Raggi is Such a Shock Jock! I'm so Shocked!

Wait, that's right - all the radio shock jocks are either off the air or no longer shocking. This is simply bad taste, but that IS Raggi's schtick:

Jeans, striped shirts, ballcaps, modern bikes - he doesn't even try to make the effort to have it fit his default setting. Because why make the effort when you can be "shocking".

I long for the days when Raggi was putting out usable stuff, like The Grinding Gear.

Ah well, I'm guessing this was one of his many inspirations:

Tip of the hat to Taverner Thad :)

Magic Item - The Taverner's Ring of Spell Storing

Yesterday I participated in some drama in the community. While I certainly feel my response was justified and needed, it doesnt mean I don't have a price to pay. Damn that Joeski Tax. Wait, where's Joeski? ;)

0. Some artwork © 2018 Joseph Salvador III, used with permission. All rights reserved. 
   

The Taverner's Ring of Spell Storing

This silver ring of a serpent eating its own tail holds a maximum of two spells. One is clerical in nature, randomly determined from the levels 1 to 4 spell lists, the other is magic-user in nature, randomly determined from the level 1 to 6 spell lists. Once the spells are determined, they can not be changed.

The ring can be used by all classes, and the magic-user spell contained in the ring can be cast by a user wearing armor.

The spells cast by the ring are gone until recharged. The ring recharges a spell slot (randomly determined if both slots need to be recharged) when a member of the wearer's party dies. Note, the wearer need not cause the death. Henchmen, hirelings and allies do count for the purposes of recharging the ring.

Note, I'll add the OGL to this when I get back to NYC. In the meantime, enjoy ;)

Dyson Plays with Revisionist History - Can't Leave on your own if You Were Banned Prior

See the number of "bans" on the Tenkar's Tavern Discord server? Nearly 1k are bans of spambots. Just a handful are "for cause". See that Dyson was banned? Why was Dyson Logos banned? For private messaging EVERY Designer & Maker that was on the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server at that time. There were 41 or 42. Dyson was upset that Alex Macris was a Designer & Maker and had his own channel on the server.

I was hammered with complaints from those he messaged. They felt they were being harassed, and I agreed. (BTW, PMs are more personal than emails - these weren't emails) So, in response, I banned Dyson Logos from the Discord Server. It should be noted that Dyson had previously blocked me on Facebook after leaving me a really nasty PM (nearly a year prior). He sent his message and then he blocked me, so I couldn't respond. I'm not sure if that's how he handles every disagreement, but what I can tell is that he believes in some revisionist history. Heck, I'm still surprised that he participated in a few weekly chats after flaming out on me on Facebook.

See, here's the latest from Dyson Drama himself (BTW, the harassing and banning are over a year ago now). No idea why this is coming up now, a year later, but I'm guessing he is looking to rile up his circle to light some torches in August.

Let me address a few things I haven't addressed above. As far as I know, I've never referred to Dyson as a "known harasser". I name him when I talk about him and I certainly have referred to him as a harasser. I also haven't talked about Dyson in a long time so this is a bit out of left field. But hey, I've mentioned you now. I know it is what you want, to try and stay relevant you need to be talked about.

Yes, I've mentioned the "cattle drive" of 100 plus prostitutes in the late 90s in Hunts Point on the weekly chat in the past, but that is not why Dyson left the Discord Server. He was banned, by me, for the harassing of server members. He did not leave of his own choice month later, he'd already been banned.

Truth is damning at times. 

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern

This has been a whacky week for me. Monday was the Public Notary exam, nearly 4 hours in the DMV, picking up my eight-year-old niece for a sleepover and nearly missing my Monday Night B/X game because I had literally forgotten about it. Then Tuesday was my birthday and all of the sudden today is Wednesday and I nearly thought it was Thursday. Phew!

Tonight (July 31st) is Tavern Chat on The Tavern's Discord Server. We hang out in voice chat from 9 pm eastern until 11 pm and often beyond. It's always a fun time and you never know what topic(s) might pop up. Old school gaming, nerd and geek stuff, classic movies - its al good :)

Invite to The Tavern's Discord Server - https://discord.gg/swrF8Aq

There's a Giveaway over on The Tavern Chat Podcast - The City of Great Lunden (MonkeyBlood Design)

Yep, in celebration of my birthday (which was yesterday) I'm giving away a print copy of Glynn Seal's (MonkeyBlood Design) The City of Great London. All you need do is call into the Tavern Chat Podcast via the app or the google number and pitch a topic for an episode of the podcast. Entries must be in by noon, EST, August 5th, 2019. No more than one pitch per person per day. A random "pitcher" will be the gift receiver and will be chosen on August 5th. Yes, your pitches may be used in the podcast, that is the whole point ;)

Note, this is US only because shipping outside the states requires me to sacrifice my firstborn son, and as I have only one, it ain't happening ;) Those that drop a pitch and are outside the US are eligible to receive a $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate - that ship free :)

Here are some useful links and numbers:

Tavern Chat Podcast: https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/E439---Tavern-Chat-Birthday-Giveaway-e4pruo/a-ajtqa8 (limited to 1 minute)

Voicemail # ‪(347) 509-5168‬ (limit three minutes)

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Deal of the Day - Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition

Today's DTRPG Deal of the Day is Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition by Mr OSR Podcssting himself, Vince Florio.

