Kickstarter - Chain Breaker – RPG Dice

I like dice. I mean, I REALLY like dice. I have more dice then I could ever use in a lifetime and I'm still buying more. Dice with gimmicks are fun too. Chain Breaker RPG Dice? Definitely a gimmick. Personally, not sure how well it works.

Sure, the above looks kinda cool but has no place in a game.

So, how do you read them?

You don't count the chains but the spaces formed by the chains (or lack thereof)

To use the dice, the value for each side is how many parts that side is split into by the chain. In other words, count the empty spaces created by the chain – not the chain itself. 

The patterns of the chain on each side have been carefully chosen to make each an easily recognisable symbol so there is no need to count each time – just like the sides of normal dice. 

The blank side, with no chain through it, is worth one. Each of the eight different Chain Breaker colors feature their own unique artwork on the otherwise blank 'one' side.

Counting pips? Sure. Counting empty spaces that differ in size? Not so sure.

Six days left in its funding period. About 58% of the way to 20k.

Yeah, I dont see this happening either. Probably for the best...

Guilty Pleasure - Van Helsing - The Apocalypse is Full of Vampires (and dying for an RPG sourcebook)

What a surprising guilty pleasure. I almost didn't make it through the 1st episode of Van Helsing - needlessly over the top gore. But here I am, 2 days and 12 episodes later and I'm really digging the series.

The first few episodes played out very much like an RPG session in my opinion (not trying to include spoilers) and would make a decent Convention Scenario (would need to include more immediate goals though). If I only grokked Savage Worlds better. Maybe I can hack something together for Swords & Wizardry Complete ;)

I like how we get some insight into both sides of the conflict. Not just our very flawed heroes but their adversaries, the vampires. Living among humans for centuries, a volcano plunging the west coast of the United States into a state of ash darkened skies has brought vampires to a position of strength. The politics behind the power players is an interesting subplot.

I'll save season 1 episode 13 for tomorrow - then onward to season 2 :)

Tavern Steins awarded - 4 out of 5. Better than the first season of Shannara Chronicles IMHO. I'll have to give my thoughts on that later.

Palladium - 2017 X-Mas Surprise Package - $90 + value for $45 + shipping

Continuing with the Gaming Christmas Deals we are looking at the Palladium 2017 X-Mas Surprise Package. I bought this 2 years ago. My highlights were some signed prints and a signed copy of Palladium Fantasy - damn but I love those rules for flavor. Lows were some crappy minis - but its a grab bag, so overall I was pretty pleased.

They do require you list AT LEAST 10-15 items on your "wish list" of not more. Personally, I'm heavily weighted towards art and prints myself. Not sure if I'm getting the bundle this year as I'm literally running out of room for more "gaming shit" ;)

45 bucks plus shipping for 90+ worth of gaming goodies with signed game books of you so desire isnt a bad deal.

NOT as exciting is the Palladium Digital Christmas Surprise Package (I received this info via email)

For the first time ever, Palladium Books is offering a Digital Christmas Surprise Package! 

The Digital Christmas Surprise Package gets you a minimum of $50 (usually $60 or more) worth of Palladium PDF books and digital products (like Game Master’s Kits, Primers, maps, paper miniatures, etc.) for just $24.99. That’s right, $50-$60+ worth of PDF titles and digital products for only $24.99 during this holiday special. Offer ends December 24, 2017, so order yours now. Christmas is only two and a half weeks away. 

If the title is available from DriveThruRPG, you can request it in your Digital Surprise Package. It’s a surprise package because you never know exactly what you’re going to get. We ask that you send us a “Wish List” of 10-15 items. Then we select a bunch of them and may surprise you with stuff you are not expecting. PDFs like issues of The Rifter®, or a Palladium RPG or sourcebook(s), or other items that we think you might enjoy. All items are “hand-picked” by a member of the Palladium staff from YOUR Wish List. We have left fans thrilled with what they received every single year with the traditional Christmas Surprise Package, and we plan to do the same with the Digital Surprise Package.

