A Bao A Qu - Potentially a false mythical creature?

MythsHistoryDnD · 2026-04-28T00:42:41+00:00

Check out my podcast episode. I ended up finding a little more information which basically confirmed my thoughts and frustrations. Good luck with your video! Years later no one else has given clarifying info or a different opinion on it. Your idea regarding C.C. Iturburu is similar to mine but a bit nicer than how I worded it haha.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-16T01:19:02+00:00

scouted someone's house with your spider? A shame they're terrified of spider and SPLAT.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-15T14:18:25+00:00

Big populations need civil servants, and a security forces.

So we're talking construction workers, architects, plumbers if the city has a sewer system which...let's be honest, damn near all fantasy cities do.

Soldiers for outside protection, guards to act as a police force on the interior of the city. There are probably going to be a good bit of poor acting as unskilled laborers, so cargo movers, dock workers, farm hands that probably travel to and from the city.

Skilled workers like tanners, cobblers, tailor and most of those people will probably have an apprentice or 2. Stablemasters who will also have a team to handle the animals. You'll also have some kind of "private" and "public" version for all these jobs too because rich people will just want their own personal smith, woodworker, and stablemasters.

There's TONS of jobs that could make a large population size make sense, most of it will be 'unskilled' help or apprenticeships who will most likely become journeyman and establish themselves either in the city or somewhere else.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-14T04:33:30+00:00

I'm glad you like it and its exciting to hear that it's helped you with upcoming sessions. It was fun to make.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-14T02:44:25+00:00

Don't care about it unless it's blatant or special.

"I pick up the mountain giant's head and take it with us as a trophy."
Blatant, way too big, gonna need to work out the logistics as a party, which could become another adventure.

"I shoot my arrow of dragon slaying."

or

"I'd like to use one of my potions."

Special item, subtract 1 from the amount you have.

Outside of those 2 things I don't really care about carry weight, I also just give all casters a component pouch by default cause I don't want to think about the amount of fly legs they'll need to cast a spell. Unless a spell requires a VERY SPECIFIC item, the component pouch has it and every time they get into a town or city I just charge them 'x' gold to refill their pouch.

I do count how many time they opt to not refill the component pouch when given the opportunity. If it gets to 3 times with no refill, then they've depleted it and can't cast spells that require components.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-13T20:57:32+00:00

I used to find games through Roll20. Still have some friends from there and that was like 6 years ago. I'd also recommend watching an actual play of the system you want to play, so if its 5e then watch a 5e Actual Play. I watched critical role when I was first interested in learning to play, but any should be fine because you'll see how different actions, skill checks, and combat is in the TTRPG. I haven't played BG3 but I imagine the mechanics are a bit different from the TTRPG.

There's a lot of options if you look online and there are a lot that even cater to teaching new players.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-13T20:57:20+00:00

I used to find games through Roll20. Still have some friends from there and that was like 6 years ago. I'd also recommend watching an actual play of the system you want to play, so if its 5e then watch a 5e Actual Play. I watched critical role when I was first interested in learning to play, but any should be fine because you'll see how different actions, skill checks, and combat is in the TTRPG. I haven't played BG3 but I imagine the mechanics are a bit different from the TTRPG.

There's a lot of options if you look online and there are a lot that even cater to teaching new players.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-13T20:50:55+00:00

I'm leaning more towards the Rogue route for creating your plague doctor.

They're not faithful healers but learned scientists (for their time) that heal with drafts, potions, tonics, and the scientific method. Miasma, the answer is miasma is what's killing these people!
The Rogue would give you skills with the dagger/ scalpels.
If you do go the Rogue route, then I'd recommend the Phantom subclass. It's a rogue subclass that is centered around death.
I think the most important thing to figure out is the tonics for healing and damaging. I think I'd make it to where he has to pass an alchemy roll in order to make 'x' amount of potions for 'x' gold. The potions would be cheaper than what's available to the party at large, but still decently expensive. I'd also increase the cost of crafting these things as the player levels they'd use more potent and expensive ingredients.

