Coup de Grâce

I get irritated by how people routinely mispronounce the phrase "coup de grâce". Most Americans, and most gamers to my knowledge pronounce it incorrectly. In short: the final "e" is silent, but not the "c" before it. In fact, here's the (incorrect) listing printed in the 3E D&D Player's Handbook (p. 276, © 2000):

Again, check out that supposed pronunciation:

I don't know how this could have ever gotten started, because it doesn't match any dictionary, either English or French. Some references, in each case pronouncing the final "s" sound:

• Dictionary.com, including entries from the Random House Dictionary and others -- including an audio link at the top.
• Wiktionary.org: "Some English speakers, aware that some final consonants are dropped in French, overcompensate by dropping the final /s/ sound in grâce, making this sound like French coup de gras ('strike of grease'). This mispronunciation is quickly becoming ubiquitous and is being popularized by the media (e.g., it occurs twice in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 2)." Also includes an audio link.
• Cambridge English Dictionary, with audio link.
• Oxford Dictionary, with audio link.
• Collins English Dictionary.
• Merriam-Webster.
• Google Translate, with audio link.

Let's get literate, people!

Geomorphs and Giants

Ever notice how the dungeon designs for Gygax's Against the Giants adventure series (modules G1-3) respectively match the same styles as in his Dungeon Geomorphs products?

Geomorphs and giants dungeon styles

Blade of Vengeance, Part 5

A few posts ago, a commenter asked for a character sheet of Erestylle of Dorneryll, the solo character in Jim Bambra's D&D Module O2, Blade of Vengeance. So this week we take a break and look at our protagonist as shown in the module:

 

Of course, this was published to support the Moldvay/Cook B/X - Mentzer Basic line, in which race & class were collapsed to a single state for non-humans, the character is listed as simply a 7th-level Elf (3 less than the maximum allowed for elves in those rules). Since we picked up this module and started play extemporaneously, with no preparation on my part at all, I've been using the stats as presented -- except under Original D&D rules to declare that Erystelle counts as a 4th-level fighter (maximum else in OD&D), and 7th-level magic-user (one less than maximum). Also we've retroactively defined Erystelle's two wardogs to be bobcats instead (with the same 2 hit dice, single 1d6 attack, and +2 to surprise if alone or with Erystelle in wooded terrain; see Lynx, Giant). Spells and equipment were all kept the same.

Now, in retrospect Erystelle's listed 40 hit points don't make sense for that level as an OD&D character (as I interpret the rules for multiclassing; see OED House Rules). Even in the Moldvay/Mentzer rules, Erystelle's hit points are clearly inflated; maximum possible would be 7d6 + 7 for Constitution = 7×6 + 7 = 49, so the hit points shown are well above average, 40/49 = 82% the possible maximum. In OD&D, assuming that hit points for multiclassing do not sum, the maximum for a 4th-level fighter is 4d8 + 4 = 36 or a 7th-level wizard 7d4 + 7 = 35. Taking a similar 82% of either of those numbers gives a likely hit point total of just 30 for proper OD&D play. But I'm not going to reduce that in the middle of play, so Erystelle for the moment retains the full 40 hit points as shown here (minus various scrapes, burns, collisions, falls, crushing impacts, and blood-sucking that has occurred along the way so far).

Note that as usual all of my OD&D monster hit dice and attacks are simply rolled with d6's, which proportionally reduces the threat from those monsters, so Erystelle has a bit of an extra edge in this particular run-through of the Blade of Vengeance.

Theater Thesis

I say the following all the time, but to my amazement a search fails to find it in any previous post on this blog, so here it is:

D&D is to video games as live theater is to movies.

In both pairs, the former is technologically simpler, and has the historical precedent. The latter is more technically demanding, and allows a mass-produced and mass-replicated experience, and in so doing creates a far more lucrative business model. But the former provides a live activity, and interaction between people in the performance space, and thus the potential for a more intimate, visceral, intense, one-of-a-kind experience.

In each case, professionals will work regularly in the latter activity for a livelihood; but generally engage in the former when given the opportunity for greater personal expression and reward. Great actors work in movies but take off to live Broadway when they get a chance. Likewise, in my experience, most professional video game developers work on the digital form during the day job, but in off-hours they play live D&D (or other RPGs) as the more fulfilling "true essence" of the form.

