The Black Notebook Podcast

The Black Notebook Podcast

By The Evil Dungeon MasterLeisureGames
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The Black Notebook Podcast episodes

  • AD&D - Gary Gygax did not play as written & Blindheim Creature

    Today's podcast talks about something that is trending on X about how Gary Gygax stated about how to play AD&D and Batman Tim wanted a wacky creature talked about today!

    Highlights

    • 📖 Blindheim is featured from the Fiend Folio, a 1981 UK monster compilation.
    • 🐸 Described as a yellow frog-like humanoid with blinding eyes.
    • 🌟 Its blinding stare can incapacitate characters for 11 to 20 turns.
    • 🎲 Effective Armor Class changes based on whether characters are blinded.
    • 💡 The Blindheim serves as a deceptive challenge for mid to high-level players.
      • 11 min
    • AD&D - Detecting Alignment, Its not as cut and dry as you think.

      In today's episode, I go over the rules for detect good and/or evil as listed in the Dungeon Masters guide. This gives us a little more then what's listed in the players handbook under the Paladin ability "Detect Evil". It tells us that only "Know Alignment" can truly determine a person's alignment.

      The detection of good and evil in characters relies on powerful spells or inherent character alignment. Only strong manifestations of good or evil can be detected, often radiated by high-level characters or powerful beings. Most magic items do not reveal such auras unless specifically aligned, while certain places or items like holy/unholy

      water do. Detection requires a period of stillness and concentration to perceive these auras accurately.

      Highlights -🔍

      1. Character Alignment: Distinction between character alignment and powerful forces.
      2. Know Alignment Spell: Essential for determining inherent good or evil.
      3. High-Level Characters: Only strong alignments (8th level+) may radiate auras.
      4. Powerful Beings: Demons and devils emanate strong evil or good.
      5. Magic Items: Most do not radiate unless directly related to alignment.
      6. Neutral Items: Items like poison have no aura.
      7. Concentration Required: Detection needs focus and stillness.


        8. 12 min
      8. AD&D - Cleric 5th Level Spell Rainbow

        The “Rainbow” spell is a 5th-level cleric evocation/alteration that harnesses the power of rainbows to create various magical effects. The cleric can choose from four applications: a magical bow that fires colored arrows with special damage effects, a bridge made of rainbow hues, an elevator that lifts the cleric and others, or a flagon that produces magical water with healing and protective properties. The spell has a duration of 1 round per level and requires specific components to cast.

        Highlights -🌈

        • Spell Level: 5th-level cleric evocation/alteration.
        • Range: 72 inches.
        • Duration: 1 round per caster level.
        • Bow Application: Fires colored arrows with unique damage.
        • Bridge Application: Creates a weight-bearing rainbow bridge.
        • Elevator Application: Lifts the caster and allies skyward.
        • Flagon Application: Produces magical water with healing effects.


          • 13 min
        • AD&D - Incorporating the Croatoan legend into your game..

          The Croatoan Roanoke legend surrounds the mystery of the lost colony established in 1587 on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. When Governor John White returned in 1590, he found the settlement abandoned, with only the word “Croatoan” carved into a post, hinting at the nearby Croatoan tribe. Theories about the colonists’ fate include assimilation, relocation, and death from starvation or conflict, making it one of America’s greatest historical enigmas.

          Highlights -🗺️

          • Roanoke Colony established in 1587 on Roanoke Island.
          • John White returned in 1590 to find the colony abandoned.
          • Only clue left was “Croatoan” carved into a post.
          • “Croatoan” refers to a nearby tribe and island.
          • Theories include assimilation, relocation, or death.
          • The mystery persists as a historical enigma.
          • Roanoke remains a topic of fascination in American history.


            • 12 min
          • AD&D - Shadow Creatures

            Shadows are undead creatures tied to the negative material plane, often lurking in ancient ruins or deep underground. They drain life force by touch, sapping both health and strength from their victims. Shadows are challenging to detect, blending seamlessly into darkness, and are immune to many typical spells and cold-based attacks. Victims drained to 0 strength or health transform into shadows themselves, perpetuating their ominous existence.

            Highlights:

            • Strength Drain: Shadows inflict both physical damage and strength reduction with each touch, weakening their prey with every strike.
            • Undetectable in Darkness: Shadows are almost invisible (90% undetectable) unless in bright light, making them perfect ambush predators.
            • Transformation Effect: Victims reduced to 0 strength or health become shadows, adding a deadly and self-perpetuating threat to encounters.
              • 10 min
            • AD&D - Adding to the Thief Class

              The article "Arcane Academe: Adding to the Thief" by Jeff Martin introduces new skill options for the Thief class in AD&D, inspired by the Unearthed Arcana supplement. It provides additional skills like Appraise, Ransack, and Infiltrate, aiming to give Thieves more variety and specialization within the game. This expansion allows for a more detailed approach to Thief abilities, enhancing their gameplay experience with refined skill checks, racial and dexterity adjustments, and various skill proficiencies based on level.

