Thursday, October 29, 2009

Role Aids

When you see a Role Aids supplement from the old Mayfair Games days, what is your first reaction and why? Join the discussion!


I don't want to comment on why I'm asking yet but I'm interested in people's gut reaction to that old line.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Join Us!

Tricky Owlbear just started up a group page on the brand spankin' new RolePlay Media Network! Join us, won't you?

In other news, I posted on a Paizo forum thread discussing why pdf publishers aren't combining batches of themed pdfs into larger print volumes. After pointing out our own effort in the BtS: Compendium, the original poster declared I had sold him on it and he admitted never hearing of it before. What gobsmacked me is that there are still rpg consumers online who haven't heard of the series! Just when I think I've achieved total market awareness... :)

Friday, October 23, 2009

What A Difference...

...a week makes! Last Thursday I drove through snow and cold but yesterday was a definite improvement--shorts and 70+ degrees!

This first pic is while driving south through Port Clinton.


This 2nd pic finds me passing a neat little church on Rt. 443 between New Ringgold and Orwigsburg.

Monday, October 19, 2009

RIP Erich Kunzel

It is only because of an off-hand comment by an NPR announcer that I learned of Erich Kunzel's passing today. That is to say, I learned of it today but the great conductor of the Cincinnati Pops succumbed to a 4-month battle with cancer back on Sept 1. Conductors are often the unsung puppeteers of the orchestral world, pulling together not only music numbers but performers of all kinds to create a unique experience for an audience. I first learned of Kunzel in the late 80s/early 90s when my friend Ryan introduced me to a particularly good album of soundtrack bits called Star Tracks II.

My musical tastes were still developing (a process which is probably life-long but these were formative years) but I knew I enjoyed soundtracks. However, tracks not from the original albums? Would the renditions of some of my favorites be any good? Turns out they were quite good and I gained an appreciation for orchestras and the conductors that took on my own favorite pieces. Not all performances sit right with me, of course, but Kunzel could always be counted on to deliver solid interpretations.


Over the years I've collected a few of Kunzel's cds but none were quite as good as 1994's The Great Fantasy-Adventure Album. If memory serves, at that time, everyone had a copy but me. I finally grabbed my own from a record chain called Coconuts for what I'm certain was full price (likely $16.99). Let me say that this disc is worth twice that. Sound effects aside, there is not a bad track on here. From Conan to Jurassic Park, these tracks (a good many of which I'd never heard) merge seamlessly into a great blend of, as the title indicates, fantasy adventure! I've brainstormed many an adventure to the tunes of Kunzel's Pops. His discography is quite extensive and deserves perusing no matter what your musical tastes.

I want to thank Mr. Kunzel for the countless hours of enjoyment and inspiration he's given to me and to the world. May he rest in peace but not necessarily in silence.

Campaign Notes: DL 1-3

Title: Blackbone's Company
PC Level: 2nd

In the previous adventure of our Dragonlance campaign, the PCs made some knightly friends and were headed east toward the conflict which harried refugees across 150 miles. Sir Jiran's closest knightly ally was Lord Elswater, who maintained a small estate outside Lytburg, the closest town to Thelgaard. After a 5-day trek around the Vingaard Mtns, the PCs arrived as twilight fell on the area (did I mention this was a special "Halloween" adventure?). There was activity from only one building in the farming town--a tavern/inn named Balbo's. Here the party of knights and PCs split. Jiran and his knights pressed on the 3 miles left to get to the Elswater estate north of town while the PCs decided to investigate the local color (along with Sir Plaxus who is on Jiran's shit list for defying him last adventure).

Turns out there wasn't much color in Balbo's. A travelling merchant helped stock Deedra's and Beam's supplies while a husband and wife had a last meal before leaving town for good. Lytburg was a town in crisis, no one venturing outside at night for fear of the legend of Blackbone. Seems the Elswater knights, after much hunting, finally caught a particularly cruel brigand leader named Blackbone 3 months prior. Renowned for his viscious demeanor and the stylized black skeletal armor he and his band wore, Blackbone was tried and executed. But as he was being burned at the stake, the brigand vowed to rise again and take vengeance on the knights. Well, about a month ago, one of the local farmers saw decidedly skeletal looking figures converging toward the Elswater estate one evening and the knights were not seen after that. No one has ben brave enough to investigate for themselves.

