“Vanished Lands” Update T3.29: Interrogation and cartography

The world as a D20 — Ley lines and gaming

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.29 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 5 June 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. After “Holy Steel‘s” journey to the distant empire of Khemet, another motley group gathered in the northwestern “Vanished Lands” to explore a world full of perils and wonders….

After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, the adventurers encountered the hostile Centaur followers of Vappu Lahja and a haunted hamlet on the Plains of Sathendo….

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of summer 2011:

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J.]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Kovar” [Beruk A.]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 3

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S.]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 3

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 3

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O./absent]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horse Onimusha; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

“28 August 1229 B.C.E.:” Before searching for peasants from Alarn, which had been attacked by mischievous Fey and horrifying Undead, the adventuring party continued its investigations in the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human city of Nadwi.

The shop of Eligius, an antiquarian of interest to mysterious mage Octavius Karstus, was attacked. Kazuo chased a winged assassin across rooftops near the market square and eventually subdued him with help from Jovinda.

Meanwhile, back at Eligius’ store, Gawain keeps an eye out for the Nezumi and Half-Elf, and Digger checks to see if anything in particular was taken when it was ransacked. Honorable Kovar continues guarding the merchant in the sewers below.

Jovinda and Kazuo drag the unconscious reptile-kin into an alley. They tie him up, and the priestess of Mekkil runs back to the antiques shop. Meanwhile, Asish returns to the “Deer’s Heart” tavern after seeing “Jade Xi” [Sammy/Non-Player Character] at the Arena of Arakkis. The Ranger gets a note from his companions and goes to meet them.

Gawain goes with Jovinda, and they find the darkened alley empty! Kazuo whispers to them from a side door to the temple of Shebsen, lady luck. The cautious Monk explains that he thought it best to hide the prisoner in the casino rather than risk being discovered on the street by the city watch or others.

Casting Invisibility on the dragon-kin and Bull’s Strength on himself, Illusionist Gawain easily picks up the prisoner and carries him south. Asish, finding Eligius’ shop darkened, climbs onto the roof before hearing and seeing an alarmed Digger and Kovar.

Reunited, the party searches and interrogates the reptile man, who is uncooperative. Easterners Asish and Kazuo examine a stiletto and a curved knife but finds no identifying marks or documents. Kovar theorizes that Octavius Karstus may have hired the murderer as a backup plan to Digger obtaining Eligius’ map of the northwestern borderlands.

Rogue Digger asks humans Gawain and Asish to leave, and the Halfling, Half-Elf, Nezumi, and Half-Orc try to get the assassin to confess any connections to Octavius Karstus or Vappu Lahja. While the gargoyle-like creature remains defiant, he recognizes both names and says that “the time of man is ending.”

After much persuading by Digger, Jovinda, and Kovar, merchant Eligius finally turns over the parchment map to them for further study. He shows how some of the markings are drawn over an older map that was partially scraped away.

Gawain and Digger note that Ley lines influence Elven settlement patterns and would be useful to a Wizard or an enemy of the Waletku kingdom. Jovinda adds that the Unseelie Court, rogue Fey such as those allied with Vappu Lahja, would also be interested in a map of mystical currents.

Kovar, Jovinda, and Kazuo are glad to turn over the assassin to Lionel Tarchon, an officer in Nadwi’s city watch. Eligius still worries about his safety, but Asish, Gawain, and Digger promise to compare his map to what they can learn of the area north of the city. The explorers wrap up their research and prepare to ride….

If I’ve left anything out, or if you want to continue party discussions, please use the Google Groups message board. As noted elsewhere, our next virtual games are scheduled for June 19 and 26, July 24, and August 14. The FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera teams will also be on hiatus for most of July because of summer travel. In the meantime, stay in touch! -Gene

“Vanished Lands” Update T3.28 — Gifts and a gargoyle

A winged reptilian humanoid — Gargoyle assassin

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.28 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 29 May 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, the adventurers encountered hostile Centaurs and a haunted hamlet on the Plains of Sathendo….

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2011:

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J.]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Kovar” [Beruk A.]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 3

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S.]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 3

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 3

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O./absent]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horse Onimusha; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

“27 to 28 August 1229 B.C.E.:” After reporting to the authorities in the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human city of Nadwi, the adventuring party prepares to return north, to frontier villages threatened by Fey and Undead.

