Tenkar's Tavern: 2024-07-14

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Humble Bundle - All About Gaming Book Bundle

This may or may not be your type of bundle. For those who don't have the two Jon Peterson books in the bundle, it may be a good deal. For those who are video game aficionados, the value of the All About Gaming Book Bundle goes up precipitously. I think you hit your apex if you are also a fan of the history of board games. Of course, fans of wargaming are covered too.

For a buck, you can get three boos - and no, none of the Jon Peterson books are covered. To get the Peterson books and the other 24 books in the bundle (for a grand total of 26 books) you need to spend 18 bucks.

Now, I have the Pereterson boos - one in print and one in Kindle. I should note, that all but one of these books is exclusively in ePUB format. Now that Kindle supports ePUB, that works for me. Here's a link to an article on how to get your ePUB books on your Kindle device or app: https://kindlepreneur.com/epub-to-kindle/

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.

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

Friday, July 19, 2024

Christmas in July - 2024 Sale Doorbusters @ 80% Off

Over the next few days, I'll share some OSR Picks for the 2023 Christmas in July Sale over at DTRPG. In the meantime, there are some really deeply discounted picks on this page. The Witcher and Dragonbane are on my "must-buy list", although I DO own Dragonbane already ;)

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Bundle of Holding - The Gaia Complex (Cyberpunk)

I'm a fan of the Cyberpunk genre. I always have huge plans to run a cyberpunk campaign, going back to GURPS Cyberpunk and Cyberpunk 2020 from the 80s and 90s. Alas, it has yet to be.

The Gaia Complex is Cyberpunk tabletop roleplaying in New Europe, 2119, and is a bundle at Bundle of Holding. You can snag the complete collection for 14.95.

Adventurer! This all-new Gaia Complex Bundle presents The Gaia Complex, the Hansor Publishing tabletop cyberpunk roleplaying game of flesh and wires. In a megacity of intense violence, secret corporate warfare, and vampiric uprisings, an overzealous AI called Gaia governs the city and protects (controls) its citizens. You're a Merc, uncovering secrets and using them to chase your next payout from the syndicates. But Gaia's secrets are many and unexpected. Whether you're a combat-ready Operator, Core Hacker, black marketeer, Data Dealer, or feral who mind-melds with animals, the concrete jungle of New Europe – of NeoMunich, Bruss, Morvan, The Hamm, Paris-Zone, The Dome, and the vampire-controlled Outer Fringe – can eat you alive (especially the vampires). For fans of Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed, Elysium, and Dredd, The Gaia Complex lets you create stories of conspiracy, discovery, hardship, and brutal violence.
This Gaia Complex Bundle presents the entire game line to date for an unbeatable bargain price. For just US$14.95 you get all four complete titles in our Gaia Complex Collection (retail value $78) as DRM-free ebooks, including the full-color, 291-page Gaia Complex core rulebook (plus the free 48-page QuickStart) and the recent supplements Evolution by Design and Hardware 2119, along with the GM Screen & Data Vault.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Deal of the Day - A Magical Society: Beast Builder

The complete "A Magical Society" series is top-notch, even if it is well over a decade old. Today's Deal of the Day is A Magical Society: Beast Builder. Normally A Magical Society: Beast Builder is 30 bucks in PDF, but until tomorrow morning at 11 AM Eastern it is marked down to $12.

