Story HourPost your ongoing tales from your campaigns, and read those from others for inspiration. Lots of other RPG boards post "Story Hours", but this is where it started!
Location: Midwest, USA, Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Local Group, The Mind of God.
Posts: 2,755
Story Hours Index (Authors, add your own):
The template for entries is:
Title:Title Author: Name Number of Threads: # (NOTE: That's "Threads", not "Posts"!)
Type: Fantasy/Horror/Humour/Modern/Sci-Fi (with subtypes, if you must). System: D&D 3.5e/Whatever Setting: Forlorn Corners/Greyhawk/Homebrew/Iron Kingdoms/Kalamar/Whatever
Started: 28 May 2003 (Day Month 4-Digit Year - Remember, Europe & the USA do it differently! 12/5/2005 is Dec. 5th in America, 12 May on the continent, so please spell out the month!) Status: Completed/Inactive/Ongoing Average Installment Length: Short/Medium/Long/Verbose (No hard & fast rule, decide for yourself). Average Frequency of Installments: Daily+/Daily/Weekly/Monthly, whatever.
Available for Download? Yes (provide link)/No Style: 3rd person narrative prose, with occasional winks to the underlying mechanics/Journal/Whatever.
Overview: What's this story about, anyway? (Please keep it short!)
Reader Comment: (Please limit it to one, and also keep it short!)
Special: Links to web sites, Rogues Gallery threads, other such stuff (if needed).
Any entries that you don't need (like "Special"), just leave'm out! You'll have to add your own links, if you want an entry. Sorry!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- And if you haven't done it yet, why not add one of your favorite individual updates to the Story Hour Sampler Thread?
Location: Midwest, USA, Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Local Group, The Mind of God.
Posts: 2,755
A Bad End!
Title:A Bad End Author: Steverooo Number of Threads: 1
Type: Fantasy (which became Horror). System: Percentile. Setting: Forlorn Corners/Homebrew.
Started: 22 August 2003. Status: Completed. Average Installment Length: Verbose. Average Frequency of Installments: Completed.
Available for Download? No. Style: 3rd person narrative prose, with occasional winks to the underlying mechanics.
Overview: An unusual group of adventurers, each with their own secrets, come together in a very small town where body-knappers are at work! Watch as they stumble and bumble their way through attempting to investigate the mystery, break the party, and come to... a bad end!
Type: Fantasy/Humour System: D&D 3.x Setting: The Dreadful Dungeon of Doom (Homebrew)
Started: 26 December 2003 Status: Completed Average Installment Length: Verbose+ Average Frequency of Installments: Like Christmas, just once, then it's done!
Available for Download? No Style: 3rd person narrative prose.
Overview: Christmas? In a Dungeon?!?
Reader Comment: "I think that is problably the longest post I have ever seen.... WOW!" - Mista Collins.
Type: Modern Fantasy/Horror System: Buffy, The Vampire Slayer RPG Setting: Sunnydale, CA (Buffyverse)
Started: 30 March 2004 Status: Abandoned by the GM! Average Installment Length: Medium Average Frequency of Installments: Weekly+
Available for Download? No Style: 3rd person narrative prose.
Overview: Wheelchairs & Wakizashi against Modern-day Vampires? Can the Scoobies & Newbies even hope to win? Nope, but you can have fun watching them try!
Title: Shemeska's Planescape Storyhour Author: Shemeska Number of Threads: 1
System: DnD 3e Setting: Planescape/Greyhawk/Forgotten Realms
Started: 2-17-04 Status: Ongoing Average Installment Length: Long Average Frequency of Installments: Weekly
Available for Download? Currently editing the 1k page pdf, gimme time
Style: 3rd person narrative prose, [mature] Sweet Jesus this is not grandma safe. Violence, sex, occasional gore. Not over the top just to be over the top, but I don't water down the actions or psychology of the fiends.
