NTRPG Con - Upcoming Kickstarters

It has been said that NTRPG Con is the place where deals are made and handshakes are exchanged. This year is no different - or maybe it is - I think that more handshakes have happened this year then the two years prior. Maybe I'm just better positioned to listen this year. In any case, I won't be leaking anything that isn't confirmed.

What is confirmed is that Merle Rasmussen's new Top Secret game is Kickstarting in about two weeks. Rach and I playtested it last year and this year we get to play with the finalized rules. I loved me some Top Secret back in High School and this is one to look for. I'll see if I can corner Merle for a short interview ;)

How about this one? +Frank Mentzer will be Kickstarting a fantasy setting this summer. It looks to be a boxed set with maps by Darlene. Think Greyhawk with the overwhelming wargaming background. More politics but just as dangerous, Frank has been playing with this setting since the early days of TSR.

Then there is... not yet ready to be announced but damn, I wish I could. Sworn to secrecy. Sometimes the price of knowing is not telling...

NTRPG Con - We Followed a Skeeter into Rappan Athuk

Last night, after running my second session of Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern for Swords & Wizardry Light (went very well and as before had an extra player show up) it was time to venture into Rappan Athuk using Swords & Wizardry Complete with Skeeter Green as out DM.

There was some sort of side bet going on with Edwin Nagy who was running the same at the same time for 5e - who could kill more PCs in less time than the other. Skeeter won hands down ;)

My halflng thief survived much longer than I had expected with only 1 HP (we rolled 1st level characters with max HP, b ut I took damage early on and our party of 10 or so had not a single cleric. Actually, we had only one caster but a plethora of thieves. Go figure. Heh.)

What was really cool was the 3d presentation of a level of Rappan Athuk. My understanding is that the 3d printer files will be available in a forthcoming Kickstarter. I'm beginning to feel I need a 3d printer :)

Afterwards, meaning - after the vast majority of the party was killed - Rach and I chatted up one of the "Peripheral Frogs" (a position similar to what I hold ;) and we brainstormed some really cool ideas for SWL to present to the head honcho himself.

Afterwards, Rach and I headed to the hotel bar where we met with a  couple of NYC gamers. We just may have put in motion a very exciting project for the fall of 2018. Damn but I really love NTRPG Con. It really is "where the deals get made in the OSR."

After the bar kicked us out, it was time to hang out on comfy chairs and finish out beers, which allowed us to end the night with Dennis Sustare. Before we knew it 4 am was knocking at the door (5 am back in NYC)

It was a very good day - and night.

NTRPG Con - Basix Bells Shattered the Norns

A few of today's con acquisitions:

I run my next game in 30 minutes. A second group shall soon explore Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern!

BTW, I'm doing something very Frog God-ish. I'm allowing my players to bring their characters to other cons that I run Swords & Wizardry Light at. Yes, survivors could potentially level up :)

NTRPG Con - What Light at Yonder Table Be? Swords & Wizardry I See

Where the Swords & Wizardry Complete magic happened. Oh, and my knee...

Yesterday I ran a session of Swords & Wizardry Light. We played Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern and it was a blast.

We had the full seven that signed up and one standby that we added. Explaining the rules, generating characters, answering some rules questions and the like took about 15 minutes - then we were "in game".

They were a very focused group with good tactics and excellent "out of the box" thinking. All together the session lasted about 2 1/2 hours out of the 3 hours it was scheduled for.

It was also my first face to face session that I've run in a tad over 20 years (I run my games on Roll20 / Hangouts these days) and I learned one thing right away - I need to stand when I GM at a table. Don't ask me wy but it just seems to free my imagination and keep me focused.

Last night Rach and I were in a pick up game of Swords & Wizardry Complete run by Edwin Nagy. Holy shit but it was a blast being a part of a party of cannibal adventurers seeking the book How to Serve Man. Well done sir! Well done!

Today I run a second session of Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern then on to +Skeeter Green 's Rappan Athuk session. It will be a good day. A VERY good day.

