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Random sketch from work.

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This is something I drew at work that I think will make it’s way into a campaign as a magic item?

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The UTC Campaign Diary #3

The party set off after Cartrite after investigating his journal and discover he is attempting a dangerous summoning ritual. He must complete the ritual within the next 4 days, but the party only has a vague idea of where he’s hiding in the swamp.

After resupplying in town, and offending a few NPCs along the way, they were underway. On their journey they saw many strange animals along the banks and entered a much wilder as they entered the wilder and more dangerous region of the swamp.

During their investigation they stumbled on dwarven ruins which contained pillars with etchings which tell the story of how the swamp cane to be. They found a salt still which looked to have been raided by goblins not long before. Finally early in the 3rd day, they came upon a watchtower manned by a contingent of goblins, including a hobgoblin with a stone which summoned a water elemental. The battle was not an easy one but all the party prevailed; slaying All but one goblin which escaped. They were able to loot a map off of the hobgoblin which marked precisely where the ritual would take place...

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The UTC Campaign Diary #2

The party decided to rest for the night before setting out into the swamp. Before heading to sleep, however, it was decided they should ask Cartrite Hewnstone some questions regarding their investigation in the rogue mage, Atticus Farn. Cartrite wasn’t much help, but admitted to having seen a dwarf matching Fran’s description pass through. According to Cartrite, Farn had already left.

The following morning they set out into the swamp with inquisitor Barbatus keeping watch on the banks for signs of trouble. They encountered a troll on the first leg of their journey and they managed to drive it off after cleaving off one of its arms. That night, Captain Roy Casey wandered into the woods after a floating light (a Willow-The-Wisp). He was trapped by a hag and in exchange for his life requested he bring her some items. Roy refused, breaking his bonds and attempting to shoot the witch before she could escape. No luck.

They continued the next day and found the body Adler described with the help of his map. It was strange. No signs of rot and arcane runes carved into the flesh. Perhaps the most strange was it’s completely smooth/featureless face. Under the body was a pocket watch with CH engraved on the back. The party surmises that this is the real Cartrite Hewnstone and rushes back to town. As they pass the campsite where Roy had his with encounter, they see piles of dead animals and a gruesome totem made of antlers, sticks, and bones.

Upon returning to town, they find it has been raided by goblins in the time they were away. A few townsfolk were killed and Cartrite fled the scene, all but confirming the party’s suspicions of his true identity. Now they must pursue Atticus through the swamp and stop his plan to summon a great beast from the swamp.

[kellcron]

Creation Myth

My world’s creation myth. It’s an amalgamation of lots of different myths I’ve read recently. If you’re so inclined, comment with your world’s myth!

There was once a giant named Touma. Touma traveled the cosmos in order to learn and see great sights, his curiosity was unrivaled.

On his travels he came upon a barren world, devoid of all life. On this world was an egg formed of iron. As curious as he was Touma set out to break the egg. He first tried to break it with his hands and failed. He next tried to drop it from a great height, but the egg withstood the impact. Finally, Touma returned to his father to ask for council and aid. His father gave him a hammer wrought of gold, which Touma took back to the egg. He struck the egg 4 times and it cracked, releasing the 6 elements of life into the world; Air, water, earth, fire, spirit, and sanity (or the mind).

When Touma cracked the egg, the primordial energies struck him; nearly killing him and granting him 3 visions. He saw the world fill with life and beauty, he saw a great serpent with 8 heads meant to destroy this new land, and he saw his own death. Touma, feeling responsible for the world which he had brought life into, remained to keep it safe from the serpent that he knew would come.

Finally, the serpent (called Chua) did come. It rose out of the sea and from each of its’ 8 heads it spewed forth a poison onto the land and into the air. These were Apathy, Hubris, Want, Loathing, Fear, Wrath, Pain, and Ignorance. Touma, who had been waiting for the serpent fought it for many days, all across the fledgling world. Creating great mountains, valleys and channels in which the sea could flow into and across the land. Touma, nearly beaten, called upon his friend the Phoenix before Chua could strike a killing blow.

The Phoenix burned Chua to death but in the process also destroyed itself, covering the world in ash. Touma, now dying, looked at the world and wept because he had failed. 7 tears fell from his eyes and infused the land with 7 virtues. These were Temperance, Humility, Kindness, Zeal, Patience, Hope, and Curiosity.

Touma despaired and succumbed to his wounds. From his body and the embers left by the Phoenix, new and varied life came into the world. It spread to fill the land. It breathed Chua’s poison and drank of Touma’s tears, and it persisted.

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The UTC Campaign Diary #1

I’m doing a campaign diary for my new setting (which finally started!!). It’s mostly just for me, but it’d be really cool if other people took an interest in it. I plan on having my players do entries from their character perspectives every now and then too.

The PCs:

Barbatus; Cleric of the United Order of Inquisition. Necromancy is an abomination against nature, he will find practitioners and destroy them, even his former teacher.

Elroy Casey; Battlemaster and mageslayer of the UTMF. Running from his past mistakes and just trying to give his daughter a good life.

Vorso; Exiled prince of the Duellan Empire and swashbuckler. Searches for proof of his claim to the throne, he’s heard rumors his mother is somewhere in the UTC.

Sabar “Saber”: Blood Hunter of The Order of Inquisition. A lost soul that’s struggling to find his own goals and wants, made a pact with the fey unknowingly.

