Tournament Sign-Ups Start Now for Pax Unplugged - Cancelled

Update: only had a few folks interested, so we canceled the tournament. However, we will be showing off tactics in the RPG Library. I'll have more details this week as we get closer to the event.

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Hey all!

I have some exciting news to share with you all today. 

I will be attending Pax Unplugged 2022 in an official capacity, both as a vendor showcasing our content and also as a GM running games in the RPG library.

In fact, I will personally be running a never-before-seen adventure titled Vaults of the Mythic Army. This module is an old-school death trap dungeon in the vein of Tomb of Horrors and the Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan. And it's a tournament module, too.

Here's the scope:

Long thought to be only a legend told by elder elves, the Vaults of the Mythic Army were recently discovered near the gnoll colony of Kik in northern Aspaeth. The Jodove elf tribe constructed the vaults over 17,000 years ago to house the treasures and artifacts they stole from the danaavrakti during the War Without End.

Shortly after the vaults were unearthed, dozens of adventuring parties entered, hoping to claim the legendary prizes therein. And not a single one returned. Now, most professional adventurers completely avoid the place, believing that the only thing the mysterious vaults offer is a swift death.

But perhaps your group will be different?

What is a tournament module?

A tournament module is a one-shot dungeon where you and your fellow players earn points based on how successful you are in the dungeon. 

Ways to earn points include:

• Finding treasure
• Defeating monsters
• Avoiding hazards and traps
• Excellent roleplaying
• Solving puzzles
• Surviving to the end

Our scoring methods are kept secret during the tournament to prevent folks from knowing what's in store. However, you will know a few different ways for you to earn individual points (see below for details).

What happens if we win?

We plan to give out two awards at the convention, a team prize and an individual player prize. 

The team prize goes to the team that scores the highest number of team points.

The individual prize goes to the individual player that has the most points. Individual points are a sum of the team points plus special points earned for playing to your character's strengths. 

What do we win?

We're still working on adding more prizes, but at the very least, we know that the winning team will get to keep the Hero Forge minis of their characters, and each person will win a copy of the Best of DMDave Adventure book, which will feature this adventure along with a write-up on the winning team.

The winning player will receive a classy set of dice from our personal friend and handcrafted dice maker, Yaniir. (Retail value $300+ USD).

Plus, all participants will get to keep the play-ready dice set given at the table.

When and where are the games?

The games take place at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. You can learn more about Pax from their website. If you haven't already, get your tickets soon!

We plan to hold three tournament games with three teams:

• Friday, December 2nd, 2022 - 11:30 am to 4:00 pm EST GM'd by DMDave with Bob Carnicorn (BobTheTree) as Scorekeeper
• Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 - 11:30 am to 4:00 pm EST GM'd by DMDave with Bob Carnicorn (BobTheTree) as Scorekeeper
• Sunday, December 4th, 2022 - 11:30 am to 4:00 pm EST GM'd by DMDave with Bob Carnicorn (BobTheTree) as Scorekeeper

The first half-hour is an introduction to the game, house rules, and more. Then we will start at 12:00 pm sharp, and the game will conclude at 4:00 pm. The games are timed for exactly 240 minutes.

Final scoring will be revealed Sunday evening at a post-convention event, the location TBD (but likely a nearby restaurant). Attendance at the post-con event is optional, so if you have to fly out Sunday and can't make it, no worries. We'll send your stuff to you!

Who can enter?

Anybody can enter the competition so long as:

• You are familiar with at least the basic rules of the game. Dave and Bob will be there to serve as GMs and scorekeepers, too
• You must be at least 18 years old to play.
• You must be at PAX Unplugged 2022 (badges, transportation, and room-and-board are not offered by the DMDave team, sorry!).
• You're a cool person who's capable of playing with total strangers!

The tournament spots will first open for Patrons. Two weeks from today, I'll expand it to our mailing list and social media accounts.

Who are the characters?

To ensure that all things are even, all three games will feature the same set of six pre-made characters. Since these characters will get printed into our books, they use the SRD subclasses (which means they're all pretty straightforward and easy to run).

Although the characters are set, you will have a 750 gp allowance with which to purchase magic items and additional equipment.

Plus, all players will have a "secret agenda" card. You get to choose from 1 of 3 that are specific to that character. These secret agendas not only add a little extra flavor to the game but give you additional points toward winning the individual player award!

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Hermeros

Lawful Evil Human (Pressonian) 9th-Level Fighter Champion, Folk Hero

Build: Brute/Tank

• "If someone is in trouble, I’m always ready to lend help." 
• "I misuse long words in an attempt to sound smarter."
• "If I become strong, I can take what I want—what I deserve."
• "I wish my childhood sweetheart had come with me to pursue my destiny."
• "I have trouble trusting in my allies."

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Ingane

Chaotic Good Human (Aspaethan) 9th-Level Cleric of Life (Four Generals), Sage

Build: Support/Tank

• "I’m convinced that people are always trying to steal my secrets."
• "There’s nothing I like more than a good mystery."
• "Nothing should fetter the infinite possibility inherent in all existence. 
• "I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question."
• "Unlocking an ancient mystery is worth the price of a civilization."

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Linnea

Neutral High-Elf (Anorian) 9th-Level Rogue Thief, Outlander

Build: Artillerist/Lurker

• "I watch over my friends as if they were a litter of newborn pups."
• "I hate wearing shoes; they hinder my ability to move silently."
• "I must earn glory in battle for myself and other Anorians."
• "I suffer awful visions of a coming disaster and will do anything to prevent it.
• "I am slow to trust members of other races, tribes, and societies."

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Mega the Brash

Chaotic Neutral Half-Orc 9th-level Barbarian Berserker, Pirate

Build: Brute/Tank

• "I stretch the truth for the sake of a good story." 
• "I never pass up a friendly wager."
• "Someday, I’ll own my own ship and chart my own destiny."
• "Ruthless pirates murdered my captain and crewmates, plundered our ship, and left me to die. Vengeance will be mine."
• "Once I start drinking, it’s hard for me to stop."

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Rain on the Pines

Chaotic Good Tiefling 9th-Level Bard, College of Lore, Entertainer

Build: Controller/Support

• "The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it."
• "I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me."
• "There’s a spark of good in everyone."
• "I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it."
• "If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it."

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Shogrus

Half-Elf 9th-Level Sorcerer, Draconic Origin

Build: Artillerist/Controller

• "I’m oblivious to etiquette and social expectations."
• "I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer."
• "My gifts are meant to be shared with all, not used for my own benefit."
• "I entered seclusion to hide from the ones who might still be hunting me. I must someday confront them."
• "I like keeping secrets and won’t share them with anyone."

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How do I sign up?

Sign-ups are free!

In the comments below, leave the following information:

• Your first and last name
• Your Discord handle (we will coordinate through Discord)
• The day you want to play (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday)
• Your preferred character (see below)

It's first-come-first-served (that includes character choices), so make sure to sign-up as soon as you can. I will only accept replies to this particular post, so if you post on Discord, I'll ask you to do it again here so we can get the time stamp. 

Once we fill all the spots, I'll take alternates just in case someone can't make it to a game. So don't be discouraged if you see 18 people sign-up right away! Plus, I encourage folks to come and watch. It's going to be a lot of fun!

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Additional Questions

Is there anything else you want to know? Let me know in the comments below. Also, this is the first time we've done this, so we're open to any suggestions that you have. 

Thanks all, and I look forward to meeting you at PAX!