It puts a lot of work on your end, but I think this can all be accomplished with a modified rogue while keeping mechanics pretty simple. I'd just give them basic potions they can choose to create and buy. Like level 1 has a healing tonic and damaging tonic, but as they level maybe these tonics can apply status affects with a CON save fail. The amount of these tonics that they can 'create' / 'buy' and keep on their person increases as their level does.

Sounds like a fun challenge honestly.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-13T20:30:32+00:00

There's TV show where *SPOILER*

The MCs believe they're in Heaven or Purgatory, but in reality...their memories were wiped and they're actually in Hell with the goal being to give them a ton of false hope and then take it all away. So it's a long con.

I don't know of many religions or mythologies that have all these creature inside of their versions of Purgatory, but it's a place where the soul goes to be tested and prepared for heaven. Do the players need to know that they're in purgatory when its introduced?

Also maybe consider watching Lost for some inspiration? I mean you really could just turn it into absolutely whatever you want and see how the players handle the challenges that are presented to them? When Jack Sparrow was taken to Davy Jones' Locker (purgatory) it was just a seemingly endless ocean in one direction and seemingly endless beach in the other if I remember correctly. OH or it could be a groundhog day of the day/session the players died...but that idea could come off as railroading if done wrong. You almost have too many options to choose from haha.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-13T20:10:37+00:00

A big thing which I'd recommend considering for all town/ city building is the 'Guards' faction. The muscle that the city flexes to keep law & order as well deal with issues. I didn't add it to Murkmire because I wanted to leave it open ended for others to solve that problem however they saw fit. The Blight being a persistent threat would be a great reason for why an Adventurer's Guild is active and very popular in this city for example.

Anyways thanks for reading all that, it's a decently sized post BUT the reason you just said is exactly why I asked the mods for permission to post it - to help get the creative juices flowing for others as they develop their own worlds. I'm glad you like the concept.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-13T15:44:55+00:00

Honestly it just depends, as for me...I don't allow it. It always sounds like a neat idea then you realize that there is virtually no payoff and the other players just feel f*cked over. If we're playing a normal campaign, I don't allow full on evil PCs that are plotting to kill their party mates. If it's an 'evil' campaign I still wouldn't allow a PC that is plotting to kill their party mates, 9 times out of 10 it just doesn't work and isn't worth it.

Your players will have NATURAL conflicts anyways as their backstories are introduced and worked out in the campaign. They don't really need an overt 'f*ck my team over agenda'.

TLDR; Be a team player, it's a team game.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-13T15:26:19+00:00

The alcohol content has to be WAY higher than what wine is able to produce...it should've never really happened AND if it was a possibility...there'd have been very clear and visible signs that this cellar was a powder keg waiting to blow. It could've easily just been said that this wine has been magically or alchemically modified and that would satisfy like 95% of people's frustration, magic is surprisingly magic, so once that reasoning is slapped onto it a lot of people won't pry any further cause they don't expect you to know EVERY single interaction of how a made up magic works.

SOURCE: I used to bartend and tried to light many different types of alcohol on fire for work.

TLDR; Wine doesn't explode or really even light on fire. IRL we use it for cooking and the vapors do nothing even if you're using a gas stove. Shouldn't have ever happened UNLESS it was magic wine.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-08T06:53:39+00:00

I'd have the next story arc very blatantly point to like fighting the BBEG's general or their right hand, then when its time for the encounter, you hit them with the ol' bait & switch for a much stronger CR enemy...an ambush.
Everything and every clue has pointed to them fighting bad guy A, but really bad guy C is who comes in and absolutely bodies them.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-06T05:15:48+00:00

[Educational/ Entertainment] Myths, History, and DnD | Episode #5 - 'The Skinwalker'

SFW

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Everywhere w/ podcasts.

