Episode 23
Part of our environmental series where we look into a different environment each week and see all the role playing options that can be had. In Scaling that Mountain we discuss the many adventures that can be had in this biome. We go over the many hazards and opportunities to run a game. We share out thought and notions of what we thought when searching a perch at the top of the world.
Find all our links below:
https://linktr.ee/nerdandsonpod
Who are we?
We are just a couple of nerds who enjoy the game. Ralph, who has been running games, and Conner, who has watched his father run the games and who has ventured out into the world to run some of his own. Together we talk about our passion for role playing and some of our adventures along the way.
Please enjoy this journey with us.
News:
DnD 5.2 SRD
Will follow the release of the 5.2 Monster Manual in February 2025
They say Feb 18th, but I don’t believe that for a second
PHB on 17SEP24, DMG on 12NOV24
Those dates have stayed true for the last three months, which makes me a little more hopeful
Starfinder 2e Playtest
Actual Playtest doesn’t release until August, but they're adding piecemeal content until then with slices of what to look for
The first ‘Field test’ was looking at the soldier class, another is a combat encounter with zombies WITH GUNS IN SPACE
Kobold Press
Unveiled the Black Flag Reference Document, a 5e compatible rules update published under the Open Resource Community (ORC) license
The ORC license is Paizo’s license as a response to the OGL debacle
This is just before their RPG ‘Tales Of The Valiant’ releases next month
Now, you’re probably thinking, what’s Kobold Press?
Contributors include former WotC staff
Did the Tyranny of Dragons AP for 5e, and did design work for Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Several VERY successful campaigns for 5e sourcebooks (under the OGL)
If you watch RPG youtube (especially DnD) you’ve definitely seen ads from these guys
One specific book we can highlight is their Campaign Builder: Cities & Towns, because today we’re talking about:
Cities:
Travel is down from minutes to hours.
Ask your PCs to make characters with strong ties to the city, or at least make your plot hook connected to your characters so they don’t want to leave
Neighborhoods:
Have different parts of the city be havens for fantasy races
A goblin town
Mind goblins ask about it
Little Menzoberranzan
For Drow who have escaped (mostly men)
Since it’s mostly men that escape, the children and people who grew up here would be half-drow
Rooftop village for Aaracockra
Catacombs
Sewers
Climate:
Whatever you want
Hazards:
Pollution
Gangs
Trash
Animals:
ROUSs (I don’t think they exist)
Giant Ratking
Sewer Gators
Stray cats and dogs
Plants:
Planted trees
Small patches of forest for parks?
Crime and homeless camps there
Plot hooks:
Thieves Guild shenanigans
Political intrigue
You can do political intrigue anywhere, but in a population center you have more political people in one place
Resources:
Worldbuilding: The Demographics of Capital
Matt Colville: Every DMs Uncle, even Dad’s (even though you’re the same age or thereabouts)
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Big module you can pull ideas from
Monte Cook’s Ptolus
Everyone kept recommending this, but it’s TOO pricey for me
Sharn Eberron
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/bwtqod/120_urban_hooks/
Add yugioh monster sound when you choked on the chord
Encounter Corner - Backgrounds make the encounter come alive.
