Gnomish Workshop: Monster Modification
This article was first broadcast in Episode Sixty on 6th February2019. Killer DM: Oh dear. Why is my favorite organ donor lying on the floor? If he’s dead and I didn’t kill him I will be very upset. ROSTRO: Inquiry. This situation has been explained previously. What is the source of confusion? Killer DM: Oooooh you’re all big and flashy. Are you that new thing Ryu’s been worried about? ROSTRO: Creature personality profile re-analyzed. Greetings. I am the Realized Oikumenatal Solution To Removing Obfuscation. You may refer to me as ROSTRO. I assist Ostron with more complex issues of a mathematical nature. Killer DM: I thought Ryu said we’re talking about how to create deadly encounters for high level characters. Surely Ostron doesn’t need help with that. ROSTRO: It is possible he received a post-hypnotic suggestion that mathematical analyses in the future should involve me regardless of complexity. Killer DM:…
Heroes Rise, fifty-ninth entry: No News is Good News?
Welcome, brave adventurers… to the fifty-ninth entry into our chronicle, recorded on Saturday, January 26th 2019, and released Wednesday, January 30th 2019 over at heroesrisepodcast.com
Unearthed Mundana: Imposter Syndrome
This article was first broadcast in Episode Fifty-Nine on 30th January 2019. “The psychological experience of believing that one’s accomplishments came about not through genuine ability, but as a result of having been lucky, having worked harder than others, or having manipulated other people’s impressions” Many, many people when they begin playing D&D or when they take on a new role within the game start to get pervasive feelings of doubt that don’t go away. In their head, they have a refrain going of “I don’t know what I’m doing,” “So many other people could do this better than I can,” “Everyone’s just humoring me until it all comes crashing down and they ask me not to come back” and similar, intrusive thoughts. All of those feelings are the result of what psychologists call “Impostor Syndrome”. Though every person is different, usually people with impostor syndrome convince themselves that they aren’t…
Archives of Candlekeep: Never Enough, the Story of the Hit Point
This article was first broadcast in Episode Twenty-Nine on 20th June 2018. Lennon: Holy mother of Avandra, that stings… Are you nearly done Ostron: Oh will you quit whining?! And hold still otherwise I can’t stitch it properly Lennon: I nearly lost an arm to that allegedly juvenile dragon Ryu: It was so pretty though. The way its scales glistened in the moonlight… Lennon: I’ve lost a *lot* of blood Ostron: Blood, yes. I’d be more concerned with losing Hit Points. Lennon: Yeah, though I don’t have a lot of those left either. But what does it mean to have a lot of hit points? Last time we talked about how Armor Class really only represents a miss chance, though that chance can take different forms. Hit points represent a character’s ability to survive, say, being stabbed by a sword, so if Person A dies when stabbed through the heart by a sword, does Person B with…
Getting Defensive: Armor Class
This article was first broadcast in Episode Twenty-Five on 23rd May 2018. Lennon: Ahh, there you are! What’re you doing down here in the basement? Ryu: Well, I’ve been flicking through Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, and I’ve gotta be honest I’m not sure I fancy our chances going up against those… things! Demons and devils, demogorgons and drow, it’s all gotten a little more dangerous. Lennon: So you’re hiding down here with a blanket? Ryu: What? NO! I just– Ostron: Ryu?! Ryu?! Lennon: I found her, she’s down here Ostron: Ahh, there you are! What’re you doing down here in the basement? Ryu: As I was just about to say to Lennon, I was just going through our armor and weapons and came across this old padding jerkin of my grandfather’s. He was an adventurer too, back in First Edition. Lennon: Oh it’s armor?! I thought it was a blanket! Ostron: Yeah, hard to believe that this would defend you against…
You Are What You Eat (or Drink)
This article was first broadcast in Episode Twenty-Two on 2nd May 2018. Boldan the Dragonslayer strode into the tavern; known throughout the land for his many heroic deeds, he had no shortage of tables offered to him. The tavern owner hurried over and asked, “Good master, whatever we can offer is yours! What would wish to dine on tonight?” Graciously nodding to his host, he replied, “Uh, I don’t know. Food, I guess? I should probably drink something too…” D&D is a game about heroes, villains, adventure, monsters, and magic. There can be so much epicness happening in a game it’s easy to forget that your characters are still people too. They eat, they drink, they sleep, they put their pants on one leg at a time…well, except for old Artalax and his trousers of efficiency +2 of course. Even though many players can tell you exactly what bonuses to…
Heroes Rise, twenty-first entry: Blacksmiths and Blackjack
Welcome, brave adventurers… to the twenty-first entry into the Heroes Rise chronicle. This episode was recorded on Saturday, 21st April 2018, and made available for download on Wednesday, 25th April 2018 at heroesrisepodcast.com
Heroes Rise, twentieth entry: The Lost and the Lonely
Welcome, brave adventurers … to the twentieth entry into the Heroes Rise chronicle. This episode was recorded on Saturday, 14th April 2018, and made available for download on Wednesday, 18th April 2018 at heroesrisepodcast.com
Alternate Rewards
This article was first broadcast in Episode Twenty on 18th April 2018. Ryu: So yeah, that last time the Killer DM killed Ostron pretty much wiped us out. The Cleric upped his rates Lennon: I told Ostron we’d have some gold for him because of the whole kidney thing Ryu: Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. Not all characters are played in the same way. That’s sort of a given unless the same person is controlling all of them, but we’re mostly talking about how characters deal with their bank accounts. While some characters will be able to stockpile money, looking for the chance to make a big purchase that will advance their character’s capabilities or status, others find themselves continually starved for coin. Wizards spend money to add spells to their spellbooks or craft scrolls, clerics buy powdered silver for the creation of holy water, and…
Heroes Rise, nineteenth entry: One Page To Rule Them All
Welcome, brave adventurers to the nineteenth entry into the Heroes Rise chronicle. This episode was recorded on Saturday, 7th April 2018, and made available for download on Wednesday, 11th April 2018 at heroesrisepodcast.com