Game Review: Pathfinder Starter Box

Just last week, I finished running the Lost Crown of Neverwinter D&D Encounters campaign. It was very well done, we had a lot of fun, and it was a rewarding fourteen weeks of gaming. I am a big fan of 4th Edition D&D. I love the streamlined combat, the party synergy, and the class role system. I was actually kind of jealous of my players. They were having so much fun with their characters, leveling and trying new power combinations, that I had to roll a character of my own. Thus was born Vraxis Shadowkin, Tiefling Warlock Hexblade! Just in case there is a game I can jump in, I'll be prepared.

Many of us are older D&D players, and we remember fondly the days of creating a character of our design and reflecting a lot of character flaws and perks through character design. This is something the Pathfinder system does well. In an off weekend, I got together with Jason and Henry and we decided to give the Pathfinder Starter Box a go. The Pathfinder system is, essentially, D&D 3.5 under the OGL rebranded and carried on by Paizo Publishing. Once we got started, it only took a few turns for us to realize how familiar the rules were.

The box set itself is very well done. It really does assume you have never played a role playing game before. The rules are written in a very clear, concise way. This allows new players to grasp certain aspects of the game as well get handle on combat mechanics. Visually the art reminds me of a cross between high fantasy and anime. The box includes four pre-generated characters, a players handbook, a GM book, a well done double sided dry erase map, a few pages of cut out character with several 3D stands, a few blank character sheets and a set of dice. The character sheets are laid out in a very clear manner, with lots of definitions and how-to tips throughout. The beginner scenario takes place near the town of Sandpoint. The party is tasked with discovering who or what is responsible for terrorizing the local populace. It is a quick adventure into a dungeon cave not far from town. The adventure takes the party through ten rooms in the dungeon, exploring most of combat mechanics as well providing many opportunities for non-combat tests, like disarming traps, stealing treasure, and diplomatic role-play with some of the dungeon occupants. In the end, the party must face and defeat Black Fang, a young black dragon who has taken up residence in the caves interior.

From the start, I really felt the difference between the two game systems. While fundamental mechanics are still the same, there are subtle differences between the two systems. Saves and critical hits stand out here, as well as some roleplaying options. I think Pathfinder really rewards players who LOVE options and customization with their characters. The interaction of skills, feats and abilities is more intricate in Pathfinder, and that can be a good thing. I did find combat to bog down a bit, but that is something I remember 3.5 suffering from before. All in all, we had a good time playing. Jason liked the game so much I believe he will be running a Pathfinder game soon. I guess Vraxis will have to wait!

Now what should I roll for his Pathfinder game?

-Wicked

Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

The world is a lesser place today with the passing of Steve Jobs. Humanity lost a true visionary, a brilliant inventor, and an amazing human being. I consider it an honor to work for the company that he helped create, through which whose products helped define the world as we know it. His spirit is the foundation of Apple, and through the people whose lives he touched, his legacy will endure.

The following video is narrated by Steve himself. It is at the core of what sets Apple apart from any other company. A company that only Steve could have shaped.

Rest is peace, Steve. You will be missed.

-Wicked

Gaming Man Cave: The Dojo

Finally!

While it is still a work in progress, I'm pretty much done setting up my game room. A few more coats of sealant on the table and a few odds and ends, but this is basically it. So now I have a place to play, anytime. The table, dubbed "The Field...of Evermore!" is the one rescued from School of Comics and built for Gamers Conclave. Both stores are now only memories, but I am hoping a little TLC of the table and the dice gods may favor me! Special thanks to Lassider for bringing it here and then helping me shoe horn it into the house. Now, which should be the first game played on it? :)

Strength and Honor,

-Wicked

Dungeons and Dragons Encounters

So with all the craziness that is going on, it is nice to have a hobby that lets one take a break from all the insanity of the day. For some it is golf. Others it may be playing pool. For me and my crew, it is swinging a long sword playing Dungeons and Dragons.

But who has time to play D&D anymore? Many have family obligations, work, school, second jobs, etc...how does one fit in time to play a long roleplaying campaign?

Enter D&D Encounters.