Fearing Sir Jiran and his band were walking into great danger, the PCs and Plaxus hot-footed it to Elswater. The night was cold, quiet, and dark (storm clouds blotting out even Solinari's normally bright luminescence). No light or sounds emerged from the estate either. A broken barricade marked the first sign of trouble at the estate's gate. The party moved into the courtyard and spread out. Skeletons were discovered littering the area, one of them possessing the shield of one of the knights who journeyed with the PCs! Gundar moved away from the group and noticed two small pinpricks of eerie yellow light in the corner of the yard. As he approached, the twin lights--a skeletal warrior--descended from something (soon to be seen as a pile of knight corpses) and attacked the cleric. The other 5 skeletons in the yard also "awoke" with yellow lights in their eyesockets and attacked. Even after being put down, seemingly defeated, some of the skeletons rose again (bones magically coming back together)!

The battle was fierce but the PCs prevailed after Gundar used his Kiri-Jolith holy symbol to turn the undead abominations and knock them down permanently. Another skeleton on the keep's southwest turret was destroyed but otherwise the estate proved devoid of activity. The feast hall held slain women and children whose barricade was smashed like the front gate. Sir Jiran's body was not found with that of the other knights' but he was not long after uncovered in the stable. His eyes were glazed over and the man was still alive, as if in a coma. Beam spotted the same yellow glow (albeit very faint) in the knight's eyes as in the skeletons'. There was also an tiny soot-like smudge on Jiran's forehead. After uses his turning power on the knight, Gundar then healed him and Jiran came back to his senses. His story was as expected--the knights were attacked by a multitude of skeletons. He was then grabbed from behind by something with slimy shiny skin before losing consciousness. The unknown assailant did leave behind some odd clawed footprints and a distinctive smell which Deedra cataloged for later.

A last search of the estate revealed a secret door in the lord's bedchamber which led to 3 bags of steel pieces and 4 antique family shields. Jiran insisted on burying the family, his knights, and the skeletons (who were dressed as the lord's servants and relatives) before setting the entire place ablaze. When the group returned to Lytburg, the fires of Elswater could fainty be seen and the townsfolk were out to worriedly wonder what had happened. As the PCs explained to Balbo and nearby folk what they had found, more skeletons moved in on the town. This time, Blackbone himself enters the story with his brigand company.

A raspy voice emitted from the undead bandit lord and demanded the surrender of the cleric in return for Lytburg being spared. Beam advocated a retreat to the inn so he could enact a plan involving thrown lanterns but Gundar bravely marched toward Blackbone. The skeleton ordered the cleric to throw down his weapons, which was done. Blackbone then ordered his minions to slay everyone else at the same instant Gundar channeled his undead turning power. The whole of Blackbone's brigade collapsed save for the leader himself (and the 6 skeletons outside the cleric's area of effect). The melee against the yellow-eyed undead was on!

Beam gathered lanterns from Balbo's and used them to great effect as thrown projectiles at the remaining skeletons. Oddly enough, the wizard was mostly ignored until near the fight's end when two skeletons, wielding heavy crossbows, turned to deliver two bolts of agony, felling the wizard (but not mortally). Blackbone fended off the rest of the party on his own for what seemed an eternity before finally falling to their blows. But while the party turned its attentions to the remaining skeletons, Blackbone rose again (like the skeletons at Elswater)! After knocking him down again, Deedra decided to not only take off the brigand's head but smash it into the ground (where its struggle to reunite with its body ended along with the strange yellow glow in its skull).

