Mengar location is pretty good. It's right next to Crockett Hotel, and they are both near to a big mall. The mall goes into the riverfront/convention center. A good way to get where you need to when avoiding the rain.
I think I'm going to have to back out of this, unfortunately.
I've got family/non-forum Internet friends who are planning to be at East, and they asked me to go in on a room share, so I'm pretty much committed to that at this point.
And as much as I'd like to do South and East, I don't think my savings would be able to take two hits like that so close together.
I'm super bummed I won't be able to meet the Texas crew, but hopefully South 2017 will be a viable thing I can do.
Schedule will post on Friday, musical guests posted today (Protomen, Paul & Storm, Frontalot, The Doubleclicks, Bit Brigade, The Returners) and CliffyB doing the keynote.
Also there's still badges available all 3 days for some weird reason so if you guys want to go somewhere warm and hang out with some nerds in January it's not too late!
+1
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Goose!That's me, honeyShow me the way home, honeyRegistered Userregular
That's a pretty good lineup! Hopefully they get the audio issues sorted out this time, compared to last year or last Prime.
Realizing lately that I don't really trust or respect basically any of the moderators here. So, good luck with life, friends! Hit me up on Twitter @DesertLeviathan
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LasbrookIt takes a lot to make a stewWhen it comes to me and youRegistered Userregular
http://south.paxsite.com/schedule
The schedule is up. All you need to know is Southern Slam is Saturday morning so if the convention center gets evacuated you know why.
http://south.paxsite.com/schedule
The schedule is up. All you need to know is Southern Slam is Saturday morning so if the convention center gets evacuated you know why.
Sure, a Southern Slam may sound like a delicious item off the Denny's menu, but in reality it is THE premier live video game wrestling event at PAX South 2016. Join us as an assortment of game developers and press face off in the digital squared circle AND on stage for the very first time in the great state of Texas. Will there be spandex? Probably. Will this panel blur the lines between fantasy and reality? Yes, guaranteed. Will there be a fog machine this time? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I'm probably getting over-excited about running a D&D game there, since schedules are still up in the air, but here's a big heap of info. I've tested out this story a couple times with local groups, and I think it's a winner. So it's time to start talking about characters.
Some crap about the setting and story hook:
The village of Last Drink is a trading outpost deep in a desert territory, stretched along the last span of the Salamander River that runs clear enough for human consumption. A few miles past Last Drink, the Salamander winds through a stretch of geologically active badlands where it becomes tainted by mineral runoff. There are some local copper and tin mines, but for the most part Last Drink's fortunes are tied to the nearby Waters of Eternity Monastery, where the acolytes take advantage of the rich alchemical resources of the badlands to brew potions. The monastery's reclusive inhabitants are generally considered weird but harmless, and Last Drink acts as a middle man between them and the frequent trade caravans. There are less remote sources of potions, but the Waters of Life Monastery is able to produce an impressive enough volume to make the trip worth it just for the bulk discount.
But in the last couple months the acolytes haven't been coming to market, and citizens from Last Drink sent to check on the monastery have disappeared. The mayor of Last Drink and several of the caravan masters have pooled a reward for anyone able to bring word from the monastery, and as prices on healing potions upriver start to climb, a number of adventurers have arrived to investigate.
(Technically this is in the Forgotten Realms. But I can't find the motivation to even pretend to be interested in a non-Ravenloft canon setting for long enough to look at a map and see where Last Drink might fit on it. So don't worry too much about it, because I certainly am not.)
Some crap about Character Creation:
- You can make your own character if you want to. Just email me a copy when you're done!
- You can message me a general idea and I'll make the character for you. EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT 100% SURE YOU CAN MAKE IT, IF YOU HAVE A COOL IDEA, ASK! I can always use a few more concepts padding out the old NPC file.
- I'll have a half dozen extra "generic" characters for anyone who decides to play at the last minute, but seriously, if you think there's any chance you'll make it, try to go with one of the first two options.