Oh, there should be a very large Swords & Wizardry announcement this weekend. It will break here at The Tavern

Great Tenkar's Crate Jimmy! We have Nearly a Dozen Publishers Interested in Jumping in The Crate

Yesterday was a day that went by in a whirl. By the time we got back to the hotel room I barely had the energy to put up a late night post. I was excited, as a couple of my friends in the industry were at the con early and expressed interest in having their products in the monthly Tenkar's Tavern Crate (of OSR Goodness)

Then I opened my tenkarsDOTtavern email, and saw the inquiries from other publishers. If the current OSR Extravaganza Sale at RPGNow is any indication of the potential strength of the OSR market, the emails I read have shown me this monthly box of OSR goodies will be filled with some of the best products an old school gamer would want to get their hands on.

If you emailed me about participating in Tenkar's Tavern Crate I have read your email. I'll try to respond later today and will forward your information on to those that do the real work behind the scenes.

Damn. I want to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming :)

Jump Down, Spin Around, Shake Another Hand - Jump Down, Spin Around, Meet Another Friend...

There is Goodness here in Texas

To say that Wednesday Night, the NTRPG Precon Night, has been a bit overwhelming is an understatement.

So far, I have met with, in no particular order: Kevin, Chuck, Glenn, Denis, Steve, Chris, Thom, Stephen, Guppy, Chrissy,James, James, Jeff, Doug, Mike, Skeeter, Doug, David, Melissa, Rich, David, Paul, Jon, Jason, Zach, and too many others whose names escape me at this advanced time of night.

Holy shit! The con hasn't even officially started.

Tomorrow I think I will need drink...

We Have Arrived - Time to Run Naked Through the Halls!

Wait! That's been done already. Ah Well.

This is our room. Those are Rach's feet.

This is our view. That cloud hides and adventure.

Alright, time to explore the new hotel :)

Off To NTRPG Con We Go!

Rach and I have a noon flight to Dallas today. NTRPG Con here we come!

In case you missed it, last night we announced the launch of Tenkar's Tavern Crate, a monthly mailing of OSR goodness. I've already have publishers asking to be involved in the project and I'll be talking with others at NTRPG Con. I just realized, that makes this year's Con something that might actually involve work ;)

If you are at NTRPG this weekend, please, don't hesitate to introduce yourself. I don't bite and I am a tad more fun than a rock (inside joke there ;) Be warned, get me talking and I may be hard to shut up - heh.

I'll announce Tavern Chat's status for tonight after I settle in to NT/

Announcing the Tenkar's Tavern Monthly Crate of OSR Goodness - I Kid You Not!

Here's the official press release announcing the Tenkar's Tavern OSR Crate (I told you there was something special coming on the 8th Anniversary of The Tavern) 

Illusionist Investment Group Partners with Tenkar’s Tavern 

Erik Tenkar, the populist old school roleplaying (OSR) commentator and blogger, has granted theexclusive monthly subscription box license to the Illusionist Investment Group entertainment collective. 

Houston, TX, May 30, 2017 (www.illusioni.st) - Monthly subscription services are key to the growth of the Illusionist Investment Group (IIG). IIG brings scale, corporate business support, capital, technology resources, marketing specialists, and strategic relationships to key celebrities and creative studios within the tabletop game industry. 

“Tenkar’s Tavern brings a bold and edgy commentary to the adventure trade with blogs, social media, convention appearances, and brand licensing across many verticals,” said Jared Nielsen, Principal Investor of IIG. “We believe that with additional investment the Tenkar’s Tavern brand and IIG can mutually grow together.” 

When asked what appealed to him about bring involved with a monthly crate, Erik Tenkar responded: “To be honest, I love getting monthly surprises in the mail, especially those related to RPGs. An offer to help curate a monthly crate of OSR goodies was something I just couldn't pass on." 

About Illusionist Investment Group LLC 

The Illusionist Investment Group is a woman-owned, Houston-based company focused on developing entertainment properties within the tabletop game industry that includes board games, card games, roleplaying games, miniatures, web games, mobile apps and augmented reality games. 

About Tenkar’s Tavern 

Tenkar’s Tavern is a cutting edge network of blogs, events, social media and convention
appearances led by its namesake, Erik Tenkar. Over time Erik has become the voice of the old school roleplaying market with his edgy humor and incisive wit. An avid gamer, Erik not only comments on the games he reviews, but he creates his own content and inspires and assists other small press publishers using his podium as a megaphone. He is respected by old school grognards and newbies alike for his fairness and transparency with industry reporting and game information. 