Overview: Lower planar politics on a grand scale. All is not well within the House of Baern. What begins as upheaval and civil war within the three Planes of Conflict of Gehenna, Carceri, and the Waste, will see the rise of a new Oinoloth, the slide of a layer of Elysium, and a copious amount of blood spilt where the 'loths have their talons sunk deep.
Reader Comment:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashy
"Shemeska - I do not know HOW I've missed this until now, but consider the hook FIRMLY planted in my mouth...
I AM SO HOOKED!"
__________________ "I can just see the 4e adventure anthology "Tale from the Limited Staircase"." - Ken Marable
Title: Shemmy's Planescape Storyhour #2 Author: Shemeska Number of Threads: 1
System: DnD 3e Setting: Planescape/Greyhawk/Forgotten Realms
Started: 3-26-05 Status: Ongoing Average Installment Length: Long Average Frequency of Installments: Monthly
Available for Download? No Style: 3rd person narrative prose
Overview: Continuing planescapy goodness set against a backdrop of a genocidal Githyanki and Psurlon war within the Astral plane, and the fallout of the events of the first storyhour (150 years prior). Nothing is dead, nothing is forgotten, and Larsdana waits within the House of Memory.
__________________ "I can just see the 4e adventure anthology "Tale from the Limited Staircase"." - Ken Marable
Title: "Retake the Island" The Champions?
Author: Silver Moon
Number of Threads: 1
Type: Fantasy
System: D&D
Setting: Homebrew, with the central city being that from TSR Module I1 "Dwellers of the Forbidden City".
Started: 1/2000 to 11/2000
Status: Completed
Average Installment Length: Mostly Medium, some shorter some longer due to natural breaks in the story.
Average Frequency of Installments: Will post 2 to 3 installments per week.
Available for Download? No
Style: 3rd person narrative prose.
Overview: Ten teams of enemy adventurers leading an army of monsters launch a surprise attack on the ten-mile-diameter Island used as the home base of the Silver Moon Adventuring Team simultaneous to a Category-Five Hurricane bearing down on the island.
This 40-game combat-intense epic module played in the year 2000 was the prequel to the 36-game role-playing-intense epic module "Chinese Take-out".
Reader Comment: (by Sabriel) Sounds like it was a fantastic campaign. Brings back fond memories of the old (Mystara) D&D games I used to play in.
Type: Fantasy
System: D&D
Setting: Historical Japan followed by the Forgotten Realms Orient of Kara-Tur with visits to the Astral Plane and a climax battle set in The Abyss.
Started: 25/03/2001
Status: Completed 06/01/2002 & Epilogue game 10/11/2002.
Average Installment Length: Medium
Average Frequency of Installments: Completed, Total of 95 Installments.
Available for Download? No
Style: 3rd person narrative prose.
Overview: An adventuring team's home island was previously attacked by an army of monsters. The team heads to the orient to find and destroy the villain who was responsible. A role-playing intense game with many interesting encounters. A key subplot concerns the origin of the Hengeyokai race (from Oriental Adventures). The story includes cameo appearances by Grayhawk characters as well as characters from Forgotten Realms novels. The Climax Battle takes place upon the Abyss.
Reader Comment: (Posted by Corwin):
I thought that it was time someone said that this story hour rocks! Good work on making the setting come to life.
Type: Western with Fantasy elements.
System: Hybrid D&D and Boot Hill
Setting: American Southwest and Europe in 1881 and 1882 on a world that includes D&D races, spells and religious pantheons.
Started: 06/10/2002
Status: Completed 16/10/2005
Average Installment Length: Short
Average Frequency of Installments: Completed, contains 10 modules of varying length, 100 installments total.
Available for Download? No
Style: 3rd person narrative prose.
Overview: Western saga centered around a mult-racial group of gunslingers. Begins and in southeastern Arizona with the middle segment being a journey to and from Victorian-era Europe. Atypical western in that D&D elements are present in the story which also contains a heavy mix of historical characters as well as characters from popular culture. Fans of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" should really enjoy this one.
