20ft Radius

The Storm has Broken - Erik Scott de Bie Speaks on the Conclusion of this Season of D&D Encounters!

2013-06-13T08:27:00.002-04:00

This week at Recounting Encounters, Derek, Craig, and I have the wonderful opportunity to once again speak to Erik Scott de Bie, author of this season of D&D Enounters: Storm over Neverwinter.

We had so much fun recording this episode; Erik is very forthcoming and has a great sense of humour. We talked about some of the things we had to hold back on for fear of spoilers for the finale of this season of D&D Encounters. Join us as we pick this man's brain for you all during this storm breaking evening with Erik Scott de Bie.

For those of you who do not know Erik, he is the author of the ever popular Shadowbane novels (Downshadow, Shadowbane, and Shadowbane: Eye of Justice), as well as the author of the fist season of D&D Encounters; Halaster's Lost Apprentice and Season 6: The Lost Crown of Neverwinter.

Erik is constantly writing and is coming out with a lot of stuff all the time. Follow him where he is most active at ericscottdebie.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

or click HERE to download this to your computer!

A big thanks goes out to Derek and Craig for helping make this interview work and especially a big thanks to Erik for joining us.

Recounting Encounters is a podcast where we talk about things that worked, didn't work and things that we could change at our table to make public play just that much more interesting. We occasionally have guest speakers (usually an author of the season) to talk about their feeling and thought process behind the creation of such a season.

Thanks to all who listen in.

Here are some of Erik's coordinates:

His personal website with a ton of material - erikscottdebie.com
He can be reached on Twitter @erikscottdebie and Facebook
His email is erikscottdebie@yahoo.com

If you enjoyed this podcast, join us every week as we talked about what happened at our table.

Recounting Encounters episodes

A Stormy Evening with Erik Scott de Bie
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 8: The Eye of the Storm
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 7: Thunder and Lightning
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 6: Master of Helm's Hold
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 5: Into the Mouth of Madness
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 4: The Ashmadai Strike Back
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 3: City of the Insane
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 2: Lost Boy
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 1: Lady in Peril

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 8: Eye of the Storm

2013-06-06T08:59:00.000-04:00

Adventure Background: Storm Over Neverwinter

The frontier city of Neverwinter has persevered in the face of calamity. Yet even as the city rebuilds, an insidious threat rises from within its walls. Neverwinter’s citizens are succumbing to an inexplicable madness, while from the shadows, an evil cult of Asmodeus spins sinister plans. Unless a group of heroes rises to stop these perils, Neverwinter might face an even greater danger on the horizon.

This D&D Encounters season takes characters from levels 3-6. It also includes an optional online component, which allows players and Dungeon Masters to convert the adventure to the D&D Next playtest.

Join us for another great season of the good the bad and the ugly as Derek from dungeonsmaster.com, Craig and I recap everything that happened at our gaming table this week. We talk about what happened during the encounter, some of the changes that we made as DM's and talk about some of things we liked a lot and things we liked not so much.

Session 8 - The Eye of the Storm: Finale

Will the Storm prevail?

The heroes have defeated the Elemental Guardians and managed to make their way up the stairs to the rooftop, despite the rumbling of the building and the falling debris.

Once the party goes out of the door they are met by Vargas, who tells the characters that Karis needs the storm to make her whole again and if the characters try to stop him, he will destroy them.

The characters have options at this point, but once conversation is exhausted, Chartilifax initiates combat because of the earlier beating he took from the party.

Whether the party decides to try to wrest control of the storm from Karis or just take out the bad guys, this last encounter of the season could go any way.

Before the battle, the heroes can level, but get no benefit of the extended rest; they only get the benefit of the level adjustment.

The finale was grand, and hope everyone liked it. Follow us as Craig and Derek follow 4th edition and me as I attempt this season in the DnDNext rules.

Make sure you don't miss next week when for Week 0 we once again have Erik Scott de Bie with us to talk in more detail about the season as a whole.

Enjoy!!!

Helm's Hold

Listen to what we have to say by clicking below.

or HERE!

Here is the combat map of the roof. It's a little squeezy, but large enough for some good movement.
Have fun with this encounter, the possibilities are limitless.