About Tenkar’s Tavern Crate 

The Tenkar’s Tavern crate is a monthly subscription box filled with a mystery selection of OSR gaming products. Products range from RPG books, scenarios, adventure modules, dice, tabletop game accessories, miniatures and much more. With a changing selection each month this crate aims to satisfy collectors in the old school roleplaying market segment.

Media Contacts:
Trina Burns
Illusionist Investment Group
(832) 664-7993
trina@illusioni.st
www.illusioni.st 

So, what does this mean for you?

Well, if you are a gamer I hope to present you with a deep selection of OSR goodness. You've been loyal readers for years, some of your for the full eight years, and this is part of me paying you back. Seriously, I love getting my Loot Crate and Mythoard every month, but the idea of a monthly shipment of OSR picks landing on my doorstep is simply awesome. If you've been following the current OSR Extravaganza Sale at RPGNow, you know the waters of the OSR are deep and full of life. Its time to take a swim in those waters.

If you are a publisher of OSR or System Neutral products, rulebooks, adventures, accessories, settings, etc and you would like to be part of the Tenkar's Tavern Crate I need to talk with you. Email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that gmail thing. Put "Tenkar's Crate" in the email heading. We'll talk gaming and TPKs before getting down to the nitty gritty.

If you are a publisher and will be at NTRPG Con this week, we WILL talk. Trust me on this :)

As if you can't tell, I'm extremely excited to be a part of this. I've been dying to talk about this for weeks!

Doh! Sign up is on the right side of this page! DO spread the word! The more folks that sign up for the crate the better the crates are for everyone. Now to put my Tenkar's Tavern Crate Wishlist together...

OSR Extravaganza Sale - The Picks - The Witch Queen's Lair was in the Lost City of the Dwarves beneath the Frozen Fortress of the Winter Lord

The OSR Extravaganza Sale is in full swing. Its time for The Tavern to make some picks and the occasional "deep track" ;)

Saga of the Witch Queen - Lets look back to the Summer of 2007, when Goodman Games released Saga of the Witch Queen at Gen Con. A 1e adventure for AD&D 1e, it is one of +Harley Stroh 's earlier works. Conversion by +Jon Hershberger - "Drawn into a series of adventures spanning the north, the heroes take up arms against the sinister machinations of Kyleth, the Witch Queen. Beginning in the miserable bog known as the Great Swamp, the heroes are called to thwart Kyleth’s plot to create sinister artifacts of unholy blight. But the Witch Queen is a tenacious foe, protected by wicked dweomers and ancient rites. Running their prey to ground, the heroes must navigate the perilous halls and torturous caverns of the Lost Passage of the Drow. Their epic quest comes to a head in a battle that stretches across the icy reaches of the Northlands and to the stygian demesne of Baba Yazoth herself!"  $9.99  $8.49

Frozen Fortress of the Winter Warlord - This time we only are going back to 2014. Amazing cover +James Spahn -  "Cold Be Hand and Heart and Bone!and written by none other than our very own Frozen Fortress of the Winter Warlord is an adventure module for 4 - 6 characters of 9th - 12th level for Labyrinth Lord and other old school fantasy role-playing games. Utilizing rules in both the Labyrinth Lord core rules and the Advanced Edition Companion, this huge adventure pits the characters against foes of undead and ice!"

In addition to the adventure Frozen Fortress of the Winter Warlord includes...

-A complete dossier on the village of Winterhome, an adventuring location that can easily be inserted into any fantasy campaign - including NPCs and a rumor table!
-Seven new magic items
-Ten original monsters for use in any old school fantasy role-playing game
-Optional rules for frigid temperatures and how to survive them

This adventure is suitable for several weeks of gaming, with over 100 unique locations!  $4.95  $4.21

Lost City of the Dwarves Part 1:Discovery - They had me with Dwarves. Really. Slam dunk - "The first book in the Path of Legends gaming book series which allows you to choose the path of your adventure while using a dice-rolling combat system. The refined OSRIC-compatible adventure system (old school d20 RPG) has a minimal learning time but covers the most used aspects of old school gaming. In no time you’ll be hunting for enchanted items, battling goblins, rat-men and other creatures, enhancing your combat with a variety of potions and solving puzzles with deadly traps. Best of all, the character that you create, level up and spend time building in this adventure can be used continually in all of the Path of Legends books as you travel the path to becoming a living legend."  $5.99  $5.09

For the complete Tenkar's Tavern series of posts highlighting the notable picks of the OSR Extravaganza Sale, follow this link. New posts added daily.

