• Thunder Monkeys and Other Remarkable Beasts for Your D&D Campaign

    Thunder Monkeys and Other Remarkable Beasts for Your D&D Campaign

    How magic interacts with the world is often a defining space in Dungeons & Dragons. In the Forgotten Realms magic, whether arcane or divine, exists as 5th edition defines it. In Eberron magic is instead something that is common, fueling the themes of steampunk and noir with orcs and elves. Dark Sun goes the opposite direction. Magic there is not just limited. Magic continues the ecological disaster that mars the world.

    In the World of the Everflow magic burst forth onto the world in two awakenings. The first, explored mostly through short fiction and table narration gave the Kin (People of Love) a single cantrip, all of them. The second awakening brought the ability to cast spells to certain Kin and saw the return of the Ken (People of Knowledge) and Kon (People of Technology) to the shores of the Six Kingdoms.

    As my worldspace, and the associated tales continuing to develop, the thought popped into my head “What happened to the animals during the Awakening?” Throughout known time the Kin were always bonded with companions (initial rules). With the bond between beast and person so strong, did some beasts get small magics?

    The answer is yes.

    And so the Thunder Monkey became a reality in the World of the Everflow.

    Photo by Arindam Raha on Pexels.com

    The mechanics are fairly simple. The Thunder Monkey can cast Thunderclap once per short rest. They can also use the first bullet point from Thaumaturgy at will. All other stats are like the basic version of a baboon with minor tweaks that you feel are appropriate. This spectacular beast is rare within the Six Kingdoms, mostly found in Douad, a Mediterranean feeling space.

    A character, player or non-player, with a Thunder Monkey becomes more notable and memorable.

    Combining mundane beasts with other cantrips can lead to other fun combinations.

    • Lightning Lure Bugs are giant wasps without a stinger, but instead the ability to cast Lightning Lure and Dancing Lights making them useful in a conflict or able to help light the darkness.
    • Flapping Foxes are fennec foxes that cast Gust with the breeze originating from their big ears.
    • Pointers are tracking dogs able to cast True Strike as they direct their companion where the target is.
    • Slinging Spiners are porcupines that cast Sword Burst flinging more spines than their body carries.
    • Fixin’ Friends are spiders that cast Mending, using their silk to fix what is broken.
    • Tidings Birds are pigeons with the ability to cast Encode Thoughts, carrying messages throughout the town.
    • Savage Mousers are housecats with the ability to cast Primal Savagery, their normal painful non-damaging bites now capable of felling a threat.

    These remarkable companions are practically limitless. The damage dealing cantrips (probably Guidance and True Strike as well) at just 1 per short rest will not create any sort of imbalance on any world. Others can be more frequent, likely at 2 or 3 ties a short rest, so that they are used but do not overshadow the players.

    Every cantrip and every beast is an opportunity to expand the stories you are telling through the use of magic. This expands the 1,000 times a thousands tales available at the table.

    What will be the first remarkable beast your character meets?

    Fediverse reactions
  • Turn flavors into the story you wish to tell

    Turn flavors into the story you wish to tell

    In wine, beer, coffee, etc there’s the concept of the perfect pairing. At its simplest, the concept is to find foods that complement that specific flavor notes of the beverage. More completely you can find ways to do this through similar and disparate notes – sometimes hitting opposites on the flavor wheel gives the taster an experience that highlights both the food and the beverage.

    Pairing beverages with gaming in something I just do. When playing Awf I always have a beverage. Sometimes that beverage is inspired by his personality – drinking an earl grey lavender toddy out of a masonry mug to highlight his duel cultures of dwarf and bladesinger. Other times the beverage connects to the adventure that Droop’s Brigade is going – Skookum Caverns, a barrel aged strong ale, as we enter Wave Echo Cave.

    https://twitter.com/bedirthan/status/1315839234020798465

    The use of flavor here helps inspire the story being told during that gaming session. The flavors evoke a mental space where Awf’s unique history of annoying elves enough that they taught him bladesong, despite his being a stubby dwarf, is brought to the forefront. Or, the dangers and darkness of a cave are brought to the front of mind through can art and the potency of a strong ale.

