I've stepped away from doing reviews over the past few years, as I always felt conflicted about doing reviews for products that I could financially benefit from via affiliate sales.
Over the past few months, I've picked up (or ordered in the case of GiantLands) a number of RPG products directly from the publisher. Good or bad, the best deals for these products likely will be directly from the publisher (as the price will often include PDFs for instant gratification (GiantLands is an exception - no PDF).
I want to start delving through these acquisitions with a critical eye. The first will likely be the RuneQuest Starter Set, which is looking really good to my initial eyes.
More in the next few days :)
The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.
You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar
Holy Christmas! I can't believe we are actually here. OSR Christmas Day 13, Three Kings Day!
Today is a HUGE day. Lots of Gifts. And to be honest, I may have forgotten one or two with the Omicron brain fog. So, if you are donating for OSR Christmas, and I've missed something, PLEASE PM me on Facebook or email me and I'll add it to the list of gifts.
But first, we need to gift the gifts from OSR Christmas Day 12:
Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)
Mickey G!
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North Texas RPG Convention Mystery Gift Bundle (US Only - direct from the NTRPG Warehouse)
Torchlight Issue #1 - Print (Limited Print Run - Signed by Tenkar if Requested - US Only)
dogrodeo
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ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.
IL
Now, on to OSR Christmas Day 13!
Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away One of Nearly Everything Arduin, in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package) This is THE ARDUIN PACKAGE!
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Frog God Games Gift Bundle - Stoneheart Value and 4 Modules for Swords & Wizardry (US Only - direct from the NTRPG Warehouse)
FloofQuest in Print by Lloyd Metcalf (US Only - Shipped by Tenkar, so figure in COVID delay ;)
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Torchlight Issue #1 - Print (Limited Print Run - Signed by Tenkar if Requested - US Only)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
One $25 DTRPG Gift Certificate - Anywhere
Comment below, indicating if you are within the US or outside the US (sadly, it matters for certain things that are shipped) by 9 PM Eastern, Thursday, January 13th, 2022 to be considered for a gift.
Yes, a full week to enter.
Seriously, thanks to all, the gifters and commenters both, for making this the best OSR Christmas ever.
The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.
You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar
The Expanse on Amazon Prime is wrapping up its final season, and damn what a wonderful ride it has been. So, it's no surprise that Bundle of Holding has relaunched The Expanse RPG and Modern AGE Bundle of Holding.
Now, you should note that although The Expanse RPG takes the first position in this offering's title, you'll need to kick in at the higher LEVEL UP pricing to get The Expanse Material (currently nearly 31 bucks).
There's talk in my Monday group about running an Expanse game arc next month. Exciting times :)
The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.
You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar
For those following at home, Rach and I started coming down with Omicron symptoms last Wednesday, and Rach tested positive last Thursday. The worst has been the brain fog. It cleared for a few hours late yesterday afternoon, but returned last night. I HAVE NOT looked at/read/forwarded ANY emails since, and likely will not until it clears again.
Thankfully I used the hours of clarity to clear out a huge backlog of OSR Christmas emailed gift claims.
If you claimed a gift from OSR Christmas Day 10 or before and don't hear anything in the next 5 days or so, email me again. I'm currently a bit addled ;)
Now I need to truly focus and award the gifts for OSR Christmas Day 11.
Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)
Torchlight Issue #1 - Print (Limited Print Run - Signed by Tenkar if Requested - US Only)
Doug
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.
Dave Thompson
Note, the above need to email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that gmail thing with OSR Christmas Day 11 in the subject and the gift you are claiming in the body of the email. Anything that will help my brain fogged mind ;)
Addendum - Torchlight mailings are likely delayed due to brain fog and quarantining.
Now, on to the gifting for OSR Christmas Day 12!
Woot!
Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
North Texas RPG Convention Mystery Gift Bundle (US Only - direct from the NTRPG Warehouse)
Torchlight Issue #1 - Print (Limited Print Run - Signed by Tenkar if Requested - US Only)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.
Comment below, indicating if you are within the US or outside the US (sadly, it matters for certain things that are shipped) by 9 PM Eastern, Thursday, January 6th, 2022 to be considered for a gift.
The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.
You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar
For those following at home, Rach and I started coming down with Omicron symptoms last Wednesday, and Rach tested positive last Thursday. The worst has been the brain fog, which lifted late this afternoon, but seems to be returning as I type this.
Thankfully I used the hours of clarity to clear out a huge backlog of OSR Christmas emailed gift claims.
If you claimed a gift from OSR Christmas Day 9 or before and don't hear anything in the next 48 hours or so, email me again. I'm currently a bit addled ;)
Now I need to truly focus and award the gifts for OSR Christmas Day 10.
Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)
Torchlight Issue #1 - Print (Limited Print Run - Signed by Tenkar if Requested - US Only)
Vance A
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.
macloud
Note, the above need to email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that gmail thing with OSR Christmas Day 10 in the subject and the gift you are claiming in the body of the email. Anything that will help my brain fogged mind ;)
Addendum - Torchlight mailings are likely delayed due to brain fog and quarantining.