Map take from Storm Over Neverwinter Booklet
V - Vargas
K - Karis

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 7-Thunder and Lightning

2013-05-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

Adventure Background: Storm Over Neverwinter

The frontier city of Neverwinter has persevered in the face of calamity. Yet even as the city rebuilds, an insidious threat rises from within its walls. Neverwinter’s citizens are succumbing to an inexplicable madness, while from the shadows, an evil cult of Asmodeus spins sinister plans. Unless a group of heroes rises to stop these perils, Neverwinter might face an even greater danger on the horizon.

This D&D Encounters season takes characters from levels 3-6. It also includes an optional online component, which allows players and Dungeon Masters to convert the adventure to the D&D Next playtest.

Join us for another great season of the good the bad and the ugly as Derek from dungeonsmaster.com, Craig and I recap everything that happened at our gaming table this week. We talk about what happened during the encounter, some of the changes that we made as DM's and talk about some of things we liked a lot and things we liked not so much.

Session 7 - Thunder and Lightning

THE CHASE IS ON!!!

The party have just defeated the dominated tenants, inmates and the VERY imposing Chartilifax. The characters take a few moments to speak with Rohini and then are rushed by her up the stairs to go chase after Vargas to stop the madness of the storm.

Some debris is clogging the stairwell from the intense rumbling that could be felt throughout the Hold. The characters scramble passed the debris only to find themselves faced with Storm Elementals at the top of the stairs. Lightning courses through the room, jumping from elemental to elemental. The room is shaking from the thunder that can be heard from inside the building. The situation is tense, but the elementals are not attacking.

Confident they seem not to be attacking, as you move within 2 squares, the elementals attack.

Once these creatures are dispatched, the party continues on to the roof for the FINAL encounter of this season.

The heroes can level, but get no benefit of the extended rest; they only get the benefit of the level adjustment.

This season begins to wrap up with only ONE sessions left. The finale is going to be grand, so follow us as Craig and Derek follow 4th edition and me as I attempt this season in the DnDNext rules.

Enjoy!!!

Helm's Hold

Listen to what we have to say by clicking below.

or HERE!

Here is the combat map of the Helm's Hold - first floor. This map takes up one whole side of the map. Very Cool. As we were talking about on the podcast, you can see that this area is quite large, but open. Otherwise, they just may go to the main room and have to battle out two encounters in one.

Have fun with this encounters, the possibilities are limitless.

Image taken from the Storm Over Neverwinter Booklet
V - Storm Vorticies
H - Storm Hurlers

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 6- Master of Helm's Hold

2013-05-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Adventure Background: Storm Over Neverwinter

The frontier city of Neverwinter has persevered in the face of calamity. Yet even as the city rebuilds, an insidious threat rises from within its walls. Neverwinter’s citizens are succumbing to an inexplicable madness, while from the shadows, an evil cult of Asmodeus spins sinister plans. Unless a group of heroes rises to stop these perils, Neverwinter might face an even greater danger on the horizon.

This D&D Encounters season takes characters from levels 3-6. It also includes an optional online component, which allows players and Dungeon Masters to convert the adventure to the D&D Next playtest.

Join us for another great season of the good the bad and the ugly as Derek from dungeonsmaster.com, Craig and I recap everything that happened at our gaming table this week. We talk about what happened during the encounter, some of the changes that we made as DM's and talk about some of things we liked a lot and things we liked not so much.

Session 6 - Master of Helm's Hold

The players have infiltrated Helm's Hold and have defeated or slain the opponents they faced last encounter. Upon entering the room "The Tormentor" is there with a green skinned elf who is carrying an unconscious woman. The "Tormentor" looks up and says "You" as the person he was trying to dominate rips off the mask and reveals none other than Elden Vargas.

Vargas looks at the green elf and says: "Give me Karis and deal with this rabble". Vargas disappears with Karis and combat ensues as the elf transforms into a green dragon.

This fight could get extremely creative, just listen to the tales spun at our respective gaming tables to see that although this was a straightforward encounter, it was livened by both the players and the DM.

This season begins to wrap up with only two sessions left. The finale is going to be grand, so follow us as Craig and Derek follow 4th edition and me as I attempt this season in the DnDNext rules.

Enjoy!!!

Helm's Hold

Map taken from booklet
I - Dominated Inmates
P - Prophet Rohini
C - Chartilifax

A Stormy Evening with Erik Scott de Bie

2013-05-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

This week at Recounting Encounters, Derek, Craig, and I have the wonderful opportunity to speak to none other than Erik Scott de Bie, author of this season of D&D Enounters: Storm over Neverwinter.