A Monster Builder like nothing ever seen before…
A Magical Society: Beast Builder is 224 pages packed with information that helps you make your own monsters. In the tradition of A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe and A Magical Society: Ecology and Culture, A Magical Society: Beast Builder gives you the tools you need to make your own campaign specific monsters to challenge and excite your players while adding to the depth and realism of your campaign world.
Chapter One: Monster Concepts and Functions— Monster concepts and functions drive what a monster is and even more importantly, what it does. This chapter discusses common concepts such as creature hierarchies (juvenile, adult, elder etc.), additive abilities (like the vrock’s dance of ruin), mythological inspiration and other monster building aspects.
It gives advice on creating a good concept based upon the function of a creature. Every monster has a concept and a type (such as giant, vermin, etc.), but more than that every monster has a function; the part of the monster that answers the question “What does it do?” I outline the 20 most common functions such as grappler, caster, disabler, energy attacker and PC killer, and how such functions play out in the game. Under each function, you’ll also find a list of the creatures from the SRD as well as creatures from Monster Geographica: Underground that possess that function.
Chapter Two: Monsters and their Environment— Every monster has a place in your world and every place has its monsters. This chapter is simply stuffed with useful information about environment, ecology, biology, and behavior that will help you completely customize every creature to suit your needs. We all know that statistics alone don’t make a great monster. The best monsters are ones with a rich place within your world and this chapter will help you give your new creation a fitting background.
Chapter Three: Monster Statistics— Although a great background is a must for a great monster, statistical accuracy is just as important. This 19 page chapter discusses every bit of the monster stat block and gives you the information you need to insure your great fluff isn’t let down by poor crunch.
Chapter Four: Type and Subtype— Continuing the statistical break-down of creatures, type and subtype is analyzed in chapter four. I give advice about determining subtype (just what is an aberration anyway?) as well as breakdown on ability scores based upon the SRD monsters. You’ll find that although the rules say one thing, the execution often shows another when it comes to ability scores.
Chapter Five: Templates— Worthy of their own chapter, templates are great additions to any GMs bag of tricks. This chapter gives you information on the main 14 template (such as archetypal, greater, half, and planar-aligned) themes as well as seven main ways of acquiring a template. It finishes with a template-only version of chapters four and seven, giving you all existing information so you’ll have more options when designing your own templates.
Chapter Six: Bits and Pieces— Bits and pieces is a short chapter filled with campaign oriented monster parts. In a magical world filled with hostile monsters, holistic magic plays its role and the remains of fallen foes can often be used against those who lived. This chapter helps think of monsters from yet another perspective.
Chapter Seven: Special Attacks, Special Qualities, and Conditions— This huge chapter provides you with 600 special abilities taken from all the creatures in the SRD and all the creatures in Monster Geographica: Underground. Each of these abilities has been broken down to component parts to demonstrate useful guidelines when using them with any CR creature. For example the balor’s death throes SA/SQ is now tied to a creature’s HD, instead of being a straight 100 points of damage. Every SA/SQ has its source monsters (the monsters that possess that ability) listed as well. Once you jump into this chapter there’s no turning back; there’s simply so many cool things you could do when making your monsters you may not want to move onto the next chapter.
Appendix I: D20 Mechanic Table— A single table showing the d20 mechanic. You’ll be surprised how useful this is when deciding monster hit percentages and saving throw percentages. It’s much easier than just doing it in your head.
Appendix II: Editing Checklist— Every monster should face the checklist! A short outline-format editing checklist that covers the most common dangers/errors of d20 monster creation.
Appendix III: Random(ish) Monster Generator— And last but not least, a random(ish) monster generator is provided for when inspiration has simply gone dry. Don’t expect the most sensible results, but anything can happen! This is particularly useful if you want to make creatures for the hordes of chaos.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Bundle of Holding - Stars Without Number

I'm a huge fan of Kevin Crawford. With every Kickstarter he's done, he's given value back to the gaming community as a whole. Stars Without Number is an awesome system - probably my top two in OSR sci-fi RPGs, standing right next to White Star. I've backed every KS Kevin has run without hesitation. His work is simply that good.

Stars Without Number is currently available over at Bundle of Holding. If you don't have a copy yet, do yourself a favor and snag it.

