Monday, December 8, 2014

Are Magic Realm Goblins Left-Handed?


I have quite a few unfinished projects.  Among those is my Magic Realm reprint project.  On the weekend, I finally decided to tackle the production of the monster counters for the "Karim" Magic Realm reprint, and discovered that most of the Axe Goblins are left-handed!  Each of the six axe-wielding Goblins have unique poses, which is not true for many of the other large groups of monsters.


Each of the Tremendous Dragons also have unique poses, and heads, even though the bottom two are otherwise identical in combat.  It's cool that Karim bothered to give the two non-flying Tremendous Dragons unique poses, he could just as easily have made them both the same.


Each of the six Giant Bats are identical.  I would have liked it if the designer had given each Giant Bat a monster number, but I can add those to the counters myself.


Here are the two Tremendous Demons.  They both look pretty formidable!


The above are a pair of Heavy Serpents, and three Heavy Dragons.  The original Magic Realm counters used a different color coding, whereas the Karim redesign uses the same colors for the monsters in each appearance chart row.  I think I prefer the original color coding, but the art design of these Karim monsters are generally better.


The new Magic Realm Giants and Trolls are less interesting artistically than the old ones, but they certainly fit with the rest of the redesign art.


And finally, here are the six wolves that appear in the Magic Realm redesign.  They seem more vicious than their cousins from the original Magic Realm game.


The above was a sampling of the monsters in Magic Realm.  There are more monster counters that I produced, but did not take photos of.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

PACG OP Jemma Redclaw


Here is the current status of your characters.  If there are any scenarios that you have not completed, I am happy to organize a session to allow you to complete it and obtain the related reward.  That is particularly relevant in the case of any unplayed Brine Dragon and Lone Shark scenarios, since those provide coveted skill and power feat upgrades.  I can be contacted via my Paladin email if a Christmas break PACG game is desired.

Otherwise, see you in 2015!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Box Inserts

While I help organize the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game sessions in St. Albert, there is another PACG organizer, Jason, who takes care of the Edmonton sessions.

 He and I both have inserts for the Pathfinder Base Set. He is using the insert from Broken Token (seen below), which has 4 complete rows for cards, and a fifth, smaller row, for dice, pencils and other paraphernalia.


My Base Set contains the Go7 Gaming insert, which has 5 complete card rows, and also uses clear acrylic dividers rather than the wooden dividers included with the Broken Token box insert.

While I prefer the Go7 Gaming insert, it is slightly more expensive, at $31, compared to the cheaper Broken Token insert that sets you back $27.


I appreciate the design of the Go7 insert, having 5 full rows, which allows me to store additional cards, including the new class decks.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Nature's Wrath Postscript

We ran two tables of PACG organized play today, with both tables completing scenario 5, Nature's Wrath.  Here is the current status of your characters.


Our final PACG session for 2014 will be scenario 6, The Treasure of Jemma Redclaw, next Sunday, December 7, 2014 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at my place in Pineview.  I will email you all tonight with the address particulars. 

We will reconvene after Christmas for PACG, at Mission Fun and Games at 1 p.m. on the second Sunday in January 2015 (that would be the 11th).

See you at my place on December 7.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A Far, Far Better Character


The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game allows you to build your characters as decks of cards, representing your significant possessions, weapons, armor, spells, divine favour, and key allies.  The deck of cards, above, is for my Skull & Shackles Bard character.

Each player is limited to a certain number of cards (in the above instance, I and my fellow players currently have a deck limit of 16 cards).  This deck limit balances the characters, ensuring rough equivalence in powers and abilities between characters at the table, and is also used as a resource management tool. 

As you participate in PACG adventures, you attempt to complete certain objectives, while collecting additional cards representing better equipment, spells, divine favour and allies, from which you draw to replace inferior cards. 

During certain game events, players may choose or be required to discard cards from their decks: those cards represent both the character's available activities and the health of the character.  When a player runs out of cards, their character dies.

Monday, November 24, 2014

PACG Session, Nov 30, 2014


Join us on Sunday, November 30, 2014 for an introductory session of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Skull & Shackles Organized Play program.

All existing participants are new to the PACG system, so no experience is necessary and newcomers are welcome!

The game session begins at 1 pm and ends at 3 pm: games are no longer than two hours.

New players should purchase a class deck (available at Mission Fun & Games), colored sleeves and bring a set of color-matched polyhedral dice. Game Rules can be downloaded for free from the Paizo website, but PACG is a cooperative game so you can learn as you play.