Wizards of the Coast, in a stroke of brilliance, has devised a way for those who wish to get their RPG on without the hefty time commitment. In Dungeon and Dragons Encounters, players can meet on a specific night each week, Wednesdays, and play a campaign session of D&D in less than two hours. They take this a step further buy making it so that one need not even know how to play! Encounters is great for beginners and veterans alike. WotC provides everything the DM needs to run the campaign for the season, which lasts about 13-15 weeks. Players may make their own level 1 character or play one of the pre made characters provided in the Encounters kit. In addition to the characters earning loot, gear and XP, the players themselves earn Renown Points by achieving certain milestones over the course of the season. These points earn them exclusive Fortune Cards that they may use to further enhance their character's options during game play.

Each season of Encounters focuses on telling a story in a grand setting with the players as the Heroes and centerpiece of the tale. This season's Encounters takes place in the classic D&D campaign setting of The Forgotten Realms. In Faerun lies the ruined city of Neverwinter. Decimated after a volcanic eruption, Neverwinter is the home to all manner of monsters, nefarious factions, and intrigue. Yet there is hope. Some are trying to reclaim Neverwinter and restore it to its former glory as the Jewel of the North and seek the lost Crown of Neverwinter. But who, if any will succeed in such a task? It is up to your party to find out!

So check out your FLGS on Wednesdays nights and participate in D&D Encounters. Discover (again) why gathering around the table with your friends and fighting some baddies is a great way to get away from the craziness of the day...even if it is only for two hours. You can find a D&D Encounters location here.

Strength and Honor,

-Wicked

Places to Play: Big Easy Comics

In an effort to both inform and promote the New Orleans area gaming community, I thought I would start a series of articles on where local gamers can get together and meet, play some games, and have a good time. It seems we are enjoying a Renaissance of gaming down here in the Deep South, as many excellent gaming locations have opened around the city. Perhaps one day I will chronicle my own personal experiences with our local game stores throughout the years, but not today. However, I feel I would be remiss if I started writing about game stores without at least giving a shout out to the one that, for me, started it all. Wargames and Fantasy, owned and operated by Clay and Deanna LeBrun (and occasionally, Caesar) was where I discovered hobby gaming. That is where I learned to play a little unknown game called Magic:The Gathering and some miniature games called Rogue Trader and Space Hulk. I have many fond memories of that store, and some of my oldest friendships can trace their roots back to a game played on those gaming tables.

But that is a story for another time.

Today, we are very fortunate to have several game stores in and around New Orleans and in Baton Rouge. Here on the Northshore, in Mandeville, there is a wonderful new comic shop called Big Easy Comics. Owned by Stephen and Tracey Smith, Big Easy Comics is the place to get your comic Geek on, pick up some collectible action figures, and get some games in on their dedicated game nights. To say they have a few action figures, collectible statues, and comics would be a gross understatement. They also carry a small but respectable, budding selection of games and gaming supplies. Games Workshop figures prominently in their store, and there is no lack of finding opponents to play Warhammer Fantasy or 40,000. For my game group, we have been getting together on Wednesday and Friday nights, with most folks showing up on Fridays.

Now, I'll shoot ya straight. I do not think Steve and Tracey set out to run a game store, as most of us would define it. However, they have been so unbelievably accommodating to us gamers that it has reinvigorated and rejuvenated many of us to start playing again, in earnest. In truth, I have never seen a store adapt so much to its customers like BEC has done. While BEC may be cozy space wise, it does not take much effort to transform it to a comfortable gaming area. All of the floor displays are rollable and easily tuck out of the way. There are custom built comic back issue bins that serve double duty as gaming tables. All it takes is the addition of an overleaf, a few snaps of the locks, and BAM! Instant gaming table. On game nights, folding tables and chairs occupy space that was once dedicated to comic books or collectible toys. They definitely make the best of their situation, and my hat is off to their ingenuity and eagerness to give us a place to play.

On the gaming front, BEC has certainly hit the ground running. They have been hosting our local Game Night for several weeks now, and are quickly responding to their customers needs by adding events and tournaments to the line up. For those seeking to tap some Land for mana and cast crazy spells at their opponent, Friday Night is the time to show up and play some Magic:The Gathering league games. My game group is currently playing in a Warmachine/Hordes campaign of our own design, and many of us base our games for it at BEC (more on that later). Big Easy Comics recently held its first Warhammer 40,000 Tournament. A great time was had by all, myself included, pitting our armies against one another in some GW 'Ard Boyz scenarios. In the end, it was Zach and his magnificently painted Eldar warhost that won the day. Alas, my Chaos Space Marines did not fair too well against Addison's Grey Knights or Zach's Eldar, but I did manage to eek out a Victory over Richard's formidable Sisters of Battle.

