Murder in Baldur’s Gate: Launch Event – report (spoilers!)

Our journey through Murder in Baldur’s Gate began this weekend. I’m running it as part of the D&D Encounters program at my local gaming store, and so we all participated in the Launch Weekend event. My biggest worry going into the event was one of numbers; we’d been sent two copies of the special adventure for the launch, and I was extremely worried there would … Continue reading Murder in Baldur’s Gate: Launch Event – report (spoilers!)

MerricBAugust 19, 2013Leave a comment

D&D, Review, Uncategorized

Murder in Baldur’s Gate – Some DMing Skill Required (minor spoilers)

Although the release date for Murder in Baldur's Gate hasn't yet come for us, I was able to browse through the adventure as part of my preparation for the upcoming D&D Encounters season. My initial reaction to the Launch Weekend adventure was "challenging". That assessment stands for the full adventure. After a run of adventures during the 4E era that were written for – basically … Continue reading Murder in Baldur’s Gate – Some DMing Skill Required (minor spoilers)

MerricBAugust 16, 20132 Comments

D&D, D&D Next, Uncategorized

Murder in Baldur’s Gate: Launch Weekend – a preview

This weekend is the Launch Weekend for Murder in Baldur's Gate – well, more properly for the D&D Encounters season that uses that adventure, but the adventure itself will be out in a few days (for regular stores – it's been out for a bit longer for stores Wizards like more). For those stores participating, Wizards have sent them copies of a special adventure. It's … Continue reading Murder in Baldur’s Gate: Launch Weekend – a preview

MerricBAugust 14, 2013Leave a comment

Books, Fantasy and Science Fiction, Review, Uncategorized

Review of “The Companions” by R.A. Salvatore

“The Companions” is the first volume of “The Sundering” series from Wizards of the Coast, a major cross-media event that transfers the Forgotten Realms from its 4e incarnation to the next edition. Written by R.A. Salvatore, "The Companions" revisits the characters of his original book – “The Crystal Shard” – and of its many sequels: Bruenor, Regis and Catti-Brie. Readers more up-to-date with Salvatore’s novels … Continue reading Review of “The Companions” by R.A. Salvatore

MerricBAugust 12, 20131 Comment

D&D, D&D 4E, Review, Uncategorized

Search for the Diamond Staff – Review and Retrospective

Search for the Diamond Staff is the adventure that was used for the 14th series of D&D Encounters, which ran over eight weeks from the 12th of June to the 8th of August 2013. The adventure is set in the Forgotten Realms and was written by long-time Realms designer Rich Baker. The adventure follows on from the game day event, Vault of the Dracolich, where … Continue reading Search for the Diamond Staff – Review and Retrospective

MerricBAugust 12, 2013Leave a comment

Board Games, Uncategorized

Sleepless Nights with Cause

I’m a little lacking in sleep at the moment. For once, it isn’t my regular gaming schedule that’s to blame, but instead the recent announcement by the BBC that Peter Capaldi is going to play the Doctor. Like the Doctor Who fan I am, I stayed up to watch the live telecast. In England, it went out at 7 pm. In America it was around … Continue reading Sleepless Nights with Cause

MerricBAugust 6, 2013Leave a comment

Board Games, Session Report, Uncategorized, Wargames

A game of Labyrinth: the War on Terror

My Thursday nights are generally spent playing wargames of one sort or another. Of late, we’ve been playing some 3-player games, but with Jon away, Sarah and I decided to play some Netrunner instead. It’s a really great game, but it didn’t really take very long to get through five games and decide we needed to tinker with our decks some more. We’d brought in … Continue reading A game of Labyrinth: the War on Terror

MerricBAugust 4, 2013Leave a comment

AD&D, D&D, Session Report, Uncategorized

Vikings, Lost Islands and Encumbrance – my AD&D Greyhawk game

My ongoing AD&D campaign, which I’m currently running every second Saturday at my FLGS, just finished playing through C3: The Lost Island of Castanamir. It isn’t part of the main storyline of the campaign, but was played more as a side quest to allow a number of newer characters to gain experience so they can be properly integrated into the larger campaign. Thus, the Lost … Continue reading Vikings, Lost Islands and Encumbrance – my AD&D Greyhawk game

MerricBAugust 4, 2013Leave a comment

D&D, D&D 4E, Session Report, Uncategorized

Tharizdun and Elemental Evil – my 4E campaign continues!

My 4E Greyhawk campaign, which I’ve been running since 4E first came out in 2008, is moving towards its final stages. The characters are mostly 24th level, and the story we’re now running should end the campaign. Although the campaign is normally played fortnightly, there have been breaks in it due to illness and the other things that afflict long-running campaigns. Three of the six … Continue reading Tharizdun and Elemental Evil – my 4E campaign continues!

MerricBAugust 3, 2013Leave a comment

AD&D, Review, Uncategorized

Review of Against the Slavelords

Against the Slavelords (A0-4) is a reprint of the classic series of AD&D adventures, first run at GenCon XIII in 1980, done as part of the series of reprints Wizards have been publishing during the gap between 4th edition and whatever D&D Next eventually gets called. It has the same trade dress as the other AD&D reprints, and is an attractive package. If some of … Continue reading Review of Against the Slavelords

MerricBAugust 1, 20131 Comment