tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-310936952012-02-16T15:26:13.352-08:00Musings on the art, design, and playing of table top role-playing games.Ieuanenoreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-18862513346204491852011-08-16T18:10:00.000-07:002011-08-16T18:13:20.274-07:00

Sazaldon campaign is moving along fine.  Game works like a steel hammer on iron-forged anvil.  Solid.  Solid.  Solid.  Players love the flexibility, and opportunity, to influence the character's success, but are always challenged.  The d6 mechanics are intuitive, predictable, and fair.  Well, at least from where I'm sitting (behind my bad-ass 3/4 plywood GM screen). Sazaldon works because it

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-32505530265503171492011-04-08T07:03:00.000-07:002011-04-08T07:03:42.895-07:00

Presenting the Sazaldon deluxe character sheet.  Full sheet here.

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-13168830662730424142011-04-06T09:50:00.000-07:002011-04-06T09:59:12.038-07:00

Two crazy ideas.  The first idea, partially tested with some success, is not using a map for cities.  This is working with the city of Tugenfel where the party is currently adventuring.  A basic description of Tugenfel's "tiers" and layout provides the mental map, and removed the need to make the map in the first place, or keep track of where everyone is located.  City maps never seem to capture

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-33968048460619891302011-01-09T10:12:00.000-08:002011-01-10T06:19:18.811-08:00

Notice the original attribute order,

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-40537375097961728912011-01-08T18:05:00.000-08:002011-01-10T06:22:01.197-08:00

In keeping with the brand new but old school vibe of Sazaldon, we've introduced the experience points for treasure concept much loved by first edition D&D enthusiasts.  I like the idea because it compels characters to act for a purpose, and, as an occasional player, a tangible purpose to do anything is often comforting.  So, the idea is to give 1 AP (Advancement Point) for each gold coin or

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-52631182232283924422011-01-08T17:15:00.000-08:002011-01-08T17:19:35.011-08:00

Sazaldon campaign continues - important rule relevant ideas, 1. Combat should not be a long-slog.  Characters and their opponents should know in a few rounds who is winning and make appropriate decisions (run, surrender, unload the big guns). 2. Being hit and making a hit are a big deal.  You do not want to be hit, ever.  Death looms every time the dice fall.  Combat position and tactics, as a

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-81787944649110283102010-11-18T12:32:00.000-08:002010-12-16T07:54:33.958-08:00

Sazaldon "playtesting" is underway.  Two sessions so far, with the first a short adventure that we completed.  The second session introduced the next task - rescuing a cowardly and nervous thief's compatriot from a crow's cage a few miles away.  The 2d6 system keeps things moving.  The players seem to know what they can and cannot do at any given time, and the translation from "I want to do"

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-91937361828301441682010-10-14T06:49:00.000-07:002010-11-04T09:33:24.402-07:00

Current sheet, first page draft gives an idea where the game is headed -

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-72297252972587987112010-10-13T19:13:00.000-07:002010-10-14T09:45:13.582-07:00

Here's one way to discourage what I call the "Skill Prod" - Example 1, Situation: A town guardsman stops the party and inquires about a basket of crossbow bolts in the back of their cart.  A basket that went missing last night from the barracks because one of the characters stole them.  The party, however, recently helped the town stay off an attack by goblins.  The guardsman is suspicious,

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-54424606630455479252010-10-08T06:44:00.000-07:002010-10-12T15:16:14.445-07:00

Trial House Rule - In an ongoing effort to streamline, de-numberify, and otherwise stir a little yin in the 4e yan, here's a trial house rule regarding skills.  Skills use the Attribute modifier plus 1/2 level, any racial or feat bonuses, but that's it.  No trained.  The Attribute modifier + 1/2 level is your skill bonus, BUT if you are "trained," rather than add 5, you roll two dice and use the

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-82334173241562561032010-10-06T08:23:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:10:55.519-07:00

The second volume in the Essential series reads like two books. The presentation and text are aimed at introducing a newbie to the game, but the content offers a few new twists to the character builds in the first Player's Handbook.  It's not a "rules lite" version of the core books by any means, since it introduces new rules and builds, at the same time leaving out other character options. You