As I have mentioned before, hobby gaming is very much a social hobby that requires folks to get together and play one another and have fun. Having a dedicated, common place to meet and act as the social hub for the gaming community is a big part of the enjoyment of hobby gaming. While they may be the new kids on the gaming block, Big Easy Comics is already developing a strong Northshore gaming community and provides an excellent, fun and professional atmosphere in which we get to do our thing. Which is namely to utterly crush one another's armies into a heaping, bloody pulp and leave us crying on the tabletop.

If you are in the Mandeville/Covington/Slidell area, I invite you to experience Big Easy Comics and come by for a game. I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Big Easy Comics can be found at 5150 Hwy. 22 Suite C-3, Mandeville, LA 70471. (985) 792-7800. They are open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m.

Their website can be found here.

Next week I will review and spotlight another fantastic game store. This one will be somewhere in Metairie! :-)

Strength and Honor,

-Wicked

Miniature Update: Progress!!

It is a well known fact that I seem to collect miniatures faster than I can assemble and paint them. This is partially a time issue but really I have to be "inspired" to really sit down at my table and get things going. There is nothing like a good campaign to really tear me away from Call of Duty or World of Warcraft and start assembling...and painting...some miniatures. My game crew is starting The Battle for Firecania campaign for WARMACHINE and HORDES. Since we custom designed the campaign rules, we were able to address specific needs of our players. For one, we can play any faction we would like each game. This has led to me getting some models that have been on the back burner for a (long) while back on track to getting done. You may recall from my last post my Blindwater Congregation models on my painting table still in boxes. Well, now they are assembled and primed! I'm going to challenge myself to get the initial fifteen points painted up over the next few weeks. My last painting challenge was to assemble and paint a small Cryx force in two weeks (see my earlier blog entry). I was pleased with how they came out and I am going to use the same "quick and dirty" painting technique on Bloody Barnabas and his warpack. I also was able to "pre-paint" and assemble my Manticore for my Retribution army. Given how the model is assembled, I decided to prime and paint each piece individually before I assembled the model. I was not sure if I would be able to get a paint brush into some of the areas if I assembled it first, so I tried this route. It is still far from finished, but I like the way it came together. I do have lots of touch up work to do on it, but that will come later. I will post a further rundown of The Battle for Firecania and how we are faring in it later.

Strength and Honor,

-Wicked

My Painting Table: Where All the Fun Begins!

Part of the hobby aspect of miniature gaming is assembling and painting up your models for the battlefield. This requires all manner of hobby supplies. From clippers and files to glue and paint pots, having a dedicated area to work on your miniatures goes a long way to enjoying the process and makes organizing your supplies easier.

Now, this area can be as simple as a desktop or portion of the kitchen table. Even a shoe box and box top can make a great painting area. The point is to have a space where you can work on your models from start to finish that makes this a fun and rewarding project for you. For me, it is a corner table in my soon-to-be game room. Now, wherever your place is, the most important advice I can give on its location is make sure it is well lit. To me, lighting is one of the more crucial aspects of assembling and, more importantly, painting miniatures. Proper lighting allows you to see the miniatures better, see the colors sufficiently, and to overall see what you doing. It can be disheartening to have worked on a model to completion and bring it outside and then you notice a paint blemish, piece of flash, or mold line that you thought you got got rid of. My light set up consists of the room light, a desk lamp, and a third light the extends over my back shoulder. As you can see from the photos, I prefer the desk lamp to be higher than most, as I like that lamp to provide the most light. The shoulder lamp helps fill in any shadow areas as I move the model around. Combined the lights really define how accurate my color hues are. This is why I use white bowls as my paint palettes. I can see what the paint color truly is.

I also find having ample area to work handy. I know I am not the norm, but having space to put boxes, trays, primer boxes, etc. is very helpful when trying to manage several models at once. I often have many projects going at once (which explains why I have some many incomplete armies!) and the space help me keep them, organized. (Where are Lassider's Lizardmen, I wonder? :-)

With our upcoming Warmachine/Hordes campaign soon approaching, I will be assembling and painting a small Blindwater Congregation army to plunder the land of Firecanium and slaughter my opponents. More on that campaign later, but I will document my progress with this army here on the Dojo. So here are the beginning models ready for assembly. Check back to see how it turns out!

Strength and Honor,

-Wicked