How I built the Bad Guy

Had a fun gaming last night,
The group really pushed to meet the big bad guy for this part of the campaign.

Started late in the session and even stopped mid-session in the boss fight due to a family issue.

How did I build Mokmurian?
On page 198 on Princes of the Apocalypse a character named Miraj Vizann I took that character and placed it on the Stone giant template, increasing the Challenge Rating to 10, then took Marlos Urnrayle on page 199 and added the Earthen defeat and earth passage and Legendary Resistance.
Lair actions are kept the same and only added erupt earth to the Lair actions for two points increasing the CR to 14 (an adult green dragon)

My players then laughed at me a few sessions back about how easy it has been for them, so I kicked it up. Changed the spells and placed three glyphs of warding within the room he was going to be in.
Two erupt earths and a fly spell.
You see if the  glyph is a concentration spell the person it is on does not need to concentrate on it. I dropped three glyphs in the room, two on the stairs and one in an antique chest sitting on the big bad guys desk, it was a fly spell.
In mid fight it looks grim for the party until the last round, the minions are dead and with no party members down they have a hard time fighting this Stone giant wizard flying in the air but we shall see.
 

Gaming Group History part 2

Group #6
Paul,Doug,Kent,Ian,Reuben,Brett
How a simple mall visit turned into a gaming adventure.
I ran into two old friends from my warhammer and hobby business days. I would sell comics to a store in the county and he would in turn do the same back when we needed extra comic books for customers files. They played warhammer and we would meet up once in awhile to hang out and play warhammer.
The small reunion turned into a car pool adventure to drive almost an hour out of town to play D&D 3.5e. It lasted almost two years.
Memorial occurrence
-When the gnome rogue failed two chances to beat the control of a magic sword, by rolling two consecutive rolls of a 1. The character left the campaign as they were mind controlled.  
-I have very found memories of using Dungeon Magazine to it's full potential with this group, dropping side quests and main quests using only Dungeon Magazines.

Group#7
Paul,Doug,Reuben,Brett,Added Joe a few years later
Group#6 stopped playing for the summer and I received a email about getting back together but minus two players.
We started the game but with Pathfinder and after finishing book 2 of the Carrion Crown adventure path, politics pulled the group apart and I walked away. My mistake was listening to the wrong person, other factors were part of it but it is what it is.
Memorial occurrence
Just Doug being a great and fun loving person, I miss him.

Group #8
Brett,Walter,Andrew,Joe,Reuben, Adam (my son) joined the group.
Joe left for the birth of his daughter, returned months later and left again for the birth of his son, then left again with the birth of his second daughter. Adam, joined the group. Ota joined for four months during his stay in Canada.
We stopped playing Carrion Crown adventure path with group#7 and started up in book three with two co-workers of Joe's (Walter & Andrew)
Adam (my son) joined the group with the start of book five and then I had my break down (not a real one), just that I could not give the group a challenge) and Brett took over as the DM for book five.

After that we tried D&D 4e, but moved onto d&d 5e after only a few sessions as everyone (the internet) said it was better.
I played books 1&2 of Pathfinders Kingmaker with my sons group, ending in a TPK. My sons second group had half the same people and we played D&D 4e and they graduated and we ended the game.

I do enjoy the easy of play that D&D 5e brings to the table. But the groups 6,7 & 8 only played three or sometimes twice every 2 months, not a great amount of gaming TIME was done but it was fun.

Memorial occurrence
-Playing Sinister secrets again but in 5e, running all three U series books and combining it later with Giant slayer adventure path for Pathfinder but in D&D 5e.
-Having fun again
-Making it to level 13 was a nice triumph. 

Group#9 and current
Ryan,Adrien,Adam,Nick (left the game),Andrew (left the game),Mike (left the game) and Joe was added later. Other Ryan is are sub.

