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Posted by Hawke at March 01. 2013 Additional Rulings:   > Practiced Spellcaster, page 82 of Complete Arcane. Prerequisite-spell craft > four ranks. Benefit-plus four to caster level for spell effects (not > spells/day or spells known). Would you be willing to let this apply to my > base level of spells, or would it affect the highest level I can cast the > spell at? > I think (correct me if this is incorrect), in order to be consistent with my previous ruling of base, but you have more flexibility, we would go with it increasing the highest level you can cast the spell at (with the added cost of spell points, and the higher DC for casting). --      

Posted by Hawke at March 15. 2013 Sorry for the last minute cancellation for the March 12th session due to family health emergency. He is doing better, but we're still keeping an eye on him. Prognosis is hopeful. Meanwhile, we will have the next regularly scheduled session, Tuesday, March 19th, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Monroe street office. See you all then!

ke at March 28. 2013 Meeting at Middle Village Buléh   The PC's gathered, for various reasons, within 24 hours of each other, at the middle village of Buléh (byoo-leh). This will be seen by the villagers as fortuitous and a good sign. The PC's first spent the time getting to know each other and the villagers, there was a great feast and celebration well into the night.   The Drugh's Plight The Drugh/Wose had to try to convince the PC's to take a brief detour from their original reasons for coming down here, and get them to help find and free the captured Drúedain. There are 4 captured Druedain still alive. The Drugh had seen 5 alive, from the original 8, but 3 were killed at their camp (as the Drugh as seen), and another has died along the trail from the abuse eventually killing him. The PC's found the body of one of the Drugh (Kor-t'san-Koth). Beaten to a bloody pulp, clearly dragged some distance, then clearly stomped upon many times, crushed into the ground. The body is rapidly decomposing, and torn at by various carrion animals, and insects. All but one of the PC's was happy to help, but one dwarf insisted "what's in it for me?", and was convinced when one of the elves talked one of the village leaders into bribing the dwarf (after negotiations) with 3 deer skins full of the local alcohol. Pursuing the Orcs The PC's followed the Drugh north to where the Druedain were attacked and later where the Wose broke off pursuit, they will find the trail veers back south-east, then south, then southwest. The orcs are clearly not hurrying. The Orcs aren't making any effort to hide their trail, chopping their way through the woods and killing wantonly along the way. A few days later, the PC's smell and soon see smoke in the forest, this is found to be coming from the smoke of Ossar village... The Massacre of Buléh Village By the time the PC's were less than a day behind the Orcs, they saw smoke over and through the trees and come across the smoldering ruins of Buléh. Most of the village warriors were slain, as well as the elderly (the lead elder was not here, instead at Hawaeur), and the youngest of the children,. There were indications that some children were taken prisoner. The total death count at Buléh village was: Elderly: 21 Chieftain: 1 Able-bodied Warriors/hunters: 9 Sick/injured: 4 Women: 17 Male children: 7 Female children: 13 Babies: 5 Total dead: 77 Some of the warriors were not there, since they were gone on a lengthy hunt.    

