The magical mixture mill is a unique and enchanting contraption that possesses the power to transform ordinary ingredients into extraordinary elixirs. Hidden away in a remote corner of the mystical forest, this mill is guarded by mythical creatures and shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that the magical mixture mill was created centuries ago by an alchemist who sought to combine the powers of nature with his own knowledge of ancient potions and brews. The mill is said to house a collection of rare and exotic herbs, roots, and flowers that possess extraordinary properties. These ingredients, when mixed in the right proportions, can produce potions that can heal, enchant, and even grant wishes. The mill itself is a grand structure, standing tall with intricate designs and symbols etched into its wooden exterior.
So, villagers are going missing. Like, ALOT of villagers. There’s not much information on that, almost none at all. They suspect undead? But also, they suspect a witch and know where she lives and want you to go get her. This is the first abstraction. Not many villagers and no real story to tell of the abductions. Or the undead. Nothing really at all. Just what I typed above. Yes, absolutely, it’s up to the DM to fill in things and bring a game to life, but, also, the designer needs to give them the tools to do that. And just saying that there have been a lot of abductions and they think undead might be invoved is not enough. You need some terrified looks. Boarded up windows. Some personal tales from people. You need to set the VIBE for the DM to then riff further on. And this don’t do that.
I mean, sure, a small mechanic or here, but, generally the designer trusts the DM to do what they need to to run the adventure, and maybe stats things for BX or something. I mean, sure, a small mechanic or here, but, generally the designer trusts the DM to do what they need to to run the adventure, and maybe stats things for BX or something.
The mill itself is a grand structure, standing tall with intricate designs and symbols etched into its wooden exterior. Its water-powered wheel turns gracefully, creating a rhythmic hum that is said to be the voice of the mill. Inside the mill, the ingredients are carefully sorted, ground, and blended by unseen hands, working their alchemical magic.
The Mysterious Witch
The Mysterious Witch is an adventure designed for low level players, for use in any fantasy generic-system TTRPG. This adventure is themed around dark magic, mystery and corruption. Exploration and dangers await players as they travel into a forsaken village among the woods, besieged by undead creatures and horrors. The village asks for help to find the culprit, but the actual truth is more complicated, and beneath the dark veil, a sad reality awaits.
This seven page adventure features a five room dungeon. And small glade to explore. It’s generic, in the abstracted way, rather than in a system neutral way. Well, it’s that also, but, the adventure is more of an outline, devoid of anything interesting that would be useful to the DM in a meaningful way.
I think system agnostic adventures have a lot of potential. At least, system agnostic adventures of a certain type. You’ve got the ones that try to stat something using a “universal” system, usually the older fold who got traumatized by The Game Wizards lawyers. Then you’ve got my favorite type of system agnostic adventure, the ones that are really just an adventure without stats or mechanics to speak of. I mean, sure, a small mechanic or here, but, generally the designer trusts the DM to do what they need to to run the adventure, and maybe stats things for BX or something. This is, I think, the way most people run adventures anyway. You take something for some system, probably not your own, and do a kind of conversion on the fly. Maybe monster stats ahead of time but the rest is on the fly. I really like this sort of thing and I think it has a lot of potential. I really don’t care about balance or mechanics in my adventures, that’s what I’m there for. I’m in this for a decent environment for the party to explore an dplay in, some fun situations and so on, and you don’t need mechanics for that. Then there’s the third type of system agnostic adventure. The kind that is all too common. The one that is essentially an outline. Abstracted content that is not too specific. Almost minimalism. And usually, as in this case, minimalism that is expanded and padded out. Booo!
So, villagers are going missing. Like, ALOT of villagers. There’s not much information on that, almost none at all. They suspect undead? But also, they suspect a witch and know where she lives and want you to go get her. This is the first abstraction. Not many villagers and no real story to tell of the abductions. Or the undead. Nothing really at all. Just what I typed above. Yes, absolutely, it’s up to the DM to fill in things and bring a game to life, but, also, the designer needs to give them the tools to do that. And just saying that there have been a lot of abductions and they think undead might be invoved is not enough. You need some terrified looks. Boarded up windows. Some personal tales from people. You need to set the VIBE for the DM to then riff further on. And this don’t do that.