Now, on to the gifting for OSR Christmas Day 11!
Woot!
(Day 11 looks much like Day 10 ;)
Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)
Torchlight Issue #1 - Print (Limited Print Run - Signed by Tenkar if Requested - US Only)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.
Comment below, indicating if you are within the US or outside the US (sadly, it matters for certain things that are shipped) by 9 PM Eastern, Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 to be considered for a gift.
Yes, it is a quick turn around, but Days 12 and 13 are coming up and you don't want to miss out :)
The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.
You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar
Today I'm travelling for work and I'd normally pre-load a post or ask Erik to cover, but he's sick and since it's been more than a year since I've traveled (thanks Covid!) my ability to properly prep/manage my pre-trip time socks more than it should.
The great thing about travelling, gaming-wise, is that I get the chance to (hopefully) find some new game stores. My last trip I mentioned a cool couple of finds, one in Kansas City KS, and the other in Ames IA.
I've been to this location a few times before and there is a cool hole-in-the-wall store I like to drop by, but I'm hoping I get a chance to branch out a bit more.
The thing is, and this is something I really should bug Erik about, is that we need our own (managed) listing of Favorite Local Game Stores (FLGS). Probably something to go along with a convention listing. I've found some gems in my travels, but really only by dumb luck. I've always wondered how many great stores (and finds within!) I've just driven past. A couple of years ago I spent almost a month in Florida and I didn't find diddly-squat.....but I bet there was a great store I just couldn't locate.
I really miss the days of ads in the back of Dragon Magazine.....but those days I didn't travel very much.
I know there might be some listing to be had somewhere.....anyone care to share some links?
Spider-Verse x Anime Art
-
Check out these fun Marvel x Anime mashups by The_Monsterwolf.Spider-Mirko
(Marvel x My Hero Academia)Carnage Devil (Marvel x Chainsaw Man)
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...
Darkness & Danger
-
When it comes to the Old School Renaissance, there are plenty of
retroclones and microclones and other roleplaying games designed to emulate
the play and...
Gamelog: Return to the Gatehouse
-
Heroes have not been into Chagrinspire since December and since then have
been exploring, trading, and ruining the inte...
Brink of Calamity live for sale!
-
As of about 15 minutes ago *Brink of Calamity* is finally live for sale at
DriveThruRPG in both (softcover) print and pdf versions. Note that
DriveThruRP...
PzJg38(t) Hetzer
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Continuing with my plan of painting all the stuff I printed ages ago and
then forgot about — this time it's a 15mm (1:100) Hetzer, or to be
pedantic, a...
Geeky SKAturday: Gettin' RUDE with the Sybians...
-
Happy SKAturday, all! Thank you for stopping by to hopefully make it just
a little bit brighter, nerdier, and more skankable with me.
As a reminder, these...
Filchers in the Feylight
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By WIll FloraProp Co GamesOSELevel 1 A secret thieves guild, The Crimson
Web, has stolen an artifact from the Archmage Twane*, and the party must
recover i...
My 2 Campaigns in 2 Paragraphs
-
Over at the RPG pub (the only RPG forum I regularly visit these days)
there’s an interesting thread asking people to describe their campaigns in
one paragr...
When the Clouds Come Down
-
On certain days, at twilight, the clouds gather themselves down along the
horizon and become indistinguishable from hills. At such times, the
onlooke...
Seek Earth
-
DF Whiterock has a nice post on *Seek Earth*.
Find it here.
In DF Felltower, I do the following:
- Even a single coin is a "significant" amount. This mean...
Niv Lova, s3 (solo AP)
-
This is a continuing playtest of the Niv Lova (link)RPG playtest. Previous
sessions: Session 0, Session 1, session 2.Departing for the Factory Ruins
Andre...
Landmark Sites - Dwelling
-
Sites read like a bit of a side-dish in Mythic Bastionland. I wanted to
include a simple little system to create more zoomed-in locations, but the
game i...
DTRPG print costs will increase on April 1
-
DriveThruRPG is set to significantly raise the cost of print-on-demand
products, with an increase ranging from 20% to 80%, as mentioned on Reddit
(see belo...
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...
[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...
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!
...
Nine Questions: A Retrospective...
-
So there's not much to offer this month. Real life is intruding, as it
often does, and we haven't found the time to do much of anything worth
reading. An...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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
...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
OSR: Magical Industrial Gunboats
-
Here's some useful information for river-based adventures using *Magical
Industrial Revolution*. Skip to Part 3 or click this PDF link if you just
want t...
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...
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...
The Economy Engine, v0.2
-
I made a thing. For D&D 3rd edition, so it might not be that interesting to
a lot of people. But I made it and I think it’s cool. The 3rd edition
Dungeon M...
*'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...
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...
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$&...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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!
...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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*...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 ...
