Tag: Dungeons and Dragons

  • Rogue: Propagandist – a literary revolutionary

    Rogue: Propagandist – a literary revolutionary

    This archetype has been banging around my head for some time. The ability of words to inspire rebellion, to move nations, and to inspire people to be better is quite clear. Dungeons & Dragons kind of wraps this into the College of Whispers Bard, but that’s quite supernatural. The Rogue: Propagandist is mundane, based in historic examples such as Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin, as well as in certain versions of Assassin’s Creed.

    The design intent is to empower more play in urban and/or political campaigns. This attempt, which is essentially version 1.5, uses new mechanic for the rogue, one that demonstrates that people who publicly advocate for rebellion are often known, but still effective. The Propagandist most powerful abilities are powered by their Sneak Attack dice. This seemed to fit better than making them weak Bards in an Arcane Trickster variant like the Society of Veil and Shadows.

    Most of the lore description is removed from this pre-publication draft in order to focus on the mechanics, which are complex and new. The Swarm of Commoners and the Printing Press tool are just shells of what they will be in the future as well.

    Rogue: Propagandist

    Rebel and Pamphleteer

    You rose from the underbelly of empire to demand a better life for all. Your pamphlets and speeches can inspire hope, or fear. Whether from the soapbox or via playbill your proclamations turn the tides of rebellion or keep a government in power.

    Propagandist Features

    LevelAbility
    3rdWordsmith, Rabble Rousing
    9thProclamations
    13thGrand Voice
    17thMaster Essayist

    Wordsmith

    When you choose this archetype at 3rd level you gain proficiency with the Printing Press and a skill from the following list — History, Investigation, Insight, Deception, Persuasion, and/or Performance.

    In addition you learn one language of your choice.

    At 6th level you may choose the Printing Press for your expertise option.

    Rabble Rousing

    Your words inspire rebellion. You are able to summon a Swarm of Commoners. These commoners are allied with your cause, but are not willing to die for it. You spend an active Sneak Attack die for each use of this ability per short rest. The number of dice used determine how many Swarms you summon. Rabble Rousing takes a minimum 10 minutes to activate via speech, pamphlet, or other communication. The Swarm is summoned at a time and location where some commoners could be expected. The Swarm of Commoners has advantage on saves versus fear and are considered under the effects of the Charmed condition.

    Proclamations

    To issue a Proclamation you spend at least ten minutes creating a pamphlet, playbill, speech, cartoon, etc. These Proclamations grant bonuses to those who experience their call. Those bonuses are equal to the number of Sneak Attack dice spent at the time of proclamation (Proclamation Bonus). The Proclamations’ influence extends to a number of subjects determined by the proficiency bonus + ability score modifier in the skill or tool used to deliver the proclamation. The proclamation can be delivered via speech (Persuasion, Deception, Performance), pamphlet (Printing Press), or cartoon (Calligrapher’s Tools, Painter’s Tools). A tool would use Intelligence (i.e. a 9th level Propagandist with an INT of 14 issuing a Proclamation of Safe Haven via a pamphlet would grant 6 readers the benefits of Safe Haven).

    Proclamations that require a save do so against a DC determined by 8 + Proficiency and Intelligence Bonus.

    List of Proclamations

    • Unrest – A number of Swarm of Commoners determined by the spent Sneak Attack dice gain a Proclamation Bonus of temporary HPs and gain the same bonus to damage rolls. These Swarms will attack on the Propagandist’s initiative roll minus 10. The Proclamation inspires a rebellion.
    • Rally – Subjects regain hit points in the number of the spent Sneak Attack dice plus a Proclamation Bonus (ie. 2d6+6) as these Proclamations rebuild the morale of wounded forces.
    • Urgency – Subjects gain a Proclamation Bonus to their next initiative roll. Subjects are eager to join the fight.
    • Power – Subjects gain a Proclamation Bonus to their damage rolls during their next combat. Those attentive to the Proclamation recognize that they are powerful.
    • Warning – Subjects fall under the Frightened condition if they fail a Wisdom Save versus your Proclamation DC. They are wary of the forces working against them, afraid of any Swarm of Commoners and/or the Propagandist. They are overcome with this fear for one hour.
    • Safe Haven – Subjects are able to gain the benefits of a short rest via the calming words of the Proclamation.

    Grand Voice

    Beginning at 13th level your words can invigorate your allies. You can use a Reaction to have an ally reroll a failed Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw. You have a proficiency bonus number of uses of this ability per long rest.

    At 17th level you may also remove one level of Exhaustion via your Grand Voice, as long as the level of Exhaustion is not level 5 or 6. You may only remove one level of Exhaustion per ally in this manner.

    Master Essayist

    The strength of your words lasts. At 17th level any of your Proclamations (except Safe Haven) issued using a Printing Press grant their benefits/disadvantages until the target takes a short rest.

    Swarm of Commoners

    Huge, Neutral

    • Armor Class 10
    • Hit Points 21 (6d6)
    • Speed 20
    STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
    10 (0)10 (0)10 (0)10 (0)10 (0)10 (0)
    • Saving Throws
    • Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
    • Condition Immunities 
    • Senses Passive Perception 10
    • Languages Common (or 1 language of a peoples)
    • Challenge Rating

    Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa. The swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Medium commoner. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points except via Proclamations.

