Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Reprinted White Box Extra book?

Looking out to November, Wizards just announced a premium reprint of Original Dungeons & Dragons! Yes, that’s the white-cover booklets. For $150, this wood-boxed set will include polyhedral dice and:
  • Volume 1: Men & Magic
  • Volume 2: Monsters & Treasure
  • Volume 3: Underworld & Wilderness Adventures
  • Supplement I: Greyhawk
  • Supplement II: Blackmoor
  • Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry
  • Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes
  • Seven listed books but eight in the photo What could be the book be?
  • For more on  WOTC  reprints along with other game news visit http://www.purplepawn.com/

Ancient d20 die now available in 3D-printed form

Ancient d20 die now available in 3D-printed form | Crave - CNET

Ancient d20 die now available in 3D-printed form


A famous Ptolemaic Period 20-sided die is now available to the masses as a 3D-printed reproduction.


Ancient die and 3D rendering
Can you tell which is which?
(Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art/Cornerstone Gaming)
When we first looked into the ancient d20 die from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it spurred a lot of geeky excitement. The only thing that might have been more fun would have been uncovering an ancient Egyptian Atari cartridge.
Readers quickly chimed in about getting a replica made. There were pleas for ThinkGeek to get busy on it, or for someone with Autodesk and a 3D printer to tackle the project. Cornerstone Gaming on Shapeways has officially made it across the 3D-printed-ancient-die finish line.
The Replica Egyptian 20-Sided Die starts at $16.99 for a sandstone finish. If you want to be much less historically accurate, you could spring for $124.99 to get it in a glossy gold finish or $305.99 to get it done in sterling silver, which would make an awesome "rock" for a geeky history-loving gamer engagement ring.
Since most of us aren't likely to ever get our hands on a real Ptolemaic Period die carved out of serpentine, a 3D-printed replica is the next best thing. Plus, you could order multiples and declare your ownership of a set of icosahedra dice with Greek letters.
It may take a little longer to sort out your tabletop gaming results, but it would be a nifty addition to an Egypt-themed Dungeons & Dragons module. Sweet, I rolled a Kappa!


 
 
 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Pentillie Castle: Body found in knight's grave hunt

BBC News - Pentillie Castle: Body found in knight's grave hunt

Pentillie Castle: Body found in knight's grave hunt


The 300-year-old mystery of Sir James Tillie of Pentillie Castle, appears to have been solved

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Human remains, found at a stately home in Cornwall, are thought to be those of the man who built it.

Sir James Tillie, who built Pentillie Castle in 1698, instructed his staff to place him in a chair with his pipe when he died.

The instructions were followed before he was removed, but no burial information has ever been found.

Archaeologists who examined a mausoleum built in 1713, upon his death, said a body had been found in a vault.

In his will, Sir James demanded that he should not be buried, but dressed in his best clothes, bound to a stout chair and placed with his books, wine and pipe on Mount Ararat on the estate.
'Resurrection' plan
Archaeologist Oliver Jessop said: "It would appear that potentially we do have real evidence that the story or the myth actually was true.

"In the early 19th Century it has been suggested that the bones were removed to the local churchyard.

"I can confirm that that's not the case and there is a body actually still inside the vault."

Mr Jessop said the vault was found after archaeologists dug an exploratory hole in the internal floor of the mausoleum and discovered a brick-built roof.

Inside it a structure with leather studs and woodwork with handles on it was found, which are thought to be either a chair or coffin.

Ted Coryton, the owner of Pentillie Castle, said: "It's an extraordinary legacy really, 300 years after his death and we're all talking about it, it doesn't happen to many people so maybe he decided to be resurrected, then maybe this is his resurrection."

The team had also hoped to find out if Sir James' wife, Elizabeth, was buried with him, but this is yet to be discovered.

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Digitised Manuscripts

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