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-88134792989128233342010-09-22T07:28:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:10:22.820-07:00

This looks interesting - from an Amazon review on the new Essentials book, Heroes of the Fallen Lands, from WOTC, It has some radical new takes on existing 4e classes. While the Cleric (Warpriest) and Wizard (Mage) still hew pretty close to their PHB counterparts, the new Fighter (Knight), Fighter (Slayer), and Rogue (Thief) are quite different. First off, the Fighter (Slayer) is a striker - not

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-29637988254315222352010-09-21T07:03:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:14:18.794-07:00

Looking over some of the 1st edition clones and previous attempts to update, revise, or house rule d20 into something I prefer led me back to my own game I've been working on for just as long.  It's morphed through several stages, names (Shield Sworn was it at one time).  It originated as a rules lite attempt in a Middle Earth setting, after I had attempted that setting with Gurps, ICE's MERP,

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-24603630634379148572010-09-02T07:16:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:09:38.308-07:00

Power Swaps * Any non-utility Encounter power may be exchanged for +2 to any roll. * Any non-utility Daily may be exchanged for a re-roll. Damage * All player damage is maximum weapon + attribute +1d6, re-roll 6s. * A Critical hit adds another 1d6. * Any bonus power or feat damage is rolled as normal. * Non-solo/Elite monster damage is maximum. Hit Points* Non-Solo/Elite monsters use

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-31621133983984826592010-09-01T13:02:00.001-07:002010-10-14T17:15:48.006-07:00

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-71658488896937763562010-08-23T14:49:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:07:46.771-07:00

Pointing out the team aspect to 4e powers is nothing new, although it is easy to overlook it. Team play is also nothing new in 4e; everyone knew a well-rounded party of complimentary characters had the best chance of survival. 4e took that concept and made it the judge and jury of design decisions. The class role titles, such as Leader, Defender, Controller, etc., support that design philosophy.

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-23516312944506376852010-08-19T07:49:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:07:07.370-07:00

Long, long ago, around a table far, far away, you might have heard something like this, DM: Three of the kobolds block you off in the tunnel and the other three are running after Kendric. You (to DM): I’m going to crash through them and catch up. Kendric (to You): Wait, I’m going to try and slip away and hide. DM: It’s a big cavern, lots of dark cracks and rocks to hide behind. They are still 50

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-56033149030321214252010-08-18T09:45:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:06:27.432-07:00

Discussions have raged over the slow pace of combat in 4e, and many solutions have been offered. http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/22360333/Compilation:_Combat_Accelerators My frustration is not necessarily with the slow pace, because I think the slow pace is a symptom of a bigger problem. The bigger problem is with the disparity between the effects of Powers and the player’s

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-1924179549213066012010-08-10T14:25:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:15:05.741-07:00

In the first table-top rpgs, accomplishing something by dice rolls, other than combat, was an anomaly. Sure, thieves had level based percentile skills, and some races had passive probabilities (1 or 2 in 6) of detecting things, but we used them sparingly. All of these numerical values were a crude, first-time go at differentiating this class or race from that class or race. When playing we often

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-50361564772036444862010-08-09T18:16:00.001-07:002010-10-14T17:15:35.776-07:00

Mount Samone Kobolds In the Queen's Service

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-91796782650110793972010-08-09T18:04:00.000-07:002010-08-09T18:18:55.759-07:00

You are a hard drow to find, Gelddrin my friend.Your master wants you to come home. He will forget what you failed to do at Malkadon, though its brought him to the brink of downfall. Palfont has not quit, and he has allies unseen, powerful allies. The council is split, and the guilds war openly.Come home. These lands are no place for our kind, most certainly do not take up with the pitiful rabble

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-30545238157085786172010-07-28T16:34:00.001-07:002010-10-14T17:15:59.640-07:00

Danmar, Half-Elf Ranger & Fey Panther Mercee, Elthran Cleric Romus, Eladrin Warlord Bree, Halfling Rogue Legoaran, Silmar Ranger Tyis, Eladrin Wizard G'elddrin, aka "Dark Dude", Dunmar Assassin Arost, Haeran Paladin Travis, Haeran Warlock (deceased)

