By AWizardInDallas on 4/16/2008 9:52 PM

Ratlings have taken over the city of Sumberton.  Plague spreads outward from the city threatening the people of the valley with sickness and death.  Slaughtergarde is no more yet a demonic lord appears to have arisen in the abandoned halls of Castle Grievous to the west, in the guise of a red dragon.   This diabolical new lord seeks to collect all the souls of the valley, to become no less than a god.  Has the lord of Slaughtergarde himself returned? 

Also, the wolvens of Turlek are reportedly joining with him.  The Shining Citadel has been razed and the Luminous Order is shattered and no more.  Worst of all the fellowship has learned that the Valley of Obelisks intersects Oerth.  It does not belong to this world but exists as a mere extraplane.  The obelisks, erected long ago by Urmanz the Composer, somehow hold it in place. 

Who will fight these evils?  The elves of Shul Shennek have decided to leave the valley to its doom and flee to the Oerth.  They have suggested that destroying the main obelisk in Sumberton would destroy the valley and keep the demon lord from harvesting souls or wrecking havoc on Oerth when he is done with the valley.  Destroying the prime obelisk would also be a mercy killing for those who now suffer at the hands of plague and the valley's numerous enemies.  Kingless, leaderless none in the valley can alone decide.

No one knows, of those remaining, who will fight, who will lend aid, who will cower in fear and who will flee.  The elves of Shul Vaath have not been heard from while the dwarves of Kaurak Kholzil have vowed to help where once they sequestered themselves in their mountain craft halls.  Of the dwarves of Krokarr, whose blood has thinned of honor, it is uncertain.  The Ebon Cabal has split into two faction ... Read More »

By AWizardInDallas on 4/13/2008 12:31 AM

I looked at Gleemax when it first came out and found the navigation poor and site garish. It's also rather puerile. You can also forget finding whatever you might be looking for. Gleemax seems to be intended to waste your time with it's meandering shopping mall layout. The only think missing is the lumbering grocery store music designed to slow you down so you'll buy more crap.

Gleemax: The Future of Lame

I really loved the comment in the blog about the site's title. It reminds me of the equally lame chewing gum commercials. Yeah I don't think Wizards of the Coast is going to maximize my glee either, especially since, as also mentioned in the blog, I'm not in their target demographic. Gleemax is not just a joke - it's a cruel joke considering that for $9.95/month you actually get nothing but nonsense meant in part to replace thirty years of excellent Dungeon and Dragon magazines.

By AWizardInDallas on 4/11/2008 11:31 PM

The Sunless Citadel continues!

Our intrepid band climbed down into the darkness to explore the lower level of the Sunless Citadel once again. Thorne was the first to descend and was immediately attacked by twig blights. He whipped out his twin long swords and started hacking as bow fire helped with the defeat of the malignant blights. They explored the large lower chamber only to find quiet at each of three doors. They made their way back through the goblin lab, finding it still abandoned. Eventually they came to the huge gallery halls and headed through the door to the northern hexagonal room. Thorne opened the door unceremoniously to find lumbering skeletons in the room. They shambled slowly forward until Holly actually entered the room. They then leaped to the attack! The battle was desperate, Thorne taking the brunt of the attack with Holly and Stephen having taken enough damage to force them to withdraw. Shadow healed her fellows with the wand of curing given to her by the mysterious wizard, Palomere (via the healer in Oakhurst). Fortunately, though the battle was close no one succumbed to their wounds.

By AWizardInDallas on 4/11/2008 5:17 PM

Can you hear the sound of cash registers? I wonder how many dupes will buy another rehash of D&D? What I find really laughable is the use of the word 'medieval' in the product description. There's nothing medieval about D&D any more and there hasn't been for quite some time. Previous editions made at least some effort to represent real-world historical weapons and armor. That has gone out way out the window. I would also object to the $104.95 price tag were I one of the apparently unsuspecting victims. Can you say ka-ching? Brilliant marketing though since Wizards of the Coast has undoubtedly convinced thousands of gamers to pony up for a game they already own. Pick pockets perfected. Awesome.