Skystone Subterrane aka The First Dungeon Adventure

I was challenged by the Living Urf Gaming Club to shut my mouth and run something. Big Mike laid down the command that it be in September, and even offered the sweet deal of a Wish for completion of the task. Since the idea I had in my head involved the full moon, I found my deadline looming ever closer. What's worse? I was dealing with spider bites that lead to a pretty bad infection. We persevere!

The Skystone

 “We know little of the Skystone. It appeared during a storm in the new moon, and remote viewings have revealed windmills across its southern edge. No contact has been received for whatever inhabitants may dwell there, but it has drawn the interest of astrologers and druids due to a strange phenomenon. On moonlit nights, a shimmering stair can be seen connecting the Skystone with our own lands, though attempts to ascend it these past weeks have been for naught. Soon the moon waxes full and we shall see if my own theory holds. If so, this expedition may be worth a shift in my own research.” – From the notes of Magister Marcus the Mad.

Big Mike gave me a lot of freedom in the setup; I could choose the theme and design without worrying overmuch about the current Urf milieu. Moreover, I added a request that any PCs across the campaigns have access to it. This offered the opportunity for convergence and permanence, and avoided the "one shot" situation. No one shots! Campaign only!

A Year's Walk

While I had been watching the BROSR for some years, it wasn't until a little less than a year ago that I decided to step forward and get involved. It started with BrozerDiceless, and I was later invited to the BROXT, a veritable training ground for Bros and means of continuing to build from the legacy of Jeffro et al. At that same time, I snuck into the Living Urf Gaming Club when a certain someone posted the link publicly. Whether it was Appendix N Reports, Wargaming for friends' Campaigns, or posting After Action Reports, I've had more fun this last year compared to all but a handful of years gaming in the past. I've barely scratched the surface, and as many others before me, I deal with my own ego and struggle to learn.

Reading

I've said before, but much of my reading is done during downtime at work (if I have any). I've discovered that this lends itself to simpler or more straightforward writers. 

While I love Dunsany, he's easier to read when I'm relaxing at home than half-distracted at work (Recommend: Chronicles of Shadow Valley). Moreover, lighter novels and short stories are top tier. Cirsova Magazines have carried me through many shifts, as have Solomon Kane's short stories and pretty much anything by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

I am still expanding my collection via used bookstores, but have barely scratched the surface of Appendix N's offerings. This became more apparent after I joined the Living Urf because of how varied their games are; from AD&D in a viking milieu to NotAmber to Traveller and the Wild West in Boothill. The energy level is enormous and I frankly cannot keep up with everything. It is nonetheless wonderful to know I've got a group I can lean on to discover new things.

Gaming

Since I joined the Living Urf Gaming Club, all of my tabletop time has been spent on games within the club. It started with 0e D&D with Chainmail and a Boot Hill Braunstein (Norazona), and soon spread out to AD&D in Bloodfall and Svarthold (now Svartalfheim). These games became the source of my write-ups for the recent BROmerican tournament within the BROXT; but what stands out most are the lessons I've learned.

I've said in the past that ACKS II hits my sweet spot, but it is easy to get stuck in the weeds. As I play and learn more about AD&D (slow as I am), I discover how different the design ethos really is. Other Bros, especially Bdubs, are way ahead! For myself, I am seeing the benefit to maintaining certain things in the abstract, alongside the value of weekly or monthly management. I've learned that Playing the Game is by far the most important factor in all of this, and the more everyone gets bogged down in minutia, the less game there is to play. Perhaps that is phrased incorrectly so let me try again: Scalability is important, especially in a Clubhouse and moreso for Real D&D. I have faith that this can be done within the ACKS framework, but how much work would it take?

Beyond the systems conflict, there is something I want to see come to fruition in the future: The Real Clubhouse. It is one thing to talk about many tables playing in the same world, news from various parties spreading and a Living World in which many actors compete under a fog of war (Braunstein!). It is another to execute on it. The Living Urf Gaming Club fills me with hope, and the work everyone is putting in only makes me more excited to see where things are in the coming year. 

I recently wrote an AAR with thank yous to a pair of game masters I've been playing under, but I want to extend that to everyone I've played with this year. Thank you for running great games, for pushing the bounds and educating me, and most of all for creating a space for a simple man like me.

Credit Where Due and Starting Anew

 Roll Credits

My last couple of posts have been rather grounded, and I have to admit to trying to see the positive in them despite my own feelings. I've said before that RealD&D hits harder than any conventional table's poorly play-acted drama; it is wholly unlike emotionally stunted adults and their parasocial audience. RealD&D, real emotions, real respect, real bonds.

Our final session of Svarthold/Gulleyja was a proper finale. Our group was out of time, Gulleyja and all we loved (or invested in) was about to be swallowed by the ocean tides; stolen by strange mecha-dwarves! Now was the time for action. To take back, in game and out, what is OURS!

Dealing With Disappointment

Bloodfall Bust 

I mentioned at the end of the last post that the coming Bloodfall session was ripe with opportunity. Thorgal's plan to exact vengeance on Kirk's behalf was inspiring! However, just like Appendix N, not everything goes according to plan.

I wish I could tell a tale of righteous flame consuming soulless elven heathens. I wish could talk about the way the dastardly ambushers tried and failed to strike down our glorious viking forces! It is not to be.

Elfless

We fumbled the ball. There was a miscommunication on who was running the show (lack of leadership/calls), what resources were available, and other details. This was not helped by my own rolling of an Elf in the "session where we kill the elves."

