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Saturday, October 21, 2023

Deal of the Day - Big Rubble (RuneQuest)

My history with RuneQuest, Classic RuneQuest, started in 86 or 87, when I bought the hardback rules along with the box sets of Pavis & Big Rubble at an RPG convention at Columbia University. The boxes were shelf worn, but still in their wrap, and I believe I snagged it all for 20 bucks. Little did I know this would be the first time I'd ever run a sandbox (or even know that's what the experience was), but we had a blast that summer, with our party exploring Big Rubble, and going back to Pavis in between adventuring. Yes, I have some very special memories of Big Rubble ;)

Today's Deal of the Day is none other than Big Rubble (1983 edition) in all of its original glory. Normally 14.99 in PDF, and it is on sale for a mere 3 bucks in PDF until tomorrow morning.

THE BIG RUBBLE is the perfect hunting ground for both prospective and veteran adventurers. From the relative safety of the frontier town of New Pavis, exploration parties may venture forth into the Rubble to once again tap the treasures and magics buried in its ruins. They will be aided and hindered by the guards and bureaucrats of the occupying Lunar empire.

The Big Rubble is a vast area enclosed by giant-build walls of solid stone. Once it was the site of Robcradle, an ancient Jrusteli city, and then it held the magnificent capital of the hero Pavis. Only thousands of acres of ruin and destruction now remain, full of robbers, outcasts, and inhuman monsters.

The Rubble Guide provides background describing the creation of the ruins, tells of major areas within the giant walls and of 49 points of interest within those areas, examines the vegetable guardians of the Elven Garden, hints at how to get in and out of the Rubble, illustrates four types of Rubble ruins, contains general and specific encounters, and reveals the cult of Yelorna.

The nine scenarios in the Episodes book explore some of the many exciting places within the Rubble. Griffin Gate is the main entrance for legal adventuring parties, and this scenario includes three separate episodes occurring within the gate area. Wolfhead's Lair, Raid of Yelorna, The Devil's Playground, Krang's Table, and the Puzzle Canal introduce the manifold gangs who survive through incessant raid and plunder within the Rubble. Temple at Feroda takes the adventurers south, beyond the walls, to the mouth of the Zola Fel River. Each of those adventures requires one or two evenings to complete. Dozens of additional scenarios will develop as sidelights from the nine given here or from the plentiful descriptions provided.

Several "official" Lunar Empire forms have been included to license and annoy hapless adventurers. No one is allowed back into the safety of New Pavis without their Adventurer's License, and few except for trolls, elves, broos, and ogres dare to live in the Rubble.

The book also includes designer's notes and a detailed index. The PDF is fully bookmarked, with a fully hyperlinked Table of Contents and Index.



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Friday, October 20, 2023

Kickstarter - Delver 11 & 12: Old School RPG Resources for GMs and Players


Delver is a magazine for Referees and Players of OSR fantasy roleplaying games.

I did not realize it was time for the next issues of Delver. Truly an excellent resource for the OSR DM. Time to put my money down for Delver 11 & 12 - Print plus PDF for the 2 issues is 22 bucks plus shipping - in my case 8 bucks shipping to NYC.

Delver magazine (zine-format, 5.5 " wide x 8.5" tall) is a third-party resource for GMs and Players of OSR fantasy RPGs such as Old-School Essentials, ShadowDark, Swords & Sorcery, and Basic Fantasy RPG.

OSR games offer a fantasy roleplaying game experience to players looking for a return to the style and feel of classic dungeon crawling, and Delver seeks to offer Game Masters and players of OSR games additional aids in the form of adventures, articles, random tables, new magic items and much more. The content in every issue of Delver magazine, however, will also be useful to GMs and players of other fantasy RPGs with some minor tweaks; most of it will require ZERO changes!

The primary features of Delver magazine are the random charts and tables. Each issue will contain pages and pages of random charts that can be used before or during a session. Each page has a theme or subject, typically with four to six tables that pertain to that topic. For example, the What's in that Cube? page from Delver #2  rolls up the contents of a Gelatinous Cube wandering monster... download this sample page using the link beneath the following image.

 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on AnchorYouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar    

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Humble Bundle - The Best of Warhammer RPGs

I have some extremely fond memories of running Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay back in the 80s and had my first self-inflicted by the part TPK. When I was returning to RPGs, my initial return was via Dark Herasy for Warhammer 40k via Fantasy Grounds. Damn, I really do enjoy the Warhammer Universe RPGs.