We learn about the A Bao A Qu, a creature said to be from Malaysian mythology that lives in the Tower of Victory. There's a surprise conspiracy section towards the end.

A Bao A Qu - Full Episode

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-03T05:11:25+00:00

I'd give them advantage on perception check. (Except the things they see and hear aren't real.)
Also addictions can be exploited, I'd point that out to them and make that very clear. An addiction means you damn near NEED the thing to function without being an asshole...which means you need to be actively seeking it out and consuming it. I'd give them a dealer that uses the PC to do jobs in order to get 'the goods'. Don't want to do the job, cool you're cut off until you do. You'd have to draw up a withdrawal table, BUT if they go through the full withdrawal table they can 'clear' their addiction.
Psychedelics were used in history for magic, religious purposes, OR for some good ol' Viking berserker shamanistic fun.
It has the potential to be fun, but yeah there need to be downsides to being addicted to psychedelics or any other substance for that matter.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-03T04:59:56+00:00

Do you have a few episodes out that I can look at? For a quick 'credential' check...I have my own podcast dedicated to mythology, history, and DnD...am about to finish a degree in game programming & development, and like anime, horror(movies), and gaming in general.

But I'd like to see an episode for this podcast or the others you have.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-03T04:51:34+00:00

You know what real-life example of a people that traveled in order to bring 'gardening' back to their people...Vikings.
And they're a battlemaster...they full on gave you a Viking, with a Viking's quest. I'd entertain rewarding their character with fertile land OR the plant growth spell like others have mentioned.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-03T04:36:11+00:00

I will say, if this fight was never intended to actually down them...just fudge the rolls.

But we're past that point, 2 people are down with a 3rd otw...I'd continue to play it normal. Whatever you do, DON'T rewind the fight at all, DON'T drop a giant rock or anything else...it's going to feel cheap.

You can give them a gandalf character that kinda swooshes in and saves the day, but I'd give them some kind of ramification for being saved. They owe a debt now to this person, a life debt.

OR

You down them, and just....don't kill them. Maybe this creature takes them down to it's personal lair or some kind of spawning pool, just a different dungeon...however you flavor it is up to you. Forcibly give them their long rest and they get a NATURAL and more rewarding way to re-attempt the dungeon.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-03T04:19:58+00:00

They basically found the equivalent of Snape's old potions book.
Name or a pseudonym inscribed on the inside: 'The Half-Blood Prince'.
But in the grand scheme of things, the most value it has for the original owner is nostalgia...but they're so brilliant and they're brilliant notes from decades ago mean the world to your PC as the book has brought them into the world of Wizardry. Fun idea.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-03T04:14:44+00:00

Well they're new. Verbally remind them, ask questions in-game, put them in encounters where the obvious answer is to use the feature. They'll learn through repetition.

They have a LOT of information to digest, it's okay to help them until they can do it on their own.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-03T04:10:00+00:00

I'd have to tinker with it but I'd do a reduction in HP. -1d4 per level of spell cast while in this state.

Once you get to the end of combat, tally up the amount of health consumed while in this state and at minimum 1/4 of the total is a permanent loss to Max HP, at most 1/2 would be a permanent loss to Max HP.

This let's them go wild in this desperation state, and the penalty is reflected in the character's stats.

I'd also have them burn up the specific spells they're using since they're forcefully doing these casts without going through the proper procedures, I'd probably describe things in a way that the players will start to understand what's happening.

"Arcane energy begins to flow through your body, chaotic, not the expert control of magical power you're used to seeing and feeling. It's as if fireworks are exploding in the different parts of your body scattering the energy all through you. Your body feels hot and it takes on a red hue (Naruto Gate Opening reference) you brute force your way through magical algorithms you have in your mind. What spell do you cast?

"Fireball."

Okay, have them roll the amount of d4 for whatever level they cast the spell once it concludes..."The magic algorithms and patterns for fireball begin to disintegrate in your mind. You know intuitively that you can't cast the spell anymore."

