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Showing posts with label D&D. Show all posts
Showing posts with label D&D. Show all posts

Friday, April 10, 2026

Dnd cartoons ep 10 and 11 official

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n1RshIJTqX0&ra=m

Time 16:40, love the midair turn around pose of the phantom stalker… great fight!

Time 17:00, great comedy... what a minute, did the The Princess Bride's funny slow priest guy's long winded marriage stuff come from this little D&D cartoon episode, am I remembering right? 

The Princess Bride's quote "Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethah today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream!

__________ and __________ have come here to make this tweasured agweement in front of their family and fwiends, pwomising their commitment in this holy and magnificent pwace, today and each day fowawd.

We would not be here today without wuv. Wuv, twoo wuv between these two. Twoo wuv will follow you forevah, so tweasure your wuv, __________ and __________, always. "

Creatures:

Ep.10 - The giant dragon looking thing with the venomous tooth is claimed to be a Dragon Turtle, by wikipedia. 

Phantom stalkers in ep 10. 

Bullywugs, with pronunciation at the end of ep 11. "Dear me! Bullywugs!"



Both episodes had me scratching my head even years ago… the DM said go north. Soon after, south. Well it was an imposter. But then, they went that way anyway. 

I love it when the phantom stalker was still trying to impersonate DM, and was speaking but he changed back and was in his scary PS voice. 

Friday, March 27, 2026

The D&D cartoon items in D&D 5.5e 2024

 Energy Bow, we have it, love it, so versatile: https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/magic-items#Energy-Bow

  • Can restrain
  • Can save your friends from a distance (treats like a teleport back to you, but we reskin to be it grabs you and brings you back quickly)

Hat of Many Spells, might be good: https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/magic-items#Hat-of-Many-Spells



Shield of the Cavalier, nice: https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/magic-items#Shield-of-the-Cavalier

  • Has a super invul type sphere thing like in the cartoon
  • Powerful bash attack

Quarterstaff of the Acrobat, quite nice: https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/magic-items#Quarterstaff-of-the-Acrobat

  • once per rest when you're hit with an attack while holding the quarterstaff, you can spend a reaction to gain a +5 armor class bonus against that attack.
  • Adv on acrobats checks when 10 foot pole form, but can't use it to deflect or throw this way. 

Thunderous Greatclub - I love in the cartoon how he has to knock it on something, gently or hard, to activate, very cool: https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/magic-items#Thunderous-Greatclub

  • Can knock people down
  • Destroys objects well (just like cartoon)


Friday, March 20, 2026

D&D Cartoons episodes 4 and 5 on youtube

 More official D&D cartoons on youtube, episode 4 and 5. Great as usual!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAo1XVR-JiQ

DM's crazy eye "You might just be right" scene was great. 

They snuck in some demon statues/altars. 

Monsters, good and bad aplenty. Always unique stuff. 

Venger's eye beams, yeah. 

Warduke, a fan favorite. 


Friday, February 20, 2026

Popcorn Initiative in D&D

Sounds iffy to me, but someone on startplaying with 30 yrs experience is using it. Guy's name is Northern Dungeons on startplaying. 



Well he uses it for "I like to use Popcorn initiative for exploration and skill challenges when there is an urgency or danger that opens up space for cinematic descriptions and allows equal opportunities for the spotlight."

Thursday, February 19, 2026

MerricB, on AD&D and new D&D... he hasn't updated his site in a while

 MerricB, on AD&D and new D&D... he hasn't updated his site in a while, but lotsa good stuff as I recall. Totally agree with this one:

https://merricb.com/2025/04/24/i-want-magic-weapons-to-matter/?unapproved=41222&moderation-hash=3f148576cd007ea2439c57da4097c818#comment-41222


https://merricb.com/2014/10/22/add-review-c3-the-lost-island-of-castanamir/

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

A D&D thought to keep treasure interesting I think

Thought stemmed from here: https://bxblackrazor.blogspot.com/2025/12/ad-assumptions.html

The thought is, sometimes it is a character's JOB to get money or treasure. Why?