    Actions

    Club. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, Reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (3d4) bludgeoning damage. This attack assumes multiple commoners are attacking as one.

    The Swarm of Commoners can be adjusted if made up of a single humanoid race. Usually their weapons are clubs, but in some cases they may all use a specific simple weapon.

    Any ally of the Propagandist, or the Propagandist themselves, that attacks from within the Swarm of Commoners has advantage on their attacks. They may also use the Swarm for half-cover, attempt a Stealth/Deception check as a bonus action. Upon a success the individual within the Swarm of Commoners is considered invisible.

    Printing Press (tool)

    These are the necessary tools to create pamphlets, books, and playbills. The press itself is too large for adventuring, but you would still have ink, a sheaf of paper, scissors, a few letter blocks and one or two signet blocks.

    Thoughts?

  • Whistle of Az and Sel for the Blog Carnival

    Whistle of Az and Sel for the Blog Carnival

    Within the World of the Everflow every thinking peoples from the Land of Kin bonds with an animal. The most common of these are dogs (especially among halflings), birds (especially among goliaths), and horses (especially among humans). These beasts are family, inseparable companion, and essentially an extension of that person. They share personality and aid each other throughout their shared lives.

    This intimate companionship started after magic left the world. Now, the norm, bonding started with Az, his dog Sel, and a three-hole pipe. Together they created more and more and more and more and more bondings. Eventually this drove Az mad, for the thoughts of 100s of beasts were in his head. What was to be a blessing from one of the gods, turned into a curse for young Az. As he aged, the nation of Azsel formed around Az and Sel. Their whistle becoming the symbol of the nation, it was once under guard as a holy relic. Over the millennia the whistle disappeared. The power of bondings spread beyond what the Whistle started. Companionship is now so common that few consider it magical.

    Many also think legend of Az and Sel is merely a story, not real. But the Whistle of Az and Sel is in fact real, and dangerous, for the curse will drive you as mad. If any have found the Whistle in the current era they are not making that discovery public.

    This is my latest entry for the Blog Carnival.

    David, as a young man, playing pipe and bell as he watches his sheep in the pasture. – The Morgan Bible, Folio 25

    Whistle of Az and Sel

    Wondrous Item, artifact, cursed (requires attunement)

    When playing the Whistle of Az and Sel the user can cast the following spells at will, without expending a charge and as a bonus action. These require no spell components nor concentration if that is normally required.

    • Animal Friendship
    • Beast Bond
    • Speak with Animals
    • Animal Messenger
    • Locate Animals
    • Summon Beast
    • Conjure Animals
    • Dominate Beast
    • Commune with Nature
    • Druid Grove

    This power comes with a cost. That cost varies by user.

    When one attunes with the Whistle of Az and Sel they experience two minor and one major detrimental properties. They also suffer from one long-term madness upon attuning and indefinite madness for as long as they are attuned (see DMG page 260). This cursed item requires a quest from a god or powerful magic to be unattuned.

  • Lore Collage: Dungeons and Dragons movie gathers cast

    Lore Collage: Dungeons and Dragons movie gathers cast

    With a week away from collaging about Dungeon lore and Dragon news, this collation of links, videos, podcasts, and maps is bigger than every. It may be the last in the weekly collection. They are becoming too hefty. Maybe a scheduled day for the major topics of the Collage makes more sense? We’ll see.

    With D&D bringing back the official blog it’s interesting to think about how the game that is word-centric has most online discussion via videos and podcasts. The new blog will help fuel conversations across all mediums.

    If you’ve ever wanted to play a carnival barker or newsie you had to reskin other backgrounds. Until now. The Crier/Herald/Barker is what you are looking for.

    I started listening to The Black Dice Society because I wanted to prepare for Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. What wound up happening is me discovering a layered horror show with excellent characterization and a creep factor that hits me just right.

    There’s more dragons in your dungeons, if you want them.

    A green die with black ink rests on a log showing the 20 face. Background has river rock, a river, and a forest all out of focus.

    Official D&D Product Releases and Reviews

    Dungeons & Dragons Movie News

    Casting Regé-Jean Page means near weekly mentions of D&D in mainstream film and TV discussions. Page’s star couldn’t be rising faster, and there’s d20s chasing him. Page and the cast are already showing up in Belfast to start filming. Some scenery shots were already filmed in Iceland too.

    Emerging phenom Chloe Coleman joins the ensemble. Coleman already has twice as many credits as she is years old. She’s 12.

    Just so you don’t forget, the Derek Kolstad TV project isn’t the only D&D TV project. It is merely the only one with a known personality attached to it.

    Yawning Portal Opens for Virtual Weekend Play May 7-9

    Play more D&D

    Draconic Options Unearthed Arcana

    Wizards of the Coast is testing three new versions of Dragonborn, a new Kobold, a few Feats, and seven spells. I enjoyed most of the stories behind these, but feel that uncoupling the PHB and Volo’s versions of these races is a mistake.

    Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft Previews

    The latest issue of Dragon+ is dedicated to the mists of Ravenloft. Lore You Should Know continues their dive into the subject too.

    Of course, Black Dice Society is another introduction to Ravenloft, but so much more. Yes, that’s a second plug for my own article.