- I'll probably limit it to 5-6 players.
- The test runs have been 90 minutes to 2 hours.
- I plan to run the game some time Thursday, and maybe run a second session on one of the convention days. It pretty much depends on when the most people will be available.
- Your characters are LEVEL 4. They've seen some action, but the shine hasn't quite come off their armor yet.
- Hit Points increases use the static value, not rolled. 1d12 = 7, 1d10 = 6, 1d8 = 5, 1d6 = 4. Nobody has d4 hit dice any more? Just noticed that, not bad!
- Character creation is POINT BUY WITH 32 POINTS! That's 5 more points than the recommended point buy, enough to buy an extra ability up to 13! Your dudes are not chumps.
- Feats are in play. At any level where you would gain an Ability Score Improvement, you may instead select one Feat (so for most classes, you'll have had this option once, at level 4.)
- All characters start with one bonus Feat! Because I'm generous.
- Variant Humans are in play (+1 to two attributes of your choice, one extra Skill Proficiency, and another Feat at 1st level). If you really want a default Human (+1 to all attributes, no other bonuses), well... that's cool, I guess. Go for it, I'm not going to stop you.
- The Lucky feat does not exist. That crap is hells of broken.
- NON-DISRUPTIVE ALIGNMENTS PLEASE. You'll note that I didn't specify "No Evil" or "No Chaotic". There are shades of all alignments that can function as part of a group. Feel free to make your character a scheming asshole or an erratic weirdo... I just don't want to deal with any PvP, so try to keep your eccentricities to a level that's fun for everyone to roleplay around.
- Races/Backgrounds from non-core books? YES! Just email me the traits, or the page reference if it's from something I can legally get for free online.
- Making up your own Backgrounds? MAYBE. I can be easily convinced to reward creativity, and the potential for abuse is pretty minimal here, but if it feels like you're stretching things just to shoehorn in the specific Skill Bonuses you want, I'm likely to say no.
- Classes from non-core books? NO. Sorry, asking you to email me the details is apparently where my moral boundary says that's enough info to count as theft.
- Class Variants? UNDER INVESTIGATION. Particularly, the Berserker Barbarian and Beast Master Ranger are considered big bowls of dog crap. I've never had anyone ask to play one, so I haven't looked into alternate rules for them, but if you want to try one and know of a good variant ruleset that you can point me to, or you know of another class path that's a surprise turd hidden in the rules that could use similar treatment, let me know!
- Summoning-Focused Spellcasters Listen, just don't be a dick. If you swamp down my table with a million token wolves doing trip attacks, nobody will think that you're cool.
- Multiclassing? SURE, WHY NOT. Your Barbarian took a course in Wizardry at the community college.
- Weapons/Feats/Spells/Equipment from non-core books? MAYBE. You can always run it by me for approval.
- It's in the Forgotten Realms, but if you've got a concept from another setting, I don't care as long I don't have to do any extra work to support it. How'd you get there? Figure it out yourself! A Wizard probably did it. We really won't have enough playtime to delve into your intricately constructed backstory, so feel free to make as much or as little of it as you feel like! The default setting is mostly important for the array of patrons available to Divine Spellcasters.
- All that really matters is that you have some reason to be in this dead-end desert town, and willing to take a simple search-and-rescue job there. Ha ha! Simple! I promise!
- It may seem like I'm super flippant towards the Roleplaying aspect here, but trust me, if you've got a character who's cool for reasons beyond just their stats, I'll take notice and treat you right. It's just an unfortunate limitation of this type of game that we won't have time to really focus on that material. But I'm still grateful when it's there, even if I don't have the opportunity to tug on every story hook your character offers me!
Have I over-thought all of this? YES. But I am SUPER EXCITED YOU GUYS HOLY CRAP.
Submission deadline: Whenever we actually play, I guess. If you show up 45 minutes after we've started with your Half-Orc Monk/Bard (with custom Nunchuck Bagpipes), sorry, that sounds rad, but it's too late.