A paladin or cleric needs to get money for the church to survive and spread the word. 

Maybe a druid even needs stuff like:

  • gold to create a magical item to help a grove do something.
  • money to "pay off" the nearby town so it doesn't infringe on a forest. On 2nd thought this feels a little off, but maybe something around this idea would work... heck  you could say money for weapons, and then chase off poachers or something. 
Any class, that is good aligned:
  • money to help a poor town better build up defenses/ defend itself from bandits or monsters.

The kid figured this out during the Strahd/Ravenloft games we had (our weird mix of 1e and 5e)... he gave away the thing, what's it called... it reminded me of a robot and an iron golem, but it was super powerful. He gave it away to the town b/c well, the town was surrounded by evil creatures and was desperate. Nice kid I have, huh? 

Crazy Mastodon D&D and LARP (music) video

 https://youtu.be/6Aw1WnNVcYw

Found on an old post here: https://beyondtheblackgate.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-06-25T07:15:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=21&by-date=false

I tend to dig Mastodon, but this video was very dnd entertaining. 

Sunday, November 30, 2025

LichHouse on Isle of Dread

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kFIxrBjYCk&t=120s

Great info early on.

  • Bundled in Expert set.
  • Fan favorite but controversial bcuz
    • Thin story. (Fine by me). 
    • Monsters are a little just thrown in all over. That’s fine too. 
    • But lotsa potential 
  • Kinda Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, kinda Pirates of the Caribbean
  • A lurking evil hides on the isle
Mystara info, cool, around 14-15 minute mark. 
And here is The Great One, the patron immortal of all dragons in Mystara:



Tuesday, October 7, 2025

AD&D vs 3.5e vs. D&D - Chuuls maybe came from Garbugs

I ran into the Garbug monster, doing my nightly AD&D 2e monster perusing. And the site I was using didn't have a picture. These guys had the picts up, and a nice theory about ... maybe since Garbugs disappeared after 2e AD&D and the Chuul appeared in 3e/3.5e D&D... maybe they are sort of the same monster. 

https://ravencrowking.blogspot.com/2022/08/lets-convert-fiend-folio-garbug-black.html

https://www.tumblr.com/thecreaturecodex/185094259930/garbug

A Chuul. Avg 8 ft long. 

A Garbug. They could fly a tiny bit. ~Same size as Chuul tho, 8-10 ft long. 

This guy has a Deep Dive on Chuuls. https://dumpstatadventures.com/blog/deep-dive-the-chuul

  • They love to eat Lizardmen. The bastards. 
  • Yeah, a good story would be saving / allying with lizardfolk to rid the swamps of the Chuul monsters. 
  • ***also, underdark Chuul.
    • Quote: Some Chuul prefer to live underground, and they prefer the meat of troglodytes and the occasional drow. If none are around, they are more than willing to make do with you.

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Cadash arcade game had a Roper, Black Pudding. What else?

 See Vanguard’s arcade video time 4:45 or so for the first Roper. A Black Pudding boss was before that.  

But a Roper!? Seriously surprised… has to be the only game to unofficially have one.  


https://www.youtube.com/live/YZA4k-LeWa8

What else, what other monsters are clearly inspired by dnd? Where the bone throwers just trolls? Actual useful game links below:

Check out the big red flying blob here… not seeing it in motion it already gives me dnd ideas.  A Lovecraft monster? Or almost like a firey blob elemental… sounds like a fun new monster to spring on the party in G3’s firey areas.  

And
Oops, i think it is just death gore animations, see here.. https://thekingofgrabs.com/2023/02/13/cadash-arcade/#jp-carousel-237816
But that’s ok, still cool looking.  

Monday, September 29, 2025

What kind of Undead is this

What kind of undead is this? At first glance, I thought it was a skeleton. But look at the hands... not very skeletal. And check the teeth... extremely pointy.


Friday, September 19, 2025

Funny D&D T Shirts

They've got some good ones... ordered a few, why not. 

 https://wizardlytees.store/products/you-can-certainly-try?variant=42580410728536

I like several, like some of these:




The Monty Python reference... yeah. 