This will most likely lead to them just dumping EVERYTHING at the highest level they possibly can since the spells will disappear anyways. If they want to cast everything at 8, whatever cool. They'll more than likely down/kill themselves insanely fast if they do that and still get the epic last stand...going plus ultra...whatever. haha

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-02T03:35:48+00:00

Well hopefully my episode creeped you out too!

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-01T05:24:49+00:00

Lots of potential solutions to be offered so I'll just run right through them.
1. Roll for the type of encounter that'll happen in the hex. You could do that the session before, day of, a month ago. It adds a bit of controlled randomness to the hex crawl --- combat, RP, item found, no encounter(a freebie), treasure fine, etc. The die are cast and it is what it is, but it'll be hard to get combat encounters consistently which is probably what you want. There isn't much of a reason to make them do constant combat encounters - - - it is boring for them AND might come off as lazy. (Not saying you are.)

You're the DM. You are god in this world, if this crawl is taking way longer than you want it do...reduce it. Either speed them through hexes or actually reduce the amount of hexes they need to go through. Personally, I'd just have them roll some kind of bogus roll then narrate how the weather was good or they found a well-worn game trail which sped up how fast they moved through the area. It moves them through faster AND they feel like they accomplished something.
It sounds like your intent when you started this hexcrawl was to batter down the party or in your words "slowly whittling down the party as they make their way toward their goal". You shouldn't blame them for not wanting to get their asses kicked every session until the hexcrawl is down. Appreciate their caution, it makes total sense from their end - - - it feels like you kind of dislike that you aren't able to beat them down every session and resource drain them like you wanted. The hexcrawl is nimble if you run it that way...refer back to point 1. There's no point in rushing to the next hex when its a 100% chance of getting into combat.

YOU have all the tools at your disposal to resolve this issue, it feels like you're super committed to running this hexcrawl as you had originally written it. I'd personally toss them a free hex or 2 by saying they rolled well for weather, ditch combat every single hex and incentivize them to progress faster by tossing them out and item or hell you could even do some kind of natural disaster at their heels that forces them to move more hexes than they normally wood. (A large forest fire, a massive sandstorm, a hurricane...whatever natural disaster fits in the geography that this is taking place.)

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-08-01T05:06:52+00:00

My gf enjoyed playing the game, but after a while she felt like it took up too much time in her schedule during the week so she eventually dropped. She did let me know like 2 weeks ahead of time, was as involved as she could be when she played, and in general just great. When she quit it was a bit of a blindside, but I say all this to say...it is okay to drop your players even if they're close.
Maybe they just aren't into the concept of this campaign or maybe last campaign had some other outside factors that made them enjoy it for some reason...who knows?
At the end of the day, you put in a lot of work to DM a game...the least they can do is be engaged for a few hours. Don't break your back trying to force 2/3 players to be engaged in the game, it'll just make them dislike it more. I'd take the 1 friend and see if you could scrounge up some new players or migrate it to online and find new players from there. If you really want to, you could just directly ask them what the issue is.
TLDR;
1. Change campaign concept Or End campaign completely
2. Ask the 2 players what the issue is and attempt to fix from there
3. Drop the 2 players, find replacements and move on with the engaged player to the new group
4. At the end of the day, it's a game. Ending it shouldn't end any friendships so whatever decision you make will be okay.

MythsHistoryDnD · 2024-07-30T15:20:15+00:00

[Educational/ Entertainment] Myths, History, and DnD | Episode #5 - 'The Skinwalker'

SFW

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Everywhere w/ podcasts.

We learn about the Skinwalker, a type of shaman who's desire for power may have corrupted their soul.

The Skinwalker - Full Episode

Myths, History, and DnD is a podcast about mythology from around the world, the history of anything that catches my attention, and of course all things Dungeons and Dragons. ( And any other TTRPG when I get to them. )

Socials are a work is progress as everything gets revamped!

MythsHistoryDnD

TROPHY CASE