How to Place an Order 

Place your order online at the Palladium website (palladiumbooks.com) just like you would any order in our online store. We accept ALL major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover). You may also order by telephone (734-721-2903; order line only). 

Make sure you give us your entire email address, and double check it to make sure it is accurate. A link will be e-mailed to that address within five (5) business days of placing your order. When you click on the link, you will be taken to a shopping cart on DriveThruRPG’s website, with the PDF from your Surprise Package already entered into your shopping cart and the price set to zero. Simply click the red Check Out button to get your PDF titles via this special offer.

I'll personally pass on a digital grab bag...

OSR Christmas Starts in a Week - Mark your Calendars ;)

Next Thursday we kick off OSR Christmas. I'll work on the actual gift giving breakdown for the 12 days this weekend, but in the mix thus far are:

Frog God Games: (1) Copy of The Bight - for Swords & Wizardry - Hardcover / Print
                                (2) $20 Gift Certificates to the Frog God Store
                                (4) $10 Gift Certificates to the Frog God Store

Silver Bulette        (2) Copies Orb of Undying Discord (PDF)
                               (2) Copies of their next release (PDF)

Gaming Ballistic   (2) Copies Dungeon Grappling in Print - (6) Copies of DG in PDF
                               (2) Copies Lost Hall of Tyr in Print - (6) Copies of LHoT in PDF

Precis Intermedia(1) Choice of one issue of RPG Pundit Presents in PDF
(Brett Bernstein)   (1) Supergame: Super-Powered RPG (Classic Reprint) in PDF   

Crossplanes          (6) Copies Wizardry Unearthed in PDF

The Tavern           (6) Copies Swords & Wizardry Continual Light in Print

The Tavern
Monkeyblood Design (1) Copy Midderlands  in Print

More to come...

                    

Nerdarchy Live Chat at Noon Eastern - Frog God Games' Zach Glazar is the Guest

In case you've been under a rock the last 21 hours or so, Frog God Games released a 5e Humble Bundle bundle of the year. Alright, that's some hyperbole added by me ;) It IS an AMAZING value no matter what edition you play - and its already raised over $100k in less than 24 hours.

Zach will be talking about the Bundle, the current Frog God Games 5e Kickstarter and other Froggieness that may leak out.

I'll be abusing him via chat...

Drop on in. Tell them The Tavern sent you. Oh, and abuse Zach ;)

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern - Where the Cool Grogs Will Be ;)

Real life has been busy but I won't miss Tavern Chat ;)

9 PM Tonight - Right here at The Tavern. Well, more accurately The Tenkar's Tavern Live Discord Server, which you can reach via the following invite:

https://discord.gg/fReGmuD

Join in on the voice chat or just lurk - we don't bite - and if we did, everyone should have their shots already.

HUGE 5e Humble Bundle from Frog God Games / Kobold Press!

When a single buck can get you so much, does game system even matter? I find myself asking this question today, as the Frog God / Kobold Press 5e Humble Bundle offers so much for 5e for so little, its a no brainer to convert some of this to Old School Gaming. Heck, a buck for a 30% off coupon ain't bad either.

Besides, sourcebooks are effectively systemless anyway. Its the words that matter, not the numbers. And adventure ideas are easy enough to convert on the fly.

Do I see maps of the Lost Lands in there at 17 bucks? Why yes I do!

I have a lot of this stuff for S&W but I don't have most of it. Looks like I will now :)

This went up 3 hours ago. Lets look at the figures:

Holy shit!

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay First Edition Core Rulebook releases in PDF on RPGNow - 9.99

As promised, the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay First Edition Core Rulebook has released in PDF on RPGNow. Priced at $9.99 it makes claims to be an accurate representation of the printed original.

Bookmarks alone make this awesome.

Fully OCR'd, bookmarked and cleaned up to look amazing, the first edition of the seminal Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay comes to PDF! 

