[From the Mailbag] Dice Dragon

Through the power of Facebook, I found these little critters a few weeks ago and just had one arrive in the mail. These Dice Dragons are, admittedly, cute. Now, some of you macho gamers out there may not hold much truck with "cute," but I think that any of you would be proud to have one of these Dice Dragons on your desk, sitting right under your computer monitor.

Image courtesy of GameHermit

Lisa and Jack Berberette from Richmond, VA make these Dice Dragons and sell them on Etsy under the name of GameHermit. They've got a couple other lines of these handmade polymer cuties, "Baby Dragons" and "OOAK Dragons." They've got a pretty good selection; it was actually kind of hard to choose. There were several that were pretty tempting. They had a cute red dragon, holding a crystal blue d12. They also had an orange one and a pearlized gold dragon, both holding blue d20s. Ultimately, though, I had to go with this one: a black mica dragon with a red scarab d20.

My kids have already started begging for their own Dice Dragons. At $15-$20 each, they're not exactly kid stuff. I justified it as a little bit of gaming art. It may not be a Rodin or a Remington. Nope. It's a Berberette. And it's mine.

One can be yours, too. Pay 'em a visit, won't you?

2012 Totals

2012 is now in the rear-view mirror, and just barely beyond the first hill. It's time to tabulate the year-long game-related accomplishments.

Adventures written: 2
Creatures created: 15
Dice obtained: 26
Games played: 10
Game sessions DM'd: 16
Items created: 9
Maps drawn: 45
Miniatures painted: 2
Miniatures purchased: 121 (+4 metal received as gifts)
NPCs created: 19
Spells scribed: 13
Feats Learned 1
Tables drafted: 1
Terrain constructed: 0

So...how does this compare to 2011? Well:

• I drafted only 6.5% of the adventures this year; I chalk that up to the loss of the Short Adventure September.
• Nearly four times the number of critters was born.
• There was "only" almost 25% of the number of dice obtained. This was either self-control or lack of effort.
• I played in double the amount of games this year, almost one per month. This is, for our group, pretty good. 2011 was a bad year because of some DM issues.
• I managed almost 1.5 times the number of DM sessions, due mainly to the continuation of an PBEM campaign.
• While I managed only two more items created this year, I scribbled out almost four times the number of maps. I'm kinda proud of that number there.
• I doubled my "painted lead" output this past year; I hope to blow that total out of the water this year.
• I increased that miniature horde this year, and barely eked out a total barely over last years total. However, I'm amused by my prediction from one year ago: I was not overly impressed by the Pathfinder miniatures and didn't expect to have a high miniature total in 2012. Hah! Pathfinder managed to increase the quality of the sculpts and paint jobs, as well as issuing some unique and interesting sculpts.
• Again because of that pesky Short Adventure September, only 50% of the NPCs were born.
• My spellbook grew in size with 6.5 times the number of spells scribed versus 2011.
• Only 33% of the number of tables was drafted. (That sounds better than saying "only one.")
• For the second straight year, no terrain was constructed. Sigh. 

I'm going to shoot for some increased blogging; January hasn't been too productive, but I've still got time. 2012 was a year of stress and frustration, both on a personal and professional level. Health issues, family issues, and financial issues all came to bear on me, but again: the hobby and the friends made through the hobby helped make it survivable.

Everyone join me in a toast: raise your dice cups high and keep them d20s dry. Here's to 2013!

2012 RPG Acquisition Inventory -- Final Tally

Below is my total 2012 RPG Acquisition Inventory, in reverse chronological order. If anyone but myself is truly interested.

