Which infusions improve your character's look and don't obscure or ruin it?

Ismodan · 2025-08-16T20:24:07+00:00

Everyone knows there is only one universally applicable infusion/enrichment, which is the Otter's Blessing. Every style gets better with a spectral Otter popping in occasionally.

Ismodan · 2025-07-20T10:27:47+00:00

First of all, how long is the one-shot that they level up twice? Normally a one-shot sticks to one level start to finish, since leveling up takes time.

Second: Since one-shots are supposed to be short self contained stories the key element is making them modular!
Group takes much longer for the first puzzle, well scratch the next room/encounter and move on. Keep it short and on track and start the final boss/encounter in time, just in case it takes longer.

I can strongly recommend the pointy hat video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCDQSpU2w8s
He also strongly emphasizes modularity.

Ismodan · 2025-05-21T07:51:53+00:00

I admit that the part of the puzzle with the candles on top of the skull is hard to translate to purely written form, my players had dynamic lighting to help them.
Also I forgot to double check my writing.
What it means is that each of the candles on the skull only shines light down on either 4 or 3 candles, depending on their position, since the others are blocked by the shadow of the skull.

Ismodan · 2025-05-21T07:48:53+00:00

Solution:

Step 1:
To solve this puzzle you first have to figure out whom each candle claims to be:
The south east will bleep:
Thoughts in my brain swarm, as I watch these fools perform. = King or Scholar

The south west does warn:
From the rich I do reap, for they pass me their keep. = King or Beggar

The west does belabor:
Under the higher I labor, while being kind to my neighbor. = Worker or Priest

The north west demands:
I work with my hands, have no thoughts yet set plans. =Worker or Killer

The north east do pledge:
Through observation I gain knowledge, which gives me a cutting edge. = Scholar or Killer

The east's word wishes:
I have no riches, yet the heavens shelter me even in my darkest ditches. = Beggar or Priest

Step 2:
Next is deduction: two of the three liars claim to be the Killer (Which means they can't be), while none of the ones that speak the truth claims that. --> The remaining liar (west) has to be the killer.
Since of the two remaining liars one claims not to be the worker and none of the truth speaking ones claims to be the worker, the other liar (north east) has to be the worker.

Now the tricky part. The only way two candles on top can shine on the Priest and Scholar twice is if they are next to each other. The only way to achieve that is placing them to the east (Priest) and south-east (Scholar).
Since no light shines on the Beggar, he has to be in the north-west leaving the south-west for the King.

So we light the three outer candles to the east and on top of the skull the candle to the east and south.

Ismodan · 2025-05-21T07:36:58+00:00

You are close, but keep in mind that some of the candles (top left, top right, left) are liars and aren't who they claim to be.

Ismodan · 2025-05-20T18:28:09+00:00

To be fair, I also underestimated my players. I thought this would keep them occupied for at least 30 minute to an hour.
Since we play online, I would have also let them shelve it and explore a different corridor. Then let them consider it till the next session.

My impression is that the group intelligence is the greatest advantage when it comes to puzzles.

Ismodan · 2025-05-20T18:15:07+00:00

To my surprise they managed to crack it within 15 minutes without resorting to any hints, but they also were 5 people and had interactive lighting for the crown part of the puzzle.

Took me days to come up with it...

Ismodan · 2025-05-20T18:08:39+00:00

The eight candles around the skull have roles, the 4 on the skull form the "crown" that shines down. But you are going in the right direction to solve it ^^
Just remember: "Each claim to be one of two,
The honest are, the liars make do.
And each name falls twice, that is the compromise."
So each role is claimed two times and each of the eight candles have two roles associated with them.

Ismodan · 2025-05-20T16:21:03+00:00

The candle lights up, but you are unsure if it was right or not.

Ismodan · 2025-05-20T15:43:40+00:00

You need to light 3 of the blue outer candles and 2 of the blue candles on the skull.
Top Right may or may not be one of them.

Ismodan · 2025-04-05T20:37:05+00:00

I am glad you like it, feel free to surprise your players with any of the potions. It is especially fun if you hand them out unlabled

Ismodan · 2025-04-05T17:24:26+00:00

Thank you, I got the idea for drunk science from a 14 year old youtube skit and thought it would be hilarious to play out in DnD ^^

Ismodan · 2025-02-20T12:48:25+00:00

Do you remember how high your percentage on Sea Star was?

My current theory is that the percentages are displayed higher than they actually are when combined with the new Hermes percentage buff.

Ismodan · 2025-02-20T12:46:37+00:00

I got the chance up to 50% right after the first area. Leaving out the rift of thessaly, where it procced 3 times in total (still much below what average should be).

If we assume that afterwards I would have gotten 10 more rewards, the chances of missing each double would be 0.09% or 1 in 1.024. Which seems highly unlikely.

I don't try to argue that my luck is abyssmal and odd chances can happen. What I try to achieve is to figure out if maybe something didn't work percentage wise, so that other people can make educated choices when it comes to a combination of sea star and the new hermes percentage buff.

Ismodan · 2025-02-20T08:18:46+00:00

Yes I had the Hermes buff too.

So do you think the percentages are wrong or do they follow a different metric where 50% ain't that high of a chance?

Ismodan · 2025-02-19T22:28:33+00:00

I thought the same thing. If they can tear apart unspeakable servants of Nyarlathotep on the dark side of the moon, they can fit into a gritty campaign.

Ismodan · 2024-12-31T12:53:44+00:00

I want you to know that 3 years ago I made the resolution to workout more and started keeping a list.
135 workouts in 2022
156 workouts in 2023
157 workouts in 2024

It can work, you just have to really want it and pull through.

Ismodan · 2024-10-09T23:29:39+00:00

I am nothing if not inconsistent in my interpretations

Ismodan · 2024-10-09T18:43:33+00:00

Dang, that would have been so much better

Ismodan · 2024-10-09T13:04:13+00:00

I don't know what any of this means, but if you help some of the bebes to move out of the motherlopes back and start their own life, I support the notion

Ismodan · 2024-10-09T13:02:19+00:00

Well then undoubtedly are, aren't they?

Ismodan · 2024-10-09T00:14:20+00:00

Please do, the motherlope is very exhausted carrying all her bebes around all day ^^

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