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From the GM *blink* I opened this thread without noting the original poster on the grounds that, as a (former) home mead-brewer, I was interested in it... only to discover that the original poster is one of my players! So, reacting to it as the GM in question, my first thought was to blink in...

A few more ideas Hobgoblins wounded but not killed outright should seek to disengage: you don't 'fight to the death' at first encounter; that's what a final stand is for, and they're much more likely to make that final stand in the presence of their leader types. If there's a magical healer in...

Issue #17: Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 7 of 13 Paks and Miriel reach the temple of Madriel, and find the high priestess, Verenia, waiting at the door to greet them. “Miriel, I’m glad you heeded my message,” Verenia says, “And that you came to join her, Paks. Let us speak privately in...

It does have that 'spark' for me; I'd love to play it in a fiendish campaign. As people noted above, a few things... Specify that 'Turn Fiend' counts as 'Turn Undead' for feats which require 'Turn Undead', or to power abilities which require consumption of a 'Turn Undead'. 'True Death' is...

Issue #17: Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 6 of 13 Novalia works her way to the north. At first, over the plains surrounding the Freehold, she finds it easy going, but as she reaches the hills, she begins to have trouble. There is no road, and as she reaches the summit of the ridge of...

I'm not the DM, so no, I don't. Perhaps joshwitz has them? The inspiration, of course, came from Munchkin, the classic faux-D&D card game. Our DM relied entirely on the character playing the role rather than forcing the action via a Will-save mechanic; 'It's YOUR duck, make sure nobody else...

Great point: As a reader, I don't feel a 'mission statement' from Dragon: the content is fairly widely scattered, trying to appeal to too many people, and thus not appealing to any specific individual as much. If I were to answer the question, I'd say 'Dragon is a repository of unbalanced...

Issue #17: Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 5 of 13 At Kratys Freehold, after discussing our plans with Taryn and Myrs, though it is still early in the evening, most of us retire to our rooms. Chuck is in a state of bleary-eyed exhaustion, having stood watch while the rest of us slept...

The druid is a particularly tough class to DM, I think. I've never been in a game where one was given the chance to 'shine' in this way, standing front and center. A lot of times, the druid 'ethic' differs enough from the hero 'ethic' that some DM's avoid addressing a druid's motivations...

One of my favorite 'druid scenes', Josh - you did a great job with that one.

Issue #17: Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 4 of 13 At the site of the ruined temple, the five druids sit in a circle. The half-elf, the one who had arrived as an eagle, says in the secret tongue of the druids, “This is a very good thing, for you to have called us together. The earth has...

This is the path that appeals to me, out of the suggestions you've gotten so far. I'd say, 'run with it'. Work with the DM to determine which things would be true sacrifices IN CHARACTER. Give him the 'keys' to your character, as it were. Let him set up a terrible moral dilemna for the...

I had a good time with my players in a more 'lethal' world: I told them up front, "I'm not going to make sure that every encounter is 'balanced' for your party level: there will be some encounters that it is wiser to avoid, especially at low levels. I'm not going to use 'DM et machina' to bring...

I can address the British peerage system; others may vary. The basic concept is called a 'Courtesy Title'. A peer of the rank of Earl, Marquess, or Duke frequently has secondary (lesser) titles; for example, one could be the Duke of A and also the Earl of B and Viscount of C. Typically, the...

My favorite misuse of a fireball didn't involve catching the party directly. Oh no, it was much better than that. After adventuring through a large cave network for several sessions, the party had discovered an underground lake, with an underwater (completely submerged) channel to another...

Our group has had two female players. My wife was one: she was willing to give it a try because I was interested, and was willing to try some of the length board-games I enjoy as well, but has quickly realized that her 'entertainment interest' reaches a limit at about two hours; she'd rather...

Issue #17: Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 3 of 13 Goldpetal and his companions reach the edge of the rubble, all that remains of the hill upon which the standing stones stood, the hill which contained one shattered altar, and beneath that, the Temple of Pain, a shrine of Gormoth. As...

I like these; they fit very nicely with one of the gods in my world, so I think I'm going to yoink them. I'm afraid I can't help you with the game-balance question, though.

Issue #17 - Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 2 of 13 Dawn breaks on the morning of Vanday. It is the eighth day of Madrer, Madriel’s month. Miriel wakes first, and slips quietly out of camp to conduct her dawn rites. When she returns, she finds that Chuck has fallen asleep, but Novalia...

Issue #17: Interludes and Intermissions - Episode 1 of 13 12th of April, 2003 Issue #17 Interludes and Initiations Just after sunset, a blind old ratman approached Kratys Freehold. He exuded an aura which prevented most of the guards from drawing their bows to fire at him, and when Taryn...