1. Firefly (Purple) 7-piece dice set, by Crystal Caste
2. Misfit Monsters Redeemed, by Paizo
3. Mystery Monsters Revisited, by Paizo
4. Pathfinder Adventure Path #65: Into the Nightmare Rift (Shattered Star 5 of 6)
5. The Horrendous Heap of Sixteen Cities! by Dylan Hartwell (Print version)
6. Knowledge Illuminates, by Tim Shorts (Print version)
7. Pathfinder Adventure Path #64: Beyond the Doomsday Door (Shattered Star 4 of 6)
8. Elven Mill Paper Terrain, by Lord Zsezse Works (Limited Dark Elf style included)
9. Otuygh print (from Loviatar #8), by Jay Penn
10. The Stone Man original art (from Loviatar #7), by Jay Penn
11. Adventure Quarterly #2, by Rite Publishing (PDF and Softcover Print)
12. Adventure Quarterly #1, by Rite Publishing (PDF and Softcover Print)
13. Rawr! Vol. 1: Fear and Dread, by TPK Games
14. Pathfinder Issue #3 (Comic)
15. Watercolor by Jay Penn
16. Morgan Stringman print, by Jay Penn
17. Pathfinder Adventure Path #63: The Asylum Stone (Shattered Star 3 of 6)
18. Pathfinder Issue #2 (Comic) (x2)
19. Pathfinder Adventure Path #62: Curse of the Lady's Light (Shattered Star 2 of 6)
20. Faceless Stalker, #6 Rise of the Runelords Pathfinder Battles (x2)
21. Pathways: Issue 20, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
22. Pathways: Issue 19, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
23. Pathfinder Battles -- 2012 Promotional Figure: Festering Spirit (x3)
24. #1 With A Bullet Point: 10 Monster Feats, by Super Genius Games
25. #1 With A Bullet Point: 7 Feats for The Undead, by Super Genius Games
26. #1 With A Bullet Point: 8 Barbarian Feats, by Super Genius Games
27. The Genius Guide to the Death Knight, by Super Genius Games
28. Infamous Adversaries: Urizen the Bleak Lord, by TPK Games
29. Advanced Adventures #15: Stonesky Delve, by Expeditious Retreat Press (Free!)
30. The Genius Guide to 110 Spell Variants, by Super Genius Games
31. The Genius Guide to Another 110 Spell Variants, by Super Genius Games
32. The Genius Guide to 100 Spell Variants, Volume 3, by Super Genius Games
33. #30 Variant Dragons, by Rite Publishing
34. 101 Special Materials and Power Components, by Rite Publishing
35. The Genius Guide to Feats of Divine Might, by Super Genius Games
36. The Genius Guide to Feats of Immediate Action, by Super Genius Games
37. The Genius Guide to Feats of Runic Might, by Super Genius Games
38. The Genius Guide to Feats of Runic Might II: Runebinding, by Super Genius Games
39. Pathways: Issue 18, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
40. Frontier Explorer: Issue #1, by Frontier Explorer (Free!)
41. Pathfinder Adventure Path #61: Shards of Sin (Shattered Star 1 of 6)
42. Forgotten Realms Poster Map, originally published in Dragon Magazine issues 287-290
43. Pathfinder Battles -- Rise of the Runelords: Regular Booster (x8)
44. Pathfinder Issue #1 (Comic) (x2)
45. The Forge of Fury, by Richard Baker (WotC 2000)
46. Loviatar #13, by Christian
47. Megadungeon Delver’s Player Options, by Super Genius Games (Free!) 
48. Ancient Worlds–Megalith Circle Paper Terrain, by Lord Zsezse Works (Free!) 
49. Mega Townscapes Sample: Tavern Map, by D20 Cartographer (Free!)
50. Pathways: Issue 17, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
51. A Letter from Los Angeles## 1 and 2, by Christian Walker
52. Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols: Issue #2, by Alexey
53. Delve! #1, by John Bingham
54. Loviatar #12, by Christian
55. Rise of the Runelord: Anniversary Edition, by Paizo
56. Dungeon Master’s Guide, AD&D 2nd Edition
57. Ruins of Undermountain, Campaign Guide to Undermountain & Maps
58. Wayfinder: Issue 7, by Paizo Fans United (Free!)
59. Chessex Sea Speckled Polyhedral 7-die set
60. Chessex Ivory with Black Marble Polyhedral 7-die set
61. The Manor #2, by Tim Shorts
62. Q-Workshop Free RPG Day 2012 Forest Dice (d4, d8, d10, d20, d100) (Free RPG Day 2012, Courtesy of a friend)
63. Harn Map, by Columbia Games (Free RPG Day 2012, Courtesy of a friend)
64. Dead in the Eye, by Wizards of the Coast  (Free RPG Day 2012, Courtesy of a friend)
65. Cosmic Patrol Quickstart, by Catalyst Games  (Free RPG Day 2012, Courtesy of a friend)
66. Dungeon Crawl Classics Free RPG Day 2012 Module, by Goodman Games  (Free RPG Day 2012, Courtesy of a friend)
67. Dawn of the Scarlet Sun, by Paizo (Free RPG Day 2012, Courtesy of a friend)
68. Cardboard Heroes: Castles Walls and Towers, by Steve Jackson Games (Courtesy of a friend)
69. d30 DM Companion, by New Big Dragon Games Unlimited
70. Barrowmaze, by Greg Gillespie
71. Missing Magic: Random Treasure Tables for PFRPG, by Asparagus Jumpsuit (Free!)
72. Missing Magic: Potions for PFRPG, by Asparagus Jumpsuit
73. Poisoncraft: The Dark Art, by Blue Devil Games
74. The Cooperative Dungeon Collection ((1) Terror and Blasphemy, (2) Halls of Anarchy, (3) Crypt of Damnation, (4) Tomb of Chaos), all by Creative Mountain Games
75. Oubliette, Issue #8, by Gold Piece Publications
76. Infamous Adversaries: Ischadra, Grandmother of Assassins, by TPK Games 
77. Never Ask Directions, by John Ross Rossomangno
78. Veiled Invocation, by Dylan Hartwell
79. Toys for the Sandbox 21: Great Bridge, by Occult Moon
80. Loviatar #1, 2, 3, 11, by Christian
81. Kickstarter Project: Fractured Phylactery, by Gaming Paper
82. Pathways: Issue 16, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
83. The Rite Review, #1, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
84. The Rite Review, #2, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
85. Kickstarter Project: Nystul’s Infinite Dungeon, by Mike Nystul
86. Loviatar #10, by Christian
87. Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols: Issue #1, by Alexey
