Author: Ameron (Derek Myers)

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D&D Encounters

D&D Encounters: Scourge of the Sword Coast (Week 11)

scourge-of-the-sword-coast-coverAfter a tough battle with some nasty Duergar in the lower levels of Firehammer Hold, the PCs decided to take a short rest before facing more of the Deep Dwarves and pressing further indo the depths of the Dwarven stronghold.

As we near the end of another season of D&D Encounters we’re starting to see our numbers swell again. There were four tables at Hairy T North in Toronto, one using 4e and three using D&D Next. At the combined tables Craig and I ran we had nine players huddled around one massive wet-erase battle mat.

At the super table we had the following PCs: Drow Paladin, Drow Rogue, Half-Orc Paladin, Half-Orc Cleric, Half-Orc Mage/Barbarian, Elf Ranger, Elf Cleric/Rogue, Human Monk/Barbarian, and Dwarf Fighter.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources

Adventure Hooks: This Place is a Zoo!

a-to-z-2014-zZoology is the scientific study of all things related to animals including their classification, physical characteristics and behaviour. In a fantasy gaming world this would naturally extend to monsters and other fantastic beasts. Those interested in zoological studies will often collect animals in a zoo, sometimes for the protection and wellbeing of these creatures, sometimes just to make them easier to observe and study by bringing them all together.

Throughout April Dungeon’s Master is participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge is to write a new article ever day in April, excluding Sundays. That’s 26 articles over the course of the month. To make things even more interesting the title of each article will begin with a different letter of the alphabet. This year we’ve decided that every article will provide our readers with new adventure hooks. Today “Z” is for zoo, and you’d better believe that a zoo in a fantasy game setting will be more wild and exotic than anything in the real world.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources

Adventure Hooks: The Xanathar – Crime Lord of Waterdeep

a-to-z-2014-xWaterdeep is to the Forgotten Realms what New York City is to the real world. If you can buy it, sell it, eat it, or experience it then you can find it in Waterdeep. It’s the centre of commerce, which naturally attracts thieves and villains. Between the City Watch and the Secret Lords of Waterdeep crime is kept to a minimum, or at least that’s what those in charge want visitors and residents of Waterdeep to believe. In truth there is a criminal master mind that secretly runs all of the criminal activities in Waterdeep, a man known only as The Xanathar.

Throughout April Dungeon’s Master is participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge is to write a new article ever day in April, excluding Sundays. That’s 26 articles over the course of the month. To make things even more interesting the title of each article will begin with a different letter of the alphabet. This year we’ve decided that every article will provide our readers with new adventure hooks. Today “X” is for Xanathar, the infamous Crime Lord of Waterdeep.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources

Adventure Hooks: If Only Wishing Made It So

a-to-z-2014-w

Wishes will change your game. A wish is the most powerful magic in D&D, so powerful and so broken that it doesn’t even exist in the mechanics for 4e. But as the DM you have the power and the choice to introduce wishes into your campaign as you see fit. It’s not something that you should consider lightly, but it is something you should be willing to consider.

Throughout April Dungeon’s Master is participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge is to write a new article ever day in April, excluding Sundays. That’s 26 articles over the course of the month. To make things even more interesting the title of each article will begin with a different letter of the alphabet. This year we’ve decided that every article will provide our readers with new adventure hooks. Today “W” is for wish as we look at some epic level adventure hooks for truly powerful characters.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources

Adventure Hooks: The Dangers of the Underdark

a-to-z-2014-uThe Underdark is the vast subterranean network of interconnected caverns that run beneath the surface world. The Underdark is filled with creatures living and thriving underground, uniquely adapted for life without sunlight. It’s the perfect place for adventures to explore when seeking fame, fortune and forbidden knowledge.

Throughout April Dungeon’s Master is participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge is to write a new article ever day in April, excluding Sundays. That’s 26 articles over the course of the month. To make things even more interesting the title of each article will begin with a different letter of the alphabet. This year we’ve decided that every article will provide our readers with new adventure hooks. Today “U” is for Underdark as we look at hooks suitable for campaigns that take place underground.

