The Lost Mines of Phandelver - Part 1

So it began. Finally got BM, CC, MS, JT and a substitute for EK to come around and start to play D&D. On a cold Friday night, we gathered around the table and played for a while.

Started off with explaining characters, looking at sheets for each player, picking spells, ordering food and picking minis. Characters are so much simpler than 4e and the new more brutal combat hopefully should lead to more imaginative ways to get around obstacles.

Sword Coast (© Wizards of the Coast)

So we set out with Gendrick the Dwarf Cleric, Vida the Elf Wizard, Benjamin the Human Noble Fighter, Laretia (Larry) the Human Folk Hero Fighter and Kaley the Halfling Rogue, escorting a wagon to the town of Phandalin from Neverwinter on behalf of a Dwarf named Gundar who has set off ahead with his escort Sundar.

Shortly after turning off the main coast road, the company spot two dead horses on the road and 4 goblins jump out plugging a few of our heroes with arrows. A brief skirmish ensues in which most of our heroes do.. well nothing. Larry plugged two with her own longbow (+7 to attack rolls helps) and Benjamin javelins one before slapping the final goblin into unconsciousness.

Benjamin in Victory (Technically should have a Greataxe)

Upon interrogating the Goblin the party discovered that whilst Gundar had been taken to the Goblin King, the huuuman was being held in the "eating cave". Another threat led to the goblin promising to show the party the way along a path hidden behind a thicket.

A short break ensued wherein our party hid the ox and cart, healed up, and whilst Vida, Kaley and Larry were out of the room, Benjamin gutted the goblin to the horror of the others (Lawful Good?).

Our session ended with the party finding the cave (after narrowly avoiding traps along the way), springing the goblin ambush at the entrance when Benjamin started singing whilst crossing the river. Unfortunately in the ensuing melee, Kaley was knocked unconscious.

So what will happen next; will our adventurers find Sildar, what awaits us in Phandalin, will Kaley survive (or indeed be renamed)?!?

A Sign of Things to Come

Having two children under the age of 2 is proving to be very restrictive in terms of painting time - especially now that the boy is old enough to get bored in his play pen and both of them are ill.
However I am hosting a D&D game on Friday (using the 5e Starter Box) with MS, CC, JT, BM and EK (Initials used to kind of hide identity) for which I really need to get a few minis at least made if not painted fully.

I'm using a combination of D&D minis as well as my Frostgrave stuff and even some donkeys from my Vietnam War Stuff but for the baddies I need to get a few bits and bobs glued together (and preferably sprayed). So that is my mission this week. Work, care for sick kiddies/clean house, put boy to bed, paint. Somewhere in there I need to do some training up for American Football Rookie Day too (sit ups and baby bench press).

All of this whilst eating cheap and healthy...