Recent content by occam

I'm not sure I get what you're saying. Is your position that Cthulhu isn't connected to Innsmouth? Because that would be belied by the text of the story. As the narrator begins transforming in earnest at the end of "The Shadow over Innsmouth", he gains insight into hidden truths. (As usual, the...

I think you missed the point. If you want non-Mythos cosmic horror in Ravenloft... it's already there. But if you want Cthulhu, then just use Cthulhu, don't try to disguise it. (Remember that the examples of supposed D&D originality I was responding to were Count Strahd von Zarovich and Victor...

That's right. If only WotC were instead to introduce the town of River's End, with people slowly transforming into brinefolk centered on a cult of Grand Kith-hooloo, they would meet universal acclaim with cries of "At least they didn't directly rip off Lovecraft!" </sarcasm mode> If you're...

Following up on this for anyone interested, and potentially looking for adventures to adapt for the Innsmouth domain in Ravenloft, here are some pointers: The most direct analog, and the only WotC-produced version that I know of prior to the upcoming book, is "The Last Breaths of Ashenport", an...

Nothing essential in The Shadow over Innsmouth requires 20th-century technology. It's set in a decrepit fishing village; you could find such a thing on any inhabited coastline over the last 5000 years or so. The rest is cultural details.

Reskinned versions of Innsmouth have been done before; I don't see the setting as difficult to adapt to the pre-20th-century assumed setting of D&D. (Especially not in Ravenloft, which already incorporates 19th-century locales.) But Cthulhu as a Darklord? I wouldn't get that. Aren't Darklords...

Beadle & Grimm has now announced a Silver Edition: https://beadleandgrimms.com/products/ravenloft-the-horrors-within-strahd-silver-edition-d-d Strahd’s Silver Edition Contents: The complete Ravenloft: The Horrors Within book, broken down into smaller booklets, to help you organize your...

I agree with several comments already made, the pop-culture ninja trope is too broad to be represented in D&D by a single class or subclass, and there's no need to create one because the bases are already covered, between the Shadow Monk, Gloom Stalker Ranger, Whispers Bard, practically any...

That is a cool find. Another option: a vulture, also Medium size. Personally, I'd consider house-ruling a Tiny or Small size requirement for Find Familiar to better match traditional expectations of the spell, but I can't deny the fun of the idea.

Turns out those are (or were) the same word! convincō in Wiktionary

Speaking of D&D influence, this probably counts: Helm's Deep by Darrell K. Sweet I'm not sure of the direction of influence, but I had this piece in a 1982 Tolkien Calendar, and the pig-orcs in the 1e Monster Manual go back to at least 1977. Assuming the depiction originated with D&D, though...

Was it this alleged test? USAF Calls Killer-AI Report ‘Anecdotal’ US Air Force denies AI drone attacked operator in test

If you have 2 levels as a Rogue or Fighter, the rule doesn't apply, since you add "One third of your Fighter or Rogue levels (round down) if you have the Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster subclass" (emphasis mine). You don't have the subclass at level 2, so rounding up from level 2 never comes...

But a level 2 Fighter can't be an Eldritch Knight, and a level 2 Rogue can't be an Arcane Trickster, so constructing the rule to avoid 1st- and 2nd-level Fighters or Rogues from contributing to Spellcasting capability is completely unnecessary. Just round up, and it won't matter until they take...

Not MTV, but possibly Marvel Comics: Although there are other possible inspirations, as mentioned here.