I've been thinking, for some time, about developing a shared world project. Something that could be used for games, stories, art, etc.

Nominally, I'd like it to be D&D related. Something just for fun. Probably using 4E concepts, races, classes, etc.

Would anyone be interested in working on this?

- Andy

In case you don't follow CaptainGerBear...and what's wrong with you if you don't?...he's posting recipes. I gave him my three faves that're only 3 ingrediants or less.

Here's 3, all of them are 3 ingrediants or less and all of them are awesome.

I. Chili Cheese Dip
- 2 packages of Philadelphia cream cheese
- 2 cans of Hormel chili without beans
- some shredded cheese

1. Use your hands (do it!) to spread the cream cheese in a pie plate, or 8x8 square cake dish, or whatever.

2. Pour the chili over the top

3. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over that.

4. Cook at about 350 til the cheese on top is melty and awesome.

5. Serve as a hot dip with whatever chips you want...I recommend Fritos scoops, as they are strong enough stand up to the dip's density.



II. Best Damned Kielbasa Ever

- Some kielbasa
- Some dark brown sugar

1. Cut the kielbasa up into onee inch slices

2. Put it in a large baking dish and pour brown sugar all over it.

3. Put it in the oven at about 350/400.

4. Stir it up every 15 minutes or so.

Eventually, the juices from the kielbasa will mix with the sugar, creating a very fatty but very incredibly good glaze/sauce on the kielbasa. Once everything is syrupy and good, eat it. I recommend with toothpicks, at a party. No one should eat too much of this.


III. Natural 20 Peach Cake

I'm not joking, that's what it's called...from Spoon and Fork, a recipe book for gamers.

- 3 cans of peaches (roughly 45 oz)
- 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
- 1 Stick butter

1. Spread the peaches in the 9 by 13 cake pan

2. Pour the Cake Mix over it, evenly.

3. Cut the stick of butter into pats. Spread them over the cake mix fairly evenly.

4. Cook at 350 for about 5 minutes. You'll know it's done when you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.

I swear...this is cheatingly easy but tastes like you slaved over a cake for hours.

- Andy

So, since I've seen a few people here bashing 4th Edition Dungeosn and Dragons, I thought I would drop in my 2 cents from the opposite view.

I've been playing D&D since the old blue Basic set, in 1979. And, for my money, 4E is the most enjoyable version of the game to date.

Let me try to address some of the common complaints.

4E is a clone of MMORPGs

Two phrases on that: One....what's wrong withthat if it were? MMORPGs are fun. It's one reason a lot of people play them. Two, where do you think MMORPGs got most of those ideas from in the first place? D&D and other tabletop RPGs are the basis for the RPG computer games that eventually evolved into MMORPGs. No wonder there's similarity, eh?

4E is too complex/simple

Amusingly, I read this today in a post...both arguments...by the same poster. :) I don't personally find combat fiddly or overly complex at all. Quite the contrary. I ran a 3.5 game the other night, and, as the 18th level fighter resolved his 4 attacks, I sat there, waiting, thinking, "Here's one reason I like 4E." The combat is fast-paced, simple, and everyone gets to do cool things. A fighter doesn't just roll to see if he hits. He rolls to see if he can crash into the guy with his shield, bash him back a step, and take his position. A wizard never has to fall back on a crossbow or dagger. He can magic missile or thunderwave all day long. And a cleric never has to choose between healing and fighting.

And as for simple, again, what's wrong with that? Are we, as RPGers, so in love with arcane rules systems, because they make us feel smart? A rule system should be just as complex as needed to do its job, and no more. 4E is simple enough that my 11 year old nephew grasped it in an instant. Simple enough that too people who had NEVER played an RPG sat down with me last Wednesday and anted up in combat with very experienced players with only minor hesitation.