Remember, your use of The Tavern's affiliate links helps keep the candles burning and the taps flowing at The Tavern. As always, we thank you.

The Tavern - Eight Years and Still Open Every Day - Thanks to You!

Ashley knows something the party doesn't...

Eight years ago today Tenkar's Tavern hit the blogoshpere. Actually, the blog was created a year before, but with the exception of a single test post it wasn't really alive.

Now, eight years later, here we are. The prolific posting has slowed down slightly but we've only missed a day of posting once in over five years. Conventions, sickness, holidays, vacations, a 29 1/2 hour work day, family drama, whatever - we've been posting.

Notice I said "we". I'm not alone here. Others do post and share at The Tavern and guest posters are always welcome. It is your community after all, I am merely the bartender. I keep the taps flowing, enable the conversation and throw out the occasionally unruly customer (we have few of those)

I can't thank you all enough for joining me on this wild ride. It has been and continues to be, a blast :)

So, where do we go from here?

Well, after I get back from NTRPG Con next week I plan on immersing myself in InDesign and getting some more creatures, magic items and even adventures up on RPGNow. PWYW or low prices, it will all be meant to be used.

Once I know how close Swords & Wizardry Continual Light is to release I'll turn the fire back on with the Torchlight contributors. Can't put the cart before the horse.

There's another project that may get announced later today or may not. Sometimes things fall into place as hoped, sometimes the process takes longer than planned. Its all good and will be worth the wait if it comes to that.

Last, but far from least, I'd like to thank you all for your support. Whether with words, donations, affiliate links (my God but judging from my numbers over the last week, the OSR has been neglected in the past by RPGNow - y'all are on fire!), evangelizing SWL, participating in The Tavern's Facebook Community or simply reading The Tavern - your actions are why I continue doing what I do and enjoy doing it so much.

Here's to another eight years and then some!

Ashley is a cruel DM.

OSR Extravaganza Sale - The Picks - Operation White Box has an Urban Encounter Beyond the Wall

The OSR Extravaganza Sale is in full swing. Its time for The Tavern to make some picks and the occasional "deep track" ;)

Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures - probably the Old School game I want to borrow from more than any other. On my list of "things to reread for inspiration - "Lots of times, we want to play a roleplaying game but just don’t have the time for all the prep work involved. No more. Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures is a kit to make a gang of childhood friends and send them off on their first big adventure, just like in the novels we loved growing up. Now we have this simple fantasy roleplaying game that gives a group of players all the tools they need to play an exciting adventure in a single evening, no homework, no fuss. Anyone with a background in OSR games will already be comfortable with the core rules of Beyond the Wall."


• Inspired by the works of Ursula K. LeGuin, Susan Cooper, and Lloyd Alexander.
• Character Playbooks and Scenario Packs for play in a single evening with no prep.
• Player driven village design for fleshing out the characters’ home.
• Six Character Playbooks, including the Village Hero and the Witch’s Prentice.
• Two Scenario Packs: the Angered Fae and the Hidden Cult.  $7.99  $6.79

WWII: Operation WhiteBox - If you are at all interested in military roleplaying, this is your go to game. The fact that it is powered by the Swords & Wizardry White Box rules is simply a small bonus - "In WWII: Operation WhiteBox, the player characters (PCs) play the role of WWII special forces operatives. They may be formally trained and part of an officially designated special forces unit such as the SAS or U.S. Army Airborne, or they may simply be guerilla fighters dedicated to making life hard for the German Army. They may also be covert agents working for organizations such as the SOE or OSS. Whatever their affiliation, their job is to complete missions behind enemy lines, paving the way for the next Allied advance. WWII: Operation WhiteBox is a standalone game that uses the Swords & Wizardry WhiteBox rules as its base."  $7.99  $6.79


The Book of Lairs: Urban Encounters - I simply love releases like this. Twenty-five lairs - or twenty -five potential adventures - for less than five bucks. Huzzah! - "The Book of Lairs: Urban Encounters is a collection of 25 lairs in an urban environment, with full-colour maps, map details and monster statistics. It uses the Adventurer, Conqueror, King System (ACKS) for its mechanics, but is easily adapted to other games. Most of the content is system-neutral.