September 8th, 1863 AC

The party meets in the small marsh town, Remaign, located in the Remaign Wetlands. In the Swamp-lily inn they were greeted and served by the proprietor, a dwarf named Cartrite and his employee Reggie; a human that grew up locally.

The party discussed how to proceed. since there were no real leads on Vorso’s mother they would seek out a rogue mage that was rumored to be in town. After some asking around they met a young man named Adler who says he saw a body out in the swamps with strange markings on it and no face. The party is renting his boat and plans to set out early the next morning.

As the PCs return to the Swamp-lily, Barbatus noticed a disturbance in the water. A shadowy figure darted into the swamp where they could see a boat with two humanoid figures watching them...

End of session 1

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Alternative Storage Systems for Table Top RPGs : Slot Storage

I have never had much love for calculating weights or dealing with encumbrance.  It sucks in Skyrim and its a slog to track with pen and paper.  So, I finally sat down and designed an in game storage system that I believe provides satisfying inventory management, while hopefully not breaking immersion too much for the players. As well as providing players with satisfying and easily measurable character progression.  Also, I think bags of holding are sort of lame..

DISCLAIMERS

This system obviously isn’t for every table.  Please feel free to comment, critique, adopt, or ignore!

This system also requires a bit of extra DM engagement when ruling on whether or not a character could carry something. If you plan on implementing this system, make sure your players are clear that the DM has final say.

I encourage anyone who uses this to have a page of their character sheet entirely dedicated to inventory.

Slotted Bags

A slot system, like what exists in countless RPGs, is my solution.  With an extra wrinkle which is aimed at keeping the system somewhat grounded in the world, distinction between slot types:

Regular Slots (s)  = General storage for most in game items

Large Slots (S)  = Used for general storage as well as being the only slots able to hold “large items” within reason, such as armor sets or weapons.

Utility Slots (u) = items kept on the character’s person.  In pockets, or in belt pouches which are easily accessible and available for instant use. 

There are three methods for determining the number of slots available to a character that I have come up with.

Method 1: SUPER SIMPLE VERSION

The DM determines how many slots a given bag might have.  That’s it.  Just tell the player that their backpack has X number of slots.  Throw slot types out the window, or don’t.

Method 2: SIMPLE ARITHMETIC

Employ the following simple formula to Method 1, assuming you have already determined how many slots a characters bag would have.

Bag’s Base Slots

+The HIGHER between a character’s Int. or Wis. mods

+Str. Mod.

+Con Mod

= the total slots available (the sum of Str and Con = No. of Large Slots)

Int and Wis are utilized to reflect a character’s ability to pack efficiently and could even be used in determining utility slots, however I felt utility slots should be more static.

Method 3: LESS SIMPLE ARITHMETIC

The final method is a more complicated formula which can be applied to any and all bags in the game.  This is my favorite method.  It makes the most sense has GREATLY simplified disputes with storage at my table.  This formula requires a few variables:

X = Total Slots Available to a character

STR/CON = the modifier associated with each stat

WINT = The greater of either your wisdom or Intelligence Mod

s =  No. of Regular Sized Pouches (which produce Regular Slots)

S = No. of Large Sized Pouches (which produce Large Slots)

u = No. of Utility Pouches (component pouches, pockets, etc..)

X = (s * [WINT + 5]) + (S * [STR + 5]) + Con + u

So, let’s now apply this to a character that has just purchased a backpack with 3 Regular Sized Pouches 1 large pouch, and 2 utility pouches on the big leather coat they happen to wear.

Glar Hornraven — Level 1 Human Ranger Ability scores:    

STR:  6 (-2)   DEX:  18 (+4)  

CON: 13 (+1)  INT: 12 (+1)   

WIS: 16 (+3)  CHA: 10 (+0)

APPLY STATS AND POUCHES TO THE FORMULA AND SOLVE FOR X

X = (3 * [3 + 5]) + (1  * [-2 + 5]) + 1 + 2

X = 24 + 3 +1 +2

X = 30 total Slots (24 regular, 3 Large, 1 extra regular, 2 utility)

It’s a lot of numbers, but once it’s in place it feels simple and my players have loved it so far.  Thanks for reading.

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Love this. So much inspiration to be had and it fits so well with the themes I’m driving for my campaign setting.

False Gods (personal project) by Ching Yeh

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Make a map. Laminate it at Kinkos or Staples or Office Depot or Wherever Else. Got that triple-foam protectorant so it’s water and dry erase safe. Shit is dope as hell. It’s 30x36 inches, for reference.

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Digging through old sketches and doodles, I came across what has become the story for the region bordering the northern edge of my campaign setting. The Barkan̈an Forest

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Goes along with the set I posted earlier.

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Nosferatu sees the sun rise. Sketched from memory with a side by side comparison for kicks and gigs. I like the more monstrous interpretation of vampires. Barlow from Salem’s Lot comes to mind, specifically as one of the most “purely evil” portrayals of a vampire I can think of. They make great dungeon bosses or big bads. For the time being, vampires won’t be included in my current setting. Necromancy will play a big role however and I’m looking forward to developing a lich NPC.

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Theming a dungeon based on these monster sketches. Thoughts?

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Something not dnd related, for a change of pace. Oh, who am I kidding? Dr.Snale is a great NPC...

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NPC Concept

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Another NPC concept

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NPC Concept: The Reliquary