4E is focused on combat to the exclusion of roleplay

I don't exactly know what kind of guidelines for roleplaying you remember from your previous editions, but you may want to go back and re-read. All of them have essentially been "Here's a snapshot of your race and its stereotypes. Now go buy the splat book to get more info." This edition is no exception to that. Our group includes a pacifist cleric, a lecherous invoker, an illusionist who's completely full of his own reputation, a half-orc who broods over his own somewhat cursed nature, and a dwarf who insists he's just a poor farmer swept up in things too big for him. And some of those players have never played any edition but 4E, so it must've done something right witrh the concept of roleplaying.

Maybe it's because roleplaying is something fairly instinctual in the human psyche. We mostly likely all played RPGs in our youth, from Army to Cops and Robbers. I can't imagine trying to write a book about how to roleplay. Acting teachers have been doing it for years, however. ;)

4E is poorly constructed.

As for "poorly constructed", I have seen only one rules argument over 4E rules, andthat was because the player was thinking of the 3.5 rules set. ;) Don't get me started on the hot arguments over what one can polymorph into in 3.5, or how Grappling works, or whether a rogue gets his sneak attack damage if he's been swallowed whole by the purple worm.

4E is just bad.

If you just think it's bad, that's your opinion, and you're certainly welcome to it. Hopefully, you have some specifics to back it up. I think the problem is that 3.5 was a decent game, not nearly as broken at 2nd edition had been. But that doesn't mean it wasn't right to create a 4th Edition at this time. :)

- Andy

I realized that I didn't have many of my stories posted onthe web any more, so I thought this would be a good time. Hope folks still enjoy 'em.

As an experiment, I've been posting links to the site for my D&D campaign, Seven Kingdoms, on my Facebook account. Recently, I asked for folks to ask questions about the campaign setting. I thoughnt I'd open that up here, too.

The site for the campaign is at http://www.obsidianportal.com/campa.....seven-kingdoms

I'm open to questions about the campaign world. What're some things you'd be interested to know?

- Andy

Almost forgot these:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/orrin/3422651559/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I2jkwIoQ4g

flickr.com/photos/57581599@N00/3399966367

www.flickr.com/photos/bomit/3421128797/

Okay, I'm in love with this guy's aesthetic and the fact that his bears are so darned cute and polite! My first exposure was http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gKa3bKRhp4

More cuteness follows at http://omgposters.com/2009/03/26/ma.....-phil-lumbang/ and http://www.bomit.com/phil.htm

Enjoy!

So, I rarely post here unless I've got furry stuff to talk about...but I do have a blog and a website...

1. The Happy Bear's Guide to Better Living at http://thehappybear.blogspot.com

A site I use to do restaurant, movie, book, and whatever reviews.

2. BloopWatch.org

A website devoted to H.P. Lovecraft and how his ideas seem to intersect the Real World.

Just thought I'd mention.

- andy

Here's to the end of 2008 and the start of 2009!

Call me crazy, but it really feels like the Muppets are getting back on track. Apparently they started releasing various viral videos as responses to various YouTube videos, and they REALLY have the feel of the old Muppet Show segments for me. See what you think at http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li.....4AA26CE26FC1FC

In which Rukh revels in the memory of battle and despairs for the strength or weakness of some of his companions...

I engaged the hobgoblins in glorious combat, taking on all three at once for a moment. Then I felt someone come up behind me, and Gaervesk was there. He is a strange one, and his magics are foreign to me, but he is a good sort in a fight. Al’Der’eth came up quickly behind, but he was struck with some wounds as he moved into position. I pushed in-between the hobgoblins in an effort to give him room and take their attention away, and I paid for it with many wounds, but Delana’s healing soon bolstered me, and it was well worth the ploy when Al’Der’eth cast some magic which caused the leader of the hobgoblins to plunge through a hole in the wall and fall to the ground below. I called a warning to Delana and Eisenheim…I was concerned that the gnomish child we’d seen captive below might be used as some kind of bargaining chip.