    Third-Party Products

    ThinkDM has a review of MCDM’s Illrigger, their first custom class. It’s an evil leaning class that has some flavors similar to Paladins, Warlocks, and blood magic.

    Auroboros: Coils of the Serpent is the heavy metal, overpowered D&D setting from the creator of Warcraft. The Kickstarter will hit One Million Dollars shortly.

    Advice for Dungeons & Dragons Payers and DMs

    An oldie, but a goodie – Paths Peculiar goes to in-depth into creating your own world.

    ThinkDM expands on the discussion of the Illrigger. The class may echo other class themes, but takes a unique mechanical approach that amplifies the story elements.

    The dump stat of 5e – Intelligence. Maybe the players need to act like their characters aren’t smart?

    These character sheets will be added to my collection.

    Shifting from language to culture is one of my key desires in 5th edition. There are more stories available to tell if we empower our players to understand both, not just scribbles on a page. So how do you make quickly understandable cultures? Like this.

    Calendaring is the number one death of any D&D campaign. One way to reduce that impact is through Duet-play. That style does take an even more character-centric approach to design, luckily the experts at Duet have a guide for you.

    Playing D&D in Civic Spaces During the Pandemic

    The Kamloops, B.C., public library is hosting Geek Week. Yes, there’s lots of D&D and D&D adjacent stuff to do.

    Also up in Canada, this time Ottawa, the Putnam County Library is putting together a D&D group starting May 25.

    Dungeons & Dragons is Mainstream Now

    One-act plays about D&D getting Kennedy Center Awards, even if regional, is not a thing I ever expected to discover. | MCC’s Robert O’Brien honored by the Kennedy Center for playwriting – Mesa Legend

    As the pandemic continues to impact college life students continue to turn to role-playing games for social interaction. | How “Dungeons and Dragons” Serves as a Socially Healthy Pastime – Indiana Stateman

    “Blood of the Paladin” is a novelization that combines D&D and real life. | Novel Illustrates Life With Hemophilia, Dungeons and Dragons – Hemophilia Today

    There may be a campus that doesn’t have an active D&D community during the pandemic, but at this point that’s doubtful. | Athens and UGA Dungeons & Dragons groups adventure through pandemic – The Red & Black

    The Satanic Panic closed D&D to so many. The pandemic opened the game back up to them. | Yeah, I Play. You? Check Out My Dungeons & Dragons Alter-Ego – Mix 93.1 FM

    D&D is too often seen as an American phenomena. That’s lazy. The game is popular throughout the English speaking world with it continuing to rebuild in Spanish, Portuguese, German-speaking countries and more. | Rolling with it: Ottawa’s Dungeons and Dragons community thriving online – Capital Current

    Other Geek Stuff

    Polygon previews the best board and role-playing games of Spring.

    Austin’s The Fiery Talon is a pop-up fried chicken/D&D restaurant.

    Remember when everyone in geekdom, and mainstream, cared about Game of Thrones and now no one does? It’s ten years old and the world has forgotten.

    Are you a comics fan that’s into D&D? IDW has a Humble Bunble of up to 100 titles starting at just 1$.

    Amazon Prime’s Second Age telling of JRR Tolkien’s saga of The Rings will cost over $465 million in season one. To put that in some perspective that’s more than WandaVision and The Mandalorian season ones, combined. We are in peak fantasy in TV and movies.

    There are lighter fantasy tales to tell. Wanderhome is an RPG about sentient animal folk living lives that aren’t necessarily violent, but still quite dramatic.

    Strixhaven Draft Guide
    Someone needs to invite me into a Strixhaven D&D campaign, because that world s amazing.

    I owe Jeff a review of Blue Planet: Recontact still. For now, here’s an interview about the sci-fi setting that combines David Brin’s Uplift world with heavy doses of environmental stewardship.

    As Always, Maps

    Your next trip to the feywild or Domains of Dread needs a dungeon where you are going both up and down at the same time.

    Who wants to move here?

    The adventuring party discovers this city. What’s up with the inverted pyramid?

  • The Black Dice Society is more than an introduction to the Domains of Dread

    The Black Dice Society is more than an introduction to the Domains of Dread

    Unfamiliar with the Domains of Dread, besides a short dip into Barovia back in my original gaming group’s Interview with a Vampire phase, I’ve been drinking up the recent Lore You Should Know segments in Dragontalk, which helps. But, as a pandemic-retired DM and current player it helps to see the different angles to horror. The Black Dice Society does that.

    The show involves an intricate plot, with dream sequences and appearances by various Darklords who are pushing the characters through the mists, using them as pawns in the struggles between various Domains. Those Lords of Dread are ever present, even if merely as shadowy figures that the characters know could interfere with their lives and hopes. Sometimes they are much more than that.

    Within BDS is a group of characters who have grown up within the Domains and those who are from “normal” places. This dynamic leads to some characters having powers that are a bit creepy for the normies. This twist helps immerse the viewer or listener in the Mists. You are made as uncomfortable as the characters, who roleplay this quite well. As the group bands together these outsiders will become familiar with each other, but until then there will be a bit more creepy factor that is unusual within streamed shows. This dynamic is perfect for the story and genre of Black Dice Society.

