Saturday, May 3, 2014
Games From the Basement - True 20
During the time I was no longer actively playing RPGs but was most certainly buying and reading them, I found True 20. Heck, i was even played in a play by post True 20 game WAY back in the day, but getting caught posting from work kinda put a damper on that ;)
I think what I liked most about True 20 were the sample settings. Damn, I need to dig out that True 20 setting book (Worlds of Adventure) I have buried somewhere and convert one or two of them to Swords & Wizardry. Should be easy enough, as they were mostly fluff if I recall correctly.
Shame it pretty much is "abandon-ware" these days. I think the surge in popularity that Savage Worlds went thru, as well as the pull back on D20 games in general, pulled the rug out from under True 20.
Do You Allow Players in Your Campaigns to Research and Design Their Own Spells?
Maybe "allow" is too strong a word, but "encourage" probably wouldn't be right either.
Do players in your campaigns research and design actual new spells - something unique to your ruleset?
I remember back in my college years, I'd have players occasionally express a desire to tweak a spell already in one of the AD&D books with the desire to give it their own flavor, but nobody was designing anything truly new. I haven't come across even a desire to tweak a by-the-book spell in any of the campaigns I've run / played in in the last few years. Maybe it's a "lack of free time issue".
So, do you or your players research and design their own spells??
Do players in your campaigns research and design actual new spells - something unique to your ruleset?
I remember back in my college years, I'd have players occasionally express a desire to tweak a spell already in one of the AD&D books with the desire to give it their own flavor, but nobody was designing anything truly new. I haven't come across even a desire to tweak a by-the-book spell in any of the campaigns I've run / played in in the last few years. Maybe it's a "lack of free time issue".
So, do you or your players research and design their own spells??
Wayward Kickstarter - Phase Shift - The Kitchen Sink RPG (I Think, with the dirty dishes and other assorted crap still in it)
"Phase Shift is a tabletop RPG, set in the far future, in a universe where science and technology are hybridized. You're as likely to see a cyberthaumic warp core as a cannon that shoots healing explosives. Also, you can fight a cyber angel as a LASER MAGE. Look me in the eye and tell me that's not awesome."
Dude, it's... not awesome.
First, the video was humorous, but I doubt for the reasons those in it wished. It's just bad.
As for the game itself?
We're raising funds in order to get a large print run for our first release! (no, never attempted this shit before and backed only one prior project - a Con) We are also getting money to start a tour of conventions in the general area around Washington, DC! (so the money you pledge isnt going to just go towards getting the game published, but to hook us up) Printing a manual the way we want it to be costs a lot, especially when we're dealing with full-color art and quality materials. (why do things right when we can jump into the deep end of the pool right from the start) This is a standalone RPG system, completely separate from all existing systems, and we're trying our best to keep it an independent project! You know you love indie stuff! (we do?) This is as indie as it gets!
Phase Shift is gameplay unleashed! It takes a lot more involvement from players because they have to be much more creative and involved about their character choices. (because we dont have rules for the stuff you are used to having rules for apparently) We streamline fighting so that you don't have to worry about what you can do. Basically, you can do whatever you want, as long as it's something your character COULD do. (OK - dont worry about what you can do, just worry about what you could do - WTF) Ever wondered why in SOME games *cough*dragons*cough* you can't just try to grab someone and toss them off a cliff using Unarmed Combat? (because your DM sucks?) Well, if you haven't wondered that, you SHOULD!
The setting is pretty awesome. (we have to say so ourselves,more than once, because we doubt you will say it) Factions control the galaxy, and mercenaries are in extremely high demand, due to the chaotic things that happened after two universes, one magic-filled and one scientific, merged in a dramatic event called the Phase Shift (hence the name). Gods took physical form (and started laying claim to people's souls) (sweet - the Avatar event for 2e) , psychics began appearing, and races from both universes were now cohabiting this one. There are thousands of different subspecies of humans, as well as Mekkos, sentient robots who are just looking for a place in the universe where they won't be discriminated against.Er, right.
You know what - I'll leave it at that.
Go to the Kickstarter page of Phase Shift and view the video. You'll be sorry you did ;)
Oh, and the rewards are print or online - no PDF. WTF is up with that?
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Push my Button - I DARE You! |
Friday, May 2, 2014
Wayward Kickstarter - Washington State Attorney General Sues Kickstarter Project Over $25k Project that Failed to Deliver
I need to tip my hat to far too many folks to even mention. Thanks to all that brought this article to my attention.
Washington’s attorney general, calling it “the first consumer-protection lawsuit in the nation involving crowdfunding,” sued a Tennessee firm that got $25,000 from backers but delivered nothing,
Washington’s attorney general is taking consumer protection to the next frontier: crowdfunding.
The state’s top lawyer, Bob Ferguson, said Thursday his office has filed the first consumer-protection complaint in the U.S. to target a Kickstarter fraud.
The lawsuit alleges Edward Polchlopek III and his company, Nashville, Tenn-based Altius Management, in 2012 raised more than $25,000 from 810 people in order to print a deck of “retro-horror”-themed cards designed by a Serbian artist.
