*runs around the board, shootin' stuff*

[the_gneech]

Well, that was fun. :) Tonight was the first session of jamesbarrett's rebooted D&D campaign, the one from which Theran (the warrior-mage) just retired to be replaced by Celedras. I'll miss Kitty (no Gunsmoke gags, please) and the group is a little poorer for the loss of Tyro, but on the whole, I think this will be a great fresh start for the game, which was beginning to creak a little under its own weight there by the end.

Playing Celedras was much fun; as the party scout, he almost always has something useful to do, even if it's just to stick his neck out in order to draw fire away from the rest of the group. He's also has so many more cool options than Theran did! Even with the help of the Eldritch Knight PrC, Theran was a mediocre wizard and a rather sad fighter. Celedras (say it with me: kuh-LED-ras) has benefited from D&D's tendency to reward specialists, while Theran was always hindered by it. Celedras also has more personality than Theran did. For being 130+ years old, he is still an eager, wide-eyed sort of character who takes delight in just being alive. There's a bard at the inn? "Yay! I love music!" We're tromping up the side of a mountain? "Yay! I love traveling in the forest!" etc. However, he's also a 10th-level character who fought at the Battle of Emridy Meadows, watched the rise and fall of the Temple of Elemental Evil, and has generally been crusading his way across the Flanaess for the past century ... creating that "ancient youth" feel that's just right for an elf.

Aside from enjoying my character more, the session also had a good number of fun, cool bits. Particularly noteworthy was when we got to come riding to the rescue of a party of 1st-level NPC's who were in way over their heads fighting a band of orc marauders. After all the times that I've been a low-level character who was suitably awed by the Kewl Uber NPCs who saved my butt from a TPK, it was a lot of fun to have the roles reversed and have the wet-behind-the-ears starter heroes goshing and thanking us profusely.

Plus, and let's be honest here, everybody loves the opportunity to take out 12 orcs in two rounds. Don't deny it.

I also liked sitting back and letting camstone be the party leader. Theran was something of a would-be mastermind, and was always coming up with these intricate tactical plans -- largely to make up for the fact that he personally couldn't actually do that much. Celedras, by contrast, is very much "sidekick" material and happy to be so, and that's a new role for me. Most of the time, when I'm a player, I have a tendency to do a lot more of the talking than I should, offering suggestions for other players when I'm not doing my own thing, and I can't help but think that must get very annoying for everybody else. So part of playing Celedras for me, is an effort to sit down, shut up, and let the other people have the spotlight.

So, all in all, it was a good session. :) Lots of NPC interaction (which is my favorite part of any game), a nice, flavorful setting and intriguing beginning, and the chance to run around being uber. "Yay! I love being uber!" ;)

-The Gneech

Comments

[jamesbarrett.livejournal.com]

I'll take that to mean I did a really good job this time. Now to spend some time transfering some of the info out of the module so I can find it quicker, cauae I wasn't sure if you'd get to the cloister or not, so much of that, I didn't really have prepped yet.

I had a feeling you all would like the newbie adventurer rescue bit. It seemed approppriate to what I was trying to do. I enjoyed setting that part up.

-Frisk

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

Ooh, sounds like lots of fun!
NPC interaction, eh? Well.. I dunno just how on-topic this might be, but I have a couple of extra miniatures that're just sitting in a shelf collecting dust. I'm thinking of writing up some profiles or character sheets for them, but have a good feeling you'd benefit from me sending them to you to paint!
It might be a good way to set up a new NPC party or something.. You know, like rivals you meet consistently over the course of your quest *coughTeamRocketcough* or something.

Anyway, was I rambling? Right, sorry. Anyway, if you're interested in getting my miniatures, let me know!
And if you want to see what I'm thinking up for profiles, let me know too. I'm working on them right now!

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I'm not real sure here if you're asking me to paint 'em and send 'em back to you, or if you're looking to find someplace for them to live other than on your shelf. :) Either way, you'll probably find a better candidate at your FLGS* ... thanks anyhow! :)

-The Gneech

*Friendly Local Gaming Store

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

Trying to find a new home for them, really. Plus, we don't have a very friendly local gaming store... It's kinda unfriendly.

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

Thinking back, it's still totally rude to ask you to paint and send 'em back. I mean them to be for you because you could always use some new things to paint, and they're sitting there sadly. Pleeeease take 'em! I'm not making use of them. :

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

*chuckles*

Well gee, if it really means that much to you, I can take 'em. :) I've just never had anybody ask me to relieve them of their minis before. 0.o

-TG

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

They'd be happier in your hands, I'm sure. They'd get a jolly good paint job and maybe be able to meet your adventuring team? Well.. Do you play using miniatures..? Whatever the case, you've got lots of painting skill, and I'm offering them free to you, so you don't have to pay more for that hobby!
Well, unless you're missing some colors...
Would you want some pictures of them first?

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'm not going to make you jump through hoops in order to have the privelege of giving me stuff! =D I'm arrogant, but I'm not that arrogant. ;)

And thank you. :)

-TG

[frostdemn.livejournal.com]

Then probably gonna pass them to MammallamaDevil, unless I can send it directly to you.

Silly Question:

[stilghar.livejournal.com]

If demolishing 12 orcs in 2 rounds of combat is Über, what would you call waxing a Great Wyrm Red, in her lair, in a single combat round?