    The whole thing is horror, PG-13 horror. Fear is ever present. Death and afterlife are significant themes. B.Dave Walters has crafted a tale that is much more complex than my other listens (NADDPod, D20 Dames). The buy-in from the players helps create a tale that is full of apprehension and unease.

    Then he spins another story over the PCs, creating a dizzying disquiet Walters has the Darklords observing. Their plots and treatment of the PCs as potential minions keeps a watcher-listener worried about betrayal. There is a sense of cosmic horror because they are all just so puny against those that rule the Domains. So far, the balance has allowed success with a constant fear of failure. That delicate string could break at any time.

    And that’s why I keep watching. What started as a desire for me to learn more about Ravenloft became an attachment to the story. What started as background audio is now foreground audio – no longer my second screen, but my first.

    How to Watch: Playlist of The Black Dice Society on YouTube

    It’s live on Twitch.TV/DnD on Thursday, without interfering with your Critical Role schedule. You can also catch up on the D&D YouTube channel.

    That’s their session 0.5 at GaryCon and a link to the full official D&D playlist for The Black Dice Society.

    Cast of Characters

    • B.Dave Walters – DM
    • Deejay Knight – Desmond, a human Ranger or light Fighter
    • Tanya DePass – Fen, a Bloodhunter dhampir drow
    • Becca Scott – Tatyana, a genasi Barbarian
    • Saige Ryan – Valentine, a reborn abberant mind Sorcerer
    • Mark Meer – Brother Uriah, a Cleric of the Grave
    • Nora Ibrahim – Nahara, a reborn fallen aasimar Warlock
    via their twitter

    How to Follow The Black Dice Society on Social

    Their billboard with Patreon, social links, and a way to buy dice inspired by the show.

  • Meet Amadin the Barker, including a new 5e D&D Background

    Meet Amadin the Barker, including a new 5e D&D Background

    From the Greatest Showman, to Newsies, to the nameless town criers belting out “Hear ye, Hear ye” the fiction that inspires our gaming has included symbols of governments, news guilds, carnivals, circuses, and religious orders in the streets are regularly part of the scenery. Some of these people would be dragged into heroic adventures.

    Amadin the Barker is one of these. Originally a barker for a travelling carnival, this fey hobgoblin fits within the normal world because of the cover of the carnival. Their uncommon lineage belongs among the strongmen who aren’t strong, the acrobatic performers, the owlbear trainers, and the oracles without magic.

    Created through a series of polls and prompts on Twitter, Amadin the Barker is discovered to be a Blessed Warrior Paladin of Redemption. They are generally peaceful, able to help their circus make money, prevent serious loss of live, and work to redeem themselves.

    Peace. Innocence. Patience. Wisdom.

    They swear upon these values. Sure, they are a warrior when needed. Those needs are rare. Amadin’s greatest tool is their booming voice and their desire to help the peoples who took them in when they were a stranger.

    laaaadeees and geenntleemeeen, step right up and see the most amazing art show in the world by Robert Couse-Baker (CC BY 2.0)

    Amadin the Barker

    Constitution +3Fey Hobgoblin, Paladin of Redemption (3)
    Strength -1Carnival Barker | Into crochet, not good at it
    Fine Clothes, rarely a Chain ShirtGhesh Province
    StaffSincere, Confident
    Comfortable, penny pincherAshamed, Judgmental
    This uses the Index Card version of NPCs for Social and Exploration Encounters

    If you want the full PC version of this community character Amadin is over at DnDBeyond, as are all of the community characters built via polls and interactions on my twitter account.

    Amadin is an example of a carnival barker, town crier, or herald. This new Background is part of my ever-percolating project Before We Were Heroes. Unlike the Remarkable Drudge, there is no cantrip or new tool for the Crier.

    Crier/Herald/Barker

    Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion
    Tool Proficiencies: None
    Languages: Two of your choice
    Equipment: A noisy instrument (bell, gong, horn, drum), fine clothes (a Barker should have a costume), common clothes, scroll case, 3 sheets of parchment, quill, jar of ink, 15 gp

    Feature: You Will Hear Me

    When in a crowd, or during a heated discussion, your words always break through the background noise. When you shout out, or clap, or ring the bell, etc., the attention of the multitudes shifts to the Crier/Herald/Barker who can make an appeal to them. Your pronouncements carry the weight and heft of your organization.

    Barker Design choices

    Skills: Persuasion was obvious. That’s where this background had to start. Their whole role in society is to convince people to do things. The other choice came down to Insight or History. Insight made sense because reading a crowd may be necessary, but History fits the idea that the symbol of an area’s governance or a news guild or a traveler would have this level of knowledge. If a campaign is using Culture rather than Language, drop History for Insight.

    Tools: One of the spaces I’m exploring is giving various Backgrounds tools that they possess that they aren’t necessarily proficient in – in this case a musical instrument. The Crier may use a gong to gain attention. They don’t need to know how to perform a musical piece.

    Languages: With two more slots and the modern cosmopolitan nature of default D&D granting two languages makes sense.

    Equipment: The non-proficient instrument is a little note that some Criers need an assist before they gain attention of the masses. Most backgrounds do not include two sets of clothes. In the case of the Crier/Herald they should have fine clothes for official duties and look common when not. For a Barker replace the fine clothing with a costume, if you’d like.