88. Back to the Dungeon Zine: Vol. 1, Issue 1, by Eldrad Wolfsbane (Free!)
89. Miniature: Imperial Dragon of the Eleven Celestial Dynasties, by Grenadier (1987)
90. Miniature: Dragons of the Emerald Idol, by Grenadier (1984)
91. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Large Booster (x2)
92. The Manor #1, by Tim Shorts
93. "Old School Gamers" T-shirt, by Eastern Front Studios
94. Pathways: Issue 15, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
95. Loviatar #9, by Christian
96. Kickstarter Project: Dwimmermount: An Old School Fantasy RPG Megadungeon, by James Maliszewski (of Grognardia fame)
97. Kickstarter Project: Adventures Dark and Deep™ A Curious Volume of Forgotten Lore, by Joe Bloch (of Greyhawk Grognard fame)
98. Kickstarter Project: Free RPG Day Pathfinder Adventure, by Gaming Paper
99. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Regular Booster (x1)
100. Savage Worlds  -- Wall Crawler (#59018), by Reaper Miniatures
101. The Sinister Secrets of Silvermote, by TPK Games
102. Infamous Adversaries: Temerlyth the Undying, by TPK Games
103. Infamous Adversaries: Raxath'Viz, the Creeping Rot, by TPK Games
104. The Horrendous Heap of Sixteen Cities! by Dylan Hartwell (Free!)
105. Pathways: Issue 14, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
106. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Regular Booster (x3)
107. Watch Officer, #9 Heroes and Monsters Pathfinder Battles (x1)
108. Half-elf Cleric, #19 Heroes and Monsters Pathfinder Battles (x1)
109. Dwarf Fighter, #20 Heroes and Monsters Pathfinder Battles (x1)
110. Gnome Fighter, #22 Heroes and Monsters Pathfinder Battles (x1)
111. Dire Rat, #23 Heroes and Monsters Pathfinder Battles (x2)
112. Spectre, #26 Heroes and Monsters Pathfinder Battles (x1)
113. Seelah, Human Paladin, #27 Heroes and Monsters Pathfinder Battles (x1)
114. Toys for the Sandbox XX: Falcon Academy, by Occult Moon (Free!)
115. Lapsus Calumni: Issue 12, by Matt Jackson (Free!)
116. Hippogriff, #26 Dangerous Delves DDM (1)
117. Lifeleech Otyugh, #44 Night Below DDM (1)
118. Golden Wyvern Initiate, #46 Against the Giants  DDM (1)
119. Warape, #22 War of Dragon Queen DDM (5)
120. DDM: Dangerous Delves Booster
121. Pathways: Issue 13, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
122. Toys for the Sandbox 00: The Wizard's Tower, by Occult Moon (Free!)
123. Half-Ogre Barbarian, #18 Underdark DDM (1)
124. Centaur Hero, #15 Deathknell DDM (2)
125. Centaur War Hulk, #15 Blood War DDM (1)
126. Wererat Rogue, #39 War of Dragon Queen DDM (1)
127. Wererat, #40 Dragoneye DDM (2)
128. Ankheg, #30 Underdark DDM (3)
129. Kintan Strider, #32 Masters of the Force, SWM (3)
130. Loviatar #8, by Christian
131. Dungeon Crawl: Issue #1, by Wayne R.
132. Zogorion, Lord of the Hippogriffs, by Jason S.
133. Grave Undertakings: The Tomb of Caragthax the Reaver, by TPK Games
134. Infamous Adversaries: Ichor Humansbane, by TPK Games
135. Infamous Adversaries: Cytheria the Blasphemer, by TPK Games
136. The Genius Guide to Favored Class Options, by Super Genius Games (Free!)
137. Shipwrecked In the Seas Of Space [Space Theme Music], by Fishwife Games (Free!)
138. Audio Preview Galaxy Forgotten [Space Theme Music], by Fishwife Games (Free!)
139. The Genius Guide to Hoof and Horn Racial Options, by Super Genius Games (Free!)
140. The Genius Guide to Wind and Wing Racial Options, by Super Genius Games (Free!)
141. The Lazy GM: Spawn Of Non-Terrifying Beasts of Legend!, by Creative Conclave (Free!)
142. #1 With a Bullet Point: 8 Dragonrider Feats, by Super Genius Games (Free!)
143. Module BL1-2: The Ruined Hamlet/Terror in the Gloaming, by Barrataria Games (Free!)
144. Infamous Adversaries: Slogar the Uncaring, by TPK Games
145. 101 Monster Feats, by Rite Publishing
146. 101 Not So Simple Monster Templates, by Rite Publishing
147. Book of Monster Templates, by Rite Publishing
148. Frozen Wind, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
149. Pathfinder Adventure Path #54: The Empty Throne (Jade Regent 6 of 6)
150. Encounter 'Zine: Issues 1-4
151. Pathways: Issues 11 & 12, by Rite Publishing (Free!)
152. Wayfinder: Issue 6, by Paizo Fans United (Free!)
153. Pathfinder Adventure Path #53: Tide of Honor (Jade Regent 5 of 6)
154. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Regular Booster (x5)
155. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Regular Booster (x1) (Free!)
156. Loviatar #7, by Christian
157. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Regular Booster (x5) 
158. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Medium Booster (x2)
159.  Kobold Quarterly #14 (Free!)
160. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Large Booster (x2)
161. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Regular Booster (x4)
162. DDM: Player's Handbook Heroes -- Series 2 - Divine Characters 2
163. Loviatar #6, by Christian
164. Pathfinder Battles -- Heroes & Monsters: Huge Black Dragon
165. The Blasphemous Brewery of Pilz! by Dylan Hartwell
166. Superstitions by Creative Mountain Games
167. Heroscape: D&D Collection D1 -- Champions of the Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun
168. Heroscape: D&D Collection D1 -- Champions of the Forgotten Realms: Warriors of the Ghostlight Fen
169. Heroscape: D&D Collection D3 -- Moltenclaw's Invasion: Valkrill's Legion
170. Fortress of the Mountain King by Brave Halfling Publishing (Free!)
171. Return of the Mountain King by Brave Halfling Publishing (Free!)
172. Discovery by New Frontier Games (Free!)
173. Death in the Spindlewood Marsh by Headless Hydra Games (Free!)
174. The Village of Harm by Brave Halfling Publishing (Free!)
175. Dolm River by Brave Halfling Publishing (Free!)