Among those backers were 31 living in Washington state, according to the suit, which was filed in King County Superior Court.
Altius’ fundraising campaign promised backers that in exchange they would receive playing cards and other freebies, such as poker chips, dice and “even a costume straitjacket,” the complaint alleges.
But two years later, the attorney general said, not a single backer has received what was promised, and no money was returned. The suit seeks restitution of the cash, as well as fines up to $2,000 per backer for violations of the Consumer Protection Act, meaning the total could top $1.6 million.You can read the rest of the article at the Seattle Times.
What does this mean to the Toms, Mikes, Joshuas, Gareths and the rest that take in funds and deliver squat years later? Depends on whether or not backers in Washington state bring their complaints to the state's AG. Even if it goes nowhere, the legal costs to defend against such a lawsuit is beyond the scope of 99.9% of Kickstarter creators out there.
I firmly believe that few project creators go into it planning to fuck their backers over, but I also believe more than a few go into it thinking "if i all goes pear-shaped, I'm really not on the hook for anything and it's not my money being risked".
A lawsuit like this means it IS their money being put as risk. Maybe it will keep those that expect Kickstarter to be their cash making machine with no risk to think twice.
Or not.
WOSR 74.O Tavern Radio featuring Tenkar & The Badger - The Unnamed Podcast is now Named
+Jason Paul McCartan and I spent about 2 hours last night talking about our upcoming podcast. Format, tech, short term and long term plans. You know, all of the goodness. Probably the last thing we hashed out was the name.
We wound up going with a radio theme. We like the naming format, as it allows for expansion down the line. Real play, an all interview program (probably hacked together from previous episodes) or what not can all be Tavern Radio, just different lines. Shit, that sounds very 2e-ish ;)
The hope is to get the first episode up by the end of June or so - time will tell.
There will be a "Tavern Radio" community over on G+ for news about the podcast as well as the usual updates here at The Tavern. Well, it's there now, just nothing "therein" at the moment. Work in progress. Hang at The Tavern in the meantime.
BTW, the "O" in 74.O is pronounced "oh" - it's the letter, not the number. Seventy Four Point Oh. Because that's the way we roll :)
We wound up going with a radio theme. We like the naming format, as it allows for expansion down the line. Real play, an all interview program (probably hacked together from previous episodes) or what not can all be Tavern Radio, just different lines. Shit, that sounds very 2e-ish ;)
The hope is to get the first episode up by the end of June or so - time will tell.
There will be a "Tavern Radio" community over on G+ for news about the podcast as well as the usual updates here at The Tavern. Well, it's there now, just nothing "therein" at the moment. Work in progress. Hang at The Tavern in the meantime.
BTW, the "O" in 74.O is pronounced "oh" - it's the letter, not the number. Seventy Four Point Oh. Because that's the way we roll :)
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Wayward Kickstarter - 4thWar Equipment - Wargaming Table - Backed Six, All Current (Follow Up)
So, they often say one should see if the folks behind a Kickstarter project have backed others, as failure to have done so is often a sign of not fully understanding the process or even a simple cash grab.
4thWar Equipment has backed six other projects, which isn't a bad sign - until you notice they are all current. Kickstarter is something that just recently came across their radar, and they are trying to build cred. Sad.
At the very least, they should have learned the importance of editing their Kickstarter page by a native English speaker...
4thWar Equipment has backed six other projects, which isn't a bad sign - until you notice they are all current. Kickstarter is something that just recently came across their radar, and they are trying to build cred. Sad.
At the very least, they should have learned the importance of editing their Kickstarter page by a native English speaker...
I Like My Random Tables - Now if I Could Just Integrate them into The Tavern's Posts
I really enjoy random tables for inspiration. They are often my "go to" resource when my players zig instead of zagging, or when I need something quickly that is going to fuel my imagination. Which is why I need to work on an inspirational table for some of my blog posts.
Hmm, could even carry it over to the podcast...
All I need to do is figure out format and die size ;)
Hmm, could even carry it over to the podcast...
All I need to do is figure out format and die size ;)
Deadlands Series in Development for XBOX TV (Video Streaming)
Deadlands, the wild west with magic and undead, is coming to an XBOX near you - not as a game, but as a TV series.
Wasn't Far West supposedly developed with the hopes of going multimedia?
Projects in Development
“Deadlands”
Xbox Entertainment Studios has committed to a script based on the successful pen-and-paper role playing game created by Shane Lacy Hensley. “Deadlands” is a genre-bending alternative history of the Weird West, filled with undead gunfighters, card-slinging sorcerers, mad scientists, secret societies, and fearsome abominations.Microsoft article here.
Forbes article here.
Bleeding Cool article here.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Kickstarter - Myth & Magic - The Truth Be Told, At Last (update 63)
The Myth & Magic Player's Guide Kickstarter. What can I say about it now that I haven't said already? Not much. It was, truth be told, so full of blatant lies that it was almost humorous to follow. At least until Tom decided to post my name and tracking information in the comments section of the Kickstarter for all to see. Yeah, I contacted Kickstarter for that bit of "unprofessional conduct" and they removed it.
