Month: June 2018

TN’s Greatest Hits: The First Physical DND Products I Reviewed

Welcome to the fourth and FINAL in my series of “Greatest Hits” posts, where I show you a bit more about my past in this mad world of Blogging, Content Creation, and so on! My aim here is to show you stuff from back when I reviewed games for another site, back when I first started Youtube, and even some of my older works from back when I started blogging a lot. I will generally be providing links to the original posts so you can go back and see a time capsule of me from back then.

You know, I got into the whole Dungeons and Dragons community online by accident, really. One night, I decided to create my Tabletop RPG 101 series in an attempt to help people figure out how to find and get into these wonderful games. I still want to go back and redo that series sometime, now that I am much wiser in the ways of the online DND World.

But what surprised me was when I offered my services to review products. I did not expect much, maybe a pdf or two, but when a small indie company reached out to me and offered me both their books in physical form, I decided to take a shot.

I wanted to call back to the two books, and share the videos on them. These were the first ever physical Tabletop Products ever sent to me for review, and honestly I am still proud with how the videos came out.

Thank you to 2c Gaming for giving a small time guy a chance. I am still small time, mind you, but thank you still. I am still curious how the new stuff is coming along as well.

First, there was the Trap Compendium:

And then, there was the TPK Handbook:

That concludes a MONTH of Greatest Hits. My past is varied, just like my life, and I hope you have enjoyed this tour of where I came from, and I hope it gives you a hint on where I am going. I might do this again, down the road, when I need another break.

I don’t know what next week will bring, but it should be interesting!

TN’s Greatest Hits: Time for some Dungeon Tales

Welcome to the third in my series of “Greatest Hits” posts, where I show you a bit more about my past in this mad world of Blogging, Content Creation, and so on! My aim here is to show you stuff from back when I reviewed games for another site, back when I first started Youtube, and even some of my older works from back when I started blogging a lot. I will generally be providing links to the original posts so you can go back and see a time capsule of me from back then.

Back when I first got started as Terminally Nerdy on Youtube, a friend approached me and asked if I wanted to do a series swapping old stories about our Tabletop RPG games, and I agreed.

That is where the infamous Blue Magic Story originated. That series. And there is an entire series of stories between me and him. I wanted to link the playlist of videos because this is one of the ways I really got started with the whole Youtube thing. I know Michael Mordor loved these, and I might try to do a few more of these in the future, should demand warrant such a thing (leave a comment here or on youtube letting me know?)

For now, I present to you:  Dungeon Tales

I also suggest you check out the video descriptions on each one as they link to my friends videos. I have no idea what happened to the old man, and I miss him.

Memories. We will always have those at least.

TN’s Greatest Hits: That Time I reviewed Guild of Dungeoneering

Welcome to the second of my “Greatest Hits” posts, where I show you a bit more about my past in this mad world of Blogging, Content Creation, and so on! My aim here is to show you stuff from back when I reviewed games for another site, back when I first started Youtube, and even some of my older works from back when I started blogging a lot. I will generally be providing links to the original posts so you can go back and see a time capsule of me from back then.

Back in 2016, before I had a falling out with the management of the site, I wrote for a small indie review site called Vox Ludicus. I had a lot of fun working with them, but differences in the way they wanted to do reviews vs the way I did them (partially because of US Law) led me to leaving the site. Sadly it doesn’t appear anyone really posts there anymore but thankfully the site is still active.

I wanted to call attention to one review on there that I was particularly proud of, of an indie roguelike where you used Cards to build a dungeon, and the AI controller the actual hero that adventured within. This game is a personal favorite of mine, and has had a few expansions released (and Android / IOS versions!) that I still think is worth a look.

Lets look at that time I reviewed Guild of Dungeoneering!

Sadly, the video portion that I included in that review is gone because I nuked that old youtube channel of mine. If you want to see the other video games I reviewed back then you can just visit THIS LINK to see the entire list.

New Spell: Barrier of Faith (Homebrew by TN)

Yes I know I am taking a vacation from Blogging but I had an idea for a custom Cleric spell, and with the help of some folks on twitter I came up with something I think is pretty cool. First, allow me to present the spell and then I will break down what I did and why!

Barrier of Faith

“By my faith, and by my grace, I shield you from harm! And should this shield be broken, our enemies will feel the wrath of my God!”

Components S, V
Range 60ft
Target 1 Creature
Duration 1 Minute, Concentration
Casting Time 1 Bonus Action
Classes Cleric

Calling upon your faith, you bathe your target in a soft glow. This barrier protects them, granting your target 15 Temporary Hit Points. Once these temporary hit points are expended, the barrier shatters, dealing 1d4 radiant damage to any enemy within 5 feet of the target. The barrier also shatters if the duration expires, and if it shatters in this way any remaining Temporary Hit Points are removed from the target and added instead to the damage. Any enemy damaged in this way may make a Charisma save for half damage. The barrier does not shatter if the caster’s Concentration is broken and instead the Temporary Hitpoints are simply lost.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or Higher, the Temporary Hit Points increase by 5 and the damage increases by 1d4 for every level, to a maximum of 55 Temporary Hit Points and 9d4 Radiant Damage using a 9th level spell slot.

