Hi {name}!

In this update:

• Halloween however makes you happy
• Fey Tricks and Adventure Treats!
• Throw a handful of unique dice across the table!

(Content Trigger Warning: Loss of loved ones)

In high school, I loved horror movies. Nearly every Friday night, I was at a friend’s house with a pizza, 2-liter of Mountain Dew, and whatever B-movie grabbed our attention at the rental store if there wasn’t a new Nightmare on Elm Street or Hellraiser. Between plot holes the size of a Hellmouth and decisions by the protagonists that bring to mind a die roll instead of logic, a single movie could provide months worth of jokes.

My theater major in college encouraged my fascination with the technical aspects of productions, so I’d watch to appreciate the lighting, makeup, and special effects.

But after over two decades as a pastor, standing in hospital rooms as the inevitable moment arrived, sitting with grieving families and loved ones, and conducting hundreds of funerals, stories focused on death and dying affect me differently. Even though, because of my faith tradition as a Lutheran Christian (Happy Reformation Day to those who publicly challenge the status quo!), I believe in resurrection and eternal life, grief is still a reality no matter what you believe about the afterlife. So those stories don’t produce fear — they generate compassion and make me cry for the hurting while feeling helpless to bring any comfort.

Our life experiences affect how we approach our hobbies, especially TTRPGs. I still enjoy and write a fair amount of undead adventures, because, unlike real life, a holy smite or fireball can allow us to take revenge on death now and explore our own mortality from an outside perspective. And TTRPGs bring people together, which can help with the loneliness that often accompanies grief.

As the December holidays approach, we remember those for whom that time brings more sadness than joy, but if Halloween or other holidays are difficult for you, or you’re going through a difficult time, or diabetes, allergies, an eating disorder, other responsibilities, or social anxiety keep you from appreciating today and the coming months the way many others do, I want you to know that you’re not forgotten. You’re not alone.

I hope you can enjoy this day in a way that works for you. I hope you have a game lined up soon, dice at the ready. I’m rolling initiative with you in spirit and watching Charlie Brown in a way that makes me want to go have a talk with all of his rock-giving neighbors and sit with Linus in the pumpkin patch to play D&D to pass the time while waiting for the Great Pumpkin.

Happy Halloween, however you celebrate.

Unwrap a special treat with our latest encounter: "Tread on Me." Explore fey trickery, a unique clockwork prosthesis, and surprises around every corner. Think of the extras as the house with full-size candy bars, including 2 4K maps, VTT tokens, and a free 3D printable STL of a 🦋bunnerfly🐰. 

This encounter also includes an exclusive Andovir preview featuring an Arcanowright NPC, a class that melds skills with magic, and meet the Flutterkin, fey folk with butterfly wings. Choose your gear, knock on the door, and get ready for a tricky treat!

And if you missed our previous adventures, they’re all still available to our patrons! 2 weeks left before the legacy tiers disappear forever!

Speaking of having dice in hand, you know the “Should’ve gone for the head,” scene in Infinity War? When I first saw that, I thought, “No, should’ve gone for the arm.” And then I watched it again and realized that Dr. Strange did precisely that to someone else in the beginning of the same movie! But in most TTRPGs, there’s no way to make a called shot. If you want to lop the Hand of Vecna off of the villain, there’s no way to do that!

Our friends at Tree Bee Games have a solution — Called Shot Dice. It’s one of the best systems I’ve seen to allow characters to attempt these cinematic actions. Plus direction dice! Magic Missile Dice! Cards! And more! The Kickstarter just launched today, and there’s bonus dice if you pledge within the first 48 hours, so you’ll want to check it out before you forget!

(And Cully, in your next campaign, I want “Horror Movie Decisions” dice! Oh, wait. That would just be, “Go alone to the most dangerous available place.” That would just be a mobius strip. 😄)

Thanks for your support!

Dale