Next Game: Sunday

Just a little reminder that we're playing D&D Sunday at James's. I'll be there between 11-12, and we'll start when everyone arrives. See you then.

Pre-Game Memo UPDATED

Tonight at 7:00 we'll finish the Monsters of Mount Mongibello and begin to foreground the next adventure, which we'll play Sunday at 2:00. After the battle we'll play board games. Right now the plan is to play on Vine St, but given that today's low is in the 20s and we now have an alternate site, this could change.

I'll be at my apartment no later than 4:00, and anyone is welcome to come over at that time. I don't have a phone, so just come on over. I plan on eating at Home Team with Jack at 6:00 and of course I hope everyone will join me in pregame dinner.

At least one person has approached me about changing characters. This is something that will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please talk to me about it first. PHB 2 is due out in less than 4 weeks, and with all the new races and classes I expect some turnover.

UPDATE: I'm leaving for home now. See you all later!

Sunday Game Session

Hey I wanted to write and say that if you sensed any hostility from me this weekend, I assure you it wasn't directed at you or the game or anything like that. Basically, it turns out my NoVa friends really get on my nerves now. I promise I won't bring them along again. I look forward to the explosive conclusion to our volcano escapades Tuesday night. Till then, chow!!!

Coraline

Since Tom has no phone, and no facebook, I thought I would hijack the blog for use of getting everyone together to go see Coraline. Frosh, I'm not sure if anyone talked to you about it but we are entertaining the idea of going to see Coraline in 3d on Friday, obviously.

It's playing in 3d at Regal Commonwealth 20 and Regal Virginia Center tomorrow. Anyone interested in a 7:30-ish showing?

I am without phone. Again.

This means that if you need to contact me, post what I need to know here. You may also try and call Beth--I'm around her most of the time, so you'll get in touch.

As of now, I expect everyone to attend this week's session on Sunday. Please let me know by posting if your plans change.

I should be getting a new phone tomorrow or Friday.

Strad Session Report

Dear Diary,

I write this while waiting for my two strange companions to awake (if thats what you could call what the metal one does at night.) They both sleep so much. We have figured out that we need to collect three magical objects to unlock a glow-y door which we believe contains our target Strad. I can't say I am overly thrilled with the situation. Combat isn't my strong point and I often find I faint before I can even run away. Luckily, it would seem my two companions are exceptional combatants, and I find myself relying on them for my safety. It even seems they have gotten better at keeping the mess off me not that my clothes aren't already ruined. Clearly they have no clear understanding of the delicate nature of silk. Sigh!

Well anyway since last I wrote we have found all three of the items and are preparing to fight this Strad goon with the hope that we can travel home upon the completion of this task. My two companions have apparently already proven themselves in the defeating of several wretched undead creatures as well as a large winged reptile the most luscious shade of purple you will ever see. If this situation wasn't so dire I would definitely call Toni and have him match the color for window dressings. Though I will add I did help in the retrieval of the third magic item, but the exertion was clearly too much and I pass out only moments before the reptile attacked. THE FOOLS THEY THINK THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DEFEATING ME!!! MY POWER IS UNMATCHED THROUGHOUT THE MULTIVERSE. I SHALL BATHE IN MY ENIMIES BLOOD!!! OOOoo... weird I blacked out there for a bit and while I was out someone came along and wrote all these weird things in my diary. How rude. And to think I am writing in pen so I can't erase it Oh well where was I. It does seem, however, that, while my group is getting better as containing the mess they are still quite barbarous. The older shifty one removed the brain from the reptile and decided to keep it with him. It took all I could do not to retch all over the floor.

I just wish they could understand the level of stress and discomfort I am under all the time, being forced to wear the same clothes, never getting to shower, not having anything to eat. What's worse is they don't even seem to care about how often I faint. It's been a long time since the fainting was this bad. Really, it hasn't been this bad since just after I was kicked out of Towono, the Drow village where I was born.

Well, Von Einstein is stirring. I should probably go.