Posted by Hawke at March 28. 2013 When last we met... You had followed the trail of the orcs south-east, then south, then south-west, and finally curved back west to the village Buléh. You found everyone there slaughtered, and the village still burning. You found tracks indicating the orcs had taken a few survivors were taken. You did not find any Orc bodies. The total villager death count was total dead: 77. You found the rope bridge across the swift-flowing river was cut from the far side. After several ideas and efforts, you crossed by a combination of ropes and fallen trees. Your party separated for a bit. You came across a young girl face down in the road with her skull and neck split but still alive though mostly non-responsive. Your group rejoined. Your faintly heard orc laughter in the distance. You were debating what to do next. We rolled fatigue checks for each of you. If you do not rest, about half your party will have penalties for fatigue. Fortitude rolls: Failed: Rilyn, Elros, Hoda, Raven. It is night time, around 11:00 pm. The date is: Second Age, 1198 – 11:00 pm of the 26 th of August. Urui the 26 th , 11:00 pm.       The group came from the east, following the hacked orc trail. It opened up fro mthe woods to a clearing about 100 feet from the river. There was a ford there. The group tied up their horse, pony, and mule in the woods on the trail. Raven crept up to the edge of the woods and peered around, seeing three caves above the ford. The river above and below the ford was I na 30' deep sheer canyon on the east bank, and 50' high on the west bank. The group came out openly in their usual marching order along the trail heading to the ford. At about 50' from the ford, they stopped when they saw a humanoid figure lying on a rock on the furthest northwestern cave landing. The orcs are at a large penalty out in the sunlight. One has fallen asleep. The PC's from their current angle couldn't see the other 3 orcs (2 in front of the middle-height eastern cave, and 1 in front of the top cave midway between the other two caves).they started to veer north instead to stay out of sight of the (sleeping) guard. Josh's character madly charged for the cliff, leapt, and made it the 20' across to the opposite cliff face, successfully grabbed onto the cliff, and successfully climbed the additional 20' to the top! Then Raven threw his rope with grappling hook to Josh's, but fell short, and didn't grab the end of the rope, losing the rope and grappling hook into the raging torrent below. Huda threw his rope with grappling successfully across to Josh. Josh embedded into some rocks, then he crept southeast to peer carefullly over the cliff face overlooking the caves below.   Meanwhile Chris pulled out a piton and staked the other end of the rope in place.   Ryan tried crossing the rope, but fell halfway across. He took damage being banged against the rocks in the rapids, and failed to swim, so began drowing, and was knocked unconscious. Chris ran down stream to get Ryan's body at the ford. The Drugh accompanied him about 10 seconds later. Huda, Rob, and Jacob successfully crossed the rope and climbed the climbed the cliff to join Josh.   While Chris recovered Ryan's unconscious body, and tried (and failed) to revive him (and he failed to revive himself, not breathing, with lungs full of water), the others planned how to attack the orcs below. They now saw all 4 orc guards in front of the caves. They adjusted their position to be directly above the highest cave.   Meanwhile Mila helped Ryan start breathing again, he came back to consciousness about a minute later.   Lots of great action that didn't get caught on the camer unfortunately. They killed all 4 orcs outside. They killed 6 orcs inside that were initially sleeping. Josh's character slaughtered them horrifically. Wolfie and Jacob over by switch by bars. Dark beyond, no light, bars still locked. Rob by center of dead orcs by firepit. (Hole in ceiling but at an angle that comes out a long way away from where the actual den is (north east). Josh is in hallway (east of firepit). Gloating over slain orc that tried to get away. They heard simultaneously an orc running away, and then many orcs charging forward. Josh sees 9 orcs charging him. 1 orc had come running that was closer than the others that had heard the horn, but he saw the carnage, and the one orc running away that was splattered by Josh's character, and turned tail. Realizing they were in trouble, he is going to run east to the larger group of orcs as fast as Orcishly possible.. He will however see the mule, horse, and pony, and slit their throats. Meanwhile, Ryan's character, with Chris's and Miyo have just climbed the ladder up from the lower cave. They heard booted feet running away as they were climbing up. We stopped as the orcs were charging Josh's character, only 60' away (charge) contact for the leading 2-3 orcs. Will stop the chargbe of the other 6 due to space constraints. Some have bows, but only have melee weapons in hand.  

Posted by Hawke at March 28. 2013 Some rulings   Implement small stack of post-its for every player, to make note to themselves, or to pass to me. Reinforce about raising hand to speak. Everyone consented to having all game sessions recorded on audio and video. These videos will not be made public. Benefits: * I can go through later and write down the rules made on the fly. * Can write down events and plot aspects to keep track of for later building/resolution. * Helps me become a more effective GM/DM in the long run by observing how I’m GMing, and what areas I can improve * Helps other players if a player is unable to attend, I can arrange for them to view the video to catch up on the missed session..     RULING: If you buy armor, it includes the cost of helm of choice. Remember, no plat armor, but can have individual breast plate (Prince of Dol Amroth).   Character generation method: 4d6, take away lowest die. Roll this 6 times. Then a 7 th separate roll for Comeliness. Do 3 sets like this, then pick one set from the 3. Can assign the six rolls in any order to stats, but 7 th roll MUST go only to COM.   Dwarf = 40+d20 If want to be younger than average, then would have the immature stat adjustments as per PH/DMG.   Elf = physically start out the same as Men, but difference in maturity. D6 = 100 to 600 years old.   Explained folks need to raise their hand to talk to me whether in combat or to speak to me out of character. When speaking to other players once role-play has begun, a player needs to state if they are speaking out of character or not, if they are speaking to me or the other PC's. We will start with the ~60 second timer, and go up or down as needed. When speaking to other players once role-play has begun, a player needs to state if they are speaking out of character or not, if they are speaking to me or the other PC's. If race/culture or background option states bonus in Acrobatics = that is bonus to tumble, balance, climb, and jump.   Dwarves and Elves have the ability to imbue items with magic through special craft skills. As did the Numenoreans. Generally the mannish races did not (with exceptions like the Druedain, or specific branches of Men or descendants of Númenor).   Ruling regarding bows, composite, etc. Can use composite bow. Elves bonus only applies to Longbow, not composite.   RULING: Alcohol affects everything, not just Intelligence and Wisdom. As far as I am concerned, it impacts all stats and actions.   RULING: Fatigue affects all 6 stats.