Once the undead were defeated, the party found much needed rest at Balbo's before following the skeletons' footprints to their source--Lytburg's graveyard. The skeletons not belonging to Blackbone's company came from here but not all were accounted for; Deedra also continued to smell that strange lizard-y odor she detected back at Elswater. The graveyard was next to an abandoned church of Mishakal, which looked like the next likely place to investigate. Inside, eight skeletons stood along the nave walls while a small object on the altar glowed with a yellow light. The PCs moved in and were attacked by not only the skeletons but a humanoid with a draconic head that could cast spells! Beam fell again (again not fatally), Plaxus and Jiran battled the skeletons, Gundar was caught in a web with another skeleton, and Deedra took the fight directly to the dragon-man. After dispatching the evil creature (whose bones exploded violently when slain), the minotaur took her axe to the yellow-glowing item (a crystalline box with a tiny yellow skull inside) and destroyed it. Once shattered, the skeletons dropped into lifeless bones once again.

Now able to look around, the PCs find a seal embedded into the floor before the altar which the dragon-man and his undead were clearly trying to cut through. The seal depicts the infinity symbol that belongs to Mishakal (goddess of healing) but within the one loop is displayed a small flame-like symbol. Gundar decides to pray over the seal and suddenly the loop with the flame descends into the floor. The cleric and Sir Plaxus ride down 20 feet into a small circular chamber. When they reach the bottom, two torches blaze to life. They flank a dias on which rests a perfectly preserved human female. Below her on the dias lip an inscription in Solamnic reads "Here lies Wishana, last Preserver of Good." At the woman's feet sits an item shaped like the flame symbol seen above. It is made of some sort of pure white stone, measures a kender-head in width, and has two odd extensions protruding from its right and lower right sides. When Gundar picks up the item, the woman's body deteriorates, the torches extinguish, and the seal begins to rise.

The men escape without incident while the rest of the party has been looting the dragon-man. On his person, aside from steel pieces, is a thin notebook on which a small hand mirror is attached by a leather band. Updates were written by the dragon-man as to its mission here and replies were magically received but only then readable by looking at the page's reflection in the mirror. The dragon-man was using the skull box (referred to as the "Lash") to animate Blackbone and his company to distract the town (and slay the Elswater knights) while he tried to access the crypt of the Preserver. Whomever he was communicating with told him to hurry as the "Highlord" was impatient.

Now with more money, a flame-shaped relic, and many more questions, the party plans its next move.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Snow?!

Most days, I have the best office environment one could ask for. That has been especially true for the last 2 weeks. Autumn swept its colorful hand across the landscape and I was tempted to take some pics to show off. Today, however, autumn decided to take a crap on my route and I got these "gorgeous" views instead...



Fortunately, the weather didn't slow me down too much. I'm also fortunate that I picked up new tires last week...just in time!

Gygax/D&D on 60 Minutes (1985)

It's amazing that TSR survived the witch hunt of the 80s (part 2 of the video pops up when part 1 is finished)...http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=42247

Friday, October 09, 2009

Vacation Concluded

Don't they always go by so fast? Okay, I only had 3 days but I tried to make the most of them. I visited a shop called Pastimes in Palmyra, PA on Tuesday. Hadn't been there in quite some time. This little shop carries D&D in whatever incarnation you desire. Regrettably, it's mostly 4e at the moment but there's a hefty amount of 3e still available. I like to visit this shop because they sometimes will have just purchased someone's unwanted gaming collection. I've found such gems as AD&D modules H1-H4 and some elusive mini rulebooks printed for D&D's silver anniversary (you remember those little AD&D books abd box sets right?). On Tuesday, however, I only picked up a d20 Star Wars book for Scot's campaign--Starships of the Galaxy.

