Recounting Encounters

We're back and with more Drow than we can shake a stick at.  Join us as Derek from Dungeonsmaster.com and I Marc Talbot give you our weekly recap of what was good, not so good and downright ugly with the encounter played at our respective FLGS. This season is looking up to be a great season, with a ton of treachery, backstabbing and downright nastiness in the depths of the underdark.  The players start in the Drow city of Menzoberranzan.   Choose either female or male characters, slave races or drow and learn to be assertive and push people around, or learn to scheme and betray those who thought you close to them. And then come to the site and listen to what transpired at the store. Download the podcast HERE! Image take from Council of Spiders Booklet O - Ochre Jelly C- Cave Fisher S - Cave Fisher Spawn Related Media Visit the D&D Encounters Page for previous seasons podcasts; and for all your pre-generated character needs visit the PREGENS page Follow @TwentyFoot !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");If you like this article, head over to the site for more great articles, or just keep reading the feed. Cheers Alton

This is a weekly recap of the events happening every week at the sessions of D&D Encounters at my FLGS in Elliot Lake at Sights&Sounds Music Store. Following the success the characters had in defeating the drow and defending the patrons of the Old Skull Inn, the characters receive a message from an important individual in town which bids them on to bigger and better things. Rushing to the tower of Ashaba, tracks of the remaining drow lead them to the cellar under the tower. They encounter a dead-end, discover a secret entrance and battle an ambush party of Drow.  The party learns of Valan Jaelre. Having survived the ambush, the characters are put to the test before their grand entrance to the Underdark. The characters pass the tests of Lolth and enter into the Underdark proper and encounter an elite strike force of Jaelre. The characters storm the Demonspur trading post and manage to outwit two idiot Ogres.  Last week the players found Tharinel and ended up at the torture theater. Having defeated the two torturers and their minions, the characters rescue Khara in the slave pits. The heroes return to Shadowdale and are confronted by Valan in the finale to this awesome season of D&D Encounters. Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master joins me again this week to talk about what he liked, disliked, and things that could have been changed for this season's recap. Follow us on this week's recap podcast of D&D Encounters Web of the Spider Queen Download the podcast HERE! If you like the podcast please leave a comment below. Thanks for visiting and until next time, have a BLAST! Related media D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 13 - Return to Shadowdale D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 12 - Slave Pits D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 11 - Torture Theater D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 10 - Flycatcher Tangle D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 9 - The Gates of Zadzifeirryn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 8 - Demonspur D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 7 - Jaelre Elite D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 6 - Tests of Lolth D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 5 - Valan Fights Back D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 4 - Into the Underdark D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 3 - Below the Tower D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 2 - The Tower of Ashaba D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 1 - The Old Skull Inn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen - PreviewIf you like this article, head over to the site for more great articles, or just keep reading the feed. Cheers Alton

This is a weekly recap of the events happening every week at the sessions of D&D Encounters at my FLGS in Elliot Lake at Sights&Sounds Music Store. This week and for the remainder of this season, I will be posting weekly recaps in the form of a podcast, to see how it takes off.  The feedback has been good so far and let's see how it goes until the end of the season. Following the success the characters had in defeating the drow and defending the patrons of the Old Skull Inn, the characters receive a message from an important individual in town which bids them on to bigger and better things. Rushing to the tower of Ashaba, tracks of the remaining drow lead them to the cellar under the tower. They encounter a dead-end, discover a secret entrance and battle an ambush party of Drow.  The party learns of Valan Jaelre. Having survived the ambush, the characters are put to the test before their grand entrance to the Underdark. The characters pass the tests of Lolth and enter into the Underdark proper and encounter an elite strike force of Jaelre. The characters storm the Demonspur trading post and manage to outwit two idiot Ogres.  Last week the players found Tharinel and ended up at the torture theater. Having defeated the two torturers and their minions, the characters rescue Khara in the slave pits. The heroes return to Shadowdale and are confronted by Valan in the finale to this awesome season of D&D Encounters. Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master joins me again this week to talk about stuff that happened at his table at Hairy T North. Follow us on this week's podcast of D&D Encounters Web of the Spider Queen the finale, Session 13 - Return to Shadowdale. Download the podcast HERE! Map taken from the booklet of Web of the Spider Queen S - Shadowdale Drow Spellspinners x4 D - Shadowdale Driders x2 V - Valan Jaelre and some Bone Spiders D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 3 Reward Summary (PDF) D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 2 Reward Summary (PDF) D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 1 Reward Summary (PDF) Take a look at the treasure sheet provided by Ameron at Dungeon's Master.  Each session will be summarized and these handouts can be given to your players every week.  This prevents losing time during gameplay for the amount of treasure received every week.  If you have any comments on improving the sheet, leave a comment and I will get it back to Derek, or just go to Dungeon's Master and contact Ameron himself. If you like the podcast please leave a comment below. Thanks for visiting and until next time, have a BLAST! Related media D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 12 - Slave Pits D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 11 - Torture Theater D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 10 - Flycatcher Tangle D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 9 - The Gates of Zadzifeirryn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 8 - Demonspur D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 7 - Jaelre Elite D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 6 - Tests of Lolth D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 5 - Valan Fights Back D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 4 - Into the Underdark D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 3 - Below the Tower D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 2 - The Tower of Ashaba D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 1 - The Old Skull Inn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen - PreviewIf you like this article, head over to the site for more great articles, or just keep reading the feed. Cheers Alton

