GenCon 2012!

Here's what I was doing end of last week and beginning of this week...in case you were worried.


The bad: Surprise, surprise! The hotel and accommodations again were less than spectacular and extremely overpriced. I got slammed with a valet parking bill that was added to my bill daily for $28.00 per day. Holy crap. Lesson learned the hard way again. Oh, well.

Hey, that's my book!

hey, that's my name!

The good: Everything else!

What can I say? Awesome. That’s what.

I had an incredible time! Aside from my hotel bill…again…which I cannot seem to do anything about.

I met some amazingly interesting people that I must say were very cool. I met Jason Klimchok, (@runnetib on twitter) a fellow author who found me in Author’s Avenue and introduced himself. Very cool of him to seek me out and say hello. Mr. Erik Scott de Bie, he of the Forgotten Realms fame (game designer and author) and Shadowbane fame, made his way over to my table to chat before he went off to sign books himself in the D&D booth. I also had breakfast on Sunday with Mr. De Bie, which I will detail a bit later.

I met and introduced myself to Jeanette LeGault who runs the whole thing and who was responsible for getting me in this year. She was very kind and spared time even though she was constantly busy.

my table at GENCON 2012

Special kudos to my son, who was with me all four days (way to go, Nick!) and who endured the 10+ hour drive both up and back with me. We had a great time bonding, which I will treasure always. Nick was awesome as my ‘booth monkey’ as he so eloquently put it.

I met fellow author Chris Jackson (@ChrisAJackson1 on twitter) and his wife (Anne, I believe) and they were very nice to me as well. I sat across the way from Tammy Blackwell, a librarian and fellow author who is writing an incredibly popular coming of age series about Seers and Werewolves, which I would check out. She can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Tammy-Blackwell/e/B005A9B3XO. Tammy was also kind enough to gift a copy of her book to my wife, who I believe will enjoy it. 

I also gave some books away to librarians, interested book bloggers and a young woman who gave me this 'token of appreciation'.

my token of appreciation

Some of the people that I met come to mind when I write this that made an impact. I met a British fella named Adam that I really enjoyed talking to. Another long-haired college kid I chatted with a few times made an impression, though I cannot remember his name. A woman named Jeanette who purchased the books was extremely nice and she came back to snap a pic of me the next day (very flattering...I think?). I met a couple who chatted with me about Pathfinder for about an hour named Blake? he and his wife are inspiring me to possibly make a Realm of Ashenclaw RPG supplement for Pathfinder... might be coming.

Here are the best two experiences. I met a man named Tony Rodriguez who wanted the books and purchased them from me on Saturday and had me sign them to his son, Alex. He happened to bring Alex in on Sunday and he was happy to meet me, told me he’d read up to chapter 6 that morning and was loving it. Wow! That made my day. And it got better. The second was a man named Scott, who had downloaded Wothlondia Rising: The Anthology (The short story prequels) to his kindle. He went out of his way to come back on Sunday morning to tell me that he was 94% through the book and thought it was amazing…and that he had downloaded the other two books that morning!

I was again completely humbled by their expressions of how I had affected two different people in such a great way. I felt honored that they had chosen me and my writing in order to escape from reality. I was honored that they both entered into my Realm of Ashenclaw with open arms and with an open mind. I cannot express in words how that makes me feel as an author and a human being.

So, on to my breakfast meeting with Erik Scott De Bie on Sunday. I must tell you that it was a tale of mishaps and odd misunderstandings as Erik and I exchanged texts as to where to meet, but after an hour, we finally caught up at a Starbucks there. Interestingly enough, Erik is a rather tall and imposing individual and carries himself very well in conversation. That being said, Erik and I talked about many things. The most memorable to me was his advice. He gave me some constructive criticisms, advice on becoming a better writer and talked to me as a peer. I cannot tell you what his respect means. He not only gave me the critique, but he also made a point to give me the good news, and I am paraphrasing, but, it included the following: My covers were eye-catching and consistent, my branding and logo (Realm of Ashenclaw) was extremely professional and most importantly, that my writing was compelling. He went out of his way to say that I was passionate about my work, that he thought I was on to something and that he was happy to see what I was able to do as an independent author.

