Patrick Stuart (falsemachine.blogspot.com) is someone I highly recommend reading, just for the crazy awesome ideas he spouts off.

I will second Delta as one of the best “crunch” based D&D bloggers. If you like to houserule, he has excellent work for you to consider.

Hello all, I apologize to everyone for my disappearance; my son did recover, albeit slower than expected, but he's fine now....I thank you all for your kind thoughts and words. Unfortunately, life has been crazy since then, both at work and with my personal life (ongoing custody dispute with my ex)....

Clarification (and apologies for its necessity): the amount of flame and smoke is sufficient to fully obscure the other end of the tunnel. Any shots taken will be firing blind, with random targets...you can't see anything other than orange and black maelstrom down there. (also, Lardo has not 'reappe...

Okay! My son is home and mostly recovered (had a complication after surgery; abscess built up, that needed to be drained). Sorry for the delay, but we are back up and running.

I'm going to allow 3-4 days response time, since we're coming back off a hiatus.

Sham said he would fire at any sign of a "commotion", and I think the hobgoblin's actions on discovering the oil qualify; therefore, he will shoot before Lardo and Ampersand return to the group. Initiative for monsters: [1d6] = 2 Initiative for party: [1d6] = 1 Seeing the hobgoblins react...

Hi guys,
Sorry to have one thing after another, but my son is in the hospital recovering from surgery after a ruptured appendix. I'll hopefully catch up this weekend.

Sorry for the unusually long delay. Also sorry to delay longer, but I need to know how this scene by the barricade shakes down before I can do a general update, as it will govern what the rest of the party sees. Ampersand and Lardo: PP check for cutting bowstring (49): [1d100] = 27 Do hobgoblins no...

Very sorry to hear, GelQ. My condolences to you and yours.

While Cormac loads his new crossbow and Sham starts prepping flaming arrows, Lardo and Ampersand start trying to move back down the tunnel as stealthily as they can. Lardo gives the torch a solid kick with his foot, knocking it another 20' or so down the tunnel...they can now see the barricade, abou...

Quick answers: 1.) The torch sheds light in a 30' radius; the hidden tunnel is (by Ampersand's estimation, passed on to you) about 60' long or so. It is currently 5-10' inside the tunnel, so it does not illuminate the far end. It is, however, reasonable to assume that anyone at the far end can see ...

Hey y'all...my mom and stepdad are in town (from NY, to Alaska), so my posting is going to suffer a bit. I'll try to keep things rolling, though.

1) Apologies, I overlooked something; 1 of those dead hobs was armed with a mace and crossbow, rather than a spear. His bolt case has 9 quarrels in it. 2) I would rule that theft or minor damage to items would NOT count as hostile action. An attack is anything that hurts, damages, physically or ment...

At Henry's direction, Sister Valentina prays over Cormac's wound, which eases the pain greatly ( 3 HP restored, Cormac is up to 8 ). Val CLW on Cormac: [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3 Afterward, Cormac does a quick search of the dead hobgoblins; it turns up 18 sp and 7 ep , in addition to their personal items. Th...

Henry lays his hands on Lardo and casts his healing prayer, washing away his wounds as if they never were ( 3 hp healed, Lardo is back to full health ). Henry CLW on Lardo: [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3 Sister Valentina assists in dressing Henry and Cormac's wounds, and prepares to heal Henry, saying his injury...

As the monstrosity bulls its way past her, Zahra delivers a blow which the creature brushes aside. Undeterred, she pursues it and hacks at its legs, hoping to cripple it, but her attacks are similarly fruitless. Attack with sword: [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11, damage: [1d12+3] = 6+3 = 9 Attack with sword: [1...

Quick responses:

Re: triage, Henry and Lardo are each at 1 hp, and Cormac is at 5 (out of 9).

Re: Sham's query, there is no answer from your gnomish friend.

Glad you're not hurt, and thanks for the heads-up.

Initiative: Initiative for monsters: [1d6] = 3 Initiative for party: [1d6] = 3 Henry and Sham continue to do battle with their badly injured opponent; he manages to fend off their blows, .but is too sorely hurt to pose much of a threat to them. While he is busy with the two men, Sister Valentina wa...

Initiative: Initiative for monsters: [1d6] = 5 Initiative for party: [1d6] = 5 A chaotic brawl erupts. The hobgoblin crossbowmen trigger their weapons at point-blank range; one quarrel smashes into Henry's shoulder, piercing his mail ( 5 damage, Henry is at 1 HP ). The other punches through Lardo's...

Staggered by the creature's mighty blow, Zahra's return slash rends only air.

Attack with sword: [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5, damage: [1d12+3] = 4+3 = 7