Down the stairs, I was able to see the hobgoblin leader charge in against Delana. I was then worried that Eisenheim might be already slain. I called to their leader, challenging him to battle with me. But he ignored my challenge to his folly. He struck at Delana, and Tuan punished him with His righteous wrath. The leader fell, as the rest of us made short work of his minions. I was surprised to see Eisenheim without a scratch. Perhaps Delana had healed him…I’m unsure. I was pleased to claim a halberd that one of the hobgoblins had carried. It will be a most useful weapon to me.

It was most distressing to see how the child reacted to myself and Gaervesk. I cannot blame him…he had been captive to monsters for who knows how long, and now two more monsters had come with axe and spell. I’m sure he did not think we came to rescue. While Delana calmed him, I mustered my anger and questioned the hobgoblin, who was now our prisoner. His strength failed him, then, and he poured out something of their plans. The hobgoblins had been manipulating the kobolds on behalf of one called Smokesnare. Gaervesk seemed startled at this, as if he knew the name. When I questioned him, he told me that all things related to dragons, even the little kobolds, were connected…he felt this name was a dragon’s name. This unnerved me…is Gaervesk a dragon? Perhaps they choose between two legs and four? When this quest is done, I wish to speak with him, if I can find a way to do so without offending him.

Our captive, I fear, got the better of me, calling me an orc. I felt a terrible anger, and I knew I must walk away then. When I returned, he was dead…apparently Eisenheim had let his anger overwhelm him. This bothers me…an unarmed, wounded, tied-up and helpless prisoner…there is no honor in his death…no show of strength in the slaying of him. I cannot deny that Eisenheim’s magics are most useful in battle, but I began to wonder at the mettle of his soul. It would not be the last time that day.

We learned that the boy’s name was Keane, and that his mother was imprisoned below. We located the trapdoor with his help, and we were able to open it. I am ashamed to say that we left the gnome prisoners down there a little longer than needed, as we were unwilling to continue until we’d rested a bit. Once Keane and his mother were reunited, we gave them some food and sent them on their way home. Tuan pray they make it safely.

We followed the trail of the kobolds to what seems to be their true lair…the caves near the Stone Table. I must tell you of this wonder, Master K’rrg! It is fully 300 feet high…I know of no titans that could have fashioned it even in their time of glory! But it seems to be natural in make…a wonder of our world.

At the caves, we ventured in, with myself taking point. When it was clear that we were expected, I did not wish the kobolds to be disappointed. I came forward and held the mouth of the cave with halberd and axe. At one point, I even hurled back a javelin that had been thrown at me. Delana kept my wounds at bay with the powers of her sun god, and the other blasted the kobolds with ice, force, and curse. It was a fine battle; five against over twice that, and yet we were still victorious.

We did see a hobgoblin peer in and then run off, as if to get help, and that concerned me. We moved on quickly, especially as one of the kobolds had run off to “Warn the King” according to Gaervesk. I cannot imagine how he sorts reason from their yapping, but he seems to understand it. Perhaps it is part of that draconic connection he spoke of earlier.

We soon found where the young and women gathered. We spoke with them a bit, and we were able to convince them that, if the hobgoblins were indeed behind the raiding, we could possibly help them. One of them – a mother called Kalrax – was especially bold and not very complimentary to the hobs. We asked her to lead us to their King.

Here, things were tense. I felt that she truly wished us and the hobgoblins gone, but I feared betrayal none the less. Still, she led us safely past kobold traps to their King’s hall. On our journeys, Eisenheim showed a great interest in an obsidian dragon altar. I saw the light of pillaging and greed in his eyes, and it made me sad. Again, I worried for him.