All of this was extremely humbling to hear from an author who works for Ed Greenwood and Dungeons & Dragons. After we parted ways, I went back to my booth for the last day and Erik stopped back one more time to gift me a copy of an anthology that he had contributed on for GenCon, which was above and beyond. I highly recommend any fans of fantasy to check him out and follow his writing, as I believe he is worthy of being included in the Forgotten Realms gaggle of writers.

Go buy his stuff! Erik’s site is here if you are interested in seeing what he is up to. http://erikscottdebie.com/

Well, that about wraps up my details. Next post will include pics of all of the scenes and costumes that I was able to get! Stay tuned.

Oh, and all of my books are currently resting at 99 cents on the kindle for a post-GENCON sale! Go download 'em before I come to my senses and raise the price...lol. 

 Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

GENCON--Here I come!

The table banner...and Buster

That's right! I will be in Author's Alley in Indianapolis August 16-19th for GENCON 2012, introducing my product and the Realm of Ashenclaw to the masses. And I am dragging my son along as well. Of course, he wants to go to get his newest R.A. Salvatore book signed by the man himself as well as to help his old man, but I'll take it! I am hoping to run into many of you there, and if we have corresponded on social media, please stop by and introduce yourself! I am already planning on meeting some people there and am so excited to get together and chat with folks.

my paperbacks

I am also excited to not only be surrounded by that many gamers, but also to be around other independent authors, artists and creative people that will no doubt be there selling and talking about their own projects. And I cannot wait to see the tables of swords, armor, gaming products and whatever else they are preparing this year. The room last year was about the size of a city block!

This is just one of several pics of the vendor room.

I very much look forward to meeting and speaking with you all there and hope that you stop by to say hello! Please feel free to comment on this post and tell me if you are going!

See you in Indy!

 Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Realm of Ashenclaw 4e D&D RPG Supplement

Continuing our weekly theme regarding the many talents of William Kenney, I wanted to inform my readers—especially the gamers—that we have a Realm of Ashenclaw 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game supplement available in PDF form. We are also working on a print version which should be available shortly. They can be found on RPGNOW with both Quick and Full Size Previews!

William did all of the artwork within and most of it can be seen here on my ART PAGE. More of Williams’s artwork can be seen on his Deviant Art Page.

High Council Members: Nimaira, Rolin & Tiyarnon

Myself, Nicholas and Elizabeth Titano and Tom Sallustio worked very hard on this supplement and I hope it is received well. It includes 2  NEW CLASSES in the Heroic Tier as well as 5 NEW THEMES! It is only listed for a measly $5.99 (an absolute steal!) and includes a map, all of the artwork and descriptions of every main region in Wothlondia, including the fabled 5 cities! It is 90 pages of brand new material, with each city or feature having an ‘At a Glance’ feature with which any DM can use to spur on a storyline. We encourage any gamers to check it out, regardless of what version of the game you play just to take advantage of the story hubs that may result from the Atlas of Wothlondia chapter.

We will be doing updates here and on my website in the future if anyone wants more information and will also be tackling a 5th edition supplement as time and licensing permit. With that being said, please enjoy the supplement and as always, I would love comments and feedback!

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All artwork provided by William Kenney

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Roll Playing vs. Role Playing?

First of all...Happy New Year everyone!

Secondly, the winner of the 'How much would you pay for an eBook' poll was by far the $2.99 to $7.99 slot with 61% of the vote and the $8.99 to $12.99 slot coming in second with 29% of the vote. Just in case anyone was following and wanted to know the results!

Thirdly, I have a new subject for you to discuss for you RPG gamers out there--Roll Playing vs. Role Playing! Here we go...

Is there room for both in your game? I think so. I have often asked myself if the game master or dungeon master of your RPG can satisfy both. After much consideration, I have concluded that with the right preparation, yes, it can be done. I would always first and foremost cater to what your players want to do with regards to play style. Do they enjoy hack and slash, puzzles, role-playing, problem solving, etc? You as the referee of the game would know this best if you play with friends. I as the GM/DM would often find that I wanted my players to get involved with the storyline one way or the other before unleashing any type of combat on them as I believe that a firm understanding of a specific goal is important--especially if you spend a good deal of time preparing something for them to enjoy. I feel that any of us can cater to his or her players’ desires for the most part, while still being able to fit them into the environment or setting that you envisioned.

