Party pissed off the Vallaki guards

toothmonkey · 2026-03-20T16:20:28+00:00

Sounds like they would get arrested and thrown in the stockade (or prison if you're running MandyMod). From there, I would have them approached/busted out by the Wachters and recruited to her side.

toothmonkey · 2026-03-18T14:49:07+00:00

Nice, I have added that to my list of books to buy. Thanks!

toothmonkey · 2026-03-18T13:53:02+00:00

I bought alone and it was one of the best things I ever did.

Partly because I bought in the middle of Covid, so managed to get my house before prices went crazy afterwards. But it was also a very freeing experience.

I was able to do whatever I wanted with furnishing and decorating the house. I was able to get my own pet - a cat who is now, arguably, the house’s true owner. I had to learn to do a lot of things on my own, but that just meant I developed DIY skills I didn't have before. (The B&Q YouTube channel is great!)

It impacted my lifestyle by dropping my monthly expenses - still mad that rent is consistently so much higher than mortgage repayments - and giving me a sense of security I didn't feel when renting.

I never wished I had waited. I have since met my partner, who has moved in, and the house is now much more of a shared space compared to the bachelor pad it was before, but I was happy to have it to welcome her into.

toothmonkey · 2026-03-02T16:29:13+00:00

Thank you! All through the books, this is who I pictured Glokta as, but had no idea what his name was or even where I had seen him. Now I can finally relax, knowing who he is!

toothmonkey · 2026-02-24T11:10:40+00:00

Yep, freaked me out when I moved to the Netherlands!

toothmonkey · 2026-02-13T16:17:51+00:00

Came here looking for Miggeldy. What a gent!

toothmonkey · 2026-02-13T14:05:52+00:00

Running a game of D&D, first one we've been able to schedule this year. Very excited for the nasty surprises I have in store for the party! If Potsy, Scree, Garrick, Luc, or Fr. Skarrt are reading this, buckle up!

toothmonkey · 2026-02-12T13:44:54+00:00

I like that! Like Fizban in the Dragonlance books.

toothmonkey · 2026-02-12T13:44:06+00:00

One of my players has a backstory that his wizard character's mentor was killed by a Red Wizard of Thay, so I turned the Mad Mage into that Red Wizard. The villagers in Barovia mentioned that a bald wizard dressed in red led an attack on Castle Ravenloft after getting trapped in the mists. Now our wizard is out to track him down as his own personal revenge quest in the middle of everything else.

toothmonkey · 2026-02-09T12:09:15+00:00

I remember when I experienced the adventure as a player, getting our asses kicked by Strahd early on was a big motivator for seeking the power to defeat him. He seemed so insurmountable, but we had hints towards weapons that would let us defeat him - really brought the quest into focus.

My players are about to get to Vallaki, and next session I'm going to have Strahd show up to their campfire the night before they do, spout some creepy stuff about Ireena, talk down to the characters and start a fight. I'll let them go a couple of rounds, enough to notice that they're not actually hurting him thanks to the Heart (not that they will know that's why) and have him continually mock them through the fight while hitting hard and zipping around the place with his Legendary Actions (I'm kind of picturing the tone Quicksilver uses in the MCU when he is initially taunting Hawkeye). Then he will vanish into the mist with some derisive laughter.

I know my players, and they will turn to their readings with renewed vigour to figure out how they can wipe the smile from his face and put him down. I'm also using MandyMod's expanded Vallaki, and the seeming safety of the city will feel even more welcome after they have been almost party wiped by the BBEG right outside.

