by Rachel Carpenter

Happy 36th Friday of 2026, everyone!! And as always on Friday, here are the current Friday links: 2026 Friday on Friday: Play Friday EVERY Friday of 2026 and Friday on Friday, September 2026.

Today, I faced down Level 5 while out and about.

I was holding my own... until my luck ran out in the Yellow Phase.

My final score was -24 points: 23 points from Fighting Cards, -5 points from Aging Cards, 0 points from lifepoints, 0 points for defeating neither pirate, and -42 points from Unbeaten Hazards.

Once again, not my best, but not my worst either 😜.

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Weekly Updates:


Challenge Updates:

:d10-1: 2023 Extreme Numerology Challenge / 2024 Extreme Numerology Challenge / 2025 Extreme Numerology Challenge: Wrapping up. Microbadges for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 will be awarded, please stay tuned! 2026 is live: 2026 Extreme Numerology Challenge
:d10-2: Fire in the Library- Summer/Fall 2023 Solo Challenge- Extended!!: Done! Stay tuned for a new series of mini challenges that include some more Weird Giraffe-themed fan promos. COMING SUNDAY! (I finally figured out the new promos 😜)- Aiming to run this during Effervescent's NOW ACTIVE crowdfunding campaign!
:d10-3: 2025 Challenge: 25 un(der)played in 25: is Wrapped! If you spot errors or make updates, please geekmail me!
:d10-4: 2026 Challenge: 26 un(der)played in 26: is Active!
:d10-5: A special note on the Friday on Friday challenges: ALL owed microbadges should be system-awarded THIS YEAR. ALL microbadge reimbursements complete! Update: Stay tuned for progress on microbadges!



Designer's Corner:


Published Games:
:d10-1: Charge the Circle: Post-Contest (Revised Edition) Web-published to BGG. 2nd Edition & 2nd Edition (PNP) & 2nd Edition (Altar Decks ONLY!) coming to The Game Crafter in 2026! You can follow along with the ongoing graphic development here: A new edition coming in 2026!.
:d10-2:Eight Elephants: 2nd Edition now available on The Game Crafter! 2nd Edition, Print & Play also available on The Game Crafter! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-3: Fireworks for the 4th: Semiquincentennial Edition: Now available on The Game Crafter! Update: There is now a Print & Play of the Semiquincentennial Edition! You can find it on The Game Crafter for just $1.99! Revised (Post Contest) Edition remains available here!.
:d10-4: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice: 2nd Edition now available on The Game Crafter! 2nd Edition, Print & Play also available on The Game Crafter! Original WIP thread: here!
:d10-5: The United Cards of America: Now available on The Game Crafter! Update: There is now a Print & Play Edition! And you can find it on The Game Crafter for just $1.99!
:d10-6: Lincoln's Cat: Now available on The Game Crafter! Print & Play edition also available on The Game Crafter! New Playthrough Video has been filmed and I'm up to editing! Expect the new video before the end of the month!
:d10-7: Liberty, DEATH, or TAXES: Now available on The Game Crafter! Update: There is also now a Print & Play! And you can find it on The Game Crafter for just $1.99!
:d10-8: Eighteen Eggs: BGG page is live! And ALL 2nd Edition files are now available!


Active Projects:
:d10-1: Finders Keepers: No new progress.
:d10-2: Bears love bows : Very Merry Trashmas edition thread is the most up-to-date (for the moment), ALL pnp files and TTS pulled (for now), because... 1) a new edition is coming and 2) that new edition has been entered in the 2027 Hippodice Competition!! Let's see what happens next! The new edition is called Bears love bows: Beary Best edition and the main difference is that for the very first time since I started working on this game (back in 2023!), the bears look like actual bears instead of teddy bears :geek_grin:. Stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek at the new Bonus Card (blue bow):