Most of the group compares notes over breakfast at the “Deer’s Heart” tavern in the Dagger District. Kovar expresses concern that the forces of evil are coordinating their attacks. To the east, the nefarious kingdom of Gokuri has dominated the barbaric Gusorin Confederation. To the south, the dreaded ghost fleet has sacked coastal cities, and to the west, the monsters of Zuromm have besieged the human kingdom of Saganim.

Digger and Jovinda agree that their immediate tasks are to the north — trying to find farmers who fled the haunted hamlet of Alarn and investigating the borderlands for mysterious mage Octavius Karstus. They and Kazuo also note that thwarting Vappu Lahja’s aggressive Centaur followers is a top priority.

In addition, Digger notes that different versions of the fairy tale regarding Vappu Lahja suggest that she might be the same person as the independent-minded woman once wooed by various princes two centuries ago. The tales aren’t clear on whether she was an outcast or a manipulator, and one suitor was from a family that’s still near the town of Kedetura.

Gawain continues his research into devils at the local Magisterium (magic school/library), and Asish practices archery and meets “Jade Xi” [Sammy/Non-Player Character] at the Arena of Arakkis. The two humans had expressed interest in heading southwest toward Saganim but are outvoted for now.

Their companions, meanwhile, go to the consulate of the Waletku kingdom of the Elves to meet with Lark Utbehule, a Sylvan Elf they had met during an audience with the city council. Green pennants flutter over the ivy-covered building.

Digger thanks Lark for taking his report of the threat posed by Vappu Lahja more seriously than some Hifalendorin aristocrats and soldiers on the council. She replies that King Ereval I in Alfhileno would be more concerned with Fey creatures turning to the Unseelie Court than with periodic raids on border communities.

Half-Elf Jovinda asks if there are trustworthy people to report to in the Wisalef Forest. Lark says that the Alfendi Rangers’ Guild, led by Gen. Aldarion Telcontar, will be most interested in what her team may find. As tokens of support, the Elves present each member with gifts [from the Pathfinder: Advanced Player’s Guide].

Lark gives scholarly Digger scrolls to help him learn Akkadian, Sanskrit, and Draconian. She gives Jovinda, a Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature, a Bottle of Messages. Kovar, a Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts, gets a Jurist enchantment for his shield, and Monk Kazuo receives a bar of Soul Soap to protect against mental control similar to that of Vappu Lahja.

The consul also gives a magical Catching Cape to Illusionist Gawain and a Campfire Bead to Ranger Asish. Somewhat reluctantly, Digger passes along Jade’s offer to help find highly placed agents of Vappu Lahja in Nadwi, for a price. Digger and company then go the art and antiques shop of Eligius near the market square.

Attentive clerk Lucian follows cheerful Jovinda and quiet Kazuo around the shop. When Digger mentions Octavius Karstus, Eligius tries to flee, but the nimble Rogue and burly Half-Orc corner the panicked merchant. He asks whether they’re assassins, but Digger and Kovar try to reassure him.

Eligius explains that Octavius Karstus had inquired about a parchment map drawn over an older chart. Both were of the area between the Plains of Sathendo, the Wisalef Forest, and the Ivory Mountains. Eligius initially declined, and his shop was broken into shortly thereafter. The tradesman hired an apprentice and tightened security rather than acquiesce to the mage’s demands.

Digger offers protection and analysis, and Eligius agrees, on the condition that the Paladin be the only one to stay with him until they meet again at midnight. After the others leave, Eligius takes Kovar through a trap door into a safe room hidden in Nadwi’s sewers. He has stashed the map and other artifacts but still fears discovery.

Stealthy Digger and Kazuo wait near the antiques store. Jovinda and Gawain go to a nearby pub for drinks. However, the Nezumi’s nose leads him and the Halfling to a grisly scene inside — Lucian is dead, with burns on his face!

Kazuo hears a falling roof tile and scrambles up a storm drain. Digger examines the scene, finding some signs of struggle but nothing removed. Gawain goes to notify Asish and the city watch, while Jovinda runs into the cobblestone streets to follow Kazuo and his quarry.

Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, Kazuo closes in on Lucian’s murderer. Jovinda sees them move around the market square, and Digger finds a hole in the ceiling and calls to Kovar through the trapdoor into the sewers. The wise holy warrior tells Eligius to stay put and promises to stay with him.

Kazuo grapples with his opponent, a reptilian humanoid. The assassin tries to butt heads and is struck by a Spiritual Weapon cast by Jovinda. Kazuo dodges the dragon-kin’s fiery breath and hits him with Stunning Fists.