Expectations and Responsibilities: The Ebb and Flow of RealD&D

 Last week I talked about a small, but specific instance of play involving RealD&D, TNB, and the FoW. The response within the Urf clubhouse was mixed: lots of elbow nudging and "you got me good" with a few "this might as well be cheating." There were frustrations and miscommunications; everyone is invested in our games. What sets Urf apart from the conventional is Brotherhood. Lines were drawn, expectations managed, and none of it is personal! The health of the Campaign(s) and Club are paramount!

Unfortunately, events that transpired right after that post left Stanson in an odd spot. That's a possible discussion for another time.

Ebb and Flow

It's a lot of fun to talk about the high points in a game and build excitement, but those highs would not exist without the lows: the Ebb and Flow of RealD&D. Some sessions are fairly by-the-numbers affairs; hit a dungeon, hit a lair, do some exploration. What sets the Real apart from the Fake is the mindset. Why are you aiming for that score? What will you do once you have it? The leveling treadmill can only be satisfying for so long, and nobody cares about how you gained 3 HP (or are stuck at Lv3)!

RealD&D, Total NonStop Braunstein, and the Fog of War

Point of Order

Interested in cutting edge gaming, clubhouses, and brotherhood? Now's your chance to show off your tenacity and join the BroXT.

You'll notice the challenge is writing After Action Reports (formerly Session Reports). If you want an example of what not to do, just look at most of my write-ups: long, excess play by plays with little of substance that would interest anyone but maybe the players. They were good practice and got me into the habit of scheduling time to write, but that's about it.

What should the purpose of an AAR be then? Thoughts, even simple ones. Did you like the game? How was the experience? Any pitfalls or frustrations? These are the pieces that drive the discussion and experiments that lead to better gaming. For myself, I've found that I can't be assed to write anything up unless I feel like I have something to say; and that was true of the current challenge until today.

RealD&D, TNB, FoW

My commute to and from work takes about 40 minutes; that's a lot of time to ponder and listen to music. I got to thinking about my last few months playing with the Living Urf Gaming Club, stumbling through AD&D, and the variety of different skillsets and interests the club brings forth. Specifically, I got to pondering what I could even say about my recent games (Bloodfall and Svarthold being the primary two) that anyone would find valuable. Or Hell, that I even had a strong opinion on. That's when it hit me.

In my time in Bloodfall, I've hit TNB hard. Kirk of Forseti (Cleric 3; yes still 3) has been as involved in Bloodfall's political situation as he could be. The discovery of a Golden Idol with Plant Growth or whatever was the first big point of conflict: lots of gold and XP or tilt the scales for those vying for leadership and earn favors? This lead to Kirk wrestling a Dwarven Fighter to settle the dispute of the sale... and he won! This was the catalyst that eventually lead to the Siege of Bloodfall. 

IDDR: Shagduk & Ursula of Ulm

I Don't Do Reviews

I've gone from not reading to exploratory reading over the last couple years. I don't have the skill, vocabulary, or experience to write reviews beyond "This was fun" or "Yo, that was pretty cool." Call it a lack of communication skills. Nonetheless, I do like to log my experiences from time to time- typically a result of recommendations or circles I've stepped into.

With that said, before Jeffro Johnson (of BroSR and Dancing fame) disappeared, one of his must-reads was Shagduk. Having received it for Christmas, I was hit with a suggestion to read each entry day-to-day as the novel is written as a diary. This suited my schedule and added a fun layer since the books' (Shagduk and its sequel) focus on the Occult.

Quest Accepted

BroXT: Sons of Loki

 A new challenge has been issued! We are to make a mid-level faction for Braunstein potential and intent on dropping it into a RealD&D campaign (Living Urf, Bloodfall). You can find the rules over on BDubs blog if you, too, want to give it a try!

I've been learning AD&D alongside the Bros in Bloodfall, a Norse-inspired game with your classic town + dungeon starting setup. I've had a lot of fun seeing how things shake out, and Brigadine is doing solid work. I even had the chance to wrestle a Dwarven Fighter for the right to sell a golden statue! Holmgang! 

While the challenge suggests leaning on Appendix N for inspiration, and I do have some ideas I want to try on that front, I find myself more interested in the boots on the ground. I've already got the pieces lying about from previous challenges so why not use them?

BroXT: A Final Assignment From the Man Himself

During one of the previous BroXT challenges, Jeffro left the fields we know and passed across the veil to Elfland. Prior to his departure, however, he had assigned me one last piece of reading. It has taken some time to get to it between my Gods of Pegana order being cancelled, Shagduk daily reading (still truckin'!), and dealing with IRL responsibilities. I finally caught a break and powered through it!

Rumours say he's been sighted near the standing stones during the full moon.

The Dragon Masters

 I've read very little of Vance's work; only a few short stories in Living Urf's required reading. Dragon Masters is what I think of when someone describes "80s Fantasy" to me: Monsters, Dragons, a variety of not-quite-human races all at war for dominance or survival in an alien landscape with armor, swords, lasers, and explosions!

Wolves of Vasquel: Song of Silver and Steel

 The Setup

Lord Blood, alpha of the werewolves, has been slain by his nemesis Marquess Ourdenarde! Ourdenarde did not, however, come away unscathed: Lord Blood left his calling card as rows of gashes in the man's shoulder and torso. As the wolves lead by Blood make their retreat, the Marquess is faced with a decision: become a creature of the night, or die as a man.

Ourdenarde rallies his fastest horsemen to pursue the wolves and quickly takes stock of their remaining silvered weapons: a few quivers of arrows, a handful of daggers, and his own trusty blade. "This shall serve." Prior to their departure, an advisor informs Ourdenarde that Lord Blood's second in command may hold the key to preventing his transformation. Is this hope?

 This scenario, somewhat embellished by myself and @bluehosscat, was provided by Mighty Urf of the Living Urf Gaming Club for use in the BroXT.