:d10-3: Really Retail: No new progress.
:d10-4: Barricade Brigade: No new progress.
:d10-5: The Boxcats of Meowazon : No new progress.
:d10-6: Read the Runes: Check out the updated TTS! I need playtesters to help me continue refining this one. I like the current art direction, but this will need more if I decide to go The Game Crafter route... There's also the drift problem... As much as I hate to say it, this might have to stay a print-and-play for now...
:d10-7: 10 Minutes to Midnight: THIS WILL BE COMING TO THE GAME CRAFTER IN 2026! I'm still having a spacing issue with 1 of my 2 custom fonts... and I may well end up having to do the card text as images... Not ideal, but it will work. Note that the free pnp files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-8: Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters: Contest complete! #2 Best Family Game and #8 Best Overall Game! Woot! Video still on the docket. This will be a Game Crafter release in 2026! Rules revisions continue! I need to rejig the setup graphics and work on the new Solo Scoring Chart. Probably going to keep pitching, but Game Crafter is happening so that I can guarantee the game gets out there 🦦. Note that the free pnp files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-9: Tricky Treats: Game considered complete and officially Ready for Pitching! Video needed...
:d10-1::d10-0: Squirrelly (formerly Woodland Warriors) : Contest complete! #3 for Best Art! 2 mini expansions available! Ready for pitching! Video still on the docket... *sigh*
:d10-1::d10-1: Composer's Cat: 2024 In-Hand Game Design Contest: 5th Best Multiplayer Game; 6th Best Innovative Mechanic; 7th Best Use of Theme; and 4th Best Low-Ink Printing! Major revision complete, new video live, Officially entered in the 2027 Hippodice Competition! Note: because of this ALL public-facing files, pnps, and TTS have been temporarily pulled. Let's see what happens with Hippodice and then we'll go from there!
:d10-1::d10-2: Librarian's Cat: formerly Palm Library. formerly Littlest Library. 2025 In-Hand Game Design Contest: Currently being re-worked for publication with The Game Crafter! This kitty is back and better than ever and I can't wait to share it with all of you! Note that the free pnp files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-1::d10-3: Elements: Coming to The Game Crafter in mid-2026! New cards, done! New rules posted to the WIP thread, take a look and let me know what you think! Just waiting 'til I've got more proofs ready to order...
:d10-1::d10-4: Knick Knacks: Shaker Showdown : Contest complete! #3 Best Solo Game, #3 Best 2 Player Game, and #4 Best Family Game! Not bad, not bad at all, especially since I fell woefully behind on the comments... I do plan on addressing all of the feedback. And I do want to continue to refine and improve the game. No progress this week.
:d10-1::d10-5: Critter Calls: Ready for pitching! I'm happy with the TTS and sell sheet, but do want a video. Not a high priority for pitching, but if I see any calls for party games or icebreaker games I will 100% submit it for consideration :geek_grin:.
:d10-1::d10-6: Unlucky Spirits, Revised Edition: Uncooperative Spirits campaign in-progress. Revised Edition formally entered in 2026 Two-Player Game Design Contest, which is now complete. No wins for Unlucky Spirits , but that's okay. I'm keeping on keeping on. And that's why I need you, players to help me get this game off the ground! The PNP files are serviceable. The TTS is functional and up-to-date. I just need some players to help me put the base game through its paces while I continue to write the campaign! Update: If I can get this game in better shape, I might submit it for the 2027 Cardboard Edison...