I expected my copy of the M&M Player's Guide to be either piss soaked or covered in anthrax after that little incident, but it arrived clean and unscathed- just so I could be shut up. See, I wasn't bitching so much about the lateness but the lies piled upon lies.
Apparently, Tom has decided the truth will set him free. Not that he admits to lying in so many words. He is still, by training, a lawyer:
Project Update #63: Things are still moving, but...
For backers only (I think folks deserve the truth, so here it is, with snarky comments provide by your favorite Tavern Keeper)
Posted by New Haven Games
Hi Everyone...
This is going out to the backers of both Kickstarters.
I wanted to drop a much-needed update to tell you that I'm still here and still working to complete the GMG and PG shipments. You have asked multiple times for the true reason for the Kickstarter fiasco. I tried, as politically as possible, to dodge the question and to keep you all positive (lets call bullshit what it is... bullshit. Tom lied. Now he tells us the justification for lying). Well, my attempting to keep you (and me) positive turned into untruthfulness (see, lawyer 100%) and I can't run away from the issues any longer.
The site is no longer active. In fact, NHG is no longer active. For the last few months, I have been trying to form a plan to complete the projects as quickly as possible. Part of that plan includes not funding anything outside the projects.
The first cause of all the problems is that I underestimated the cost of the Player's Guide KS, artwork for the GMG, and international PG shipments (I'll give him some play on this - he went high on the hog when it came to the art and international shipping costs rose tremendously as the project got delayed). Not having the proper business foresight (translation - "I had no idea WTF I was doing but the money coming in seemed nice"), I didn't control the early spending and went overboard with quality. So, I've been self-funding the final leg of the PG shipments and everything since the first draft of the GMG; and by extension, everything to be completed moving forward is to be funded with my money (because Tom can't budget for shit - not uncommon in the world of Kickstarters). The second cause has been a lack of time outside of my work and family. I wrote this game and began marketing it before I was working. I always naively thought that I would be able to manage it all. Well, I was wrong. (honesty - doesn't it sound nice for a change?)
The cold hard truthful reason why things have crawled to a temporary stop is that I don't have enough money stored up to quickly fuel the projects (did he piss it all away on hookers and blow? no - he suffered from some of that Nystulian syndrome - can't run a business for shit)
Now, having said all of that, I'm NOT GIVING UP. It's hard enough to think that NHG is no more, but even harder to think that I have let down the players that made the game possible. And for that reason, I vow to get this done. I have begun to look into various loan programs and for a few private reasons, I should be able to secure the necessary funds by the end of Summer. Mid-September to be exact. (I'm glad Tom is looking to make things right. Doesn't explain away all of the lies, nor does it earn forgiveness for said lies, but it's more than some other project creators have attempted. Assuming it's not more lies...)
A few things must happen. It doesn't cost any money to release the full art-free GMG, so I can realistically get that to the GMG backers on or before the first week of May (nicely done). I will also continue to send out small quantities of books with my private money until I get the loan. These shipments will also include the Players Guides ordered by GMG backers. As I said, any loan will most likely come through in mid-September. At that point, whatever orders are not received or needing to be re-shipped will be immediately shipped out. I would love to get all international orders shipped before the loan, but some of them are $80 to $100 a whack! I will still try though. My goal, in terms of the GMG, is to have it printed and shipped before the end of the year. (lofty goals)
Trust me, I understand your frustration. You have every right to be frustrated and even angry. We all had an amazing time collaborating and creating this game. The only thing I ask for is more patience and more time. Please. Nothing happened as a result of bad faith or any intentional scheme to defraud you (except for the lies. That built upon more lies. And when confronted with evidence of lying, more lies still). It was all a matter of my mismanaging the PG Kickstarter. It's a beautiful book, but dammit, it was my undoing!
Another factor of my undoing was not communicating enough (no - Tom's undoing was the lying. That, more than anything, has hurt whatever business he had.) I was embarrassed. Add in the hate mail and hate comments, and running away from the updates and comments was the only way I could avoid having a nervous breakdown. You may or may not know this, but I have two small children. I can't let them see me fall apart over this. (understandable. lying puts a horrible toll on folks, especially when they want to do right and are confront by their bullshit)
My next update will include the GMG pdf and an update on how many additional shipments I was able to send out. I will also set up a new dedicated email address to start fresh with everyone. The other email addresses are filled with vileness. I hope we can just start over, with a new email, and have some better dialogue. I probably will not read the comments here so that I can try to focus on what's ahead, but I will update you more frequently.
Well, that's it - the entire ugly truth. I'm still here and still dedicated. I have the right mindset now to get this done and I will get this done!!
T
It's not the entire ugly truth, but close enough. The angry comments (and blogposts) were due more to the outright lies, especially about having shipped out hundreds of shipments, than being late. If Tom truly (there's that fucking word again) attempts to do right now, much of his earlier deception will be forgiven, but probably not forgotten.