Blade of Vengeance, Part 4

Days 10-13:

• Erystelle and companion creatures return to the ruined human village of Scrubton, then take the track southwest. Fight a pair of giant ferrets along the way; at this point E. fixes on the strategy of casting sleep on these lesser creatures and putting them to the sword as soon as possible.
  
• Reaches a high, open hillside in the forest which allows survey of the forest and river for leagues distance. Spots titanic twin pillars to the north; and also a huge dragon flying about a league away. Hastens back into the woods for cover and makes camp. Overnight fends off 3 wild boars.
  
• Travels some 3 leagues north through the trackless forest and reaches the river, where an attack by 5 giant flies occurs. Camps out and rests before assaulting the pillars, which glow with a supernatural light through the trees at night.
  
• In the morning, crosses the river by swimming and assisted by a magic web cast between trees from back to bank. Travels a league northwest to the area of the pillars; finds it entirely circled by thorny brambles which twist and thrash out when a torch is brought near them. Wizard eye scans the inner area but finds no secret paths. E. begins hacking against the brambles by sword, and manages to cut through, but not without the brambles striking back and drawing blood. E. correctly guesses that the brambles might grow back quickly, and calls the animal companions through the cut passage.
  
• The existing pillars are only part of what once stood here; the upper halves have been shattered and lie in rubble. The surface are covered in ivory with engravings of celestial bodies; stars and moons and comets. A small dirty pool lies between them with weeds and bugs. E. casts read magic on the glyphs and determines that they are symbols of magical navigation, but to where one cannot say. Invokes the magic rhyme from the shargugh (“Before me lies the silver moon...”, etc.) but nothing happens. Rests for the day by the pillars and fends off an attack by stirges. Falls asleep in the afternoon.
  
• Awaken at night and the place is transformed: although the prior night was a quarter waxing, the moon shines full overhead. The pillars pulse with magical power. The pool is a bright crystal pond, reflecting the moon. The bramble barrier is gone. The weeds are now bright shining flowers, ever petal casting a glittering, twinkling light. E. says the magic words; nothing happens. Inspects the burned page from the hermit. Stands in the pond and says the rhyme; nothing happens. Kneels and speaks; nothing. Lies prostrate and speaks; nothing. Holds a shining flower in the hand and speaks; nothing. Touches the pillars and speaks; nothing. Frustrating all possibilities, takes the opportunity to avoid the brambles and retreats to the riverside and weeps and curses.
  
• Decides to follow the river south; travels 4 leagues and gets attacked by more giant flies. Makes camp.
  
• Travels further south, fending off a pack of 5 wolves with the usual sleep spell. A league later finds a bridge over the river with a rustic nearby domicile. Hails the woman with a wolf on the porch. A man joins her and casts detect evil on Erystelle for safety. E. shows the tale of woe, and oncoming monsters and destruction while the couple listens silently.
  
• As E. speak, the wolf growls and turns; the place is under attack by a huge troll and a score of gnolls! As they rush through the couple's orchard, E. casts web and manages to catch the troll and a pair of gnolls (fails save; and fails attack check to break out). The man and woman cast hold person spells, paralyzing a half-dozen gnolls in place. As the gnolls approack to within melee distance, the woman casts animal growth on the wolf, horse, and bobcats, and they each swell to giant-sized (double hits and damage). E. casts magic missile and strikes 4 of the gnolls. The animals dive among them, tearing limbs and bodies in pieces. A few run but get cut down before they can escape. E. turns to the struggling troll and blasts it with a lightning bolt, then hacks at it by sword. The man appears with a lit torch and sets the web and troll pieces on fire, and they also throw the paralyzed gnolls into the flame like cordwood.
  
• Ragnal and Rhonda Redleaf are immensely grateful, cast healing spells on Erystelle and the injured bobcat, and turn over their entire supply of healing herbs to E. in gratitude. Asking for advice or information, the pair suggest that E. visit an old ent that lives nearby and ask him. For now however, E. stays the night and sleeps in a bed for the first time in many days, with the animals all sleeping peacefully nearby. However, all are aware that the monster depradations seem to be getting worse.
  
• (DM's note: I decide that the module-indicated 3 wandering monster checks per day is likely excessive. Will be switching back to core OD&D rule of 1 check per day at 2-in-6 in the woods.)
  

Tolkien's Maps

Hopefully you've seen these graph-paper maps and other illustrations used by J.R.R. Tolkien to plan out Middle Earth, at Wired:

http://www.wired.com/2015/10/see-jrr-tolkien-lord-of-the-rings-middle-earth-illustrations-for-first-time/