Contact me or Mission for more details.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

PACG Session Post-Mortem

We ran two PACG Skull and Shackles tables on Sunday; Salvage Operations for the more advanced group, and an earlier adventure, The Lone Shark, to accommodate newcomers.  The Lone Shark is a good adventure to play with newcomers as the reward is a skill feat, bumping one of the character statistics, rather than simply being a card upgrade, which can be hit or miss.


For those playing in the two sessions, here is a chart with the current status of your characters.  Mark has already identified and corrected a mistake, so if something in your advancement chart is wrong please let me know.

Gaming Night


My spouse organized last night's gaming session with her extended family.  We have a lot of board and card games, and she has a large extended family, so she invited several of her cousins and their spouses and children to try out our many games.

We played six games in four hours, including No Thanks!, Sushi Go!, The Hare and the Tortoise, Incan Gold, Forbidden Island, and For Sale.  They are all games that are easy to learn but have deep strategy for the size of the game.

Between extended family gaming nights and Sunday Pathfinder Adventure Card Game sessions, we are finally returning to the amount of gaming we enjoyed before we moved from Calgary to St. Albert.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Belated San Francisco Sushi Post


This blogpost is only one year late ... since my spouse and I visited San Francisco a year ago!

I was cleaning up some photos from my Blackberry, and came across these shots of the exterior and menu of a restaurant we visited while in San Francisco.  It's hard to find good sushi in St. Albert and Edmonton, so having a chance to patronize a decent sushi restaurant while travelling in California is impossible to pass up.  Sushi Boat has actual sushi boats, that float past you, allowing you to grab the plates of sushi as they go by.


Here are a couple of shots of the menu.  The sushi was in the California style, which I cannot complain about, since  it introduces some delectable fusions of flavours and textures.


I apologize for the glare from the overhead lights.  We were seated in a booth that has some low-hanging bulbs that made it hard to get a good shot of the menu.


The food was great, and we have yet to find a local sushi restaurant that has anywhere near the variety and complexity of sushi dishes we enjoyed at Sushi Boat.  My only complaint (and it seems to be one several other patrons have alluded to on the restaurant review sites) was the below-average service.

Still, the food was excellent and I hope to get a chance to visit San Francisco and Sushi Boat again!

Monday, November 17, 2014

PACG Session, November 23, 2014


Engaging in some Salvage Operations...

You've defeated the dreaded Brine Dragon. Now its time to search for treasure, by picking through the flotsam of ships destroyed by the Dragon.

Join us on Sunday, November 23, 2014 for an introductory session of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Skull & Shackles Organized Play program.

All existing participants are new to the PACG system, so no experience is necessary and newcomers are welcome!

The game session begins at 1 pm and ends at 3 pm: games are no longer than two hours.

New players should purchase a class deck (available at Mission Fun & Games), colored sleeves and bring a set of color-matched polyhedral dice.

Game Rules can be downloaded for free from the Paizo website, but PACG is a cooperative game so you can learn as you play.

Contact me (the game organizer) or Mission for more details.

Hide event details
Event #53278
When afternoon
afternoon
WhereMission: Fun & Games (Store)
560 St. Albert Trail
(HIGHWAY 2 SOUTHBOUND)
St. Albert, AB T8N 5Z1
Canada
ContactAaron E. Steele
apaladinincitadel@gmail.com
http://apaladinincitadel.blogspot.ca/
ScenariosPathfinder Adventure Card Guild Scenario 0-1D: Salvage Operations

Sunday, November 16, 2014

PACG Skull And Shackles Sessions

Although I have few complaints about the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game itself, the tracking system Paizo has devised is less than adequate.  So while I continue to dutifully record the game sessions online, I have decided to keep a separate log of our sessions on this blog.  The tracking tool I have devised is not perfect, but at least I have a greater measure of control over its presentation. 

Click to embiggen.  If you are one of the participants, and notice something amiss, please make a note for yourself and we can correct this table next Sunday.


If there are any others who are interested in participating in our PACG sessions, there is still plenty of room available.  The sessions are every Sunday, from 1 pm to 3 pm, at Mission Games in St. Albert. 

In addition to our regular contingent, we have had five others who have dropped in to try out PACG.  New players are welcome, whether as a one-shot experience or if you are interested in playing PACG more frequently!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Sunday, Nov 16, 2014 Pathfinder Adventure Card Game


Time to hunt the Brine Dragon!