Damn shame as Myth & Magic had the makings of a fine game.
Steading of the Hill Giant Chief - Cartoon Walkthrough - WotC
How did I miss this? (probably because it just released today ;)
You can grab the full size maps / strips (there are 2) at the WotC site (linked for your enjoyment)
Magic Items - How Unique Do You Want Them?
Every player worth their salt has memorized the magic item tables of the rulebook of your choice. Really, just ask them.
So, not only are weapons and armor with simple plus "ho hum", but so is just about every magic item published in a core book. They can recite the abilities of that Staff of Power or the Elven Cloak they just found once they ID them (and probably before as they pelt you with guesses).
Do you create magic unique magic items for your campaigns? If you do, is it there to add spice to the basics ones or do you replace all of the standards with unique items of your own design?
So, not only are weapons and armor with simple plus "ho hum", but so is just about every magic item published in a core book. They can recite the abilities of that Staff of Power or the Elven Cloak they just found once they ID them (and probably before as they pelt you with guesses).
Do you create magic unique magic items for your campaigns? If you do, is it there to add spice to the basics ones or do you replace all of the standards with unique items of your own design?
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wayward Kickstarter - 4thWar Equipment - Wargaming Table - (built by Anton Jackson)
Wait, you don't remember Anton Jackson, the homeless character from In Living Color? He could do magic with a cardboard box:
Apparently, so can the the Italians that are bring us cardboard gaming tables at the 4thWar Equipment Wargaming Table Kickstarter.
Where shall we start? Despite what the Kickstarter says, they aren't located in NY, NY. Or maybe they are, as the Kickstarter appears to have been written with a NYC Public High School education (I live here, I should know):
Put the LEGS on your HOBBY! Fully crafted cardboard table for wargamer and tabletop gamer. By a player mind for players fight!
If you have any trouble understanding english, in the link below you can find the video with ITA & FRANCE subtitles: (strangely enough, the English subtitles are as hard to understand as the English is)Just who the fuck proofread this before going live?
anyone want a "chep kit"?
and I really can't make heads or tales out of this shit:
but in any case, they do supply boobies:
it's not like you could put HER on the table - it's just cardboard. Actually, my wife says that would be the true stress test for this table - damn, but my wife is as bad as me.
You want to raise $99,000? maybe spend a couple of hundred to have a native english speaker proofread your project.
I sincerely blame +Jason Paul McCartan for bringing this to my attention...
and the Winner of the $25 RPGNow GC From Post 4k is...
Jonas.
I had my wife pick a random number from 1 to 13, and see chose "11".
So, Jonas, send me an email at tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom with your info and we'll get that RPGNow credit out to you.
New up will be 5 years of blogging at the end of May....
I had my wife pick a random number from 1 to 13, and see chose "11".
So, Jonas, send me an email at tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom with your info and we'll get that RPGNow credit out to you.
New up will be 5 years of blogging at the end of May....
Early Peek at The Islands of Purple-Haunted Putrescence - The Art (OSR Adventure / Mini Sandbox)
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Luis Merlo |
+Dyson Logos will be providing the dungeon cartography and +Alyssa Faden will be providing the island cartography. Hard to beat those choices.
As for the interior art?
I want to know WTF is going on the the scene above, because I want to put my players through that nightmare.
As for the the creature below, I want a print of this. Really. Want.
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Iguana |
Monday, April 28, 2014
Mini Review - CrawlJammer #2 (DCC RPG in Spaaaace!)
There is something I really like about CrawlJammer, and that is it's freshness. Admittedly, there is something fresh about most of the DCC RPG adventures out there, but CrawlJammer stuff is fresh and unique. Putting the DCC RPG into space seems like a no brainer now that +Tim Callahan has done so.
Last things first - CrawlJammer #2 has an adventure that takes up the second half of the issue - Red Planet Rendezvous: The Arcadian. Space combat and some derelict spaceship "dungeon crawling" give one the last of both new and old. Very well done.
Back to the beginning - Space encounters give you both a random encounter table and some CrawlJammer monsters which would fit well with little adjustments into any DCC RPG Campaign - or with more adjustments as inspiration for new creatures and adversaries in any OSR game.
The Technomancer is a new DCC RPG class for a CrawlJammer Campaign. DCC magic is something I've always had trouble wrapping my head around fully, so all I can say is it looks good, but no idea how it would turn out in play. Same goes for the new spells.
Hail Bob's is a space bar and random tables for both patrons and drinks. Very random. Very cool. Easily yoked for most OSR games.
CrawlJammer is well worth the $3.95 shipped asking price in print. Really. Whether you play the DCC RPG or not. It is simply inspirational.
Post 4k - Tell Us Your Favorite Blogposts and You may Win a $25 RPGNow Gift Cert
This is the 4,000 post here at The Tavern.
