D&D Biome-Based Encounter Table: Urban Encounters

4D10	URBAN ENCOUNTERS
4	Chimera
5	Djinni
6	Spectre
7	Cockatrice
8	Statue, Animated Iron
9	Gargoyle
10	Statue, Animated Crystal
11	Horse, Draft
12	Undead
13	Shadow
14	Ghoul
15	Bat, Giant
16	Rot Grub
17	Men, Nomad
18	Men, Brigand
19	Halfling
20	Ferret, Giant
21	Bat, Normal
22	Rat, Ordinary
23	Dwarf
24	Gnome
25	Men, Berserker
26	Men, Merchant
27	Pixie
28	Skeleton
29	Fly, Giant Carnivorous
30	Mule
31	Zombie
32	Bugbear
33	Lycanthrope, Wererat
34	Wight
35	Medusa
36	Wraith
37	Statue, Animated Stone
38	Troll
39	Vampire
40	Demon Boar

First, I organized all my D&D creatures into a spreadsheet including Hit Dice (HD) and Biome data.

Second, I sorted the data by the particular biome for which I wanted to create a table.

Third, I counted the number of different creatures and looked for that number on this table.  If the number was present, I used that dice combination for my table.  If the number was not present, I went to the next highest number of dice combination.

Fourth, I sorted just the monsters for that particular biome (see second step) by HD.

Fifth, I put the monsters into the table starting with the lowest HD on the median outcome, then distributing them out to the maximum and minimum using this method.

Monster: Chet

Chet
Number Encountered:  1 (rare)
Alignment:  Neutral Evil
Movement:  60' (20')
Armor Class:  5
Hit Dice:  2
Attacks:  2 (tongue attack)
Damage:  1d6
Save:  Fighter 5
Morale:  7
Hoard Class:  IV
XP  50

Once an irritating and unappreciative older brother, Chet is now an irritating and disgusting blob of a poisonous monster.  He is constantly oozing toxic putrescence from the pustules surrounding his repulsive form.  His proportionally tiny legs and arms make any means of movement, painfully slow and akward.  Chet's tonque, however, is exceptionally fast and sticky.  Any PC smaller than a human, that is hit with the tonque must make a Save vs. Paralyze or be pulled into Chet's widening mouth within two rounds.  Any character making skin-on-skin contact must make a Save vs. Poison or lose 1d4 HP/round until dead.

Chet remains sentient, but has progressed deeper into hatred and madness with each passing day.  It is a cunning madness at times, however.  He will attempt to talk his way either into getting a free dinner, or being allowed to escape if captured.  He may not attempt attact immediately, but attempt to convince others that he is a harmless creature to be pitied.  He may cast charm once per day by waggeling his eyebrows.

Right-Click Paste

It's all too easy to embed images, videos, and other copyright products into our gaming blogs. Plagerism is an increasing problem for us teachers and, I wonder, if not also here in the blogosphere (Ashworth, Bannister & Thorne, 1997). Plagiarism and copyright infringement are distince issues in the law, but both may stem from either a lack of understanding, or general disregard.

As a teacher, I have met with lawyers pertaining to "fair use" policy regarding copyright. Copyright material used through education is slightly different than other environments such as the world of personal rpg blogs. Even so, many of my colleagues refuse to post worksheets and PowerPoint slides on their websites because of copyright concerns. Perhaps they are justified.

I've become increasingly concerned about the many images and videos I've embedded on my blog that are not mine or that I don't have permission to use. Regardless of whether I cite the author, in very few cases have I followed proper legal procedures for using other people's work. I am ignorant about the legal details on this issue, but it seems both legally and ethically wrong to post copyrighted material on a blog, especially one that generates income, regardless of the amount. While I, myself, have not set this blog to generate income, it would become all too easy to do so. Anyway, I don't mean to split hairs, and I suppose that I am just as guilty as the guy who runs a for-profit blog.

I find it odd that many bloggers who take the time to post OGL documentation, also insert pictures and video of copyright material without permission regularly. Again, many of these bloggers make money through their blogs, either through advertising their for-sale products, or through ad revenue.

My questions:
What would one lose by omitting copyright work on their blog?

How can one justify using copyright material without permission on one's blog?

Resources
Ashworth, P., Bannister, P., & Thorne, P. (1997). Guilty in whose eyes? university students' perceptions of cheating and plagiarism in academic work and assessment. (2 ed., Vol. 22, pp. 187-203). Routledge.Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=10.1080/03075079712331381034

The Times, They Are A'Changin'

If I didn't know the month and/or day of release, I defaulted to January 1st.

Next Big Product!

I am proud to announce the release of my next adventure module just in time for Halloween! This is my largest online endeavor yet:  Ten pages of maps, keyed areas, random tables, and completely original art called Out Where The Buses Don't Run.  It is designed for a scary-fun game night with non-roleplayers.  It is fast, easy, fun, and challenging in the best Old-School way.