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-28303723581863964662010-07-22T13:18:00.000-07:002010-07-23T07:54:01.879-07:00

AlabarAlabar Aldalon, Chancellor of Dagoska, wrapped his thick white Barimese cloak about him and boarded a stairwell into the dark. His mind was a rage.Palfont.He knew it was Palfont behind the conspiracy. But the man had become invisible, though his spies were probably everywhere. They were most certainly among his servants. At least that girl, and where had she been off to? How long had she

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-76428301625586297532010-07-19T16:46:00.000-07:002010-07-20T07:33:26.642-07:00

PalfontGesena Fide’s fate as an unknown changed forever the night Lord Palfont Siene found her in the kitchen, alone. Holder of the blackest and most bountiful soil in Lorimar, Palfont’s wealth had few rivals. Tenant keeper of a hundred farms, his access to raw resources provided him lucrative business ties to everything from the garment industry to medicine. The Spice Guild alone kept him at

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-6394987540077626632010-07-09T06:09:00.001-07:002010-07-09T06:43:34.496-07:00

Larger Fena maps are here - west, middle, and east.

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-55904368465801419162010-07-09T06:07:00.000-07:002010-07-18T10:46:40.270-07:00

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-17796711805154169092010-07-08T09:13:00.000-07:002010-07-09T06:18:09.281-07:00

Winterhaven from the south - Approaching Mt. Arix -

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-84141446498127371572010-07-08T08:27:00.000-07:002010-10-14T17:11:47.795-07:00

Shield Sworn 4e character sheet is here.

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-71540366558819586962010-07-07T19:12:00.000-07:002010-07-18T10:40:05.785-07:00

Lorimar, land of the red dawn, is one of the southernmost realms in Fena. Its borders are the Eibre Sea to the west, and the Silverthin Forest to the east. Its northern border merges with Elthrale amid an almost impassable mountain range. To the northeast, it reaches the shores of the Deep Meer.“Lorimar lies on blood and gold” is a common pun throughout Fena, catching the sinister and opulent

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-59925062151313252722010-07-07T07:44:00.000-07:002010-07-18T13:02:36.136-07:00

Danmarius Wolfgar Alinore……son of Shtaan Axar Alinore, Haeran Overlord of Helm Calparen (East Keep), the Scourge of Volin.…son of Maylind Alinore, Silmar, Lady of Mistlind, the Weaver, lost to the frozen wasteland of Volin, and revenged evermore by those who loved and served her.Tale as Recounted by the Wizard, Del'Tarus"Your father was a member of the Athambridel nobility, from a long line of

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-84038466454667202042010-07-06T08:33:00.000-07:002010-07-06T08:35:18.844-07:00

Shield Sworn/Fena race descriptions are here.

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-54524578055414485482010-07-06T08:19:00.000-07:002010-07-18T13:02:20.764-07:00

Demosidon (Idon)Believed to be a divine, omniscient, merciless warrior-judge of the Vurin. The Haeran and Elthrale referred to him as Demosidus, a union of the demigods of night and oppression who denied his rightful role and wages war for sole dominion over the worlds of men and deity alike. The Vurin refer most often to him as Idon and devotion to him, or at least the servitude of those who don

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-9294163879551160552010-07-06T08:07:00.000-07:002010-07-18T13:02:00.469-07:00

AwakeningMonths ago.You awoke in complete forgetfullness, and darkness. You awoke to terror and turmoil deep beneath the earth. Everywhere was stone and fire, shadows and cold darkness. Loud voices screaming orders.Your first thought was the feel and sight of chains about your wrists and feet, and being lined up among other prisoners in the custody of an army of Duergar. Along with the chains,

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31093695.post-67350271154417012832008-12-09T06:58:00.000-08:002010-07-18T13:01:24.998-07:00

Shield Sworn is a combination of my rpg world and house rules for 4e. I'll use this blog to post portions from it, links to other cool sites, and otherwise comment on gaming things.For an adventure I'm working on, I wanted to combine a trap with a melee encounter, or a trap that leads to a melee. The scene I pictured had bottles dropping from vents in the ceiling. When the bottles crash and

Ieuanenoreply@blogger.com0