Jovinda invokes Mekkil’s protection for Resistance from flames and climbs up a rough stone wall. Her staff-like Spiritual Weapon continues to hit the beast. Just as the Cleric gets to the roof, however, Kazuo and his foe roll off! The Monk acrobatically manages to evade being crushed, and the creature unfurls leathery wings.

Grugach Jovinda channels positive energy to heal Kazuo, who has been raked by the scaly folk’s claws. The Nezumi leaps up and grabs onto the assassin’s legs as he tries to fly away. They wobble into the night sky, and Jovinda contemplates firing at them after she safely slides off the roof.

Agile Kazuo climbs up the reptile-kin’s back and pummels him with his furry fists of fury. They drop again to the shadowy street, and Jovinda inspects the now-unconscious creature, which she and Kazuo recognize as being related to Gargoyles, Lizard Folk, Dragonborn, and Draconians. They drag their prisoner back toward Eligius’ antiques shop…

I hope that all of you had a good Memorial Day. Paul and Byron, thanks for checking in, and Paul and Beruk, it was good to see you at Monday night’s FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera. Thanks also to those who have updated their Player Character records and replied to the threads regarding tactics, multiclassing “Asish,” and party direction.

I look forward to seeing all of you online for our next virtual session on June 5. Also, note that June 19 is Father’s Day, so Rob and Byron, please let us know whether you’ll be available. Have a good week, -Gene

“Vortex” Update 5a.17 — First Contact at Proxima

Nearby star systems — Stars within 12 light-years of Sol

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.17 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 23 May 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

In one future, humanity has begun to colonize the Sol system, but ecological degradation and internecine conflicts persist. Open and official First Contact with Galactic societies, themselves at war, threaten Terra’s very survival. Can heroes rise to the challenges?

Two aliens and their human allies encountered xenophobes and megacorporate intrigues on and around Earth. After visiting factionalized Mars and acquiring a starship in the Asteroid Belt from the Olvar Star League, they continued their mission of diplomacy and exploration to Titan, Tyche, and Alpha Centauri….

>>”Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird, as of spring 2011:

-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer

-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.

-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol

-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert

-“Syzygy” [Brian W./absent]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”

-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird

“20 to 22 September 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The adventuring party readies the Blackbird to leave from Camp Alpha on Toliman, a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A. Maj. Walt Vanderbilt, acting commander of Tiger Squadron, orders Lt. Kevin Reese and his civilian companions to take the search for the missing Lt.Col. Hollis Shelman into space.

Tela and Dr. Bucket secure the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm ground-effect vehicle and prepare for sublight travel (at 1 AU per hour), and Chris McKee checks the weapons locker in his cabin. Aughest-vor plots a search pattern around the last known location of Lt.Col. Shelman’s Raptor-class fighter.

Syzygy (with Mr. Sniffles) and Gombo Shisel offer to stay behind to analyze the local ecosystem and help the North American Aerospace Marine Corps troops learn how to coexist with the native Tolimanian “mantiles” (insectoid/reptilian pack hunters).

Kevin asks Tela to divert power from the navigational array to sensors, which detect the ion trail of the missing Raptor, as well as an anomalous cloud of hydrogen and helium. Agent Prometheus climbs into the gun turret, and Aughest sets course for Proxima Centauri, the third star in the system.

The Blackbird passes Furon, a “cold” gas giant orbiting dim Proxima Centauri, but there is no sign of Shelman’s craft. Dr. Bucket helpfully notes that flares from the red star could interfere with sensors, and Lt. Reese doggedly decides to continue searching the area.

The atmosphere of the next gas giant, Shedar, is very similar to the cloud found near the ion trail. Aughest pilots past icy rings, electromagnetic currents, and various gravity wells. Tela spots three large objects moving against the winds of Shedar.

Passive sensors indicate that they’re swimming along the magnetic field toward concentrations of hydrocarbons in the turbulent outer layers of the gas giant. When the Blackbird actively scans, two of the shark-like ships circle around, and Tela collapses from psychic overload!

Cautious Kevin tries to communicate with the three vessels, which regard him as “a solid.” Paranoid Chris trains a particle beam on the nearest potential foe but holds his fire. Hotshot Aughest-vor pulls an Immelman turn and plunges toward Shedar!

The astrogator nearly loses control, but Aughest manages to avoid one of the unidentified craft by only 100 meters. Gunner Chris keeps the three objects in his sights, and closer sensor readings confirm that they’re ships rather than individual spacefaring creatures, which Tela had hoped to meet.

