Last month, I looked at the four-book Challenge series that pitted one character of a specific class against the DM. The idea was to allow a new character (and player) the chance to get some experience and a unique bit of character history before joining a larger group game. For the most part, they’re well designed and engaging adventures. This week, I’m going to look at the sequel series. Place you bets now for how they come out in comparison.

This is Fighter’s Challenge II (1994). Off the bat, this module makes odd choices. Rather than for new characters, this is aimed at characters level four to six. Stranger still, it wants specific kits: the Cavalier or Noble Warrior from the Fighter’s Handbook. I bet that makes for an amazing experience for the very small slice of players with those character types, but overall, this seems to be a perilous narrowing of purpose.

It begins in media res, which usually seems like a good idea but bothers me in this context. The player is on the brink of completing a mission to rescue a princess. The rest of the scenario deals with escorting her to safety and dealing with the witch who kidnapped her in the first place. There are a number of NPCs and side quests that flesh things out. It’s all very linear and event-driven. It isn’t bad, but it doesn’t seem as thought out or cared about as the first installment.

Cover painting by Erik Olson. I think it is original to this book. Valerie Valusek did the interiors and they’re fine, but the reproduction on my copy is pretty crummy, which makes me wonder how rushed the production was.

I didn't get any mail this week, nor did I finish painting any of these miniatures (though some are close!). Let me see if I can think of anything with which I may entertain you...

Oh, I read my pal Orrin's review of the 4K edition of Excalibur (1981) on Unwinnable this morning. I think he gets to the heart of the film, which I've always found to resonate profoundly despite its many weird flaws. While you're over there, consider subscribing to Unwinnable's digital magazine. March issue comes out shortly, and April's got a Final Fantasy theme.

Last night, I ran the first of several Call of Cthulhu one-shots for the West Marches group (the march is currently on hiatus as I finish renovations on the world). I'm running Scritch Scratch for groups of six (in preparation for running it at Dungeon Con 2 in May). If that sounds fun, sign up for the Patreon at the $10 tier and you can go crazy with us. 

What else? I got about a third of the way through Deathstalker (2025) before I turned it off. That dude's movies just ain't for me, at least not without without pals to Satellite of Love it to death. Also, feels more Xena than, well, Deathstalker.

I started reading So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1984) this week. My re-read of the series trailed off a couple years back after I didn't particularly enjoy The Meaning of Life. Despite much love for Adams in seventh grade, I am not sure I've ever read Fish before? I really love it, though. It's sweet and optimistic and granted I don't know how it ends yet, but I'm thinking I am not going to read Mostly Harmless (as I know it is emphatically not sweet nor optimistic).

Also, back on my Pye Corner Audio obsession (I used about an hour's worth of his tracks to score the Scritch Scratch session last night). Discovered the House in the Woods side project and am quite enjoying The Spectral Corridor. For fans of feeling vaguely menaced by quiet, ambient music.