Out Where The Buses Don't Run is free.

Out Where The Buses Don't Run is a modern horror adventure perfect for a Halloween get-together.

Out Where The Buses Don't Run includes a simple rule system, but works equally well with nearly any RPG.

Whatever you do, don't go in the house!

I will also offer this adventure in Microsoft Word.  Simply be a follower and email me the request at hartwell602 at gmail dot com.  I also give any reader full permission to link the PDF below to their website and would love to see a review or two.  Any takers?

link:  https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwJzJ5UCBqshZjJkMDY2ZDItZDEzYi00Y2U3LWEyYzgtMjkwY2Q2ZmE2Y2Yz&hl=en_US

The Dark Crystal RPG

Netflix streaming recently released The Dark Crystal, so it's been on my mind lately.  I'm also excited to hear about a professional Dark Crystal hardcover and possibly boxed set RPG that is on track for a Gencon release in 2012.  In the meantime, I'll use this B/X-LL Dark Crystal supplement I wrote a year ago.  I am, however, more concerned than excited about a possible sequel.

D&D Biome-Based Encounter Table: Fresh Water

4D4	FRESH WATER ENCOUNTER
4	Aquatic Hydra
5	Giant Leech
6	Giant Python Snake
7	Giant Crab
8	Pit Viper Snake
9	Man, Pirate
10	Spitting Cobra Snake
11	Nixie
12	Ordinary Crocodile
13	Giant Piranha
14	Large Crocodile
15	Giant Catfish
16	Giant Crocodile

First, I organized all my D&D creatures into a spreadsheet including Hit Dice (HD) and Biome data.

Second, I sorted the data by the particular biome for which I wanted to create a table.

Third, I counted the number of different creatures and looked for that number on this table.  If the number was present, I used that dice combination for my table.  If the number was not present, I went to the next highest number of dice combination.

Fourth, I sorted just the monsters for that particular biome (see second step) by HD.

Fifth, I put the monsters into the table starting with the lowest HD on the median outcome, then distributing them out to the maximum and minimum using this method.

D&D Biome-Based Encounter Table: Desert

6D8	DESERT ENCOUNTERS
6	Gold Dragon
7	Demon Boar
8	Hydra
9	Wyvern
10	Small Roc
11	Basilisk
12	Pteranodon
13	Giant Horned Chameleon Lizard
14	Giant Scorpion
15	Giant Ant
16	Giant Rattler Snake
17	Giant Draco Lizard
18	Giant Black Widow Spider
19	Carcass Scavenger
20	Harpy
21	Herd Animals
22	Camel
23	Giant Crab Spider
24	Giant Spitting Beetle
25	Stirge
26	Rot Grub
27	Pixie
28	Spitting Cobra
29	Gnoll
30	Giant Carnivorous Fly
31	Troglodyte
32	Pegasus
33	Bugbear
34	Giant Carnivorous Beetle
35	Giant Gecko Lizard
36	Gargoyle
37	Giant Rhagodessa
38	Giant Tarantula Spider
39	Cockatrice
40	Giant Python Snake
41	Rust Monster
42	Giant Tuatara Lizard
43	Djinni
44	Flame Salamander
45	Chimera
46	Blue Dragon
47	Large Roc
48	Giant Roc

First, I organized all my D&D creatures into a spreadsheet including Hit Dice (HD) and Biome data.

Second, I sorted the data by the particular biome for which I wanted to create a table.

Third, I counted the number of different creatures and looked for that number on this table.  If the number was present, I used that dice combination for my table.  If the number was not present, I went to the next highest number of dice combination.

Fourth, I sorted just the monsters for that particular biome (see second step) by HD.

Fifth, I put the monsters into the table starting with the lowest HD on the median outcome, then distributing them out to the maximum and minimum using this method.

D&D Biome-Based Encounter Table: Sea

Click to Enlarge

First, I organized all my D&D creatures into a spreadsheet including Hit Dice (HD) and Biome data.

Second, I sorted the data by the particular biome for which I wanted to create a table.

Third, I counted the number of different creatures and looked for that number on this table.  If the number was present, I used that dice combination for my table.  If the number was not present, I went to the next highest number of dice combination.

Fourth, I sorted just the monsters for that particular biome (see second step) by HD.

Fifth, I put the monsters into the table starting with the lowest HD on the median outcome, then distributing them out to the maximum and minimum using this method.

D&D Biome-Based Encounter Table: Tundra

Click to Enlarge

First, I organized all my D&D creatures into a spreadsheet including Hit Dice (HD) and Biome data.

Second, I sorted the data by the particular Biome for which I wanted to create a table.

