L is for Lizard Man

This will be interesting post because I'm doing it from my phone. Therefore it should also be short.

Lizard man not lizard folk. Another example of what is wrong with gaming today-- too much political correctness. There's nothing wrong with the term lizard man; these are not humans. we do not need to humanize them in this fashion. Is not sexist to call them Lizard Men.

Secondly lizard man are usually a missed roleplaying opportunity. They are listed as neutral in alignment; therefore, they are not morally opposed to the free peoples of the campaign world. Take for example the lizard man in module B2. They're not harassing merchants on the road or attacking the keep. In fact the only interact with the players if the characters walk across the top of their mound. They are protecting their territory and their young.

Could not the players interact with them diplomatically? Maybe they have information about the caves. Maybe they have information about the bandits; maybe they will assist the players in the fight against the cave of chaos. This is actually highlighted in a D&D in the salt marsh series. The players do not interact correctly with the lizard man then the town of salt marsh could will be destroyed by the sahaugin.

Well, until Monday,
gentle readers, think about parlay first fight second.

K is for Knightly Orders

Knightly orders. Orders are practically a necessity if there is a cavalier in the party. Unearthed Arcana states, "In order to become a cavalier, a character must be in service to some deity, noble, order, or special cause," (pg. 14). Even without cavaliers in the setting, orders are a nice support group for a fighter to join; a secular order is the equivalent in many ways to a guild and is more accurate than the generic "adventurers guild" of many games. My focus is on religious orders, primarily because I am a religious person in my personal life. Your mileage may vary.

 

Knightly orders provide structure and are not necessarily religious in nature. Looking at Greyhawk for inspiration, there are religious orders that are similar to Earth's Templars such as the Brotherhood of the Lance Unbroken (Heiroenous), the Order of the Six Severed Hands (Hands), and, as a historian one of my personal favorites, the Knights of the Book (Delleb). However, other orders are secular in nature, such as the Knights of the Hart.

Upcoming Changes in the Blog

A quick post to say that I'm really enjoying my second time working on the A-to-Z Challenge. Last time (2011) I participated in an attempt to become a more frequent blogger and, after the challenge , I fell back into my habit of posting every three months or so. I have determined that the problem is a lack of structure. Therefore, I am announcing that I will now have three themed days a week on which I will post.

 

 

 

First off, leading the charge is Fantasy Monday. This could be anything from book or movie reviews or ruminations on whatever fantasy RPGs are catching my fancy at the time. this is could be AD&D, B/X, DragonQuest, Hackmaster, whatever. It might even include urban fantasy such as the works of Charles de Lint or Kim Harrison or games like Vampire: The Masquerade.

 

 

 

Next up for midweek I'll post on Warhammer Wednesdays. Not, not the bloody miniatures game that changes rules every two years, but the original, first edition RPG. This is a game that I have not run or played in years, but it is still a game that I hold close to my heart. Maybe I'll be able to convince my gaming group,  CLD, to give it a try.

 

 

 

 

Now, having said that Warhammer Wednesday will focus on the FRP, occasionally a post about my DIY WH40K Marine Chapter, the Blood Cross, might pop up. So, be prepared for that eventuality. :)

 

 

 



Finally, I'll end up the week with Sci-Fi Friday! Like fantasy Monday, this will be a hodge podge of reviews, thoughts about RPGs or MMOs, whatever catches my fancy or attention that day. Expect to see Mutants and Masterminds, Villains and Vigilantes, Battletech, Stars Without Number, Traveller, SWTOR, and many other topics on this day.

 

Of course, my AD&D theme for the A-to-Z challenge preempts this and I plan on starting up on 01 MAY 2013 with my first Warhammer Wednesday post. I can't wait. :)