Endless Bag of Games

So the first adventure took our characters from level 1 to level 6. So we now have reached a kind of milestone and we have a opportunity to bring something new to the campaign.

So I decided to actually consult with players before creating the next adventure or even think about it. The result was positive since we agreed together to bring some sea and coastal elements to the campaign. So that is the reason why our heroes now head towards River Coast since they heard that there is a dire need for heroes. So now our players kind of know what to expect and can enjoy it to the full potential. They do not know about the adventure what awaits, but they do know that the sea-element will be included since we reached that agreement. Now, everybody is getting the kind of adventure they want and gaming, even the plot, may be more fun who knows

So since this is a milestone in our adventures, I decided to create a small (and very ROUGH) timeline image for things our heroes have done so far. If you want details, you just go trought the session logs. This is mainly just a tool for us to remember what have happened so far:

So here is another session log from our Thranil Campaign. Session was, well, as gaming sessions usually are. Not too astonishing and amazing, but fun anyway.

The dwarves of Snowpeak weren’t too eager to deal with us, so we had to find alternative ways to impress them in order to get our “voice heard”. We heard that there were somekind of monster lurking nearby and it had caused problems in the area. Naturally we decided, that it would be a good idea to slay the beast and get attention this way.

So after careful planning we headed to the area where the monster was supposed to be. We quickly found out that the actual “threat” was a cohort of a white dragon who lived nearby, so the actual threat was this huge dragon. Our heroes, unfortunately, have had some bad experiences with those creatures before. In addition to this, we were harassed by Tramel’s guards (a mining city quite far away and yes, our heroes have a quite reputation almost everywhere in Thranil). They tried to capture us, but the resistance was too much for them to handle so they fled.

So we spent our days trudging onwards trying to find the dragon’s lair. It how ever proved to be quite a difficult task. So after fighting our ways trough worm infested territorries our wizard conjured a planar ally to help us. Air elemental who finally did get the job done for us. Eventually we encountered the white dragon and just when the fight was about to start, we decided to continue some other time…

So the next session is going to be our Aerithia Campaign. And the session is run by Outeq, which gives me the possibility to play my rogue/feylock trickster!! Ahh..

Yawn.. I’m bored, thinking again various things and I start to draw just out of the blue. I haven’t been drawing for ages since I just can’t. I remember that I just used to love drawing when I was a kid, not that everone was praising me, but because I liked drawing. So I continue drawing, in the same time being envious to those who really CAN draw and they do amazing art for their i.e. rpg characters, and I notice that the picture I’m drawing is going to be my character in d&d.

It is not a great artwork, it is not trying to be cool etc. It is just a lowsy attempt to draw something just for the sake of drawing. Since I always like to show my stupid drawings even to someone, I might as well post it here…

I drew the image with a pencil and then gave it a little color with photoshop. So here it is. My character in our Aerithia Campaign. Victor: Level 6 Rogue/Feylock who digs alchemy:

Session #10 was conclusion session for our “prologue” adventure. Heroes have reached their first milestone and gained the status of pathfinders. Here is a QUICK summary what happened during the session:

Our heroes arrive to Selerna once again and the first thing that they see is large number of settlers camping just outside the city walls. Our heroes learn that there is unrest near Castle Morasmus region in the north which have scared the villagers away. There is even rumors that the old lord of the castle has woken up once again. The amount of homeless villagers is not the only problem the city seems to be facing: The watersupply of the city is contaminated and city is literally suffering sort of dehydration. This how ever doesn’t affect our heroes due they have ways of surviving trough their magical gear.

After our heroes meet up with friends of old (the three old man from Banruo academy) they share their information about the situation. The Cult of Vecna, especially The Black Crow coalition is once again settled in Selerna. The scholars have found more information about the city’s history and knowledge about the intent of the coalition. After investigating the matter some more, they discover that Castle Morasmus is working as some sort of base to the coalitions actions. Knowing this, our heroes finally take effort to contact other pathfinders (with a sending ritual) to share what they have learned and that they have completed their quest.

Our heroes get their reply: Hermes, Master of the Pathfinders, gives the final assignment. “Seize the Castle with the help of our fellow warriors, end the coalitions plans and evil schemes.” . So when our heroes discover that is time for final showdown, they head to Castle Morasmus with determined looks.