    Flavor does wonderful things. Pairings aren’t just about maximizing the flavor experience. The connection between taste-smell and memory is powerful. People buy Kona coffee because it awakens memory, much more than due to its quality. A margarita on a cold winter day can put your headspace back to a nice beach vacation. Hot cocoa in front of a fire, even while home alone by yourself, will send you dreaming back to a Christmas visit to a small town.

    As roleplayers, in Dungeons & Dragons or any other game, we can use the magic of flavor to help us. The foods and beverages of your game night are important. Make those small choices that aid gaming, just like you would a token, art, or cosplay.

    Rather than confine yourself into using flavor as a way to connect your current character, you can also use flavor to inspire new characters.

    https://twitter.com/bedirthan/status/1335066277476372481
    https://twitter.com/bedirthan/status/1335080716913106945
    https://twitter.com/bedirthan/status/1335440812889391104
    https://twitter.com/bedirthan/status/1335280984602726400
    https://twitter.com/bedirthan/status/1335302097407860736

    Each of those characters started with the simple prompt related to a beverage and the object out of which it is consumed. From there decisions were made not just regarding the race, class, and background, but also to inform the skills, attributes, spells, and weapons chosen.

    Rum connected to sailors, pirates, merchants, or water genasi. Carbonation was an indication of something light, refreshing. Salt a connection to authority. The mistaken belief that halflings are just old children popped into the head with the root beer.

    What those various prompts did was start internet searches into the techniques used to create certain beverages, into their history, into their cultural significance. Chasing those touchpoints and activating them through D&D and by including others in the process, my character portfolio expanded. These are now new NPCs, or maybe even PCs, that would never exist.

    Food and drink can inform your characters just as art, books, movies, shows, music and media can. Great cooks say that their meals tell stories. Adapt that into your PC and NPCs.

    Empower flavor to empower the stories you tell.

    A replica viking longboat loaded up in charcuterie. From the 4-foot tall mast hangs shaved prosciutto. The base of the boat has cured meats, pickled vegetables, and various cheeses.

    What type of character builds a replica longboat and uses it as a charcuterie table? How does that inform who they are?

    Fediverse reactions
  • Lore Collage: 34 D&D Links to Read and Videos to Watch

    Lore Collage: 34 D&D Links to Read and Videos to Watch

    Last week Lore Collage was on a break. In its place was a holiday gift guide designed around the types of people into Dungeons & Dragons, with a sprinkling of what makes me, me. But, all the normal sources I trawl for news, opinion, and stories about D&D still kept putting stuff out. That means that there are over 30 things to read or vids to watch. There’s still more Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, as well as some other new products, but the focus on the latest new has faded a bit.

    FanWraps D&D Inspired Shirts

    They’re known for geek inspired car decals, and more, but the line of shirts that FanWraps put out is pretty awesome. The Dark Matter shirt includes dragonfire that only shows under flash photography. Here I am wearing the thing. Use the discount code DAVE10 for 10% off any purchase over 8$.

    https://twitter.com/bedirthan/status/1333449094828703744

    Official D&D Products Releases and Reviews

    If you’re a big minis person who plays in Waterdeep the use of the new Yawning Portal mini is rather obvious. Big set pieces like this need a game that centers that space to have value in most groups.

    Jeremy Crawford spoke to Dicebreaker about how the racial changes in Tasha’s are a beginning, not an endpoint.

    Think DM evaluates the Psionic Die and how multiclassing changes the Psi Warrior and Soul Knife. They also evaluate the impact of Steady Aim. If you want to optimize your understanding of mechanics, there’s no better place than Think DM.

    D&D During the Pandemic

    Virginia news site, the Augusta Free Press is recommending D&D as a way to stay in touch with your tech coworkers now that you aren’t playing pinball or visiting the cereal bar.

    Local game stores are struggling to stay open during the covid-19 pandemic. Wilmington Biz shines the spotlight on Cape Fear Games. Support your local gaming stores so that when we are together again we have a place to gather again.

    A group in Queensland Australia is using D&D to help neurodivergent teens and young adults grow.

    Tabletale Games launched during the pandemic because so many players are looking for DMs that DMs can get paid. Mox Boarding House is hosting D&D too.

    Inspiration for Your Next Adventure

    Not every world has a murder tree, but every world should have a murder tree.

    https://twitter.com/SHelmigh/status/1332264248584654850

    Screenrant walks you through how to create a powerful, heroic blacksmith. You can also be a sports star or a barista. Use tools to add more story to your story.

