Dear Readers, it has come to my attention that I apparently cut my notes off short last time, and missed them going to the Tower of Transmutation, as well as the beginning of a fight. I will begin this post by correcting that mistake… We pick up our tale with the party entering into theContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Someone is Coming to Get Us…”
Tag Archives: table top role playing game
How-To DM: Game Extras
Pretty much everyone knows the basics of playing D&D. You need your books, dice, character sheets, an adventure/module to run, players and a DM. That’s the basics of what one needs to be able to play. But that’s just the basics. What else can enhance your game above and beyond the basics? Electronic Campaign TrackingContinue reading “How-To DM: Game Extras”
Announcements
Your Dork Materials Anonymous_Bosch (formerly yourdorkmaterials) and I are officially working on the launch of our YouTube channel Your Dork Materials, where we will post our D&D Podcast of our new Monthly campaign (no name yet), our new weekly campaign (The Inglorious Ingrates), our previous weekly group while we were virtual (The Hopeful Dopes), andContinue reading “Announcements”
Painting Update: Acererak and Robed Female Monk
So here’s a painting update on my two current projects. Acererak Mostly, I was trying to make sure the Wraith Black is covering all of the black primer I used on his robe. Next I worked on his sash thing with Vampire Garments. That is much easier to see that the black primer is beingContinue reading “Painting Update: Acererak and Robed Female Monk”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: The Return of Avarice
When last we left off, the heroes had left the library and were headed to the Tower of Conjuration. Seeing this tower, the party found it similarly lit up on the top as the others had been. Checking for traps and finding none, the party ascended the stairs to the top, only to find fourContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: The Return of Avarice”
Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: New Ally and Manor Search
We last left our stranded band of companions huddled in the desecrated temple of Falinora going over the message from the recently animated statue, but soon the party realized that their former jailor, Halfkris, had escaped his bonds and was missing. At this realization, the group followed an audible scream from outside the temple, andContinue reading “Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: New Ally and Manor Search”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Reghed Tribes and the Caves of Hunger
When last we left our heroes, they had just rested after a grueling fight with some flame skulls. After their rest outside of the glacier, the party was approached by a group of the Elk Tribe of the Reghed tribes. Their chieftain, had a vision a party, wish to help them end the everlasting ofContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Reghed Tribes and the Caves of Hunger”
Miniature Painting Spotlight: Acererak Update
When last we left off, our Acererak mini looked like this: We were quietly drying on a dry cloth. Now let’s assemble this mini like the Avengers! I decided to use the Citadel Plastic Glue, a reliable miniature glue, but you could have used just about any miniature glue. It’s what I have on hand,Continue reading “Miniature Painting Spotlight: Acererak Update”
HOW-TO DM: GET YOUR HOBOS OFF THOSE RAILS
Hello everyone! In this week’s installment of How To DM, I’d like to talk about railroading. I’m sure everyone understands the term, but – just in case – let’s define the term. Railroading is a form of adventure design that essentially eliminates, or seriously limits, player choice. In reality, what we’re doing when we railroadContinue reading “HOW-TO DM: GET YOUR HOBOS OFF THOSE RAILS”
Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: What Goes Bump in The Mine
We find our traveling band of adventures beginning their perilous investigation into the platinum mine of Vermeillon after being ambushed and finding information on the creatures plaguing the town: Meenlocks. They searched several dead end shafts and paths, and they also found some very alive portions inhabited by swarms of bats. The party continued furtherContinue reading “Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: What Goes Bump in The Mine”
Clarshh’s Sepulchre
This summer adventure is from the convention game I ran on sunday. I ran the same adventure on friday, but didn’t take enough notes. Also, I have given a summary, partial and otherwise, for other groups that have run this adventure. It’s a favorite of mine. It’ll likely be the last time I blog aboutContinue reading “Clarshh’s Sepulchre”
Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: Vermeillon Vanishings
When we last saw the Hopeful Dopes, they were on a northern route to the foreboding town of Vermeillon when they found themselves assisting a caravan under an ogre attack. The group quickly dispatched the lumbering monsters, and successfully recruited some more brave souls to help settle around their keep, Dope’s Hope. After administering burialContinue reading “Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: Vermeillon Vanishings”
Isn’t She Lovely…Isn’t She Beautiful…
Dear Readers, I was so excited about finishing her, I couldn’t contain myself, and had to post about her today! Behold, the night hag… I used Bright Gold to do the “beads” in her hair, as well as her bracelets, and then used one of the Effect paints, Glistening blood, to color the skull andContinue reading “Isn’t She Lovely…Isn’t She Beautiful…”
The Joys of Campaign Writing
I want to tell you all a story about how I got all mixed up giving character creation details to the wrong party. It happens to the best of us: you’re running multiple campaigns a week or month, and one for both of them is beginning brand new. In my case, it was both ofContinue reading “The Joys of Campaign Writing”
