This is basically going to contain some of my thoughts on the play test form the point of view of GMing it, mainly posting up actual resources I have created for use in game. As per the terms of the Playtest Agreement, it will not contain any actual mechanics.


Placing the Keep
There seems to be three strong possibilities here, Mystara, Greyhawk or Nentir Vale.

I don't actually know anything about Mystara so that's out, and tbh I know very little of Greyhawk and even less of Nentir Vale. So fek it, lets just set it in a pretty generic D&D land with whatever gods/ecology/whatever else seems to fit. Were running a playtest at the end of the day, we might have to nix everything after two weeks and start again. Local benign gods I know exist are Pelor, Moradin, St Cuthbert and whatever else the players ask for.

Most evil clerics can worship Tharizdun, as he seems pretty bad-ass and generic chaotic evil.

I am not really looking for any wide sweeping plot arc here beyond what's presented in the play test. It seems to me that some smaller bite sized missions given out by various people in the fort is the way to go here.

Gatehouse

• Sabine (Gatewarden)

Bailiff's Tower

• Kendon Longsdrider (Bailiff)

Private Apartments

• Benwick (Friar/Priest)* [Venn and Jarell (Initiates)]*
• Dubricus d'Amberville (Wizard/Knight)*
• Hubertus (Jewel Merchant) [+Wife, 4 Guards, 2 Dogs]

Smithy

• Rafe (Blacksmith)

Provisioner

• Moseley ('Quartermaster/General Store)

Traders

• Tarlach the Fisherman
• Reece the Cobbler
• Quince Brakenberry the Tailor
• Jocelyn the Tanner
• Neanne, Opal and Chandrey (Cheesemongers)
• Hobbin and Asham (Carpenters)

Loan Bank

• Ferdinand Ronnik (Banker)

Fountain Square
Fountain of a Nymph in marketplace (market every three days)
Travellers Inn
On Fountain Square, No Food

• Nerrin Silverhand [Innkeeper + family]

Guests

• Kesk (Mercenary)*

The Green Man Inn & the One-eyed Cat Tavern
This is essentially one establishment, with the taproom wall knocked through

• Wilf Beasley [Calista, wife, Jess, Serving Wench*]

Guests

• Aseneth (Wizard/Necromancer)*
• Cob (Huntsman)*
• Mendel (Merchant) [Chatel/Sascia servants, Devdas/Ohtar = Guards]
• Third (Warrior Maid of Maruda)*

Stumbling Giant
Tavern on Fountain Square

• Mother Aran

The Guild House
Exclusive Inn for registered merchants

• Greeves and Peta

Guests

• Holga (Wizard, will only hire with Tomas )*
• Tomas (Assassin)*

Chapel to St Cuthbert

• Ambercrombie (Curate) [3 Acolytes]

Inner Gatehouse

• Gorn Hammerfall (Watch Captain)

Keep Fortress

• Lord Perdin Drysdale (Current Castlean /Paladin)
• Devereau (Advisor/Scribe)
• Chendera (Advisor /Half Elf Priestess)
• Macsen Wledig (Founder, Missing)

Rumours/Leftovers

• Vermastyx and Yulbraxis (Black Dragons)
• Moxilhar (Copper Dragon)
• Lost hoard of Greyson Ranthane (Dwarf Bandit Lord)

The above is the actual hand out i have created for myself to cover running the keep. As you can see its pretty bare bones, just locations, names and very sparse notes.

Rather than spend time fussing about stuff, its mainly made by mashing KotB, Return to KotB and the 4th edition KotB together. This has resulted in adding an extra Inn/Tavern and a load of shops that no-one will actually ever use.

Names marked with a * will work as hirelings.

There was a 4th edition KOTB? How was it released?

It was a D&D Encounters or something like that?

Jesus Christ, I feel like shit. When did I become to old for 12 hour sessions?

Aside from that had a really good time running it. Some of the rules are a bit weird, the Fighter went from hating Reaper to loving Reaper. Not sure I really understand why you can only take a number of short rests equal to your hit die.

Half our issues seemed to stem from the pre-gens being arse, which I expected. Now need to prep more stuff for next fortnight. More possibly to follow.

Quote from: jadrax;547041Not sure I really understand why you can only take a number of short rests equal to your hit die.

There is nothing stopping you from taking more rests if you wish. You just can't spend HD to recover during them.

The rule I suppose is assuming you will spend a minimum of 1 HD per short rest. The reasons for the limitation then become obvious.

Finally ran a second session, (Seriously, game scheduling this year has been shite).

They picked up the majority of the rumours about the caves, have been offered a reward to destroy the Eye of Gumesh, Told there is a lost Heir to Verberonc in there to rescue and given robes of Tharizdun* to help infiltrate.

Today's opponents, the Orcs and Stirges. The fact that Healing Spells automatically restore you to 0 Hit Point before healing you was today's main point of discussion, along with a lot of conversation about if the Stirge Rules are far to horrid and far to quick to recover from.

The hidden maths on the character sheets is annoying everyone.

All in all, again had a lot of fun.


*which started quite a large inter-party argument.