur who goes into a charge attack. With the boosts and all, the only way he could miss is if he rolled a 1.
Guess what he rolled?
In the middle of his charge, he trips, goes stumbling by and crashes head first into the side of the temple, collapsing the wall on top of him.

Critical fails are always fun.

I played D&D a few weeks back with this same group, and DM'ed for them - and they finished their first adventure, so I told everyone to level up to level 2 and set up the next adventure.

But then we decided we'd be playing this Friday, after work - and I decided to do a side adventure - and base it on a Halloween like theme.

But since this is a fantasy world, I don't want to call it "Halloween." So after some brain storming - I came up with "The Hollowing." (Sounds like Halloween, sort of).

Then I needed a reason why this day was called "The Hollowing" - and then it hit me.

http://tawmis.com/kneurth/the-legend-of ... g-holy-day

A fun explanation of Halloween in a D&D universe. (I hope you can do the requisite deep-voice "Mwa ha ha" for the demons who do harvest such a pure soul).

I thought that it was the beginning of an adventure for your players, but I wouldn't pit level 2 adventurers against demons that powerful, obviously. (That reminds me of a great line from Dragon Age: Origins... the PC is about level 5, and the battle in Ostagar - in which Gray Warden Duncan and King Cailan are killed, along with many others - is about to begin.

PC: What do we do if the Archdemon appears?
ALISTAIR: (deadpan) We soil our drawers, that's what.)

What about trick-or-treating? I have an idea. Once the demons are chased away, and the children are safe, the bigger kids (who have teeth) are given "treacle treats". (Treacle is the British equivalent of molasses - though I'm not sure if treacle/molasses exists in D&D, does it?)

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 9:14 am A fun explanation of Halloween in a D&D universe. (I hope you can do the requisite deep-voice "Mwa ha ha" for the demons who do harvest such a pure soul).

I thought that it was the beginning of an adventure for your players, but I wouldn't pit level 2 adventurers against demons that powerful, obviously. (That reminds me of a great line from Dragon Age: Origins... the PC is about level 5, and the battle in Ostagar - in which Gray Warden Duncan and King Cailan are killed, along with many others - is about to begin.

PC: What do we do if the Archdemon appears?
ALISTAIR: (deadpan) We soil our drawers, that's what.)

What about trick-or-treating? I have an idea. Once the demons are chased away, and the children are safe, the bigger kids (who have teeth) are given "treacle treats". (Treacle is the British equivalent of molasses - though I'm not sure if treacle/molasses exists in D&D, does it?)

The Dretch demons are "fetcher demons" and extremely low level.

And as for the treacle - the beauty of D&D is - anything can exist.

Hmm, but level 2 characters usually have 16 HP or less, don't they? (At least they did when I last played, in 3.5E). If that was the case, then one dretch would be a decent challenge for (say) 3-4 adventurers or so. (And if it was too powerful, I'm sure you can always "fudge" the die roll).

Yay for treacle in D&D! I can just imagine it. The demon's been driven away! Hurrah for the adventurers! Here's some sweets for the kiddies. (OK, all together - awwwwwww...)

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 10:40 pm Hmm, but level 2 characters usually have 16 HP or less, don't they? (At least they did when I last played, in 3.5E). If that was the case, then one dretch would be a decent challenge for (say) 3-4 adventurers or so. (And if it was too powerful, I'm sure you can always "fudge" the die roll).

Yeah, it was only three Dretch demons, but six party members. Oddly enough, the Dretch demons did put up a good fight against the barbarian who rushed at them (allowing all three to make 2 attacks each on him), which did take the barbarian down. But with the Bard and the Cleric they were able to get some health back into him. It was the fight before that at the graveyard (six skeletons) that proved to be the toughest fight. Not even the werewolf at the end lasted as long as the Skeleton fight (and that was with only one of them doing full damage to the werewolf, the others were only doing 1/2 damage due to lack of magic weapons/silver weapons).

We started the game a little after 7:00pm - and I got completely wrapped up - but near the tail end could see the one playing the bard was getting tired (so I lessened some things and hurried it along) - little did I realize, when we wrapped up - it was 1:00am. I thought it was maybe 11pm or 11:30pm at the latest!

It's all detailed here (story and party actions) - http://tawmis.com/kneurth/adventure-not ... e-notes-03

Why is it that when you mention bards, I can't help but think of Elan (from Order of the Stick)? "Restore, restore, restore the barbarian's health!" or "Rage, rage, rage against the Dretch demons!"

(Or will you dock XPs if Calliope's player tries this?)

Oh dear... I'm guessing that Ellyjobel muffed her Acrobatics roll? Talerin ends up in the open grave, and Ellyjobel lands on top of him. Did she roll a 1? Too bad skeletons can't point a finger and laugh derisively, a la Nelson Muntz. "HA-ha!" (Well, they can always groan. "GAK gak!")

Hmm. What does the spell Spare the Dying do?

Also, I found it curious that the werewolf didn't try biting anyone. I thought that a werewolf's bite transmits lycanthropy, doesn't it?

Also, the ettercap's poison. Didn't anyone die from it (or just become very ill)?

And another thing (sorry!) I noticed the party has two rangers, but no rogues. Whoops! Rogues are probably the most useful class I know - setting traps, disabling traps, picking locks, appraising, as well as nice bonuses on backstabbing and flank attacks and so on.

One last thing... demons running loose outside the walls. Don't any kids live outside the walls? Shouldn't they be saved, too?