It uses monsters from ACKS, Teratic Tome, Monstrosities, and The Tome of Horror Complete. Also included are two new monsters, both brilliantly illustrated by Gennifer Bone.  $4.80  $4.52

For the complete Tenkar's Tavern series of posts highlighting the notable picks of the OSR Extravaganza Sale, follow this link. New posts added daily.

Remember, your use of The Tavern's affiliate links helps keep the candles burning and the taps flowing at The Tavern. As always, we thank you.

Kickstarter - Blood & Bones: Tabletop/PC Role-playing Game (Uhm - yeah...)

Boy, is this awkward. The creator emailed me in the hopes that I'd cover his Blood & Bones Kickstarter, and I am - but I don't think its the coverage that he desired.

First, the good stuff. The Kickstarter page is pretty much free of grammatical and spelling mistakes. Pledge levels can fund the Kickstarter. Sometimes I think both are uncommon these days. The email inquiry was polite enough. Shit. This isn't easy.

Okay, here are the issues I see:

#1 - $50k goal from an unknown creator. Not just First Created but it appears, Zero Backed. No resume of prior projects or sample of prior work. Again, asking 50k.

#2 - Its a project many years in the making. Yes, we are talking classic Heartbreaker.

#3 - Monies are going towards living expenses (paying himself for the work) While I do understand time is money, there is no break down as to where the money is going .

#4 - Novels are also involved. To advertise the game. Need I say more?

#5 - No discussion of the rules on the KS page aside from a need for an app to play. Watch the video and you'll see the NEED for an app

#6 - Pledge levels included different levels for each of the three core rulebooks. No mention of add ons.

#7 - Mentions electronic versions of the rules in the video. No PDF level to back. Unless the backer levels are for PDFs. Doesn't say physical products.

#8 - Video mentions hiring folks to work on the project.

#9 - Money is needed to playtest. Shouldn't playtest of some sort have happened BEFORE asking for 50k?

#10 - Risks & Challenges - Apparently, Number One is "making a lot of money from this game" - Need I say more?

Yeah, I know. Harsh.

Kickstarter is not some sore of virtual cash machine where you put up a project and $50k spits out. It doesn't work that way. Especially not now with burned and angry backers lurking on every KS page.

Do you need 50k to bring this project to life? You certainly haven't spelled out the expenses to justify it. How are books shipping? Not POD obviously, as they are binders. Have you taken into account the cost of shipping? How about international shipping, which may be more than you've actually charged for the book? Are you handling fulfillment? An outside company? What about art expenses? Why are we expected to pay your bills when you have no proven record, either in the hobby or on Kickstarter.

My advice?

Rework your funding numbers. Lower you goal by AT LEAST 90%. Have some sample art. Show some sample writing from the rulebooks. Figure out your potential shipping costs! I can't stress shipping enough. Its the most common way for Kickstarter success to lead to Kickstarter distress.

Fat Goblin Games has some One Dollar Stock Art Selections - Limited Time

Fat Goblin Games has a limited selection of stock art for a buck, limited time only.

Follow THIS LINK and you will see a selection of One Dollar stock art collections.

Note - Not everything is on sale at a buck, but that which os is well worth the price of admission.

Remember, your use of The Tavern's affiliate links helps keep the candles burning and the taps flowing at The Tavern. As always, we thank you.

OSR Extravaganza Sale - The Picks - Mutant Apes & Spacemen in Spaceship Labyrinths!

The OSR Extravaganza Sale is in full swing. Its time for The Tavern to make some picks and the occasional "deep track" ;)

Starships & Spacemen 2e - Labyrinth Lord in Spaaaaccceeeeee! I'd love to play in a White Star / Starships & Spaceman mashup ;) - "Boldly explore the galaxy in search of alien civilizations! You take the role of a Military Officer, Technical Officer, Science Officer, or Enlisted Man in the Galactic Confederation. Travel in a starship under your command, on missions of first contact, rescue, exploration, and more in a galaxy full of hostile aliens. Try to maintain the tenuous truce with the militaristic Zangid, and fight the Videni who may look like your Tauran allies, but do not adhere to a philosophy of peace and logic.