Desert Leviathan on
Realizing lately that I don't really trust or respect basically any of the moderators here. So, good luck with life, friends! Hit me up on Twitter @DesertLeviathan
+3
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Goose!That's me, honeyShow me the way home, honeyRegistered Userregular
When is everyone going to be in SA? I'm gonna be in on Wednesday.
I will coalesce somewhere in Austin from a flock of ravens, or perhaps materialize within the cloud of bats as they emerge from beneath the Congress Street Bridge at dusk
KetarCome on upstairswe're having a partyRegistered Userregular
I'm flying in Wednesday. I wanted to have time to drive out to Lockhart or Luling for bbq on Thursday before any evening activities. I made it to two of the big names in Lockhart the only other time i've been to San Antonio, and it was the best bbq i've ever had.
If I can squeeze in a decent movie at an Alamo Draft house before Pax too the extra night will be so worth it.
Posts
This year it's at party hotel party time.
Where is this said party hotel going to be?
Hampton Inn & Suites San Antonio-Downtown/Market Square
I believe.
I'm not worried about the hotel, just where it's located.
PAX South '15 still feels like it was yesterday.
Only 55 days left.
God, please, not yet
Fuck. This really snuck up on me. Should be good, though!
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.... Bzzz...
But yeah, the month of is probably best.
And in 3 days it consumed a month's amount of data.
I've got family/non-forum Internet friends who are planning to be at East, and they asked me to go in on a room share, so I'm pretty much committed to that at this point.
And as much as I'd like to do South and East, I don't think my savings would be able to take two hits like that so close together.
I'm super bummed I won't be able to meet the Texas crew, but hopefully South 2017 will be a viable thing I can do.
Y'all remember the Alamo for me.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2015/12/08/we-need-pax-south-qs
Schedule will post on Friday, musical guests posted today (Protomen, Paul & Storm, Frontalot, The Doubleclicks, Bit Brigade, The Returners) and CliffyB doing the keynote.
Also there's still badges available all 3 days for some weird reason so if you guys want to go somewhere warm and hang out with some nerds in January it's not too late!
Steam
The schedule is up. All you need to know is Southern Slam is Saturday morning so if the convention center gets evacuated you know why.
Steam
Also, the protomen yes yes yes yes yes
3DS Friend Code: 0216-0898-6512
Switch Friend Code: SW-7437-1538-7786
If anyone needs a 3 day pass, PM me and we can sort something out
Some crap about the setting and story hook:
But in the last couple months the acolytes haven't been coming to market, and citizens from Last Drink sent to check on the monastery have disappeared. The mayor of Last Drink and several of the caravan masters have pooled a reward for anyone able to bring word from the monastery, and as prices on healing potions upriver start to climb, a number of adventurers have arrived to investigate.
(Technically this is in the Forgotten Realms. But I can't find the motivation to even pretend to be interested in a non-Ravenloft canon setting for long enough to look at a map and see where Last Drink might fit on it. So don't worry too much about it, because I certainly am not.)
Some crap about Character Creation:
- You can message me a general idea and I'll make the character for you. EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT 100% SURE YOU CAN MAKE IT, IF YOU HAVE A COOL IDEA, ASK! I can always use a few more concepts padding out the old NPC file.
- I'll have a half dozen extra "generic" characters for anyone who decides to play at the last minute, but seriously, if you think there's any chance you'll make it, try to go with one of the first two options.
- I'll probably limit it to 5-6 players.
- The test runs have been 90 minutes to 2 hours.
- I plan to run the game some time Thursday, and maybe run a second session on one of the convention days. It pretty much depends on when the most people will be available.
- Your characters are LEVEL 4. They've seen some action, but the shine hasn't quite come off their armor yet.