Join us on Sunday, November 16, 2014 for an introductory session of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Skull & Shackles Organized Play program.

All existing participants are new to the PACG system, so no experience is necessary and newcomers are welcome.

The game session begins at 1 pm and ends at 3 pm: games are no longer than two hours.

New players should purchase a class deck (available at Mission Fun & Games), colored sleeves and bring a set of color-matched polyhedral dice. Game Rules can be downloaded for free from the Paizo website, but PACG is a cooperative game so you can also learn as you play.

Contact me or Mission Fun & Games for more details.



Event #53038
When
WhereMission: Fun & Games (Store)
560 St. Albert Trail
(HIGHWAY 2 SOUTHBOUND)
St. Albert, AB T8N 5Z1
Canada
ContactAaron E. Steele
apaladinincitadel@gmail.com
ScenariosPathfinder Adventure Card Guild Scenario 0-1C: Brine Dragon Hunt


Friday, November 7, 2014

The Hobbit: Battle Of Five Armies



Stoked about the appearance of the Ringwraiths and the Necromancer in this film.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Sunday, Nov 9 2014 Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Session


The Lone Shark has developed an interest in you...

Join us on Sunday, November 9, 2014 for another session of the Pathfinder Adventure Card ("PACG") Game, Skull & Shackles Organized Play program.

All existing participants are new to the PACG system, so no experience is necessary and newcomers are welcome.  We have already added several new players, and additional tables to accommodate even more.

The game session begins at 1 pm and ends promptly at 3 pm: games are no longer than two hours.

New players should purchase a class deck (available at Mission Fun & Games), colored sleeves and bring a set of color-matched polyhedral dice. Game Rules can be downloaded for free from the Paizo website.  PACG is a cooperative game so you can also learn as you play.

Contact the game organizer or Mission for more details.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Ghosts Of The Deep


Haunted by Ghosts of the Deep!

Join us at 1 pm on Sunday, November 2, 2014 for a nightmarish session of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Skull & Shackles Organized Play program.

All existing participants are new to the PACG system, so no experience is necessary and newcomers are welcome.

The game session begins at 1 pm and ends at 3 pm: games are no longer than two hours.

New players should purchase a class deck (available at Mission Fun & Games), colored sleeves and bring a set of color-matched polyhedral dice.

Game Rules can be downloaded for free from the Paizo website, but PACG is a cooperative game so you can also learn as you play.

Contact me or Mission for more details.
  
Event #51829
When afternoon
afternoon
afternoon
afternoon
afternoon
WhereMission: Fun & Games
560 St. Albert Trail
St. Albert, AB T8N 6A7
Canada

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Pathfinder Pre-Painted Miniatures: Lost Coast Gems


The next set of Paizo pre-painted Pathfinder miniatures, designated The Lost Coast, are being released in November 2014. 

I don't expect I will purchase an entire case, as I have done in the past, as the number of unique figures in each case recently dropped from 55 to 45, but there are several figures in this set that are sufficiently useful and well designed that I intend to buy them individually. 

Alahazra, above, is one of my favorite iconic characters, and despite another, perhaps superior Alahazra sculpt being released in early 2015, is on my list of Lost Coast Gems.


Damiel is the other iconic character that makes an appearance in The Lost Coast pre-painted miniatures set.  I think I would have preferred Jirelle over Damiel, but this character is still worth having a miniature for.

Several archers are included in this miniatures set, like the City Watch Sniper, the Forest Shadow, and the Elf Archer (all three displayed below).  These are decent sculpts and can stand in for player characters.




Several worthy Giant sculpts make an appearance in this miniatures set, included a Stone Giant (Conna the Wise), the Fire Giant King, and an Ogre (Malugus Kreeg).  The renditions of giants in Pathfinder have started to grow on me, although I still loathe the Pathfinder versions of trolls.




The last three miniatures to be featured in this post are Pazuzu, Lamashtu and the Mother Of Monsters, three creatures presumably unique to the Pathfinder universe, but interesting enough that I will be including them in my individual Pathfinder pre-painted miniatures purchase.

 

Monday, October 20, 2014

Paizo's Pathfinder Pawns Need Patching!

Even though I'm heavily invested in the Pathfinder miniatures, having purchased every complete set except the most recent, I still found it worthwhile to pick up the Pathfinder Pawns NPC Codex Box.  The cost per cardboard pawn is roughly 10 cents, which compares quite favourably to the $3-4 per miniature.