The attack to the castle is a failure, the resistance is way more powerful than anticipated and it cost Victor’s life. During the intense fighting, Galvaren receives a message sent to his mind. Retreat, live to fight another day… Even with the help of fellow pathfinders the attack was not enough and it was time retreat for the time being.

After teleportation to Banruo Academy in Harn Monas, our heroes meet Hermes, the master pathfinder and they go trough the events of the past months. It took over three months for our characters to discover and unfold their schemes. Exam is now officially over. During the exams our heroes went trough various dangers and situations and the outcome was a worthy achievement. Because of this, our heroes finally received the honored title of Pathfinder and new adventures awaits them.

I am pleased to the outcome of the adventure. The heroes still have serious enemies which threats the whole pathfinder organization. As a DM I have possibilites to use the black crows as recurring villains. Our heroes finally can benefit from the title and they are free to go wherever they like and possibly, they eventually might clash with the ultimate villain. Lots of opportunities and possibilities for other players to work in the seat of the Dungeon Master. The prologue adventure took us from level 1 to level 6 and now I am keen to see where the adventures of this group is going to take us But for now “You must gather your party before venturing forth..”

This was our first gaming session of Star Wars Confrontations Campaign. I have to say that owning the Force Unleashed Campaign guide has it uses when designing the actual campaign plots and encounters. During this session I had to improvise at some points in order to keep the session going on smoothly. All together: everything went well, we had fun and players are excited to continue

In this campaign the main characters are: Jodo Kann (13-years old jedi padawan) and Nasuk Teel (15-years old noble). After order 66 they have been looking for a place to settle down in best of their ability. The game starts when our young heroes arrive to Chianar-city in pacific Alderaan following a rumor in their search of fellow jedis.

When young heroes arrive to the landing bay and prepare to head for the city, they see a band of imperial troops heading directly towards them. One of the troopers announces that they are executing standard inspection in suspicion of illegal goods. When the troopers start to run ID-checks to the passengers our young padawan is soon discoverd. “A Jedi! Blast him!” and the action quickly starts. Sparks of blasters fill the air, Jodo handles the shots with ease parrying every shot fired at him with his lightsaber and striking down the closest trooper. Very soon the landing bay is at chaos, people are running and our young heroes take the advantage of that.

Our heroes, faster that clumsy troopers finally got away from pursuing troopers, but with a cost. They both had now injuries, no place where to go and credits only to survive for few days. In this part Nasuk heads out in search for a place to spend the night. After finding a suitable warehouse, which is empty, he returns to tell Jodo, that they can possibly spend the night in there.

Morning how ever does not bring them any comfort. They still have injuries to attend to and they have to find something before their credits run out. After they decide what to do, our heroes take carefull action to search for medical centre. One that is well hidden from the ever-watching eyes of the Empire. In order to find one, our heroes end up dealing with a local organizer, a caamasi named Lamek D’em who is said to take care of everyone in need for the suitable amount of kredits.

Lamek D’em however have already heard the rumours of two youngsters, one a jedi and other skilled with the use of a blaster pistols, soon discovers the true identity of our heroes. Lamek, not completely merciless decides not to hand them to imperials, but in favor our heroes have to work for him until he has gained more profit than the imperials have offered when delivering them. Deal is made, our heroes now recover at the beatiful countryside medical-centre and Lamek approaches to give them their first job.

“I have a friend, a quarren named Adamen Niit who has long been my associate and trusted friend. Now, how ever he has decided to steal something very valuable to me and my intel tells me that he has head back to his original home. Watery realm of Mon Calamari so… Since it is too hot for you guys to stay here for the time being, I am sending you after Adamen and I want to you to bring him back to me. I would also like you to bring a certain item back to me if possible. The Item what that tentacle-head bastard stole from me.”