This is a weekly recap of the events happening every week at the sessions of D&D Encounters at my FLGS in Elliot Lake at Sights&Sounds Music Store. This week and for the remainder of this season, I will be posting weekly recaps in the form of a podcast, to see how it takes off.  The feedback has been good so far and let's see how it goes until the end of the season. Following the success the characters had in defeating the drow and defending the patrons of the Old Skull Inn, the characters receive a message from an important individual in town which bids them on to bigger and better things. Rushing to the tower of Ashaba, tracks of the remaining drow lead them to the cellar under the tower. They encounter a dead-end, discover a secret entrance and battle an ambush party of Drow.  The party learns of Valan Jaelre. Having survived the ambush, the characters are put to the test before their grand entrance to the Underdark. The characters pass the tests of Lolth and enter into the Underdark proper and encounter an elite strike force of Jaelre. The characters storm the Demonspur trading post and manage to outwit two idiot Ogres.  Last week the players found Tharinel and ended up at the torture theater. Having defeated the two torturers and their minions, the characters are introduced to the slave pits. Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master joins me again this week to talk about stuff that happened at his table at Hairy T North. Follow us on this week's podcast of D&D Encounters Web of the Spider Queen, Session 12 - Slave Pits Download the podcast HERE! G - Lesser Web Golem D - Deathjump Spiders x3 S - Svirfneblin Slaves x6 Khara Sulwood, Human Knight D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 3 Reward Summary (PDF) D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 2 Reward Summary (PDF) D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 1 Reward Summary (PDF) Take a look at the treasure sheet provided by Ameron at Dungeon's Master.  Each session will be summarized and these handouts can be given to your players every week.  This prevents losing time during gameplay for the amount of treasure received every week.  If you have any comments on improving the sheet, leave a comment and I will get it back to Derek, or just go to Dungeon's Master and contact Ameron himself. If you like the podcast please leave a comment below. Thanks for visiting and until next time, have a BLAST! Related media D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 11 - Torture Theater D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 10 - Flycatcher Tangle D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 9 - The Gates of Zadzifeirryn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 8 - Demonspur D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 7 - Jaelre Elite D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 6 - Tests of Lolth D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 5 - Valan Fights Back D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 4 - Into the Underdark D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 3 - Below the Tower D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 2 - The Tower of Ashaba D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 1 - The Old Skull Inn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen - PreviewIf you like this article, head over to the site for more great articles, or just keep reading the feed. Cheers Alton

