#classic d&d

[daemons-and-deathrays]

Grievances and Fears in the Cage

Life in the Cage is a complicated matter.  Even the status quo is barely fathomable to outsiders.  And for those who live within it?  Somehow, it all makes sense.  But, what does it mean in the end?  What of the factions, the arising guilds, equally escalating tensions, the general struggle?  Only time will tell.  Should the visions of the Cage’s seers be true, many of those elements in the dark…

[legionofmyth]

Rules Cyclopedia by TSR

⚔️ Step into a world of classic fantasy with Rules Cyclopedia by TSR! 🌟 This comprehensive guide has everything you need for epic RPG adventures. Perfect for new and veteran players alike. #RulesCyclopedia #DungeonsAndDragons #RPG #TabletopGaming #FantasyAdventure

Rules Cyclopedia by TSR What is it? Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia The Rules Cyclopedia by TSR is a comprehensive compilation of the Basic, Expert, Companion, and Master sets of the classic Dungeons & Dragons game. Set in the Mystara campaign world, it encompasses a wide variety of settings, from the Known World and its diverse cultures to the exotic Savage Coast and Hollow World. This…

[juddgeeksout]

What am I playing? What are you playing?

tl;dr: Life is good; gaming is good. Yeah, I want more and I kvetch a bit. This is my regular Thursday night game, running a local gang with Old-School Essentials in an affluent, arcane city where Ioun Stones are mined, polished and balanced for orbit. Apocalypse World’s latest Swords & Sorcery playbooks from the Baker Family’s patreon. We were playing Under Hollow Hills and we’ll surely get…

[muiitoloko]

NSFW Alphabet - Harry Hart

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

After the steamy encounter, Harry Hart lavishes you with tender affection. He meticulously tends to your needs, ensuring you're comfortable and satisfied. His skilled hands offer gentle caresses, and his soothing words create a cocoon of warmth, making the post-intimacy experience unforgettable.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Harry's favorite body part was undoubtedly his hands, a lethal tool in his line of work, yet they found a different kind of purpose with his partner. He reveled in the duality, using them for justice and pleasure. As for his partner, it's those lips—swollen from the kisses Harry adored sharing.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Harry Hart, being a bold and adventurous soul, delights in a variety of intimate moments. His preferences may vary, as he appreciates the thrill of diversity. Whether it's inside, in the mouth, on the body, or on the breasts, Harry's desires mirror the passionate dance of his own personality. A naughty whisper or a tender embrace, he embraces the full spectrum of pleasure without hesitation.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Harry's dirty secret? Well, darling, our dapper gentleman enjoys a romp in the sheets after dealing with the not-so-nice fellas. There's a certain thrill he finds irresistible when his collar is stained with the blood of his enemies. Partners who don't mind a little mess are in for a wickedly delightful time~!

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Harry is a true maestro in the art of pleasure. With all those honeypot missions under his belt, he's practically a virtuoso when it comes to seduction and intimate rendezvous. Trained to perfection, he knows how to dance between desire and satisfaction, leaving his partners in a state of euphoric bliss.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Well, he's quite the sophisticated spy, but in the bedroom, he's partial to a classic and intimate embrace—spooning. It seems our gentleman enjoys the close connection and warmth of a partner in his arms. Such a refined choice for our dashing Harry.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Harry can be a cheeky devil in the bedroom. Despite his suave demeanor, he's not afraid to inject some humor into intimate moments, making the atmosphere playfully naughty. Expect sly smirks, witty banter, and a touch of mischief to keep things delightfully light-hearted.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Harry's hair, my dear, is not limited to the stylish locks atop his head. In the world of Kingsman, keeping downstairs tidy is practically a refined rule. Our dapper gentleman, with his penchant for perfection, ensures that everything below remains immaculately trimmed. A gentleman in all aspects, from head to toe—or should I say, from head to... well, you catch my drift.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Intimacy with Harry? Oh, it's like a slow dance between shadows and candlelight. His touch is both commanding and tender, weaving a symphony of passion. In those moments, the world outside disappears, leaving only the echo of heartbeats and whispered promises. It's a sensual ballet, where every move tells a story of desire and connection.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Oh, dear, it seems Harry's "Jack off" routine is quite the rarity. His busy life leaves little room for self-indulgence, but when he does, he strives to maintain respect. Yet, the sly thoughts sneak in, and he can't help but imagine his partner joining in the intimate escapade~!

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Oh, Harry's got a penchant for the unexpected. The thrill of danger amps up his desires. Whether it's a bit of role-play or daring encounters in unconventional places, our gentleman spy finds pleasure in the extraordinary.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Harry's favorite place for some intimate escapades? Well, it seems the Kingsman tailor has a penchant for getting down and dirty right in the heart of his luxurious tailor shop. Surrounded by finely crafted suits and hidden gadgets, it adds a touch of class to their clandestine activities.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Mmm, for Harry, it's that intoxicating mix of danger and elegance. His heart races at the thrill of the chase, the allure of a skilled partner, and the symphony of chaos and pleasure that follows. The adrenaline of a secret mission and the sizzling chemistry with a like-minded companion—those are the ingredients that fuel his fiery desires.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

The gentleman draws the line at anything that could permanently hurt his partner during their intimate escapades. He'd rather face a hail of bullets than engage in something that leaves lasting scars. Our dashing spy prefers the thrill without the lingering pain.