For those of you who do not know Erik, he is the author of the ever popular Shadowbane novels (Downshadow, Shadowbane, and Shadowbane: Eye of Justice), as well as the author of the fist season of D&D Encounters; Halaster's Lost Apprentice and Season 6: The Lost Crown of Neverwinter.

Erik is constantly writing and is coming out with a lot of stuff all the time. Follow him where he is active the most at ericscottdebie.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

We had so much fun recording this episode; Erik is very forthcoming and has a great sense of humour. We talked about plenty of things from D&D Encounters to Gencon. Join us as we pick this man's brain for you all during this stormy evening with Erik Scott de Bie.

or click HERE to download this to your computer!

Here are some of the minutes of our meeting:

2.03 - Encounters this season and the launch of the Neverwinter video game

6.03 - Compression of the story for what WotC wanted.

7.18 - Arcs in this season for personal games at home

9.38 - "implicating" Erik

13.38 - DnDNext and D&D Encounters

16.58 - Easter eggs throughout

17.55 - New Shadowbane novel?

21.08 - erikscottdebie.com

24.29 - The Neverwinter Campaign Setting

28.29 - Transformations of the Beached Leviathan

30.15 - Neverwinter game

37.08 - treading lightly and talking about this season's final encounter

44.09 - Doing what is best for your table

49.01 - D&D Encounters at higher levels

1.03.00 - The Final Story

A big thanks goes out to Derek and Craig for helping make this interview work and especially a big thanks to Erik for joining us.

Recounting Encounters is a podcast where we talk about things that worked, didn't work and things that we could change at our table to make public play just that much more interesting. We occasionally have guest speakers (usually an author of the season) to talk about their feeling and thought process behind the creation of such a season.

Thanks to all who listen in.

Here are some of Erik's coordinates:

His personal website with a ton of material - erikscottdebie.com
He can be reached on Twitter @erikscottdebie and Facebook
His email is erikscottdebie@yahoo.com

If you enjoyed this podcast, join us every week as we talked about what happened at our table.

Recounting Encounters episodes

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 5: Into the Mouth of Madness
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 4: The Ashmadai Strike Back
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 3: City of the Insane
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 2: Lost Boy
Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter Session 1: Lady in Peril

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 5: Into the Mouth of Madness

2013-05-16T08:30:00.000-04:00

Adventure Background: Storm Over Neverwinter

The frontier city of Neverwinter has persevered in the face of calamity. Yet even as the city rebuilds, an insidious threat rises from within its walls. Neverwinter’s citizens are succumbing to an inexplicable madness, while from the shadows, an evil cult of Asmodeus spins sinister plans. Unless a group of heroes rises to stop these perils, Neverwinter might face an even greater danger on the horizon.

This D&D Encounters season takes characters from levels 3-6. It also includes an optional online component, which allows players and Dungeon Masters to convert the adventure to the D&D Next playtest.

Join us for another great season of the good the bad and the ugly as Derek from dungeonsmaster.com, Craig and I recap everything that happened at our gaming table this week. We talk about what happened during the encounter, some of the changes that we made as DM's and talk about some of things we liked a lot and things we liked not so much.

Session 5 - Into the Mouth of Madness

The players should be well rested and leveled up at this point. The Night of Madness in Neverwinter is over, the branded people have been rounded up and taken to Helm's Hold to try and break them from them enchantment of the mind.

The characters have the chance to interact with some of the NPC's that have been present in the story so far. Lady Nidris's son Zan is now in Helm's Hold, having been one of the branded to fall into madness during the night. General Sabine is having a wake for Muln Horan, the guard captain killed in the Beached Leviathan (you have been formally invited to go). Speaking of the Beached Leviathan, it has gained some popularity with the locals and the party is quite welcome there. Elden Vargas has not been seen since the party saw him last.

After the players have had time to interact, a messenger arrives with a message from Helm's Hold, and they are requesting your help. A madman has taken over the hold.

If the party accepts the quest, they reach Helm's Hold and find that the doors and gates are barred and must either fight their way through or find another way in. Upon entering they are attacked by dominated guards and once they reach the main hall, the encounter ends.

