Funny Pictures

In this series, we're posting some unique pictures of us as we play in the Realms. The challenge we present to you is to provide us with funny captions for the pictures in the comments section. Try to keep 'em relatively clean and fun. (Photo by Dustin Mack)

What You Missed - Feast of Winter's Twilight III

Photo by Janna Oakfellow-Pushee - 2013

Photo by Janna Oakfellow-Pushee - 2013

Photo by Janna Oakfellow-Pushee - 2013

Photo by Janna Oakfellow-Pushee - 2013

Why I Want to Go- Iron Lotus Presents: Dragon Master

Iron Lotus Presents: Dragon Master
May 10, 2013 (Friday 6pm) - May 12, 2013 (Sunday 4pm)

This will be a full weekend event, jam packed with all sorts of things to keep everyone busy. Friday night will feature a "High Roller Poker Tourney" which will feature a classy atmosphere, a variety of casino games and of course poker. Also on Friday night there will some Order of the List tournaments which will be hosted by the Huntress Guild and betting will be encouraged for the tourneys. On Saturday, there will be a full day of questing that will include some heavy role-playing and combat all deigned to include every type of player.

This popular site is excellent for hanging out (so will be great for Friday night) and for questing (so will be great for Saturday). This event is the dream of a long time player who has finally taken the leap to throwing an event, to get a chance to tell her stories. This will be an excellent event to try out a new plot and show some support for a new eventholder.

Question of the Week - 91

Do you think the print copy of the Omnibus rules is still relevant or do you only use the online version?

The Grimloch Tribune

The Grimloch Tribune

By Callahan “Syruss” Marsden

 

 

LEAD STORY: Mineral Mine Cave-In, Dwarves of Grimloch Possibly Wiped Out.
A local mining crew the renowned “Six Dwarves and a Pick-Axe Crew” went missing after leaving to go on a mining survey of new caves near  POTA Mountain.

The changing of the seasons has produced many landslides and depressions in the hilly region where the miners were reported to be going. It is unclear at this time if the dwarves were underground at the time of the mudslides.

Competitor and long time rival of the “Six Dwarves and a Pick Axe Crew” Little Jon had this to say:

“Those arrogant bastards never saw the downside to their greed. Mithril was the foundation of their wealth, so also it was their destruction: they delved too greedily and too deep and now they suffer the consequences.”

Little Jon gave some great insight on how mining works and would like everyone to know that if you have some ore that needs mining please feel free to utilize “Little Jon’s Construction where we produce BIG results!”

Recent events: Dog Done Did Good

 (A silly fact update as told through the eyes of Theddy Quill)

 Recently Grimloch allowed a particular fancypants dog to join the group, now she is working with the other ladies of Grimloch to make sure we are dressed to the 9’s and not looking like we shopped out of dumpsters. That dog of course is Effa.

But her actions don’t just stop with Grimloch she and her fellow members are making a stand on common threads of the Realms.

She recently held a tournament marshalled by the Order of the List members to raise coin and cloth to help clothe  new adventurers as well as the common people of the Realms.

 I recently spoke with Sir Syruss the Awesome about how he as member of the OOTL felt the tournaments went and his take on the cause:

Theddy:  “Hey Big Sy, how do you feel the tourneys went?”

 

Syruss:    “ As per what is becoming the norm for OOTL point Tourneys there was a ton of competition, everyone is pining for an early spot on the "Top Sixteen". The fights were clean, fast, and some were very exciting.”

 

Theddy: “What is your take on clothing in the Realms and do you feel this is a good cause?”

Syruss: “Clothing I think varies from region to region, some richer countries obviously have the means to clad their countrymen/women for any occasion. Some newer settled countries often have trouble balancing what to spend their coffers on; most times it is invested in making sure their countries' warriors have proper equipment such as armor and weapons.
As for the cause, I think it is as good of cause as any. People need clothing and if this is a means to get it to them then that’s great.”

 

After meeting with Syruss I had the chance to get a quote from the hostess of the Event and here is what she had to say:

EFFA “Tournaments of Tunics was conceived as an attempt to fundraise a ”cover your shame bin”, and to try and encourage fancier dress within Realms through example and encouragement (with such things as the Garb Swap). It is my hope that hosts of large gatherings (EH’s) start setting dress guidelines for their events and allow them to use the “’cover your shame bin”” to supplement and provide clothing options for those adventurers with none. We as a community are constantly making strides to improve ourselves in combat, marshaling, and adventuring but dress has often fallen by the wayside. It is my hope that with the advent of the ToT, garb swaps, and ”cover your shame bin” that we can. as a community, work together to push for a better looking and more dapper tomorrow.”