And Harry, the charming rogue, has a firm “no” when it comes to being tied up. He revels in the power dynamic of being the one in control, pulling the strings expertly. However, if you want to tie him down and ask him with a sweet smile and a touch of persuasion, he might satisfy your desires for a day.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Oh, Harry's oral inclinations? He relishes receiving, but our refined gentleman prioritizes his partner's pleasure. With skillful finesse, he delights in giving, ensuring his partner is thoroughly spoiled before even considering his own desires. Such a gentleman, always putting others first~! 😌

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Harry? Oh, honey, he's a man of exquisite taste. His pace? Picture a slow, seductive dance – every move deliberate, every touch calculated. He revels in the art of anticipation, savoring each moment with a grace that's almost poetic. Slow and sensual, my dear, slow and oh-so-sensational~!

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Harry's a man who appreciates the swift and satisfying. With his demanding missions, quickies become a regular rendezvous. The thrill of urgency in the bedroom matches the intensity of his work. Arriving late for briefings? Well, that's a small price to pay for the pleasures he'd rather not miss, even if it means disturbing dear Chester. Priorities, after all.(He secretly loves to upset the arrogant idiot, aka Chester King, with all due respect of course.)

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Risk? Pssh, love, Harry's practically dancing with danger every day. The man embraces risk like an old friend. Having a steamy encounter in a public place? It's a stroll in the park for Mr. Harry Risk Hart. After all, what's the point of living on the edge if you don't indulge in a bit of passion amid the chaos? (A dark alley does the job for Harry, and remember, the Kingsman tailor shop is his favorite spot for sex)

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Oh, sweetie, when it comes to stamina, Harry Hart is like an Energizer bunny on steroids! This man can go for round after round, leaving you breathless and begging for more. He's got the endurance of a secret agent with a mission to satisfy, and trust me, he won't stop until you're completely spent.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Harry, dear, doesn't dabble much in the world of toys. The idea of a sex shop may not cross his mind, but if his partner fancies such things, he'd graciously entertain the notion. A gentleman's willingness to explore knows no bounds when it comes to pleasing his beloved.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Harry Hart is an absolute maestro when it comes to teasing. His charming demeanor hides a devilish skill for making anticipation linger, leaving his partner craving more. He takes pleasure in keeping them on the edge, a delightful game of desire and frustration. Oh, the wicked charm of Mr. Hart~!

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Well, you see, Harry Hart, the refined gentleman, holds on to that outdated notion that a gentleman shouldn't make too much noise in bed. Despite his attempts at stifling grunts and moans, his passionate partner has a knack for coaxing out every delicious sound he tries to suppress. The walls of restraint crumble, and Harry finds himself surrendering to the symphony of pleasure.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Wild card, you say? Imagine this: Harry Hart has a penchant for indulging in a bit of role-playing, but not just any role-playing—secret agent-themed scenarios where he and his partner engage in covert missions of passion. Sneaky and seductive, with a touch of danger. Oh, my, the possibilities are endless~!

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

X is for X-ray, so let's peek beneath the bespoke suits. Harry's not packing the largest piece in the Kingsman arsenal, but fear not, for he makes up for it with a satisfying thickness that leaves partners quite content. Quality over quantity, my dear~!

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Oh, dearie, Harry's yearning is like a roaring fire, burning with intensity. His appetite for passion and desire knows no bounds. He's got a sex drive that could set the world on fire, leaving you breathless and craving for more~!

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

After the action-packed missions, sleep is a rare luxury for Harry. When the chance arises, he dives into slumber with the ease of a well-trained spy. However, his senses remain sharp, easily awakened by the slightest disturbance. Yet, after the passionate escapades, Harry, ever the gentleman, ensures his partner is okay before drifting off into a contented post-coital rest. Sweet dreams, indeed!

[karaokebearwithal]

Mutuals Mutuals Come one COME ALL!!!

Put your various sona's and appendages together for the unveiling of a lil' something I've been working on while being distracted from animating Dame Aylin's wings (Its long, hard, fun as all hell but the concentration required to do so seems physically impossible for a beast of my genus)

I drew all my moots tavs/pseudo-companions!!! It took a bit, but it was well worth it! Everyone's design is so unique and fun to figure out. (10 is a big number of moots)((which I am very grateful to have :3)) So without Further Ado!!! (there will be so much more Ado):

(page break cuz the images are 400x400 each but 10 times, I also go on for a bit about how much I like each Tav/pseudo-companion character) ((if anyone can give me tips on how to size pieces in a normal style digitally i'd be very grateful))

First of all is Sivvus the Fey Prince (he/him)! This elusive Eladrin Tav belongs to @thedomesticanthropologist! A gorgeous yet seemingly cold-hearted druid who tends to keep his cards close to his chest. Though if you want the challenge you can see for yourself if you can try and get close to him to see if Sivvus is as closed off as he seems to be. To be quite honest, Sivvus really grew on me. A very fancy Eladrin with a high society (fey society) upbringing ( with very good looking mood boards to match) and the like only for him to be thrust into the bg3 world with a worm to boot. He is charming! Also his backstory? <3 Defienetly go read it! 10/10 would draw the snob again :)