Holy
Shit
I'd like to share the excitement and offer $25 of RPGNow credit to a random blog reader. Here's how to enter:
- Link BOTH your favorite post from Tenkar's Tavern AND your favorite RPG blog post from another gaming blog. Here's a chance to highlight what YOU like.
- Do this by 7PM Eastern Time tomorrow night (April 29th, 2014).
- I'll pick a random commenter for the GC tomorrow night around 8PM
See, easy as pie.
Good luck to all and thanks for being part of this amazing ride.
Erik
Holy
Shit
I'd like to share the excitement and offer $25 of RPGNow credit to a random blog reader. Here's how to enter:
- Link BOTH your favorite post from Tenkar's Tavern AND your favorite RPG blog post from another gaming blog. Here's a chance to highlight what YOU like.
- Do this by 7PM Eastern Time tomorrow night (April 29th, 2014).
- I'll pick a random commenter for the GC tomorrow night around 8PM
See, easy as pie.
Good luck to all and thanks for being part of this amazing ride.
Erik
Working the Senses - How Much Sensory Information do you Give your Players?
Saturday night's game session turned into a bullshit session, and one of the topics that came up was sensory information - smells, touch, visual and audio.
It got me thinking - we tell the players what they see and often tell them what they hear, but how often do we tell them what they smell? (touch always seems to be the odd one out)
Even when I described my first crime scene, with the brains and blood having the appearance of raspberry jam, I didn't include the smell of gunpowder and copper that just wouldn't leave my nose even hours later. The visual is burned into my memories and is easy to bring forward, but the smells kick in on their own when something "dings" that memory.
Just wondering if occasionally adding another sense to sight and sound might be the way to immerse the players just a wee bit more...
(post 4k is next)
It got me thinking - we tell the players what they see and often tell them what they hear, but how often do we tell them what they smell? (touch always seems to be the odd one out)
Even when I described my first crime scene, with the brains and blood having the appearance of raspberry jam, I didn't include the smell of gunpowder and copper that just wouldn't leave my nose even hours later. The visual is burned into my memories and is easy to bring forward, but the smells kick in on their own when something "dings" that memory.
Just wondering if occasionally adding another sense to sight and sound might be the way to immerse the players just a wee bit more...
(post 4k is next)
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Dwimmermount - Labyrinth Lord Version is Essentially Complete - Golf Claps Please
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No, not the cover for the Dwimmermount Kickstarter, this is the cover of "what almost was" |
Now, I say "essentially complete", as there is still proofing, spell checking and layout to do, but Alexander Macris says the Labyrinth Lord edition of Dwimmermount is complete.
I do not doubt the effort that has been used to get this monster of a Kickstarter completed, but I suspect the hands of three very different creators are going to have a bit of a "Frankenstein" effect. I could be wrong. Hopefully I am wrong, as I invested a pretty penny in this cursed project. It's good to see there will be some closure soon, no matter what the end product finally is.
Here's the first paragraph of the backers only update that was sent out late this afternoon:
Hello Dwimmermount backers. I'm pleased to report that I've just uploaded three huge word documents to the backer dropbox: Chapters 1-7, Chapters 8-20, and Appendices A-G. To put it bluntly, the writing of the Labyrinth Lord version of Dwimmermount is complete.It's still in .docx format and multiple files. I'll wait for the "maybe ready for prime time PDF" before I spend any time pouring over this.
High or Low - How Do You Like Your Fantasy RPG Setting?
Quick question for this fine Sunday morning.
Do you prefer your fantasy settings in high or low flavor? Lots of magic and magical creatures or a bit more gritty with little magic and a very humocentric base?
Or are you somewhere in between?
Forgotten Realms is very much high fantasy - you can't walk down a road in 2e without bumping into a god's avatar ;)
I like to think I prefer low fantasy, but the reality is my games run fairly weighted to the side of high fantasy.
Do you prefer your fantasy settings in high or low flavor? Lots of magic and magical creatures or a bit more gritty with little magic and a very humocentric base?
Or are you somewhere in between?
Forgotten Realms is very much high fantasy - you can't walk down a road in 2e without bumping into a god's avatar ;)
I like to think I prefer low fantasy, but the reality is my games run fairly weighted to the side of high fantasy.
Games From the Basement - Demons (Mayfair Games)
Remember one of the biggest changes to AD&D 2e? No, I'm not talking about the removal of assassins or half-orcs from the roles of PCs. No, it was something that got my gaming group riled back in the day - the removal and Demons and Devils from the monster manuals and renaming them Fred and Ethel (or Tanar'ri and Baatezu - I forget which). It was, for lack of a better word, sacrilege.
So, up stepped Mayfair with it's Demons line of supplements. Made for AD&D 2e, they included new demons, new spells, a players book to get them in the mood, poster maps and other goodies. I have 2 boxed sets and 4 folios from the line. The demons come on their own hole punched pages, made to be inserted in the horrible AD&D 2e Monster binder.
Did I ever use it? No - I've never have included named demons or devils in any of my campaigns (although Azmodious did appear in a random dungeon room of a dungeon I rolled up back in High School). We did include the basic unnamed ones as "just another monster". It was just the idea that TSR was "dumbing down" or making D&D "politically correct" back in the day that annoyed us.
