Community

Friends, I hope you've had a good fortnight. Janice and I have been busy watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, leaving me to catch up on recorded genre television on the weekends. In addition, I've been comparing notes on comic books and graphic novels with new fan David I.S. and playing various games. Since wrapping up my "Vanished Lands: the Faith-Based Initiative" fantasy campaign, which used Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition (D&D4e), the current role-players have been involved in a series of one-shots. While I'm taking a break from serving as primary Game Master, I'm trying to...

Fellow role-players, here are my updates for recent fantasy sessions of the Pathfinder: "Holy Steel" teleconferencing team, which were held on 7 and 21 February 2010: Ibrahim's kenbet continues "17 January 1229 B.C.E.:" In Day 2 of his kenbet (trial) for treason, "Ibrahim" [Byron V.O.] had the opportunity to cross-examine Hunumethet, his superior among the Ghazi (Paladins) of Isis, and Lady Dalesta, the Drow (western Dark Elf) ambassador from the kingdom of Zuromm. Although prosecutor Prince Sethemwie tried to describe the pesedjer Ghazi/Khery-heb (human Paladin/Wizard) as a pirate...

Fellow role-players, here is my update for the latest D20 "Gaslight Grimoire" steampunk/fantasy session, which I hosted and ran on Monday, 15 February 2010, in Needham, Mass.: In one world, the magicks and demihuman races of the "Vanished Lands" never disappeared, instead dispersing throughout the world. Three millennia later, European empires compete to explore and control the globe, technology has developed, and new villains and heroes arise.... >>Dramatis Personae for Gene D.'s "Gaslight Grimoire" ("G3"): -"Tariq Asrad Saladin" [Beruk A.]-male Turkish 'human, Dervish traveling the...

Fellow role-players, here is my update for the latest D20 "Gaslight Grimoire" steampunk/fantasy scenario, which I hosted and ran last night (Monday, 8 February 2010) in Needham, Mass.: In one world, the magicks and demihuman races of the "Vanished Lands" never disappeared, instead dispersing throughout the world. Three millennia later, European empires compete to explore and control the globe, technology has developed, and new villains and heroes arise.... >>Dramatis Personae for Gene D.'s "Gaslight Grimoire" ("G3"): -"Dr. Alexander Terence Levy" [Paul J.]-male British human, inventor...

It is a period of incredible progress and terrible destruction. Communications and transportation grow ever faster, but they also hasten the spread of wars and disease. Old tribal rivalries and nascent social consciousness challenge vast aristocratic and mercantile empires, and urbanization and industrialization make life easier for millions but condemn millions more to seemingly inescapable poverty. The arts blossom as alliances tighten and harden, leading to what many believe will be a "war to end all wars." It is the Victorian era, the setting for most steampunk. Steampunk is a...

Fellow role-players, it was good to chat with you this past weekend. Here are some notes for our "Pathfinder: Holy Steel" teleconferencing fantasy session of 31 January 2010/"16 January 1229 B.C.E.:" After many travels and much waiting, the day for the kenbet (trial) of "Ibrahim al-Sufaia" [Byron V.O.] finally arrived. The pesedjer Ghazi/Khery-heb (human Paladin/Wizard) was escorted from house arrest, past layers of armored soldiers, and up the causeway into the Jubilee Hall of Pi-Ramesses (Per-Ramesse). Although Drow Ranger "Faelonia" [Dexter V.H./absent] had disappeared while on a...

Fellow role-players, here is my update for the latest Pathfinder: "Holy Steel" teleconferencing game, which I ran using Skype on Monday, 4 January 2010: "13 to 15 January 1229 B.C.E.:" In the empire of Khemet (New Kingdom Egypt), the adventuring party known as "Holy Steel" was detained during a diplomatic mission from the distant "Vanished Lands." Drow Ranger "Faelonia" [Dexter V.H./absent] had disappeared from the court of Pharaoh Ramses II, and "Ibrahim" [Byron V.O.] prepared for his imminent kenbet (trial) for treason. The pesedjer Ghazi/Khery-heb (human Paladin/Wizard) and his...

Fellow role-players, now that the D&D4e "F.B.I." fantasy campaign has wound down, we can look ahead to 2010! I'm still willing to host our games from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on most Monday nights, and here are some of the one-shots and miniseries we'll be trying over the next several months! >Game Master: Paul J. -Minicampaign: crossover between his "Crossroads of Eternity" and Gene D.'s "Vanished Lands" -Genre: high fantasy -Rules System: "Pathfinder" (a.k.a. "D&D3.75") >Game Master: Paul J. -Minicampaign: "The League of Vaguely Interesting People" -Genre: comedic superheroes -Rules...

  Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session Yb-4b.66 of my D&D4e "Vanished Lands: the Faith-Based Initiative" fantasy campaign, which I hosted in Needham Heights, Mass., on 28 December 2009: In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. The "Vanished Lands" were blessed by the gods and cursed by prophecy. Travelers became adventurers, and adventurers strove to be heroes in the face of many perils and wonders. After other bands of mercenaries and diplomats fought humanoids in the northwestern borderlands, sailed the pirate-infested...

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session Yb-4b.65 of my D&D4e "Vanished Lands: the Faith-Based Initiative" fantasy campaign, which I hosted in Needham Heights, Mass., on 21 December 2009: In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. The "Vanished Lands" were blessed by the gods and cursed by prophecy. Travelers became adventurers, and adventurers strove to be heroes in the face of many perils and wonders. After other bands of mercenaries and diplomats fought humanoids in the northwestern borderlands, sailed the pirate-infested...