:d10-1::d10-7: Abydos: Contest complete, game did not place... I'm disappointed, but I'm still committed to getting this game out there. And, yes, it is coming to The Game Crafter in 2026. I've figured out a way around the drift issue that works well for Abydos. Work continues. It's been slow, but the game is making progress. I'm still re-doing the labyrinth graphics... gah!
:d10-1::d10-8: Nine Tails: A Solitaire Game: I'll be putting in for the BGG page soon! This one will be coming to The Game Crafter! Art for full color edition done! Art for coloring book version done! Still working on the print-and-play files, revised rules, and boxes! Deluxe PNP will also include the original color & coloring book versions! It's more work for me, but this way, folks can choose! I'm happy and I'm excited.
:d10-1::d10-9: Put a bow on it! The new lease on life continues! The game got way too complicated for Bad Comet's Cozy Contest... not sure where this one is going to end up, but I'm excited to see it through!
:d10-2::d10-0: Monk's Cat: Book of [Pawprints]: The third game in the Cat Companion Card Game series, sequel to Composer's Cat and Librarian's Cat. Contest now complete! I'm happy! #1 Best Graphic Design for Visually Impaired Players; #8 Best Use of Theme; & #7 Best Low-Ink Printing! This will be coming to The Game Crafter! Currently being reworked alongside Librarian's Cat. I'm so excited for these 2! "The" removed from the game's name, there's a reason, but it won't be apparent just yet... Note that the free pnp files have been pulled in preparation for this change!
:d10-2::d10-1: Caturday: WIP thread coming soon! This WILL be my entry in the 54-Card Game Design Contest! Watch this space! Solo mode functions, but I need a better handle on the scoring range. Logo/cards/layout/graphics are fine for now. Rulebook needs ironing. Player Aid cards need to be made. 2-player mode(s) need fine-tuning. 3-4 player options need addressing. I want the game "components ready" and the WIP live for September 1st... by mid-September (Hippodice took precedent)
:d10-2::d10-2: Elements 2: Sequel to Elements, draws on the setting/visuals/narrative of Elements and builds on the gameplay of Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice with an added rock-paper-scissors-like overlap mechanic. This is probably moving to the backburner...
:d10-2::d10-3: Mugs of Madness: WIP thread live! PNP, rulebook, and TTS all available. Officially entered in the 2026 Solitaire Print and Play Contest and The Great Playtest Race! Up next: more video(s), low-ink PNP, and an expansion! I'm thrilled that this game has come together so quickly. If you like Arkham, Elder Sign, dice, big cards, Cthulhu, and or coffee- please check it out! Here's the teaser trailer!
Youtube Video
:d10-2::d10-4: Last Leaves: old name, new game. This is a cozy, cute, Game-Crafter-friendly solitaire matching game that builds on Eighteen Eggs. The original Last Leaves may still happen down the road, but it'll need a new name because the name fits this little game better :geek_grin:. All problems discovered last week have been sorted! Whew. BGG page approved! Expect more details soon.


