Nethackery

I have been playing Nethack since there was an Internet. I have never beaten it, not even once. I am apparently terrible at this game. I fail and fail and fail again. Yet I keep coming back. My current favorite flavor is the spectacular Stone Soup Dungeon Crawl.

Minecraft

Minecraft. It's worthy of love. It's a thing of beauty. That's why I've had to delete it from my computer and erase every world I've created.

Disco Dome

Desktop Tower Defense is one of my all-time favorite games. I don't have anything particularly cool or profound to say about it. It's just plain fun.

Welcome to Video Game Week

This week... dungeons inspired by my favorite video games of the last year, both famed and obscure.

Why didn't I post any dungeons last week!?

I didn't post any dungeons last week. The reason is that I've been spending a lot of what used to be blogging time drawing stuff for the art show in December. I'm going to show a couple dozen microdungeons. But the microdungeons alone don't feel like enough for a show. So I'm spending a lot of time in the "studio" (which is known as the kitchen table the rest of the day). I'm going to make it up next week by posting more dungeons than usual.

In the meantime, here's a glimpse of what's been eating up my time.

Some color microdungeons:


Some BIG dungeons:


Some in-between stuff still in progress:


And a few surprises not to be revealed here.

I'm having a blast drawing for at least an hour every day. I had no idea getting ready for a show would be this much fun.

Some details on the show: it's at Cortona Cafe at 2425 E Union St in Seattle's Central District. The art will be there the month of December, and the opening party is Saturday December 18th, at 7:00 PM.

The Art of Minecraft

BRT5470 is the artist who created this beautiful minecraft music video (and previously the enchanting 8-mile railway video). This is abundant proof that even with the simplest and strangest of materials, you can make art.

Inked Adventures

I'm really digging Inked Adventures dungeon tiles. They've got a stylish hand-drawn vibe that I like a lot. I've got nothing against the near photorealistic tiles that I've seen out there, but to me, D&D isn't about that aesthetic. These tiles make me want to play.

Good Fishing

Fish Caught:

TABLE 1
1. Mackerel
2. Cod (small)
3. Cod (large)
4. Brass Cod: scales word 1d6x10 gp
5. Boot
6. Special (roll on table 2)

1. Selkie
2. Razor Cod
3. Gigantic Cod
4. Intelligent squid, 50% can grant minor wish, 50% just claims to be able to
5. Catch 1d10 of random roll on table 1
6. Catch random roll on table 1, but attacked by a Peryton

Megadungeon Crossroads

When you spend the night in the Apocalypse Megadungeon, roll 1d8

1. The last monster you left alive spreads the word of your incursion
2. Rumors spread in the dungeon about you, but they're false or wildly exaggerated
3. A new monster or group moves into an area you left behind
4. Something powerful and dangerous picks up your trail and starts following you
5. Some incidental but identifiable piece of your equipment shows up back in town, along with a very believable rumor of your untimely deaths.
6. There's an earthquake, flood, cave in, or other terrain-altering event.
7. Nothing happens of note at all.
8. Something you've seen, sought, or left behind appears in the wizard's store.

Opera House

Summer Schedule for the Opera House of Forgotten Gods

Death of a Stranger: the stranger may be you!

Clash of the Titans: featuring new Titans every week!

Griselda Darkelf and her Confounding Feather Closet

And remember, Owlbear baiting every second Friday. Don't forget to tip the Owlbears!

Alice

Compilations for July and August

The July microdungeon compilation and August microdungeon compilation have just been posted. Shame on me for taking so long, since The Fantasy Cartographic sent me the files ages ago! Enjoy!

The Rising Dragon

Every time that the PCs go back to town without clearing out The Risen Dragon, add one to the countdown:

1: Dwarven prospectors are seen in town. They have a mysterious map, and they're very closed about where they're going, fearful others will tap into the treasure they're after. If someone can win their trust, get a look at their maps, or just listen in on their conversation, they can find out the Dwarves have a map purported to lead to a buried trove of loot.

2: The Dwarves have broken the seal on the Risen Dragon. A few days later, rumors start going around as the Dwarves have missed a regular supply pickup in town. A good tracker could probably find out where the Dwarves were camping and digging, though.

3: A minor earthquake shakes the region. A day later, a half-starved and fully insane member of the Dwarven expedition appears in town. He's barely coherent, but magic or persistence might get the story of the terrible things the Dwarves found when they broke in The Risen Dragon.

4: The Harbinger, a powerful sorcerer from foreign lands arrives in town, drawn by the Dragon's call. He's scary, mysterious, and smart. He heads out to the dungeon and sets up shop, intent on bringing the Fallen Dragon to life. Perhaps a smart party can figure out what he's up to, stop him, or even raise the Dragon themselves.

5: Another earthquake, this one heralding the rise of the Fallen Dragon. Whether the Harbinger maintains control of the beast once raised, is up to you.

The Wreck of the Lammasu

Questions never to ask near the Lighthouse:

• How did the Wreck of the Lammasu get there?


• Who lives in Gondola House?


• What's the lighthouse fore?


• Who is Mute?


• How come the boats stopping at the ice house never pick up ice?

If you ask these questions, the locals are likely to take it very, very ill. But if you find out any of the answers, let me know. I'll pay well to know.