This season looks to be an interesting one so follow us as Craig and Derek follow 4th edition and me as I attempt this season in the DnDNext rules.

Enjoy!!!

Helm's Hold

Listen to what we have to say by clicking below.

or HERE!

Here is the combat map of the Helm's Hold. This map takes up one whole side of the map. Very Cool. As we were talking about on the podcast, you can see that this area is quite large, but open. We suggest to close off the main hall and to print the map in pieces and place them as the characters explore the area. Otherwise, they just may go to the main room and have to battle out two encounters in one.

Have fun with this encounters, the possibilities are limitless.

This picture taken from the Storm over Neverwinter Booklet.

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 4: The Ashmadai Strike Back

2013-05-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

Adventure Background: Storm Over Neverwinter

The frontier city of Neverwinter has persevered in the face of calamity. Yet even as the city rebuilds, an insidious threat rises from within its walls. Neverwinter’s citizens are succumbing to an inexplicable madness, while from the shadows, an evil cult of Asmodeus spins sinister plans. Unless a group of heroes rises to stop these perils, Neverwinter might face an even greater danger on the horizon.

This D&D Encounters season takes characters from levels 3-6. It also includes an optional online component, which allows players and Dungeon Masters to convert the adventure to the D&D Next playtest.

Join us for another great season of the good the bad and the ugly as Derek from dungeonsmaster.com, Craig and I recap everything that happened at our gaming table this week. We talk about what happened during the encounter, some of the changes that we made as DM's and talk about some of things we liked a lot and things we liked not so much.
Session 4 - The Ashmadai Strike Back

This week continues where session 3 ended. You have defeated the immediate threat at the Beached Leviathan. As you are resting a little girl named Darla makes herself known and offers the characters information...at a price. Once you deal with this little Dead Rat, she leads you through the streets of Neverwinter where total chaos has broken out. Branded people are lashing out and attacking innocent people on the street. You may decide to help some of these people out, or yo may not.

Darla then takes you to Elden Vargas's house (remember this guy? He is the one arguing with Lady Nidris in the first session) where the Ashmadai and some branded townsfolk are attacking Elden. They have brought a devil with them. The party is eventually victorious and Elden asks for their help, gives them each a magic item and a boatload of money and then vanishes.

Chapter 2 is starting next week. Looking forward to it.

This season looks to be an interesting one so follow us as Craig and Derek follow 4th edition and me as I attempt this season in the DnDNext rules.

It should be interesting so enjoy!!!

Listen to what we have to say by clicking below.

or HERE!

Here is the combat map of the Elden Vargas's. Again, very cool that they have the two levels mapped out.

Map taken from Storm Over Neverwinter booklet

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 3: City of the Insane

2013-05-02T10:34:00.002-04:00

Adventure Background: Storm Over Neverwinter

The frontier city of Neverwinter has persevered in the face of calamity. Yet even as the city rebuilds, an insidious threat rises from within its walls. Neverwinter’s citizens are succumbing to an inexplicable madness, while from the shadows, an evil cult of Asmodeus spins sinister plans. Unless a group of heroes rises to stop these perils, Neverwinter might face an even greater danger on the horizon.

This D&D Encounters season takes characters from levels 3-6. It also includes an optional online component, which allows players and Dungeon Masters to convert the adventure to the D&D Next playtest.

Join us for another great season of the good the bad and the ugly as Derek from dungeonsmaster.com, Craig and I recap everything that happened at our gaming table this week. We talk about what happened during the encounter, some of the changes that we made as DM's and talk about some of things we liked a lot and things we liked not so much.
Session 3 - City of the Insane

This week in my opinion continues where session 2 ended. You have rescued Lady Nidris's son Zan and have returned him to her. She then tells the party that there will be a reward for an answer to the kidnappings. She says if the party can put a stop to it they will receive much gold. The party can then return to the Ashmadai hangout and start from there.

The party has the option to explore the docks area or to get some information from the Beached Leviathan, a converted beached ship. the party speaks to the captain of the guard Muln Horan, and as soon as he is finished speaking, a few devils and some dominated folks attack the party with Horan being one of the casualties.

the session ends with some of the soldiers of Neverwinter approaching the party and telling them that many, many people are going mad.

This season looks to be an interesting one so follow us as Craig and Derek follow 4th edition and me as I attempt this season in the DnDNext rules.