I have played with players that enjoy both the role-playing aspect and the combat of the game. The majority of my players have enjoyed the combat the most. They want to put themselves into the role of hero and save the day, using their swords and sorcery to down the evil-doers. And who doesn’t? It is what drew me to comic books, sci-fi/fantasy novels and role-playing games in the first place….

There are also a good amount of players who want to solve the puzzles or riddles or who want to be the ones who solve the mystery set upon them in order to go through a passageway or advance further into a dungeon. There are also tests that can put players into a situation where they have to figure out what makes a creature/villain tick or what his/her/it's weakness might be in order to resolve the issues.

These tests can be a good deal of fun as well and I implore any of you gamers out there to try to experience them all. All of it is designed for one thing that I think we can all agree on: no matter what school you hail from, games are designed to give you an escape from reality and to share some time with friends or with people of like mind. So, no matter what game you play, no matter what genre you play in and no matter what style you choose, make sure you are having fun!
 
As always, please feel free to share your thoughts with us and comment on what kind of games, play style or genres you enjoy most! I look forward to your posts. Have a great week everyone!

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

Photo from Stock.xchng.

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.

Class-Naming Contest for D&D RPG Supplement!

Elec by William Kenney

In the Realm of Ashenclaw novels, Elec Stormwhisper is a high elf with a mastery of alchemical skills. He transmutes plants and herbs into medicinal balms, healing elixirs and for the most part, combat-augmenting potions! In the stories, he quaffs them, one after the other, adding one effect after the other. He has spent years studying them and has perfected the combinations, taking them as far as he can. He uses them to add artificial and temporary boosts to his strength and speed, compensating a bit for his lack of natural raw martial prowess. He also uses the healing mixtures as a preemptive tactic, downing certain combinations that allow him to effectively begin the healing process from the inside out.

Elec by Justine Babcock

When naming the class, we came up with several different tentative names. He is a striker class that uses alchemical potions to enhance his combat and grant him certain effects. His alchemical unions grant him either a speed or strength augmentation as a class in 4th edition D&D.

The first working name was a simple one called the Alchemical Warrior. Then the Alchemic Warrior followed. After a brief research into alchemy, we were using another one called the Hermetic Warrior, based on the definition of hermetic: of, pertaining to, or characteristic of occult science, especially alchemy. Then there was the name Alchemystic, which was thrown about as well. Some of us liked some names, others likes different ones. 

What would you name this class if it was yours?

First off, let me know if you like one of the names listed above.

If we decide to use your suggestion, you will be given credit in the supplement; you will receive a signed hardcover of Covenant of the Faceless Knights and be given a free copy of the RPG supplement once it becomes available!


Good luck and I am really looking forward to seeing some creativity here! Let the naming begin!

 See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

Photo from Stock.xchng.

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.

Photo by Alexandre Jaeger Vendruscolo.  Elec sketches by William Kenney and Justine Babcock.

Realm of Ashenclaw Bestiary: Tyrantians!

In September, we gave you a taste of our first unique race in the Realm of Ashenclaw setting--The Slagfell Dwarves! 

As of late, I have been working with my creative partner, Nicholas Titano of Infernal Titans, and we have finalized a second creature for the Realm of Ashenclaw bestiary!

The face of Wothlondia is sometimes infested with creatures of magical origin, undead or demons from the depths of Pandemonium or simply monsters native to Krotto that have wandered the lands for centuries.

A mysterious race of creatures exists here that are of unknown origin and are fierce and deadly, tearing through towns and villages with emotionless hunger. Allow Ashenclaw Studios, LLC. to introduce to you...the Tyrantians!

(And just in time for Halloween, too!)

Tyrantians~

These creatures of unknown origin have chitinous hides and appear in various parts of the realm, usually seen emerging from underground caverns. They appear to be as giant insects of some kind. Speculation continues as to whether or not they are supernatural, magical or simply giant insects that have somehow mutated. They can appear very differently in color, texture, appearance and have varying types of attacks which have not all been documented thoroughly. Wothlondian scholars and researchers understand without question that they have many weapons at their disposal. One thing in common is that they all seem able to spew a venomous toxin that often ends with deadly results.