Early Development:
:d10-1: The 7th Seal : No new progress.
:d10-2: Gator Glory! Simmering.
:d10-3: So, you want to be a mage... No new progress.
:d10-4: Barricade Brigade: At the postern gate: A smaller version of the original. Similar story, setting, and mechanics, but more compact. No new progress.
:d10-5: Cartographer's Cat: [Pawprint] marks the spot! : The next cat game 🐱. Stay tuned!

On Hold/Backburner:
:d10-1: Contagion and Calamity: The Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793: formerly Philly Fever 1793
:d10-2: Rolling Runes
:d10-3: Defend your Dreams: (formerly Dreamcatcher Duty)
:d10-4: Trick or Treat
:d10-5: Last Leaves Needs New Name!: This was going to be my entry in the 2026 Children and Family Game Design Contest (family category), but I'm putting this on the back burner instead to concentrate on getting my shop pages up-and-running over on The Game Crafter. Development will continue later this year and you can expect to see this game in the 2027 Children and Family Game Design Contest.
:d10-6: Unnamed design: Involves the Titanic and Jenny the ship cat...
:d10-7: Nine Nopes
:d10-8: Book it!
:d10-9: History Heist
:d10-1::d10-0: Lost in the Labyrinth
:d10-1::d10-1: Dragon's Draw
:d10-1::d10-2: Push to the Peak
:d10-1::d10-3: Cardshop Caretaker
:d10-1::d10-4: Water always wins
:d10-1::d10-5: Sniper, take the shot!
:d10-1::d10-6: Puppy Pile: (formerly Dogpile)
:d10-1::d10-7: Compound It!
:d10-1::d10-8: My Little Fish Tank
:d10-1::d10-9: Knick Knacks: Lovely Lamps : Sequel to Knick Knacks: Shaker Showdown
:d10-2::d10-0: Triskell (or maybe Triskellion): name not final
:d10-2::d10-1: Cursed Cards (Traditional Deck Game)
:d10-2::d10-2: War of the Wilds
:d10-2::d10-3: Scratch-off
:d10-2::d10-4: Reverse the curse!/Witch's Cat
:d10-2::d10-5: Snow Squall: In the vein of Eight Elephants and Eighteen Eggs, but a bit bigger, no timer, and more Game Crafter-friendly art. I may be shelving this idea. Last Leaves really accomplished what I wanted to do here and the theme/art fits better as well. That said, I may reuse the name for another project... Officially shelved for now.
:d10-2::d10-6: Unnamed Puzzle Game: Working name/code name is Threshold. multi-level campaign puzzle game in the vein of Abydos, Read the Runes, and Charge the Circle. Fuzzball-inspired. Officially moved to the backburner.
:d10-2::d10-7: Nine Lives: I haven't heard anything, so I'm assuming this is a no-go. Still, I might revisit this idea down the road... Moved to the backburner.
:d10-2::d10-8: Who's ready for the owlidays?: Not for the 54-Card Contest. Plans change. Moved to the backburner.
:d10-2::d10-9: I sits!: Didn't make the FFF Contest. Moved to the backburner.
:d10-3::d10-0: Rachel's Spider Solitaire Project Life happened... and I decided to focus on Mugs of Madness and Caturday for now. The project will happen, but not for the 2026 Solitaire PNP Contest... Again, this is a strange little idea that I hope gets interest. It's an experiment. 3 games under 1 umbrella. All are unique twists on classic spider solitaire. The 3 games are 1) Out of time! [mini cards, real-time, bomb defusing theme, mechanically and graphically the simplest of the 3 and the easiest/smallest/simplest pnp build], 2) Vines of Nineveh [poker-sized cards, a bit more complex, more emphasis on art, the pretty one], and 3) Fate's Cat: Tangled Threads [poker-size cards, more complex gameplay, fun story/theme. This is a ridiculous and ambitious project and I don't know what the reception is going to be. Maybe 1 game takes off, maybe all 3 do. Maybe none of them find an audience or maybe this time next year all 3 are available on The Game Crafter. I just don't know. There's something here and I'm going to play with it. Components are done for Out of time!, graphics are about a 1/3 of the way there for Vines of Nineveh, Fate's Cat has nothing but a logo and some notes right now...
:d10-3::d10-1: A Walk on the Beach: Solo-only, play-through-the-deck set collection game.