    Feature: First off, yes, I modified the Sounder at Heart motto for this one. You Will Hear Me captures the feel of a person standing in the crowd and demanding attention. A character could use this as a distraction, or a rallying cry, or maybe as a way to start a charity drive. As always, the feature fits into social and exploration moments more so than combat.

    For personality attributes use Folk Hero, Scholar, Noble, or others that fit. The finished product, whenever it is done will include unique characteristics for all 40 or so Backgrounds.

    Custom Backgrounds for 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons

  • Wizards of the Coast brought the D&D blog back and it’s conversation fuel

    Wizards of the Coast brought the D&D blog back and it’s conversation fuel

    I love blogging. It’s been a huge part of my identity and part of my profession from 2008 to the present day (with the largest exception being the first few months of pandemic furlough). D&D blogging is in an interesting space – most of the conversation is happening on reddit, via video, or sectioned off into various closed systems like Patreon. And most of those conversations are about the happenings at a specific table, not the broader game.

    With Wizards of the Coast bringing back the official Dungeons & Dragons blog that may shift, even if just a bit. There’s so much fuel for longer conversations that do not translate well to modern social.

    This first blog entry in the resurrected kingdom of D&D blogging is from Ray Winninger, and the focus is on the D&D Studio and what it does. tl;dr – it is in charge of the tabletop game, and works with other versions of D&D to make certain that they maintain the flavor and notes that make D&D D&D.

    But, hidden within each of the section are a bunch of interesting notes about the structure of the team, how they design products, and what they are working on.

    Product Pitches

    These are all from internal submissions. No outside personnel participate. Those projects that move forward get a Product Lead. The current Leads are Jeremy Crawford, Amanda Hamon, Chris Perkins, Wes Schneider, and James Wyatt. From their past works within 5e we know what types of primary products most of those work on, and by the end of the year we’ll have an example for each.

    • Crawford – rules expansions
    • Perkins – adventures
    • Schneider – horror
    • Wyatt – world building
    • Hamon – an upcoming product not yet announced. Her experience with Kobold Press could mean magic or setting while her experience with Paizo could mean space fantasy. Or it could be something different. The conversation fuel is great.

    By design, we develop almost twice as many products as we publish. Developing more projects than needed allows us to pick and choose based on how those projects progress; it’s a strategy we use to boost the odds of bringing only the very best concepts to market.

    From the blog

    Within those glassed-in halls of south Renton are a couple dozen near-finished projects that sit in dark dungeons guarded by dragons.

    Five Major Releases in 2021

    • Candlekeep Mysteries is already out. I’m avoiding most of the adventures because I expect to play in a few one shots. Still, I own the book because I wanted to support the new creators.
    • Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft is coming out in mid May, just in time for my birthday. As someone who doesn’t know the Domains of Dread beyond Barovia, I’ve started to expand my knowledge through The Black Dice Society.
    • Unannounced summer adventure with Perkins as lead.
    • Unannounced Wyatt lead project that is a Winninger pitch.
    • Unannounced Hamon pitch and project, her first on the team.

    A book project takes 12+ months to go from pitch to release. They’re also working on developing more leads. The growth of the game spurred by 5e and supercharged by the pandemic is leading to a higher output of product than the early years of 5e indicated would happen.

    With this first entry being from the head of the D&D Studio there’s a lot of high level information. Since, by nature, a blog is throughput from the passions and mind of an author to their audience, each entry will be a reflection of the primary author, carved and shaped by their editor.

    Not only will the official blog provide inspiration for further conversation among fans, it is another route to learning about the people behind the game. For those of us that are readers it is a piece that helps us use a second screen while other things are on the primary one (whereas video streams tend to need to be the primary screen).

    What’s up next? We can only guess and talk about our theories.

  • Unearthed Arcana expands playable dragons – lacks playable dungeons

    Unearthed Arcana expands playable dragons – lacks playable dungeons

    The latest drop of Unearthed Arcana is another exploration of Draconic options – this time lineages, feats, and spells. Previously the Dungeons & Dragons team explored a Monk: Way of the Ascendant Dragon and a Ranger: Drakewarden.

    The UA also reminds readers that everyone gets a floating +2&+1 or three floating +1 with two languages (Common and one other being recommended).

    This review of UA will include bolded statements of what I like, what I would change, and what I dislike but can’t think of how to fix.

    Dragonborn

    Fifth edition D&D already has two sets of Dragonborn, one in the Player’s Handbook and another in Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, the Critical Role book. Soon, there will be even more Draconic races, as the new set splits Dragonborn into the subsets – chromatic, metallic, gem. This Unearthed Arcana is also an expansion of Kobold options, as they were previously released in Volo’s Guide to Monsters.

    For all three there is a small boost in power for the breath weapon. This was needed. The PHB Dragonborn breath weapon wasn’t able to be used enough for it to serve a purpose. Having it be an attack replacement grants some great options for martial players after tier 1 play. Rather than 1 bonus action per rest (short or long) the UA version gets proficiency bonus number of uses per long rest. This is true for all three of the new subraces. They also increase damage from 2d6 with tier scaling to 2d8 with tier scaling. I like this.

    Chromatic

    Their breath weapon is a line, which is a switch for green and red dragonborn.

