FreeXenon
American Male (he/him); INTP ADHD Introverted Geek
Beware... wall of text follows. Continue at your own peril....
I would like to start by saying that, for the first time in our group's long history - over a decade, we have finally completed a campaign (a 4E campaign specifically). Usually, our games end by TPK at between 12 - 16th level (2E/3E), which would be approximately 20th or so level in 4E terms.
Our group has waxed and waned through the years from as large as 8 - 11 people down to our lowest, due to life changes, of 2, which is how our venture into 4E started. We had a few 4E adventures prior to this to just to kick the tires a little bit with the new rules set, which is where I lost my first 4E character (elven rogue sniper) due to a perilous 160' drop by a double dose of belly-bow based forced movement. =( To start we only had 2 players. It was our DM (Olidious), PoppyC, and I (FreeXenon).
We started with this loosely PoL Nentir Vale campaign, with only 1 character each - an Eladrin Swordmage (PoppaC) and a Dwarven Runepriest (FreeXenon), if I remember correctly. Together we were almost mauled to death by a hungry owlbear, which found pity on us and we got away. Since there was only 2 of us we decided to acquire some help, especially since owlbears are a hungry and cranky lot, especially now having acquired a taste for eladrin and dwaves. I made a Human Wizard and he made a Dragonborn Paladin of the Raven Queen. Our adventure brought us to deal with some cultist (of Orcus I think) and both my characters died in the last round of combat, both having failed their 3rd death save. The Swordmage was unconscious too, and the Paladin was the last man standing - the day is won. Following that slaughter I brought in a Pacifist Healer Cleric of the Raven Queen and a Warforged Fighter (sword and shield, push and prone) who was the cleric's body guard. Following a few more great adventures in the Raven Queen/Orcus theme we decided to theme the campaign that way and so was born the Host of the Raven. All PC's from then on out for the rest of the campaign were related to the Raven Queen and usually worshipped her directly.
Shortly there after we gained 3 other players - the DM's coworker (BladeStone) and his 2 sons aged ~15 (FireWrath) and 17 (SoulClist) years old or so. This was a great boon to our group. I kept the pacifist healer cleric, and PoppaC kept his zealous sword and board Paladin. We gained an Revant Assassin (our sturdy blender extraordinaire) from BladeStone who lasted the entire campaign and 2 others from the boys. A few characters popped in an out as people were playing with different things (or died). I popped in a Tiefling Paladin/Warlock[Fighter] (Chaladlock) for a few levels, which was great, while my cleric was dealing with her Paragon path stuff, during which we lost a War Priest)
We suffered a few losses along the way after that - the warpriest and a long time played Tiefling Warlock whose background was intertwound with my short term Tiefling Chaladlock. We lost the Warlock right before the final episode of play where the campaign ended. That player brought back a previous character who was originally a slayer, but came back as a Blackguard due to story reasons.
We played until about 20th level and then we decided to just skip to the end and jacked our characters up on dizzying amount XP equalling a convenient number to take us up to 30th, and then we had the show down with Orcus. Our DM used Sly Flourishes' "Pimp My Orcus" encounter for the end game. We had 2 people die and were instantly brought back due to our leet haxor epic p0w3rs; 2 others nearly died, but were saved by a great amount of healing, and we saved the Raven Queen from certain dooom. All in a day's work. =) The Host is victorious again. BTW the final blow was a crit laid by the almost dead Gauthak who was the only person in the party who did not have resistances or a means to teleport, which was previously my cleric's claim to fame.
The final all lvl 30 group, who faced off against the LVL 35 Orcus, was as follows:
Here is our Obsidian Portal page. We just started using it recently'ish, so there is not a lot there. If you are interested, you can take a peak.
Host of the Raven Queen | Obsidian Portal
Epic Play did not seem that bad. The combat rounds went pretty quick actually. There was a lot to keep track of, but since we just started using colored tokens underneath each mini to track conditions and that seem to work well enough. Zones and Auras and spells an buffs flying around still did not save the horned lord of undead.
Part of the reason for jumping from 20 - 30th is the potential complications of Epic lvl play, and also, more conveniently, the DM being really inspired with the next campain which is found here:
Lands of Rissyn | Obsidian Portal
This next campaign will be a completly homebrew setting with lower magic and we are going to be leveling slower than we have previously. The DM (Olidious) wants to emphasize role playing a bit more and as well as setting immersion too. We are looking forward to the new game and playing simpler first level characters again.
Our freak-show menagerie of a new group is as follows:
Since I am randomly babbling.... my Swordmage/wizard (Intara) here is a recreation of an Al Qua'dim character from 2E, who was originally a Mamluk/Sha'ir which is a Fighter/Wizard type. There was a place in the DM's new map and world that had an Arabic flavor, so I was inspired to put her together again. She turned out well, and her fleshed-out new history was fun to write.
We may have another person pop in more often then not who will be playing a good aligned human necromancer. =)
I would like to start by saying that, for the first time in our group's long history - over a decade, we have finally completed a campaign (a 4E campaign specifically). Usually, our games end by TPK at between 12 - 16th level (2E/3E), which would be approximately 20th or so level in 4E terms.