This is my current group, we have been only been together since mid 2017 so it is getting to a 2 year anniversary very soon.
I willingly stopped group#8 due to reasons, some political, some selfish.
With this group I played not DMed. I waited till people started dropping off and in time took over the reigns with the left over players but told everyone we are gaming twice a month, the other groups played every three weeks or four, not this one, I selfishly wanted more. I still want more gaming but 24 sessions a year is good for now.
Now sitting at four players with a sub in when people can't make the game makes it easier to run, with my last group six players in Pathfinder bogged the game to a slow moving pace mixed with a slow progress took 3 and half years to finish a campaign.
Currently we are level 10 (soon to be level 11) I plan on getting them to level 14 or 15 and ending the campaign for another system.
This group is consistent and by adding in a substitute player, it has helped with gaming.

Measuring Heights & Water depth

I use two ways of measuring height in are D&D 5e games.

One is with a kickstarter I backed a few years back and the second is with the warhammer flying stands. This warhammer idea I stole the idea from pictures on line from order of the amber die.

Assembled 18 more stands in the mail 20 more showed up. Keep going!!!

Gaming Group History part 1

I was having a chat with my oldest son about gaming and I started on a rant about all the groups I have been apart of.
The time table will be off a little, these gaming groups have been gaming with me for more then 2 years, anything less then 2 years will not be given a number but I had a few of those as well.

Group#1
My High school had a D&D club, this is 1985
We played every lunch hour, so got around 45mins each day of gaming.
I really enjoyed this and it helped me as I went against the grain and went to a public school as my grade school I attended was separate school board.
I do not stay in contact with no one from my high school days.
Did this for nine months a year for 45 mins a day, made for a session a week.

Group#2
Craig,Darrin,Jim,and Todd
I started playing with one person in the D&D club at a home game. They needed a fourth and I joined, I'm two years younger then everyone else,we played two to three Sundays a month for nine months and usually did marathons during the summer months to get even more gaming in. 
Memorial occurrence
-Kentucky Fried Chicken was across the street, I still remember these guys every time I see a KFC.
-Just having tons of fun gaming with no responsibilities.
-No Internet and just crazy with each and every book that we picked up and read.
-Got hooked on Jolt Cola

Group #3
John (my brother),Craig,Paul, later added Joe (my future brother in-law), Art joined at the end.
After High school ended people went to college and/or got jobs and went other ways in life, I met a girl and my love of gaming got my future brother in-law hooked on it, he was 16 at the time.
We played in my parents basement, every other Sunday for 4 or so years.
Memorial occurrence
-Playing all the big modules (against the giants, demon web pits, temple of elemental evil, we played them all.
-Having the halfling thief trapped in the temple of elemental evil using open locks to lock the doors in the room and resting with 3 dead player bodies till he healed and died trying to get out of the dungeon.

Group#4
Craig,Paul,Art,Joe
We moved the game to Art's apartment.
Gaming every other Sunday for 3+ years was fun with this group, this group played everything but D&D, this is the mid 90's and Vampire the masquerade, Werewolf the apocalypse, Rifts and Gurps was the order of the day.
This group fell apart due to marriage,me opening a business and life.
Memorial occurrence
-My brother quest starred one session and gave us a split personality wizard & fighter that changed every time he saw a flame. (Gurps)
-Joe jumping off a 20 story building landing, failing his hunger rolls in a Vampire game and killing 3 homeless people in the alley as he fled the city as he gave himself away.
-Paul getting a Tattoo of his werewolf character as he loved the theme of the game so much.
-Joe making a simple wizard in Rifts become a mega mad mage that was resistant to energy.

Group#5
Dan,Reuben,Joe,Paul,Mike (later replaced Paul)
At this time I had not gamed for a few years as I started a hobby store with my brother and we both applied and got really good jobs, We closed the store after 4 years of business.
At the end of it two new friends that I have been playing too much Warhammer Fantasy came to understanding that we also had a love of RPG's as well.
We started playing at Dan's house, one Sunday we RPGed and the next we played Warhammer Fantasy.
This is the time of D&D 3e, we bought it and started rolling dice again. To date this was the longest group I played with and lasted 6+ years.
Memorial occurrence
-Joe having a breakdown (not a real one) when his character died, after a 10 minute cool down he announced he was dropping out to go to teachers college anyway so it was fitting the way it happened. The group disbanded after this.
-Mike having a similar breakdown (not a real one) when the sorcerer and wizard spent four rounds buffing each other, while the fighter and cleric died to hill giants
-Paul leaving the group to start a business, I miss Paul. I only gamed with him but this was the last time I gamed with him and still have found memories of fighting the bad guys with him.
-Playing some NEW cool adventures, we really took to the game, sunless citadel, forge of fury, red hand of doom, etc,etc....


gaming group history part 2

New Year Gaming Resolutions

Wow, I did not make a resolution this year? I did it was a 10 year goal.

