The Dungeons & The Dragons

D&D4E NPC Update

Huzzah!

Yesterday and today, I completed the encounters info, and added the final bits, and now the D&D4E New Player Course is ready to go!

Mark your calendars: the first session is scheduled for 2 Jan 2014 1900 (7 p.m. CDT), and will be streamed live at the Gamer_Jim channel. Tune in and watch some folks start their adventure into the world of D&D4E for the very first time. Let's roll 'em!

Announcing: RPDM's Souls in Chaos Campaign

RPDM is getting back into the DMing biz!

I’m currently building a D&D4E campaign titled Souls in Chaos, set in a modified Nentir Vale / Chaos Scar hybrid realm. The campaign is currently scheduled to start on 1 March 2014. Along with the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition New Player Course (D&D4E NPC), this will be the second D&D project I’ll be initiating next year.

Also, much like the D&D4E NPC, I’m putting the LFP call out here on my blog. I’m looking for four (4) players interested in a long-term commitment to the campaign. Following are the details I have in place so far. NOTE: details are subject to change.

Campaign: Souls in Chaos

Ruleset: D&D4E, with DM adaptations and improvisations.

Realm: Nerath, in a Nentir Vale / Chaos Scar hybrid region.

Campaign map, courtesy of D&D Retro Crawl

Major populated locations:

• Hammerfast
• Thunderspire Mountain
• Fallcrest
• Harkenwold
• Winterhaven
• Restwell Keep
• Crossroads (?)

Toolset: Roll20; RPG SceneShots; sessions will be streamed live on my Gamer_Jim channel.

Playstyle: Balance of RP, combat, and non-combat encounters.

Session Dates: TBA

Allowed Races

• Human
• Dragonborn
• Drow
• Duegar
• Dwarf
• Eladrin
• Elf
• Gnome
• Half-Elf
• Halfling
• Half-Orc
• Mul
• Orc
• Tiefling
• Tinker Gnome

Unallowed Classes

Most everything related to Forgotten Realms, Eberron, Dark Sun, and Neverwinter settings; anything related to the Heroes of Shadow, Heroes of the Feywild, and Heroes of the Elemental Chaos guides.

• Artificer
• Assassin (Executioner)
• Barbarian (Berserker)
• Bard (Skald)
• Hybrid
• Paladin (Blackguard)
• Sorcerer (Elementalist)
• Swordmage
• Wizard (Bladesinger)
• Wizard (Sha’ir)
• Wizard (Witch)
• Vampire

Unallowed Backgrounds, Themes, & Builds

Most everything related to Forgotten Realms, Eberron, Dark Sun, and Neverwinter settings; anything related to the Heroes of Shadow, Heroes of the Feywild, and Heroes of the Elemental Chaos guides.

Character Ability Scores Roll Method (to be voted on by players)

• Assign Array (16,16,12,11,11,8)
• Point Buy (20 points)
• Dice Roll 4d6 (best 3 rolls)

Character Additions:

Characters will have the choice of a pre-adventurer profession, based on the Adventurer's Option - Trades and Professions supplement, with DM adaptations.

If you are looking for a D&D4E campaign to join, please send an email to RoleplayingDungeonMaster@gmail with “I Am A Soul in Chaos” in the Subject line, and with your Twitch name in the body (if you have one). Also, tell me the best open times during the week when you are available for approx. 5-6 hours at a stretch. Feel free to add a short history of your D&D experience.

Keep an eye on this blog and post for new info to be added as 1 March rolls closer. Leave your comments and questions below and I’ll address them concurrently.

Let’s roll ‘em!

Announcing: The Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition New Player Course

When I launched my TwitchTV channel this past July, I quickly found out that D&D was a major source of streams playing, and I was glad for it. Since then, I've spent many hours being entertained viewing adventuring groups playing this great game.

I also noticed something else while watching: there were (and are) a LOT of people who have never played D&D, and are eagerly seeking where and how to learn. Then, the idea for the The Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition New Player Course (D&D4E NPC) struck my brain like a psionic blast, and here we are.

The NPC will be a basic training course for those first-time D&D players, guided with help from the D&D "Red Box" Starter Set (2010 edition).

The NPC will be broadcast live (and possibly recorded for posterity) on my TwitchTV channel, along with the multitude of other D&D streams, to help spread the joys of adventure with the world. Roll20 will be the virtual tabletop we will gather 'round.

The NPC is scheduled to begin on 1 Jan 2014, with 4 players I select from those voicing their interest. More details are still being carefully pondered, to be posted here when decisions are made.

Here's a look at the NPC Outline as I have it currently.

Course Requirements

1. Info Packet

2. Roll20 (http://roll20.net/)

3. TwitchTV account

INTRO

1. What is D&D?

2. History of D&D

3. Components of D&D

4. Info Packet

PART 1: Goblin Attack!

1. Character Creation

2. Action Types

3. Abilities and Skills

4. Defenses

5. Hit Points

6. Powers and Feats

7. Move Action

PART 2: Tracking the Goblins

1. Experience Points

2. Healing

3. Alignment

4. Ability and Skills

5. Equipment

6. Feats

7. Languages

PART 3: The Twisting Halls

1. Combat Turns & Rounds

2. Triggered Actions

3. Action Points

4. Movement

5. Attacks

6. Conditions

7. Saving Throws

8. Hit Points & Healing

9. Dying & Death

10. Rest & Recovery

I almost have the first 4 players identified for the inaugural run, but in case Life happens to one or more of them in between now and 1 Jan, I'm willing to add a few more names into the hat.

If you have never played D&D, or D&D4E, and are interested in attending the first (or subsequent) D&D4E NPC, please send an email to RoleplayingDungeonMaster at gmail, with "D&D4E NPC" in the Subject line, and include your TwitchTV name in the body. 

Feel free to connect with me at any of my RPDM social places to stay informed about the NPC and all other D&D info I roll initiative for. 

Let's roll 'em!

The Initiates, Session 1

My Pathfinder group got together again for our usual Saturday session yesterday, as we started a new campaign with a new set of characters. Introducing: The Initiates!

L-R: Diomedes (Fighter), Siel (Monk), Dergan (Cleric), Brewl (Barbarian)

Close up of Siel, Grey Elf Monk. Proficient in Alchemy, Herbalism, Healing, and martial arts. 

We started off as initiates in service to The Pathfinder Society, with our area of operation located on the Isle of Kortos, centered on a sub-lodge in Absalom. 

Adril Hestrom, our handler, has been giving us individual missions for the past three years, many which have primarily been tests of our respective class skills. When we were each separately given this latest mission, we each had a feeling that this one was different. And so it is.

We were tasked with going to the Soggy Piper bar in the slums known as The Puddles, and meet with other initiates. We arrived in turns, made our brief introductions to each other, then began to sort out this mysterious mission.

A perceptive scan of the bar patrons showed one of the barmaids (not serving our table) paying a bit more attention to us than anyone else. Diomedes approached her and began an inquiry, finding out she had a message scroll meant for us, one that had been unsealed and poorly resealed. The scroll read, "You are to meet with Yargos Gill for transfer of a valuable tome. He should be along shortly."

After some coercion by our very handsome barbarian, barmaid told us that Yargos and his pals were in the Soggy Piper a couple hours ago, but got into a ruckus with a group of burly men, who took him away, possibly to a place called Tossman's Point. We four Initiates quickly set off to Tossman's Point to find Yargos.

The rest of the evening we dealt with admin stuff, including combat test rounds, and a lengthy discussion of intiative as it applies to spellcasters. The adventure is set to resume next Saturday.