The aliens aboard the three ships identify themselves as “Dwellers of the Clouds” to Lt. Reese, who asks about their intent and whether they have encountered other humans. Dr. Bucket says that the Olvar (mammal-like arboreal aliens) are aware of species that live in gas giants, but most interactions with them have gone badly. The robot declines to speculate how they could have developed interstellar travel.

The Dwellers confirm that they were harvesting from Furon and offer to take the Blackbird to a “broken one.” As ruby Proxima Centauri rises behind Eldritch, its innermost planet, the Terrans (and Tharian) approach several gas-dweller ships. Tela regains her faculties, but Chris is disappointed at not being able to shoot anything.

A damaged Raptor, dwarfed by the blimp-like starships, is quickly maneuvered into the Blackbird‘s landing/cargo bay. Tela examines the fighter and concludes that it was probably hit with a pulse similar to what affected her. Kevin thanks the Dwellers of the Clouds, and Chris takes a disoriented Lt.Col. Shelman to Gombo’s quarters and gives him a sedative.

Lt. Reese says that he hopes for mutually beneficial future relations between Terrans and the gas dwellers, but their replies are cryptic and border on condescension. Aughest-vor is only too happy to fly away from Proxima, and Tela theorizes that the Raptor could have been damaged when the aliens arrived from Transit (faster-than-light) mode.

Chris reports that the advanced aliens must have put the missing marine in some sort of stasis, since Hollis couldn’t have survived long in their atmosphere without life support. He also notes that the fighter is missing one missile, which was probably fired in panic during the collision.

After a day’s flight (subjective Terran time) back, Lt. Reese is pleased to return Lt.Col. Shelman to Camp Alpha. Maj. Vanderbilt asks the Interplanetary Patrol officer to leave the missile out of his report to the United Earth Authority. Kevin and Chris agree, and they celebrate over glasses of brandy.

Tela briefs Syzygy on the successful First Contact situation, which could have gone much worse because of the aggressive impulses of both the gas dwellers and humans. Gombo announces that he plans to stay on Toliman because his experience with animals on the Martian frontier can help the marines, as well as colonists coming on the Zheng He, but he adds that he’ll try to catch up.

Capt. Robin Buckley, a former flame of Kevin, invites notorious Aughest-vor back to her bunk. The next morning, Aughest consults U.E.A. and Kharvamid Alliance records and finds a few inhabitable solar systems on the way to Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth. Tela worries about returning to space controlled by the trade guilds and the Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian pirates).

The U.E.V. Bellerphon went to 61 Cygni after dropping Tiger Squadron off at Alpha Centauri, so the crew of the Blackbird decides to boldly go where no human has gone before, to Van Maanen’s Star, about six days away….

I hope that each of you enjoyed our latest game, despite a slow start. Brian and Rich, we missed “Syzygy” and “Gombo!” I’m glad that we’ve been able able to trade miniatures, books, and videos, as well as discuss our favorite fiction. The Blackbird‘s adventures are just beginning….

Jason, thanks for your offer to run a one-shot of Darkpages; I’ll reply separately once I’ve had a chance to reread the rules. If anybody else is interested in one-shots, miniseries, or crossovers this summer, let us know on the Yahoo/eGroups message board so we can look at the schedule.

Speaking of scheduling, the latest Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” teleconferencing fantasy session (T3.28) is scheduled for Sunday, 29 May 2011, and “Vortex” Team 2 (the Appomattox crew) will meet on Memorial Day for its planned heist of Ru’ulok FTL drives. “Vortex” Team 1 will play again on June 6, but I won’t be available on June 13. Have a great holiday weekend! -Gene

>>”Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the Appomattox, as of spring 2011:

-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J.]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot

-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert

-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C.]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco

-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter

-“Dr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C.]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber

-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L.]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker

-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the “Fortune’s Fool,” ship’s cook

-“Averki ‘Deep Dish’ Dyashenko” [N.P.C.]-male reptilian Synth (genetically engineered humanoid), onetime Venusian miner

Latest “Vanished Lands” telecom team, Update T3.27 — Nadwi nobles

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.27 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 22 May 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, an unlikely band of adventurers encountered the hostile Centaur followers of Vappu Lahja on the Plains of Sathendo and a haunted inn in Alarn before riding to Nadwi….

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2011:

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J.]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 2

-“Kovar” [Beruk A.]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 3

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S.]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 3

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O.]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horse Onimusha; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 3

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

“27 August 1229 B.C.E.:” After several days in Nadwi, the adventuring party receives a summons to appear before the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human city’s ruling council.