It should be interesting so enjoy!!!

Listen to what we have to say by clicking below.

or HERE!

Here is the combat map of the Beached Leviathan. Very cool that they have the two levels mapped out.

Taken from Storm Over Neverwinter Booklet

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 2: Lost Boy

2013-04-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

Adventure Background: Storm Over Neverwinter

The frontier city of Neverwinter has persevered in the face of calamity. Yet even as the city rebuilds, an insidious threat rises from within its walls. Neverwinter’s citizens are succumbing to an inexplicable madness, while from the shadows, an evil cult of Asmodeus spins sinister plans. Unless a group of heroes rises to stop these perils, Neverwinter might face an even greater danger on the horizon.

This D&D Encounters season takes characters from levels 3-6. It also includes an optional online component, which allows players and Dungeon Masters to convert the adventure to the D&D Next playtest.

Join us for another great season of the good the bad and the ugly as Derek from dungeonsmaster.com, Craig and I recap everything that happened at our gaming table this week. We talk about what happened during the encounter, some of the changes that we made as DM's and talk about some of things we liked a lot and things we liked not so much.
Session 2 - Lost Boy

this week starts where session 1 end. You have escorted Lady Nidris to her house and the house is in shambles. The party is asked to rescue her son at all cost and with great reward. The party then walks around the property to gain clues of the whereabouts of the cultist. Any delay in time though puts the boy in greater peril.

The party then tracks the cultists down to the docks where an ominous voice enters their minds and starts the combat encounter off. The party enters combat and rescue poor Zan. You find out that the powerful voice in your head belonged to a member of the cult called "The Tormentor. Your successes on your skill checks determine the state of the boy. You return him to Lady Nidris and she rewards you for your bravery.

This season looks to be an interesting one so follow us as Craig and Derek follow 4th edition and me as I attempt this season in the DnDNext rules.

It should be interesting so enjoy!!!

Listen to what we have to say by clicking below.

or HERE!

Here is the combat map of the Ashmadai Safe House. Very generic.

Image taken from the Storm over Neverwinter Booklet
Z - Zan
B - Branded Zealots x3
H - Hellfire Warlocks x2

Recounting Encounters - Storm over Neverwinter - Session 1: Lady in Peril

2013-04-18T08:36:00.000-04:00

Listen to what we have to say by clicking below.

or HERE!

Here is the map of the eartmote and the Moonstone Mask inn.

Image taken from the booklet
T - Ashmadai Thugs
G - Ashmadai Garroter

Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 8 The Finale

2013-04-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this season, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Public Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

It has been a great season and enjoy this great finale of a great season of D&D Encounters. I would like to once again thank my guests this season - Craig for the great commentary you provided us on the past season, as well as Shawn Merwin for his willingness to come on our show and teach us a thing or two.

See you next season!!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Caves of Chaos - Session 1
Caves of Chaos - Session 2
Caves of Chaos - Session 3

Caves of Chaos - Session 4
Caves of Chaos - Session 5
Caves of Chaos - Session 6
Caves of Chaos - Session 7
Pre-Season Finale Interview with Shawn Merwin

Follow @TwentyFoot

Recounting Encounters: Pre-finale Interview with Shawn Merwin

2013-04-01T12:41:00.000-04:00

This week Derek and I had the opportunity to talk and shoot the bull with Shawn Merwin prior to the final encounter in this season of D&D Encounters. We had a lot of fun recording this. For those of you who don't know who Shawn is, look down at the bottom of the following illustration and you will see his name there. He has been one of the contributing authors for the last two seasons of Encounters and Shawn has been kind enough to give his perspective and feedback on how the season came about and some of the feedback he has received.

Sit back and enjoy this podcast. For those who are dming the finale, listen up and Shawn gives tips without spoilers on ideas you can use to spruce up the final encounter.

Or listen to it HERE!!

We would like to thank all of out listeners for their continuing support. We enjoy doing the podcast and love giving the perspective of many tables. Follow us by clicking on the following links.

I am currently trying to get the iTunes link fixed and been having a heck of a time trying to get anyone to help me over at Apple. So hopefully for those listeners of the iTune version, we will get it back up soon.

Thanks for your patience,

To the finale we go...

Alton.

Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 7

2013-03-28T08:30:00.000-04:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this season, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Public Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Within the next week, Derek and I have a special guest on a pre-season FINALE PODCAST with one of the co-authors (Shawn Merwin) of this great season so stay tuned!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Caves of Chaos - Session 1
Caves of Chaos - Session 2
Caves of Chaos - Session 3

Caves of Chaos - Session 4
Caves of Chaos - Session 5
Caves of Chaos - Session 6

Follow @TwentyFoot

Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 6

2013-03-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this season, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Public Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Caves of Chaos - Session 1
Caves of Chaos - Session 2
Caves of Chaos - Session 3

Caves of Chaos - Session 4
Caves of Chaos - Session 5

Follow @TwentyFoot

Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 5

2013-03-14T08:30:00.000-04:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this season, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Public Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Caves of Chaos - Session 1
Caves of Chaos - Session 2
Cabes of Chaos - Session 3

Follow @TwentyFoot

Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 4

2013-03-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this season, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Public Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Caves of Chaos - Session 1
Caves of Chaos - Session 2
Cabes of Chaos - Session 3

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Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 3

2013-02-28T10:41:00.001-05:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this season, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Public Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Caves of Chaos - Session 1
Caves of Chaos - Session 2

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Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 2

2013-02-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this season, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Public Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Caves of Chaos - Session 1

Follow @TwentyFoot

2013 SOTY CONTEST SUBMISSIONS!!!!

2013-02-17T17:08:00.000-05:00

As always, I am looking forward to the RPG Site of the Year contest put on by Stuffer Shack. Time is so precious, and this contest give me and hopefully the rest of you, a chance to see what kind of creativity is out there. Submissions are being accepted for all types of sites.

This contest is like no other on the internet and thanks to Tourq, we all get a chance to enjoy such a great slew of reading for the next little bit.

So, what do you do to enter? Read on or click here to go to the place where it is all taking place and...

So here is some basic information:

The RPG Site of the Year Award, or SOTY, is Stuffer Shack’s way of rewarding our community’s awesome gaming bloggers. It’s a celebration of gaming, showcasing the best of the best gaming blogs. It’s a free contest in which readers submit their table-top gaming websites – in the hopes of taking home the prizes and SOTY Shield, but more importantly, the title of RPG Site of the Year.

Our first award went to a very deserving Critical Hits in 2011, the second went to The Id DM in 2012, and we’re looking forward to this year’s contest!

A Proper Introduction…

My name is Tourq Stevens, and this contest is being hosted by Stuffer Shack. Every month Stuffer Shack showcases a great blog in a feature called Site of the Month. Well, after a year of being online, it only seemed natural to begin a Site of the Year feature. However, wherein ourSite of the Month stems from a simple arbitrary decision on which blog to showcase, our SOTYcontest is a much more involved event.

This contest is free, yet yields some impressive prizes. Our first contest had 26 contestants all vying for both the RPG Site of the Year title, and a prize package worth over $250. Our second contest exceeded that, and we’re looking forward to discovering all of the prizes for 2013. We’ll announce them in the coming weeks.

How many winners will there be? Will there be different categories?

There will be one winner, always. The category is simply “RPG Site of the Year.” This contest is geared specifically for independent, non-corporate, fan-based, table-top gaming blogs (text blogs, audio, and video – it’s all the same!).

How is the winner determined?

It will be determined in two phases:

All sites will be put into one of five groups, and readers will vote online for their favorite site in each group.
Then, the five winning sites will be examined in a variety of categories by several judges, with their combined efforts to determine the winner.

When does the contest actually take place?

We’ll be accepting submissions until the end of March.
Reader voting will take place in the middle of April.
The judges will go over the finalists near the end of April.
And the winner will be announced on April 30th!

How can I sponsor the contest?

Our Sponsorship page is here.

If you have any questions, I would be glad to answer them below in the comments, or you can get in touch through our contact page.

Take it easy!

-Tourq Stevens

Recounting Encounters: Against the Cult of Chaos - Session 1

2013-02-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change. We also have with us this week, Craig Sutherland, who gives us his perspective from his gaming table.

This 12th season of D&D Encounters promises to be one of the better seasons of Wizards of the Coast Play projects.

Players start at level 1, and make their way through Hommel Lane and attempt to figure out what is happening with town. The players choose their own destinies based on the clues available to them, and eventually come head to head with the cause of the whole ruckus.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AS PLAYERS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WILL BE TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Listen directly to the above or click HERE! to listen directly.