So our heroes Jodo and Nasuk were now transferred to small shadowport, hidden from the empire, and they met their contact person. A cheerfull Human named Yen Waurie who had a ship ready to go. Our heroes climbed aboard and the soon Jodo, Nasuk and Yen started their journey towards watery realm of Mon Calamari…

There isn’t much to tell about this session. I managed to miss the last session so I was little confused on what was actually going on. We were trying to gain information about a place where the “strings of life are woven again” and that is the reason we where currently visiting a very old dwarf stronghold at snowpeak.

Unfortunately there were some malfunctioning in the teleportation spell so we ended up in three different locations. When there are three groups and all groups are played separately with the Dungeon master, there isn’t much you can do while you wait the other players to “finish”

This session was more or less about good old Sould Calibur 3 and little roleplaying as we trudged onwards to our destination. Maybe the other players had something else to do than Rashnak and Gael, but that’s the way it is sometimes

I got the idea of writing this post after there was a little misunderstanding about certain thing with one of my friends. What was the misunderstanding about is irrelevant, but it got me to wonder the actual role of the game master. So here are my random thoughts about the subject.

So you want to play some pen and paper role-playing games. I can’t blame you, it’s a fun way to spend some time with your friends. One player has however a specific role; He is the Game Master, one who has many hats to wear in the course of the game. He is the moderator, narrator, player of non player characters and the primary creator of the game. The one who delivers the FUN! One who usually is the most keen person to pull the gaming group together. This doesn’t mean that it is like this always. I’ve seen some of the best campaigns run by multiple game masters. It brings variety and fun of playing player characters to everybody.

But I am talking about game masters role here, not what type of gaming group is the best or such. The most important thing that the game master needs running a successful and good session is FUN! That’s right. It is the most essential thing that goes ABOVE the awesome plots of the game master fun npc’s or special monsters that he has created. The main role of the game master is to deliver that FUN! to the players and make sure that they’re enjoying. Of course every player is contributing their part or at least should at some parts (I.e. deep back story which can have impact on the campaign).

The problem is that different players may have different ideas of FUN! Game masters should remember to create such session that he and his players agree on. Everyone should have that FUN! Personally I think that the setting expectations are the most difficult problems that the game master and players might be facing. We as human beings have different things that we enjoy from so HERE comes the biggest thing that Game Masters should be aware of. Your players are the heroes, if they want something and even tell you about it beforehand you should try to deliver it. If these desires differ greatly, maybe you guys should have a different game master or try something else. I am not talking about small details in the game, but i.e. if you have a player who wants that the theme of the game is dealing with and benefiting from a thieves guild, you should not create a campaign plot that separates that player from it completely. Take your players desires and opinions seriously and adjust that to your style of game mastering if you still want to play. If you have many players, remember to tailor encounters meant just for them.

The other side of the coin is the out-of-control players, but I think these things come out when a player no longer enjoys the campaign setting. So actually this is also part of the setting expectations. We’re adults enough to say if we don’t like the specific campaign and we can try something else. We have done this in our games what has been going on trough e-mail. It is better to find the common tone instead of trying to keep playing when people are not enjoying.

The FUN! for the game masters comes from somewhat different sources than to the players. I’ve seen some posts in the forums where people are whining that “My players don’t value my ART” which means that there is a sad game master who thinks that his players should praise his work done before the session. My opinion: That’s complete rubbish. As game master, I’ll try to do anything that my players enjoy the gaming sessions. The best parts of the session for me is when there is a lot of laughter, player becomes serious and deeply plays his/hers characters. It is the emotions that I can see from their faces which gives me the most satisfaction. It is almost useless to hope that the players are remembering every taverns name, or even major non player character. Sometimes it is nice to see that players are starting to refer to things like “Remember that chubby ogre we saw near Waldenbrook, I wonder where he is now.” or things like that. Of course it feels nice since it shows that you’ve played you role well. The most important thing however is to deliver that feeling, deliver things that players keep important. Not your amazing plot twists or nice description about places.

I think that the most important word for game master is “YES”. The important thing is to know when to say it. You don’t have to agree on everything during the session, but if that thing is a personal must to a player, you should try give that player some carrots to feed that “must” in order to keep the game important for him. Don’t be too realistic in the terms of “that is never going to happen” instead you can think “what can make it happen” and maybe discuss about that with the player.

My opinion on game mastering is simply: “We deliver the fun and that is why we enjoy it”