Gawain and Digger continue their research into devils at the local Magisterium (magic school/library) and linguistics and history at the civic library, respectively. The scholars hope to determine the true nature and intent of the mysterious Vappu Lahja and mage Octavius Karstus.

Asish hopes to meet “Jade Xi” [Sammy/Non-Player Character], but Digger warns that his former classmate and rival is not to be trusted. Both Asish and Gawain seem smitten with the attractive young woman, but they agree to curb their tongues. Kazuo trains with Hans Jeffers at the Arena of Arrakis.

Before their audience at the palace, Kovar and Jovinda go to the temple of Otih, lord of the sun and justice. At the barracks-style building, they tell human priest Sibelus Pirandor about the haunted hamlet of Alarn north of Nadwi. The Cleric (who first thinks that a Half-Orc and a follower of Mekkil, goddess of nature, are out of place) compares notes on Otih and Kovar’s patron, Mithras, deity of contracts and brothers in arms.

Sibelus refers them to Sir Daramor Helios, who orders his squire to prepare for an immediate departure. Satisfied, Kovar and Jovinda rejoin their companions, change clothes, and go to the palace. Royal and city guards in chain armor and blue surcoats hold halberds, and scribes and supplicants fill the outer corridors.

In a great hall, the adventurers introduce themselves to representatives of Nadwi’s nobles, merchants, and spellcasters. Gen. Sixtus Aurelias of the Hifalendorin army and Lady Elaine Valis are skeptical of their report of Vappu Lahja gathering an army of hostile Centaurs near the town of Kedetura.

However, Sir Rodrigo Adelmo of the city watch and Quelanthi (High Elf/Eladrin) Lady Ingrid Sufeliastra of the Magisterium verify Jovinda’s testimony of Fey mischief in Alarn. Sigmund Balard, the Halfling master of the gates, expresses concern to curious Digger about the decline in trade between Hifalendor and the Waletku kingdom to the north.

Lord Mayor Clobard Thudoric tells Ranger Asish that he is reluctant to commit resources to investigating threats out on the Plains of Sathendo, but Sylvan Elf merchant and consul Joella Kylikki offers the party a stipend. Upon learning from Kovar that knights of Otih have already departed, Pater Aldric and Lady Lara Maxiope vow that Paladins of Urda, lord of the sky, will also be dispatched.

Prince Andre de Giles, cousin to King Akkon XII in Hesolin, looks to aged Sir Mador Basored and Saganim loremaster Duncan Teague for counsel. When Jovinda repeats her request for aid, the prince notes that the Elves have offered gold, the Paladins plan to cleanse Alarn of Undead, and the city guard will send messengers to communities warning of the Centaurs.

He and the other aristocrats are still reluctant to believe that Vappu Lahja, who shares a name with a fairy tale character, poses a danger to their constituents. The wanderers are dismissed and plan to follow up with various demihumans later. Back at the “Deer’s Heart” tavern in the Dagger District, Digger and friends are surprised to find Jade waiting for them!

The Shengtese/Saganim woman offers information about agents of Vappu Lahja in the city for a price of 10 crowns (gold pieces). After some haggling, Kovar firmly turns her down, saying that Jade should share the names as a show of good faith. She replies that she’ll be around if Digger, Asish, or others need her, but she’ll take her business elsewhere.

Potential quests to weigh include returning to Alarn to search for refugees, Digger’s real estate inquiry for Octavius Karstus and scouting of ruined border forts, the besieged kingdom of Saganim as described by Asish, Jovinda’s search for her father, and missing gladiator Marcus (predecessor to Kazuo at the ludus)….

I hope that everybody enjoyed the latest game, despite numerous distractions. I know I’ve provided a lot of names to keep track of, but I hope that these notes and our Skype records will help. Good luck as your characters sort out missions and get ready to leave Nadwi!

Sammy and Taum, I’m glad that you were both able to join us from Denver, and congratulations on your engagement! Paul and Beruk, note that Team 2 for the FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera is scheduled to meet on Memorial Day. Rob, I hope that Ethan becomes more manageable, and Byron, I hope the tornadoes didn’t affect too many people near you.

Also, please remember to post to the Google Groups message board between virtual sessions regarding character questions, planning, and scheduling. Other than Paul, I look forward to seeing each of you online next Sunday, May 29! -Gene

Divesting from D&D

BECMI boxed set — The first edition I played

As part of the aforementioned spring cleaning, I’ve now sold most of my books for Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition. It’s the first time in nearly 30 years that I’m role-playing but not using the latest edition of that game. (I still have lots of books from prior editions.)