    At third level they gain the ability to be immune to the energy connected to their draconic origin. This ten minutes at once ability can help ahead of a combat encounter, but is also quite handy for some exploration challenges. It’s a fun little bit of story creep too. I like this.

    Metallic

    Their breath weapon is a cone, which is a switch for brass, bronze, and copper.

    Their third level boost is a secondary breath weapon that they can use once per long rest. There is a choice of two effects – a push and or kind of knock-out gas that incapacitates targets. These are both fine.

    Gem

    Previously gem dragonborn weren’t a thing, and as someone who didn’t get into gem dragons, this section is a lot of new ground. The various gems connect to new damage types (force, radiant, psychic, thunder, necrotic). As all gem dragons are connected to psionics these dragonborn gain the ability to telepathically communicate with a single creature within 30′, as long as they share a language. I like this cool boost.

    At third level they get this weird ability to fly by being surrounded by spectral gems. I don’t like this.

    Kobolds

    The kobolds in Volo’s have two negatives – their strength is reduced and they have sunlight sensitivity. The new draconic versions of kobolds suffer from neither of these.

    But the new kobolds also don’t get Grovel, Cower, and Beg (ok), nor do they get Pack Tactics (boo).

    The draconic versions get to choose between three abilities.

    • Advantage on saves versus fear. I like this.
    • A sorcerer cantrip. I like this because it connects them to the Volo’s monster kobold sorcerer.
    • An unarmed strike with the tail. I would change this strike to be finesse, so that dex builds could benefit.

    They also can roar. I don’t like this.

    I would rather the playable kobolds lean into the variant kobolds like dragonshields, winged, and inventors. Further connections between kobold culture and playable kobolds would be wonderful.

    Feats

    The new feats are about granting non-dragonborn a small lean into the powers and abilities of various dragons. This part is cool, but because they are each a different feat that means your character could take each feat once picking up a bit of chromatic, gem, and metallic. I don’t like this.

    Spells

    There are seven new spells that range from level 2 to 7. Four of them are named spells, with three carrying iconic names from the Forgotten Realms and one from Dragonlance. All are available to sorcerers and wizards, with a few being open to other casters.

    Draconic Transformation is a way to be nearly a dragon.

    Fizban’s Platinum Shield is a potent protective spell.

    Flame Stride is a movement boost that burns people as you pass them.

    Icingdeath’s Frost is a cone blast that covers the target in an ice shell.

    Nathair’s Mischief is a cube (yuck) that is rather fey in its behavior.

    Raulothim’s Psychic Lance is a piercing blast that has an interesting known name twist.

    Summon Draconic Spirit follows the new summons from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, and is a dragon.

    I like the story behind the spells and hope that Awf can add the Icingdeath’s Frost and Flame Stride to his known spell list. A Bladesinger running through traffic with flaming feat is a great image.

    Overall there’s a lot of flavor in these, but similar to the Fey UA, there is a clear need to fold the earlier releases and this next book together. There are competing versions of Orc, Hobgoblin, Dragonborn, and Kobold now. These would make more sense as subraces in a book, or digital version, that is consolidated with all the changes, shifts, and combinations.

  • Lore Collage: Virtual Play is this weekend

    Lore Collage: Virtual Play is this weekend

    There’s a ton of cool animals in the real world that should be your companion or familiar. Dogs, cats, and owls are tiring. Instead go with tiny little ‘saurs that look like flying porgs.

    Embrace NPCs that have bad vision. Orne Willowrush is ready for your campaign. He’s a dude that’s bad at fishing, but likes it. Wearing glasses Willowrush crafts fine barrels and can be found buying his friends beverages.

    Official D&D Product Releases and Reviews

    D&D Virtual Weekend This Weekend

    This weekend’s Virtual Play includes games in Portuguese, but stay tuned as there are often options in Spanish with some other languages also featured. As a reminder these are paid events. The DMs are the primary recipient of those funds. Dragon+ has more about Virtual Play.

    Dungeons & Dragons Movie News

    Paramount is delaying the D&D movie by a year-and-a-half. This is almost certainly due to the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic and how crowded the big-budget movie release schedule will be in 2022. The wide slate of TV shows has no announced delays. Derek Kolstad’s project is the only one with an announced showrunner at this time.

    Regé-Jean Page was nearly in an upcoming Superman project. One of the hottest (in demand) actors in Hollywood these days Page will be in the D&D movie. He won’t be in that Superman project, because some idiot seemed to think that Superman can’t be related to a Black man.d

    He’s also a popular pick as the next James Bond. Dude is in demand. He’s in D&D.

    eOne is also launching a gob of reality programming, none are D&D, yet.

    Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft Previews

    The latest Lore You Should Know is all about one of the reworked Domains of Dread.

    Third-Party Products

    Venture Maidens is the latest podcast to release their world as a sourcebook. Their DM is also the head of the book project, and that bodes quite well for the quality of the product. Celeste Conowitch has credits with Wizards of the Coast, Kobold Press, and is now with 2C Gaming. The Kickstarter is up through May 10.

    Solasta is nearly a ‘finished’ product. The D&D OGL video game is leaving early access. Solasta is more focused on the 5e D&D rules than the official games.

