So there's this scene in Matrix: Revelation which Morpheus, Trinity and Seraph go underground to see the Frenchman in a location that reminds me of H.o.P (House of Pain), not IHOP. The scenario becomes gritty as the 3 heroes step out of the elevator and have to run through coat-check/ weapon-check. The fight was bad-ass with bad guys able to run upside down with guns a-blazing. A scene which creatures with spider-walk, range attacks can bring down a party.

But what I loved the most was the club scene: full on S&M clothes with freaks and geeks dancing, the heroes trying to wade through but more likely to be overrun as they sought out the Frenchman. If in a D&D scene, the heroes had to get to the informant through a sea of minions, will they start hacking and slashing through? Or, will they try to cross path keeping the baddies away to go through negotiations?

I've been so lazy.

I would have posted during the holidays but I gave myself a break from D&D. Yeah, I know, that's a weird ass break, to reality.

Now school is starting on Thursday, evening class which I may or may not keep for its pending on the other two important classes: Microbiology and Statistics. Do not get me started on Statistics, I've taken Calculus in the past and now I have to take it for some nursing school prerequisite. Such a nice way to be welcomed back to the world of ugh.

Oh, we gamed on Saturday the 16th, I'll provide details later. Just too lazy due to video games. There's a reason why I gave video games up, so I can get back to me. Which hasn't happened, its like playing D&D, delve into a world of fantasy but in your hands!

After reading one of the designers for Dungeons and Dragon's 4th Edition on how to deal with solo monsters, its just one fresh idea after another!

http://community.wizards.com/pluisjen/blog/2009/11/14/a_new_look_at_solo_creatures

Create the monster in parts, increase its actions pending on parts and number of party, and spread out its hit points. This would make it interesting for if a monster is spread out in its action, would that mean each part gets an initiative? A party of 5 versus a red dragon, a LONE red dragon whose each of its part: head, tail, arms, wings and body have its own initiative? Would be nice to ready an action such as the tail prepares to swipe at a character when it comes too close to its rear end. This would also solve the issue of control actions such as daze, stunned, cannot make attack actions, etc. if it attacks a certain part. Funny, I was reading up on Hydras and those suckers have individual actions; maybe they got their ideas from this monster?

The only drawback is the hit point upkeep; but then again, you're treating the whole solo monster as a gestalt.

Another idea is when a DM has prepared an adventure to the number of gamers (ie. 4 gamers show up for a 5 person level 10 encounter), the modification would be reduce the hit points of the monster. That would probably 20% hit point reduction for ALL of the monsters, otherwise leaving with monsters at 80% of their hit point total. I should try this out, the challenge is there its just the monster's hit points is reduced.

This is frustrating for me, I should really try to provide description of action and adornment of the environment. If I can get into character when I'm dancing, why can I not apply the same thought into roleplay? Dancing is part of theater, and theater is part of action and therefore, acting is roleplay. I should really write down this information and have it posted on a sticky note prior to gaming. Heck, I should allow them to talk to sort out party stuff and give myself 5 minutes of the situation, environment and interaction.

Immerse myself before immersing others, hmm, makes me want to go underwater when I say 'immerse.'

After a long weekend of role-playing, game on Friday night for 9 hours and gaming on Saturday afternoon, my back ached! I will be better to remind myself to stop for at least 5 minutes and stretch my back for I can not sit for an extended amount of time, it's just bad for the back period! I may look odd, but I have to take care of myself. I'd advise anyone else whose reading this to take time to stretch, hide in the bathroom if you have too and pretend your shitting, grunt if you have too.

I have devised a new way to place status counters on minis, with plastic bottle cap rings! The plastic rings whose function is to hold the cap in place. It fits around the mini's base perfectly, and if it doesn't just hang it on the miniature.

Once I have removed the ring, I write down on a small piece of paper the inflicted status-blind, dazed, stunned, etc. - and color the paper with markers. Cut out the piece, stick it to some clear tape and attached to ring, voila! It helps especially with several events occurring during the battle!

I found a game, a Friday afternoon game! Today would have been my first session, but the DM is sick. Poopiness. I had my character, Unlikely Gentleman, all ready to get down with this Paula Abdul-inspired "Cold Hearted Snake."

But I am gaming on Saturday, DMing as a matter of fact! Hopefully my players can get out of Ravenloft, for the terms are rather set to get the heck out of there. Hint, the locket Analise gave them. I can't wait how the final battle goes down between Boss and the Party, who will will? Who will triumph over the other? And do they know his immortal???

Lastly, I will game at Endgame Oakland this Sunday. I am quite glad to have the experience to be on the other side and enjoy the time being led around. I wonder what kind of character I can create... hmm. A wizard? An invoker? Looking up the information online from the WarHorn website, people want to play Strikers and Controller. The only Defender I'll play is Unlikely Gentleman and his level 8! A level one Leader Bard or Warlord sounds nice. I'll definately report back on what happens.