Expedition to the Barrier Peaks is an adventure module written by Gary Gygax (pictured) for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. While Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is typically a fantasy game, the adventure includes science fiction elements. It takes place on a downed spaceship; the crew has died, but robots and strange creatures still inhabit the ship. The player characters fight monsters and robots, and gather futuristic weapons and colored access cards to advance the story. The adventure was first played at the 1976 Origins II convention. TSR published the adventure in 1980, updated for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. The adventure is a favorite of many fans, including Stephen Colbert. Dungeon magazine ranked it the fifth-best D&D adventure of all time, and White Dwarf and The Space Gamer magazines gave it positive reviews.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedition_to_the_Barrier_Peaks

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

371 BC:

The Post-Peloponnesian War Conflicts: The Thebans defeated the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra in Boeotia in the territory of Thespiae, weakening Sparta's influence over the Greek peninsula. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leuctra

1777:

American Revolutionary War: American troops at Fort Ticonderoga in New York retreated from the advancing British forces, causing an uproar in the American public since the fort was widely believed to be virtually impregnable. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Ticonderoga_%281777%29

1887:

King Kalākaua of Hawai'i was forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution, stripping the Hawaiian monarchy of much of its authority as well as disfranchising all Asians, most native Hawaiians, and the poor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1887_Constitution_of_the_Kingdom_of_Hawaii

1998:

Hong Kong International Airport, built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, opened for commercial operations, becoming one of the world's busiest airports. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_International_Airport

2006:

Nathu La , a mountain pass in the Himalayas connecting India and China, sealed during the Sino-Indian War, re-opened for trade after more than 40 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathu_La

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

stellify (v): 1. (mythology) To transform from an earthly body into a celestial body; to place in the sky as such. 2. (astronomy) To turn into a star http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stellify

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace. --Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Tenzin_Gyatso%2C_14th_Dalai_Lama