I’ve been an early and enthusiastic adopter of past editions of D&D, including moves from the boxed sets to AD&D1 back in high school in the early 1980s, from AD&D1 to AD&D2 in college, and from AD&D2 to D&D3.0 and 3.5 (and the D20 Open Game License in general) in the early 2000s. Each new version had clearer rules, stronger support in terms of published supplements, and a larger fan base than its predecessors. I’m surprised to now find myself sympathizing more with the grognards.

In 2009, I used D&D4e for the “Faith-Based Initiative” team in my long-running “Vanished Lands” homebrew fantasy setting. The rules set worked well enough for a time, but more than half of the eight gamers soon became disenchanted, mirroring a schism in the larger community.

Some of the problems were stylistic. As a Dungeon Master accustomed to “sandbox“-style settings, in which the Player Characters are free to pick quests and explore a world in any direction, I clashed with those who expected every encounter or challenge to be appropriately scaled to the adventuring party’s power/experience level, as D&D4e encourages.

In my previous campaigns, if low-level adventurers found a monster like a dragon, they ran or hid. In D&D4e, some would either express shock at the unfairness of such a battle or doggedly fight until all opposition (and possibly some of their own company) was dead. I’ve become stingier with treasure and prefer slower advancement than in most published modules.

It’s true that I and other people didn’t master the D&D4e’s subtleties as quickly as a few in the group, and I grew impatient with combat scenes that dragged on for nearly as long as similar scenes had in earlier editions. D&D4e’s emphasis on tactical maneuvering, collectible miniatures and cards, and balanced powers was different from games that focus on nonstatistical character development, narrative storytelling, and varying “sweet spots.”

For example, Fighters used to be more important relative to other archetypes/occupational classes at lower levels, while Wizards came into their own at higher levels. In addition, I and some other Game Masters prefer scenarios between third and eighth levels, when characters are tough enough to survive some battles but still had more gritty or realistic concerns, like keeping their horses fed, than leading armies or slaying gods.

D&D4e sought to eliminate intraparty imbalances across levels, but it also made every combat maneuver resemble “button mashing” common to multiplayer online games, with every attack from a weapon or a spell resulting in predictable outcome of some damage and a move. I’m more interested in spontaneous character interaction than crunching numbers, but other G.M.s are definitely better at providing interesting combat scenes than me.

Noncombat skills, which proliferated in AD&D2 and D&D3.x, were pared back. Sure, an ambitious character who wanted to become a warlord still could administer a fiefdom in D&D4e, but it could require creative role-playing only recently supported by the official rules, and an inexperienced gamer wouldn’t necessarily even know of an option other than striving for demigodhood at Level 30.

To be fair, D&D4e eliminated some of the “min-maxing” and numerous inconsistencies, but I think it also lost some flexibility and seemed less connected to its literary inspirations, such as the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Jack Vance, and Fritz Lieber. The weird and unpredictable magic, bizarre creatures, and character vulnerability of early editions of D&D are in marked contrast to powers and “exception-based” rules. See the excellent Vornheim for the retro-clone Lamentations of the Flame Princess for a return to the days when adventuring could be scary fun.

The D20 renaissance of the early 2000s showed that a relatively complex system could be used for a variety of styles and genres, from gritty sword and sorcery to high fantasy and from steampunk to superheroes to space opera. Wizards of the Coast’s missteps with its third-party licensing, publishing of PDFs, and online tabletop also contributed to the D20 vs. D&D4e “edition wars.”

Unfortunately, a early lack of support for third-party publishers and the more restrictive Game System License, the successor to the OGL, has limited the diversity of worlds using D&D4e in comparison with D20. Just as role-players moved from AD&D2’s “code bloat” to White Wolf’s Storyteller: World of Darkness in the 1990s, so today some gamers are moving to lighter systems such as FATE rather than play D&D4e.

The D&D Essentials product line has addressed some of the confusion by compiling rules into affordable softcover books, and the D&D Insider (DDI) makes errata and character generation tools available through a digital subscription. If the DDI had provided a virtual tabletop as quickly as initially promised, I might even still be running or playing D&D4e now instead of Pathfinder and FATE. Ultimately, every role-player, Game Master, and group has to find the system that suits them best. I don’t expect debate to die down, but what works best for you?

Coming soon: More on genre TV, retro games, and current campaigns!