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D&D Encounters D&D Next

D&D Encounters: Scourge of the Sword Coast (Week 10)

scourge-of-the-sword-coast-coverThe party managed to get inside Firehammer Hold during last week’s session. They encountered a few Duergar along the way but remained pretty much unscathed. Unable to figure out how to gain access to any more rooms on the level 1 they decided to follow the mine cart tracks downward into the level 2 of the fortress.

At Harry T North in Toronto we ran four tables this week. The 4e table had its usual six players as did the other D&D Next table. Craig and I started off with only four players but by the night’s end we had eight. Our group ended up with the following members this week: Drow Paladin, Drow Rogue, Half-Orc Paladin, Gnome Druid, Elf Ranger, Elf Cleric/Rogue, Human Monk/Barbarian, and Dwarf Fighter.

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D&D Encounters

D&D Encounters: Dead in Thay (Launch Weekend) – Preview

dead-in-thay-coverAll I’ve seen is the map and I’m already predicting that Dead in Thay is going to be the best season of D&D Encounters ever.

On May 14 we begin season 18 of D&D Encounters: Dead in Thay. This is the second part of the Dreams of the Red Wizards story arc and the fourth of five adventures tied into the Sundering. As with the last few season of D&D Encounters, Wizards has set up a Launch Weekend event to kick off the new season. If your FLGS sanctioned the Launch Weekend on time then your store should receive kits for Launch Weekend.

Today we’re going to look at what’s in the kits. It’s not that much, but what’s in here looks very cool and makes me very excited for next season.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources

Adventure Hooks: Scoundrels of Skullport Board Game

a-to-z-2014-sLast week we looked at using quest cards from the Lords of Waterdeep board game as the inspiration for adventure hooks. Today we’re looking at the expansion, Scoundrels of Skullport, and drawing upon 10 more examples.

Throughout April Dungeon’s Master is participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge is to write a new article ever day in April, excluding Sundays. That’s 26 articles over the course of the month. To make things even more interesting the title of each article will begin with a different letter of the alphabet. This year we’ve decided that every article will provide our readers with new adventure hooks. Today “S” is for Scoundrels of Skullport as we use the game’s quest cards to inspire adventuring hooks for your D&D game.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources

Adventure Hooks: Resurrection

a-to-z-2014-rDying sucks! You spend all that time and effort developing an interesting character that you know as well as (or possibly better) than your real life friends and in one roll of the dice he’s killed. This might be an untimely crit by the DM, a poor saving throw, or failed jump check. Regardless of how it happened, dying sucks. Now you’ve got to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new character concept. Of course the other option is to find a way to bring the deceased character back to life.

Throughout April Dungeon’s Master is participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge is to write a new article ever day in April, excluding Sundays. That’s 26 articles over the course of the month. To make things even more interesting the title of each article will begin with a different letter of the alphabet. This year we’ve decided that every article will provide our readers with new adventure hooks. Today’s “R” is for resurrection which is timely since today is Easter Monday.

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Adventure Hooks DM Resources

Adventure Hooks: Quicklings

a-to-z-2014-qQuicklings are an evil race of Fey sprites who are very fast, very mischievous, and very dangerous. It’s believed that they were once Brownies, but through their own misdeeds were transformed into Quicklings. This might have happened when they tried to master magic beyond their control, or it might have happened when they were punished for stealing a rare magic book from an Arch Fey queen, or some combination of the two tales – the stories vary depending on who you ask. What’s important is that adventurers realize just how dangerous these little buggers are and not to underestimate them.

Throughout April Dungeon’s Master is participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge is to write a new article ever day in April, excluding Sundays. That’s 26 articles over the course of the month. To make things even more interesting the title of each article will begin with a different letter of the alphabet. This year we’ve decided that every article will provide our readers with new adventure hooks. Today “Q” is for Quickling as we share some adventure hooks featuring one of my favourite monsters.

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