The Black Notebook Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Today on the podcast, I am opening up the email bag for a request by a listener named Lady Laura. She wanted me to discuss the Stone of Good Luck aka the Luckstone. Page 154 in the DMG is where you can find it and follow along!

Highlights

• 🎲 Introduction of the Stone of Good Luck from the Dungeon Master Guide.

• 📜 Details about the Stone of Good Luck’s effects on dice rolls and experience points.
• ⚖️ Discussion on fair use of the luck stone concerning player alignments.

#TSR #Adnd #OSG #ClassicGaming

The Sword of Sharpness is treated as a +3 weapon for determining what can be hit, despite having only a +1 bonus to hit and damage. It can sever limbs on a high roll. The Vorpal Weapon is similar but superior, severing heads with a +3 bonus. Certain creatures may not be affected by decapitation.

#AD⁠nD ⁠#TTRPG⁠ ⁠#RPG⁠ ⁠#D⁠nd ⁠#Greyhawk⁠ ⁠#TSR⁠

Highlights -⚔️

1. Sword of Sharpness: +3 for hit determination, +1 to hit/damage.
2. Severing Limbs: Can sever extremities on high rolls.
3. Vorpal Weapon: Superior sword with a +3 bonus to hit/damage.
4. Decapitation: Sever head on specific high roll scores.
5. Creature Limitations: Not all creatures can be decapitated.
6. Light Emission: Sword sheds light based on wielder’s desire.
7. Creature Types: Some creatures may survive decapitation.

Key Insights -📜

1. Weapon Functionality: ⚔️ The Sword of Sharpness provides enhanced capabilities against various targets, making it a versatile choice for adventurers, despite its lower direct combat bonuses.
2. Severing Mechanics: ✂️ The mechanics of severing limbs add a tactical layer to combat, allowing players to focus on specific targets and potentially gain an advantage in battle.
3. Vorpal Superiority: 🌟 The Vorpal Weapon’s increased effectiveness in severing heads positions it as a coveted tool for serious combatants, emphasizing the importance of weapon choice.
4. Creature Adaptability: 🧙‍♂️ Understanding that not all creatures can be decapitated introduces strategic complexity, requiring players to consider the nature of their foes when wielding these weapons.
5. Light Utility: 💡 The ability to control the light emitted by the sword enhances its utility beyond combat, aiding in exploration and navigation in dark environments.
6. Combat Strategy: 🛡️ Players must weigh the odds of hitting and severing limbs or heads, which can influence their combat strategies and target selection.
7. DM Considerations: 🎲 Dungeon Masters should keep in mind the unique interactions of creatures with these weapons, ensuring that gameplay remains fair and engaging for players

A “Bag of Beans” is a heavy cloth bag containing pebble-like beans that explode when dumped out, causing damage to nearby creatures. To safely utilize the beans, they must be removed by hand and planted in dirt with water, resulting in various outcomes, some beneficial and others harmful. The contents can summon creatures, create hazardous effects, or produce valuable items. Careful thought and strategy are required to navigate the risks and rewards of this magical item.

Highlights -🐾

1. Heavy cloth bag: 2’ wide, 4’ long.
2. Explosive beans: 5-20 hit points damage.
3. Manual removal: No telekinesis or tools allowed.
4. Planting results: Summon creatures or objects.
5. Variable outcomes: 3-12 beans recommended.
6. Hazards: Poison gas, blinding smoke, aggressive creatures.
7. Thought and strategy essential for use.

#dungeonsanddragons #RPG #Demons

In today's episode I talk about incorporating ways to use Demons, specifically Dream Demons, like a Freddy Krueger type Demon in your game. Tips and useful ways to do it and a way your character can defeat him, once they realize he's affecting them.

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#Dungeonsanddragons #OSR #RPG

In this episode, I flip open to the Player's handbook and discuss the idea of Negotiation & Communication as written by Gary Gygax in AD&D. How I as a DM enjoy when players find a way to talk out a situation instead of just fighting. I found it interesting that its a small little paragraph in the Player's Handbook and its something I've probably missed because of skim reading

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#Dungeonsanddragons #Adnd #RPG

I am going to title this episode "Careful what you wish for.." as I open up the AD&D Oriental Adventures book and look at the Gem of Wishes on p 134. It reminded me of a wacky story when I was running a game, and what happened when three characters decided to use the wishes they found.

Gem of Wishes: This large gem looks like any other fine gemstone. However, it reveals itself as a magical item if a detect magic is used. It has the power to grant 1-4 wishes. Once all wishes have been granted, the gem loses all magical properties. The gem itself has a value of 100-1000 ch’ien

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#spycraft #spyRPG #RPG

In this episode I decided to share a gaming session I had with my wife this weekend. We played the D20 Spycraft roleplaying game by Crafty Games with the 1960s decade supplement. Her character was the witty and sexy Jane Powers, trying to stop "The Baron" from his master plot of triggering a nuclear war.

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#DCHeroes #Superhero #RPG

In this episode, I decided to talk about my DC heroes campaign after people really enjoyed the circe campaign, and wanted to hear more stories of my campaigns. In this campaign I talk about Dr Vortex and city in peril. Enjoy!

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#dungeonsanddragons #DND5e #OSR

In this episode I talk about Figurines of Wondrous Power which was originally in the AD&D 1e DMG. I go over each and talk about how you can use them in any fantasy game or edition of D&D. They are ripe for an interesting story on how you can use them, Maybe this can be RFI Mini #16?

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In this episode I got another private message from my facebook page, from a listener named Tom B. -- Tom wanted to know if there were rules for attacks of opportunity in AD&D 1e? Well let's flip to AD&D 1e DMG, p70 and you will see, its there!

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