ptolus

It has been  few days since I last wrote so I thought I would update on the preparations for the big gaming marathon that is happening tomorrow which is the big ’season finale’ of our Ptolus campaign – The Night of Dissolution module.  I have been working on prepping for the game (my weak spot as I tend to run on the fly).  It makes me respect those endless preppers who have tons of material ready to go.  Usually our sessions are about 5 hours in length but we’re a chatty group so if we get in 3 hours its a good night.  Tomorrow I am faced with 10 hours to fill and a clear objective to reach the finish line of the module.  How does one plan for that much time?

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The group has decided that we are going to have a full day session to serve as a season finale of our Ptolus campaign.  If I time things properly we can get to this by next weekend (August 2nd).  So, the plan is to make this an event.  I have shuffled the wife and daughter off for the afternoon and early evening to avoid distractions.  I am planning a suppertime BBQ (burgers and hot dogs with potato salad) which will allow for easy cooking/cleanup and then back to gaming quickly.  So, the event is prepared now I must prepare the session to make it something worthwhile.

The season finale of our campaign is going to be the end of the Night of Dissolution (NoD) module from Malhavoc Press which we have been running since we ran out of the adventures in the Big Book (BB).  The party just crested 9th level so I am looking to make sure that the module is challenging enough but that they can achieve success after some tense moments. 

Usually I use my Tact-Tiles for mapping.  These are great for large maps but the company is no longer in business so you can’t buy them new.  You can try second hand or go the do-it-yourself route.  For this session I have decided to do something a little different.  For those of you who aren’t my players, read on.  Players, please stay out. Read the rest of this entry »

Once again it is Friday and I am working on prepping for tonight’s game.  Last week, the party decided to take the fight to the Temple of the Ebon Hand after the Cultists hired the Vai assassins to attack them in their home.  We worked our way partway through the temple and the party had allowed someone to detect them in what was otherwise a fairly stealthy infiltration for this group of yahoos.  So, tonight, I have the bad guys about to be alerted to invaders to their temple and the party ready to kick some major @$$.  This confrontation has been building for a while and I want the party to have some real success tonight.  An old enemy who has been dogging the group since second level will once again rear his head and I think this time the party might be able to best him.  If played right some real treasure and fame may come to the party after tonight’s session. 

One thing that I always struggle with as a DM is to build the right amount of frustration to challenge.  I think we have reached the point tonight where I need to payoff some of the trials and tribulations the party has gone through and reward them for their hard work.  The party is on the cusp of 9th level which for us is a rare feat since our campaigns usually stall out around 4th-5th.

So, a big showdown between the Runic Street Boys and the Temple of the Ebon Hand cultists tonight.  Let’s get ready to rumble!

In attempts to keep our campaign log more up to date and perhaps interest a few readers, I have created a Ptolus Campaign page.  This is where I will post the ’season two’ journal entries.  For those interested in ’season one’ you can check out the old version of the site by clicking HERE.