Order of the List Activities and Points on the Horizon

 

Please continue to check Grimloch tribune for up to date articles on when you can score your next points and shoot for that top sixteen spot.
Next chance to score points and thrust yourself into the top spot comes at Blackwood Tournament 3 (7-5-13 at Creathorne Farm Grafton NH)

Not only will this be a great chance to score some serious points but it is also a great time to work with and shadow the Order itself. As you may or may not have known the OoTL has an excellent marshaling program for those who want to advance their abilities to Marshal. Last year they certified their first marshal outside of the Order in Rillan of Grimloch, who spent the majority of the 2012 season working with Rohde, Jaha, Shandar and Tychus trying to hone his marshalling abilities.  Perhaps others will make a similar commitment this coming season.

Also you can ask any members of the Order for one on one training to better strengthen you combat skills

 

 Dear Rohodey,

 

An advice column from our one and only super sensitive super soldier the one the only Rohodey.This article allows you the readers a chance to have our on site "Cerebral Assassin" take a crack at what’s making you crack. So submit all questions via raven to Syruss and he will read them to Rohde (cause we all know he can’t read):
Dear Rohodey,

I have never written to you before, but I really need your advice. I have suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me.

The usual signs; knocks on the door but if I answer, the "gentleman caller" makes a run for it. My wife has been going out with ‘the girls’ a lot recently although when I ask their names she always says, just some friends from work, you don’t know them.

I try to stay awake and watch for her when she comes home, but I usually fall asleep.
Anyway, I have never broached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just did not want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to finally check on her around midnight, I hid in the garage behind my sword rack so I could get a good view of the whole street when she arrived home from a night out with “the girls.”
When she got out of the carriage she was buttoning up her blouse, which was open, and she was quickly fixing her hair which looked all ruffled up.

 

It was at that moment, crouching behind my sword collection, that I noticed a hairline crack where the grip meets the fiberglass shaft on my GrimGear made single short.

Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it back to  Grimloch Gear for repairs?

Signed…
Concerned Fighter

Dear Concerned Fighter,
    First off, GrimGear has great customer service and I am sure they would replace the entire sword for you as long as you never EVER bring up the fact that you were spying on your wife when you found it. I am sure Guilliam had good reason to have your wife out that late. She was probably auditioning for a waitress position at Rohde and Syruss's Hump House or something and that's why her blouse was undone, Guilliam sometimes has weird "casting couch" style auditions when we ask him to cover the bar for us while Syruss and I visit new "business contacts" out in Thistle Grove. But as I said, when you go to Guilliam about getting your sword reforged, don't mention your wife or you might end up with that sword where you didn't want it. After all he won most intimidating two years in a row! (pffft)

 

Rohodey

 

 

Well that's it for this issue I am Theddy Quill alongside Syruss reporting the facts, the whole facts, and nothing but the facts. Stay safe see you next week

Funny Pictures

In this series, we're posting some unique pictures of us as we play in the Realms. The challenge we present to you is to provide us with funny captions for the pictures in the comments section. Try to keep 'em relatively clean and fun. (Photo by Dustin Mack)

10 Questions - Leanne "Faelinn" Hoffman

Leanne "Faelinn" Hoffman

Photo by Melissa Fitzgerald

How long have you been playing?

My first event was Lost Gate Legacy in 2002.  That makes it just over 10 years.  Some days it doesn’t seem that long ago.

How has the game changed since you've been playing?

There is a distinct lack of one shot adventure weekends.  Everything now seems to be a part of an overarching plot or has some plot tie-ins.  While that’s not a bad thing, I do miss the contained 3-day adventure.

The fighting has gotten a lot faster and the weapon tech has changed a lot as well. Green foam and duct tape have been replaced with regular insulation foam and weapon socks.  I go back and forth on the pros and cons of the change of scale in weapon tech.

On the plus side I think there are more opportunities for newbies to get involved.  A lot of groups seem more open to helping newer players, mentoring, and giving out loaner gear.  Anything that helps more people get involved is always a good thing.

Who have you learned the most from?

I’ve had the benefit of learning form a lot of different people and getting different perspective about how the game works.  Aaron Metzger really got me to love the spell system and told me you can be a caster and still kick a butt and have fun with the combat parts of the game.  He is really the other half of my EH-ing brain for better or worse.  His stories of questing with his group of friends when he started really made me want to capture those moments for myself.

