Archives of Candlekeep: Psionics: The knowledge everyone hates
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety Four on 30th October 2019. Lennon: Hey Ostron, I have a question Ostron: No, it is not possible to use Peaches as a ramp for your bicycle if she angles her tail the right way. Ryu: No abusing my dinosaur! I will allow her to eat you! Lennon: Okay, that wasn’t the question, though thank you for ruining my fun once again. My actual question is why are we starting this short rest with psionics in 3rd edition? Doesn’t it make more sense to start with 1e? Ostron: Oh, well, psionics from 1st and 2nd edition had convoluted and problematic rules that make it fairly easy to see how the common complaints of “psionics is pointless” and “psionics is broken” began entering common usage. However as D&D continued to improve, so did psionics…usually. Mechanical balance was theoretically a more central focus of 3rd edition. That, along with the introduction of…
Archives of Candlekeep: Psionics: The knowledge you never knew you forgot
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety Three on 23rd October 2019. Ostron: Really? You guys really want to do this? Ryu: Look, everyone keeps going on and on about psionics- Ostron: I don’t. I try to avoid it, actually Lennon: Yes, but that’s the point; people don’t quite know why. What’s wrong with psionics, why is it such a touchy subject? Ostron: All right, fine, follow me. Libby: Book Ostron: Thanks. Here. Ryu: …why do you have all of this information summarized for us already? Ostron: Do you want to ask questions or do you want information? Lennon: Um…okay. Like 4th edition, spelljammer, and warlocks- Ryu: Oh will you give it up about warlocks already? Psionics is a topic that causes a lot of controversy in D&D. Interestingly enough, this literally goes all the way back to the beginning, as the original staff of TSR (the inventors of D&D) were divided about it. As far as our research beholders have verified,…
Gnomish Workshop: House Rules
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety Two on 9th October 2019. Ryu: Oh, hey! You’re awake! Ostron: It’s midafternoon, what were you expecting? And the Gnomish Workshop isn’t the safest place to take a nap anyway. Lennon: Yeah, but…I figured since this has to do with rules mechanics…so you really didn’t need to fire up ROSTRO for this one? Ostron: Well there really isn’t a lot of math or stuff from other rulesets. I mean if you think we’ll need it I can just – Ryu & Lennon: No! / Don’t need it / Don’t bother / we’re fine Ostron: Okay, well, I think I’ve got enough to go on here. Many people have pointed out, for a variety of reasons, that D&D 5th edition is a “rules light” system. While the 5th edition rules cover most situations that arise at the table, some feel the way situations are addressed can seem simplistic at times. For…
Archives of Candlekeep: Eberron Mechanics and Gameplay
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety One on 2nd October 2019. Mikey: Oooooh, this is what Ryu meant by “that big, magic-mechanical monstrosity starts using big words at us”! ROSTRO: While her intent with the labeling was no doubt pejorative, the choice of vocabulary was interestingly accurate. Mikey: … I see what she means. ROSTRO: I would also bring to your attention that given the topic being discussed, my participation could be considered verisimilitudinous. Lennon: Actually, that is a point. Huge machine run by magic is very Eberron. As we discussed previously, Eberron as a setting represents a significant departure from playing in the Forgotten Realms version of the game. However, lest you think everything was a lore shift that just allowed for dinosaur-riding halflings and people trudging up mountain pathways to seek wisdom from an orc, Eberron actually introduces some alternate rule mechanics to the game as well. We’ll start with the historical impact when…
Archives of Candlekeep: The Blood War
This article was first broadcast in Episode Ninety on 25th September 2019. Ryu: All right, so lets cover this again. The Blood War is not… Lennon: A thumb war where both people have pricked their thumbs. Ryu: And it’s also not Lennon: A water balloon fight where the balloons are filled with red-colored water. Ostron: Someone misinterpret the topic again? Lennon: Well are you going to tell us what the Blood War *is* then? Ostron: Gladly As we mentioned in our primer on the Nine Hells, Avernus is the front line in the eternal conflict between Devils and Demons known as the Blood War. For the most part, the aggressors are the demons, who are constantly trying to push out of the Abyss and assault the Nine Hells, and the Devils are reacting to these offensives and pushing them back, occasionally counterattacking and taking the fight to the Abyss. The war is mostly a cosmic stalemate. The demons are a…