I don't recall if there is a matching "Devils" line of boxes and books.
Games From the Basement - Tunnels & Trolls Rulebook (Corgi Paperback Edition)
I'm a big fan of Tunnels & Trolls. I have every edition published - 1st and
My favorite of ALL the editions is the Corgi printing of the 5e rules from 1986.
Why?
Not because they renamed some of the more silly sounding spells (leaving Yessa Massa as is still surprises me when they changed Poor Baby - a healing spell - to Restoration).
It's because of the convenient size (slightly oversized paperback) and the affordable price, even for the time - just under 3 British Pounds.
Corgi also packed many of the classic T&T solos in double titled paperbacks. So you got two solo adventures AND a stripped down version of the T&T rules - enough rules that you could play some sessions with other players with what was provided.
Sometimes I think I'd like a copy of S&W or LL in such a convenient, portable and affordable size, but I guess that's what PDFs and tablets are for these days...
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dErO - VotE: Re Development - the mysterious Stephan Poag did a comic about them! The dErO Do Not Exist You do not believe in dErO. The Player Characters *cannot* believe in dErO. ...2 days ago
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More Beautiful Development Sketches for The Great North - Tom Kilian continues to excel himself with the artwork for *The Great North*, now heading towards completion. As an Easter present, here is a work-in-pro...3 days ago
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Fog Diver’s Personal Log — SCV12 - Operator: J. Taran | Date: Cycle 2447.98 | Vessel: SCV 12 “Bleeding Mercy”I woke to the sound of the filtration alarms coughing again—three dry pulses, the...3 days ago
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The grodog Thither and Hither and Points Between - While the blog and I have languished together in torpid stupor for quite some time now, the blog's silence did not originate in or from *wordslessness*, ...3 days ago
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Tariffs, CanCon, and You - In 1972 the CBC asked listeners to complete the saying "As Canadian as...", to match "As American as apple pie." The winner was "As Canadian as possible ...4 days ago
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Witchcraft Wednesday: The "Return" of Rhiannon and Briana Highstar - A special Witchcraft Wednesday today. But really, aren't they all special in their own way? Working on the final layout of my Left Hand Path book AND pr...4 days ago
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Landmark Sites - Hazard - The next two landmarks will be the overtly bad ones. No positive spin on this, a Hazard is just a place you want to avoid. Unless... Well, let’s make th...4 days ago
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Hexcrawling for Ethyria pt 1 - As my game is small currently I'm going for sandbox style with lots of mission tables and adventure threads in my villages but now I ...5 days ago
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Afrika Korps Tiger 1 - WiP - Next project: a 15mm Tiger 1 for my Afrika Korps. I'm 3d printing an Afrika model, with the Feifel air cleaners, from TigerAce1945. It's the one in the...6 days ago
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Should you PAY your GM? - Let's start with the conclusion: GM-for-pay is okay. In other words: there is nothing wrong with paying someone to run a game for you, or charging people f...1 week ago
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Noodle Bar & Industrial Scatter Terrain - This past weekend I got a couple of solid hours to paint when I wasn’t dead tired, and decided to spend it on the 3D printed Flatline City Noodle Bar tha...1 week ago
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A Surprising Look at Murderhobos... - So I asked a question on Facebook this week. What did people do with the humanoid women and children in the Caves of Chaos, among similar adventures, persu...2 weeks ago
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36 units sold on day one - Not big Kickstarter-type numbers or anything but still pretty personally gratifying to me, because 1) it'a more copies than the first book sold on its fi...3 weeks ago
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Praise for Songs of the Dying Earth - Among my favourite works of fantasy fiction are the *Dying Earth* stories and the *Lyonesse *trilogy by Jack Vance. I’ve read the *Lyonesse *trilogy three ...3 weeks ago
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Best OSR Cartographers - A video about some my favorite cartographers in the game. This is not an exhaustive list, but the ones I go to the most and ones that have influenced my st...3 weeks ago
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Gary Con XVII - I attended Gary Con this year. Last year, I was supposed to go, but something came up and I had to cancel. This year, I ran a scenario I created called The...3 weeks ago
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[BLOG] News on the March! Episode VI. - This post continues the series of brief play reports I have been posting on Discord. This does not cover every single session (sometimes, recon and setup...4 weeks ago
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On the Success of the VOTE - You voted for it, and it's here! All the prices on the books I sell on DTRPG will be rising in price, 40-50% so I can maintain the same margin as now! ...4 weeks ago
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Lexicon of Klarkash-Ton, Hierophant of Atlantis: Lupanar - This time, we follow the good High Priest to the far future, to the final continent of Earth, Zothique, for a a tale of ennui and love: Morthylla. Witho...5 weeks ago
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Fight On! number 16 is out. - The new issue of *Fight On!* has been out for a bit. You can get copies via drivethru or lulu. I haven't finished reading my copy, but I'd like to reco...1 month ago
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Wandering through the Majestic Fantasy Realms - It's time for another Bat in the Attic update! I am halfway through the first draft of my upcoming project, Into the Majestic Fantasy Realms, the Northe...1 month ago