This is a weekly recap of the events happening every week at the sessions of D&D Encounters at my FLGS in Elliot Lake at Sights&Sounds Music Store. This week and for the remainder of this season, I will be posting weekly recaps in the form of a podcast, to see how it takes off.  The feedback has been good so far and let's see how it goes until the end of the season. Following the success the characters had in defeating the drow and defending the patrons of the Old Skull Inn, the characters receive a message from an important individual in town which bids them on to bigger and better things. Rushing to the tower of Ashaba, tracks of the remaining drow lead them to the cellar under the tower. They encounter a dead-end, discover a secret entrance and battle an ambush party of Drow.  The party learns of Valan Jaelre. Having survived the ambush, the characters are put to the test before their grand entrance to the Underdark. The characters pass the tests of Lolth and enter into the Underdark proper and encounter an elite strike force of Jaelre. The characters storm the Demonspur trading post and manage to outwit two idiot Ogres. Last week the players found Tharinel and ended up at the torture theatre. This week the players confront the great torturers of the drow city. Derek Myers from Dungeon's Master joins me again this week to talk about stuff that happened at his table at Hairy T North. Follow us on this week's podcast of D&D Encounters Web of the Spider Queen, Session 11 - Torture Theatre. Download the podcast HERE! R - Shadowdale Drow Razorscourge x2 D - Shadowdale Drow Stalkers x8 Maw Demons - x? H - Human Victims - x4 D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 3 Reward Summary (PDF) D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 2 Reward Summary (PDF) D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen - Chapter 1 Reward Summary (PDF) Take a look at the treasure sheet provided by Ameron at Dungeon's Master.  Each session will be summarized and these handouts can be given to your players every week.  This prevents losing time during gameplay for the amount of treasure received every week.  If you have any comments on improving the sheet, leave a comment and I will get it back to Derek, or just go to Dungeon's Master and contact Ameron himself. If you like the podcast please leave a comment below. Thanks for visiting and until next time, have a BLAST! Related media D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session10 - Flycatcher Tangle D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 9 - The Gates of Zadzifeirryn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 8 - Demonspur D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 7 - Jaelre Elite D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 6 - Tests of Lolth D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 5 - Valan Fights Back D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 4 - Into the Underdark D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 3 - Below the Tower D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 2 - The Tower of Ashaba D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen Session 1 - The Old Skull Inn D&D Encounters Podcast: Web of the Spider Queen - Preview If you like this article, head over to the site for more great articles, or just keep reading the feed. Cheers Alton

I guess the sign says it all.   No game left behind.  It should actually say no gamer left behind.  As I ponder my upcoming trip to Indianapolis, I realize that it is only about 20 days away.  How awesome is that.  from the day I booked my badge to the event registration date, time flew fast.  Not to worry though, I am prepared; well prepared booking-wise, but not quite aware yet of all the awesomeness I am going to be subjected to. I have been gaming for 28+ years and have never been to a gaming convention, whether it was in Toronto (when I lived there for 10 years) or any other place for that matter.  In essence I am a convention virgin, at the age of 38, and my first one is going to be GenCon: I am scared out of my pants.  I am extremely lucky though, cause this year I am travelling with a pro convention goer, Derek Myers (Ameron from Dungeon's Master), who has shown me the ropes on how to register, how to get the best events and how to make all the travel arrangements.  Without him, I would not be in a hotel right next to the convention centre, nor would I be attending some of the cool seminars I am actually signed up for. Overwhelmed is not a word I use lightly for the amount of events going on at GenCon.  The hardest part about this convention was finding enough time to to the absolute minimum I would like to do.  There is so much stuff to do.  Seminars on building chain-mail, board games galore, new gaming systems tables(that I will unfortunately not have the time to try while I am there), and most importantly D&D.  Here is a look at some of the events I will be attending at GenCon as well as some of the things I would like to accomplish on this trip. Living Forgotten Realms Living in a small town has not afforded me the luxury of playing much more than D&D Encounter on a weekly basis.  I did play some LFR years ago when 4th Edition first came out.  Unfortunately, Encounters came into the picture and basically overshadowed our LFR game. So what am I going to do? Use my old character and go play some LFR. Thursday August 16th, RPGA1235194 - Rising Darkness 8:00am Friday August 17th, RPGA1235209 - Raging Darkness 7:00pm D&D Next and D&D 4th First official playtest for me. First official play with a different group that the one up home. Thursday August 16th, RPGA1235363 - Sorcere & The Clawrift - D&D Next Playtest 5:00pm Friday August 17th, RPGA1235308 - West Wall - Drow Adventure Seminars For the sake of simplicity I will just list the seminars I am attending.  Since this is the first time I am at GenCon, I tried to fit in as many as possible.  It is possible also thought that I will miss some of them due to my involvement in a couple of tournament games and if I make it to any of the following rounds, well I will have to give up some of them. - The First Time Game Master - True Dungeon 101 - Basic Square Chainmail Dicebag - RPG Freelancing 101 (thought I would check it out?) - D&D Next: Monsters, Magic Items, and DM Mischief - Dragons and Dwarves and Elves, Oh My! - Fantasy Tropes - D&D Next: Creating the Core - The Future Look at D&D - Networking for Writers - Writing When Inspiration Fails You - Tome Show Production As you can see all these seminars run from 1-2 hours apiece and I will really be kept busy for the 4 days I will be there. True Dungeon Adventure Totally stoked for this one.  I convinced Derek to try it this year.  I have read about it for awhile and love the fact that this year they doubled their size of dungeon space for this year.  I am excited to see what comes from this experience.  If you don't know what True Dungeon is you can see a preview of what is to come: For more information on how freaking cool this is going to be check out True Dungeon.  This year, Derek and I are going to try Draco-Lich Undone (puzzle-orien