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Post by Scott on May 21, 2023 10:28:11 GMT -5
I will be running ToEE next and will be rolling the timeline forward for the old characetrs for castle building time. I'll go back and do some location scouting stuff and the random encounter checks, but for the most part those PCs will be on hiatus while they build a stronghold. Our sons are playing again a nd they have never played it, and it's been a long time since Eric and Mike ran through it, and I'm not sure how far past Hommlet they made it. The party rolled up last night is all human, a fighter, a ranger, a cleric, a druid, a magic-user and a monk. I am kind of excited about running a party with a druid and monk, and even a ranger is a switch after the last party. A lot of the adventures I ran in the last campaign are classics, and very fun, but many of them were definitely tournament adventures and a lot of the ongoing campaign elements were lacking. I am going to try to address that this time around. My plan right now is to create a sandbox, and throw in multiple adventure locations beyond the published adventure. I'll be popping Broken Castle in there somewhere. There will probably be regular trips to Verbobonc, so I will have to come up with some NPCs there. Maybe a trip to Greenway Vally or into Celene? Dyvers possibly. I remember Gary describing the campaign when he ran it, the PCs did explore the Moathouse, but stayed away from the Temple after an initial foray or two because it was too dangerous. So there were other adventure opportunities available. Ernie does not have the same memory that rob has, but maybe I'll reach out and see what memories he has of the campaign. I am also thinking about having a Robilar timer, to have him show up like he did in Gary's campaign if the PCs waste too much time.
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Post by geneweigel on May 21, 2023 12:07:01 GMT -5
I'm still working on the next bit for the Elemental Evil themed stuff but its not going to be as weak as the last one. Its another side dungeon thats not directly related.
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Post by Scott on Jun 6, 2023 12:15:42 GMT -5
I started running this last Saturday. It was almost like running into an old friend I hadn't seen in a while. The party arrived in Hommlet from the Wild Coast. They were directed to the inn of the Welcome Wench by the goodwife of the first farm they passed. At the Inn the common room did not have many patrons when they arrived. They talked to Gundigoot for a few minutes before heading to the rooms they rented. After resting and cleaning up a bit the party returned to the common room. A few minutes after getting a table the party was approached by a large, tipsy farmer (Elmo) who talked to them for a bit. Asked what they were doing in town, told them he could serve as a guide if they were looking for one. Etc. The party saw some men playing cards and Jerin, the party druid, went over to observe. Several appeared to be caravan guard types, one was obviously not. They asked him to join and he played a few hands, breaking even in the end. The man who did not appear to be a guard was Furnok of Ferd. He explained that he was passing through with a caravan and decided to stay and explore a little bit. He mentioned the Moathouse, but had few details. Jerin said he would follow up. While this was going on the party was approached by a pair of men, one large and dim looking (Kobort) and his small, sly looking friend (Turuko). They also asked about adventuring, but the party was not interested. Through varios other conversations the party learned of the Church of St Cuthbert and the druid's grove and made plans to visit the following day. To be continued...
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Post by GRWelsh on Jun 6, 2023 19:19:02 GMT -5
When you run T1 it is like “Hommlet: the Ride” since it is like a well-oiled machine at this point.
“Look! It’s the AD&D ride!”
I’ve been planning to do some Hommlet builds with Hirst Arts, in particular the Church of St Cuthbert and the Inn of the Welcome Wench.
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Post by Scott on Jun 7, 2023 8:01:18 GMT -5
I have more expansion ideas this time, to make it a larger sand box. In the past I have hand waved a lot of the between adventures stuff, but I might flesh that out this time. More time in Verbobonc, maybe require a trip to Dyvers, or a side adventure in the Gnarley, etc.
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Post by Scott on Jun 7, 2023 10:26:04 GMT -5
The following day Jerin went to visit Jaroo the village druid. Jaroo told him he was aware of the increased bandit and humanoid activity, but had no specific info, and to date their had been no activity close to Hommlet. Most of the activity he was aware of was either east along the High Road or north/northeast along the Low Road. Jerin let Jaroo know the party was planning on exploring the Moathouse and Jaroo asked that he notify him if they find anything. Bertrim the cleric went to visit the Church of St Cuthbert and spoke to Calmert. The meeting went about the same as the meeting with the druid, but Calmert stressed that Bertrim should not let the druid outshine him. It would hinder conversion efforts if a druid appeared to be leading the way. Both Jaroo and Calmert know more than they shared with the party, but they are not confident on the party's abilities yet. The party decided to bring Elmo, but nobody else. so they went to the traders to but his chain mail and "big axe". While they were there they picked up some basic dungeon exploring supplies and Jerin bought a dog. Because the druid cast an animal friendship spell, I did not have the dog be as problematic as the text indicated it could be.