Lots of Love XOXO

Dear Diary,

{supplemental}

I am writing this quick, so my friends defeated Strad. Turns out they are pretty ok, though I will have to keep working on this mess thing they have a problem with. We are back at the big buff guy's house with all the hot boiz. We got all kinds of phat l00ts and whatnots and hopefully, I will be able to go home soon. Oooo the blond one is staring at me, I need to go. Night night dear diary xoxo.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO EASY TO KILL THE FOOLS IN THEIR SLEEP THEY NEVER KNEW I WAS EVEN THERE, TRUE THEIR DEATHS WOULD HAVE BEEN POINTLESS BUT NONE THE LESS, LOTS OF FUN. SOON, SOON I MUST HAVE PATIENCE. VERY SOON. SOOO SOOON DFIDFS DFFD OJ DOKS AOFS DOJSFK AOKF OKJ SDK OKJ AODKFJ AODKFJOKKJ OKJO OIJ AFEBN BPUQ GPUA EURU N NIN UAGYA AIUJDF YER AGHE ABU AFUOIEFH AOIHFHI AHGIHEUYAIU BYBY PAOIDBN MBEUASDF AUSHE AUDFBNE AUSNFE ADFU

Alright seriously, Panda dooodles I am peeved now, Who the heck keeps writing in my Diary. I think its the metal one. He denies It but I am going to keep my eye on him.

Next Session: SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!

A round of congratulations to all, for killing Strahd Von Zarovich and lifting the lands of Barovia from darkness and terror. Starting (and hopefully ending) on Sunday, the group will be its battle against the Monsters of Mount Mongibello.

Level up your damned character before 2 p.m. on Sunday. I'll be around before the session starts, so if anyone wants to come over at say, noon, and level up their character with my help they are welcome to do so. However, it's probably easier overall to just use the CB.

A few things to note about gaining level 21

1: You don't actually get any new powers.
2: All of your ability scores increase by 1.
3: You get a feat, and epic tier feats are finally unlocked.
4: You get to select an EPIC DESTINY and use its level 21 ability.
5: Your at-will powers' damage increase.
6: Some of your class features (like healing infusion) heal additional hitpoints.

Finally, some targeted comments...

James: You may pick any epic destiny, but the destiny you pick will be related to your curse/possession/subconscious fighting ability.

Frosh: I'm afraid I don't have much advice to give, but I do think you were given too hard a time last night by James and me. Fighters are supposed to soak hits, and that's what you did. Try and get that Will defense up, if possible.

Robin: Log into our wizards account and go here. There's an epic destiny called the Keybearer that I recommend for your character. I don't think you should give up on Von Einstein, personally. If you want, I can help you rework him to be more effective.

See you on Sunday at 2, all!

What really happened to Von Einstein that battle...

Okay, so we've gone through at least two different versions of the events of that night, but when you deal with time-travelers, causality occasionally frays while time folds back on itself. That said, though echos of the past two alternate realities haunt the mind, here's what reallyhappened to Einstein.

Cackling, the Lich throws a ball of bright-white energy toward Einstein and CON-R. The ball streaks from her perch atop the bookshelf, explodes, and when the light from the explosion fades, CON-R sees Einstein lying before him, reverted to his natural appearance (gray-skin, hairless, etc.), bleeding from the eyes, nose, and ears, and caught in the grip of a severe seizure.

A few seconds later, the Lich hurls another ball, and but after the explosion's light fades and CON-R gets his sight back, Einstein has disappeared.

The battle continues, Pelloth overcomes the Lich, and seconds later riot of light and sound, like a train bulling through a fireworks factory, accompanies the opening of a portal from which Einstein is thrown, alive and unhurt.

We will pick up on Tuesday from the moment after Einstein returns.

Reminder: No session on Sunday (maybe gaming, though)

We'll be playing one last session on Tuesday, rather than on Sunday as planned.

If we don't finish Strahd's Castle on Tuesday, I will cry. And you will be forced to watch.

Just to recap, you all need one more Talisman in order to gain access to the upper reaches of the castle.

Dinner at Home Team at 5:30, etc.

If you'd like to play games on Sunday afternoon (late-ish), post in comments.

Looking forward, we'll begin playing Sunday, Feb 22, at 2 p.m. and try to do an entire adventure (4 encounters) and then stop.

Schedule Change--Will Play on Sunday from now on.

Last week, we talked about changing from Tuesday to a weekend date. While Saturday seemed imperfect to meet our needs, everyone seemed to agree that Sunday would be acceptable.

The first game at the new time will be played on February 15 at 2:00 p.m..

The new day is more or less set in stone. I really can't keep playing on a weekday and keep up with everything. However, 2:00 p.m. is more of tentative suggestion. Post in comments with other suggestions.