    Being a Dungeon Master is daunting. DM David (no relation) is here to help with four key rules to DMing.

    Steve outlines the Spent Condition, a new approach regarding the impact of using up all your limited abilities.

    The mighty chestnut tree once defined societies throughout parts of North America. Now, it’s essentially gone. Use this knowledge of a tree that was food, fuel, and shelter all at once as a seed for your next worldspace.

    Dungeons, Dragons, and Mainstream News

    Comedian Louie Anderson plays – via Orange County Register.

    Ta-Nehisi Coates plays – Oprah Magazine

    Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has a D&D Easter Egg.

    In Praise of Dungeons and Dragons – via The Week.

    Other Geek Stuff, not D&D Necessarily

    G4 TV is coming back, and like the resurgence of D&D there’s a wrestler involved.

    Swordfall puts together a great guide on how to support creators.

    Ten must see streaming shows, including Dimension 20.

    Harry Turtledove wrote a short story without any period.

    The Legendary Ben Bova passed away. He discovered and promoted so many of the sci-fi authors who helped me fall in love with genre writing and is possibly the best editor in the history of the genre.

    https://twitter.com/WOTonPrime/status/1334195629438894081

    The Amazon Prime Tolkien show (I can’t call it Lord of the Rings, because it’s not set within those three books) revealed even more of its cast. The show is currently being filmed in New Zealand, a place that isn’t suffering from the pandemic.

    As Always, Maps

    https://twitter.com/FengZhuDesign/status/1333240775333724160
    Returning to / Redrawing the Thorp at Appletree Pond
  • Fighter: Conscript, version 1.3

    Fighter: Conscript, version 1.3

    In general I’m fascinated with Tier 1 play. But there’s another trope that I enjoy — the old-timer who retreated from the life of adventure and war, but who for some reason gets called back into it. They’ve done their best to avoid violence. Instead violence seeks them out. The Fighter: Conscript (final name TBD) has seen things. Things no one else should see.

    When they get the call to return to their former life they are no longer concerned with having the best weapon and the best armor. Their wits and experience taught them that any tool can be used for any job.

    Design Goals

    With this subclass the desire was to build a character who attempted to retire from their life of violence. They still know how to fight, they just stopped. Then, for whatever the cause, they re-entered the realm of warfare. Most often this transition occurs when they are on their farm, in their tavern, working their forge.

    They use the weapons at hand and the armor of peasants, and yet fight like the mightiest warriors. The build should support the use of simple weapons and lesser armors with Strength being the primary stat.

    Fighter: Conscript

    You are a light fighter who once served as a conscript in a standing army or militia. While there you learned the horrors of war. You also learned how to survive. You fought with what was available. Then, the war ended.

    Now, you attempt to forget your past. Your neighbors may look at you as a hero or a villain. That depends on your behavior and their opinion of the forces for which you fought. You go about your days, an expert smith, carpenter, vintner, or other artisan.

    Recently you’ve felt the call. You are duty bound to pick up your sickle, spear, gambeson, and those well-worn boots again. Your people need help, and you are called to serve.

    Tough as Nails

    Starting at third level you may choose to use your Strength bonus to Armor Class rather than Dexterity when wearing any light armor or medium armor.

    Plowshares into Swords

    At third level you gain the following abilities as a reflection of your life after service.

    • You are proficient in improvised weapons.
    • When using simple or and improvised weapons you gain +1 to damage on a successful attack.
    • You gain proficiency in an Artisan’s Tool. If you are already proficient in an Artisan’s Tool you may instead choose to have expertise in that Tool.
    • When recovering spent ammunition you recover all of it, rather than half.

    Wise Beyond Years

    At seventh level you gain proficiency in Insight and Intimidation. If you already have one or both of these skills you may take any Wisdom skill instead.

    Heart of the Lion

    At tenth level you are noted for refusal to give up the fight. You have advantage on saving throws that would impose the following conditions: Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, or Stunned.

    Rally from Defeat

    At 15th level you inspire your teammates. When an ally within 30 feet fails a saving throw that causes damage you may use a reaction to grant them temporary hit points equal to your Fighter level + your Wisdom bonus and they may reroll the saving throw. They must accept the second result. Your ally must be able to hear you. This ability may be used proficiency bonus number of times per long rest.