Tyrantian Skimmer  as depicted by William J. Kenney

There have been at least four types of known Tyrantians spotted. First are the most common of the creatures, often seen moving across the face of Wothlondia, sometimes in droves. These are called Tyrantian Crawlers, with two sets of arms. One set are spear-like appendages that end in vicious points while the second pair of arms have finger-like digits—three and a thumb—which they use to grab their prey. They have jaws with sharp teeth which can tear flesh quite easily. They also reportedly can leap to begin their assault, attempting to impale or ground their opponents beneath them at the onset of their attack. The crawlers have been known to release a poison with their bite if the victim remains held for more than a few seconds.

Secondly are the Tyrantian Worms, which appear to tunnel up from below the ground, using their huge gaping maws and mandibles that surround the jaw to attack their prey. They are able to inject venom from their tail stingers. Tyrantian Worms do not possess any discernible eyes.

Tyrantian Crawler by William J Kenney

The third variant of the creatures is called the Tyrantian Skimmer. This fierce insect can be seen flying low to the ground and moving at incredible speeds, despite their size. These creatures fly past their victims, using a spear-like stinger to inject the victim with a poison that will spread through the body and eventually melt the victim, if the stinger doesn't kill the victim outright.

Finally, the last known creature is called Tyrantian Larvae. These creatures are about the size of a small dog and hop along the floor at a fast pace. The few reports from victims that have seem them and survived claim that upon killing a larva, the creature explodes and an acidic poison is said to burst from the corpse. It explodes in a small radius and melts flesh and bone in mere seconds.

Tyrantians can be found in varying sizes with the largest ones rumored to be bigger than ogres. One eyewitness claims to have seen one of the Tyrantian Worms emerge from beneath his small farm to swallow a pair of cows whole before disappearing, leaving nothing but a gaping hole in its wake.

No one knows where these creatures come from and speculation is that unknown types of Tyrantian have yet to be discovered.

All of the Tyrantians can be found in varying sizes with the largest ones rumored to be bigger than ogres. One eyewitness claims to have seen one of the Tyrantian Worms emerge from beneath his small farm to swallow a pair of cows whole before disappearing, leaving nothing but a gaping hole in its wake.

Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers by William J. Kenney

Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Infernal Titans Battlemaps

I know that fantasy novels and gaming go hand in hand, so I have decided to plug my friend's business who makes Battlemaps for any RPG. They are the 1" square maps that we all have seen if we play any type of table top RPG.

Since I had some traffic coming here from other gaming sites and blogs, I wanted to re-post something here for Nick about his Battlemaps, especially since I talked about them last week here. So. without further ado, here is the post and the link to Infernal Titans TWITTER, BLOG and RPGNOW spot!

 *****

I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with. 

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics.

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers

I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with.

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics. 

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers!

*************

I've got poster maps for sale on my website. We're doing a pre-print sale to see what kind of interest there is in the community. Four full color 36"x24" battlemaps for $10. They'll be available at that price until we go to print. I know I want more battle maps, hopefully many of you do also.

Check out the pics in my photos for a preview, and check out the website HERE

*****

Thanks all for checking this out and I will see you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted. 

Which version of D&D do you play?

I was going to do a post about different gaming attractions and such, but then I decided to break it down into different versions of Dungeons & Dragons specifically. Reason being is that I have several friends who play older versions of Dungeons and Dragons as well as the more current 3.0, 3.5 and 4^th editions as well as the DDO MMORPG. (Eberron? Really?!)

I have been staying current, albeit reluctantly at first, as I generally fear change! Actually, not really, but, I saw no good reason to move forward as I thought that 3^rd edition was pretty good and advanced D&D as far as it could go. I may have been right! Current 4^th edition D&D is a far cry from your older versions and really mirrors the feel of an MMORPG, which I assume it feels as its competition.

Again, these are my opinions, so feel free to disagree. I love a good debate.

I think each of the versions has 'good' and 'bad' characteristics and I wanted to touch on a few of the good and bad. Let me preface also by adding that I think all of them have their place and they are meant for you to have fun in whatever form that may take.