Third, I counted the number of different creatures and looked for that number on this table.  If the number was present, I used that dice combination for my table.  If the number was not present, I went to the next highest number of dice combination.

Fourth, I sorted just the monsters for that particular biome (see second step) by HD.

Fifth, I put the monsters into the table starting with the lowest HD on the median outcome, then distributing them out to the maximum and minimum using this method.

Release Format

Recently I polled readers regarding the format in which they would like my adventures released.  Only ten people responded, but the results were fairly consistent.

90% Prefer PDF

10% Prefer Post

0%  Prefer Word

Therefore, when my written products are two or less pages in length I will release them as both PDF and post.  If their length exceeds two pages, I will release only as a PDF.  Finally, I will offer any of my written products as a Microsoft Word document to anyone who is a Digital Orc follower and asks for it.

Thanks, Constant Reader, and have a nice weekend!

Biomes of D&D

Coniferous Forest

Deciduous Forest

Desert

Grasslands

Mountains

Rain-forest

Subterranean

Swamp

Tundra

Urban

Water, Fresh

Water, Salt

Sometimes the descriptors (I'm referencing B/X and Labyrinth Lord (LL)) include the biome and sometimes they don't.  And sometimes they include a biome that is so rare as to intrinsically exclude itself here (e.g., cloud).  Then, there is the whole ancient ruins bit.  Do I create a specific biome, separate from subterranean, for abandoned urban structures?  I do include "urban" because there are creatures that exist either off or with mankind, e.g., rats.  As I build my monster spreadsheet I'm including these biome data, even if I have to take a stab in dark as to the monster's habitat.

Stabbing in the Dark

If you take the time to read monster descriptions through the lens of scientific biomes, you find some interesting inferences.  For example, the Griffon descriptor states, "Griffons are fierce hunters with a taste for horse flesh..." (LL, p.81)  Horses are typically found in grasslands and possibly tundra, right?  Also note the following for herd animals:  "Region and climate will determine which specific kind of grazing herd animal is encountered."  (LL, p.81)

These references show that LL and thus D&D supports a generally "realistic" approach to monster location and, therefore, world creation.

I am using these data for organization, game play, and world creation.

More Thoughts on Sandbox Design

Sandbox Thought 3:  The main advantage of a so-called sandbox design is empowerment of the player, not reduction of workload for the DM.  However, employing independent random tables do not empower (that is, do not give world-influencing power to) the PC.  If sandbox play is the goal, then it behooves the DM to create dependent tables.  That is, tables that account in some way for player-generated world changes.

Sandbox Thought 4:  The PC must assume that the game world exists as the "real" world unless the text or DM specifically state otherwise.  This is because the DM is all too easily caught in a web of interconnecting differences from the real world.  Independent random tables often throw the DM deep into this sticky web of lies with little recourse towards a cohesive, and therefore immersive, world.

These thoughts are a continuation from these thoughts.

Table-Making Tool

Click to enlarge.

This is a tool I made and use when constructing random encounter tables.  First, I compile a list of the monsters I want on the table and count how many there are.  Next, I see if the number is listed here.  If it is, I use that dice combination for the table.  If the number is not listed there, I find the  next greatest number, then pick a monster to have more than one specific die roll.

You can find a PDF of this tool by CLICKING HERE.

Spiders Are Cool

A male and female spider face off on my patio.

My backyard is against a few acres of field that is bush-hogged maybe twice a year.  As a result, I have a constant stream of spiders climbing into my garden, patio, and backyard in general.  During fall they often make a run for the house, much to my wife's displeasure.

A Spider Sword

A Spider-Based Adventure

Fighting Demons

That's me fighting a demon during last night's Dark Heresy session.  Our party is progressing deeper beneath Mara's surface.

And here is my daughter playing with worms and a skull shortly before I left for game night.  I'm not normally this morbid, but the Halloween decorations are out and she loves to play in the garden looking for "snakes".  Kind of reminds me of Fulci's zombie.

One Year of Blogging!

Your fearless blogger taking on a Red Dragon.

Yep.  One full year of blogging.

258 Posts

71 Followers

418 Comments

20 Original Gaming Products

62 Original Art Pieces

20,959 Page Views

Thank you, Constant Reader!

Yesterday I posted my first video.  Maybe I'll make some more, I'm not sure right now.  I've also got a new poll up about format for my original materials.  So, if you don't mind, swing by the top right-hand side of the blog homepage and let me know what format you prefer.

This poll is less esoteric and more functional than some of my others.  Especially as I hope to release a new product in the next couple of weeks.

Speaking of products, remember that all of my work is free to download.  Well, not entirely free.  I DO ask that, if you run it, to give me a comment or email (hartwell602 at gmail dot com) telling me how it went.  You can find my products by clicking on the "products" tab at the top of the blog homepage.

Again, thank you, Constant Reader!