Second off we have Gum (He/They)! A Githyanki Cleric of Mystra. Being @piipaw's Tav you'd find this charming fruit lover trying to live a peaceful life after escaping from the creche that raised them. I like Gum a lot as the concept of a githyanki trying to find their own way in Faerun while also having no idea about any of the social customs is very gripping to me. I recommend greatly to check out the blog for Gum fics, fanart and a very cool moot . :)

Next is H'rayn of Verkos (she/her)! Now different from all the character's I drew, H'rayn is not a Tav! She's actually a pseudo-companion character with a lotta lore and history! She even has her own quest, party banter, approval and disapproval things. It's the whole deal!! @githkisser made an amazing post all about H'rayn . If you want a ton of indepth and fun info that's really really well documented, I cannot overstate how much you should it check out! I find myself going back to learn more about H'rayn as she really is as well thought out as in game companions! It's quite fun thinking up of ways tavs can interact with her and the art is mwah!!! very good indeed :3

4th! Tavern (Tav) the Bard! (they/them) This darling bard ran away from the circus.....from birth! Created by @avocado-writing, Tavern plays their way into your heart with their silly antics, warm heart and eldritch pocket dimension in their chest!

Tavern is a doll to doodle and I am amped to draw them even more in the future. The heterochromia and the inclusion of instruments does make them a fun challenge (i will draw instruments accuratley with these paws eventually). Go check them out!! :D

5th! Hvinidyr the Barbarian (he/him)! @star-bear-art (I just realised after all this we aren't actually mutuals. Which is funny since we kinda have the same name and theme with the bear thing XD) If you wanna see wonderous art of Hvinidyr as well as the other companions, go look right over here!

Winnie (Hvinidyr) has a lot of forms depending on the time period you wanna look at. The one I chose was the most recent with the large scar tissue all over the left (right? I'm horrible at directions, my paws don't make an L shape for me to tell). He was really fun to sketch out (and probably later colour in) and has a really unique design that I appreciate :)

6th Vierlin the Enchantment Wizard (and a lil' bit rouge)!!!(she/her) @sybaritick's Tav!!! Now!! This classic drow has a keen intrest in enchantment magic, teaching her crafts to nobles in Amn. After the whole tadpole fiasco, she also finds another use for her multitude of arcane skills. Most notabley depicted with a local wizard.

Now I won't get ahead of myself here but the fics that Sybaritick wrote about Vierlin are like....licking a warm pan of thickened maple syrup or a fancy meat meal with so much demi-glaze you're left smacking your lips for at least 20 mins after eating. Its indulgent. And I couldn't recommend it enough!! Read it!! (it took me a good 8 times to get the 'ie' part of Vierlin's name right, the letters look the same to me)

7th Fink the Spores Druid (they/them) belonging to @causticcontemplation! They're a pretty short Tav a 2.5ft and have a whole modern AU fic about them!!! You can read all about it here! (the pun name is amazing!)

I found it cool to use the fic to figure out how to colour them in, I ended up sending an anon ask instead and it helped great! Lovely Tav 10/10!

8th Korydass the Druid!! (She/her)!!! Conjured by @cfcreative, this seemingly non-emotive bronze dragonborn lights a spark in viewers as her tail and love for nature portrays otherwise. Art of Kory is many and also very good. Reading through her lore is fun watching her dynamics with the different origin characters change as she opens up to the party.

Now I do have slight bias, I like drawing Kory the most since her head shape is less humanoid. It's just so satifying, also her design is crazy awesome to work with so all around its great recommend I like her a lot :3

9th Asheera the Paladin (she/her) produced by @optiwashere.

To be quite honest I wouldn't even have a blog if it wasn't for Asheera's fics. They are EXCELLENT. If you want to go through a journey of a half orcs struggles, successes and gripping romance with Shadowheart, VAULT YOURSELF into Opti's A03 page and devour. You will have negative regrets about it just like I! Asheera is great I love her a lot I am the most normal about her.

(I'll keep it brief since this post is long enough to cross a river)

10th Quin the Bard (he/him) composed by @quinthebard (who'd have known?)

This darling plucky bard is the star of an ongoing comic that is very dynamic and very gripping. (My fave panel is this one). Despite being 100, Quin still maintains his joyful and kind nature when traveling with the tadpole gang.

Definetly one of the most friendlies Tavs out of all the ones i've drawn. (he was also the first i drew out of all of these!) He's a delight!! Go check him out! Thanks to all my moots for giving permission, having such great characters and being such lovely moots! <3 <3 <3

(Any pronouns or other changes that want be changed, feel free to DM about it. I love those! )

[dnpanimationstudioclone]

Would your Hazbin/Hell Hotel cast wear what the OG’s did for Halloween?

Charlie & Vaga. DEF NO! With my Charlie having a former friend who died by the hands of an angel(Vaga). Even if she’d come to terms with Vaga and doesn’t hold a prejudice level grudge about Heaven/heavenly beings like Emily who’s also an Angel 😇 she would NOT dress like one. Same with Vaga, she’d probably feel more akward about dressing like a demon considering the whole masquerading as a sinner for years to hide where she came from.😈 maybe if it was atleast a specific character from modern media but just general demon girl, probably not.