Professional Projects:
:d10-1: Explosion in the Laboratory/Fire in the Library (2nd edition): Weird Giraffe Games: Campaign wrapped! Campaign fulfilled! Campaign complete!
:d10-2: Dreams of Yesterday: Weird Giraffe Games: Campaign wrapped! Campaign fulfilled! Campaign complete!
:d10-3: In the Shadows: Resistance in France 1943 - 1944: GMT Games: Complete! I still haven't managed to get this back to my table. Gah! In the meantime... see A Solo Sunday Salute - First Impressions - In the Shadows for a preview.
:d10-4: Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game: Minerva Tabletop Games: Initial feedback in. First impressions and some extra crumbs: Solo Sundays- First Impressions: Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game and Solo Saturdays - Continuing to make Crumbs. More formal review posted: Rachel Reviews It- Crumbs!: The Sandwich Filler Game. Campaign funded! Campaign ongoing. Fingers-crossed that Minerva Tabletop Games comes through... it looks like this is finally in the process of fulfilling...
:d10-5: Crystallo expansions and miniature edition: Light Heart Games: Initial feedback in. Previews and additional adventures shared: A crystal cavern at the garage aka mini Crystallo is here!, First Impressions: Crystallo: Untold Fortune, Solo Saturdays- First Impressions: Crystallo: Den of Dragons, and Solo Stories- Playing with all of Crystallo. More formal review posted: Rachel Reviews It- Crystallo: Untold Fortune and Crystallo: Den of Dragons. Campaign funded! Campaign ongoing... AND there's GOOD NEWS: Crystallo lives!- Crystallo's new Gamefound
Last week's photo shoot will feature heavily in a forthcoming comparison post (new vs old editions). I'm so happy that Gabe stepped in and now Liberty's awesome game is part of the Best With 1 Games family!
:d10-6: Lost Adventures: Belltower Games: First Impressions and continuing adventures shared: Two-Player Thursdays- First Impressions: Lost Adventures, Two-Player Tuesdays- Getting Lost with Mom, and Solo Stories - Lost Adventures. More formal review posted: Rachel Reviews It: Lost Adventures. Campaign wrapped! Campaign fulfilled. Campaign complete.
:d10-7: Quirky Bird Games: The zine campaign funded! That's a wrap! Congrats Beth and Angel! Fulfillment ongoing. Keep up the great work!
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After playing Friday, I got some playtesting done for the forthcoming expansion to Mugs of Madness:

Game start: I tested out the new harder solo option, playing as the cafe owner (Lottie) and taking on 2 Old Ones at the same time.

There were a few hiccups, but the game ended in a win as Lottie defeated Azathoth with the Donuts of Darkness!

The 2-player co-op mode needs testing and I'm not sure the new cards are balanced... aka I've got more work to do, but this is fun work :geek_grin:.


Things to do this weekend:
1) Update WIP threads of games affected by Hippodice/Game Crafter (aka why are files gone).
2) New Fire in the Library Challenge (by EOD Sunday).
3) A Friday-related project for one of my co-hosts (finally!)
4) Get Mythic Mondays back on track! (Elder Sign)
5) Cobble together the Crystallo/Crystallo + Expansions comparison post- now that I got the photos done :geek_grin:.
6) More Mugs, More Madness expansion for Mugs of Madness
7) Graham's snooker game

How about you? Any fun plans for the weekend?

Happy Friday and happy playing!
-Rachel

Thank you for reading my blog. If you liked it; then please click the green thumb [microbadge=23724] at the top of the page. If you really liked it; then please subscribe. And follow me across social media with my Linktree:
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by Rindis

The third Avatar module came out three months after FRE2 Tantras. Anyone running it at the time might have been stuck for what to do during that period, though I'd imagine at least a couple months to get through the first two adventures is possible, and there were suggestions for what to do while waiting (I'd take them over this).

In any case, the opening of Waterdeep skips any boring shopping around for someone willing to take the party across the Sea of Fallen Stars into the Dragonmere, and assumes that this was done and starts there. Not that there's any decisions for the party to make here. They're given as bound to Ilipur on the southern shore of the Dragonmere, but a fierce storm forces the ship north to near Wheloon in Cormyr. This is given as if it should be played out instead of just starting near Wheloon, and telling the players what happened like they are to be told they hired a ship.

All this is the start of an overland march with the itinerary set by the module novel. Like with the initial journey to Shadowdale, there's not a lot of motivation to go to Waterdeep, but there are prophecies and such promising that it is the key place to be, which is still better stage management. Still, a lot of parties will probably feel like they're flailing around. Everything possible is done to force the party down a particular path. There are two sets of bad guys each trying to get what they want out of the party herding them along. Like in Tantras, the novel characters are part of what's going on, most notably Midnight, permanent NPC focus/MacGuffin of the party, and Cyric, who is now one of the major villains, while Kelemvor and Adon have gone back to being optional. I should also mention the physical presentation is the same as the first two adventures: a standard 48-page faux-parchment booklet with a three-panel detached cover giving the magical chaos tables, a section of the 30-mile map showing from Cormyr to Waterdeep, and a poster sheet with several maps (detailed later).

