They beat us to it!!!

Hadrain, I hate to break it to you.

Across the Stone Sea

Please forgive this hastily and inartfully written introduction to tomorrow night's adventure. Some of this comes verbatim from notes I made for myself about the campaign setting, so it was never really meant to be read by anyone else but me. So, if it doesn't flow very well, that is why. For some reason, I just can't engage my "writer" gear today and get any good prose flowing. I did, however, want to give tomorrow night's players a brief introduction to the setting, so you'll have some idea of the world you're getting into, and maybe have a little bit more to work with on character concept and background. (Just for the record, I intend this to be the first outing into what I hope becomes a persistent 4e campaign setting).

Kelaturr
The defining characteristic of the world of Kelaturr is the geographic formation known as The Stone Sea. The Stone Sea is an immense mountain range that circles the entire planet, running north to south, and passing through both poles. The Stone Sea is quite obviously the result of some sort of magical cataclysm—it rises abruptly from the surrounding countryside and is constantly plagued by violent, unnatural storms. At no point is the range less than 500 miles wide. In those areas where it passes through the oceans, it consists mainly of rocky uninhabitable crags and is impassable by ship. Likewise, on land, there are no known land routes that cross the Stone Sea. On the continent of Eralon the Stone Sea forms the border between the vast wild western portion of the continent and the Kingdoms of the East, advanced and mostly peaceful nations known collectively as “The Settled Lands.” At certain points experienced crews pilot airships across the Sea, providing an important trade link between the Settled Lands and the isolated settlements of the West. Settlements in the Stone Sea are extremely scarce as it is a place of dangerous magic and evil creatures.

For years, the kingdom of Alastria has held a virtual monopoly on the trade that crosses the Stone Sea. The airship port city of Krynnsport is perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in the Settled Lands, where Tieflings and Goliaths rub elbows with the more common races of the Eastern kingdoms. Thanks to its control of the air routes to the West, Alastria is one of the wealthiest nations of the East.

This has, inevitably, led to jealousy amongst Alastria’s neighbors. Now, rumors are circulating that King Lerris of Solania is intent on forging his own trade routes across the Stone Sea. Intrepid adventurers from all across the Settled Lands are flocking to a tiny and remote village on the far Western frontier where Lerris is building what he hopes will one day be a trade hub that rivals Krynnsport. Surely, in the newly renamed village of Lerrisport there are ample opportunities for the brave and foolhardy to find adventure and wealth.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

I'm trying to play fewer video games these days (now that my latest World of Warcraft binge has come to an end), but this cannot be ignored.

I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.

Gauging Interest

Like the Captain in the previous post, I'm gauging interest in the possibility of an upcoming game.  I was thinking about doing some sort of one-shot next weekend.  Either 4E, Call of Cthulhu, or just good ole 3.5  (Or hell, Star Frontiers)... no decision on that.  Any interest? (Please respond soon, so that if people are interested, I can prepare...).

So, I picked up a module at Tabletop a week or two ago, just to scratch the itch, so to speak. It wasn't really that good, but it got me thinking. How do you guys feel about a sort of play-by-post game? I just want to gauge the interest level.

Probably 3.5, phb races and classes. Probably something in Greyhawk. Normal Scott rules. I'm thinking that I'd make sort of a weekly (maybe more often) post, and you, as the party, would respond in character to a situation. Combats would be tricky, but I think it's a surmountable challenge.

Scheduling seems to be a nightmare, generally, to all meet in person. Maybe this would be some small way of keeping the dream alive.

I'd have to figure out a way to get the dice-rolling worked out, but that's the only real hurdle I can think of. Thoughts?

FYI

I have no plans to participate, but at Win More Games at 87th and Quivira.

Next Game . . .

Is there going to be one?

Next Game?

Sooooo, any preferences? I have a wedding to attend the weekend of the 20th so that's out for me.

Let's get some dates thrown out there! (especially if you are needing more time to assemble stuff Nate, it sure never *seems* like there's as much work to do til you start in on it >.<, next game I do is sooo going to be a premade adventure path!)

4e Feedback

After Action Review:  How did you guys think the game went on Saturday night?  What did you think of the system?  Any comments or criticisms on the dungeonmastering?  The adventure?

Discuss.

Weapons of Intimate Destruction

I think this guy used to work for the library. I got a work email one day asking if I remembered him. Turned out growing up he was good friends with one of my cousins (with whom I've lost touch) and he recognized the name. He worked at a different location and we never met, but the name's the same and he's in the right state. A different cousin just became a Facebook fan of his business, and I thought the subject matter appropriate enough to share here. Interesting.

Looking Ahead

I may be out of town on the 20th - Can we agree to meet again on the 13th?

And

I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoyed our non-D&D gaming on Saturday night.  I'd like to give Starcraft another whirl sometime in the future. To that end, I downloaded my own .pdf copy of the rules today, so that the next time we play I, at least, won't have so many damn questions to annoy Nate with.

Alternative XP

Here is that post I was talking about last night.

January?

Has a location been established for the January game?

Not Quite D&D

But related

Sociological Images Is Talking D&D

And wondering about the scantily-clad female on the cover of the 4E PHB. Some interesting discussion in the comments. I thought this thought was well-noted:

For those of you who have the 4.0 players handbook at home, I have a fun game you can play. It’s called ‘count the midriffs.’ Go through the numerous illustrations in the books and see how many characters have midriffs. Then, play that same game with the previous DnD player’s handbook (3.5). You will notice less ...midriffs in the previous edition of DnD. It’s funny how wizards decided that in the new edition nobody needs armor over their soft abdomens anymore. Maybe there’s a new spell that protects you from getting stabbed there? I’m not sure.

That and more here.

January?

Has a date been established for the January game?

January?

Has a date been established for the January game?

Fantastic Site

While browsing through the Ptolus Dm'ing forums earlier tonight I came across a link for a 4e module template. I downloaded said template (a fantastic piece of work, by the way), and decided to check out the designer's website. I'm glad I did, and I highly recommend it-- it's one of the better gaming blogs I've run across in some time: Key Our Cars.

Ooooooh, Aaaaaaaaah, Wow.

Cool.