              Highlights

              • 🏛 New Thief Skills: Introduces Appraise, Ransack, and Infiltrate to expand Thief abilities.
              • 📜 Appraise: Allows Thieves to determine an item’s value accurately, especially valuable or rare items.
              • 🔍 Ransack: Skill focused on quickly finding hidden items or concealed compartments.
              • 🕵️ Infiltrate: Enhances the Thief’s ability to sneak, hide, and infiltrate restricted areas.
              • 📈 Level-based Proficiency: Skills improve with Thief levels, allowing gradual mastery.
              • 🧬 Racial Adjustments: Certain races (e.g., Dwarves, Elves) receive bonuses to specific Thief skills.
              • 🤸 Dexterity Adjustments: Dexterity modifies Thief skills, with higher Dexterity providing additional benefits.
                • 13 min
              • AD&D - Email Question: Do Tieflings belong in D&D Campaigns?

                Today's podcast comes from listener, Hunter and he wanted to know if Tieflings should be common in a fantasy game. So I tried to answer this question, while looking at the AD&D 2e Planewalker's Handbook.

                Tieflings, the most enigmatic of the plane-touched, evoke both fascination and fear. Unlike aasimar or genasi, tieflings lack a clear heritage and are often viewed through the lens of stigma tied to their fiendish ancestry. They forge their own identities, unbound by family or societal expectations, yet they navigate a world that often seeks to define them by their origins. Their journey is one of personal power and self-definition, challenging the perceptions that accompany their lineage.

                Highlights -🔍

                1. Fascination and fear: Tieflings captivate and intimidate. 🧛‍♂️
                2. Lack of clear heritage: Unlike aasimar, tieflings have ambiguous ancestries. 🌀
                3. Stigma of fiendish blood: Society often judges them for their origins. 😈
                4. Individual identity: Tieflings create their own paths and identities. ✨
                5. Loners by necessity: No unified tiefling culture exists to support them. 🏞️
                6. Power dynamics: Influence in society is tied to wealth and authority. 💰
                7. Self-definition: A tiefling’s worth is determined by their actions, not lineage. 🛡️


                  8. 13 min
                8. AD&D - The Sunray spell and its uses..

                  Sunray is a 7th-level druid spell that creates a beam of light

                  resembling sunlight, causing blindness and significant damage to creatures within its area of effect. It has a range of 1 inch per level, lasts for 1 round, and affects a 1-foot diameter sphere. Those harmed by sunlight or using ultravision face severe consequences, and undead
                  creatures suffer substantial damage. The spell requires an aster seed and aventurine feldspar as components.

                  Highlights -☀️

                  • Spell Level: 7th-level druid spell 🌿
                  • Range: 1 inch per caster level 📏
                  • Duration: Lasts 1 round ⏳
                  • Area of Effect: 1-foot diameter sphere 🔵
                  • Blinding Effect: Causes blindness for 1-3 rounds unless saved 🔒
                  • Damage to Undead: 8-48 points damage or half on save 💀
                  • Material Components: Aster seed and aventurine feldspar (sunstone) 🌌


                    • 9 min
                  • AD&D - Demonic Possession Rules..

                    Happy Halloween everyone!

                    Demonic possession, often absent in D&D lore, allows powerful demons (level IV or higher) to control the bodies of mortals. Only specific demons can possess adventurers, requiring an amulet to remain nearby. Possession involves a saving throw, and a failed save leads to the victim being controlled by the demon. Exorcism is possible but painful, with varying outcomes for both the cleric and the possessed. Once exorcised, the demon cannot repossess the body, but it can return if certain conditions are met.

                    Highlights -🔑

                    1. Demonic Possession: Only high-level demons can possess mortals. 👹
                    2. Possession Mechanics: Requires an amulet and a failed saving throw. 🎲
                    3. Exorcism Process: Painful for both cleric and victim, with various outcomes. ⛪
                    4. Possession Effects: Victim retains armor class but uses the demon’s attack level. ⚔️
                    5. Demon Control: The demon controls the victim’s actions without penalty. 🧙‍♂️
                    6. Amulet Importance: The amulet’s presence is crucial for possession. 💎
                    7. Death and Repossession: Demons can attempt repossession upon death of the host. ☠️


                      8. Dragon Magazine Link:

                      https://www.annarchive.com/files/Drmg020.pdf

                      21 min
                    8. AD&D - Egg Laying, Chest Bursting Creature, the Xill!

                      Xill are rare, bipedal, flame-red creatures with four arms that can wield weapons and grapple victims. They reproduce asexually by laying eggs on living humanoids. Xill can shift between the Ethereal and Prime Material Planes, often surprising their victims. They prefer to paralyze

                      or subdue their targets before injecting eggs. While vulnerable during egg-laying, they gain immunity to all but magical weapons afterward. Protection from evil effectively wards them off.

                      Highlights -🔥

                      • Rare Creatures: Xill appear in very limited numbers (1-6).
                      • Unique Reproduction: They reproduce asexually by laying eggs on living beings.
                      • Ethereal Shift: Xill can transition between planes, surprising opponents.
                      • Grappling Attack: They utilize grappling to subdue victims for egg-laying.
                      • Weapon Mastery: Xill can wield multiple weapons simultaneously.
                      • Vulnerability: Temporarily susceptible to magic while laying eggs.
                      • Protection from Evil: This spell effectively wards off Xill.


                        • 14 min

                      About The Black Notebook Podcast

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Welcome to The Black Notebook, where we take a fresh look at Dungeons & Dragons through the pages of the classic D&D books. Every episode explores monsters, rules, adventures, and forgotten…

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