    Bones of Steel

    At 18th level your Armor Class is adjusted by both your Strength and your Dexterity Bonus. This bonus is not subjected to a limit based on the armor. When you take damage you may use a reaction to spend a Hit Die to recover Hit Points as if you were taking a short rest.

  • Retiring as a Player, David Estrada’s Giant Heart Will Remain Involved in Communities Throughout the West

    Retiring as a Player, David Estrada’s Giant Heart Will Remain Involved in Communities Throughout the West

    David Estrada retired from professional soccer after eleven years in the game. Last week’s news wasn’t too surprising, this year he played 500 minutes with only 3 starts, scoring 1 goal. Over his career he amassed nearly 16,000 minutes played winning two U.S. Open Cups while playing for nine different teams after being drafted by the Seattle Sounders. His career as a player ends with New Mexico United.

    What will continue is more important than any of his 39 goals scored across MLS, NASL, USL Championship, the Open Cup, and Concacaf Champions League – Estrada continues on with New Mexico United helping them in community outreach.

    I first met Estrada back in 2010, after he was drafted. Little did I know that when he spoke to Sounder at Heart about his work with Hope Place that I was meeting the real David Estrada. There had been a large hint at who he is after his St. Hattrick’s Day performance back in 2012, as well.

    (On what his grandfather means to him and why he used him in his celebration…) “I never met him, but he is a big influence in my family and me playing soccer. He is big time in my life. I never met him, but he is just so important to me and my family. My extended family back home plays for a Sunday league team named after him. So using him in my celebration is like a double meaning between playing with my family and playing here with the Sounders.”

    Highlights, Stats, and Quotes
    Photos courtesy of MikeRussellFoto

    After drifting around with several clubs scattered around the USA, Estrada came back as a senior leader with Sounders 2 in their first season down at Cheney Stadium. He surged forth to score 11 goals, by far his best year. David’s leadership of the very young team was vital. He demonstrated professionalism to a bunch of teenagers, and they came to be more than teammates to him. At his return the group sought him out.

    In his first match against the squad he captained Estrada posed with his old teammates. Photo Courtesy of Charis Wilson / Seattle Sounders FC & Tacoma Defiance

    David taught those kids, now young me, more than just soccer.

    This is what David Estrada needs to be known for – not St Hattricks Day, not his long pro career, not 11 goals on S2. Estrada needs to be known for the work he did in the community. It was often quiet here in Seattle. Never on a big money contract David’s work was work. He lived with a spirit of giving and caring.

    That’s what he’ll remain doing with New Mexico, after winning recognition as their humanitarian of the year in their first two seasons. It’s also what he did with the kids around Tacoma and Seattle even after leaving the area.

    Estrada gives Alec Diaz friendly tap post-game. Photo courtesy of Charis Wilson / Sounders FC and Tacoma Defiance.

    He also paid attention to his old teammates, caring about their success. He paid attention to them. Defiance players weren’t just former coworkers.

    Estrada’s kindness and care was evident when I reached out to him about Jesse Daley moving on to his hometown club – Brisbane Roar. David didn’t just share a great statement about Daley, he wanted to know that it was a good move – it is.

    Way, way back – before Estrada was drafted – former Sounders Academy Director Darren Sawatzky told me that more important than developing good soccer players he had to make certain to develop good men. Those that have followed Sawatzky in the role, Marc Nichols and Chris Little, have echoed and amplified those statements. With Defiance in the org maybe 25% or so of an age group will become pro soccer players. The rest will get opportunities in schooling, maybe go onto coaching.

    They will all be Sounders.

    People like David Estrada, and recently retired Lamar Neagle, can show that the sport of soccer is just a path to being a good man. The game gave them a platform. With that platform any player, from Academy to star, can help the people around them. They can read books on a video chat with kids thousands of miles away, help plant trees, join a neighborhood center for a pickup game, deliver food, and so much more.

    David did that. He’s much more than 39 pro goals and 16,000 minutes. He’s the type of man that every young player should dream of being. The state of New Mexico is fortunate to retain the services of David Estrada. He is once, and always, a Sounder. He’s also a kid from Salinas, a Bruin, and so much more.

    His pro soccer career is over, but New Mexico United is right – Estrada’s just getting started.

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