Angel Dust-Probably! It’s a fun costume and I bet he’d def enjoy Mean Girls! I could see him amp it up but having the ears be bigger, tail pink so it’s more apparent and get himself a faux-fur coat(maybe something like the one Verosika had in ep 3) and even some cheese theme accesories 🧀 to wear with it!. I could see Fat Nuggets be dressed up like cheese or a baby mouse (or something ratatouille related)🐭.

Husk-Nah. If anything I think he’d wear OG Sir P’s wizard/sorcerer costume since it’s atleast still connected to magic 🪄 @teddie-bear420 has also suggested a Sphinx which I imagine he’d dig enough plus it would be close to the mummy theme in a way(origins) but more personal, with the whole cat thing(would fit with Angels costume more too). I had a theory about the disconnection between their costumes

Niffty-Yeah! But I feel like she’d want something more feminine, something cute enough that could attract the boys. like this!

Alastor-I could see him dress as Rudolph but more for Christmas then Halloween 🎃 🎄

Vox-Shark, probably. In that onesie? Not unless he lost a bet(probably to Vel)

Velvette-Hmm. Could see both ways. Her etheir going for a kinds classic or avoid it seeing it as too “basic” or “cliche”. I could DEF see her do Catwoman or a popular specific feline character!

Valentino-I have to admit I’m not even sure what Val’s suppose to be(I’m guessing etheir a “sexy hooker” costume or the hot chick that gets killed in horror movies). I feel like my Val tends to lean more masculine generally and would def wear something more specific than Val’s. With that said, I could see him be open to feminine wear, especially if to connect to what Angels wearing(he likes when they’re connected…)

Lucifer- hmm, maybe but probably more like a stylish masquerade look rather than the onesie 🐥🦆 I could def see him lean with a Pheonix vibe.🔥

Sir Pentious-Perhaps! But would probably want something cooler/intimdating/more theatric looking 🧙‍♂️ I could see Bax join in too with Cherri(def see her rock the knight look it’s my fav of the OG costumes). I can def seen them do something like Vox Machina or Baldur’s Gate, D&D!

[digenerate-trash]

hi!! that post about every character having yandere potential was super cool. can you talk about more characters?? you got me very interested in that now. :D

Yes!! Yes please I love talking about my stupid ideas-

Gonna start off with the school love intrests because they're easy and I know them the most. ( But if you want me to get to some real heavy hitters like outside love intrest baliey harper and that let me know)

First off of course there's kylar and he's kinda your classic yandare trope stereotypical in every way. Obsessive stalker vibes. But honestly I think he could be really amped up if he was more aggressive. He's got a real OwO soft boy ascetic and a need to be acknowledged that's nice and the jealousy meter is a nice touch but I'm disapointed that he seems to give up really easily.

Whitney just beats him up in the caf and he folds like a paper bag. When your alone he watches you but doesn't aproch. He kidnapps you one time. Then if you decide to ditch him and keep up with your regular shenanigans he doesn't even try again??

Like he's a little lack luster. His pathetic deminer is cute and all but he's supposed to be a ride or die type and he's not delivering to well. But he's still an yan so that's good.

Talked about syd in the other post so I'll leave it for now.

Robin has some real platonic yandare stuff going on and at high confidence he has some real obsessed with keeping you stuff going on. I feel like theyll never reach violent yandare statice like the other characters even when pushed but they have this vibe about them that I never really could shake off.

Robin cares about your life and everything personal about you. They want you to be safe and perfect. And in connection to you they also want to be perfect. Like childhood sweethearts.

Robin is always clawing for a way to never sexualy exploit anyone. They're a big fan of concent but it doesn't mean he won't go behind your back to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Robin is pretty soft for a yandare but something is telling me that they're biding their time a bit. Even if it takes a while.

Lastly whitney- I'm a big fan so this is gonna be biased but whitney is a violent yan bossed with power dynamics and you as the player. He's constantly showing off infront of students and even his friends that he has access to you at any time. Some of his scenes even say so. Like when he cornners you in a class room with his friends and tells you "don't worry they won't touch you I told them not too" or when you're dragged into a class room against your will and one of the students points out that your Whitney's property. And they scurry off.

Whitney also comes to the orphanage and offers to buy you. Like this dude is obsessed with the idea of owning you. Physicly mentally and emotionally. Controlling weather your life at school is plagued by bullying or not. He controls that. And by extention you. Even when your traveling alone around the streets and he spots you your instantly cornered. He doesn't even give it a second thought. This dude is a violent yandare and I can't express it enough. I also love him.

[chronotsr]

No. 2 - G2, The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl (July 1978)

Author(s): Gary Gygax Artist(s): Erol Otus, Dave C. Sutherland III, David A. Trampier (cover) Level range: Average of 9, preferably 5+ players Theme: Standard Swords and Sorcery Major re-releases: G1-3 Against the Giants, GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders, Against the Giants: The Liberation of Geoff, Dungeon #199, Tales from the Yawning Portal

On the heels of being more impressed with G1 than I expected, will G2 be similarly impressing? Time to find out!