    Tribality reviews the upcoming character and scenery art generator Neverending. Finding a tool that you can use, that helps non-artists changes your table atmosphere. Toss those creators some money, because they earned it.

    Advice for Dungeons & Dragons Payers and DMs

    Every week Alphastream and Shawn Merwin go deeper and deeper into what Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything empowers players to do. Their podcast might be the only digital enterprise still talking about the dramatic story and rules expansion from last fall.

    Want to add the themes from Phillip K. Dick’s stories to your games? Screen Rant guides you through mashing up sci-fi with your fantasy.

    Game Rant goes over how to use Feats in 5th edition. For me, in my world, I enjoy granting Feats at first level. But I drop the power-gamey ones from the list of options. There is a lot of story creep available in 80% of Feats.

    Playing D&D in Civic Spaces During the Pandemic

    Whereas most libraries are hosting games to play, at the Topeka Library the focus is on teaching people how to play the game. They have a monthly series that focuses on specific aspects of play. Up next is Character and Combat.

    The Johnston Public Library, in upstate New York, is reopening to the public, and continuing virtual D&D for teens in two age groups.

    Saratoga Springs Public Library, in Florida, is hosting virtual D&D.

    Dungeons & Dragons is Mainstream Now

    D&D character art can be more than a hobby these days. | Fan art feature: Leilani Perriera and D&D – Savannah College of Art and Design Connector

    The ability to become a hero, no matter what holds you back in real life, is part of the powerful call of roleplaying. | Dungeons and Dragons Helps Me Live Without Duchenne for a Moment – Muscular Dystrophy News

    Other Geek Stuff

    If you missed Coyote & Crow’s Kickstarter, they have a late backer option now.

    We live in the future – and in the future there are lightsabers that work.

    Polygon’s board game shopping guide is a great reminder that Summer should involve games with friends on a deck or patio.

    The City of Dragons is celebrating the birth of Erasmus. Downtown Renton, the home of Wizards of the Coast, is celebrating hatchday on April 17.

    Shadow and Bone is the latest fantasy series to get a TV deal. Go behind the scenes in this story that discusses how the books were translated to screen.

    Washington State is flooded with RPG designers, don’t ignore the talent in the board game side of our hobby.

    The best board games of 2021, according to American designers.

    As Always, Maps

    Add fjords and mountains carved by gods to your game.

    This map has an old school styling to it. I want to move to this town.

  • Orne Willowrush – an NPC for your adventuring needs

    Orne Willowrush – an NPC for your adventuring needs

    Opening up an NPC creation series with a character I should have made ages ago – one with glasses. If you don’t know me, I’m basically finger-blind. Without glasses or contacts I am unable to count how many fingers you would be holding up if you are more than a couple feet away from me. And yet, I never have played a character or NPC with glasses. I actively avoided it.

    After reading Deven Rue’s recent post about embracing characters with vision impairment or blindness I decided that needed to change.

    Heading over to DM Heroes, I hit the random button until it turned up a character with glasses. Then, it was about creating a character with an interesting background who was not a quest giver. Because as Rue says, “Make us non-quest related. Just people in your world. Living. Existing.”

    Meet Orne Willowrush

    This image shows the bust of an older male halfling with somewhat receding grey hair that is swept back. He wears glasses and has a thin mustache. His clothing looks like it could be a rough robe or shawl shirt. It is light brown.
    Created using DM Heroes one of my favorite NPC art tools

    First up is a Simple Index Card Version of an NPC. These are designed so with just a few words you can know who an NPC is from a basic description of appearance, to some basic motivations. In Willowrush’s case he’s a former soldier who once fought for the realm, but now works as a cooper. In my deep belief that everyone in your D&D world should have a hobby he is a fisher. He is not skilled in fishing though. He just enjoys doing the calmness of fishing with his friends. He can get dreamy about his past, but also doesn’t like to talk about it. Orne recently lost his beaver – Tryn. He’s just newly bonded with an otter – Orla.

    Orne’s best friend is a librarian named Incirion Vadu, a goblin. You can often find them at the river together, ignoring work. Incirion knows Mending, and will often have an extra pair of glasses for Orne.

    Orne Willowrush

    Dexterity, Strength +1Stout Halfling, Conscript Fighter (3)
    Constitution, Charisma -1Cooper | Woodworking Tools, Fisher’s Tools
    Padded Armor, Common Clothes, Glasses, OtterWinestar, Lemplet Place
    Staff, adzeWants to relive past glories
    Modest lifestyle, and will buy you a glass of wineDaydreamer, Reticent, Recently lost his beaver companion
    An otter peers out from a small cave.
    Photo by David Frazer on Pexels.com

    If you want him built as a fully playable character I’ve added him to my DnDBeyond Community Characters campaign. Orne on Beyond is a Scout rather than a Conscript, so as to not introduce new rules.

    Winestar, Lemplet Place

    A map of Lemplet Place, a fictitious town. The river runs from south to north into a bay. There are seven neighborhoods with three being inside or somewhat inside the walls. Main roads leave to the east, the west, and the northwest. There is a castle, a green, and a large temple.
    Built using the Medieval Fantasy City Generator

    Winestar is a neighborhood built along the rolling ridge of the Lemplet River. It’s a mix of farmsteads with a few crafts to support their needs. Most of the good produced enter the walled part of the city via barge or float. The Spring, across the river, is up on a cliffside, and is generally more wealthy than Winestar, especially those parts that are next to the castle walls. Within Winestar you will, of course, find many small vintners, with most of the homes at least having a passing hobby of wine creation. In general, Winestar produces luxury goods whereas Northroad is sustenance farming.