The first stop is nearby Wheloon, meant to let the party make sure they have any gear needed, and then moves to another charge of murder and attempted incarceration. This is is more meant for the players to escape the arrest attempt, but attempted capture of the party is beyond old by now. From there, its through Hilp to Suzail to sail across the Dragonmere to Ilipur again. Or not, as the various bad guys chase them away from Suzail, as the entire point is to force them away from the sea, and away from the regular caravans that travel to Waterdeep from Ilipur. (The fact that this is why the party keeps trying to get to Ilipur could have been stated better earlier. i.e., if you're going with NPC Midnight's plans for how to get to Waterdeep, have her outline them to the party.... Also, Ilipur has no entry in the Cyclopedia, so here's a new lore detail for you.)

All this is to end up in Eveningstar, where everyone gets pushed west to High Horn. This is after being warned that the path west is closed, but that's a further problem from Darkhold, another 3-4 days past High Horn, and not on any road, so this makes for potential confusion. At any rate, High Horn itself is one of the high points of the module. Bhaal catches up to the party at this point, and as the avatar of the god of murder, is going to be a tough fight. 84 HP, AC 0, regenerates 2 HP a round, and can possess as a new body anyone he kills (back to 84 HP...). If nothing else, that last will be trouble, especially as the DM should run him so as to make sure there's plenty of bodies from the garrison around to use.

Oddly, there's no map for High Horn itself, and its architecture is important to the encounter. That said, the important part is clear, it's a good setpiece, and there is plenty of room for the players to decide on actions that will direct the fight. In fact, I think this is the high point of the entire set of modules, right here. It's a pity there's a long road left to the climax. The general idea is for the players to go through a gap in the Sunset Mountains, and eventually cross the River Reaching at Hill's Edge, but there's little reason why other routes might not work—other than more harassment from the bad guys. (Still, there's a bit of description of the terrain around Yellow Snake Pass, for those interested in more lore.)

The harrying of the party continues, with progress towards Waterdeep, covering a number of locations not really seen before, but they don't get much attention here either. Once the party does arrive (after more forced plot shenanigans), things finally start sweeping towards a climax... that is predictably overwhelmed by NPCs. We get the bad guys, the novel NPCs, Elminster, and Blackstaff Arsoun. Beyond other problems, the DM is going to busy with all his parts.

The initial point of all this is to get at the Pool of Loss (a portal to Hades), to get at one of the Tablets of Fate. This is part of a plan hatching all through the adventure, and instead (or, in addition) undead creatures are let loose on Waterdeep. This powers the rest of the climax, which brings together the party Midnight, Myrkul, Cyric, and Ao. There's some decidedly clever bits, which the players may or may not ever figure out, and... even more waves of the new monsters of the module. I think the part would be largely exhausted of dealing with them by now.

The very end of the adventure finally gives answers for what the heck is going on. It was Myrkul's idea to steal The Tablets of Fate, and use them to at least gain some power over the other gods, and preferably have the power to oust Ao himself. In the end... the plot is useless. They do have a fair amount of magical power, but not enough to challenge Ao, and do not themselves define the god's jobs, instead just being a meant as a reminder of what the jobs are instead of being the definition. Ao expelling the gods to the mortal realms is to help remind them of their purpose, but has the side effect of widespread chaos and devastation in the Realms (heck of an object lesson there). A final half-page is dedicated to aftereffects of the Time of Troubles, including that the gods now must rely on worshipers for their power; something to be put in rule form in Forgotten Realms Adventures.

Conclusion

As covered in my review of part one, the entire series is extremely railroaded, and hits any magic-user or cleric characters with a large "I'm not that useful" bat for the entire experience. That's okay in the novels, as clerics (Adon) are still second-line fighters, and Midnight is the focus of a lot of magical plot shenanigans that let her overcome some the problems with more firepower (she also levels up at an insane pace—presumably because of having the power of Mystra in her), while PC magic-users are likely to feel kicked to the curb the entire way. Basing the entire idea directly off of novels and then not letting the players be the main characters is an extremely bad idea, and my understanding is that TSR never made that particular mistake again.