Let's define it farther.

I want to finish a
-Starfinder adventure path (2 years)
-Pathfinder 1e adventure path (2 and a half years)
-Pathfinder 2e adventure path (2 and a half years)

7 years planned.With smaller of other games between those three campaigns my ten year goal looks fun. Again these may not be only my decision as the group has to vote on it as well.

With my second Dungeons & Dragons 5e campaign ending (in or around) ten months, those are my three wishes as I have only made it to book 5 in a pathfinder 1e game group fell apart and we moved on the 5e.

Kobold Press

I have purchased and used these two books in my 5th edition campaign and I strongly recommend purchasing them.

These are great books and useful for D&D 5e encounter building.
Have yet to read the Midgard worldbook and the Midgard Hero's handbook, but like what I see in the Hero's handbook so far.

Wraith & Glory

Figures.

I just purchased the Warhammer 40K Warith & Glory RPG corerule book months ago and three days ago the starter boxed set.
Today Cubicle 7 will be taking over the reigns from Ulisses. I have a feeling my books are obsolete now. Glad I waited for Shadowrun 5e as 6e was announced a week ago.

Session Reports

Really behind on these. I need to step it up. Currently behind 6 sessions reports😟 maybe a few more?


T Minus 24 sessions till campaign ends.

This is an approximate number, it maybe more or less depending on the outcome of are adventuring cast.

Healing Potions

The internet is a buzz with potion bottles with dice in them, used as Healing potion for players to drink (alcoholic drinks) and also ones with dice in them.

I did a cheap version of it for my players, plus did it for cure wounds used green for the druid and blue for the cleric.. They enjoyed it all of one session. Used only the healing potion.
I like the concept but you can't make someone use other dice 😏

Character Development

Character Development

With the next player about to get part of his character development played out I tend to give the players options on following the current path or going off the rails.

This is taken from the back of the Pathfinder module Down the blighted path. Some of it has changed to follow my derailment of the current path of the adventures.

"Descendants of the Ironblood clan are vanishing, dragged screaming into the darkness by the animated bodies of their fallen kin. The Darkwoods and their hometown of Davarn need heroes to break this family curse. What mysteries lie sealed within Delbera Darkwoods
ancient abandoned fortress? And what challenges lurk along the Blighted
Path winding through the Darklands beneath Golarion’s surface?"

I will use this to make the Ironbloods cursed from what Ulfgar Darkwood did years ago to betray the Ironblood clan,By using elements from an exsisting module and converting it to what you need is a simple way to use the tools avaialabe to make the work load smaller for a D.M/G.M.

Ghosts of Saltmarsh

with Ghosts of Saltmarsh pre-ordered I wish I had this 3+ years ago when I ran the same adventures.

But that is the power of D&D 5e the simplicity of the system allows quick adaptation on the fly or with little work to convert old module to the current rules system.

Tales from the Yawning portal is a current favourite of mine for 5e as it took old things I did and made them new, I will admit I have not read to many adventures that has been published for 5e.

Mokmurian

Mokmurian my big bad guy the party will fight soon


Mokmurian Stone Giant Wizard (11th level)
Large giant, neutral
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 170 (lld12 +55+44)
Speed 40ft.
STR
23 (+6)
DEX
15 (+2)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
18 (+4)
CHA
15 (+2)
Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +8, Wis +4
Skills Athletics +12, Perception +4
WIS
12 (+1)
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Giant
Challenge 14 (2,900 XP)

Stone Camouflage. The giant has advantage on Dexterity
(Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.