Adventurer! We've resurrected (for a second time!) our March 2019 Stars Without Number Bundle featuring the 2017 Stars Without Number Revised science-fiction tabletop roleplaying game from Sine Nomine Publishing. SWN sets the standard for "sandbox" roleplaying. Forget pre-packaged, pre-digested plotlines that put the players on railroad tracks. In a sandbox game the setting is wide open for adventure in all directions. The Gamemaster presents situations, not storylines – problems, not plots. The player characters go where they will, do as they wish, forging their own career. And one of the best games for sandbox-style spacefaring is Stars Without Number.
For just US$7.95 you get all three titles in this revived offer's Starter Collection (retail value $32) as DRM-free ebooks, including the complete Deluxe Stars Without Number Revised rulebook; Sixteen Stars (popular sf scene backdrops); and the SWN Revised GM Screen.
Polychrome supplement for Stars Without NumberAnd if you pay more than the threshold price of $20.41, you'll level up and also get this revival's entire Bonus Collection with five more SWN supplements worth an additional $48, including Dead Names: Lost Races and Forgotten Ruins and four system-neutral campaign sourcebooks: Starvation Cheap (ground warfare and mercenary campaigns); Skyward Steel (the Stellar Navy); Suns of Gold (merchants and traders); and Polychrome (cyberpunk).

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Backerkit - Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure 5E+DCC

By popular demand, new add-ons are available! 5E edition of "Beneath the Isle of the Serpents," DCC edition of "Sacrificial Pyre of Thracia," and a slipcase! Crowdfunding backers get the exclusive stretch goal booklet packed with stretch goal material! Plus great deals on bundle pledges, free PDF with print purchase, the exclusive art folio, and special crowdfunding covers!

I almost missed this, as Goodman Games went straight to Backerkit (and skipped Kickstarter) for this project. And what project is that? Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure for 5E+DCC. Yep, that's a mouthful. Yet with 10 days left in its funding, Caverns of Tracia has already raised over $475K. That's huge!

Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure 5E+DCC is based on Jennell Jaquays' classic, originally published by Judges Guild for use with Dungeons & Dragons.

The end of one empire sees the birth of a new one deep within the earth. Born in the forgotten chambers and caverns of age-lost Thracia rises a formidable foe: the Minotaur King, along with his host of dog brothers, gnolls, lizardmen, and others. Some say that even Death itself lingers in the Caverns of Thracia, ready to claim any who stumble upon its unholy chapel. The secrets of Thracia are manifold, its treasures thrice that. Do you have the mettle to survive… the Caverns of Thracia?
The Caverns of Thracia is a complete mega-dungeon setting that supports a full-year campaign!
Takes characters from levels 1-10 (5E) or 1-5 (DCC)
6 vast dungeon levels
250+ encounter areas
125+ new monsters
40+ new magic items, spells, and curses
Stretch goals expand the ruins and an overland archipelago
Combat, exploration, and social interaction

Why "Swords & Wizardry?"

Believe me when I say I have them all in dead tree format. I have OSRIC in full size, trade paperback and the Player's Guide. I have LL and the AEC (and somewhere OEC, but I can't find it at the moment). Obviously I have Basic Fantasy RPG. Actually, I have the whole available line in print. Way too much Castles & Crusades. We all know my love for the DCC RPG. I even have Dark Dungeons in print, the Delving Deeper boxed set, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep

I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls

So, out of all that, why Swords & Wizardry? Why, when I have been running a AD&D 1e / OSRIC campaign in Rappan Athuk am I using Swords & Wizardry and it's variant, Crypts & Things, for the second campaign? (Actually, now running a S&W Complete campaign, soon to be with multiple groups)

Because the shit works.

It's easy for lapsed gamers to pick up and feel like they haven't lost a step. I can house rule it and it doesn't break. It plays so close to the AD&D of my youth and college years (S&W Complete especially) that it continually surprises me. Just much less rules hopping than I remember. (my God but I can run it nearly without the book)

I grab and pick and steal from just about all OSR and Original resources. They seem to fit into S&W with little fuss. It may be the same with LL and the rest, but for me the ease of use fit's my expectations with S&W.

Even the single saving throw. That took me longer to adjust to, but even that seems like a natural to me now. Don't ask me why, it just does. Maybe it's the simplicity of it. At 45 52, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)

Swords & Wizardry Light - Forum

RPGNow