Design alien humanoids with either "original series" or "next generation" sensibilites, or blend the two approaches! There are 100 forehead shapes that may be randomly rolled when a new alien race is encountered.

This book contains: Eight player races, Three main classes, with several subclasses, Rules for spaceships and exploration, many alien creatures and more..."  $6.45  $5.48

Mutant Future - Labyrinth Lord meets Gamma World. Oh my! - "The sinister and sadistic bleating of spidergoats echoes in the night, a complementary chorus to the rustling of an unfortunate victim caught in their webs. In deep, dank caves to the north, corrupted humans take communion with an unspeakably evil abomination they worship as a god. Shrill cries from the fields can only mean the vomit flies are back, molesting your livestock. In short, just another day in the Mutant Future!

Mutant Future is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy RPG, in the same flavor of similar genre games from the late 70s and early 80s. The game is almost entirely open game content, and a free trademark license allows anyone to publish materials compatible with Mutant Future.

Enter a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland filled with mutants, ruins, and radiation! You can take the role of an android, mutant human, mutant animal, pure human, and even a mutant plant! Seek wealth and ancient technological artifacts. Enter vast underground complexes, and avoid killer robots!"
$6.95  $5.91

Apes Victorious - Labyrinth Lord meets... you guessed it... Planet of the Apes - Apes Victorious is a roleplaying game in which you take the role of an astronaut from the 1970’s who finds himself marooned on a future Earth ruled by intelligent apes. Players may also take the role of an ape, a degenerated human, or a psi-active under dweller. Fight to survive in this post-apocalyptic future ruled by four species of apes. Or play apes who hunt humans for sport. For a different kind of campaign, play highly intelligent but insane under dwellers who have advanced technology and powerful psi powers.


This book contains:
-A complete game
-A post-nuclear apocalyptic setting in which apes have become the dominant species
-Seven player classes
-Animals and creatures of the post-nuclear future
-Campaign advice
-A complete introductory adventure
-Conversion notes for compatible games including: Labyrinth Lord, Mutant Future, Starships & Spacemen

Grab them all and play the genre mashup - Mutant Apes & Spacemen in Spaceship Labyrinths!

Remember, the art free version of Labyrinth Lord is free.

For the complete Tenkar's Tavern series of posts highlighting the notable picks of the OSR Extravaganza Sale, follow this link. New posts added daily.

Remember, your use of The Tavern's affiliate links helps keep the candles burning and the taps flowing at The Tavern. As always, we thank you.

Announcement - Star Sword Magazine Issue #1 is Live (White Star RPG)

+James Spahn had mentioned he was working on a magazine for White Star but I never dreamed it was this far along. Yep, Star Sword Magazine Issue #1 is here (PDF for now, POD will be coming soon) - 3.99 in Galactic Credits - failing that, USC should suffice ;)

Welcome to the exciting first issue of Star Sword: The Official White Star Magazine! Each quarter you'll get the original content from across the galaxy! Each issue will feature new fiction, new classes, new equipment, adventure seeds and plot hooks, and thrilling sci-fi heroics as infinite as the stars themselves! 

Thrill to the Tales of the Cosmic Kestrel!
Discover the heroic powers of Prime Humans!
Arm yourself with Gunslinger Gear!
Be drawn between Star and Void as you use your Knight's Gambit deck to discover The Blade's Way!
And much more! 

Star Sword: The Official White Star Magazine is designed for use with White Star: White Box Science Fiction Roleplaying  and White Star: Galaxy Edition, but all the material can easily be adapted to any classic OSR-style roleplaying game. 

What's that? You don't own White Star? You do realize that White Star is currently PWYW, both in PDF and Print (minimum cost for print to cover, well, the printing) - Go grab your copy, then come back and grab your Star Sword!

Remember, all purchases made through The Tavern's affiliate links help to support The Tavern. Don't let the taps run dry, support your local barkeep ;)