Older versions of D&D were fun, simplistic and a bit generic. Role-playing was the key as well as the imagination of the DM and players both. Managing your inventory is another factor as it added a ‘realistic’ quality to the game. I personally did not enjoy this as I felt it detracted from the overall game-play and felt more like homework than actual fun! In addition, I felt that there was nothing heroic about an average guy picking up a sword and shield to go adventuring—it’s just silly. Add in the fact that all classes were basically the same. (ie. all characters have the same statistics, hit points, etc, like your fighter is made in a production line like a car or a piece of equipment), detracted from it further as more modern versions became available. But, it was an older representation and sometimes classic is the way to go. It was very dependent upon the story and the environment to move the game along. I personally enjoy the character that I play and want him to be a bit more…heroic? But, I digress--to each his own--que sera sera.

Third edition was pretty unique in that it diversified from the norm and really brought old school D&D into the modern age. It felt like an amazing leap in game mechanics while still keeping the familiar names, spells and abilities we all knew and loved. You could custom build your fighter, rogue, barbarian, etc. so that he or she was different from the others. Multi-classing, prestige classes and customizations were its strengths. Third edition was also ground-breaking in that they opened the game up to the community and made it essentially an open-source product (think Linux) which enhances the overall game experience as the consumer has a vested interest in the end product. However, as supplements became more and more available, power-gaming eventually put an end to this version and the market was saturated with over-the-top classes/variations/prestige classes. Sometimes, we experienced that a player accidentally created an overpowered character! Yikes! 

In 4^th edition, I kind of miss the skill selection or separation as I think they may have lumped too many of the individual skills into one overall skill. That being said, simplification has its place, I suppose. DM’ing has seriously gotten easier, encounters can be extremely easy to prepare and balance and the monsters are quite easy to manage now. As opposed to third edition where a significant monster may have two pages of spells, abilities and powers of which would send your head spinning when it was the monsters turn to go! Balance I think is the key to 4^th edition and it is very clear that they wanted combat to be very gripping and encapsulating to the point of making the battles a bit more epic. It certainly has become a tabletop game for the most part.

I have also heard grumblings on the internet that 4^th edition loses the RP feel, which I disagree with totally. This is completely up to your DM as it is his or her job to add that element. I have also heard that 4^th edition isn’t deadly enough. Wrong again…I have gotten my derriere handed to me several times and have been in one TPK (total Party Kill.) It was vicious! 

I am the DM! Whatever I say-goes!

All in all, I think you can take each framework of the game and add whatever style you like to it as they all have their own charm and ambiance. The bottom lines is that we are having fun, exploring dungeons and slaying dragons…After all, this is what it’s all about!

My question to you is: What version do you like best and why?

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.  

Races of Ashenclaw: Slagfell Dwarves

I have decided to share a few things that will probably be in a supplement of some kind sooner or later describing races that are unique to the Realm of Ashenclaw. So, without further ado, I give to you a sub-race of dwarves called...

Slagfell Dwarves~

This once common subrace of dwarves is referred to as slagfell dwarves by the populace of Wothlondia. They are pale-skinned dwarves that have descended far beneath the earth in search of treasures. They showed an exceptionally powerful greed, even for dwarves, and willingly plunged deeper into the subterrane a thousand years ago and remain there today, embracing it as their home.

They are completely obsessed with treasure and feel shunned by their brethren, the common dwarves, who actively scolded them, thinking them unwise to dangerously pursue their deepest of desires in the first place. The slagfell have spent many centuries beneath the earth’s surface and have slightly mutated to adjust. They have adapted to the darkness and the lack of sunlight over the last hundred years, evolving their nightvision into something keener, while at the same time, are extremely sensitive to the rays of the sun.

Their bodies are similar to the dwarves, but their skin has turned pale and grey in color. They are also slightly less stocky than the common dwarves found on Wothlondia as their diet is more restrictive, which lends itself to a more natural maneuverability and agility instead.

Slagfell brand themselves, mostly on their heads and necks and chest, which represents a family hierarchy or rank within their own clan. The more markings they have, the higher rank they are. This is an accepted and well known feature amongst their own kind.

Shadowmere is the premier city of the Slagfell Clan and harbors the most of their kind, ruled by King Dolgrath Bloodstone. There are further offshoots of Clan Shadowmere and speculation from King Dolgrath is that he believes several of them defected decades ago, but none have been seen since. As far as he knows, they could be anywhere.

Shadowmere is a large civilization hidden deep within the subterrane of the Dragon Fangs Mountains, where there are many dark and deadly dangers that would end a surface folk’s life very quickly. The city is vast and well-protected, surrounded by hundreds of areas, rich with ore for mining and all within several miles of the city. It is located deep within the subterrane on its lowest levels and is essentially dull and dreary, as they avoid reflective surfaces.