The intro blurb is mostly a repeat of the text of G1, including admonitions that running stock is for villains. Our motivation remains: figure out why the hill giants did that, no matter how fucking dangerous it is. Interestingly, the other main objective of G1 (give 'em a bloody nose) is not relevant here, because that teleport means that the frost giants aren't a threat to the villagers themselves. In fact, the room teleportation schtick kind of means G2 is filler? Like, the big reveal that the G series leads to the D series is not really impacted by the events of G2. So, oops!

Conveniently, the magical chain teleports out outside the rift so you can once again have a secret cave HQ. I feel like you have a responsibility as a GM to have a giant counterattack to at least one of these caves.

I really like the imagery of the descent into the rift here. I mean, I don't think this illustration really does it justice, imagining the deep blue color of light barely passing through the ice and how that gives the area beneath the surface an eerie oceanic glow at all times other than noon -- that's some good vibes. Gary opts for green, which is a fair enough choice. Unfortunately, Gary is more interested in simulating the mounting climbing than vibes, which means that at least one of your party members is going to fall face first into the snow drift below. Gary "generously" caps the damage at 10d6 (avg 35 dmg) -- a level 9 fighter, to be clear, has 9d10 hp (avg 45 hp) and a level 9 magic user has 9d4 hp (avg 23), so that's not ideal. Also recall that you recover 1hp per full day of rest normally, so if you fall and survive you're probably still fucked unless your cleric has a lot of spells left. I'm also pretty sure your cave HQ is above the cliff face, so, risking the descent seems like suicide to me. You're going to lose people and even leaving to heal them back up is simply taking another chance at oblivion. Take the stairs.

If you have the audacity to slow fall down, you will be blown 75ft off course in a random direction. Very cool Gary!

Another interesting detail: monsters in classic DND have a pretty short attention span and will lose you fairly quickly if you flee around a corner. This is particularly amped up here to a breezy 4 in 6 odds of success, due to blizzards blocking chase.

Anyway, we're into the room by room, so let's do some room by room shit.

There is a kind "spiked heads of our enemies at the gates" situation, with corpses mutilated and frozen in transparent ice as a warning to not intrude. Honestly that's badass. What's not badass is if the players have the wherewithal to try and free the corpses (for loot or kindness), most routes lead to the treasure being destroyed and the roof collapsing -- probably instantly killing your squishies.

The hill giants from G1 are lolling about waiting for an audience, so points for continuity. I have to imagine they're freezing their asses off, though.

There are yetis here? Which, going on the graphic and the listed intelligence score in the MonMan, I have to conclude are sentient bipedial apes but like, NOT like the Frost Giants. Actually apparently the average yeti is smarter than the average frost giant, so I guess it's a Diogenes situation where they choose to live in a shitty cave when everyone else has a nice cave?

The 5 hill giants visiting the Jarl have 1k to 6k gold fur cloaks, which like. Imagine a 6,000 gold cloak. Not only is it got to be huge (Hill Giants are 10.5ft tall), for it to be worth 6k to a vendor that's got to be a one-piece fabric cloak off a particularly rare and good condition animal. I guess the players could use it as the world's fanciest comforter?

The official appearance of a Remoraz! These are awful creatures. They swallow you whole and then superheat their insides to cook you. Nasty side effect: its outsides become furnace-hot and destroy nonmagical items and burn people to death. Look at this horrible thing! And of course it's guarding the swankiest loot to date -- a +2 Giantslaying Sword and a 3 Wishes Ring. It's been a weird trend lately that the best loot is, not owned by the leader of the Giants? The best hoard seems to always belong to Some Guy. Naturally this awesome loot "sinks into the ice" if you use a fireball, because this adventure has an addiction to telling the wizard to fuck off. Note that the sword being lost punishes the fighter for the magic users' decision. Note also that the Remoraz going into superheat mode doesn't do the same thing? It sucks. This clause sucks. Cut it. The actual room itself is kind of neat, the implication is that the Remorhaz melted a spherical hole into the ice to make a den, which is awesome.

Another iconic Garyism: ". They have had audience with the Jarl, and after a special wassail to be held on the morrow they will depart for home with a treaty scroll." Translation: They're goin to have a drinking party tomorrow to celebrate a treaty signing.

And like, one room later, we get "leman", which means lover, and "durance vile", which means long imprisonment. The text implies that basically, she's a hot butch storm giantess being held in chains until she agrees to fuck the Jarl. Gary, simply ask a tall woman out. You don't have to be weird about it.

Rather than torches, the feast hall is lit with jarred fire beetles, which is kinda cute

There is a thick iron bar that "transports whosoever is standing on the floor to the entrance of Snurre's Hall [G3]". The iron bar is a lever, obviously, but is this a lever-operated teleporter? An elevator that goes straight down? G3 eliminates the elevator theory, since apparently you can arrive here via pegasus and there are caves one can access overhead. So it's a literal teleporter, and at least how I'm reading it makes it sound more science fiction than magic. Weird.

On the whole, G2 is a massive step down from G1. G2 lacks the factionalism of G1, punishes players for damn near anything attempted, and is broadly less imaginative than G1. It's a pity, really, because it's a far more interesting locale on paper, but the reality is that you could generate a cave like this by scribbling randomly. Meh. Next time we poke G3, and hope hope hope that it's more like G1 than G2.