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The Hungering Dark - Go into the earth, and reality will walk alongside you. Walk further, and you will eventually be walking alone. The world is plastic down there. Tar Lat...1 month ago
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Hobby Bingo 2025: January Progress - Welcome back to the Vault! I've painted a few bits and pieces in January and made a dent into my Hobby Bingo card! First up is a Chaplain in Terminator ...2 months ago
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NTRPG Gaming Weekend - [image: NTRPG Gaming Weekend] This weekend was a "game day" for North Texas RPG Con, held at the same hotel the con is held at. I haven't slung dice since...2 months ago
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The Stats of a Dave Arneson Player Character. - If you want to find the details for one of the characters that Gary Gygax made and played as a PC, perhaps to use as an NPC in your own game, it isn't t...2 months ago
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Into the Wild Blue Yonder: A Journey Through Blackmoor's Dark Realm - *We have been thinking about you.* *We know what you want from Rob Kuntz.* You want more than another brand-new RPG module. It has to be a *First Edition ...3 months ago
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Articulations - Creating house rules, custom rules specific to a local group or campaign, has been common throughout the history of D&D. What makes an effective house rule...3 months ago
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A Fiftieth Anniversary Year - The 50th anniversary year of *Dungeons & Dragons *is drawing to a close. A number of projects I'd been planning for this year finally came out, and I ...3 months ago
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A Quick Look at The Wizard’s Scroll II - October of this year saw the release of The Wizard’s Scroll II, the second issue of a White Box Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game (FMAG) zine whose first ...3 months ago
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Writing playlists for all occasions - Hello again! Going off the idea of inspiration elaborated on by the prior post, I also have music playing while I write my various games and fiction pieces...4 months ago
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The Tarot of Pips - Somewhere in your dice collection is a die like this one, the humblest of dice. Although you don't know it, this small white die carries with it a secr...4 months ago
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Pirates and Necromancers, a Play Report - Over the Thanksgiving weekend we did a lot of gaming ranging from “off-table” domain level stuff to some solo adventures to spell and magic item rese...4 months ago
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Welcome new Greyhawk Fans! - With the publication of the new Dungeon Master’s Guide, there are doubtless going to be a lot of new D&D players interested in my favorite setting, the Wor...5 months ago
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It's been a bit - Hey everyone, I hope you are doing well! I've had a lot going on and haven't had much time to blog lately. Heres a recap of gaming events and other st...11 months ago
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*'s in SpaaaaaAaaaace - A lot of SF (including a certain 2D6 RPG grandaddy) deal with ancient aliens taking humans from Earth and dropping them, fleas and all, on one or more w...1 year ago
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Housekeeping 2024 - Coactus Illustration © Heather Gwinn. A gift she gave me in 2013 for an edition of Miscreated Creatures which I hope exists someday. Coloring by me. I am a...1 year ago
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Last move - to self-hosting! - As my vote regarding Substack in the “marketplace of ideas”, I’m moving to self-hosting. I’m now at (and hopefully staying for a long time at) Blog: ht...1 year ago
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Osamu Tezuka (1928 - 1989) - [image: Osamu Tezuka - Shonen Magazine Cover, 1970]Shonen Magazine Cover, 1970 [image: Osamu Tezuka - Shonen Magazine Cover Illustration 1970]Shonen Maga...2 years ago
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This is an Important Game Mechanic - *"That's the GM's Regional Map from my AOWG. And it's a damned good regional map. It's not a good map for a Simple Homebrew Campaign. It does some s$&...2 years ago
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Clean Your Room - Looking back at my little blog here. That last post… wow, I was having fun playing WOW Classic! That was August of 1999 and I was having a blast… it was ...3 years ago
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Steve Jackson Interview - James Maliszewski recently did an interview with Steve Jackson over on his Grognardia blog. Steve chats about the beginnings of The Fantasy Trip and upcomi...4 years ago
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The Hero’s Journey 2nd Edition, Campbellian roleplaying at its best! - (this review done using the reviewers own purchased copy) I have been a James Michael Spahn fan since he wrote his Swords & Wizardry Companion. His writing...4 years ago
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ToAD Monster of the Week: Crocoman - Now that I'm back doing the blog thing I thought I would use Tome of Adventure Design to create monsters for The Black Hack. Using the monster tables in th...5 years ago
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More Arden Vul Art - Another great piece from Del, this one's the Forum of Set: a place that the PCs may spend quite a bit of time within.5 years ago
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OCHRE SAND - Init +0 Ranged Atk • fire burst +3 (1d14+1, 20') AC 17 HD 3d6 MV 60 Act 1d24 SP 'breath' weapon, sideslip, perfect silence, morphing Fort +5 Ref +8 Will...5 years ago
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Strange, Dangerous, and Inhuman: The Fey and Fairie - When I was a boy I loved fairy tales. Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots, Rumpelstiltskin - I devoured all of it. My fascination that there was a strang...5 years ago
