Ernie Noa's RPG Blog

I wanted to share a 4th edition D&D adventure I wrote between 2009 and 2010.   It's called, "Hythum", the name of the world where the story takes place.   It started out as a Neverwinter Nights 1 module, then I tried to convert it to Neverwinter Nights 2.  The project was too large and complicated, with my kids growing I couldn't finish it.  4th edition D&D came out and although I don't really have the time or opportunity to play right now, I wanted to read about it and learn it.  I decided to write it as a 4th edition pen and paper module.   It's quite large, about 400 pages if I recall correctly.   It should take a group of 4 or 5 brand new 1st level characters to 10th level.    Hythum can be downloaded from   https://docs.google.com/ folder/d/0BxT- GD94MNQfWUFsZHV2RWUySWc/edit      The module is in PDF and word format.  There is spreadsheet with notes about XP that should be ear...

I've got some screen shots from Hythum to share. The first three are from Castle Boyden, which you might remember if you played the original. The others are from a crypt somewhere in Hythum. I'm making progress slowly but surely. I'd also recommend hoping over to Neverwinter Podcast today. Michele/Liso landed a great interview with Adam Miller . They are also going back to weekly rather than bi-weekly podcasts. Double kudos to the podcast team.

I had Good Friday off and split the day between my kids and when they were entertaining themselves I modded. I worked on Sciforth, the last civilized village in Hythum. It's very small, and sprung up along the port road to Boyden Castle. It needs polish, but it's come along very nicely in a short time.

I finished up the sub-module I was working on. The last area was not hard to build thanks to airships from Amraphael . I need an 'in transit' area. Dropped the ground to -95 with noise, and put the airship at about +80 with lots of white fog below and around the ship. It looks pretty cool. Tomorrow looks like no modding work. Too many other commitments.

I've finished about half of a new exterior, the last area I need for the Port Leaton Area. The other half of this area is flat and empty, but what's done looks quite nice. At least I'm happy with it. The trees in the background are two uniform. I try to keep an area down to two or three trees/tree seeds, but will need some variance. Need grass... or something.

I've got most of the work done on the Port Leaton sewers. The layout, water, lighting, fog, effects, and sound are done. Still need some placeables, but it's close. Take a look and see what I got done yesterday...

More screenshots. I really like this area, but have an odd bug that's showing up in game only. The lower area on either side of the walkway should be filled with water, it is but the water appears and disappears from one tile to the next. Very odd. I suppose I could replace the water with placeable water item. The water is on in this view and shows what I want the area to look like. The water is gone again. Weird... This shows the water on in one tile and off in the next. Look toward the top of the picture to see the missing water. Very weird.

More screenshots from Hythum interiors. This will be from a 'dungeon' area. Looks like the guy on the coffin is trying to look up the pants of the statue behind him, I may have to re-arrange this room.

Today we have screen shots from a variety of interiors I've been working on over the past few weeks. A dinning room in the Port Leaton palace. A walkway deep within a chasm. It needs some work, particularly if you look up. Magic shop (spooky looking I hope) I'm not tellin' where this one is. Once again, it's a secret.

A few quick screen shots from Hythum. The original module was broken into seven chapters, this module will be released as a campaign, and will have at least 8-10 modules. I've pretty much finished area design for module 1, and 2a. Darmok is working on module 4. We've got a wiki with the plot, characters, locations and other information mapped out. We've also got the original mod to use as a basis for some dialog etc... For now we're focusing on area design almost exclusively. I really feel like I'm hitting my stride and it's coming along quickly and nicely at the moment. The docks in Burnham Crossing, a seedy nearly lawless town. This shot shows the 'edge of the world'. Another view of the Burnham Crossing Docks The docks once more. The city is dirty, gray, drab and decaying. Earlier screen shots show this as well. No one is home yet, that will come later. :-) A warehouse in Burnham Crossing. Somewhere in Burnham Crossing. I guess I need...

Darmok shared the following screen shots with me before I showed him the ones I had selected. These are his favorites of the area he's working on.