Reader Comment: From Col Pladoh (Gary Gygax): SilverMoon,
Great stuff, and thanks for the mention. Fact is I have been a fan of Western history for many a year, mainly encouraged thus by my old friend Don Kaye. Your hybrid campaign is so interesting that I am sure many a D&Der will give the genre a try...if they can find a copy of BOOT HILL, that is, I know I am ready to play some Wild West adventuring right now!
Cheers, Gary
Author: This is a group effort as it is a Play-by-Post campaign. Silver Moon DM for 3 modules; Dire Wolf DM for 1; other primary players include Baradtgnome, Kriskrafts, Moon Dancer, Orchid Blossom, Queenie, Randomling, & SteveJung.
Number of Threads: # 4 to date
Type: Western with Fantasy elements.
System: Hybrid D&D 3E and Boot Hill
Setting: Southeastern Arizona in 1882 on a world that includes D&D races, spells and religious pantheons.
Started: 08/08/2004
Status: Ongoing
Average Installment Length: Medium to Long
Average Frequency of Installments: Twice a week.
Available for Download? Not yet, one player is working on that.
Style: Combination of 1st Person and 3rd Person as the game has been played primarily as a Play-by-Post.
Overview: Epic Western saga centered around the lives of the owners and employees of a saloon in the mining town of Promise City and the neighboring town of Tombstone. Atypical western in that D&D elements are present in the story which also contains a mix of historical characters (The Earp family) as well as characters from popular culture.
Reader Comment: From ledded: "Nice story, I like a good western."
System: D&D 3.x Setting:Aquerra (homebrew) Started: February 2001 Status: Completed December 2006 Average Installment Length: Long Average Frequency of Installments: N/A Available for Download?Book I (sessions 1 thru 11), Book II (sessions 12 thru 39), and Book III (sessions 40 thru 63) Style: 3rd person narrative prose, with extensive footnotes for campaign and meta-game info. Often grim n' gritty [adult themes].
Overview: Escape from conscription leads to dangerous adventures in an isolated part of the world. Reader Comment: "It's a very distinctive story hour in terms of its flavor. Realism is probably the right word - the injuries are severe, people die routinely (but not in a campy LoT way - not bagging on LoT) and instead of thinking of the PCs and feeling care-free and mythical, one instead feels surrounded by ominous portents, burdened, tired, injured etc. - which on some level makes the heroism more meaningful." - Dherys Thal
Special:
Portal Thread - provides links to all "Out of the Frying Pan" threads, and a glossary of NPCs.
Type: Fantasy (Low-Magic). System: D&D 3.5e Setting:Valus
Started: 24 August 2004 Status: SH Ongoing/Campaign Derailed Average Installment Length: "Medium" (1-2000 words) Average Frequency of Installments: Several times each month.
Available for Download? No Style: 3rd person narrative prose.
Overview: Destan throws another group of would-be adventurers into the deadly world that is the Valus.
Reader Comment:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Namo
Great story. Maybe a little embarrassing for some of the characters, but – hey, that’s the fun part, isn’t it?
Special: None
__________________ ---------------------------------------------------------- Non Omnis Moriar.
Type: Fantasy (Dark/Gritty). System: D&D 3.5e Setting: Homebrew (Norum da Salaex)
Started: 30 April 2005 Status: SH Ongoing/Campaign Derailed Average Installment Length: "Medium" (1-2000 words) Average Frequency of Installments: Several times each month.
Available for Download? Some Chapters (.pdf format)—See thread. Style: 3rd person narrative prose.
Overview: A titanic struggle between the forces of good and an evil deity bent on reshaping the world in His own image.
Reader Comment:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anti-Sean
Rhynos is a bad man. Someone needs to find him some pants, and run him through with a broadsword. Not necessarily in that order.