Because I can't more than a week without seeing my buds, you're all welcome to come over this Tuesday for one last game night at the old timeslot. We'll even play D&D! Yay!

Sorry I haven't texted you all yet with login details. Would you believe I've been separated from my phone for the last day?

About tonight...

I just wanted to say a few things about tonight’s session and what it means for the rest of the campaign. First, this is a learning experience for everybody. Nobody knows the system that well yet, so mistakes will happen on either side of the screen. I know it was kind of cheesy to just bring Robin back like we did, but we really didn’t have any more palatable alternative. However, that’s it.
The combat the happened last night underscores what’s always been a very important point in small D&D groups: The need for a really balanced party. Normally I’m comfortable just letting you guys do your own thing, but I really think the whole campaign will run smoother with just a few changes

1) Everyone (but mostly Frosh) needs to have high-ish scores in all defenses. If you need to, restat using the character builder to have a more defensible character. After playing around witht the character builder for a few days, it seems pretty easy to get all of them in the high 20’s-mid 30’s, depending on class.

2) Somebody else should have the ability to cast rituals just in case Einstein dies again. I know that one of you has a feat slot to spare, so one of the other party members need to hop on this.

3) I need to begin preparing more non-combat encounters (I’m thinking every 3rd or 4th encounter will be non-combat).
If we do both of these, I think 95% of the problems we ran into last night will never be encountered again.

Notes from VonEinstein's Journal: #1

Notes on the Multi-Dimensional Time Shift propagated by quasi-being of power and electromagnetism.

by Dr. Leonardo Newton VonEinstein


Shortly after the success of Experiment #245 (Regarding origin of tissue matter found in species "Doppelgangus Polymorious") I found myself propelled into a planar tesseract which relocated me from my home plane to that of a (speculated) high energy quasi-being known as "Kord". The planar tesseract not only caught myself, but transported 2 other beings: A homosexual drow and a fascinating machine-man(Reference "Notes on "Earth"-based automaton: Conn-or-Bot"). The Quasi-being (henceforth known simply as Kord) briefed the 3 of us, detailing a desire to eliminate some sort of political rival. Kord then transmitted a electro-psychic wave of energy over the three of us which I believe resulted in a Multi-dimensional time shift focus. I found while my memories and personality remained stagnant many of the theories and knowledge that I had merely hypothesized suddenly became illuminated as fact. Theories and facts that I had not even thought of before suddenly appeared in my mind. This is evidence of a the matter of my mind transporting through time from the future to the past due to Kord's electro-psychic wave. The neurons did not shift, possibly due to the energy-based make-up rather than the physical matter based knowledge centers of the brain which is why my memories did not travel as well.

The physical brain matter was not the only thing to shift, I found on my person several inventions that I had drawn up schematics for, but were far from actually completing. This includes the transferance-disrupter orb, the "Rocket-propelled And Electrco-capable Miniature" (R.A.E.M. See "Notes on use of R.A.E.M on Earth-Based Automaton in combat situation"), as well as several others, including a set of leather armor that seems to have polymorphing matter applied to the it, allowing instantaneous matter-shifting.

I do not not know if my body has also time-shifted. I documented that the Doppelgangus Polymorious does not age due to the constant multiplying of polymorphing bio-matter. My 2 companions give me no clue either, as the drow are known to age incrediably slow and the Automaton does not have the necessary bio-matter to fully determine an age.

This garners much further study. If the waves used in this incredibly time-shift could be harnessed it could be used to travel through TIME ITSELF. WE WOULD RIDE AMONG THE STREAMS OF TIME LIKE THE FROTHING WATERS OF THE BLUE RIVERS, OBSOLETING DEATH AND CULTURAL PROGRESS. SCIENCE!!!!


(OOC: Not really so much a recap as VonEinstien's thoughts on suddenly becoming smarter and having a bunch of random new items. TIME TRAVEL!)

A few campaign visuals

We'll be playing on Tuesday, as normal. Just in case somebody had the totally crazy idea that we'd push it back a few days.

Hopefully the party will complete the Castle Ravenloft Adventure. Here's A visual guide to the campaign thus far...


Strahd Von Zarovich, Lord of Castle Ravenloft


Simon, Ice Archon Hailscourge


Bill & Ted, Air Archons


Victor, Vampire Rogue (tres scary, no?)


Castle Ravenloft, Domain of Strahd von Zarovich


Finally, KORD, God of Strength and Storms, your benefactor.