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

White Plume Moth (real life) vs. White Plume Mountain (D&D)

 Could it be that these crazy moths with impossible wings were the inspiration for the [name of] the White Plume Mountain module in D&D in the 1970s? I saw a white one on the outside of our window the other day, and noticed what crazy a55 wings it has. Looks like some have equally crazy leg spikes. Interesting little dudes. 





Monday, September 8, 2025

Origins - funny hats on Clerics in old D&D books came from the Jason and the Argonauts movie

 Origins - the funny hats on wizards  clerics in old D&D books came from Jason and the Argonauts movie. Check out funky hat the king dude had when spreading the hydra teeth to make skeletons rise from the ground. There were some good closeups of his face, too, for added effect (I didn't screenshot 'em tho):



Compare to ... let me go find some. Yeah, take a look at the 2nd guy from the left, that hat:

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Yt “no one of consequence” G2 the two white dragons, very cool.

 His dbl white dragon encounter is very useful… love every single idea that went down.  From the surprise attacks, to the demanding food animal, to no trickery, to “i said no tricks” more breath weapons… then ghost sheet and carriage teleport get out of dodge. All super cool.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irooz1HfnuA

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

For fun: Alice in Chains Lyrics almost sound like a Lich's Thoughts

 Alice in Chains's: Grind

Our 2e AD&D lich again.

[Verse 1: Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell]

In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised
Not to plan my funeral 'fore the body dies, yeah
Come the morning light, it's a see-through show
What you may have heard and what you think you know, yeah

(((my comments on verse 1: sounds like a Lich warning his foes that... he will not die. The phylactery being unknown to them and all.)))

[Chorus: Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell]
Let the sun never blind your eyes
Let me sleep so my teeth won't grind
Hear a sound from a voice inside

(((my comments on the chorus: sun never blind your eyes... sounds like the Lich is familiar with either being underground for long periods of time, or creatures which hate daylight. And let him sleep, or he'll be pissed off AKA grinding his teeth. )))

[Verse 2: Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell]
Sure to play a part, so you love the game
And in truth, your lies become one and same, yeah
I could set you free, rather hear the sound
Of your body breaking as I take you down, yeah

(((my comments: sounds like a Lich warning his foes that... it may be a game to them, lies or not... he could easily destroy them and take them down.)))

[Chorus: Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell]
Let the sun never blind your eyes
Let me sleep so my teeth won't grind
Hear a sound from a voice inside

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3: Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell]
In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised
Not to plan my funeral 'fore the body dies, yeah

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Dark Sun (sort of) returns to D&D 5.5e2024 in 2026

Explained at ENworld, Dark Sun (sort of) returns to D&D 5.5e2024:  https://www.enworld.org/threads/dungeons-dragons-releases-new-unearthed-arcana-subclasses-strongly-hinting-at-dark-sun.714936/

Summary: 

The Circle of Preservation Druid creates areas of preserved land that grants buffs to those who stand upon it. 

The Gladiator adds secondary Weapon Mastery properties to their attacks, with bonus abilities. Notably, the Gladiator uses Charisma as its secondary stat. 

The Defiled Sorcerer can expend its hit dice to amp up damage to its attacks and can also steal the life of its targets to deal additional damage. [[[sounds a lot like DCC SpellBurn, but stealing from enemy is nice]]]

The Sorcerer-King Patron gains a number of abilities tying into tyranny and oppression, with the ability to cast Command as a Bonus Action without expending a spell slot, causing targets to gain the Frightened Condition, and forcing those who attack them to re-roll successful attacks.

Brom's Dark Sun art is the best. 

Brom's Dark Sun art is the best. 

She's by Brom, but is she Dark Sun?


It sounds interesting. Do NOT look at the art, ... it's not Dark Sun art at all, it's the usual corporate soulless stuff. 

BTW https://x.com/ian_livingstone is one of the original Fighting Fantasy guys. 