Their King, Meepo, is a smaller kobold than most of the rest, barely taller than Kalrax’s son, who had followed us. He keeps a large spider as a pet. While he seemed deceptive when questioned about the dragon, he seemed keen to let us take care of the hobgoblin problem, and he swore that the raids were something they were forced to do by the hobgoblins. From what he said, it seemed that the kobolds had been content to avoid the towns until such time as the hobgoblins and the dragon came. We made it clear that we would help but that the raids had to stop. Everyone seemed amenable to this. Almost…

Eisenheim’s strength failed him now for the third and perhaps saddest time. He wanted to leverage the king to talk more about the dragon, and he began to reach for the Kalrax’s son to threaten. Kalrax threw herself at him, clawing and spitting, and I feared a battle would ensue that would have been unnecessary to our goals. It seemed that none of my companions supported his move, however, and tempers were calmed…but not before I, myself, failed. In my anger that Eisenheim would show such weakness as to threaten a helpless child, I promised him that if he did not stop, we would fight. He did back down…I hope that, perhaps, he saw the folly of what he wished to do. Or maybe he simply did not feel he could defy the rest of us united. I do not know.

I apologized to Eisenheim, and I used a part of Vurt’s speech from the Saga of Kuhlg’har. I told him that I shared his anger but that to punish the kobolds would be like unto punishing the sword that had taken a man’s life. The hobgoblins were the true enemies. He seemed to take this idea to heart. I hope he saw that there was truly honorable battle in the offing and relished, as I did, the chance to show his mettle.

With things calmed between us and with the kobolds, we agreed to slay the hobgoblins and the dragon. The King showed us a secret tunnel to a hidden glade outside. We encamped and are taking our rest. I will pray to Tuan for the valor and courage to stand against a dragon. I always felt I would meet one someday, but I did not know it would be so soon. Tuan, Lord of the Valorous Axe, grant your servant the strength to overcome this terrible foe. If you will not, then grant that I might not dishonor myself in this battle…that none of my companions shall fall due to mine own failure. I commend my life to your service again.

Rukh's speech to Keane was one of my "I will now reveal character detail to you guys" moments. I feel that Rukh, who doesn't yet fully like or trust his companions, is going to be reticent to open up to them. But in his dealings with others, his facade may slip, from time to time. Rukh got down on eye level with the boy and spoke very gently to him. "I know I am a monster," he told the boy. "But I am a special monster...one that slays other monsters. You have nothing to fear from me." A good Diplomacy skill later, and Keane was, at least, nto crying around the big half-orc. No one has commented on it, but I think it reveals two important aspects about Rukh...

1. He has a kindly nature. So far, the PCs have only seen Rukh in business mode...he hasn't let his hair down around them, so to speak. With Keane, he let them see a little of his gentle side. Innocents have nothing to fear from the big guy.

2. He has a lot of self-loathing. He's a reminder to himself about the savagery of orcs, every time he looks in a mirror. That must be very difficult when you profess to think of yourself as a Man. It's one of the areas I hope to explore with the character as time goes on. This theme came up again when the hobgoblin we captured called me an orc. Rukh just sort of paled and walked away, to stop himself from killing the prisoner.

Rukh is furious that the party were forced to show devisiveness in front of the kobolds - he feels it made them look weak. Although he apologized to Eisenheim, he's watching the illusionist closely. If the wizard goes there again, we may have to have some strong words.

It's interesting...the party seems to be uniting, quietly. Most of us seem to have a strong moral streak...except our illusionist. Which is good! Conflict makes good RP. Eisenheim is sneaky, greedy, a braggart, and not above killing a helpless prisoner or threatening a kobold child to get information he wants. This is totally anathema to Rukh...it shows weakness instead of strength. He feels it is a greater show of power and confidence to show restraint. Only time will tell how this will all play out.

Wherein Rukh wonders what is wrong with "civilized" people and bloodies his weapons against the honorless raiders

Dear Master K’rrg,

As you suggested, I am keeping a journal of my travels. Perhaps, someday, it will aid some young cleric or paladin of Tuan, either by example, or by what they should not do. Only time will tell which is which.