[winamphetamine]

README

Wendy's Amp (c) 2001 Erik "LeftE" Hanson

Inspired by Dave Thomas and his spicy chicken, classic single, Frostys, and other fine foods, this skin was created as a shrine to the quality products found at Wendy's (http://www.wendys.com). All parts of Winamp should be skinned, from main window to minibrowser to vis window! I hope you enjoy the skin, although I did take some liberty by eliminating the balance, playlist and EQ buttons from the main window in order to fully see Dave and the Wendy's logo. Does anyone ever change the balance anyway??

Things to notice: * Dave hooks you up with spicy nuggets as you turn up the volume * A Frosty flies by on the main window as the song plays * For easy changing of the balance, open the EQ window and "windowshade" it, there are both volume and balance controls on the minimized window * At Dave's Grill (EQ) you can see classic singles being built with the EQ, try different "combos" (presets) to see how the "degrees" (KHz) are affected! * The playlist uses Wide Latin for its font, which should be included in the default Windows install. Apologies to any Mac and other OS users who don't have that font, it seems to fit in with the Wendy's typeface very well. * Playlist menu items that open OS dialogue windows have a small set of slashes on them to let you know they will be opening other dialogue boxes (something I wish the original Winamp skin had) * EQ buttons show their current state (on, off, auto, manual) as opposed to being lit or unlit * B I G G I E  S I Z E D ! * Drive to your nearest Wendy's for Dave's 99 cent value menu, which contains fries, burgers, and other delicious items!! ALL HEIL DAVE! * To hotkey some of the menu items I've eliminated, try these combos:     Alt-W - Main window on/off     Alt-E - 99 cent menu (Playlist) on/off     Alt-G - Wendy's Grill (EQ) on/off     Alt-T - Wendy's Browser (Minibrowser) on/off     Ctl-Alt-K - Wendy's Vis (Visualizations) on/off     Ctl-T - Toggle Dave's Drive-Thru Total to count your total down or up (down is cheaper! heh)

Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy this skin as much as Dave enjoys your business!

[maniculum]

This is the vibe of the Prokopios text that we're doing a series of podcast episodes on currently. Hard to say how accurate it is to actual events, but this is more or less how Prokopios wants us to see Empress Theodora. (He means it in a derogatory way, to be clear. I keep forgetting that though.)

I know I put this same screenshot over Freydís Eiríksdóttir like a year ago when we were doing Greenlanders' Saga, but I think it fits Theodora better, so she gets it now.

Anyway, if you want some context, we do kind of an introduction to the text (featuring an expert) here:

And we get into reading the text here:

And that's all so far; it's an ongoing series and more will be coming. Theodora features heavily in later chapters -- in the first part above she just kind of pops in to Solve Problems With Torture And Murder, goes "you're welcome darling" and continues on her business.

[meret118]

[audio-luddite]

And then there is the other side.

My previous post mentioned Doug Sax a few times. He is one of the old dead masters. If you search for stuff you will find lists and interviews and very much stuff. One thing that will come up is his absolute preference for vacuum tube electronics. His brother was an engineer and built all the gear for his mastering studio and it was all tube based.

His tape machines, and his mixers and his lathe cutting head amplifiers all tube. Even his digital stuff had tubes apparently and his brother even built the A/D and D/A converters they used for their CD work. (Like KODO).

In one interview I found he stated that all transistor stuff is not very good. Hey that is his preference. He slags the quality of the hearing of anyone who preferred solid state. Not polite there. NO doubt which side of the line he was on. Of course this was in the 60s so yes the Vacuum was at it's apogee while people were still figuring out solid state.

He was a musician, a trumpeter, and played in orchestras. His search for sound quality was based on professionally calibrated ears. His mastering work was first rate (but there is more).

One list I found was all the major albums he mastered. It is an impressive list. One album on that list is Carly Simon's "No secrets". I have that one and think it is not great. Great cover photo though.

It is a classic and was her big hit album. To be fair I will pull it out and play it again. My impression so far was it was massively over compressed and did not sound that good. I do not play it much for that reason. There are good and bad pressings in LP manufacturing, and knowing Doug Sax was involved makes me wonder. But is it compression or a bad pressing? Every other LP I have mastered by DS is very good indeed. I suppose the album could have been made somewhere else and someone else remastered it I will see if I can find out.

Another thing is I bought and listened to this album when the ARC amp was in the line. Will it sound better with the Franken-Amp? That would be ironic.