Map of Hommel Lane
Taken from booklet of Against the Cult of Chaos

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Follow @TwentyFoot

Recounting Encounters - War of Everlasting Darkness, Session 8 : The Spellcaves of Eryndlyn

2012-12-20T15:20:00.000-05:00

Deep in the darkness of the demon web pits, Lolth has been spinning a web of deceit, treachery, and ambition. Her goal is to seize control of arcane magic, a domain that has lain vacant since the death of Mystra 100 years ago. Lolth's web of influence has extended; controlling the Demon Weave, replacing the sundered weave that Mystra used to maintain.

Her servitors now draw from the Demon Weave to create shrouds of darkness that they call the darkening. Drow can now move to the surface and fight with darkness on their side during, what would normally be daylight hours. With this advantage they hope to complete Lolth's ascendancy in her new role as goddess of magic. Can She be stopped? Can the heroes put an end to her nefarious plots?

D&D Encounters season 11, War of Everlasting Darkness, Runs from October 24th through December 19th. This season is the culmination of the ongoing Drow storyline Rise of the Underdark.

Join us, as Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master, and me, Marc Talbot, where we discuss what happened at our gaming table: the good, the not so good, and the wish we could change.

Download the podcast HERE!

This season, there are three new features:

Characters Get to Level Up Each Session - Characters will be allowed to level up at the end of each weekly session, culminating at level 8.

Little Restrictions on the Characters Played - Players have a greater array of character options to choose from. Players can use the following books: Heroes of the Fallen Lands, Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms, Player’s Option: Heroes of Shadow, Player’s Option: Heroes of the Feywild, Player’s Option: Heroes of the Elemental Chaos and Into the Unknown: The Dungeon Survival Handbook.

Session are now Mini-adventures- The session include a healthy balance of interactions, exploration and combat.

Each session takes 1-2 hours to play, and each week there’s a new and exciting challenge.

Related Media and Previous Features

Session 1 - Nightfall in Methegrist
Session 2 - Envoy to Many-Arrows
Session 3 - Siege of Mithril Hall
Session 4 - Descent into the Depths
Interview - Shawn Merwin
Session 5 - Spirits of the Fell Pass
Session 6 - Trolls of the Evermoors
Session 7 - Shores of the Darklake

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Recounting Encounters - War of Everlasting Darkness, Session 7: Shores of the Darklake

2012-12-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

Her servitors now draw from the Demon Weave to create shrouds of darkness that they call the darkening. Drow can now move to the surface and fight with darkness on their side during, what would normally be daylight hours. With this advantage they hope to complete Lolth's ascendancy in her new role as goddess of magic. Can She be stopped? Can the heroes put an end to her nefarious plots?

Recounting Encounters - War of Everlasting Darkness, Session 6 : Trolls of the Evermoors

2012-12-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

Her servitors now draw from the Demon Weave to create shrouds of darkness that they call the darkening. Drow can now move to the surface and fight with darkness on their side during, what would normally be daylight hours. With this advantage they hope to complete Lolth's ascendancy in her new role as goddess of magic. Can She be stopped? Can the heroes put an end to her nefarious plots?

Recounting Encounters - War of Everlasting Darkness, Session 5: Spirits of the Fell Pass

2012-11-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

Her servitors now draw from the Demon Weave to create shrouds of darkness that they call the darkening. Drow can now move to the surface and fight with darkness on their side during, what would normally be daylight hours. With this advantage they hope to complete Lolth's ascendancy in her new role as goddess of magic. Can She be stopped? Can the heroes put an end to her nefarious plots?

Recounting Encounters: Shawn Merwin Unleashed!!!

2012-11-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

Join us for this special episode of Recounting Encounters where Derek and I have an in depth encounter with the one and only Shawn Merwin, co-writer of this seasons D&D Encounters: War of Everlasting Darkness.

We ask Shawn about his experiences as a writer for this season, tips for the newbies and some of the design strategies involved in undertaking such a monumental piece of work.

Or link HERE to open up an new page.

For additional resources for D&D Encounters you can visit the following pages:

D&D Encounters Insider
D&D Encounters Community Forums
Dungeon's Master
Pregenerated Characters

Follow @TwentyFoot