"Enjoy the holidays you unruly lot, but not too much, or I'll have to bop you on the noggin!"

"Never mind him! Have a very merry Needfest!"

Mortellan's 2016 Gen Con Recap

Howdy Canonfire members! It's Mortellan again with my annual recap on the fun things going on at GenCon Indy this year. Check out this LINK to my main blog, Greyhawkery to read more.

Mortellan's GenCon Greyhawk Recap

Attention all Greyhawkers! Yes, there is still life in the old Greyhawk community after all, and it was last weekend at GenCon 2015 in Indianapolis. For a look at what is going on with Greyhawk Reborn and the Canonfire! community check out my post-convention recap cross-linked over at Greyhawkery. Enjoy!

Favorite Edition of D&D

I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons for over twenty years now. Over that time I've found that everyone plays the game for different reasons. Some love the role playing aspect of the game. Others like a place to escape where their characters have more control over things then the player has in real life. Some of us just like rolling high numbers on dice and getting the maximum effect from a pure gaming aspect...

What I have learned over those years,is that most Dungeon and Dragons fans have there favorite edition. I have my favorite though I've played my fair share of them. I'm not going to reveal my favorite edition just yet. Though I would like to hear from the community. What edition of Dungeon and Dragons is your favorite and why?

Now remember I just want your favorite edition and why. No bashing other editions or other members of the community because their view differs from your own. Just what edition you champion and why?

Thanks
Argon 

   

Memorable Moments in Gaming

I was recently going through some old material and came across a character sheet for my first ever AD&D character. It was on an old piece of line ruled paper and we rolled up stats I got an 18 for strength and choose my class as Barbarian my race was Trollborn... I had a friend who house ruled everything back in first edition.  He added several races that we could use for player characters.  No racial adjustments for  half breeds.  Instead you would gain things like ultra or infravision or natural armor class.

Anyway, the real point of interest on my character sheet happened when I reached  3rd level. The DM created this crazy dungeon that was meant to be a very long standing adventure that would take us levels to complete. Unfortunately for the DM the dice was with us and 18 hours later the magical sword we found  was used to fight off a hydra. I had shattered my morningstar and my battleaxe upon the hide of this creature. The sword was the only weapon I had left. After a few rounds the sword leap from my hand and fought the hydra.  While the rest of the party fled, I carried the cleric and the paladin out of harms way and we escaped the hydra. Eventually we came upon a long staircase that lead us to the heavens. In fact it was a cloud city of giants. All no less then 10 feet tall the personification of the perfect human-like form. All well muscled and fit. If there was a flaw it was not in their physical form.

A female amongst them approaches our party and tells us to wait there. She returns with a few other members of her race and they offer to clean and heal our wounds.  She brandishes an axe which she holds in one hand and offers it to anyone of us that can hold and wield it. My character Argon was the only one strong enough to wield it.   The weapon requires two hands to wield it and the wielder must possess at least an 18/00 strength and have the blood of a giant in their veins.  The troll blood in my veins allowed me to wield the weapon. A gift from the goddess of the moon, to the mortal races. I was chosen to wield the Silver Moon Battle Axe. Forged from  the surface of the moon itself.

Now the DM did not reveal the powers of the axe or why the goddess of the moon gifted it to mortals. Just that there would be a time when the wielder of the axe would be needed.  Until then I was to familiarize myself with the weapon and unlock the secrets within. We were then escorted through a liquid portal that transported us miles away from the mountain dungeon and back upon the surface.

Needless to say it became my favorite weapon. I always wanted to return and slay the hydra. Unfortunately  the DM had transported us to an entirely different part of the game world. We fought many battles and our cleric died several times. We went on many a mission for the church of various deities because our cleric could not stay alive. If there was a saving throw our cleric would fail it every time. Work luck ever!