I traveled with the eladrin, Fallon, to the settlement of Northbridge. There, Fallon presented me to the mayor, a human named Galen Ashford. There were other adventurers there, and I’m ashamed to admit that, for a moment, I hoped I might not be needed and might return to the monastery. I was quick to put this shameful thought aside when the need of the folk of Northbridge was made plain. They have been attacked repeatedly, as have local farms and a gnomish settlement to the north, by small humanoids. Their tracks suggested to me that we might be dealing with kobolds, such as sometimes Gurglurz’s tribe would raid for slaves. All the while we were searching for clues, I also found myself taking the measure of those who have become my companions.

There is a human named Al’Der’eth, who called himself “the Pious”. I took him to be some kind of cleric, but it soon became clear that he wields a magic not of the gods. He is a strange sort in that respect. He seems fervent to bring the justice of the Gods down on the head of…something. I am pleased to travel with one of my mother’s folk, but he does seem a bit odd.

There is also a she-elf called Delana. She is a holy woman in service to Pelor, the god of the sun. I had always heard that his order was a grim one, and his people slayers of undead and bringers of righteousness upon the wicked. She must belong to a different branch, for she seems kindly and somewhat jovial. I find her a little unnerving in that respect.

There is also another high elf, like Fallon, named Eisenheim. He baffles me. It’s clear he wields a kind of magic, but it seems almost…frivolous. Still, in a battle, he’s proven himself capable. His mannerisms are flamobyant to the point of a near-madness, and he seems to desire greatly to prove himself…but I’m not sure how he plans to do so using cards and round-about mating rituals with those who serve in Inns.

Another of our number uses cards, too, but in a way that seems more sensible. He is called Gaervesk, and I have no idea what race he hails from. He is like a kobold, but large, and white, and he can breathe ice, as though he were a dragon out of one of the old sagas. He seems to have magics as well, but of a totally different kind that the others. He uses the cards to read the future, like you with the bones and bowl. I do not know what he sees for us, but, of all of the companions, I feel most at ease with him, perhaps because he seems as much an outsider as me.

We investigated some of the kobold raid sites, and we found tracks which suggested an eastern road. To aid Master Ashford, however, we decided to check one of the southern farms, for the people of the farm had not shewn themselves in town in some time. We hoped to find more clues there to lead us to the source of the attacks. At the farm, we encountered several kobolds, but they were no great burden to dispatch. I did not pause to give thanks to Tuan for the valor he had lent, for they had emerged from the farmhouse, leading me to fear there might be humans inside, dead or dying. There were not, but a nearby well held the bodies of the entire family, slain. What honor or proof of arms in the slaying of farmers? What strength shewn in the murder of a human infant? Truly, these kobolds are cowards. My wrath grows on me; Tuan grant that I give them something to fear.

After a night at the Inn, I slipped out to the town’s nearby river to make my morning ablutions and absolutions. To the north, smoke rose, and I returned to town, rather than meet the party on the road, as I had planned. Fallon told us that the gnomish settlement to the north was hit, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Clues had shewn us that the kobolds were using weapons tipped with black-glass, indicating a fire-mountain. Asking around town told us that the nearest source of the black-glass is a series of caves near a large formation called the Stone Table, to the east of town.

We headed east, planning on hitting the kobolds in their lair and ending their threat. Following Fallon’s knowledgeable instructions, we sought out an old crumbling tomb nearby and followed the track further east to a ruined keep. The road led through the keep, so we followed it towards the fallen gates. As we approached, more kobolds attempted to ambush us, treacherously. As we rushed to battle, more of them emerged from their crawl-holes, but we slew all who opposed us. One kobold, who I let escape in my efforts to protect my less combative companions, ran into a structure, but, once the others were clearly safe, I followed at haste.