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Post by Scott on Jun 7, 2023 20:03:52 GMT -5
The next day the party headed ro the Moathouse. After 4 hrs of jacking their way along the trail they spotted the ruins. Just the highlights; the party was not surprised by the giant frogs, which was a big plus. They ignored the tower door and gave up on the entrance to the Black Chamber once they realized it was barred/bolted. They saw the entrance to the storage area/stairs to the dungeon, but so far have ignored. They fought and killed all of the vermin critters in the upper works. The dog, who was their best fighter, was killed by the giant tick. They did not find the broad sword or silver baton hidden in two of the empty rooms, but they did get the magic shield out of the giant lizard's belly. We ended after the fight with the giant lizard. The party is low on HPs and spells. If they opt to continue exploring next time before heading back to town there will likely be deaths, if not a TPK.
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Post by Scott on Jun 7, 2023 20:07:02 GMT -5
I ran the last campaign for so long, I haven't DMed 1st level characters in a long time. It's a lot different when a non-magical suit of scale mail and a crossbow and a few bolts is a valuable hoard.
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Post by GRWelsh on Jun 8, 2023 8:37:58 GMT -5
Yeah, in my last game we shifted to 1st-2nd level characters and I nearly forgot how fragile they were. They were worried fighting 10 goblins. It is a big difference even to 3rd-5th level characters which is what the main party is now.
I'm looking forward to seeing you develop the Kron Hills sandbox. I'll likely make use of what you and Gene develop the next time I start running games in that region. Maybe online if we get back to that sometime.
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Post by Scott on Jun 8, 2023 14:56:20 GMT -5
I am sure the party will ignore all the clues I set and the areas I develop and make up their own clues and head directly to areas I am completely unprepared for.
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Post by Scott on Jun 17, 2023 23:04:08 GMT -5
There’s not much that later editions that I think is better than AD&D, but the changes they made to 1st level characters is one of the exceptions. Tonight was one of those sessions that had no flow. One encounter, back to town to rest and heal. One encounter, back to town to rest and heal. And they were no treasure vermin encounters. But they did eventually make it to the dungeons.
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Post by GRWelsh on Jun 18, 2023 10:22:10 GMT -5
That is the intelligent way to play at 1st level. It can't be avoided. 1st level characters in AD&D aren't durable enough for extended "fight and explore, and then fight and explore some more" sessions which is the classic D&D game in most peoples' minds. Lately, I try to design 1st level scenarios around exploration and role-playing with one combat or trap and then a treasure. Eric used to design game scenarios like this which I thought of as mini-dungeons. They are all designed to be played in one game night/session.
By 2nd level most parties are then able to handle the classic dungeon style play. I've always thought of T1 as best for a party of 2nd level characters, or a mix of 1st and 2nd level characters at minimum. The monsters in there are tough for 1st level characters only, like the gnolls, bugbears, ogre, ghouls and big fight with Lareth at the end. It's easy to forget that even goblins, kobolds and 0-level bandits are a tough fight for 1st level characters, and they're about the weakest things you can fight in AD&D.
The player group I currently have would die in the moathouse if starting out all at 1st level... They would refuse to accept any NPC help, and it would be a TPK. Even with six or seven characters, and perhaps a man-at-arms or two, they would all die.
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Post by Scott on Jun 21, 2023 9:52:03 GMT -5
I am probably not going to do a lot of write ups for the material that is in the module, but will be posting interesting events and maybe detailing the home brew stuff I add. At this point the party has met all of the NPCs staying at the inn. Once word got out that the party was exploring the Moathouse Zert approached the party and offered to join for an equal cut. The party declined. The next day they returned to the Moathouse and got their asses kicked by the giant rats in the storage area. They had to return to town. Zert approached the party again and sort of derided their combat capabilities, and again offered to join. This time the party agreed, and Zert was with them when they found the two concealed rooms in the basement with the supplies, including the cloaks with the Temple symbol on them. The party went east rather than down the pillared corridor where the Zombies were, so they ended up encountering Lubash the ogre. During the combat Zert spoke to Lubash in CE and attacked the party. Some commentary on that: since Zert is 2nd level with a 13 intelligence. I didn't consider him to be formidable. The party finding the supplies would result in greater attention, and he didn't want the party mowing down the forces that were gathering here. I made a perception check to decide on whether or not he was buying Elmo's bumpkin routine, and it resulted in Zert not thinking Elmo was anything more than he presented himself as, so he thought he and the ogre could take the party.