Humble Bundle is currently offering The Best of Warhammer RPGs as their latest RPG Bundle. This is a rare bundle where even the $1 level offers a Starter Set (Soulbound). 18 bucks get your three core rules (WFRP 4e, Soulbound, and Wrath & Glory) and a bunch of adventures and supplements.

RPGs spanning the worlds of Warhammer

Whether you’re partial to Space Marines, Stormcast Eternals, or good ol’ greenskins and high elves, this bundle of Warhammer pen-and-paper RPGs from Cubicle 7 will bring eternities of adventure to your table! If you seek adventure in the 41st century, Warhammer 40,000: Wrath & Glory will immerse your RPG group in the galaxy’s grimdark battles and heretical nightmares. If your tastes run classic, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay puts the entirety of the beloved Old World at your fingertips. And if you want to explore a realm of high fantasy, magitech, and post-apocalyptic horror, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Soulbound invites you to forge your group’s destiny in a gods-shattered realm.

Pay what you want for over 20 books, supplements, game aids, and more resources for these three thrilling Warhammer RPG systems, and help support Children's Health Ireland with your purchase!

 




The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on AnchorYouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar    

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

News: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Role-Playing Game is Back!

Yep, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Role-Playing Game is returning from Palladium Books via Kickstarter on October 31st, 2023. I played it a bit back in the day but never owned the rules. I guess that will be corrected shortly ;)

From the press release:

Westland, MI – October 13, 2023 – Palladium Books and Paramount Consumer Products have joined forces to reissue the ever-popular role-playing game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness.

The beloved, out-of-print Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles role-playing game and its sourcebooks are sought-after collector items that have enthralled generations since its release in 1985 as one of the first licensed TMNT products. They are returning to print as two deluxe hardcover collections of the RPG and sourcebooks. Each is being completely remastered by industry veteran Sean Owen Roberson and presented in full color, and Kevin Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will also provide a new painted cover.

Bonus material includes an array of new artwork, never before seen behind-the-scenes info and art, plus remembrances and tributes by renowned comic book and RPG creators including Eastman, Peter Laird, Freddie E. Williams II, Steven Cummings, Sophie Campbell, David Petersen, and many more.

“This is incredibly exciting! I am 1000% onboard to help bring this historic and original TMNT Role Playing Game series back in a truly deluxe collector’s edition that will thrill original fans and open the door for new ones,” said Eastman. “I've made all my archives available for expanded behind-the-scenes content as well as a few top-secret surprises you need to be part of. Stay tuned!”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Kickstarter

The Kickstarter campaign, launching October 31, 2023, will offer a host of mind-blowing Kickstarter exclusives: TMNT miniatures based on the role-playing game, dice sets, variant book covers, art prints by legacy TMNT creatives, a card deck, and more, including special stretch goals to entice role-playing fans and TMNT fans alike. All products ship in 2024. To be among the first to hear about the entire exciting slate of releases, creators, exclusives and stretch goals to be unlocked with your support, be sure to go to the Kickstarter page and subscribe for updates.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/palladiumbooks/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-and-other-strangeness

About Palladium Books®

Palladium Books was established in 1981 by visionary game designer Kevin Siembieda, renowned for his world-building. Together he and Erick Wujcik created one of the best-selling and most beloved RPGs of all time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness. Other popular Palladium RPG titles over the years include Rifts, Robotech, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Palladium Fantasy RPG, Nightbane, and Dead Reign, among many others.

For more information visit the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness Kickstarter starting October 31 or www.palladiumbooks.com

About Paramount Consumer Products

Paramount Consumer Products oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, Paramount Consumer Products’ portfolio includes a diverse slate of brands and content from BET, CBS (including CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and SHOWTIME®. With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and adult, Paramount Consumer Products is committed to creating the highest quality product for some of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises. To view our range of consumer products and Paramount branded apparel, visit ParamountShop.com.


 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on AnchorYouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar    

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Kickstarter - The End of Everything: Epic 5e Adventure to Save the World (Frog GodGames)


Crops are failing, the undead rise, an ancient evil stirs in the north, and even magic seems tainted — why is everything failing?

I enjoy campaign books that take characters from 1st to name level or beyond, even if I don't always run them. They offer value for money, and a well-written campaign will entertain for months or longer.

The End of Everything Kickstarter is written by Alex Kammer and Alan Patrick. Alex has been writing some SOLID RPG adventures for years, and his gaming convention, GameHole, is one of the best one can attend. My only complaint is that the only flavor it comes in is 5e. 

Is there a group of adventurers that has the grit, bravery, and tenacity to stop The End of Everything?