Our group has waxed and waned through the years from as large as 8 - 11 people down to our lowest, due to life changes, of 2, which is how our venture into 4E started. We had a few 4E adventures prior to this to just to kick the tires a little bit with the new rules set, which is where I lost my first 4E character (elven rogue sniper) due to a perilous 160' drop by a double dose of belly-bow based forced movement. =( To start we only had 2 players. It was our DM (Olidious), PoppyC, and I (FreeXenon).
We started with this loosely PoL Nentir Vale campaign, with only 1 character each - an Eladrin Swordmage (PoppaC) and a Dwarven Runepriest (FreeXenon), if I remember correctly. Together we were almost mauled to death by a hungry owlbear, which found pity on us and we got away. Since there was only 2 of us we decided to acquire some help, especially since owlbears are a hungry and cranky lot, especially now having acquired a taste for eladrin and dwaves. I made a Human Wizard and he made a Dragonborn Paladin of the Raven Queen. Our adventure brought us to deal with some cultist (of Orcus I think) and both my characters died in the last round of combat, both having failed their 3rd death save. The Swordmage was unconscious too, and the Paladin was the last man standing - the day is won. Following that slaughter I brought in a Pacifist Healer Cleric of the Raven Queen and a Warforged Fighter (sword and shield, push and prone) who was the cleric's body guard. Following a few more great adventures in the Raven Queen/Orcus theme we decided to theme the campaign that way and so was born the Host of the Raven. All PC's from then on out for the rest of the campaign were related to the Raven Queen and usually worshipped her directly.
Shortly there after we gained 3 other players - the DM's coworker (BladeStone) and his 2 sons aged ~15 (FireWrath) and 17 (SoulClist) years old or so. This was a great boon to our group. I kept the pacifist healer cleric, and PoppaC kept his zealous sword and board Paladin. We gained an Revant Assassin (our sturdy blender extraordinaire) from BladeStone who lasted the entire campaign and 2 others from the boys. A few characters popped in an out as people were playing with different things (or died). I popped in a Tiefling Paladin/Warlock[Fighter] (Chaladlock) for a few levels, which was great, while my cleric was dealing with her Paragon path stuff, during which we lost a War Priest)
We suffered a few losses along the way after that - the warpriest and a long time played Tiefling Warlock whose background was intertwound with my short term Tiefling Chaladlock. We lost the Warlock right before the final episode of play where the campaign ended. That player brought back a previous character who was originally a slayer, but came back as a Blackguard due to story reasons.
We played until about 20th level and then we decided to just skip to the end and jacked our characters up on dizzying amount XP equalling a convenient number to take us up to 30th, and then we had the show down with Orcus. Our DM used Sly Flourishes' "Pimp My Orcus" encounter for the end game. We had 2 people die and were instantly brought back due to our leet haxor epic p0w3rs; 2 others nearly died, but were saved by a great amount of healing, and we saved the Raven Queen from certain dooom. All in a day's work. =) The Host is victorious again. BTW the final blow was a crit laid by the almost dead Gauthak who was the only person in the party who did not have resistances or a means to teleport, which was previously my cleric's claim to fame.
The final all lvl 30 group, who faced off against the LVL 35 Orcus, was as follows:
- Deathstone: Male, Revenant (Shifter), Assassin, Avenging Haunt, Perrfect Slayer - (BladeStone)
- Ellamin: Male, Dragonborn, Paladin, Soul Reaper, Raven Knight - (PoppyC)
- Gauthak: Male, Goliath, Warden, Goliath Juggernaut, Marshal of Letherna - (FireWrath)
- Kaea: Female, Kalashtar, Miracle Worker, Saint - (FreeXenon)
- Thriven: Male, Human, Blackguard, Grim Blackguard, Exalted Angel - (SoullClist)
Here is our Obsidian Portal page. We just started using it recently'ish, so there is not a lot there. If you are interested, you can take a peak.
Host of the Raven Queen | Obsidian Portal
Epic Play did not seem that bad. The combat rounds went pretty quick actually. There was a lot to keep track of, but since we just started using colored tokens underneath each mini to track conditions and that seem to work well enough. Zones and Auras and spells an buffs flying around still did not save the horned lord of undead.
Part of the reason for jumping from 20 - 30th is the potential complications of Epic lvl play, and also, more conveniently, the DM being really inspired with the next campain which is found here:
Lands of Rissyn | Obsidian Portal
This next campaign will be a completly homebrew setting with lower magic and we are going to be leveling slower than we have previously. The DM (Olidious) wants to emphasize role playing a bit more and as well as setting immersion too. We are looking forward to the new game and playing simpler first level characters again.
Our freak-show menagerie of a new group is as follows:
- Briarthorn: Male Pixie Skald - (PoppaC)
- Intara: Female Human Swordmage/Wizard - (FreeXenon)
- Kyltara: Female Drow Assassin - (SoulClist)
- Favren: Male Warforged Sha'ir (Wizard)- (FireWrath)
- Drakyn: Goliath Berzerker (Barbarian) - (BladeStone)
Since I am randomly babbling.... my Swordmage/wizard (Intara) here is a recreation of an Al Qua'dim character from 2E, who was originally a Mamluk/Sha'ir which is a Fighter/Wizard type. There was a place in the DM's new map and world that had an Arabic flavor, so I was inspired to put her together again. She turned out well, and her fleshed-out new history was fun to write.
We may have another person pop in more often then not who will be playing a good aligned human necromancer. =)
Last edited:
