Jonathan Drain's D20 Source: Dungeons & Dragons Blog

Mach Dice Version 2 for Apple iPhone

2008-10-09T14:25:41Z

Matt Kobayashi, author of one dollar iPhone dice application Mach Dice, has announced the release of a version 2. New features include multiple boards, new dice colours and a roll history. Here’s the video.

Free D&D from Kobold Quarterly

2008-10-11T09:28:26Z

I’ve recommended D&D magazine Kobold Quarterly before, but did you know that they also provide free content on their website?

Here’s a list of the last ten articles for you.

Plundering History For Your Game

2008-10-05T01:22:49Z

I’ve been reading history and mythology lately, especially of my native Ireland. It’s full of ideas that fit well into a mediaeval fantasy setting, much of which is long out of copyright. I found the following quite interesting:

Irish Fairy Tales, by James Stephens
A mythology of Ireland, chronicling from the island’s colonisation by Noah’s great great great grandson until its Christianization in the sixth century. Don’t be dissuaded by the title “fairy tales” - if this collection is anything to go by, Irish mythology is largely about bands of strong and incredibly brave men beating the crap out of wizards. 66,112 words.

A Popular History of Ireland: from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catholics
A lengthy book that reveals just how little most of us know of the history of Ireland. Pre-Christian Ireland had warrior and peasant castes, permitted the taking of foreign slaves who were generally employed as shepherds and weavers, had druids who wielded considerable political power, and bards who claimed a de facto right to make any demand of a chieftain. More than a thousand years before the United States of America was founded, Ireland had a formal constitution and elected its high king by democratic vote. 300,000 words - that someone sat down and wrote as much might inspire you in itself.

Sniping in France, by Major H. Hesketh-Prichard
A British officer during World War I documents his efforts to introduce dedicated snipers into the front lines. He contends with superiors who tell him sniping will never catch on, deadly German snipers and incompetent handling of equipment and supplies. 49,687 words.

The Strategemata, by Frontinus
A massive collection of Roman military strategy anecdotes. We have numerous short tales involving tactics, plots, betrayals, bravery and superstitions. In one case the crew of a Roman warship is spooked by a lightning bolt across their bow, but the general reassures them with the words “Jupiter himself has entered battle on our side”; in another, a general quells the panic by explaining thunder and lightning to his men in basic scientific terms. A general kills a messenger to avoid the orders he’s delivered, feigning the messenger’s capture; a general orders two units of auxilliaries to march over the hill at a fixed time to give the illusion of reinforcements, then loudly boasts that more units are on their way to panic the enemy and bolster his own men’s courage. 52,355 words.

Flawed House Rule: Weapon Fumbling

2008-10-03T00:59:14Z

I’ve talked about house rules before and why some are worse than they seem: double-rolling hit dice, realistic sneak attack and 3.0 power attack are some examples. Today’s crap house rule is weapon fumbles on natural 1.

Dropping your weapon on an attack roll of natural 1 is so common a house rule that many players assume it to be official. Rules as written, a roll of 1 is simply a miss. Some DMs like the added risk of a fumble, but there are a number of reasons why it might not be a good idea.

First, it adds in a greater element of random chance, which usually favours the opponents. Your opponents are often weaker, and more numerous, so one of them dropping a weapon is less significant. They are also more likely than you to use natural weapons (bite, claw, etc), which cannot be fumbled.

Second, it’s annoying. In third edition D&D, you waste the rest of your full attack and have to spend a move action to pick it back up, which provokes an attack of opportunity. In fourth it’s a minor action to recover the weapon so you only really lose one attack, but it’s still annoying. In addition, unattended weapons are vulnerable to being taken or damaged.

Third, it strains believability. It makes sense that a legendary warrior might still fail to make the occasional attack, but not that he drops his sword at least once in every battle. You can soften it with something like a Reflex save, but fighters have the lowest Reflex, and if you feel the need to soften fumbles there’s a good chance you don’t really want to use them.

History’s Real-World Adventurers

2008-10-02T22:34:03Z

Forget Drizzt and Mordenkainen. I discovered a really interesting article over at ENWorld on real-world epic heroes and villains:

As someone who enjoys history, I wanted to point out that there are rather quite a few remarkable real people from history who had adventures seldom matched in any Fantasy Novel, DnD game, or all the WoW games ever played, and they were a long way from Dilbert. In fact, many of the people on this list were IMO greater warriors than Conan, wiser than King Arthur, and more ruthless and intrepid than Elric.

A few examples:

Miyamoto Musashi, Japanese swordsman. Fought and won over sixty life-or-death duels, his first at age thirteen. Developed the two-sword fighting style and founded a fencing school.
Jeanne de Clisson, French pirate. After her husband was executed, she took revenge by selling her land to buy three warships, which she painted black with red sails and used to raid the king’s ships.
Egill Skallagrímsson, Icelandic Viking. Said to have fought as many as twenty men single-handedly and defeated a fierce berserker.

Further, the author writes on Historical European Martial Arts, a modern movement to reconstruct mediaeval fencing and combat techniques. It turns out that swordfighting techniques were actually pretty advanced, which is something you don’t see represented in Dungeons & Dragons. There are several videos, including grappling and full-contact sparring with swords.

The thread’s titled Mundane vs. Fantastical: give it a read.

How Does Your Blog Rank?

2008-09-21T00:53:54Z

The true measure of a blog is the quality of its content, but the computers at Google have their own popularity measurement called PageRank. It’s not the only factor that determines how high your blog or website appears on web searches, but when yours increases it’s something to celebrate.

I’ve checked up the PageRank of some of the more popular D&D sites and blogs out there. This blog’s PageRank is a respectable 4/10, where ten is the highest. You can check PageRank using the Google Toolbar.

Also at four are Chatty DM, Dungeon Mastering, Gnome Stew, Jeff’s Gameblog, Kobold Quarterly and Stupid Ranger. By internet terms, these are all fairly established sites.

At five are the long-time Roleplaying Tips and the 9rules network member Treasure Tables. At the lofty heights of 6 are community ENWorld and the Wizards of the Coast official D&D website.

PageRank is slow to index, so a few newer blogs have received no rating yet despite their popularity. This includes Critical Hits, Mike Mearls’ Keep on the Gaming Lands and RPG Bloggers.

All of the above sites come highly recommended. If you run a roleplaying games site or blog, how does yours fare?

Ioun Stone Complete Guide

2008-09-20T22:15:30Z

In researching an article for Kobold Quarterly #6 I discovered that there are a lot more ioun stones in D&D history than the sixteen appearing in the third edition Dungeon Master’s Guide or the single lonely example in D&D 4th edition’s list. Of particular interest is an article in Dragon magazine #174 which describes the ioun stones’ origin on the positive energy plane, and Larloch’s entry in Lords of Darkness defining several new stones.

I’ve compiled a list of every ioun stone I can find, dating from AD&D right up to the 4th edition Adventurer’s Vault. There are a whopping eighty-nine stones on this list, including sixteen of my own invention and the rest from canon D&D sources. With a little work you should be able to make reasonable conversions for whichever edition of the game you choose to play.

Balian’s yellow: +1 to a random ability score each day (AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Black spindle: Darkvision and see through mist (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Blue green spindle: Bestows airty water in a 10′ radius sphere at will (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Brass lozenge: Gain 2d4+2 HP once per day on command, 2d10 charges (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Bright silver cylinder: User and 200lbs. of possessions can go ethereal for one hour, 2d10 charges (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II), as cloak of etherealness, double duration (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Bright white rectangle: +1 to saves vs acid (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Brown rhomboid: User and 200lbs. of possessions can assume gaseous form for one hour, 2d10 charges (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Brown sphere: Discerns the direction of north (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Cerulean blue rhomboid: Bestows free action on user, as per the magical ring (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II), as cloak of etherealness (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Clear pink sphere: “Spirit storage”; if user is killed in combat, his spirit is transferred to the ioun stone and can be restored with a restoration spell (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Clear prism: Store 2d6 spell levels (AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Clear sphere: Grants 5% magic resistance (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Clear spindle: Sustains creature without food or water (3E, DMG)
Copper rectangle: Allows user to read magic at will (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Dark blue rhomboid: “True sight”, darkvision, +6 to Perception and Insight, 1/day see invisible (4E PHB)
Dark blue rhomboid: Alertness (as the feat) (3E, DMG)
Dark green ellipsoid: +5 luck bonus to AC (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Dark orange dodecahedron: Spell resistance 21 (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Dark purple pyramid: as ring of wizardry IV (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Dark purple triangle: as ring of wizardry III (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Dark red cube: as medallion of thoughts (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Deep black sphere: See in magical darkness, 30′ range (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Deep purple prism: Grants 60′ infravision or doubles existing infravision range (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Deep red sphere: +2 enhancement bonus to Dexterity (3E, DMG)
Deep red sphere: Add +1 to Strength (AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Dull gray: Provides 1 power point. then disintegrates (3e Expanded Psionics Handbook)
Dull orange rhomboid: as brooch of shielding (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Dusty rose prism: +1 insight bonus to AC (3E, DMG)
Dusty rose prism, Larloch’s: +5 deflection bonus to AC (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Flaming yellow prism: “Heart of fire”, +2 caster level for fire spells, +6 bonus to Knowledge (the planes) and Knowledge (arcana), 1/day cast Quench or empower a fire spell (3E, 17 Relics)
Flawed clear spindle: Cursed clear spindle (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Flickering white snowflake: +1 to saves vs cold (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Glowing rose prism: +5 insight bonus to AC (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Gold ellipsoid: User and 200lbs. of possessions can go astral for one hour, 2d10 charges (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Golden ellpisoid: Intelligent stone, provides extra attacks (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Golden sphere: Distracts viewers from your disguise (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Green sphere: +1 to saving throws vs gas attacks (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Incandescent blue sphere: +1 level to spell ability (AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Incandescent blue sphere: +2 enhancement bonus to Wisdom (3E, DMG)
Incandescent blue sphere, Larloch’s: +6 bonus to Wisdom (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Iridescent spindle: Sustains creature without air (3E, DMG)
Lavender and green ellipsoid: Absorbs spells of 8th level or lower (3E, DMG)
Light blue prism: User can understand all spoken languages (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Lime green prism: Ignore the effects of heat and ice (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Marble sphere: Protects other ioun stones from damage (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Maroon star: User can only be harmed by magical weapons and spells (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Mottled gray sphere: as ring of counterspells (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Ochre spindle: Grants 360 degree vision (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Orange cube: Grants resistance to mind-affecting spells as if user had a Wisdom of 20 (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Orange prism: +1 caster level (3E, DMG)
Pale aquamarine prism: “Steadfastness”, fear immunity
Pale blue rhomboid: +2 enhancement bonus to Strength (3E, DMG)
Pale green prism: +1 competence bonus on attack rolls, saves, skill checks and ability checks (3E, DMG)
Pale green prism, Larloch’s: +5 competence bonus on attack rolls, saves and checks (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Pale lavender ellipsoid: Absorbs spells of 4th level of lower (3E, DMG)
Pale turquoise: Double carrying capacity (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Pale white sphere: Recall three 9th-level spells, as pearl of power (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Pale yellow prism: Glows like a sunrod (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Pearlized brown ellipsoid: as boots of speed, free action to activate (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Pearly black spindle: Undead regenerate 1hp/hour (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Pearly white prism: Repairs 1 point of damage per turn (AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Pearly white spindle: Regenerate 1 point of damage per hour (3E, DMG)
Pink and green ellipsoid: Absorb spells of up to 4th level (AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Pink and green sphere: +2 enhancement bonus to Charisma (3E, DMG)
Pink ellipsoid: Adds +1 to Constitution (AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Pink rhomboid: +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution (3E, DMG)
Puce cube: Bestows ESP at will; user can scan surface thoughts of one person per round within range of 30′ (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Pulsing red star: +1 to saves vs fire (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Pure white octahedron: +1 bonus to Charisma vs beings of the same race (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Rainbow crystal: Provide 5 power points (3e Expanded Psionics Handbook)
Rainbow ellipsoid: User can levitate at will (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Rainbow spindle: User and 200lbs. of possessions can polymorph self for one hour, 2d10 charges (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Red ellipsoid: “Regeneration”, regeneration 10 while bloodied 1/day (4E, Adventurer’s Vault)
Rhomboid: “Sustenance”, user doesn’t require food, water or air
Rich green star: as +5 stone of good luck (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Scarlet and blue sphere: +2 enhancement bonus to Intelligence (3E, DMG/AD&D, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Scarlet and blue sphere, Larloch’s: +6 bonus to Intelligence (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Shining black spiral: as helm of teleportation (3E, Lords of Darkness)
Silver ellipsoid: +5 to saves vs Necromancy (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Silver rod: +1 to saves vs electricity (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Silver sphere: Negates rear-attack bonuses (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Silvery mirror cube: +1 bonus to saves vs petrification gaze attacks (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Sky blue sphere: Delay elemental damage (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Slate blue prism: Bonus smite attempt, turn attempt or 2nd level divine spell (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Soft black rectangle: Protection against level-draining attacks, 2d10 charges (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)
Tan ellipsoid: Identify spells and magic (3E, Kobold Quarterly #6)
Vibrant purple prism: Stores three levels of spells, as a ring of spell storing, minor (3E, DMG)
White and pink rhomboid: “Perfect language”, understand all spoken languages, +5 to Charisma-based skills (4E, Adventurer’s Vault)
Yellow sphere: Sheds continual light on command (AD&D, Dragon magazine #174/Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II)

Sources: Dungeon Master’s Guide v3.5, Dragon magazine #174, Player’s Handbook v4, Encyclopedia Magica Vol. II, 17 Relics, Lords of Darkness, Kobold Quarterly #6. Leave a comment and let me know if you find any other ioun stones.

5 Things I Don’t Like About 4E

2008-09-20T22:19:24Z

Last week I gave five reasons why I prefer D&D 4E. Since I don’t want people to think I’m not without reservations, here’s a list of some things I don’t like about the new edition.

Tieflings and dragonborn are ugly. Heroes aren’t supposed to look like the monsters. There’s a piece of art in one book depicting a tiefling facing off against a half-orc, and I can’t tell which one is meant to be the “good guy”.
Goofy read-aloud text. There are some really cheesy lines in the core books. “You’ll have to deal with me first, dragon!”
Certain elements are too abstract. Several actions in 4E don’t correspond to anything in-game. Healing surges in particular don’t represent any potion or spell, so much as “you gain hit points back”, leaving you to imagine for yourself what action this represents.
Skill challenges are awful.. As written, the DM tells the players what skills they can roll, and they do so in turn for minimal XP. Success is awarded not for clever plans, but on whether or not you roll enough successful skill checks of any type. An errata has already been released to try and mitigate this.
WotC products are pushed too heavily. The books strongly encourage the use of D&D Dungeon Tiles and D&D Miniatures. However, there aren’t enough miniatures out to cover all the monsters you want to use, and if there were most players’ budgets wouldn’t cover it.

Dungeons & Dragons invades Politics

2008-08-29T22:59:21Z

I mentioned in August how politics had invaded Dungeons & Dragons. Now, they’re returning the favour.

5 Reasons Why I Prefer D&D 4E

2008-09-20T22:19:29Z

Jürgen Hubert at ENWorld tells us why he prefers D&D 4E. This is especially interesting if you’re still sitting on the fence about switching over.

Let me add to that by giving you my top five:

Excellent advice for Dungeon Masters. Every edition’s Dungeon Master’s Guide is worth reading, and 4E’s is no exception. It discusses player motivation, campaign style and feel, and ways to both prepare and improvise. Do not run another game of any D&D edition until you have read this book.
Monsters are given archetypes. In retrospect, the 3E challenge rating system was too simple. It didn’t differentiate between monsters of varying defensive ability, even though this is something we’ve had in the class system since the beginning. It’s a lot easier in 4E to tell which monsters are physically weak ranged attackers (like wizards) and need protection from tougher monsters.
Combat is faster and more interesting. In 3E, fighters got slow and boring at high level, rolling four to eight attacks per round. Now we have a Star Wars Saga Edition style one attack per round, but the effects of attacks and combat feats or powers are more significant.
Balance issues have been resolved. Third ed left munchkins a lot of exploits, such as resting after every fight to regain spells and cherry-picking prestige classes. Fourth does away with those issues and helps to straighten out the balance.
It’s easier to make new monsters. There are only fifteen first-level monsters, but creating new ones is incredibly easy. I didn’t realise how much more work 3E monsters involved until I went back and statted one up. I’m considering drawing up weekly new monsters for this blog; readers, drop a comment here and let me know if you’re interested.