[Review] Menagerie of the Ice Lord

I'm excited to announce the release of the Digital Orc's latest offering: Menagerie of the Ice Lord!
(In terms of full disclosure, I will say that I was afforded the opportunity to assist in the editing process on this project. I will not, however, be receiving any compensation for my work or review beyond a copy of the finished product.)

Synopsis: Lord Venator lived in a remote mountain top family estate castle overlooking the snowbound village of Nix. An accomplished and enthusiastic hunter, he bored of stuffed trophies and took to keeping his prey alive in a growing menagerie in his expansive abode. A recent malfunction of the magical cages resulted in widespread escape. The Venator family castle is now overrun with vicious beasts and Lord Venator is thought dead. A brave party of adventurers, suspecting the Ice Lord is dead, hurry to loot the icy abode that resembles the valuable magical crystals with which it may be filled. (from The Menagerie of the Ice Lord)

Short review: This product looks terrific!

Longer review: I can't wait to sit down and run my players through this. Although designed as a one-shot adventure, there are sufficient hooks on which to base a pretty good campaign, including hooks to Dylan's other adventures: The Blasphemous Brewery of Pilz, The Horrendous Heap of Sixteen Cities, and The Veiled Invocation. I've decided that the Menagerie will provide a good gateway for my campaign to include these other great Digital Orc adventures.

As with all of Dylan's works, there are some terrific custom creatures. I'm not sure what twisted part of his psyche some of these come from, but bless that little chunk of grey matter. There are some artifacts and treasures to tempt adventurers as well.

The product is filled with Dylan's own artwork and comes well-mapped. The DM running the Menagerie is provided with a custom character sheet. The Menagerie is compatible with Labyrinth Lord rules, but could quickly and easily be converted to another OSR rule set, as well as 3.x, Pathfinder, and (I suppose, if you really have to, I guess) to 4E.

I'd highly recommend this to all of my readers. At $2.99 for PDF or $3.99 for print, it's a great bargain and a welcome addition to any OSR bookshelf. Grab your copy of the Menagerie of the Ice Lord today!