Archives of Candlekeep: Eberron: Origin and Lore
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Nine on 18th September 2019. Ostron: Oh bright Pelor what are all those colors? *sound of knife throwing* Lennon: Aww Ryu! You cut the fuse! Though that was a good shot with the knife! Ryu: Thanks. And you’re not setting off fireworks in here. We said you could do a couple of short rests focused on Eberron, not throw a party! Lennon: You guys always ruin my fun! Ryu: Really? You want me to get the hat? Lennon: Even that couldn’t bring me down, I’m having a great time, this is wonderful! Let me just go get the notes. Ostron: Keep in mind, if those notes required an actual book binding, I’m setting them on fire before we even look at them. Lennon: Um…give me a minute…*sound of shuffling papers*…all right, these are my notes on the summary of the primer to the Eberron information. Ryu: This is…still a lot Ostron: To be fair,…
Archives of Candlekeep: Ambulatory Corpses
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Eight on 11th September 2019. ROSTRO: Please state the nature of the mathematical inquiry Ryu: First, you called us, second, what does this topic have to do with math? ROSTRO: The exercise involved more comparative analysis and referencing information from extraplanar sources than engaging in mathematical activities but my resources remained invaluable. It is also likely the handwritten note provided by Lennon was misinterpreted by Ostron. Ryu: Let me…oh by Eldath’s garden is this even written in Common? “Work…with…Gath…ahhh. Yeah, that “G” looks like an “M”. I don’t know how you managed that, but you did. Lennon: I am not blaming this on me ROSTRO: Might I propose we proceed with the analytical report. Lennon: Once more into the breach… Undead are an inexorable part of the D&D universe. The fact that one of the most well-known adventures across all editions of the game focuses on a vampire should be proof…
Archives of Candlekeep: The Nine Hells Primer
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Seven on 4th September 2019. Lennon: Ostron said he was in the Candlekeep annex? Ryu: Yeah, he wanted-…um Libby: Book Ryu: Yes, we can see you have a book Libby: Book Ostron: Just take the book, it’s easier. Lennon: Right, thank you…what was that about? Ostron: That’s Libby. Ryu: I didn’t know the research beholders started sharing their names? Ostron: That’s what Gath and I call it. A couple of weeks ago we noticed it was always in the annex. If you aren’t holding a book or a scroll when you’re in here it gets agitated and brings you one. Also if you keep one for more than an hour it brings you a different one and takes that one away. Libby: Book Ryu: Right, yes…oh hey this one’s on dragons! Ostron: Yeah, that’s why we haven’t done anything; it’s really good at finding relevant resources. I mean, it never puts the books back on the shelves,…
Unearthed Mundana: Actual Two Weapon Fighting
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Six on 28th August 2019. Ostron: Who switched off the lights in here — Lennon, why are you in a barrel, and Ryu, what did you just hide behind your back? Ryu: I didn’t break into the vault and get two swords for Lennon, if that’s what you’re asking. Ostron: Two swords? Ok, why? Lennon: Well… hang on, let me get out of this barrel… Well, all the talk of John Wick last week got me thinking of a cool character concept I want to play, but I thought I should practice dual-wielding first — you know, to get into character. Right, now, does anyone have a spare puppy? Oooookay, well, I’ll admit that fighting with two weapons is objectively cool. Whenever someone shows up in a book, show, or movie and they’re holding a sword in each hand, you know they’re a badass. (Or they’re a squire…
Adventurer’s Journal: Characters: Just make it up!
This article was first broadcast in Episode Eighty Five on 21st August 2019. Lennon: Ha! In your face ROSTRO RaeRae: You know it doesn’t have a face. Lennon: Whatever, the point is, I just created an entirely new race and class to play in D&D, and I didn’t have to touch my calculator once! Behold my Fire Giant Alchemical Archer! Ostron: Okay, so I’m assuming this is an Artificer with the Alchemist specialty and using a crossbow, that’s Unearthed Arcana but still valid, but Fire Giants aren’t a playable race. Is it balanced? Lennon: Pah! Forget balanced. There isn’t a single homebrewed rule in here. Ostron: That’s not possible. Lennon: It’s perfectly possible. You just have to use your imagination! One of the reasons a lot of people in the D&D community keep clamoring for new classes and devour homebrewed attempts on the DMs Guild is that they have an idea for a character that does things differently…