Special: None
__________________ ---------------------------------------------------------- Non Omnis Moriar.
Title: Heritage of Dragonsreach Author: sniffles Number of threads: 1
Type: Fantasy System: D&D 3.5 Setting: Forgotten Realms/homebrew
Started: April 2005 Status: Ongoing Average Installment Length: Verbose Average Frequency of Installments: Twice monthly Available for download: not at present Style: first person narrative journal entry
Overview: The Lady has blessed them with extraordinary abilities. They are not the first to be so blessed - but they may be the last.
Title: Shadows of Greatness Author: sniffles Number of threads: 1
Type: Fantasy System: D&D 3.5 Setting: Forgotten Realms
Started: February 2003 Status: Ongoing Average Installment Length: Verbose Average Frequency of Installments: Twice monthly Available for download: not at present Style: first person narrative journal entry
Overview: The chorus may have fallen silent, but a new choir has arisen to take their place in the battle against the shadows.
__________________ It's all fun and games until someone loses a die.
Title:Cassael's Lament Author: Anti-Sean Number of Threads: 1 Type: Fantasy System: D&D 3.5e-based *(see Special) Setting: Eberron
Started: 24 August 2005 Status: Ongoing Average Installment Length: Medium (1,500-2,000 words) Average Frequency of Installments: variable, but shooting for 1 update per month
Available for Download? No Style: 3rd person narrative prose
Overview: The themes of love, honor, duty, redemption and betrayal are explored as a warforged druid, a changeling sorceress, and an ex-paladin of the Blood of Vol seek to recover an ancient Dhakaani artifact.
Reader Comment:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Funeris
You utilize excellent characterization techniques. Truly. You make me feel for the characters...you make it seem that these are people I've known all my life...emotions very real and very believable.
Special: While this story is inspired by the Eberron campaign setting, it is not based on the exploits of any actual D&D sessions. That may be an issue for some potential readers.
Started: February 2003 Status: Ongoing Average Installment Length: 1000-1500 words Average Frequency of Installments: sporadic
Available for Download?Yes Style: 3rd person narrative prose, with occasional winks to the underlying mechanics.
Overview: The Halmae is a world where arcane magic has recently emerged and has not yet reached its full potential. Some see this new power as a good thing; others are convinced it is an affront to the gods. Although the party is usually faced with adversaries who are all too human, there are corners of the world where monsters and fey roam freely. Characters began at 1st level and have (so far) reached 7th. The campaign is ongoing.
Reader Comment:“The story itself is compelling, beautifully written, and wonderfully character-driven. The individual characters are great fun to read. And the campaign, in both plot and setting, is utterly exquisite… This Story Hour also makes me weep for the types of adventures I could run before my party could teleport, wind walk and plane shift.” – Sagiro
The story hour thread also contains sidebars with additional information about the game world, its pantheon, etc.
The DM of this game (Fajitas) and player Wisdom Like Silence are former players from Piratecat’s “Defenders” game.
__________________ Welcome to the Halmae
Where all the fighters are strong, all the sorcerers are good-looking, and all of the familiars are above average.
Title:Aphonion Tales Author: Cerebral Paladin (with occasional guest posts by Ladybird) Number of Threads: 1
Type: Fantasy System: D&D 3.x with some house rules Setting: Aphonion, a homebrew world; continent of Drucien
Started: 17 April 2004 Status: Ongoing Average Installment Length: Short Average Frequency of Installments: Twice weekly, Thur. and Sun.
Available for Download? No Style: 3rd person narrative prose
Overview: The PCs are now the Archducal Council (i.e. ruler and top aides) of a major empire, and the games focus on high politics, intrigue, and warfare, with a dash of romance, as they try to keep the Archduchy of Canberry safe. Aphonion is the world of one of my favorite DMs. The DM has been running games in this world for more than 25 years, and it has a richness and depth unmatched by any other campaign I've played in. The game is currently focused on high politics and intrigue, although it started off as more of a travelogue-style game. The characters started at 3rd level, and are now about 12th.
Linear Mode
And yet another word from our sponsors