DM Story: I Killed Another Beloved NPC
My Tuesday group, having migrated online, has changed some. We added two online players that add a lot to the game. In any case, it is, like my Sunday game, all online. Due to the limited nature of the campaign, meaning the length, I made it rather episodic, so that there was no pressure ofContinue reading “DM Story: I Killed Another Beloved NPC”
Xanathar & How-To DM: Character Creation Guidelines
First and foremost, before I get into anything else, or do anything else, here he is, in all of his hateful and dreadful glory, The Xanathar: Isn’t he just the cutest?! Just…that way he looks like he’s going to either not kill you outright or disintegrate you? And even from the rear, you just KNOWContinue reading “Xanathar & How-To DM: Character Creation Guidelines”
Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: Licking Wounds & Seeking Vermeillon
We found the Hopeful Dopes caught in a dire situation as their keep, the Dope’s Hope, was ambushed by a hoard of orcs and a werewolf. Several members were fell by this band of muscle and malice, but our weary defenders were able to finally repel them. Several guards, the decorated hobgoblin Grinkel, and theContinue reading “Tuesday Game: A Player’s Perspective: Licking Wounds & Seeking Vermeillon”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: The Codicil of the White
When last we left our heroes, they were in the dungeon level of Auril’s Abode…her home. The party had just finished the Test of Preservation, and stood before the entryway to the Test of Cruelty. The party opened the door and found themselves in front of empty tents…Searching through, they found the Bear Tribe, preparingContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: The Codicil of the White”
DM Story: The Story of Kief
Back in the day, when I first played Dungeons and Dragons, my group consisted of my cousin Daniel being the DM (he was a few years older than us) and Jack (who was my age). We had many a grand adventure. Jack and I each had two characters, with me playing a thief (what theyContinue reading “DM Story: The Story of Kief”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Tests of Auril
When we last left our heroes, they were preparing to battle two frost giant skeletons wielding anchors on long chains. The heroes fought hard, and the frost giant skeletons fought just as hard. The party played it smart, though, and came out victorious. Heading further in, they found a female Frost giant, completely encased inContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Tests of Auril”
How to DM: Forming a New Group
Today’s installment is on forming a new group; what to look for and what to avoid. I hope this helps you in forming your own future groups! Determine the Sort of Game You Are Playing This is the first and most important step in finding a new group. What kind of game are you planningContinue reading “How to DM: Forming a New Group”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Assaulting Auril’s Abode
When last we met, the party had decided to head out to the island known as the Isle of Solstice, upon which sits the ancient fortress called Grimskalle. Their transportation? The whale Angajuk, who has a magical boat upon his back. The party travelled for three days, Angajuk playing the tour guide, showing old shipwrecksContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Assaulting Auril’s Abode”
Quick Painting Update: The Shame Lessens
As most of you may know, I have a number of miniatures that I had begun to paint, but had abandoned for reasons like: “Gah, this isn’t as fun to paint as I’d thought it’d be,” and “This mini sucks. Why did I buy it?” and my personal favorite “I have so many minis…so many…OOH!Continue reading “Quick Painting Update: The Shame Lessens”
DM Story: When a New Player Decided to Grapple a Troll at Level 1
I had a group of players who were literally ALL new to D&D. Super eager to learn and loves to play. And they do things that NO VETERAN PLAYER WOULD EVER consider doing. I was running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, and they are just starting. They deal with the bar right easily enough, and the troll/stirgesContinue reading “DM Story: When a New Player Decided to Grapple a Troll at Level 1”
How-To DM: Using a Random Encounter Table
So, you have a great campaign, maybe one you wrote, maybe a prewritten one. Who knows. And you have a random encounter table. The question usually comes up: what do you do with it and when do you use it… Here are some ideas: The Players Derail the Campaign So the players have gone totallyContinue reading “How-To DM: Using a Random Encounter Table”
Miniature Painting Spotlight: Miniature Restoration – Pegasus
Hello, Dear Readers! I hope your week is going well. I’ve been doing okay, truth be told, and working on a lot of self-care. In fact, today’s post is about a miniature that is dear to me. It’s my dad’s old mini for one of his favorite characters: the bard Pegasus. Pegasus was an oldContinue reading “Miniature Painting Spotlight: Miniature Restoration – Pegasus”
Not All Puzzles Require Solving
Even though I was unable to play my normal Sunday Adventurers League game (I had to travel again yesterday), I was able to play my Sunday evening Discord game. I’ve talked about this group before (how the wood elf Elren befriended the tarantula named Benjamin), and it’s a good group. Currently, it’s made of ElrenContinue reading “Not All Puzzles Require Solving”
Let’s Do Some World Building
Dear Readers, I apologize for a lack of post this last Friday. Both yourdorkmaterials and I were swamped. Thanks for your understanding! So we’ve talked a lot about building adventures, and encounters, and campaigns, etc…But what if we want to build a world? Well, that’s what we are going to look at doing today, andContinue reading “Let’s Do Some World Building”