- Hit Points increases use the static value, not rolled. 1d12 = 7, 1d10 = 6, 1d8 = 5, 1d6 = 4. Nobody has d4 hit dice any more? Just noticed that, not bad!
- Character creation is POINT BUY WITH 32 POINTS! That's 5 more points than the recommended point buy, enough to buy an extra ability up to 13! Your dudes are not chumps.
- Feats are in play. At any level where you would gain an Ability Score Improvement, you may instead select one Feat (so for most classes, you'll have had this option once, at level 4.)
- All characters start with one bonus Feat! Because I'm generous.
- Variant Humans are in play (+1 to two attributes of your choice, one extra Skill Proficiency, and another Feat at 1st level). If you really want a default Human (+1 to all attributes, no other bonuses), well... that's cool, I guess. Go for it, I'm not going to stop you.
- The Lucky feat does not exist. That crap is hells of broken.
- NON-DISRUPTIVE ALIGNMENTS PLEASE. You'll note that I didn't specify "No Evil" or "No Chaotic". There are shades of all alignments that can function as part of a group. Feel free to make your character a scheming asshole or an erratic weirdo... I just don't want to deal with any PvP, so try to keep your eccentricities to a level that's fun for everyone to roleplay around.
- Races/Backgrounds from non-core books? YES! Just email me the traits, or the page reference if it's from something I can legally get for free online.
- Making up your own Backgrounds? MAYBE. I can be easily convinced to reward creativity, and the potential for abuse is pretty minimal here, but if it feels like you're stretching things just to shoehorn in the specific Skill Bonuses you want, I'm likely to say no.
- Classes from non-core books? NO. Sorry, asking you to email me the details is apparently where my moral boundary says that's enough info to count as theft.
- Class Variants? UNDER INVESTIGATION. Particularly, the Berserker Barbarian and Beast Master Ranger are considered big bowls of dog crap. I've never had anyone ask to play one, so I haven't looked into alternate rules for them, but if you want to try one and know of a good variant ruleset that you can point me to, or you know of another class path that's a surprise turd hidden in the rules that could use similar treatment, let me know!
- Summoning-Focused Spellcasters Listen, just don't be a dick. If you swamp down my table with a million token wolves doing trip attacks, nobody will think that you're cool.
- Multiclassing? SURE, WHY NOT. Your Barbarian took a course in Wizardry at the community college.
- Weapons/Feats/Spells/Equipment from non-core books? MAYBE. You can always run it by me for approval.
- It's in the Forgotten Realms, but if you've got a concept from another setting, I don't care as long I don't have to do any extra work to support it. How'd you get there? Figure it out yourself! A Wizard probably did it. We really won't have enough playtime to delve into your intricately constructed backstory, so feel free to make as much or as little of it as you feel like! The default setting is mostly important for the array of patrons available to Divine Spellcasters.
- All that really matters is that you have some reason to be in this dead-end desert town, and willing to take a simple search-and-rescue job there. Ha ha! Simple! I promise!
- It may seem like I'm super flippant towards the Roleplaying aspect here, but trust me, if you've got a character who's cool for reasons beyond just their stats, I'll take notice and treat you right. It's just an unfortunate limitation of this type of game that we won't have time to really focus on that material. But I'm still grateful when it's there, even if I don't have the opportunity to tug on every story hook your character offers me!
Have I over-thought all of this? YES. But I am SUPER EXCITED YOU GUYS HOLY CRAP.
Submission deadline: Whenever we actually play, I guess. If you show up 45 minutes after we've started with your Half-Orc Monk/Bard (with custom Nunchuck Bagpipes), sorry, that sounds rad, but it's too late.
Then driving to SA that evening
Plus I have three kids, so those arrangements are also kind of a limiting factor
Then Sandra and co. said they wanted to hang around Austin and eat BBQ before heading down, which I thought sounded decidedly un-lame!
And then I'm driving to San Antonio, yeah
If I can squeeze in a decent movie at an Alamo Draft house before Pax too the extra night will be so worth it.