Sure ... massive, sprawling, and dangerous D&D campaigns are cool, but what about one imbued with the cosmic horror of the Cthulhu mythos?! If you dare, dive into the pages of this enormous new campaign adventure: The End of Everything!

Epic Adventure, Full Campaign

The End of Everything is a brand-new and 100%-finished campaign and setting book that takes characters from 1st through 12th level. As soon as this Kickstarter campaign concludes, backers at the $25 pledge level and above will receive a link to download the full PDF of the book. The book features entirely new material and information regarding the fascinating Haunted Steppes region of The Lost Lands, including revised and more detailed regional maps; several new town and village maps and accompanying setting lore; many new and expanded monsters; the Gnoll, a new playable race; the Geomancer, a new arcane tradition; four new setting-specific character backgrounds; new magic items; new and simple mass combat rules (why would anyone need that? 😊); and, of course, Corruption Value, a new game mechanic described below.

REMEMBER! The entire project is complete and will deliver digitally shortly after the Kickstarter campaign ends.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on AnchorYouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar    


Monday, October 16, 2023

Bundle of Holding - Kult: Divinity Lost

I have a first printing of Kult somewhere in storage. Can't believe it's over 30 years old at this point. It was a very interesting read at the time.

Currently on Bundle of Holding is Kult: Divinity Lost.

We've resurrected our October 2020 Kult: Divinity Lost Bundle featuring the 2018 Helmgast edition of the acclaimed tabletop roleplaying game of contemporary horror Kult. The world around us is a lie, and humanity is trapped in Illusion. By discovering the truth about our prison, our captors, our hidden past, and our Shadow selves, player characters hope to awaken from their induced sleep and take control of a stolen destiny. Funded in a February 2016 Kickstarter campaign, Kult: Divinity Lost updates the original 1991 Kult with a new rules set Powered by the Apocalypse. But just as before, death in Kult is only the beginning. Escape your nightmares, strike bargains with demons, and try to stay alive in a world full of pain.

(Content warning: Kult has always been, and remains, a game of visceral and psychological horror about madness, sex, brutality, and death.)

For just US$14.95 you get all three titles in this revived offer's Starter Collection (retail value $49) as DRM-free ebooks, including the complete Kult: Divinity Lost core rulebook, the GM Screen, and the Reference Deck.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

DTRPGAmazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on AnchorYouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar    

Sunday, October 15, 2023

I Tried to get Some Stuff Done, and was Almost Successful...

I Tried to get Some Stuff Done, and was Almost Successful...
Late post today because I had plans, I worked on said plans, and I didn't quite finish....

...and I was going to post about it here as a bit of a brag.

A few months ago I had picked up a Dungeons & Dragons Tower of Doom arcade cabinet and this weekend it was time to do a light refresh (not quite a restoration). The cabinet was in generally good shape, but it has had it's fair share of dings and dents, along with some half-assed repairs (mostly just a quick slap of paint). The veneer had been peeled off on part of the side, so I first had to remove all of the veneer, which was a pain in the ass. That I got done last weekend, along with some structural filler (i.e. "fancy" wood spackle) and a coat of primer.

This weekend involved getting the finish coats on, some wheels, and replacing the locks and internal marquee lighting. The &^$!@ keys were somehow locked inside the damned thing and I was able to pick one lock, but the other....well luckily I had a small through-hole that I could use a 30" screwdriver to reach through the cabinet and unscrew the back of the one lock. I bought that tool wondering if I'd ever get to use it, and this weekend I was damned glad I had!

I got it mostly done and inside, but I still need to clean the front and do a little touch-up on the paint where I wasn't as careful as I could have been bringing it in. When I get it's future home squared away then I'll be comfortable taking picks, bragging about it, but more importantly...play the damned thing. 

My new Garage Beer/Soda Machine

Of course this wasn't my only project this weekend. I had also picked up a can/bottle vending machine for my game room and I man-handled that beast (It's 568 pounds.....) into the house, got it all cleaned up and plugged in. Works like a champ, but the machine is too loud. Ugh, so then I had to man-handle that beast back out of the house (thankfully that part was easier) so it can no live in the garage. So any future gamers at my house will have to go outside to grab a soda or beer.

Sorry guys, that's just how it has to be....

...at least until I can get my other two machines fixed & serviced. They're bottle only though and one is missing the keys, which seems to be a theme this weekend. I had to go get a special lockpick set for that and watch a bunch of videos on how to use said lockpick.

Clearly I'm one of those guys that collect shit of all types....