[legionofmyth]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition by TSR

🐉 Step into the realm of epic quests and classic adventures with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition by TSR! ⚔️ Relive the golden age of fantasy RPGs, filled with rich lore, legendary monsters, and unforgettable heroes. Perfect for both nostalgic veterans and new adventurers alike! #ADnD #DungeonsAndDragons #RPG #TabletopGaming #FantasyAdventure

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition by TSR What is it? AD&D 2E – PHB AD&D 2E – DMG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition (AD&D 2E) by TSR is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game set in a myriad of worlds, from the mystical realms of the Forgotten Realms to the dark and gothic Ravenloft. Released in 1989, this edition builds on the foundation of the original AD&D, refining and expanding its…

[saltarellos]

I don’t normally make text posts here but @narwhaled-wheatfield tagged me so here we are

rules: shuffle your likes or your favorite playlist and post the first ten tracks (and say a little something about them if you want)

So here’s that with my spotify likes:

1. Fade to Black - Metallica

- Metallica has always been one of my favorite artists, ever since I was 13 or so. Their first five albums are classics and also excellent reminders of what metal music can be. Many artists seem to think that metal is about playing the fastest or having a louder amp than your competition. But songs like Fade to Black show that the most important ingredient in metal music is, just like in any other genre, the songwriting. Metal songs can be just as complex and compelling as songs of any other genre, and Metallica helped show that.

2. Waltz Across Texas - Ernest Tubb

- A playlist isn’t complete without the tubbster

3. Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by Jean Rondeau

- Jean Rondeau is probably the most interesting modern harpsichordist. He, along with Jakub Jozef Orlinski, helped introduce me properly to baroque music.

4. Motor Spirit - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

- I know the name is silly, but KGLW has put out the two best metal albums of the last 10 years. They also respect the principle I mentioned above. KGLW’s metal work isn’t the fastest, or the heaviest, but it is crafted with far more care and attention to detail than most modern metal music.

5. Schwanengesang: XII. Ihr Bild - Franz Schubert, performed by Kathleen Sanchez and Johnandrew Slominski

- I’ve never been a huge Schubert fan, but his vocal collections have always been a favorite of mine. And Kathleen Sanchez performs these songs perfectly.

6. Yekteniya V: Svyatyy Vkhod - Batushka

- Haven’t you seen my blog? Of course I listen to black metal.

7. 16 Waltzes: No. 4 in E Minor - Johannes Brahms, performed by Idil Biret

- Brahms’s 16 Waltzes is simply a classic. Nothing else to say.

8. Perihelion - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

- See 4

9. Ready for Tomorrow - Babe Rainbow

- In another life I lived in a van on the upper west coast and chased those tasty waves brah

10. Sweet Tasting Tennessee - Daniel Donato

- I don’t remember adding this song but it’s here and it’s good so it’s staying.

It’s missing a few of my staple genres but oh well. No ethiopian jazz, sorry nar.

I tag no one.

[creepycute-puppy-gf]

So with that comes the close to October's candy month and I gotta say, some amazingly tasty energy drinks damn. But, I said the final can of the month was special yes, how though? It is the 100th energy drink I've put a rating to, there are many I haven't shared and with that this is my personal list of energy drinks I've tried.

I'll try to update this every so often, and don't be too surprised when flavors aren't where they were bc sometimes I retry the flavors and find I was just wrong or I was wrong when I posted and then realized the error of my ways. This is both powdered and canned btw!! Best to worst, check the cut.