Innate Spellcasting. Mokmurian innate spellcasting ability is
Constitution (spell save DC 16). He can innately cast the
following spell, requiring no material components:
1/day:
pass without trace
earth tremor (cast at level 2)
erupting earth

Spellcasting. Mokmurian is an 11th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting
ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +8 to hit with spell
attacks). He knows the following wizard spells:
Cantrips (at will): acid splash, blade ward, friends, light,
message, mold earth
1st level (4 slots): chromatic orb, mage armor, magic missile
2nd level (3 slots): Maximilian's earthen grasp,
shatter, suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, erupting earth
4th level (3 slots): polymorph, stoneskin
5th level (2 slots): wall of stone
6th level (1 slot): move earth

Earthen Defeat. When Mokmurian drops to 0 hit points, his body
transforms into mud and collapses into a pool. Anything he is
wearing or carrying is left behind.

Earth Passage. Mokmurian can move in difficult terrain composed
of anything made from earth or stone as if it were normal
terrain. He can move through solid earth and rock as if it were
difficult terrain. If he ends his turn there, he is shunted into the
nearest space he last occupied.

Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If Mokmurian fails a saving throw, he
can choose to succeed instead.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The giant makes two greatclub attacks.
Greatclub. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10ft., one
target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one
target. Hit: 28 (4d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a
creature, it must succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or
be knocked prone.
REACTIONS
Rock Catching. If a rock or similar object is hurled at the giant,
the giant can , with a successful DC 10 Dexterity saving throw,
catch the missile and take no bludgeoning damage from it.

Lair Actions
Mokmurian can take lair actions. On initiative count
20 (losing initiative ties), Mokmurian uses a lair action to
cast earthquake without using components. As long as
he maintains concentration on earthquake, initiative
count 20 is the start of Marlos’s turn for the purpose
of the spell. He can take no other lair actions while
concentrating on earthquake.
Mokmurian second option for a lair action is to draw
power from the earth node to heal. When he does so, he
regains 30 (6d8 + 3) hit points.

Legendary Actions
Mokmurian can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the
options below. Only one legendary action option can be used
at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Mokmurian                                              regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Detect. Mokmurian makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.                                                              Melee attack. Mokmurian can make a melee attack.
Swift Spell (Costs 2 Actions). Mokmurian centers a erupting earth spell
on himself or up to 120 feet away, cast for free and if centered on himself
cast for free.

What I did Today

What I did Today

Working on converting Rise of the Rune Lords book 4 Fortress of the Stone Giants to D&D 5e, the group just defeated the Storval Stairs encounter. Soon will have that written up, about 6 sessions reports behind.

What I did today?

• Listening to: Find the path eps.45,Ruins of Azlant eps.13,Androids & Aliens eps.3,glass cannon eps.197
• Reading: Midgard campaign setting
• Watching: Re-watching the office, in session 5

• Playing: D&D 5e in Golarion world
• Eating: poorly :(
• Drinking: water and coffee

Sitting in my cart with chapters indigo are 1 starfinder AP's (Dawn of flame #3) pathfinder AP'S Tyrants grasp #3
Sitting in my cart in Wordery signal of screams pawns & return of the runelords pawn



In the Mail,
Nothing Saving Money due to Pathfinder 2e release date.

Pr-Ordered

1.D&D 5e, Ghost of Saltmarsh
2.Pathfinder 2e corebook
3.Pathfinder 2e bestiary


Missing,
Adventure Paths
last 4 books of Jade Regent (Fear I will never get book 4 of this AP, as it is over priced)
All 6 books of Wrath of the Righteous (this is a maybe)

Pawns,
Return of the Runelords pawns
War for the Crown Pawns
Against the aeon throne pawns
Alien Archives 2 pawns

Map Folio's,
Return of the Runelords



In the mail
Return of the Runelords folio
War for the Crown Pawns
Starfinder beginner box
Warhammer 40K wraith & glory starter set

Selling,

Sold my WFRP 3Rrd edition collection (Sold)
Cryx painted army
Undead painted army
Gator painted army