“Once the layers reach the clearing they will find themselves surrounded by four ruined stone houses and a dry well.” Note the padding. “They will find themselves surrounded by.” and “once they reach the clearing.” My old quantum example I thinks makes the best point about this, but, whatever. This is a conversational style. That pads things out. There is a clearing with four ruined stone houses and a dry well. We then get a description of the dry well. “The dry well has an object hidden at the bottom. It is a dungeon map that reveals the witch’s last location”. Again, padded out They find a hidden object. No, They find a map. And, to boot, it’s boring as fuck. “That reveals the witches last known location.” This is an outline. There is no specificity. It’s an abstraction description devoid of any life. Going further we get the same sort of descriptions for the first house and the big house. Then a paragraph tell us tat amongst the ruins of “a house’ there’s a giant creature feasting on a dead body. The feasting is good, but thahat’s not the ont. It’s another paragraph. AND THEN we learn that, in another paragraph, there’s a zombie lying stuck on top of the dry well. NO! We put things relevant to an object near the object in the description. Stuck is an abstraction. Tell us how. Zommbie is an abstraction. Describe it to us. Paint the picture of what is ging on for the DM to expand upon and rif fon and run the encounter. It’s fucking terrible.
The entire thing is like this. Abstracted generic descriptions. No life in it at all.
And then there’s the design, proper. “On the altar lies a scroll with the following riddle: ”It’s so magical, it comes every night. It takes you away without moving. To see it, close your eyes. ” If the players say the answer out loud: Dream. The scroll magically transforms into a golden key.” This is the worst kind of thing. Just a meaningless riddle, unrelated to the game, a pretext to give out a key. Lame.
This is free at DriveThru. But you will never get your time back. All for a misunderstood evil witch.
“Once the layers reach the clearing they will find themselves surrounded by four ruined stone houses and a dry well.” Note the padding. “They will find themselves surrounded by.” and “once they reach the clearing.” My old quantum example I thinks makes the best point about this, but, whatever. This is a conversational style. That pads things out. There is a clearing with four ruined stone houses and a dry well. We then get a description of the dry well. “The dry well has an object hidden at the bottom. It is a dungeon map that reveals the witch’s last location”. Again, padded out They find a hidden object. No, They find a map. And, to boot, it’s boring as fuck. “That reveals the witches last known location.” This is an outline. There is no specificity. It’s an abstraction description devoid of any life. Going further we get the same sort of descriptions for the first house and the big house. Then a paragraph tell us tat amongst the ruins of “a house’ there’s a giant creature feasting on a dead body. The feasting is good, but thahat’s not the ont. It’s another paragraph. AND THEN we learn that, in another paragraph, there’s a zombie lying stuck on top of the dry well. NO! We put things relevant to an object near the object in the description. Stuck is an abstraction. Tell us how. Zommbie is an abstraction. Describe it to us. Paint the picture of what is ging on for the DM to expand upon and rif fon and run the encounter. It’s fucking terrible.
Local legends are filled with tales of the amazing elixirs that have been created in the magical mixture mill. Some claim that the mill has the power to cure any ailment, while others believe that it can grant eternal youth. There are even rumors of a secret recipe that, when brewed in the mill, can bring back the dead. Over the years, many curious adventurers and desperate souls have sought out the magical mixture mill, hoping to harness its powers for their own purposes. However, the mill is not easily found, as it moves mysteriously through the dense forest, only revealing itself to those who possess a pure heart and a genuine need. The magical mixture mill remains hidden and guarded, preserving its ancient secrets and offering its wonders to only a chosen few. Those who are fortunate enough to discover its hidden location are said to be forever changed, carrying with them the knowledge of the mill's enchantments and the power to spread its magic to the world. In a world filled with uncertainty and chaos, the magical mixture mill stands as a symbol of hope and possibility. Its existence reminds us that there is still magic in the world and that extraordinary things can happen when we combine our knowledge, intentions, and the wondrous gifts of nature. The mill serves as a reminder to embrace the mysterious and never stop seeking the miracles that lie beyond our everyday lives..
Reviews for "Harnessing the Nixture Mill for Protection Spells"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found "The Magical Nixture Mill" to be quite underwhelming. The story was convoluted and confusing, with too many subplots that didn't seem to go anywhere. The characters were also poorly developed, making it hard to connect with them or care about their journey. Additionally, the pacing was off, with slow and boring parts interspersed with rushed and chaotic scenes. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - I'm sorry, but "The Magical Nixture Mill" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, following cliches and tropes that I have seen a hundred times before. The writing style was also lackluster, with no depth or emotion to the prose. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the descriptions were generic and uninspiring. I couldn't connect with the story or the characters, and I would advise others to steer clear of this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Magical Nixture Mill", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The concept had potential, but the execution was lacking. The world-building was weak and inconsistent, with details that were never fully explained or explored. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of monotony followed by rushed and frantic action. The main character was uninteresting and the supporting cast felt one-dimensional. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed with this book.
4. Michael - 3/5 stars - While I didn't hate "The Magical Nixture Mill", I can't say that I loved it either. The story had an intriguing premise, but it never fully lived up to its potential. The pacing was inconsistent, with parts that dragged on and others that felt rushed. The writing style was average, neither captivating nor memorable. The characters were somewhat interesting, but they lacked depth and complexity. Overall, it was an okay read, but I wouldn't consider it a standout in its genre.