09/28/07 D&D Game Session

Here is the 09/28/07 Game Recap, wherein I totally show myself as being unable to spot the most obvious of clues.

Other than a certain frustration level, a very fun session.

09/14/07 D&D Game Session

Here is the 09/14/07 Game Recap.

08/31/07 D&D Game Session

Here is the 08/31/07 Game Recap.

08/17/07 D&D Game Session

Here is the 08/17/07 Game Recap. It also includes what happened in between game sessions.

08/03/07 D&D Game Session

The recap has actually been done for a couple of weeks, I have just not gotten around to posting it.

Here is the 08/03/07 Game Recap.

The next recap should be posted in a couple of days.

07/20/07 D&D Game Session

The July 6, 2007 was cancelled due to the illness of the Dungeon Master.

Here is the 07/20/07 Game Recap.

Woodelf’s 3.5 SRD

I did a version of the SRD formatted for printing, but it is not nearly as well done as the version by woodelf found at the Impossible Dream. This version is incredibly well formatted with nice sidebars and flavor text. It is divided into 5 files which come out to slightly over 800 pages.

The only downside is that my favorite PDF Reader, Foxit Reader, doesn’t render it right. It does render just fine in the free Acrobat Reader, though.

June 26, 2009 Update: Foxit Reader does render it correctly now.

Spell Comparison: Distracting Ray vs. Magic Missile

I purchased the D&D Spell Compendium and the D&D Magic Item Compendium a couple of months ago. One of the things that struck me is how underpowered a lot of spells and magic items are when compared to already existing alternatives.

One example: the spell Distracting Ray (Spell Compendium page 69) seems seriously underpowered to me. The purpose of Distracting Ray is to disrupt an opposing spellcaster’s concentration. I compared it to an existing spell, Magic Missile, and in every way I could think of Magic Missile is a better spell to use to disrupt a spellcaster’s concentration.

Assuming that the caster is third level (the minimum to cast Disrupting Ray), Magic Missile is a better choice to disrupt enemy spellcasters. Magic Missile always hits, which means it always requires the Concentration check. Magic Missile also has much better range, will do damage and the average concentration DC will be almost as good as Distracting Ray. As Magic Missile caster level goes up, the average Concentration DC goes up as well, which is doesn’t for Distracting Ray. Lastly, Magic Missile only uses a first level spell slot .

The only time I can think Distracting Ray would be better is if the target had a Shield spell in effect or wore a Brooch of Shielding. It also might be useful if you want to disrupt a spell without damaging the target, which is something I have never seen – I seem to play with a rather bloodthirsty group.

06/22/07 D&D Game Session

Here is the 06/22/07 Game Recap.

The party was split into two groups halfway through the session. As this journal is from the point of view of one of my characters, it is leaving out a lot of interesting stuff that happened which Magnus knows nothing about (yet). Fights with wraiths and a spectre, weird acrobatics to turn a wheel and the cursed amulet aren’t covered :(.

06/08/07 D&D Game Session

Another long D&D session; we ran until 4 AM. Also, we got a new member. Welcome aboard, Aaron.

Anyway, here is the 06/08/07 Game Recap.