February 2013 – Paul's Notepad

D&D 4e Summary – Game Session 2

Paul Darr / 2013-02-25 / Leave a Comment

So after clearing the ambush from the road, the group decided to patrol out to scout out the location of the Kobold Lair.

The patrol ran into some guards along the river and quickly set to subduing them.

After several accidental kills you finally managed to capture one Kobold Guard. On the negative side one Kobold got away to warn someone named Iron Tooth. After some quick questioning you were able to determine that Iron Tooth was a Goblin which led the Kobolds inside. You also found out that there is a dragon burial site near bye where more kobolds are stationed. You discovered a sacred circle outside and discovered some treasure on the bodies of the fallen kobolds. This amounted to 4 GP 17 SP, another dragon scale and a +1 Hide Armor. The group decided to rest a while to prepare for a full assault. While sleeping the Shawna and Kitsune placed traps on either side of the waterfall.

After resting the group began the assault with a bang. Alchemist fire was tossed in and while it did not randomly cause damage, it did help provide some light in the chambers. The group rushed in and fought hard, eventually defeating Iron Tooth and his Kobold allies. In the aftermath of the battle several pieces of treasure and clues were found. On the Kobolds were found 12 GP and 48 SP. On Iron Tooth a chain shirt and battle axe (worth selling).

Iron Tooth also had a letter which said:

“My spy in Winterhaven suggests we keep an eye out for visitors to the area. It probably does not matter; in just a few more days, I’ll completely open the rift. We need just one more artifact from the dragon burial site. Then Winterhaven’s people will serve as food for all those Lord Orcus sends to do my bidding.”

You also found a treasure chamber which held 420 GP and a +1 Suit of Dwarven Chain Mail.

+1 Dwarven Chain Mail: This magic armor (value 520 gp) provides its wearer with a +1 bonus to AC, a +1 bonus on Endurance checks, and a daily power (as a free action, regain hit points as if you had spent a healing surge).

Other things that occurred but were not discussed in game. During the extended rest you had a disturbing dream. In that dream you were caught up in a battle. Smoke filled the air and blood was spilt across the ground. You found yourselves clothed in archaic clothing and armor. Looking up a horde of thousands of orcs was coming forward. You raised your hands… and then your dream faded to other disturbing dreams but ones that were less real in some way. As real and disturbing as this dream was you were too busy preparing to storm the cave to discuss it with the others.

Now a choice remains before the young group of villagers. Should you continue straight back to the village and report what you have found or should you stop at the dragon burial site to halt finding the artifact of Orcus there?

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What would they sell at a Google Store?

Paul Darr / 2013-02-22 / Leave a Comment

Rumors of a physical Google store have appeared on many blogs and news outlets recently. Some of the topics have included what approach Google would take to a store and what pitfalls to avoid. While listening to All About Android the hosts asked what would they sell? Sure Google has some products but they were at somewhat of a loss if you could really have a whole store for products. I felt it might be interesting to look at potential products that would grace the shelves of a Google store.

Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 is Google’s fourth Nexus branded smart phone. The Nexus 4 is manufactured by LG Electronics and starts at $299. There are two models in the Google Play Store of the Nexus 4.

Nexus 7

The Nexus 7 is Google’s 7-inch tablet that set the standard for Android Tablets. The Nexus 7 is manufactured by Asus and starts at $199. There are four models in the Google Play Store of the Nexus 7.

Nexus 10

The Nexus 10 is Google’s 10.1 inch tablet that followed the Nexus 7. The Nexus 10 is manufactured by Samsung and starts at $399. There are two models in the Google Play Store of the Nexus 10.

Google TV

Google TV is a Smart TV platform that can be integrated in a home theater as set top box or in the TV itself. Google does not currently sell Google TV devices in the Play Store but a physical store would be an ideal location to display Google TV devices.

Nexus Q

The Nexus Q was a media streaming set top box introduced and canned by Google in 2012. If Google brought back the device at a lower price point, it might also do well in a store location.

Google Chromebook

Google currently carries three models of the Google Chromebook on Google Play. The Acer C7 comes in at $199, the Samsung Chromebook at $249 and the new Chromebook Pixel is 1,299. A physical store might be an ideal location to display the differences between the three models.

Google Glass

Glass is Google’s augmented reality eyewear that will be released in 2013. They will be sold for less than $1,500 and sound like something out of a science fiction novel. Google Glass could justify a physical store on it’s own just so users could see the technology displayed.

Accessories

Google has several accessories for each of these products and if they had a store, I would expect more.

Looking over the various Google Products I could easily see them filling a small store with display models of all their products and some inventory on hand for sale. I could see a physical Google store as a great place to show case some of their newest products and really give a consumer an idea why they need to buy the product.

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D&D 4e Summary – Game Session 1

Paul Darr / 2013-02-04 / Leave a Comment

We met our young protagonists when they were just finishing painting a section of the village wall. It had been a long hard day and they decided to try their hand at getting something cold to drink that would wipe their day away. With not having yet reached their feast night as adults… Salvana Wrafton (inn keeper) was not going to sell them any of the frosty beverage they had planned on. Thomas and Chip felt the only sensible thing to do was walk in like they owned the place and walk out with a large cask of ale. That plan didn’t work out too well for them. Mistress Wrafton took the ale and pelted them goo with a large cooking spoon. Didi tried using her stealth to get a cold drink but she was discovered on the way out and after some failed climbing… ended up also running back to camp. Later that night a lizard had an up close and personal experience with Thomas… it could be just chance or a fun prank.

The next day started early in the morning and you found yourselves marching out several leagues on a patrol. Just after starting on your way (back to the village) you were attacked by rust colored lizard humanoids. You found out these creatures were Kobolds and the group found a way to defeat all of them. You found some silver and took the heads of the Kobolds as a bounty. The group also found and distributed the Kobold weapons and armor.

After returning to the village you told your tale to Captain Kelfem and Lord Padraig. Lord Padraig was so pleased that he had your feast night that evening and told you to discover the lair of the kobolds that evening. The group went to Marcus to have the Kobold shields appraised and then went to Valthrun the Prescient to have the magical properties identified. The next morning a little tired and maybe hung over… you marched out and found yourselves at the same ambush point. This time there was a cart set to act as cover for the Kobolds but you defeated them even more easily. You divided up what you could recover from the corpses and then we stopped the game for the evening. We left the players debating if they wanted to make camp and rest or continue on to clear out the Kobold lair.

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