Meet the Challenge July 2009

Some of you may know that WotC decided to cancel the monthly Dungeon Delve program, and may know that this saddens me. For me it was a chance to meet some people in my area that gamed and introduce them to 4e, it was a chance for me to have that one extra day playing d&d. Those of you out there who are parents and work all the time understand how it can be. I play once a week and that's enough for may family. Having the once a month extra game was something we all could slide by the wife.

With all that being said i am introducing Meet the Challenge, a monthly adventure created by yours truly that is up there for everyone to download. The purpose is for your group to try and go through the adventure in one night, and for you to organize your own event at your local gaming store. I designed the adventure for 5th level using mostly stuff from just the players handbook 1 and monster manual 1 for the purpose of new players. The adventure is great for regular players to try something new, and great for new players to be introduced into the game.

Meet The Challenge! Taken - July 09
This adventure is designed for 4-6 players of 5th level. It is ideal for new players
beginning the game. This adventure takes approximately 4-5 hours to play. (Setup + 1 hour
per encounter) If things start go slow down, feel free to give players a hidden +5 until the
end of the encounter.

Background
This adventure takes place in any world you want and can easily be adapted. While
traveling the party decides to stop for the night since according to their map they are
coming up to a small town. Upon arrival they see Orcs, Goblins, and Gnolls attacking the
town’s people. It turns out the group of goblins are attacking to capture humans for slaves,
the party fines out that some women and children were taken into the woods just before
they arrived.

Each encounter I've listed different monster options based on the number of people in the party, and listed what page you can find the monster on. Because each party size is a little different DM's should use their judgment when looking at the encounter map.

The adventure uses tiles from many different sets, i recommend reading through it in advance.

So go ahead and download this adventure and i 'think' you can even organize it through WPN as a WPN public event at your local game store. Remember these sorts of events help support your local game store in getting more and better products for you.

Please share your experiences with me by mailing Mike@Mikeleger.ca RE:Meet the Challenge

Ive also included some characters for you they are now hosted on iplay4e.com

Download Adventure
Dragonborn Warlord Raiann
Elf Ranger Mialee
Human Paladin Mikal
Dwarf Fighter Bardryn
Hafling Rogue Errich
Tiefling Warlock Gladness
Eladrin Wizard Quarion
Half Elf Cleric Aelar

Enjoy the adventure, reviews and feedback appreciated until next time keep your dice on the table.

Why Min/Maxing actually works

Recently Ameron from Dungeonsmaster.com posted 'The Most Powerful Fighter is a Battlerager Fighter' and I personally like the article and like seeing whats possible with characters in any given system.

Well when you actually think about it and put it into context min maxing makes sense.

First the game is designed for you to min maxing, any game any system that sets a requirement, forces you to min/max, to build a better player. 1st edition, wanted to be a magic user, better be a elf, how about paladin well then you better roll good. 2nd edition fighter, yeah 18/00 hmm con 20, yes... 3rd edition (don't get me started) 4th edition, yes there is min maxing.

Second lets think of real life for a second, and not golf. People who train day in and day out on something get really good at it, but by doing so they are not good in other areas. I'm a computer tech, i could not build a house, though i could help if someone told me what to do.

It makes sense

Same with it is a fighter to dish out damage, why would a party accept a fighter that wasn't good at what he does, it just doesn't add up. your a crack team of heroes fighting monsters, each player is one in a thousand. Regular people don't train like you and regular people don't fight monsters

Well min/maxing ruin the game

Anything can ruin the game, its how people chose to role play the game. The beauty of 4e in my opinion is you have so many options, you can easily min/max but in my experience I've found people take the choice they liked or felt was cooler than just min/maxing.

SoO Game Night 10.2

Out of Game

This week we got to play at my house again, for two key reasons. One Deryk wasn't coming out and second my wife wasn't going to be home. It was good to have home field advantage again. everyone showed up on time, and was looking forward to play.