Posted by Hawke at April 02. 2013 Notes from previous session: The group came from the east, following the hacked orc trail. It opened up fro mthe woods to a clearing about 100 feet from the river. There was a ford there. The group tied up their horse, pony, and mule in the woods on the trail. Raven crept up to the edge of the woods and peered around, seeing three caves above the ford. The river above and below the ford was I na 30' deep sheer canyon on the east bank, and 50' high on the west bank. The group came out openly in their usual marching order along the trail heading to the ford. At about 50' from the ford, they stopped when they saw a humanoid figure lying on a rock on the furthest northwestern cave landing. The orcs are at a large penalty out in the sunlight. One has fallen asleep. The PC's from their current angle couldn't see the other 3 orcs (2 in front of the middle-height eastern cave, and 1 in front of the top cave midway between the other two caves).they started to veer north instead to stay out of sight of the (sleeping) guard. Josh's character madly charged for the cliff, leapt, and made it the 20' across to the opposite cliff face, successfully grabbed onto the cliff, and successfully climbed the additional 20' to the top! Then Raven threw his rope with grappling hook to Josh's, but fell short, and didn't grab the end of the rope, losing the rope and grappling hook into the raging torrent below. Huda threw his rope with grappling successfully across to Josh. Josh embedded into some rocks, then he crept southeast to peer carefullly over the cliff face overlooking the caves below.   Meanwhile Chris pulled out a piton and staked the other end of the rope in place.   Ryan tried crossing the rope, but fell halfway across. He took damage being banged against the rocks in the rapids, and failed to swim, so began drowing, and was knocked unconscious. Chris ran down stream to get Ryan's body at the ford. The Drugh accompanied him about 10 seconds later. Huda, Rob, and Jacob successfully crossed the rope and climbed the climbed the cliff to join Josh.   While Chris recovered Ryan's unconscious body, and tried (and failed) to revive him (and he failed to revive himself, not breathing, with lungs full of water), the others planned how to attack the orcs below. They now saw all 4 orc guards in front of the caves. They adjusted their position to be directly above the highest cave.   Meanwhile Mila helped Ryan start breathing again, he came back to consciousness about a minute later.             Lots of great action that didn't get caught on the camer unfortunately.     They killed all 4 orcs outside.   They killed 6 orcs inside that were initially sleeping. Josh's character slaughtered them horrifically.     Wolfie and Jacob over by switch by bars. Dark beyond, no light, bars still locked.   Rob by center of dead orcs by firepit. (Hole in ceiling but at an angle that comes out a long way away from where the actual den is (north east).   Josh is in hallway (east of firepit). Gloating over slain orc that tried to get away.   They heard simultaneously an orc running away, and then many orcs charging forward. Josh sees 9 orcs charging him.   1 orc had come running that was closer than the others that had heard the horn, but he saw the carnage, and the one orc running away that was splattered by Josh's character, and turned tail. Realizing they were in trouble, he is going to run east to the larger group of orcs as fast as Orcishly possible.. He will however see the mule, horse, and pony, and slit their throats.   Meanwhile, Ryan's character, with Chris's and Miyo have just climbed the ladder up from the lower cave. They heard booted feet running away as they were climbing up.     We stopped as the orcs were charging Josh's character, only 60' away (charge) contact for the leading 2-3 orcs. Will stop the chargbe of the other 6 due to space constraints. Some have bows, but only have melee weapons in hand.

ke at May 25. 2013 The Pass of Southern Andrast          

Posted by Hawke at May 25. 2013    

Posted by Hawke at February 13. 2013 Discussion for the Tolkien RPG group #1 here. Currently planning to meet on Friday nights from 6 pm to 10 pm. Tentative player list: Hawke (GM) Katy, Brian, Russ Other potential players: Brad and Richard Game System: The One Ring RPG. Setting: Wilderland area.

Posted by Hawke at March 15. 2013 Last week Brian, Richard, and Nate finished up their characters, and we undertook a very short mini-adventure with them (plus Drake), working on familiarity with the action and combat resolution rules for TOR.