There is some interesting history behind the original Mazes & Perils, Vince & myself. Long story short, I would probably never have started podcasting if it weren't for Vince and his friendship. Yep, I call Vince a friend, but that doesn't mean that Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition isn't one of the best OSR rulesets on the market. It quite simply is, and if you haven't checked it out yet, now is your opportunity at a very fair price.

The Mazes & Perils Role-playing Game (MnP) takes a page from the first wave of the Old School Renaissance (OSR) when it wasn’t OLD at all… Inspired by the 1977 “Holmes” edition of the world’s most popular role-playing game, it shuns pages and pages of rules for a simpler time when House rules were the order of the day. 

First released in 2012, MnP drew a line on the map of OSR retroclones as something easy to pick up and play where your heroes weren’t superheroes. There are no superpowers here. Fighters have swords and armor. Clerics have their faith. Thieves skulk in the shadows seeking better items to steal. And Magic-Users sling magics at their foes until they run out of spells. This style of gaming is about grit and wit – and if you die, it must be time to roll up a new character. 

The original book was awarded a Gold Ennie Award in 2013 for "Best Free RPG" and now we've updated it with even more great content! 

Now in 2016, a new version of MnP – with some new classes, new spells, new optional rules, and a new look! Mazes & Perils Deluxe offers everything you liked about the original with a new coat of paint and a few new tools in the toolbox! New bits include: 

• New Class – The Enchanter – along with 20+ new spells in his arsenal
• New Class – The Shaman – along with nearly 20 new spells of his own
• Rules for Variable Damage for Weapons and Variable Hit Dice
• New layout, more art, and plenty of editing

Come check out a blast from the past and see why OSR is alive and well!

Originally $7.99 in PDF and recently reduced to 4 bucks, for 24 hours only Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition is on sale for $2.40. Probably the biggest bargain in OSR gaming this week, if it isn't in your virtual rules collection, it should be.

As I said above, Vince is a friend of mine. That being said, Mazes & Perils stands on it own, it simply is damn good. Yes, that is an affiliate link above. Affiliate sales help keep the beer cold and the lights on at The Tavern. I thank you in advance.

Wayward Kickstarter - The Tower *BreakKickstarter)

"A tabletop roleplaying game for #BreakKickstarter where you don't get to play the game until the creator is dead."

So apparently "Break Kickstarter" is a thing. I don't think this is what was expected, but it certainly breaks Kickstarter expectations.

A password-protected PDF, where the password won't be released until the creator dies. Damn, surprised Gareth didn't think of this scam.

Content Warning: While I cannot tell you what the game is about, it is my responsibility to let you know The Tower deals with mature subject matter involving deadly violence and its consequences both physical and emotional. Anyone who might not find this to their liking might not want to back this campaign.  

Some ideas are a hard sell. They may have an important message you want to share with the world but there's something about the idea that's controversial or risky. Particularly when it comes to making a game about a terrible event that will spiral out of control in ways we never imagined until it becomes a part of modern life. You know you may never be able to share it but it never truly goes away. Until you see a sign and the opportunity suddenly presents itself.  

The Tower is a mature tabletop roleplaying game about a terrifying moment that changes the lives of the people involved. And you won't be able to play it until I'm dead. In the spirit of Break Kickstarter, this campaign will provide you with a password-protected PDF of the finished game by the promised delivery date. The password will only be provided by me in the event of my death by natural or accidental causes. 

Yeah, I think not. It will complete but your reward will not be usable. Sure, it breaks Kickstarter but its also useless.

Leave it to a Canadian ;)

Kickstarter - Bio-Dice: Harnessed Energy RPG Dice sets in Test Tubes

I'm sorry, I read this graphic as BIO=DICK and the test tubes filled with dice as phallic like items. I may need a beer. Or maybe I've had too many.

Test tubes filled with dice that look like the dice I can buy in bulk on Amazon for about 3 bucks a set. But with test tube and sticker, it's 10 bucks plus shipping for a set.

"Our labs have combined the raw energy of nature and the sizzling power of man and installed it into dice. Our dice are named from these harnessed powers, placed in a test tube, and delivered straight to you. Enhance your game play with BIO-Dice, powerful energy in a tube."

Bio-Dice, for the gamer looking to roll with a biohazard.