In Game

The group left the tribe of the black dragons in search of the two lovestruck dragonborn and after some time discovered their cabin. Upon careful investigation it was revealed to the party that a tree was launched into the window, the building was cut up with a blade and the hand of lord Patrin was cut off clean. the hand was left behind.

The party reviewed what they knew about trolls (nature 35) and relied that this did not seem like trolls. In any case they continued tracking to the entrance of a cave system that eventually led them into a cavern with a strong stream running through it.

The party was devided from the start, they wanted to stop what appeared to be some cross between a troll and a vampire. Party members were attacking each other, and after a lengthy exhausting battle the vampiric troll turned to mist and escaped out of cracks in the ceiling of the cave.

The group then decided to speak with dead (trying the troll bones) and found out that the two missing dragonborn are being taken to Nightshade. Nightshade is in his lair, and they have some help finding their way (+2)

Continuing through the cave system they came across an area that seemed to busted into a previously worked area. Trolls lie in waiting begun their attacks as soon as someone peaked their heads around.

After what seemed like an eternity of the party being seperate again they managed to hold hostage the troll witch.

Now it is time to ask her more questions


Treasure & XP

• Encounter 1
• 1x Black Pearl (500 gp)
• 750xp each
• Encounter 2
• 300gp
• 1x Black Pearl (500 gp)
• 600xp each

NPC's

No new NPCs found

Quotes of the Day

"Hot, Cold, he's uncomfortably warm"

SoO Game Night 10.1

Out of Game

We took a few months off to play a 4e OA game, and now the party is back at it again, fighting the evil armies of Orcus

to recap, the group was last at the dwarven lands and had discovered that a secret weapon lies with alexandar that will help the group in the fight against Orcus and prevent him from returning to this land.

We were playing over at Deryk & Korey's due to the possibility Deryk had H1N1, my wife did not want the game at our house. So TJ brought over some deer steak, and Dave & Helen brought over some sausages & potatoes and we had a blast. We had little room and a young pup (Pan) but over all was good to be back in the DM seat.

In game

the group traveled onward to the Dragonborn kingdoms, the home of Pax. Upon returning home Pax had discovered his cousin Nala has gone missing. Nala is the daughter of the tribal leader, Lord Kriv. Pax's father the captain of the guard has tasked Pax to find out what has happened, and suggested they go to a neighboring town who have had rivals with in the past.

After the party discovered much about Pax's past, and seen many etching on items in the keep that bare his name; they left in the morning to the tribe of the Black Dragon.

The day was wrought with dark skies and heavy rains, halfway during their journey the sky became as black as night just as the party came across an old set of ruins.

A battle ensued against undead. At the end of the fight [dave's character] spoke with dead on the wizard they dispatched to find out that he is here on behalf of orcus to start a war.

When the fight was over the sky cleared up, and it was day again. The group continued along their way.

They arrived at the Black Dragon tribe and was created by Balasar who recognized the heroes from tale and Pax from their childhood. A minor disagreement came about but, Balasar soon realized that Pax was indeed looking for Lady Nala, and knew nothing about Lord Patrin.

A meeting was organized between the group, and Captian Torrin and Lord Rhogar. It was discovered that Lady Nala and Lord Patrin have secretly been seeing eachother for a few months now and had a hide out in the troll infested swamps. Lord Rhogar apologized to Pax and asked for his help in finding his son.

Tomorrow the party shall leave to find the two wayward soles.

Treasure & XP

• 1x black pearl (500 gp)
• 500xp each

NPC's

• Lord of Bronze Dragon tribe: Lord Kriv
• Missing Girl: Lady Nala
• Lord of Black Dragon tribe: Lord Rhogar
• Missing Boy: Lord Patrin
• Captain of the Guard Bronze Dragon: Captain Medrash
• Captain of the Guard Black Dragon: Captain Torinn
• Son of Captain Torinn: Balasar

Quotes of the Day

• "Helen, your the but plug of d&d"
• "Everyone hates a bloody throng"
• "I eyebite him right in his brown eye."