Author: David Schwarm

  • bookw

    Beyond Baroque Book Hour
    Thursday-Saturdays, August, 2:00-6:00 PM PDT
    Zine Workshop: Friday, August 25-Saturday, August 26, 4:00-6:00 PM
    In Person at Beyond Baroque

    Our Book Hour is coming to an end soon, so come visit and browse our shelves. While you’re here, stop by our zine workshop.Hang out with the BB Zinester crew, Nick Forman, Genesis Perez, and Iván Salinas, this Friday and Saturday 4-6 PM and create your own zine. Supplies will be provided. Our extended August bookstore hours will continue 12-6 PM Thursday-Saturday. If you visit the bookstore during Book Hour, from 2-6 PM, all used books are BOGO—buy one, get one FREE. We also have cool, new Beyond Baroque signature bookmarks and a bargain book cart with books $2 or

  • Wait! There are taxes in Hell?

    Keys From The Golden Vault, live from Alakazam Comics in Irvine, CA, continues this week with the fifth heist, Tockworth’s Clockwork. The party enters the workshop, searching for the fail-safe. Attacked by armor and a crown of madness magic circle. They find safe, abyssal papers and summon Trixie to a final showdown.

    Days in a Haze with a Blaze (Rouge played by Travis) is based on Calendar Man.
    Lining the Pocket the Lion (Wizard played by Dylan) is a chromatic orb casting, fire breathing familiar member of the Golden Vault.
    Sitting Horse (Fighter played by Nicholas) is a bow legged pike wielding penguin follower.
    Snow on the Mountain (Fighter played by Lewis) is mentored by Two-Face. Plated member of the Golden Vault.
    Swallow the River (Cleric played by Brian) is a follower of Zoltec the Crocodile god of death from Chult. Filled member of the Golden Vault.
    Top Card (Rogue played by Glenn) is Cat Women without the slapstick. Filled member of the Golden Vault.

    My players have the absolute worst mini’s ever.

    I started using the Field Notes DM Notebook and I have a LOT of thoughts! There is no space for initiative or combat tracking–which is likely the single most important thing. There is no great section for quotes. The player section is not “large and flexible enough”–overall it is just a mess and not that useful so far.

    Expect more updates on this, but so far my thinking is that index cards are still the best way to go for D&D note taking.

  • Burning Bridges: Molotov Cocktails, Shield Guardians, and Prophetic Doors.

    Keys From The Golden Vault, live from Alakazam Comics in Irvine, CA, continues this week with the fifth heist, Tockworth’s Clockwork. The party continues to explore the svirfneblin city of Little Lockworth. The party battles across the bridge into Smoldertown, takes a rest in a tavern where the first encounter Trixie and then head to her workshop where a shield guardian prevents their access.

    Deacon Dupree (Rogue played by Rock) is based on Brother Dupree. Plated member of the Golden Vault.
    Days in a Haze with a Blaze (Rouge played by Travis) is based on Calendar Man.
    Honey Bunches of O’s (Paladin played by Taylor) is four years old and working with Penguin yakuza version.
    Lining the Pocket the Lion (Wizard played by Dylan) is a chromatic orb casting, fire breathing familiar member of the Golden Vault.
    Snow on the Mountain (Fighter played by Lewis) is mentored by Two-Face. Plated member of the Golden Vault.
    Swallow the River (Cleric played by Brian) is a follower of Zoltec the Crocodile god of death from Chult. Filled member of the Golden Vault.
    Top Card (Rogue played by Glenn) is Cat Women without the slapstick. Filled member of the Golden Vault.

  • Planning

    As to the past let us entrust it to God’s mercy, the future to Divine Providence. Our task is to live holy the present moment.
    – St Gianna Molla