Carrie Dolph showed me from my first event that you can pour yourself into the game to tell a unique story and watch it come alive.  Even in the pouring rain at my newbie event, I watched people talk of the real threat of enemies, trials and tribulations, epic battles, and heartfelt roleplaying.  I totally wanted to be Carrie when I became an EH.  If I could draw half the emotion of the PCs from my events as she did in that one event where I watched people rally to fight a giant bainen worm, then I would have called it a success.

What was your best moment IC?

Best is pretty subjective.  To this day, I tell the self-deprecating story of Feast of Chimeron 17.  I was being that guy who was talking during court to Iawen off to the side.  The Magi of the Realms were called up to talk and I said to Iawen, “Meh.  They aren’t going to say anything important” and continued with our conversation (complete with stupid hand gestures).  We talked and laughed and then I noticed the hall was completely silent.  I causally turned to the side and noticed the ENTIRE feast hall was looking at me.  I remember having a bewildered look on my face and stammering out “Uh, hi.  I think I missed something important.”  And that’s how I was inducted into the Magi of the Realms.  Lesson to everyone: don’t be that guy at court!  It will come back to bite you!

My other best moment (another Janna in tow adventure), was Feast of Chimeron 13.  This was the event where Faelinn and Ophelia pretty much became inseparable.  Other people will say it was Rites of War 7 where I killed Titiania.  Either way those stories are best told in person.

As cliché as it is, some of the best questing was the Owen and Faelinn questing buddy times.  When you have a small group that really works well together you can accomplish almost anything.

What was your best moment as a NPC/EH/Player?

There are so many and most of them involve fake blood, gross makeup, and/or intense roleplaying.  I think my favorite was for the Twilight Champion.  I was NPCing as Faelinn who was possessed by Ascerbus.  Faelinn/Ascberus had to be scalped while still alive to kill the guardian beast tied to her.  We worked out the mechanics of the fight (me being sacrificed and all) and had to work around my tonsil surgery and the pain med induced wackiness that followed.  The minute the first sword hit me, I wailed at the top of my lungs and started crying.  I can only describe the sound as a painful scream/gurgle/rasp punctuated by sobs.  I sounded gross and horrible and just painful and it make the PCs super uncomfortable.  When I was killed, I wandered over to the NPC area where I was told the NPC briefing had to be stopped because I had freaked out the NPCs and no one could concentrate.  It was at that point I noticed Aaron had shaved his beard and comedy ensued.

Any time where I can play either a named NPC role, or am given the chance to roll with punches as a crunchy I have a blast.  Anytime I’m a goblin or crunchy with Chelsea Stoddard is a good time.  We die so horribly!

Photo by Robyn C Nielsen

What would you like to see changed or developed more in game?

 I would like to see more NPCs from different plots make cameos at other people’s events to make the world seem a little more cohesive.  I know we are never going to all play nice together as EHs and there are some very differing opinions in creative plot teams, but it’s the little things that tie everything together.  More roleplaying is always a good thing and having more IC interactions help people stay in character more and feel more involved with the event.

What advice would you give new players?

Go out and meet people from all different nations.  Talk to people!  Don’t be afraid to ask questions of offer a suggestion on a quest!  Some of us are not as scary as people seem to make us out to be.  You’ll find a lot of people have the same interests as you do.

While playing an evil necromantic lich overlord might be a wicked cool character concept, it might not be the best thing for you to try as a newbie.  Keep it simple to start off.  Playing an elf might seem like a good idea to begin with, but after 10 years of spirit gum getting stuck in your hair, you might want to rethink that. 

What do you love most about the game?

 I absolutely love running around with my friends in the woods.  There is nothing like having a good time, in all kinds of weather, with your closest friends saving the day or causing hijinks.  It’s the people and the atmosphere of the events that really does it for me.  S’mores-quest is also the best quest!

As I’ve moved to helping staff and EH more, I really love cooking for people.  Working with a fantastic kitchen staff is seriously a joy that I look forward to every time I’m in the kitchen (be it mine or someone else’s).  When you have a cohesive staff, it makes giving back to the community so much more fun for everyone.

Who would you like to see the next interview be with?

Sean Veale, the hardest working man in a goblin mask.  For someone so quiet, he is truly a workhorse for the community (and quite funny).  My other vote is for the ever eccentric Randy Gordon.  That man’s basement is an event holding treasure trove of shlock.

Anything else you'd like to take the opportunity to put into print?

Pre-reg for events!  It really helps for planning purposes and I can’t always remember who is allergic to what food. 

Also never listen to Rel tell the story about Titania during the Rites of War.  He’s a big fat liar pants.

And Jonas Cooke is secretly in love with Faelinn…pass it on!