I would always wonder what the axe was doing and how much of my characters skills went into the success of each adventure. It was my first character and probably the most successful . I took over Dming duties and many of the characters advanced in levels way beyond Argon. The DM who gave me the Silver Moon Battle axe eventually went on to join the marines at the age of 18. So the few times, I played Argon the new DM’s had different effects for the axe. One thing they clarified was once a day, I could call upon the axe to grant me the strength of a Titan. Back in 1^st edition that was a strength score of 25. I was able to wield the axe with one hand when my strength was enhanced and would have to wield it in two hands when my strength returned to normal.  While wielding the axe I was immune to the curse of lycanthropy and lycanthropes would have to roll a save versus fear or flee from me.

This was pretty cool. Though I just keep wondering if the Silver Moon Battle Axe was meant for something else. Never got to pick the brain of the original DM for that one. However, it remains one of my most memorable moments in gaming.

I wonder what was one of your most memorable moments in gaming? Feel free to share it here.

Later

Argon

Flanaess Atlas at the ENnies

Hello from GenCon everyone. Unfortunately, Anna's hugely popular Atlas of the Flanaess did not win at last night's ENnies. More about this story, cross posted at Greyhawkery.

Famous ales of Greyhawk II

In keeping with my previous post on famous ales in Greyhawk. I have a few more ales I'd like to share with you...

Perhaps famous brews or portables would make more sense for the title. I'll not change it though. Just know all types of alcoholic beverages will be addressed. Maybe, I'll revisit this again during Brewfest. For now let's see what other brews make our list.

Geoff Red-head Ale - This very gentle and mild flavored ale has a coppery red color with hints of caramelized malts. While common in Geoff at one time this ale was available throughout the entire Sheldomar Valley. Since many of the surrounding countries started brewing some of their own red ales. The popularity of Geoff Red-head ale has dwindled a bit. Though it is uncommon in the Sheldomar Valley save Geoff where it is a common ale. It has found its way on rare occasions to locales as far as Greyhawk and even in the Baklunish west.

Hepmonaland Heady Haze - This lambic has a stale to bitter head that quickly develops to a very sweet candy-like taste. While hints of hops are extended throughout its body, they are meet with various exotic fruit tastes that are native to Hepmonaland. This brew is uncommon in Hepmonaland itself, and rare in all other nations surrounding Hepmonaland. Though many a Suloise or Oeridian noble has paid a king's ransom just to have it served at one of their dinner parties.

Irongate Gruit - This brew is fashioned from heather and seaweed. Most brews would use one or the other as their main flavor profile. This brew has a light brown body with salted notes of flavor. The head is thick yet smooth with a meaty consistency. Favored by many coastal ports. Irongate Gruit is common in Irongate, and Uncommon in most ports along Relmor Bay and the Sea of Gearnat. Rare in ports along the Azure sea.

Keoland Blood Borne Brew - This brew has a deep red color with a smoky overtone. It has a smooth and full body. One of the first red ales brewed after the popularity of Geoff Red-head ale in the Sheldomar region. This brew is common in Keoland and the Ulek states. Otherwise its uncommon in the surrounding Sheldomar region save Geoff were its rare to find this red ale.

Lortmil Lager - This extremely strong brew has a bitter hop-like taste, balanced with a nice malt backbone. Often traded in the Ulek states it has a greater popularity among cities bordering the Kewl and Old Rivers. While it is common amongst all the Ulek states and Southern Keoland. Its rare to find this brew in bordering nations save the Gran March where it is uncommonly traded along the Lort river.

Perrenland Quag-Milled Brew - As the name implies this ale is made from milled ryes that are milled along Lake Quag. The ale has a moderate bitterness that experiences light sweet notes from the sour rye used in the brewing process. Common in Perrenland and amongst the Tiger Nomads. Its rare in Highfolk, Veluna and Bissel.

Sunndi Autumn Ale - This seasonal ale is brewed in Pitchfield at the Abbey of the Withered Leaf. These monks are devout followers of Wenta. Three months prior to Brewfest these monks begin brewing Autumn ale. Copper in color with a smooth and well-balanced malt flavor with a light hoppy touch. Very smooth to drink, a flavor which many find pleasing. Common during brewfest in Sunndi and uncommon during brewfest in the South Province and Idee. Because trade route are rare in Sunndi this ale is rarely seen in the North Province.

I hope you all enjoy these brews as much as I have writing about them.

Later

Argon