Ryse Pink Splash Can - Ethereal Monster Java Irish Blend - Wonderful (Sorry) G FUEL Traveler's Ale - Wonderful GHOST FaZe Pop (Gamer powder) - Wonderful G FUEL Black Ice (Blackberry Pear Vanilla) - Wonderful G FUEL Sour Power (Sour Raspberry Candy) - Wonderful Dubby Dubsludge (Sour Green Apple + Bubble Gum) - Wonderful Freshen Up Cherry Limeade - Wonderful GHOST Swedish Fish Can - Wonderful Rogue Tiger's Blood - Wonderful Monster Ultra Violet - Wonderful GHOST Orange Cream Can - Wonderful Ryse Sour Punch Blue Raspberry Can - Wonderful G FUEL Rainbow Sherbet - Wonderful Ryse Ring Pop Berry Blast Can - Wonderful GHOST Cotton Candy Can - Wonderful GHOST Sour Pink Lemonade Can - Wonderful Rogue Cotton Candy Can - Wonderful Monster Ultra White - Wonderful G FUEL Candy Corn - Great but Candy Corn so it's wonderful to me Monster Ultra Sunrise - Wonderful Advanced Cotton Candy - Wonderful GHOST Strawberry Splash Can - Wonderful G FUEL Cotton Candy - Wonderful G FUEL Lingonberry - Wonderful Dubby Dragonade - Great Reign Blue Raspberry Can - Great Alani Witch's Brew Can - Great G FUEL Grape Gummiez Can - Great GHOST Citrus Can - Great G FUEL Power Pellet Can (Cherry Lollipop) - Great G FUEL Blueberry Muffinz Can - Great G FUEL Mystery Flavor - Great G FUEL Tropical Rain - Great GHOST Tropical Mango - Great GLYTCH Moonbow - Great GHOST Warheads Sour Watermelon - Great G FUEL Kamehameha Can (Strawberry Lychee) - Great G FUEL Black on Blackberry - Great G FUEL Soda Ice Candy Can - Great Monster Aussie Lemonade - Great G FUEL Watermelon - Great Monster Khaos - Great GHOST Cherry Limeade Can - Great Monster Ultra Paradise - Great Ryse Sunny D Can - Great GHOST Sour Strips Rainbow - Great G FUEL Strawberry Banana - Great Monster Papillon - Great Rockstar Recovery Fruitpunch - Great Monster Ultra Rosa - Great Freshen Up Samurai's Spirit (Fuji Apple Mango) - Great Advanced Strawberry Shortcake - Great Alani Retro Rainbow - Good QT Rooster Booster (Strawberry) - Good GHOST Redberry Can - Good Monster Java Loca Moca - Good GHOST Blue Raspberry can - Good GLYTCH Cherry Bomb (Black Cherry) - Good Monster (classic) - Good Monster Ultra Gold - Good JuJu Caramel Apple Squeeze - Good Advanced Dream Team Punch - Good Mtn Dew MDX - Good (Listen,,,,OKAY LISTEN it tasted like Slurm, like a made up drink that couldn't exist. I liked that a lot) GLYTCH Dragonsweat (Dragonfruit) - Good G FUEL Tetris Blast Can (Grape, Apple, Passionfruit, Orange + Candy) - Good Gamersupps Strawberry Lime - Good G FUEL Blue Ice Can (Blue Raspberry) - Okay G FUEL Battle Juice (Pineapple) - Okay Gamersupps Pineapple Cocktail - Okay Bawls - Okay G FUEL Wumpa Fruit Can (Apple Peach Candy) - Okay Jolt Cola - Okay Monster Java Mean Bean - Okay GHOST Warheads Sour Green Apple - Okay Monster Ultra Peachy Keen - Okay Poggers Cream Dream - Okay (Ashwagandha root so advised against) Bang Rose - Okay Advanced Blueberry Acai - Okay Monster Ultra Fiesta Mango - Okay Full Throttle Blue Demon - Okay G FUEL Blue Ice (Blue Raspberry) - Okay Advanced Magic Rainbow Sherbet - Okay Gamersupps Blue Razz - Okay Venom Death Adder - Okay Tab Energy - Okay Redbull - Okay NOS - Okay Full Throttle - Okay SoBe Adrenaline Rush - Okay Rockstar (2005) - Bad Mtn Dew Amp - Bad Full Throttle Fury - Bad (Great if u have had enough vodka) Monster Assault - Bad Full Throttle Blueberry Acai - Bad Monster Ultra Watermelon - Bad (Made of cigarettes) Bang Rainbow Unicorn - Bad (but trans colored,,,,,,,,,,,,) G FUEL Snow Cone - Bad (flavorless??) Mtn Dew Kickstart Pineapple Orange Mango Can - Bad (salty fruit beer) Crunk!!! - Horrible (Damaged me psychologically and physically in ways I can't recount) GLYTCH Falcon Smash (Sour Blue Raspberry) - Horrible (fart smell and flavor? is there sulphur in this??)

[krakendm]

I want to recommend a story I just finished reading. Specifically I want to highlight its worldbuilding (as this blog more d&d focused), but the whole damn thing is great! Ilhen's Seventh Deathtrap (link below) is a masterpiece of modern sword and sorcery, and while it’s big strength is it’s characters, the glimpses of the wider world are tantalizing.

It has fairly classic sword and sorcery magic, which if you’re not familiar- basically magic has some cost, which can be fatal. Magic is also rare, highly valued, but the cost dissuades most people. This is a stark difference from traditional D&D wizardry, or Vancian magic (from Jack Vance’s Dying Earth series), but can help us as world designers to give additional magic to NPCs. Ilhen's Seventh Deathtrap has a lot of different disciplines, some of which we see and are familiar, like illusion magic or divination, and some that we don’t see like glaciomancy and lithomancy. Magic itself is gained from going to a spire and talking to a god (I’m summarizing a bunch but it gets discussed in depth in the novel. RAFO). This magic is strong but specialized- which is perfect for an enemy or npc.

It gives us as worldbuilders a connection from “angry ice mage, wants to kill party” to a spire where this magic is taught. We can go from a generic npc wizard to where they were taught, why they only cast x or y element spells, and why the party’s wizard (or other magic user) can or cannot learn this method of casting. It also helps us give a unique “class” that players can’t access but could have exotic spells that they can learn. To continue with the example of the angry ice mage- maybe they’re a high challenge enemy but we lack good spells that really fit “ice mage”. Well a high level glaciomancer would be able to control ice, or summon a glacier, or speak a word of power and freeze their foes. While we don’t have spells written out, we can adapt the classic spells from d&d and either reflavor them or adjust their power. Power Word Stun, an 8th level enchantment could become Power Word Freeze, a 7th level spell that does pretty much the same thing but freezes them for 1d4 rounds (or something, I’m not trying to balance a spell that will only be used by enemies, I am trying to run combat not write a book).

Additionally most spires are known, but there are some hidden ones that may be protected by death traps, or dungeons as we would call them. While I’m not going to go as in depth about dungeons as I went about magic, I will say that Ilhen's Seventh Deathtrap is about dungeons and has a good explanation of why people build dungeons, and how they go about it. It’s not the first book to feature the idea of dungeon makers, but it does talk about what kinds of death traps are made and has a bunch of examples of puzzles that you can steal.

Anyway to sum up this post- you should read Ilhen's Seventh Deathtrap. It’s FREE, about 260 pages long, has good worldbuilding, and amazing characters.

Also it’s not a litRPG which is nice cause a ton of modern fantasy (that I find at least) is plagued by numbers and stats.