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New Map of the Elf Empire and Southern Isles - I’ve been having fun developing a new map-drawing style that I think is finally reaching a certain level of maturity. And yeah, it owes a lot to Matthew Ad...5 years ago
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The Faithful - An Optional Archetype for Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells Revised Edition - Work on the revised edition of Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells is moving along. This will be a hefty tome, with a LOT of tools and new options to customiz...5 years ago
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Dungeons & Dragonmead Fall Schedule - *As you know, I run public classic Dungeons & Dragons games at **The Loaded Die**/Metro Detroit Game Night's Board Game Nigh at **Dragonmead**, in Warren...5 years ago
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Fiction in Airhde - On a whim this weekend, I picked up some fiction off the TLG store. *A Houseless God & Other Tales* and *The Mirrored Soul & Other Tales*, both by the T...5 years ago
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Ravensburg Reboot: Streamlined City Map - I mentioned in my last post how I was tweaking and reworking parts of my Ravensburg setting. Today I streamlined the city map. The old map had lots of redu...5 years ago
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And Now the News Draft Download on Patreon - It's self-styled Throwback Thursday and *having just released the 34-page draft booklet of Hill Cantons news to my Patreon backers* I am going to indulge m...5 years ago
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The Withered Crag available now - I just enabled the sale of the PDF version of The Withered Crag at DriveThruRPG a few minutes ago, and the custom print version will be available startin...5 years ago
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Annihilation Rising Goes live - The latest in Fail Squad Games’ Quick Kick projects has gone live and needs your support!! This project is only running 11 days and ends on 5/28/2019! ...5 years ago
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James's Celebration of Life - We could not have asked for a prettier day for James's service. It was a bit chilly and windy but gorgeous. A heartfelt thank you to all that joined us tod...6 years ago
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Trap Tuesday: A step back - I will get back to Tomb of Horrors soon. I found a topic that was interesting enough to take a break. While interacting in a 5E group on Facebook I talked ...6 years ago
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Let's Talk About Pacing! - The idea, I think, is that the RPG is ultimately about the long game. Even rolling back to the early days of Basic & Expert, the goal of the player was...6 years ago
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Profane and Profound Prep Part 2 - This is part 2 of my work to edit my magic items for a DMsGuild release, along with adding cursed items along the way. Here is part 1. Bone of a Saint 8000...6 years ago
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MIDDLE DUNGEONS LEVEL FIVE 158 STAIRS. - 158 STAIRS. These stairs descend thirty feet to Area 79 on Level 6.6 years ago
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Please, I don't do paid advertisements - don't ask. - A little note since people have asked me about this. My video channel's *not* an advertising platform, so I'm not available for hire if you want to promote...6 years ago
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New website! - Slowly but surely, all the content here will make its way — in updated form! — to my new website: timbannock.com. For fairly obvious reasons, that site wil...6 years ago
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Please Update Your Link! - If you're seeing this, it means your link to the Greyhawk Grognard blog is out of date. Please update your link to www.greyhawkgrognard.com (RSS feed is h...6 years ago
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Total Sales for WB:FMAG - Hi Folks, It's been a long time since I provided an update for the sales of White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game. *LULU* Print: 396 PDF: 433 *OBS*...6 years ago
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How can We Destroy this Campaign World? - d12 1. You must trick a bard into strumming the *Chords of Fate* on the *Lute of Annihilation* 2. Legends tell of thermonuclear weapons beneath megadunge...6 years ago
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Mord Mar - Session 5 - We had another successful delve into the dungeon yesterday. The delvers: Moira, the Magic-User Radovan - Human Cleric (of Odin?) Khazgar Stonehand - Dwarf ...6 years ago
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Yodeling For Yokels or The Further Misa(d&)dventures - This is the one of those posts that points out the lack of current posts. Over the last week or three, there has been postponed Labyrinth Lord (twice, one...6 years ago
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Bundle of Fantasy Age - Bundle of Holding: Dragon Age/Fantasy Age: Available until March 12. PA Presents: Fantasy AGE Freeport live play Green Ronin in 2018 The Fantasy Age RPG ma...7 years ago
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New Free PDF Module: The Hyqueous Vaults - A new dungeon module—written in celebration of OSRIC's 10th Birthday—by Rebecca Dettmann, Allan T. Grohe, Jr., Jimm Johnson, Matthew Riedel, Alex Zisch, a...7 years ago
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Session XCIII: One Pissed Off Dragon! - Our ongoing Swords and Wizardry sandbox campaign... *Current Player Characters:* *Thenus* (Ranger) *Wang Du* (Monk) *Wolfheir* (Viking) *Arg* (Half-orc) ...7 years ago
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Swords & Wizardry Light: Session # 6 - Two months after our last session (thanks to things like 8th grade finals, a 4 year-old's birthday and party, Father's Day, etc.), we finally had our next ...7 years ago