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

G2 Results so Far, the Jarl went Down

 OK, so the kid did pretty well. He did have the weaker version of Horn of Valhalla, so he got 5 or 6 Berserks spawn to help him. He also used our custom Sticks to Snakes spell, which calls two venomous snake swarms that don't require concentration. So he had all that ready, and then got a surprise attack in with AOE spells. The 20 or so giants in Room 18&19 I think it was, were pissed and wanted at him. But he mostly blocked things off so they couldn't swarm him. 

Deadlands maybe. Brom's art. 

But I did warn him the Jarl, who he had spied, would hear it and come soon enough. Eventually 2 winter wolves popped in, with the Jarl and wife one round behind. They were held at bay by, one snake swarm, two(?) berserks, and the fighter. Chokepoint.

At the other larger chokepoint north of the party, looking into room 18 and 19, the kid first had used Spike Growth. I did some random rolls and more than half the guys near it did not notice it. And a lot of them even when they got hurt by it, just plowed through, thinking they were mighty giants. 

DAMGE: Fire storm does some good dmg by the way. So does Crown of Stars, gotta roll to hit, but it hits a lot. The anti-giant sword + Barbarian frenzy raging + Amulet of Hacking (2 rounds gets +3 to all I think we said) = maybe 75 dmg a round if all hits and rolls go well. 

DEFENSE: The dern Fighter got hit every single time I think, his 23AC did like nothing that whole fight, just unlucky. I almost got a first hit Crit on him by the Jarl, then we realized he shouldn't have been able to reach that easy b/c was so tight there with the wolves and doorway. But the wife did get a couple of crits I am pretty sure. 

BTW, I used Firegiant attack stats for the Jarl + Cloud giant other stats (200 HP mostly). Used fire giant stats for the Jarl's wife. 

Soon the kid did a wall of thorns, and it came into play a lot. I rolled impatience on the giants b/c they were mostly stuck, and a couple of them thought they could get through or over the thorn wall. Little did they know how magically painful it would be, and got nuked pretty hard. One time the warlock blasted one giant (lady) back into the wall from far, she went down from max HP to nearly dead (Hill giant stats, so like 105HP max) and fled the scene (she's going to show up later with the rezzed cloud giant probably). 

I mostly had fun with making the giants kinda impatient and stupid. One was stuck behind the Cord looking giant, and he kept attacking the snakes in Cord's space which hurt Cord. Finally he jerked "Cord" away from the snakes but accidentally into the wall of Thorn, oops. Lol. Was fun for me. 

It still was a darn hard fight. The Jarl + W.Wolves + Wife looked dangerous coming from behind, but soon the Jarl got his butt stomped by the Crown of Madness(?) spell which makes him see a super illusion and take a ton of psychic damage. The wife really hated snakes, so she wasted a round trying to attack them, before really wailing on the fighter and company. 

The Fighter was knocked out right at the end. Rest of the crew were barely harmed if at all though. All the berserkers and snakes died, but did a good job up through the end. 

So end result, it was a well balanced to be difficult but winnable fight with all the extras and all the lenient up front damage + 5 or 6 berserkers and the 2 snake swarms, and the Jarl coming to the fight late,  giants being a little too wreckless and stupid, etc., etc. As a DM I had fun, even though the giants didn't get to do anything interesting from a magic or attack standpoint, it was fun just having them be goofy bastards that kept making mistakes. Lol. 


UPDATE LOOT (kid needs to write down later): 

The fourth trunk has a thick layer of old socks, underneath which are eight potions (speed, superior healing [[[1d6+20]]], of storm giant strength, poison, oil of slipperiness, healing [[[2d8+4]]], and a philter of love).

5e - Treasure. In the iron box are a pearl of power, a set of Nolzur's marvelous pigments, and a wand of paralysis.

 1e - a pearl of wisdom, a set of 8 small jars of pigments (Nolzur’s Marvelous Pigments), a ring of invisibility, and a wand of paralyzation.

and about (5e) 15,000 gp worth of stuff maybe more.