Join the A+ Campaign

Monte Cook started the A+ Campaign last year.  The goal is to spend all of August making the internet more positive.  It seems like a great idea to me and I hope some of you will join me on this mission.

This mirrors something I was talking to my son about earlier today.  I've spent far too many years of my life being negative.  Since I wear my emotions like a badge, I began smiling to "conceal" them.  The funny part was that smiling made me feel better and I began to see that I was choosing to be negative.  Let's face it the world presents us with innumerable excuses to be negative, but too often we overlook the other innumerable chances to be positive.

So let's make the internet cheerier in August!

Tales of the 13th Age: Company of Badgers

El Jefe formed an adventuring company and has contract several members for the first leg of the operation.  Those who signed his contract are obligated to journey to Roachdale and recover an item they are only allowed to disclose to him. 

In turn he has taken care of their room and board in New Port and has provided them with a per diem and supplies to make a round trip journey to the settlement.

The brave souls who have signed on are:

Joshua Umbertusk, a half-orc monk walking the Shakti Path.  He is fastidious about his cleanliness and appearance and prides himself on nearly passing as a human.  He has put his faith in the hands of the Priestess and sought out the esoteric katas of the Great Gold Wyrm.

Dalthorian, a serious and careful long haired wood elf and the Last Survivor of the Kel'Thasar (One Unique Thing).  He is devoted to the Great Gold Wyrm.

Ulrik Bgrrrrr, a dirty and grim wood elf who has been Raised by Bears (One Unique Thing).  He is accompanied by his "older brother", Popo, a bristlebearn bear who is good at driving wagons and is deeply concerned for the groups well being, bordering on paranoia.  He strongly supports the High Druid.

Dusk, a tall, wisp of a drow.  She is filthy and unkempt and is always on edge.  She suffers from Cleptomania (One Unique Thing), and is constantly redistributing the team's belongings.  She has garnered the attention of the Prince of Shadows.

Tiffanie, Desiray, and Martha Swanshadow, high elven triplets who have chosen to carry on the Swanshadow family tradition of being adventurers.  Tiffanie can Talk to Animals (One Unique Thing).  Desiray Spent Many Years as a Yeti (One Unique Thing).  And Martha Dreads Storms Because They Reveal the Future (One Unique Thing).  All three have strong ties to the Elf Queen.

Alora Dannon, a half-orc reaver and sellsword with little beauty and even less brains.  She is a loner and prefers silence.  She has served in the Orc Lord's army.

Johnny Walker Cash, a human bard with a mysterious past.  He is very talkative and extroverted and constantly talks bout his partial amnesia and strange black cowpunching boots.  He constantly drinks from his Flask That Never Empties and has never met a stranger.  He has crossed paths with the Prince of Shadows, served the Priestess faithfully, and run afoul of the Lich King.


El Jefe did provide a rare and strange brass cart and four stout horses to pull it.  He has also hinted that others may join their ranks.

Tales of the 13th Age: Enrique Del Fuego

Enrique "El Jefe" Del Fuego has recently gained notoriety  in the Seven Cities for looking for agents willing to partake a mission "rich with equal parts danger and fortune."

Its notable that established adventurers such as Sheena "She-Ra" Rath, Sargoo the Sapient, and Billy Ray Cordite have been turned down by El Jefe.

Recently, Enrique assembled a team, a rag tag band of exuberant, yet unknown adventurers set out from the city of New Port to Roachdale.

Roachdale is a bustling fur and lumber settlement amidst Volmer's forest (the Wild Wood) and southeast of New Port by about four days travel.  The trip is fairly easy as Roachdale is connected to New Port by the Pilgrim's Road (the New Road).

Rumors surround Enrique Del Fuego:

1) In the last month, he has hired two prior teams to make the journey to Roachdale in search of a mysterious treasure.

2) Enrique's wife, Esmeralda Faustina, was sacrificed to the Lich King while he was leading a merchant caravan between Santa Cora and Horizon.  She was sacrificed as punishment for offering their daughter, Anabella, to the Diabolist as a blood pact so she may finally give her husband a son.

3) Enrique is being observed by the Wotangamut.

4) Enrique is a staunch follower of the Priestess and has earned the title El Jefe due to his generosity.

5) Enrique recovered and sold the Lich King's True Hand to a collector in Axis several years ago.

6) Enrique murdered his business partner, Victor Capello, because he believed that Capello was responsible for his wife's death.

13th Age: Stalktopus

Stalktopus (Thank you, Glorantha)

Slithering, sliding and swinging through dark places, the stalktopus is driven only by its hunger for prey.  Whole groups of unfortunate pilgrims have had their remains found, all fallen to the unquenchable hunger of this ruthless beast

1st level offensive [BEAST]
Initiative: +4

Tentacle lash +9 vs. PD—5 damage.
Natural even hit:  1 nearby enemies takes 1d6 damage.

C: Tentacle grab +9 vs. PD—7 damage and you are grabbed.
Natural 16+:  3 ongoing poison damage.

Flexible: The stalktopus can disengage from enemies with an easy save (6+).

AC 14
PD  14                              HP 27
MD  8

Checking In

So the online store keeps on growing and things all around keep getting busier, but I need to draw a line in the sand and get back to posting.

In case you missed it, WotC released a new DnD Playtest Package last week.  I'm going to assume its the version of the rules I'll be getting in the Gen Con Dragonspear Castle exclusive (no I'm probably not going, but I have many friends who are).  I do think the rules keep getting better, but at what point is development going to move from rules creation to rules editing and smoothing out?

Meanwhile, I deeply infatuated with 13th Age and am glad Primeval Thule will be supporting it and hope Dragon Kings will be able to, as well.

On the other hand, I've had the Numenera eBook for over a week and it hasn't really grabbed me anymore than the playtest file.  But, I've had very little time to look it over.

There should be some Tales of the 13th Age updates coming in soon and I hope to get back to a better pace.

Tales of the 13th Age: Character Generation

As a HUGE fan of Fire Opal Media and Pelgrane Press's 13th Age, I'm eager to run a game as part of the Tales of the 13th Age Organized Play program which kicked off today.

First adventure is Crown of the Lich King and my group has made a Human Bard, Half-Orc Barbarian, Elf Ranger, Drow Rogue, and Half-Orc Monk (I'm expecting at least one more character).

We'll be starting the first session ASAP and I'm very keen on the resources we've been given and owe a big shout out to ASH Law for keeping us informed, answering questions, and just being awesome.

I'm pretty hyped to get things moving and can't recommend 13th Age enough!

Ushering In August...

Well, my schedule has been too hectic to close out July, so we'll usher in August.

Not as much posting this month.  I started an online store for my company and it's been incredibly busy.  A good busy, but it's cut into my free time.

I've been on hiatus with my game, but I'm hoping to start Tales of the 13th Age at my store soon.

The 13th Age Limited Edition book is completely gorgeous and Fire Opal and Pelgrane Press really outdid themselves.

I'm super excited about the Primeval Thule setting and glad they met their Kickstarter goal.

It's been a busy month and the kids will be heading back to school soon.

I wish everyone well and hope to find more time to post in August.

Be well.