Inside, a human boy was chained to the wall, knives around him showing that he’d been used as savage amusement…a target for throwing practice. Again, my rage grew, as did my shame, for the boy was clearly terrified of me. I could not meet his eyes, but, seeing no kobold present, I charged forward and up the stairs. At the top, I found the kobold, along with several hobgoblins. Giving thanks to Tuan for a chance to show my valor, I hurled myself towards the foe, shield raised to take a blow, axe already in motion…

So yeah, we ended mid-fight, which was kind of exciting. ;)

In 4th Edition terms, Rukh's role as a paladin is that of the Defender. Basically, if he does damage in combat, great, but he's really mostly there to soak up the enemy's damage and not let them get to his party...he's a tank in MMO terms.

Oh...and in case anyone was wondering...no, half-orcs aren't in 4th Edition yet. I'm using the Orc player character option from the Monster Manual with intention of switching to half-orc when PHB2 comes out in March, 2009.

The rest of the party are:

Al'Der'eth - a Human Wizard who's multi-classing into cleric. It's kind of fun...when he casts his spells, he's very descriptive of storm clouds and the local temperature dropping, andh is eyes changing color. Heh. Fun to play with.

Delana - Elf Cleric of Pelor. She regularly scolds the others for killing the monsters, instead of knocking them unconscious.

Eisenheim - Eladrin Wizard, multi-classing into Warlock (Fey Pact). He's using a lot of the illusionist spells from a Dragon Magazine article. Makes for an interesting variant on the wizard's controller role.

Gaervesk - Dragonborn Warlock (Star Pact). Maybe it's because we're the two "monsters" in the party, but Rukh gets along well with Gaervesk, even if he doesn't understand him or his powers.

So, I recently started playing a D&D game that  rourkie is running on Monday nights. Thought I might tell y'all about it. Since my character is a half-orc, it has a slight tie to Furry. :)

My character is Rukh Redmane, a half-orc paladin. I actually created him way back in 2003 for a D&D 3rd Edition game. He was inspired by the half-orc pic at http://www.elfwood.com/art/n/m/nmro.....f_orc.gif.html (It was fun...some months back,  captaingerbear was looking for info on it, and I was actually able to key him in to Nathan Rosario's page on Elfwood. So there's another furry link...sorta. ;) ) I was struck by the combination of noble and savage in that pic, and I liked the idea of playing such a character. So Rukh was born.

Rukh isn't his birth name. He had several, depending on whether you were talking to his human mother or his orcish father. I'm going to get into the grim details of his birth and childhood. Suffice to say that, at some point, he was left for dead by his orcish family (his human mother was dead as well). He survived a terrible beating and staggered feverishly away, half-dead. He was found by K'rrg, an orcish priest, who took him in and nursed him back to health. Under K'rrg's tutelage, the young half-orc began to believe he had a purpose in the world, for K'rrg was the last priest of Tuan.

Tuan is an orcish god, all but forgotten by the orcish people. He is a lawful good orcish god of chivalry, honor, and valor. According to Tuan's priest, in the ancient of days, the orcs were ruled by two brothers...Gruumsh, a chaotic evil god of savagery and brutality, and Tuan. Eventually, there was a terrible battle, and Tuan was thrown down. Worship of Tuan was stamped out by the Gruumsh-ites, and so Tuan's power waned. Many thought he was dead. But his divine spark has been slowly fanned by a small sect of worshippers. Now Rukh, named for the great desert eagles that are tuan's symbol, goes forth in the world as Tuan's sole paladin.

So there you go...that's Rukh. He's kind of a kid in a way, but he's well-educated in his religion. He is very charsmatic...he does Diplomacy and Intimidation in equal amounts, sometimes to the shock of his companions. He's kind of al onely figure, but he's a hell of a lot of fun to play, especially as he's being slowly drawn from his shell by the rest of the party.

Next, I'll post Rukh's journals...

I hardly post anywhere these days. But maybe I should? Anyway, if anyone wants to ask me anything, this is a good chance.

- Andy