Stocking the Dungeon is now on MeWe!

I never did a lot of RPG stuff on Google+, for some reason the interface and spam I'd run into there just kept me from getting that into it. I was a bit saddened though, to hear of Google's plans to close down the network next year, since a lot of creative gaming stuff got shared and discussed there, especially in the old school D&D and related OSR groups. When discussions of the announcement turned toward people migrating to MeWe, it was honestly the first I'd heard of that network, and I was a little skeptical at first. I'm glad I gave it a shot though, the old school and OSR community at MeWe is thriving now and I've been following a handful of groups related to my interests of Classic D&D, Mystara and compatible OSR titles.

That got me thinking; I used to maintain a Facebook community for the blog, and it had a pretty good following, over 200 users. I eventually closed it down however, as it really didn't accomplish much but letting me share blog updates, which most people can get through a blog subscription or RSS feed reader. The ease of use of MeWe, and better functionality for discussions and sharing material has prompted me to have another go at a community to support my blogging as I once again dust off the Dungeon and get back to Stocking it.

Stocking the Dungeon @ MeWe


I've opened up membership to anyone who wants to join, so if you want to discuss things from the blog, or just chat about Classic D&D related stuff and share your own ideas and material, please stop by and say hello! Then, be sure and browse the other groups dedicated to Classic D&D type gaming, there's a lot of fun stuff happening there now.

Fixing the revised X1 Map quirk

Most long time D&D players have fond memories of module X1:The Isle of Dread, and with the ease of researching things online, both versions of the classic adventure can be compared.


The main difference between the two is the art. All the artwork from the blue cover original version of the module gets replaced in the revised orange cover. Also, the maps get updates, with more color and update encounter area labels to reflect the revised labels and numbering in the text of the module. While opinions vary according to personal taste on the new art, the one complaint most people have had with the map update is a fairly glaring omission made to one of the important maps of the Taboo Island temple complex.

Here's the original map, for reference.


And the same map in the revised edition. I removed the monochrome blue background from this map for easier comparison, though you will see, the change is very obvious.


Without that little inset graphic depicting the tunnel under the north end of area 5, it appears to a lot of readers that there is no way to get to area 6 and beyond. The Description of room 5 (room 34 in the revised module key) mentions the raised platform where people in area 34A, on the raised platform, may observe the activity in the main chamber (area 3 or 32 revised), but doesn't clearly explain the tunnel leading under it to access the rooms and collapsed tunnels beyond. So, with a little bit of paint shop magic, I've created a corrected map for the revised module that includes the missing insert illustration, for your reference when using the X1 module.

Known World Magic Items: Avrine's Lockpicks

Avrine's Lockpicks
New Magic Item

Avrine Nimblefoot is a legendary figure among the folk of the Five Shires and western Karameikos, especially the Hin. She lived about 50 years ago, and was a daring swashbuckler of a lass, living a life of wild adventures and daring deeds. Among the stories told about her are the tale of how she retrieved the jeweled crown of Penhaligon from a bugbear bandit who accosted the Baron on the Road on a trip to Specularum for a tourney, and a wild yarn about a game of dice with the gods which lasted the entire harvestfest holiday week and earned Avrine the enchanted lockpicks that now bear her name when she tricked the god into admitting defeat (even though he was obviously winning, the storytellers add with a knowing wink and grin).

Avrine's lockpicks are a set of exquisitely crafted thieves tools made of platinum decorated with diamonds of various colors. When used by a non-thief, they grant the user the ability to Open Locks af if he were a thief of 1/2 his current level. Example: Giano is a 4th level halfling. When using the lockpicks, he can open locks as if he were a 2nd level thief.

In the hands of a thief, they are even more powerful, granting a bonus of +3 effective class levels when calculating the Open Locks chance on the tables. For example, Magwell, a 7th level thief, steals the lockpicks and then tries to unlock a door with them. Using the lockpicks, he has the Open Locks chance of a 10th level thief!

The lockpicks are a unique item, and worth about 5000 gold pieces if sold.