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Post by grodog on Jun 22, 2023 19:54:59 GMT -5
That should be an interesting next session!
Allan.
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Post by Scott on Jun 22, 2023 22:38:20 GMT -5
Yes, I have a few ideas for some side adventures. Once the party reports indications that the ToEE may be back, Jaroo may send them to deliver some info to druids in the Gnarly, or Terjon could send them to Verbobonc. Also, I’d they realize one of the cloaks in the ogre’s bed is magic, but small size, they will likely want to sell it, so going to Greenway Valley to sell it to a gnome noble may be an option.
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Post by Scott on Aug 25, 2023 8:36:11 GMT -5
Rather than post what happened, I'll try posting what I think will happen, and then compare. Our next session is scheduled for tomorrow. I plan on setting up a choice for the party. They have not met Rufus or Burne yet, but after that last foray to the dungeon Elmo has shared info that something more than a few brigands and vermin monsters may be lurking there. The party will be summoned to a meeting with Elmo, Burne, Rufus, Terjon, and Jaroo. Elmo is still just a local guide. The others are going to explain a little history and task the party with finding out what is there and what the risk really is. Uli, the gnome the party rescued from the ogre's pantry is also asking the party for an escort home to Greenway Valley. He's told the party that one of the prominent gnomes in his clan would probably be interested in buying the small cloak of elvenkind the party found. Selling the cloak will probably get the party enough gold (= experience) for most of them to level. That's probably what they'll do. I have an encounter outlined for an ambush when the party is on their way back to Hommlet. One of the attackers is the laborer working on the castle/spy listed in the text, and I'll give the party a chance to recognize him at some point. if the party does go to Greenway Valley first the brigands iin the Black Chamber will have been recruited by Lareth and be more organized. The zombies the party killed will be reanimated, and Lareth may have found a new monster to replace Lubash the ogre as a guard.
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Post by Scott on Aug 25, 2023 8:45:18 GMT -5
With the battle with Lareth looming, what holy symbol do you think he should have? Is there a holy symbol unique to the ToEE created as part of the ruse, or would he have something more Zuggtmoy specific (I am dropping the Lolth references). I know the T series D series history caused some confusion, and Gary was just mining one to finish the other. Do youthink the Y in a triangle is still appropriate for the ToEE?
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Post by Erik Larson on Aug 26, 2023 7:27:58 GMT -5
With the battle with Lareth looming, what holy symbol do you think he should have? Is there a holy symbol unique to the ToEE created as part of the ruse, or would he have something more Zuggtmoy specific (I am dropping the Lolth references). I know the T series D series history caused some confusion, and Gary was just mining one to finish the other. Do youthink the Y in a triangle is still appropriate for the ToEE? In my book, the triangle with a Y in it (looking, perhaps like a Citgo logo) is the symbol of the Eye of Fire. (Not the flaming eyeball shown in the module--that had to be a mixup where the artist had no idea what Gary's notes meant.) If you look at the Platonic solds, the tetrahedron is associated with fire, and when rendered in 2D looks like a triangle with a "Y" in it. (See the attachment which I clipped from joedubs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PPP-Platonic-Solids.jpg)Attachments:
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Post by GRWelsh on Aug 26, 2023 16:53:39 GMT -5
So... Lareth's unholy symbol is an upside down golden d4?
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Post by Scott on Aug 26, 2023 20:27:16 GMT -5
I debated on whether or not I was going to include the EEG in the campaign. I was leaning 'no' for a while, but now that I am planning on expanding the adventure I have been tossing around a few ideas. I'm thinking the cult of the EEG was active in the area in the past, and there are dungeons related to that original cult in the area. The ToEE was a ruse, but it was built on a site that already had an evil reputation. With the Temple rising again, but no sign of Zuggtmoy, and Iuz still keeping a low profile, followers of the EEG have come to the region and are attempting to infiltrate the ToEE and make it a cult really devoted to the EEG.
Another version is that the EEG is not involved, but the cult was active in the area in the past, and the Temple was built on a former site, and there are other ruins in the region that are related to the EEG, and the Temple, and the players, ma be looking for them for elemental related magic.
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