Sunday, December 31, 2017

PBE Games - Year End Wrapup

It's the last day of 2017 and time for a final update on PBE Games releases. December saw ten new products hit the virtual shelves, starting with six new Dungeons in Blue Complexes.

Complexes Eight Preview
  • Complexes Four - A traditional dungeon complex with two entrances. Perhaps it's a secret way to cross an impassable mountain ridge.
  • Complexes Five - A mix of dungeon rooms and chambers and natural caverns. This dungeon has a single fortified entrance.
  • Complexes Six - These vast caverns feature altars, statues, and magic circles. Perhaps they seal away creatures or powers best left where they are.
  • Complexes Seven - This grand hall should be familiar to anyone who reads my Colony PBEM game.
  • Complexes Eight - A small temple connects to a  collection of caves that lead to a sizeable underground lake.
  • Complexes Nine - This map depicts a mine complex and also features prominently in my Colony PBEM game.

As usual, these products are available in discount bundle form. Triple Pack #2 includes Complexes Four to Six, and Triple Pack #3 contains Complexes Seven to Nine.

The final products for 2017 are two Hexed Places:

  • The Sharp Hills are a patchwork of dry and rugged terrain in the middle of an area of scrubby rolling hills and green plains. The Red River, which takes its name from its iron-stained water, splits the region into roughly equal halves. Prospectors seek gold, silver, and gems in these barren lands, but often find death instead.
  • Bitterblack Forest is a treacherous stretch of mountainous forest that offers a convenient shortcut between two trade routes. Rangers maintain a camp for travelers on the edge of the wood, but the ruin of Broken Ridge Tower serves as a grim reminder of the dangers hidden in the densely forested region. Despite rumors of a lost mine full of gold and silver, few dare to leave the road and risk the wrath of the powerful summoner said to live in the depths of Bitterblack Forest.
These two Hexed Places round out Hexed Places Five Pack #2,  which also contains Crescent Lake, Denshi Ferry, and the Sand Coast, products released earlier this year. If you don't know what Hexed Places are, the free Compendium provides an overview of these overland sandbox mini-settings and includes a full map key and a brief summary of each product.
The Sharp Hills Player Map
With that, 2017 comes to a close for PBE Games. As always, thanks for taking the time to read this update. Have a safe and happy 2018!

Saturday, December 23, 2017

The Colony - Secure Searching

After a night's rest, the party heads back into the mine to finish exploring the first level before heading downstairs to revisit the pedestal room. Back in town, Mendel takes his leave and Castor (a.k.a. Candle) returns to rejoin the company. Chance, a newcomer to the colony, also continues her efforts to join the group, but so far the others have pretty much ignored her.

This will be the last turn for a bit, due to the holidays.

Start Date: August 22nd, late afternoon
Start Status: Watching the Robots
Start Location: Silverstream Mine

Adventuring: Rennard, Jinx, Brigg, Smoke, Zenobe
At the Tulip: Castor, Hagan, Xon, Aaron

Friday, December 22, 2017

The Colony - Glowy Lights

The party does some fiddling about with the pedestal before heading back upstairs to make sure they clear the area behind them. There's been a fair bit of debate about what it's going to take to fulfill their contract with Lady Vine. Some characters believe they should not include the newly discovered area in "the mine".  Of course, they haven't really eliminated the threat they were supposed to eliminate, so...

Start Date: August 22nd, afternoon
Start Status: Deep scan
Start Location: Silverstream Mine

Adventuring: Rennard, Jinx, Brigg, Smoke, Zenobe
At the Tulip: Castor, Hagan, Xon, Aaron

The Turn

Monday, December 11, 2017

The Colony - Words of Wisdom

The party grows [more] paranoid as they continue to explore the area around the statue room. They're a bit worried because they haven't found any sign of the many not-zombies they saw several nights ago.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

The Colony - Beyond the Doors

The group finds some incongruous bronze doors in the depths of the Silverstream Mine. Perhaps this is the source of the crystal-infested not-zombies?

Monday, December 4, 2017

The Colony - Turn 60 - The Door

After a good long rest to recover from their injuries, the party returns to the Silverstream Mine to continue their exploration.

To speed up recovery, we're playing with a house rule that 24 hours rest restores 1d3+CON bonus HP in the field and 1d6+CON bonus HP in an inn or the like.