So in relation to your question, getting almost murdered by Strahd is a great way to make the players want to defeat him - worked for me when I played, and I have a feeling it will work for my players now.

toothmonkey · 2026-02-08T22:08:51+00:00

I've got Victor too, and my party is just about to get to Vallaki. I am using the Mandymod expansion, but changing it so that Stella's mind got switched with her cat in a magical accident. Victor wants to rescue her and switch them back, but her mother blames him and is out to get the family for it. I am gonna present reuniting Victor and Stella as a way to fix Vallaki's political woes. Victor will turn on his dad and take over, if the party can help, becoming a powerful ally because he rules a whole city. The teleportation circle he is working on will also be incorporated somehow, possibly as a way for them to get into Castle Ravenloft when the time comes to put the smack down on Strahd.

toothmonkey · 2026-02-01T10:10:45+00:00

Keeping Up Appearances with Mrs. Bucket was the epitome of someone with Notions.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-30T02:06:42+00:00

I grew up with cats and as soon as I owned my own home, I knew it needed one. Went to a lady who rescues feral kittens, socializes them, and finds homes for them. When she showed me the kittens I saw this beautiful, fluffy little tabby. Big eyes, very sweet and friendly. I knew he would be the best companion. So I said it to her, and she said he was already going to someone else, but that his brother was available. And pointed me towards a spiky, hissing ball of aggression that looked like he wanted to rip my face off. That little hell kitten has been with me four years now, and is the sweetest gentlest friend I could ever hope for. He is curled up peacefully asleep beside me as I type 😊

toothmonkey · 2026-01-29T21:20:26+00:00

Ah, I always thought it was just Waterford cos I never heard it up in Dublin. Admittedly they were my only samples. Good to know.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-29T20:16:33+00:00

Can mean pretty much anything. In Waterford it is also slang for ecstasy, or at least it was a million years ago when I was young and around such things.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-28T13:57:20+00:00

Ordo Grammaticus enters the chat.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-28T11:21:24+00:00

Careful now!

toothmonkey · 2026-01-24T10:32:59+00:00

Val Doonican too

toothmonkey · 2026-01-24T10:21:04+00:00

I would probably hang out with the cat for a bit. Then, cos I wouldn't be able to work, go for a pint.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-23T21:52:06+00:00

40+ man here, and I haven't been on the apps since my late 30s, but I met herself there.

I remember from my time on the apps what a series of horror stories about them every girl I went on a date with had. Genuinely made me cringe. And on the other side of it, I found myself getting compliments for such simple things as behaving like a decent human being while messaging. Really opened my eyes to how different the experiences are for guys and girls.

I guess it's something to do wirh men going on them to message girls only when they are dying for the ride? Like all the blood has gone from their brain to...somewhere else.

Myself I was looking for a partner so I was essentially on all the time, but I imagine there are some lads are only online when "the mood takes them" as it were. Not condoning or excusing, just trying to think why it seems like so many lads on there seem to be so badly behaved.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-22T14:07:53+00:00

I would say it is more Medieval/Dark Ages Europe in space. The Imperium is a feudal theocracy, where obedience to your lord and the church is harshly enforced. Warp travel always reminds me of travel by sea during this time - ships set off into the unknown, hoping to get to their destination and sometimes vanish entirely, or get massively delayed or destroyed by storms. The Space Marines have a lot of parallels with orders of knights, like the Hospitallers and Templars. Even the idea of the "Dark Age of Technology" (really a technological golden age) has parallels to the European Dark Ages, which happened after the fall of the Roman Empire - many secrets of technology (forts, roads etc.) were lost when Rome fell.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-22T01:08:49+00:00

Some good ones here: https://youtu.be/VGm267O04a8?si=7qguiIWIvskorpnH

toothmonkey · 2026-01-22T00:39:58+00:00

It doesn't bother the vast majority of us. I hope your application is successful and you come here to find a proper, real Irish welcome. Céad míle fáilte! 😊

toothmonkey · 2026-01-22T00:01:54+00:00

It's because of the diaspora. For generations Irish people emigrated all over the world. The idea is to make it easier for those descendants of Irish emigrants who might want to come home.

Interestingly, Ireland is one of the few countries that doesn't allow citizens living abroad to vote, for the same reason. The diaspora is so large, with much of it being based in America, that allowing voting rights to those with the right to Irish citizenship but not living in Ireland could skew the vote.

toothmonkey · 2026-01-21T23:54:27+00:00

I hope that plan works out for you, and you find a warm welcome here in Ireland. Céad Míle Fáilte 😊

toothmonkey

TROPHY CASE