It's the Great Pumpkin Adventure, Charlie Brown - er - Heroes of the Ivory Vale! *G*

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:03 am Why is it that when you mention bards, I can't help but think of Elan (from Order of the Stick)? "Restore, restore, restore the barbarian's health!" or "Rage, rage, rage against the Dretch demons!"
(Or will you dock XPs if Calliope's player tries this?)

Because he's the best (worse?) bard ever. And there's no XP to dock. I use Milestones for leveling. So basically when they complete a certain set of tasks everyone levels. This way players are not enticed to kill everything they see because it means XP.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:03 am Oh dear... I'm guessing that Ellyjobel muffed her Acrobatics roll? Talerin ends up in the open grave, and Ellyjobel lands on top of him. Did she roll a 1? Too bad skeletons can't point a finger and laugh derisively, a la Nelson Muntz. "HA-ha!" (Well, they can always groan. "GAK gak!")

She made her first roll, but then the Ranger failed his DEX check to be able to keep standing after she had run up on him, then Ell failed her next Acrobatics to try and land.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:03 am Hmm. What does the spell Spare the Dying do?

When someone goes below 0HP - Spare the Dying puts them at 0hp and stabalizes them. (Essentially stops them from bleeding out/dying).

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:03 am Also, I found it curious that the werewolf didn't try biting anyone. I thought that a werewolf's bite transmits lycanthropy, doesn't it?

Oh it did - but when bitten you make a CONSTITUTION savings throw against the Disease; if you succeed the disease is not passed through the bite.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:03 am Also, the ettercap's poison. Didn't anyone die from it (or just become very ill)?

You just become ill.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:03 am And another thing (sorry!) I noticed the party has two rangers, but no rogues. Whoops! Rogues are probably the most useful class I know - setting traps, disabling traps, picking locks, appraising, as well as nice bonuses on backstabbing and flank attacks and so on.

When they reached level 2 (last adventure) Ell actually multi-classed into Rogue. So she's a level 1 Ranger/Level 1 rogue.

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Sun Oct 28, 2018 4:03 am One last thing... demons running loose outside the walls. Don't any kids live outside the walls? Shouldn't they be saved, too?
It's the Great Pumpkin Adventure, Charlie Brown - er - Heroes of the Ivory Vale! *G*

Every town does the same ritual for the Hollowing. So people who live outside of towns usually stay at the local inn for 12 hours (the time that the Hollowing lasts).

Hmm. Wouldn't it be good if the skeletons (or other undead) were able to point and laugh at the PCs misfortune? It would make them more than simply monsters to be defeated.

Ell is now a rogue! Congratulations. Welcome to Hero-U! Hopefully this will help the party. I always thought rogues (as well as wizards/warlocks/whatever) were among the most challenging (but fun!) classes to play, because you have fewer HPs but more skills.

Enemies ahead? No problem - I'll just set this bear trap in their way. The chest is trapped? Aye - let me disable the trap. Ooh, what's in the chest? Oh, nice - a Cold Iron Rapier! Just what my rogue needs. And so on, and so forth.

On the other hand, if our poor rogue is surrounded ... uh-oh. I roll for trying to slide through the skeleton's legs and run away!

You rolled a 1.

Uh-oh...

So I now also DM for some co-workers (Michael, and then Tim and Chris, who each brought a friend - so a total of 5 players).

I can say, right off the bat - after the first session, with them - I had fun, but there was a lack of chemistry between the players, unlike the other group I DM for (most of which all knew Anita, but not one another).

For that group (co-workers), they got stranded on a mysterious island when the ship was suddenly attacked by a Kraken, destroying the ship, and seemingly leaving only the party as the only survivors of the carnage... some digging around, the party begins to uncover that there's an ancient temple in the middle of the jungle - and the island itself, was once sunk to the bottom of the ocean, by what seemed to be the gods, who had sunk it because a cult of demon worshipers on the island... with the island surfacing again... does that mean the cult is back?
Their characters:
http://tawmis.com/kneurth/characters/th ... characters
Adventure Notes:
http://tawmis.com/kneurth/adventure-not ... nturers-01

I also DM'ed for the group that I love (Anita's group) last weekend and had, as one might expect, and incredible time...
So previously we did a little side quest for "The Hollowing" the Halloween event (I already discussed it in this thread).
So with the Hollowing over the party resumes the previous quest - which entailed the Cleric getting a vision of a woman pulled out of a tree, then staked to the tree, her throat slit, and then a demon emerging...
(Demons are the big theme with the current age of my world)

Where do I begin? The party eventually learns that the place they need to go is 2 weeks on foot.
I know, as the DM, the party (read: The Ranger/Rogue) has some gold - I am expecting them to buy horses.
After much debating, the party decides to pass on buying horses and wants to do this on foot.
I explain that it's fine, but because it's 2 weeks on foot - that's a lot of potential random encounters.
They're okay with that.
They end up with a random encounter on the first night - brigands!
After a fight, the brigands are defeated.
The Barbarian says, "They had to have come from somewhere."
I think, "Well... they're random encounters..." But then say, "Sure, if you roll a 20, I will give the details of where they were from." (Thinking it's not going to happen, so I won't have to even explain it).
He rolls a natural 20.
I sigh, and explain that they find a parchment which seems to indicate where the brigand hide out is.
They ask roughly where it's at - I say, "One day north." Thinking they won't go - since they need to go East - and going one day north takes them further away.
They decide to go for the brigand hide out...
And right there, on the spot without any of them aware - I made up an entire adventure about these damn brigands!
Adventure Notes:
http://tawmis.com/kneurth/adventure-not ... e-notes-04

I loved her from True Blood (like, really loved her!), and then in Daredevil... and these days? So much more...