A Smörgåsbord of Links

We’re less than 2 weeks from the Drowathon, the pre-gens are online, the 3d terrain all but finished, the player and monster minis set aside, player for certain table are already being selected…

But unfortunately, WotC haven’t teased anything else about the Rise of the Underdark story…

Don’t worry though, I’ve got a few links to share with you all!

First up are 2 sneak peeks of Shane’s 3d terrain, which uses sloped bricks that I don’t have the mold for: http://twitter.com/#!/Grami_WER/status/196263969760088067/photo/1 and http://twitter.com/#!/Grami_WER/status/196263916324663297/photo/1

I stumbled upon this fanfic written by someone who played the adventure at PAX (warning, SPOILERS!): https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Wq0ECkeaac9d-fk0QLgtlXEe4X1QN3N5IO_32wCwRIU

A reminder about the alternative Sun Never Rises event run by Efka in St Albans: http://chaoscitymagic.freeforums.org/underdark-first-assault-mini-convention-t175.html

The provisional details and booking form for @Brindy’s D&D Tweetup in Edinburgh: http://scotdndtweetup1.eventbrite.co.uk/

The Old Skull Inn

For DDI subscribers, the WotC website gives us a treat today, a tavern profile writeup in Dungoen of the Old Skull Inn, which we know will feature in the first of the Rise of the Underdark Encounters seasons, Web of the Spider Queen.

Get a heads up on the inn, its clientèle and the current rumours of Shadowdale here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/downloads/dungeon/201/dnd_dun_oldskullinn.pdf

Holy Flying Lair Assaults

Greg Bilsland (who is always a great bloke to deal with) just tweeted this little gem, presumably in relation to the 2nd Rise of the Underdark Lair Assaults, Kill The Wizard:

@GregBilsland: Preparing to playtest a Lair Assault that’ll be coming late this year. Need to read up on my flying rules. #dnd #lairassault

Mike Mearls mentioned us!!!

I organise and run the UK D&D Tweetup events on my own time, and absorb a lot of the cost myself (companies like to give freebies, but don’t always like to pay the shipping on them). I’m backed up my some really great people, including friends, companies, and of course Mondo Comico. I have a great time organising and running them, and theres often a lot of praise for what we put together and do on the day, but I always end up in a bit of a downer afterwards, wondering what could have been done to improve the event etc.

So imagine my surprise when Mike Mearls mentioned us in the announcement of the D&D Next playtest. Seeing those 3 words ‘UK D&D Tweetup’ sandwiched between D&D Experience and Pax East validates all the work we put into these events, and blows the doubts away.

But I don’t want to take the credit.

It goes to WotC for taking a chance on a small uk group of committed D&D Fans.

It goes to my team, people like Symatt, Paul, Mik, Shane, David @ Mondo Comico. Without these guys, I couldn’t make the events happen.

It goes to the companies who have supported us over the past few events, people like Esdevium, TOOI, Tritex-Games, Wicked Dice, Dice Shop Online, Otherworld Minis, and tons of others I’ve forgotten to mention.

And most importantly, without the UK scene taking the time out of their lives to come to these events, they wouldn’t exist at all. Thus, its you who deserve the biggest thanks!

THANKS!

 

Danifae Yauntyrr is Lolth?

Danifae Yauntyrr is a character from the War of the Spider Queen series, and is present at the end of the series, when the slumbering/weakened Lolth is reborn… By consuming/absorbing Danifae, Lolth was changed into her current form…

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Danifae_Yauntyrr

Todays Rule of Three

Todays Rule of Three post on the WotC site gives us a little more detail about Rise of the Underdark storyline

Deep in the Abyssal darkness of the Demonweb Pits, the goddess Lolth is spinning a web of deceit, treachery, and ambition. Her goal is to seize control of arcane magic—a position that has lain vacant since the death of Mystra a hundred years ago.

To facilitate this grasp for power, Lolth sent a prophet—Danifae Yauntyrr—to all the cities of the drow. Danifae is a fallen priest, a scoundrel, a seductress, and—if history is any guide—an avatar of Lolth herself. Danifae whispered to the leaders of all the great drow houses, spurring them to gather ancient power to aid Lolth’s ascent.

