Ernie Noa's RPG Blog

Merry Christmas fellow modders and RPG fans!

Not too much to report. I am still inching forward. I came up with a couple of hours over the past week to put in. I've been quite busy with work and family. Not much time to write, but I'll keep chipping away at it.

I'm busy but cranking out a bit of content here and there, mostly maps. I'm getting a better feel for producing maps with AutoRealm, Dunjinni and Paint.Net If it were just for me, something more crude would suffice, but I'm trying to make them look nice.

I've made some progress over the past week or so. I wrote my first custom trap last week, I'm cranking out a few maps of different styles and today I wrote my first combat encounter. If this were a first or second edition encounter I could probably write it without cracking the cover of a book. However, I carefully looked at how they were printed in pubished modules, balanced the encounter according to the encounter level guidelines, and copied info about the monsters carefully into the encounter. It's a lot of copy work, but I'm sure it will go faster as I get used to it. I can see how the system is very convienent and valuable for the DM. All the info is right at his or her fingertips. I did loose any opportunity for productivity yesterday. We had a bit of an issue at the house. You can read about it here if you are curious: Broken Toilet and Water Damage Part 1 Broken Toilet and Water Damage Part 2

I got a little hung up on maps today. I spent several hours creating my first interior map. I used to do them all by hand, but looking at what's out there I'd like to create something a little nicer. I picked up a copy of Dunjinni after playing with the demo for a while. It didn't work out for my first map but I have high hopes it will be useful later in the process. I used AutoRealm and Paint.net to create my first interior. I did eventually get through it, and start a written key for the area. Hopefully future maps will go further. Although I have not written a combat encounter, it's really starting to feel like I'm really writing this thing now.

My copy of the 4th Edition Monster Manual arrived. I also downloaded a copy of Keep on the Shadowfell, a 4th Edition Module. This has given me a better feel for how new modules are laid out. I started writing the introduction and plot synopsis for Hythum, I'm going to turn that into a very large module or set of modules for 4th Edition. Not much meat an potatoes yet, but I have the pieces coming together, I'm most worried about balance. 1st and 2nd edition, no problem. 4th edition, they have some clear guides, but I haven't played, and it's unlikely I will have time in the near future. It was a nice creative outlet.

I've done a modest amount of work. I've started roughing out a map or two and I've compiled my plot outline and locations in Free Mind . Free Mind is a great program, definately worth checking out. I downloaded a copy of an official 4th E module to read and I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of the Monster Manual. Work should begin in earnest soon. It's nice to be having this creative outlet again.

I've been corresponding regularly with an old friend. He recently suggested I write a text based RPG app for Facebook. I am an MS SQL / ASP.NET guy and don't really have the time or inclination to program this, or learn Php and MySQL. I have however been thinking about doing more home movies, or short films for my kids. I think I can spin a good yarn, and I have a pretty good vocabulary, but I'm not sure I'm much of a writer. Still writing has always been tempting. I've always thought about writing a PnP module for DnD. If it were 1st or 2nd edition I'd have no qualms about game balance, but I've not played much 3rd edition, and I've never played 4th edition. With all that said, I ordered the 4th edition monster manual today, it's the last of the core rulebooks I need for 4th Edition. I'm not sure how far this will go, but I am giving it some thought. Perhaps I can look up my old friends over at RPGMP3.com and see if they might look over...

He did it! He finished it! Zork for NWN2 by Amraphael is complete. Amraphael has been a pleasure to correspond with over the past couple of years. He provided me with an amazing Airship model for my unfinished NWN2 version of Hythum and I am thrilled that a his project is complete. He certainly put a tremendous amount of effort into it. It's been 10+ months since I've played or modded for NWN2, but I may have to crack the game out to give Zork a try. Way to go Amraphael!

Has it really been since April 11th since I posted on this blog. ZOIKS! What have I been up to? Believe it or not, not a bit of NWN2 since the end of the Halloween mod. I suppose I've posted here or when someone rates a mod, but not anything of weight. I have been playing games on and off. I really got hooked on Medieval Total War I and II, amazing highly addictive stuff. I've also been playing a bit of Thief 3 and an old Indiana Jones PC game from 2003. In general less time playing games and more time reading and hanging with my kids.

MINNEAPOLIS — David Arneson, one of the masterminds who created the original version of the award-winning fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, died Tuesday in St. Paul following a two-year battle with cancer. He was 61. Arneson teamed up with co-creator Gary Gygax in 1974 to create Dungeons & Dragons, which remains one of the best-known and best-selling role-playing games of all time. An estimated 20 million people have played the game in which players create characters who embark on imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting. Characters solve dilemmas, engage in battles and gather treasure and knowledge, and in the process they earn points to become increasingly powerful over a series of sessions. The game became wildly popular with wargamers at its debut and soon after became a favorite of high school and college students. As a University of Minnesota history student in the late 1960s, Arneson developed an interest in naval war games and re-creating battles comple...

I've picked up some old games and am having a very good time with them. I've been playing Thief Deadly Shadows (aka Thief 3). I loved the first one and the 3rd does not disappoint. I picked up Medieval Total War Gold. Dated graphics, but a fabulous game. The latest total war looks incredible, but I didn't want to spend the money and wasn't sure if my computer would cut the mustard. Finally I picked up Indiana Jones and the Emporor's Tomb. This is a nod to my kids who love Indiana Jones. I'm not a huge fan of the lego games that are out now. They are fine, but I get bored pretty quick. Hopefully this will be a treat for me and my kids. I've spend the rest of my time reading, SQL 2008, Asp.net 3.5, AJAX, Social Networking Asp.net 3.5 and AJAX, Web 2.0 Portals with ASP.net 3.5 and AJAX. Windows server 2008. IIS 7.0. Lots and lots of reading for work.

Looks like Age of Empires III is back as the game of choice, that an some off line gaming. I've managed a few games of Risk with my eldest son. Not much D&D or NWN action, but I poke javascript:void(0)around NWVault, can't quite seem to stop.

I'm still here. Not much gaming lately. Picked up Spider Man friend or foe and played with kids. They love it.

Well my long Christmas vacation at home is nearly over and Tuesday I'll be back at work. I feel refreshed and kind of miss my work, but it doesn't compare to a week with my kids. It's my favorite week of the year. I've been playing a lot of Half Life, I finished HL2, HL2-Ep1 and am nearly done with HL2-Ep2. My young kids are watching me play Portal, which is PG.