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my home page to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

(Photos from Stock.XCHANG) 

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted. 

Interview with an Avid D&D Gamer

 

 A very good friend of mine is a HUGE Dungeons and Dragons gamer. He has played since 1987 to present. He has played alongside your truly as well, but most of the time without. That being said, I wanted to do a brief interview for all of you gamers and D&D players who have played over the years and thought it would be cool to ask him a few questions. He was kind enough to take the time to answer my questions.

The interview is with Nicholas Titano of Infernal Titans, a company that he established this year in an attempt to provide gaming maps (at first) to the gaming community as he felt there were very few to choose from. Check his website out here...go now! And then come back here to see what Nick had to say!

We here at INFERNAL TITANS have been avid gamers for over two decades and as such, have had our finger on the pulse of the gaming community the entire time. Being mindful of your income, our goal is to not only provide the gaming community with quality products at an affordable price, but to satisfy what our own players have been clamoring for in the past few years: new gaming products! We strive to produce the highest quality role playing supplements that we can and look forward to producing many more in the future. These products are the first in a line of what we hope will be MANY products that make your game (and ours) a more enjoyable experience.

INFERNAL TITANS

What drew you to Dungeons & Dragons?

I was always a fan of swashbuckling sword and sorcery stories. My favorite toys as a child were the castle themed Lego sets, and anything Star Wars. So Dungeons & Dragons was a natural progression.

What is the most important element of the game in your opinion?

The social element. Dungeons & Dragons is inherently a group activity, if you don't like the people you play with, you are not going to enjoy yourself.

Did anyone ever ask you if you won or lost a game of Dungeons & Dragons?

Yes, on several occasions. It's usually a waste of time to try to explain the game to them, so I usually just say "Yes, yes I did."

How would you attract new gamers in the video game age?

Make a video game. If the game accurately simulates the tabletop experience, that would generate interest in the tabletop game. Then couple the video game experience with an in depth online community that caters to the video gamers, and the tabletop gamers. Thereby creating an interconnected community of gamers.

Making the game more dynamic, accessible, and user friendly is also a good idea.

What do you like best as a player in Dungeons & Dragons?

Being a part of a team. I generally lean towards characters that fill more of a supporting role when I play.

What do you like best in the role of Dungeon Master in Dungeons & Dragons?

Creating memorable experiences for my friends.

Why do you still play after 20+ years of playing?

Because I still enjoy it. As I grow and change, so does the game. That's the beauty of a tabletop RPG, it can be anything you want it to be. There are no constraints.

What is your favorite edition of Dungeons & Dragons?

4th edition is my favorite. Its elegant mechanics are far easier to work with than any previous edition. At the same time it brings back the feelings I had as a 12 year old back in 1987 paging through the old Red Box Basic Edition- "Anything is possible in this world".

What is your most memorable event in Dungeons & Dragons as either a player or a Dungeon Master?

 

Surprisingly my most memorable events occur away from the table, as opposed to at it. The fact that my wife named her cat after an NPC from one of my campaigns is awesome. Obviously that campaign, and that NPC in particular, had a profound impact on her. That's just one of many. My players remembered minute details about a minor NPC whose purpose was purely comic relief. The party was close to Epic levels, so I figured one of the "famous" heroes should have a stalker. They remembered that his "spirit companion" (The PC he is stalking is a 4E shaman) was a plush badger attached to a string. Things like that stand out to me more than anything specific that happens at the table.

What do you think of the internet wars of Pathfinder vs. Dungeons & Dragons?

I don't, and neither should anyone else. Internet "Wars" are a waste of time.

Nick can be reached here:

customerservice@infernaltitans.com

Oh, before I forget, go like Nick's facebook page found here. It is so easy! Follow the link here, click the 'Like' button! It is super simple!Thanks in advance for you assumed compliance and cooperation in this matter. :-)

NICK'S FACEBOOK PAGE

Also, I would encourage any of you who are interested to take one of the questions, copy it and paste your answer in the comments!

See you in Wothlondia! (And maybe at the gaming table!) Cheers!

Please visit: www.ashenclaw.com to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.