Truth be told, there are several cardboard pawns in the NPC Codex Box with artwork matching the characters in the new Pathfinder ACG Character Decks, and I wanted to have pawns available to represent those characters, rather than using the included playing-card tokens that otherwise are placed at PACG adventure locations to indicate which location a character is visiting.

Most of the artwork on the pawns in the NPC Codex Box is acceptable or better, but there are several pawns that include artwork that is smaller than it should be.  Rather than complain about the undersized art to Paizo on their website [an arguably futile endeavour], I printed slightly larger character artwork and produced my own replacement pawns.  Here are several of those original pawns, with their replacements.


The Areelu Vorlesh pawn [from Wrath Of The Righteous] was an especially egregious example of undersized art [please excuse the blurriness of the photos, the art on the original pawns and the replacements is actually crisper than the photo suggests].  My replacement pawns for Areelu cut off the mini-dragon and wing-tips respectively, but I don't think you need the entire image on the pawns.


Arueshalae [another pawn from Wrath of the Righteous] was also slightly undersized, so I increased the artwork by a couple of millimeters and produced a new pawn for her.  I suppose I could have adjusted the artwork so she was "higher" on the pawn, but I am, nonetheless, relatively happy with the way this replacement pawn turned out.

While I was printing out replacement pawns for those pawns that Paizo undersized, I created several pawns for the characters included in the Skull and Shackles Base Set and Character Add-On Deck.  It would have been nice if Paizo had better coordinated the release of PACG adventures and the related, prepainted miniature and cardboard pawn.  For example, they produced a prepainted miniature for Lirianne the Gunslinger,

but not one for Jirelle the Swashbuckler [the custom-made cardboard pawn in the center, below].

 
Until a miniature for Jirelle is made available, I can use my custom-made pawn, above, in lieu of the playing-card token included in the PACG Skull and Shackles Base Set.
 
 
Since there is no pre-painted miniature for Alahazra, she received the custom-made pawn treatment as well.  I understand her pre-painted miniature is included in the upcoming Lost Coast miniatures set, but I'm still annoyed about the reduction in the size of the Pathfinder miniatures sets, from 55 to 45 unique miniatures, so I haven't yet made up my mind on investing in more pathfinder miniatures.


Pathfinder ACG: First Session


We played our first session of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game on Sunday, October 19, 2014, using the "official" location mat (seen above).  Joanna, Trevor, Travis, Brad, Mark and I ran through the introductory adventure "On The Horizon", in which you must defeat several enemy ships, investigate other sunken ships, and finally negotiate with the Pirate Council.

We ultimately failed our mission, but it was on account of running out of time, our strategies were otherwise relatively sound.

We'll give the adventure another try on Sunday, October 26.  Additional participants are welcome (a second base set is available, so we have room for plenty more players).

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Thansgiving Colors


This is what Autumn looks like on my street.  We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving on the weekend, and took a break from cooking our turkey and preparing the rest of the fixings to take a set of photos of the Fall colors.  The photo, above, is the trees across the street from our house.  The photo below is of the trees on our side of the street.


The photo below, from in front of a neighbor's house, is something (apparently) called a "Burning Bush", which changes from green to a bright cherry red in the Fall.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: 1st Session


I will be running the inaugural session of the St. Albert Mission Pathfinder Adventure Card Game ("PACG") Organized Play program on Sunday, October 19, 2014, at Mission Fun And Games in St. Albert, Alberta.


Participants will partake in the introductory session of Skull And Shackles PACG Season 0, as their characters cooperate to jointly face the villains and monsters of the Pathfinder universe's pirate-infested seas.  And after all, who doesn't like battling were-sharks while brandishing cutlasses and pistols?

Game sessions are no more than 2 hours long.

A demo game for first-time PACG players will be run from Noon to 1:00 pm on Sunday, October 19, 2014.

The first adventure, "On The Horizon", will commence thereafter at 1:00 pm and will end no later than 3:00 pm.

Participants will benefit from reading both the Skull And Shackles Adventure Card Game rules and the Organized Play rules (both available as free downloads from the Paizo website).


A Pathfinder ACG Class Deck (a $20-$25 investment), colored card sleeves, and matching colored polyhedral dice are necessary for participation, all of which are available at Mission Fun And Games.

Anyone interested in participating can leave a comment here, or can register their interest with Mission Fun And Games.

http://paizo.com/events/v5748mkg0axiw

Thanks!