    Lemplet Place is a city of about 4,300 people.

    1. Blackbridge – known for the eponymous bridge, the downtown of Lemplet Place
    2. Tidewater Place – the slums, used to flood with high tide
    3. Castle Lemplet – originally built as a exterior castle, the city has grown around it
    4. Trollrock – the northern block surrounds a huge rock hill with a cave inside, no trolls though
    5. Northroad – sustenance farming
    6. Winestar – grapevines, orchards
    7. The Spring – for the wealthy that moved out of the city

    How will you use Orne Willowrush in your campaign?

    Fediverse Reactions
  • Lore Collage: D&D Virtual Weekend signups this week

    Lore Collage: D&D Virtual Weekend signups this week

    Before we get into the gossip around Page, Adventurer’s League, great D&D podcasts, and a video game where you can play D&D inside the game, I’m going to remind you that travel distances in D&D should be about time, not distance. Use leagues, use daylong journeys, and add to the immersive and simplified feel of 5th edition.

    If you need to run a naval skirmish with 2-6 ships on each side, here’s a rule set for you.

    Official D&D Product Releases and Reviews

    D&D Virtual Weekend Signups Start This Week

    On Virtual Weekends you can play in Adventurer’s League, or in custom worlds from professional DMs.

    Sign ups are live Tuesday. The event runs from April 16 to April 18.

    Dungeons & Dragons Movie News

    With Regé-Jean Page leaving Bridgerton, maybe for good, the Hollywood gossip and news services are all over where you can catch him next – in Dungeons & Dragons.

    • Variety
    • Insider
    • Like, it was everywhere. Snagging a rising star like that will get eOne and Paramount much attention.

    Candlekeep Mysteries Reviews

    Games Radar’s deep dive into the mini-adventure compilation.

    Music to accompany the Caponic Being adventure.

    Third-Party Products

    Heroes’ Feast continues to surprise and delight book reviewers around the world, to include my hometown paper, the Seattle Times.

    D&D Podcasts Besides Critical Role

    Almost everyone knows about Critical Role, but there’s many other Actual Plays and edited performances that deserve your earholes.

    Tech Radar has a Top 8. I love Not Another D&D Podcast which they have 5th. NADDPod also gets a plug at Pop.Inquirer.

    The Adventure Zone is running into issues of popularity – how big can your family be?

    Advice for Dungeons & Dragons Payers and DMs

    Think DM is correct. As designed the Haversack is an underperforming magic item.

    Deven Rue, a mapmaker you should be following already, has advice on how to create authentic characters that are blind or visually impaired.

    POC Gamer goes behind the curtain on how to design a short adventure.

    Playing D&D in Civic Spaces During the Pandemic

    Over in Tarrytown, New Jersey, a youth organization launched to keep kids creative during the covid-19 pandemic. They are, of course, using D&D as one of those paths.

    The Northland Public Library in Pittsburg is hosting a D&D game based around a sheep getting loose. A stellar start to a campaign that I’m going to borrow.

    The Klamath Oregon library system is up to three teen D&D sessions a week now.

    Over in Maryland, the Calvert County Library is the rare library running D&D for adults.

    All Ada public libraries in Idaho are hosting D&D these days.

    Dungeons & Dragons is Mainstream Now

    Local multiplayer video games, that’s ones where you are on the same couch using the same console and screen, are increasing popular during the pandemic. Like Dungeons & Dragons (mentioned in story) these games give you social interaction when it’s difficult. | It Takes Two proves that couch co-op games are back for good – Wired

    Stranger Things isn’t the only fiction world where D&D is featured. There’s a new book out where the D&D group is the star. | Book Talk: Cleveland author writes novel about LGBTQ role-playing club – Akron Beacon Journal

    You turn on your video game, take over that character, and then meet another character. You then start to play D&D with them?!?! Yeah, that’s meta, but it’s happening. | I Can’t Wait To Play Dungeons And Dragons With Steph Again In Life Is Strange: True Colors – The Gamer

    Financial advisors are bullish on Hasbro these days. The April 27th earnings call is of interest to them, primarily because of Wizards of the Coast. | 3 Reasons Hasbro Stock Is a Buy – The Motley Fool

    Other Geek Stuff

    The latest issue of Strange Horizons is Palestinian sci-fi, which combines two of my biggest passions in the world. If there was a story about soccer it would hit my trifecta.

    Russian TV made Lord of the Rings before Peter Jackson did. It’s a trip. Re-watch the Jackson version in theaters when it’s safe. That experience is worth reliving.

    Just because you don’t have a Rogue doesn’t mean that you can’t do what rogues do.

    New York City Comicon is going to allow people in attendance in October. They will also have virtual events.

    As Always, Maps

    Need a city or dungeon on the spur of the moment? Use your favorite shopping mall.

    How would your PCs solve the problem of a boat blocking the main shipping canal in your world?