RATS!!!

And ugly big ones at that!

My role playing group is currently experiencing a rat infestation. Recently the wizards tower they are staying in was overrun with the blighters. Fortunately for them we ran out of time for me to send in the really big guns (seen here) so they dodged a proverbial bullet.

One of the PC's did get their leg severed however and only just managed to receive enough TLC to keep them from dying. Close call.

Reaper Miniatures metal ratmen

Zombicide Rat-thing that I'm calling a Rat Troll

Anyway, this mob will be making a future appearance when the PC's least want them too. Life is short in my role playing games...

Nolzur's Marvelous D&D Goblins for role-playing

Nolzur's Marvelous unpainted D&D Miniatures

I recently switch our role playing group over to using a Grim Dark D20 rule system after having been inspired by Professor Dungeon Master on his excellent DungeonCraft YouTube channel. The players are enjoying the result and the game is moving in a far more fluid fashion. Instead of playing our entire monthly gaming session fighting a single combat we are now able to move the story forward and the game is pacing very well now. Battles are swift and deadly.

This brings me to Goblins!

Every fantasy role playing game needs at least two types of baddies. Skeletons and goblins.

I have a stack of different types of goblins. But one sub-species that I had not purchased to date were the "Pathfinder" style of goblin. I originally hated this design of critter. However over the years they have grown on me. So recently, being on leave over the Christmas / New Year break, I decided to purchase a bunch and paint them up. These are the Nolzur's Marvelous D&D Goblins. They are cheap and come base coated but otherwise unpainted.

Inspired by Professor Dungeon Master I am going to borrow his idea that this underground species doesn't have ready access to smelting and metalwork. As such their weapons and jewelry are all made from bone. This is why their wicked weapons look the colour that they do.

Given that our game is using a bespoke D20 mechanic, I have adjusted the D&D stats for these goblins to fit in with our Grim Dark setting. Again, Professor Dungeon Master has been very helpful guide here is thinking about how to adjust baddies to fit such a setting. You can see these stats below at the end of this post..

Goblin

+1 to INT and WIS rolls.

Defence: 12
Armour: 1 point (light leather)
Hit Points: 3

Weapons              Bonus to hit        Damage (average)
Large Dagger               -                  1d6 (3-4)
Small Bow                   -                  1d6 (3-4)

Special traits

• Has Advantage when sneaking, stalking or attempting to hide in darkness.
• Has Disadvantage on all actions when in bright light such as sunlight.
• Two-weapon fighting, Goblins carrying a weapon in both hands can attack twice per combat round. This second attack is in their off-hand and is at a -2 to hit.

Randalph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Randalph, first of the red-nosed reindeer

Meet Randalph (not Randolph) the villain behind the growing spate of Christmas present thefts across the frozen Northern Frontier and the subject of the near future adventure for my role playing group.

This miniature is a 28mm Frostgrave model

Randalph is the older cousin to Rudolph and was the first of the Santa Clauses reindeer to display the glowing red nose gene. His bullying by the other reindeer drove him to resent Santa Clause, whom he blames for not having passed legislation across Santa's Christmas realm to pull the other reindeer into line by imprisoning anyone who was mean to him.

When Santa Clause refused to pass such drastic legislation, Randalph accused Santa Clause of being RedNosedReindeeraphobic and fled into the Wastes surrounding the Christmas realm (also known as the Chaos Wastes). There he swore vengeance upon Santa Clause, his reindeer and all things Christmas. There within the frozen Chaos Waste, Randalph's hatred mutated him into the parody of a reindeer he is today.

Now Randalph is back. He simply cannot stand to see others enjoy Christmas and so has hatched a plan to destroy Christmas. Together with the "Christmas Holiday Gremlins" he has gathered around him, he has been systematically stealing presents on Christmas Eve in the attempt to ruin Santa Clauses reputation across the Northern Frontier.

But rumor has it that Santa Clause has recently hired an adventuring company to keep watch this Christmas Eve in order to ensure his deliveries remain delivered.

Reaper Christmas Gremlins

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Reaper Miniatures Gremlins

These little blighters are Gremlins from Reaper Miniatures. I've painted them up in Christmas colours as they will be part of a Christmas themed scenario for my role playing group. Late, I know, but as we meet once a month to play they had to finish the scenario they were currently going through before this one can be played out.

The big dude with the antlers I'll discuss in a future post.

We are playing a grim dark D20 style game so these critters have stats that match that setting. I can share them here as my role playing group doesn't read my blog, fortunately.

CHRISTMAS GREMLINS

Defense - 14                                Long Dagger - +0 to hit, 1D6 damage (aver. 4, 5), type = Puncturing
Armour - 1 point soft leather      Claws (x2) - +0 to hit, 1D3 damage (av. 3, 4), type = Slashing
Hit Points - 2

Attributes
Physical - +0 (STR, CON, DEX)
Mental - +1 (INT, WIS, CHA)

Magic (+4 to cast)
Invisibility
Magic Missile
Frostbite

Tactics
* Gremlins attack in groups, half will go invisible while the other half will use their Magic Missile in the first round of combat.
* Invisible Gremlins will sneak up on their opponents and attempt to back stab them while the other Gremlins, after casting Magic Missile, will go Invisible in the second round of combat.
* Gremlins engaged in melee combat will then be supported by other Gremlins who will use their Frostbite to attack and slow down their opponents.