We’ve painstakingly scanned every page, and created a PDF that maintains the appearance of the original. This does make for a slightly larger file than we’d normally produce, but on this occasion, we think it’s worth it for all the great First Edition feel! The PDF is also extensively bookmarked for ease of reference. 

We released a version earlier in the year via Humble Bundle that did not have the colour plates of the Games Workshop edition, but this new PDF does have all those glorious colour plates we know so well.

Note - file size is 154 mb

Observant readers will recognize the affiliate link above (if you aren't that observant, we've now told you) - Affiliate links keep the lights on here at The Tavern and we thank you.

TSR Tuesday - Star Frontiers: (SF1) Volturnus, Planet of Mystery (and SF2 and Character Sheets)

So, WotC has now released some classic adventures for the Star Frontiers RPG in PDF format (I had overlooked this as it actually released last week - thankfully I got pinged by a Taverner via email)

What just released?

Star Frontiers: (SF1) Volturnus, Planet of Mystery (I had no idea Tom Moldvay was involved with SF until now) - 4.99

Star Frontiers: (SF2) Starspawn of Volturnus - 4.99

Star Frontiers: (SF AC-1) Official Character Record Sheets - Free

You can snag the remastered rules for free at http://www.starfrontiersman.com/remastered.php

Sorry for the late and lonely post today - it was a busy day ;)

There are some affiliate links above. Affiliate links keep the taps flowing and the lights lit here at The Tavern. I thank you.

Troll Lord Games "Advent Calendar Sale" with Bonus Flash Sale to 8 PM Eastern Tonight!

First, the flash sale, which was posted earlier today on The Tavern's Discord Channel by one of the Taverners:

Castles and Crusades is really cheap today if anyone is interested. 

Looks like you can get a Player's Handbook, Monsters & Treasures, Castle Keeper's Guide, CK Screen, Lion in the Ropes Adventure Modules, Character Reference Sheets and Arms & Armor for about $58 plus shipping. 

Valid until 8pm EST, code FLASH50NOW and it's applicable on the bundles.

The Troll Lord Games Advent Calendar Sale reveals a new sale every day for the month of December until Christmas. Prior day's sales do NOT appear to expire.

Merry Christmas :)

To Grow the OSR the Youth are the Key

Just a quick observation.

ENWorld has about 32% of its readership in the 16 to 24 age group.

RPGNet has about 37% of its readership in the 16 to 24 age group.

The Tavern's Facebook Community comes in at 2.4% of its membership in the 16 to 24 age group.

The Swords & Wizardry Facebook Community comes in at 4.9% of its membership in the 16 to 24 age group.

Those younger gamers will be older gamers at some point. Current older gamers will age out and pass on at some point.

Maybe the OSR needs to find a way to tap into the younger player demographic.

(original demographics post with charts is here)

Kickstarter - Those Dam Goblins (LL & 5e)

If you've been following my Kickstarter posts, you would know that +Lloyd Metcalf / Fail Squad Games is always on time if not early AND backing Lloyd's KSs doesn't break the bank. They are old school friendly while still being a perfect fit for 5e. In other words, they are Win / Win and I expect more of the same from Those Dam Goblins.

Several years ago human settlers discovered a marsh covered valley which they knew would provide fertile crop land if only the marsh could be drained. The settlers dammed the river and may have damned themselves! The diverted river has awoken the cliffs themselves. Strange rumblings in the earth and smoke from the cliff tops are sure signs of trouble. The residents of Fertile Valley need some heroes, can you save Fertile Valley before it’s too late? 

This adventure is written for the Labyrinth Lord (LL) game system compatible with BECMI or B/X with Fifth Edition rules of the world’s most popular tabletop RPG included.

Written by Chris Clark with additional work and art by Lloyd himself, Those Dam Goblin's is the latest release from Fail Squad Games.

Buy in is 7 bucks in PDF, 15 in Print at 23 in Print / PDF. (The print plus PDF includes Crypt on Keeper Hill - a 5e Interlude)