So when I was coming up with this, a lot of folks brought up the Abjuration Wizards Arcane Ward, the spells False Life and Armor of Agathys, and the idea of a Barrier being Temp HP vs AC.

First, lets address the Arcane Ward feature of the Abjuration Wizard. That ward is unique in that it constantly refreshes as the Wizard casts Abjuration spells. Its not super strong, because it can be rebuilt constantly during the day. This spell takes up a spell slot, and cannot be reset without another casting, using up resources that you might wish to use for other things.

As far as False Life and Armor of Agathys, both of these spells gain 5 Temp HP per level beyond the first and can only target the caster, but most importantly, have a duration of 1 hour with NO concentration requirements. And in the case of Armor of Agathys, the damage also increases by slot level, and does not allow a save. Basically, if you hit someone with AoA active, you are taking unavoidable cold damage in response until you burn their Temp HP off.

This spell is primarily designed to “preemptive healing” rather then reactive. The idea here is to stick this on someone you dont want to take damage in the first place, and since its concentration it uses up your 1 concetration spell. The duration is also low, specifically to accomadate its use. This is also why the starting Temp HP is higher then the other options, as you have to both concentrate to keep it goes (rather then say Bless, or Spirit Guardians, or Wall of Fire, or Blade Barrier ect ect) and it only lasts 10 rounds in combat max.

The idea for this came from my desire to basically recreate the bubbles from games like World of Warcraft, and when someone suggested Temp HP I knew that would work real well. The damage at most can reach 91 points of damage, and thats assuming that you use a 9th level spell slot, AND the person with the spell on them never takes a single point of damage, AND you last 10 rounds in combat without the barrier breaking OR your concentration being busted, AND roll max on 9d4. And of course that the targets dont make the Charisma Save. I chose Charisma vs say Dex as you are not really dodging a burst of light, but rather trying to avoid the pure power of Faith striking you in retribution for breaking the barrier. Its a thematic choice.

So there you go, my second ever “homebrew” custom created content. Look at that. The only other thing I have done is create those Sorcerer Bloodline Bonus spells. This was kind of fun to hash out, and if you decide to let your players have access to this spell let me know how it goes. It does need testing to see if it works in the way I think it will.  It has been suggested to up the damage to 1d8 per spell level but that seems kind of nuts.

Also, can you imagine a Divine Soul Sorcerer Twin Spell casting this at like 7th level on two frontlight fighters? Oh man that would be baller….

I need to ask my DM if I can use this on my Divine Soul!

TN’s Greatest Hits: The Worst Book I have Ever Read

Welcome to the first of my “Greatest Hits” posts, where I show you a bit more about my past in this mad world of Blogging, Content Creation, and so on! My aim here is to show you stuff from back when I reviewed games for another site, back when I first started Youtube, and even some of my older works from back when I started blogging a lot. I will generally be providing links to the original posts so you can go back and see a time capsule of me from back then.

Today I want to link to a review I did, back when I was into reviewing such things. This is a review of what is, quite literally, the worst written thing I have ever encountered. The author was also highly upset that I did not bother to force myself to finish his…work….but my time is way too valuable, even then, to deal with such trite nonsense.

I want to be clear before ya click the link that back when I write this I was a much different person, and a whole lot angrier.

I present to you, the first of my Greatest Hits: The Spirit Collectors

Oh and the book itself is gorgeous but you can’t judge a book by its cover, ya know?

Terminally Nerdy is Taking a Break

Yea, you read that right. I started this journey nearly 2 years ago (August 2016) as a Youtuber. I lasted a 15 months as a weekly youtuber, before switching over to mostly writing with the occasional video.

For these past 22 months…I have been nearly weekly the entire time. At the start, it was bi weekly, then weekly for a Long Time, then mostly weekly. On occasion these past few months I have skipped weeks but for the most part I have managed a blog post or video every week.

And let me tell you something: I AM TIRED.

22 months = about 95 weeks. Thats…a lot of content. Sometimes I would post even MORE then weekly, depending on my mood. Sometimes I would stream. All those on top of a 40 hour a week full time job? And now an effective 60 hour a week job (when ya include my commute) and no vacation from EITHER THING?

Its tiring. Just…tiring. I am running on empty and honestly I have been for a long time.

So for June, I am going to do things a little different. You see, I got a ton of stuff on Youtube and from my writing past that you all have most likely never seen. A lot of my readers / supporters are fairly new to me in fact.

So for June, we are going to do a “Greatest Hits”. I am going to queue up some videos, some old articles, ect, and repost them here for you guys to read and enjoy. Starting this Wednesday! And myself?

I am going to play games, spend time with friends, and try to catch up on my hideous backlog of games and products to review. But mostly?

I am going to rest.

Hopefully when July hits I will be raring to go again with renewed energy. Assuming my day job doesnt murder me.

Thanks for being here, for reading, and always remember: Get those Crits, Take those Hits, Keep Pushing Through and remember to STAY NERDY.