The "good" news is that Ed Greenwood did the module writing, and some bits of lore work their way into the modules, particularly the last two. If you're interested in pulling out tidbits of official lore that may come straight from Greenwood, that's the only value I see in these modules. Looking around, what I can find of people who actually used this adventure say it was a horrible experience. The only exception is one person who went through the trouble to recast the entire situation to directly involve his players, tossing the entire NPC cast in the process.

If you are interested in the lore, there's not much in Shadowdale, a few interesting bits with the Ashaba River in Tantras, and notes about Ilipur and a few places along the route here. More concretely, a few towns get all-new maps with keys giving names of a few establishments, much like the maps from the Cyclopedia (again, Shadowdale lacks this, just having color versions of existing maps). The poster sheet for Waterdeep is broken into seven segments, so at that point I'd rather have seen a small map booklet which would be handier to use than laying out an entire poster just to look at one small part. There's new town maps of Wheloon and Eveningstar. There is a much-reduced version of the standard map of Waterdeep, two small floorplans of the Roosting Griffon Inn (a ruin found on the road to Waterdeep) and Dragonspear Castle, a partial map of Blackstaff Tower (Waterdeep key #32), and floorplans of the Lonesome Tankard Inn (in Wheloon). There are two new monsters in the back (both used extensively in the adventure) which are in the format of, and could be transferred to, the Monstrous Compendium.

One complicated bit: Ed Greenwood had a megadungeon underneath Waterdeep, and the Pool of Loss is actually in Undermountain. Like any self-respecting overly large and sprawling dungeon, there's portals to all sorts of places in there, and the portal used from The Yawning Portal (Waterdeep key #4) is the second(?) one from there into the place; this one was added purely to keep from having to burden this adventure with all that, and get them to a place that already existed there. I assume; the version of Undermountain published a year later has little to do with Ed Greenwood's version.

As a final argumentative point, lore wise, I will note that current chronologies of the Realms place the Time of Troubles in 1358 (I think this started with the 3rd Ed campaign setting). That's the year just beginning in the original boxed set. There's a dearth of dates in most early products, but those that exist conflict with that, and other problems have cropped up making it all fit. TSR never said anything, but I get the idea that they roughly figured one year of real-world time would imply one year advance in their new setting. FR5 The Savage Frontier (1988) was published a year later, and has a new set rumors/events for 1358 in the region. That implies the Avatar Trilogy should be (counting months from August 1987) Eleint [September] 1359 DR. I suggest anyone working purely with early Forgotten Realms materials may want to work their timeline on that basis.

A new episode has been added to the database: Pathfinder 2e | Season of Ghosts: Ep. 07

A new episode has been added to the database: Daggerheart Hope & Fear Expansion Part 4: Ancestries, Communities, and Transformations | GMJ 345

by Eric R.

So Lazy Jay wrote a great song called Float My Boat. The problem was it was just the song, no vocals. That worked for a dance track but to potentially break into pop it needed vocals. So Azealia Banks entered the picture and wrote and performed lyrics, turning it into the song 212. Lazy Jay is in the video too. He's the white guy. I think I'll play it safe though and self censor this one.
212

Youtube Video

A new episode has been added to the database: Wheel of Time Genesys 088 - Tainted Tower

A new episode has been added to the database: Hunting Party Season 3 Episode 8: "Black Swan"

A new episode has been added to the database: Mothership: Decagone #4

A new episode has been added to the database: This Week in TTRPG (4th September 2026)

A new episode has been added to the database: Alien RPG - The Fate of the Persephone

A new episode has been added to the database: Tensor with Intentions - The Unexpectables II Episode 162

A new episode has been added to the database: Secrets Swept Under the Rug - The Unexpectables II Episode 161