Wednesday was a breezy day and, while hiking might have been best that day (if only for the winds to keep any bugs at bay), I decided to head over to another day trip I made in the bygone days which is Doylestown, PA. It's a great little town to shop in and they also have a game store called Cyborg One. It's small and you have to really know where it is (behind a well-regarded sub place called Hoagie Works). Their rpg selection is all but nil but I picked up yet another interesting Star Wars book--Galaxy at War. Down the block from the hoagie place is a used record store called Siren Records which I also have to peruse when I'm in town. I think it has more vinyl than anything but there's a nice selection of used cds (and cassettes if you're still using those too!). Picked up a couple cds, some coffee, and some lunch before heading to the Sands in Bethlehem to use my free $10 slot play for the day. Nothing came of my slot endeavor except an hour of time killed.
Wed night the family celebrated Zlaty passing her driver's test by her making a tasty roast beef dinner at her place. Follow that up with some Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (UK) and it was a darned good day.

Thursday I finally decided to get out and hike a little at Hawk Mountain. I've got a route which goes up the Escarpment Trail, down the River of Rocks, up the Golden Eagle, and then over/up the Skyline Trail to the North Lookout (and then back to the parking area) which takes a little over an hour if you don't dawdle. It was a spectacular weather day and the place was packed at the lookouts. I didn't stay long for the view but I managed to scap two photos on my phone while out...


I also picked up 4 new tires for the car to get me through the winter months (some nice looking Cooper CS4 touring tires). All in all, not a cheap vacation but a fun one!

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Beware the Roper

The 9th pdf in Tricky Owlbear's Behind the Monsters series is now live at RPGNow (soon to YGN): the Roper!

Edit: we're now live at Paizo.com!

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Vacation!

Okay, it's more of a "stay-cation" since I'm not taking some big trip. Still, I plan on taking day trips to places like the mountain outside my window (fall is coming into bloom already!), Doylestown, and probably a random casino. Friday it's back to work so I've only got 3 days to spend on doing whatever I want. Honestly though, since I'm only couriering in the afternoons it feels like I've sort of been on vacation already. However, these 3 days represent being able to leave the house without keeping in mind that I have to get back at a certain time. That alone is worth 3 days w/o pay.

Am I the only one who disdains summer vacations and waits until autumn?

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Writing ADD

I think I have Attention Deficit Disorder when it comes to writing projects. I like bite-sized projects that I can finish in a few days' time (which is probably why I enjoy writing the Behind the Spells series so much). These Pathfinder locales are a bit different. Thursday night I worked on both The Prophecy Stone and The Junkyard without really making much headway on either. The night before I was sketching out the look/layout for our Swords & Wizardry adventures. There's something to be said for spontaneity, of course, but if the projects start to lose inertia then everyone loses.

Having a deadline aids you in keeping focused but, as I've said before, I can break such deadlines without penalty as the boss. Another focusing technique that may surprise you is presence of music. Some authors can't write with any sort of distractions. For me, there's two types of writing music--inspirational and working. The former is anything uptempo with lyrics. The latter can still be uptempo but should not have lyrics (new age/classical/soundtrack). Unfortunately, I don't always follow my own rules, using lyrical tunes while typing away. When I do this I'm trying to combine both the creative and actual writing phases of a small project (a la BtS) wherein I type whatever I think of. After working out the storyline for a BtS, for example, I set to typing at the computer without a draft.

Yes, that's right, the bulk of what you read in those pdfs is basically the first draft. Sure, there's some grammatical editing that goes on but, concept-wise, I can't tell you the last time I've ever gone back and erased whole sections of something I've written. I guess that's because I don't start writing until I'm sure of what I want to do. And it seems to work since reviews are average or better for my stuff. Now, if I would only learn some patience and try to refine my work I'd be able to get better as a writer as there's defintely room for improvement. It's all about keeping to a good writing process but, for that, I need to stay focused.

So how do you stay focused?

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Prophecies!

I'm writing up 20 sample prophecies for the new Pathfinder locale but am finding it more difficult than I first thought. Up to 17 though so there's hope! I also resurrected a locale concept I was going to use during my Mystic Eye days called the Junkyard. It's an area where a decadent society ruled by mages sends its waste via portals. Just imagine the possibilities with residual energies, half-spent items and components, mutated monsters, etc.!

Contrary to Popular Belief...

...I'm still around! Feeling a little nostalgic for the old blogging life tonight so decided to stop in and post an update. Oh, life, yo...