The drow are scouring the world for primordial relics (pieces of a dead or sleeping primordial), seeking out the remains of great wizards, gathering artifacts once sacred to Mystra, and fighting for control of magical locations on the world’s surface.

As the drow gather arcane energy and channel it to Lolth, her power grows. Her web extends to cover most of the world, forming a Demon Weave to replace the sundered Weave that Mystra maintained—a new fabric of arcane magic. With that, the priests and wizards who serve Lolth have access to greater power than ever before, and their task becomes to use it.

Across the surface world, Lolth’s servitors draw on the Demon Weave to create shrouds of darkness that cover league upon league of surface lands. Under this pall of darkness, the drow can move and fight freely during what would normally be daylight hours. With this aid, they can complete Lolth’s transformation and bring the world to ruin.

It also clues us in to a few more events and products linked to the storyline: The GenCon championship adventure – Dawn of Night, and online support in Dragon 413 and Dungoen 204 (3 issues away).

Dungeon Tiles?

Before I bought the official WotC dungeon tiles, or a wipe clean battlemat, or the Hirst Art molds, I used to use the Print-It-Yourself dungeon tiles from Skeleton Key Games, who just so happen to have an excellent Temple of The Spider Queen set: http://skeletonkeygames.rpgnow.com/product/3228/e-Adventure-Tiles%3A-Temple-of-the-Spider-Queen?it=1

These look stunning when printed, but can be a bugger to organise/layout on a gaming table.

Secrets and Hints from the Author

A few days ago, I was discussing the Sun Never Rises adventure with it’s author, Shawn Merwin:

@Adampageuk: I love the backgrounds for the pre-gens as well, and how they tie together. I want to play the adventure 6 times and try each one out!

@ShawnMerwin: Thanks. The two-hour time limit makes RP tough, but I think it’s doable. Also, save the mapwork. A later con adventure will use it!

I tried to question Shawn further but he kept quiet… until he tweeted this little gem last night…

@ShawnMerwin: I can now spell Menzoberranzan and Dareen Travaskyr without needing to check. We’ll call that a victory and not anything weird. #dnd #gencon

It seems like The Sun Never Rises won’t be the last we see of Her Divine Radiance… Lets hope the UK players don’t let her die…

A4 Character Sheets

The pre-gen sheets provided by WotC for Encounters are great, they are simple and attractive, but for someone like me with vision problems, they are a nightmare. I’ve adapted the pre-gens into my own double sided A4 format, with the powers full details and flavour text, and incorporated the background and personality notes for each character (it lacks the ‘thoughts/feelings’ section).

Enjoy

Belgos – Drow Hunter

Brandis – Human Cavalier

Jarren – Human Mage

Valenae – Eladrin Cleric

Keira – Elf Thief

Fargrim – Dwarf Slayer

Meet the DM’s – Shane

An easy first question to get you started, who are you and where are you from?

Shane Leahy (@Grami_WER), from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

How long have you beeninto roleplaying games?

I started back in 1984 when my father brought the rule book from the Red Box home. I have been playing since then. My primary love has always been D&D.

What systems do you usually play and do you usually play/DM?

Currently 4e is my primary game. Other ones get tossed in when it some else runs the game. In my usual group we rotate the GM position so currently I am playing in a D&D campaign. I am also DMing a group on Monday nights and I take my turn DMing Encounters though I am currently a player.

Whats your favourite D&D Campaign setting and why?

Greyhawk. It was the first campaign setting I had and so much history is tied into it. Though as much history as there is, you can still make it yours.

Whats your favourite individual adventure?

My favourite is I3 Pharaoh, though I have never had a chance to play it all the way through. My favourite that I have played, and have played several times is the classic Keep on the Borderlands.

How would you describe your DMing style?

• Its all about the combat
• The story rules all
• By the book, ma’am
• Improv is the key
• A general mix of the above

I believe a general mix when doing home campaigns. I try run games that appeal to the players so if they want more combat, then I try and give it to them. At teh end of the day, its all about having fun for everyone.