tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56719678780825690302023-11-16T05:24:11.112-08:00Eye Ray of the BeholderBlog about Tabletop RPGs.
Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-39122644765402792172023-02-21T11:40:00.001-08:002023-02-21T11:47:20.908-08:00Basic Crusades - House rules to make your BX saving throws more like Castles & Crusades <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSYQ3E93FSjv5neslxe4e_rSMytWbbNCIVOYjia9_5zAYBifVh9w3hnclJgTEzCAyciqRsfAWWEHWgs6X5mrdvnSemvbEtLjYMSnTuaeWHR12BbhPAgAP5aqqBNaMEGDkAnour24TQRjXztBtzIwrqA9MqZpbDtK8JTwC9LUhFvVjwszNb9hexUyM/s1019/alfonso-azpiri-b56d29ef-0b76-4a22-ab84-9f8032959d1-resize-750.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSYQ3E93FSjv5neslxe4e_rSMytWbbNCIVOYjia9_5zAYBifVh9w3hnclJgTEzCAyciqRsfAWWEHWgs6X5mrdvnSemvbEtLjYMSnTuaeWHR12BbhPAgAP5aqqBNaMEGDkAnour24TQRjXztBtzIwrqA9MqZpbDtK8JTwC9LUhFvVjwszNb9hexUyM/w472-h640/alfonso-azpiri-b56d29ef-0b76-4a22-ab84-9f8032959d1-resize-750.jpeg" width="472" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p> Castles & Crusades remains my favorite d20 game, but I've always felt BX still has its place at my table. It just depends on the campaign. I do however vastly prefer the Ability score-based saving throw/skill/everything resolution system from C&C. So let's use it for BX as well! Same Saving Throws, same resolution rules, etc. All we need is to figure out the Target Number (TN) for each Ability Score according to the BX class you chose.</p><p> For every method, the TN is determined at Level 1 and remains fixed as the character levels up. Remember that the character is still getting better since in C&C you add your level to saving throws.</p><p> For the examples that have to do with BX stats I'll be using the ones found in Old-School Essentials.</p><p> Quick Side-Note: Humans get special treatment when it comes to TN Saving Throws in C&C because all the Races need to be balanced with each other. For BX, Humans need no such special considerations as the Saves are attached to a Class, where the XP cost and Level Limits are the balancing factors.</p><p> Here are the different ways to do it!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Method One: BX Primes and Non-Primes -</b> This one is very similar to how things work in C&C but keeps that BX flavor for Saving Throw TNs. You choose Two Prime Ability Scores, the others are Non-Prime. (Same for Humans, as mentioned above.) If the Class has Ability Score requirements, you automatically have to choose those as your Primes. The TN for Prime Saving Throws is the lowest number from your BX Saving Throws list. Non-Primes are the highest.</p><p>Example 1: A Halfling has to take CON and DEX as their Primes. The TN for those two Abilities will be 8. All others will be 13. </p><p>Example 2: An Elf has to take Intelligence as their first Prime, and can then choose whichever other Ability they would like for the 2nd Prime. Prime TNs will be 12, Non-Primes will be 15.</p><p>Example 3: A Fighter can put their two Primes wherever they want. Prime TNs are 12, Non-Primes are 16.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Method Two: A Single TN - </b>Note down all your BX Saving Throw scores at level 1 from lowest to highest. The third value is your one single TN for all your Abilities. (Ability Score modifiers will still apply to Saves so there should be some variety anyway.)</p><p>Examples: A Thief would have a TN of 14, a Halfling a TN of 10.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Method Three: Assign BX TNs -</b> Note down all your BX Saving Throw scores at level 1 from lowest to highest. Look at the third value and add it one more time to the list. You should then have 6 different values. Assign them freely to your 6 Ability Scores. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Method Four: The SIEGE Engine - </b><i>"Stop your nonsense, Primes have to be 12, Non-Primes have to be 18! Anything else is BLASPHEMY!" </i>Ok, ok. 12 or 18, the SIEGE Engine. Look at your Saving Throw scores. If you have at least one Save which is 15 or higher, you have Two Primes. If none of your saves are higher than 14, you have Three Primes!</p><p><br /></p><p>Final comment: Don't forget that the original BX Ability Score Requirements still need to be respected!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-26169583454970429502022-10-01T14:18:00.004-07:002022-10-01T14:28:14.002-07:00The OSR is Not One Single Group<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A neutral look at the OSR's political affiliations if any.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M-F28qfHwbqKFy6eXGhonEbzQ6eQjsLFJxTNDQkQHE8cDkCvi49fI-EnpN1iXWf4E-myXvm5McU5Ss0sKsQ2B3znr8y6UdoQzxuQr9yxnCSgzdMEvfUjDR8VPdOpwHOnvSWyIVsV6RJoTQpObwofNyLc1K77GQU_GdLWYkt4VMp3_pBGpIhK4zy9/s300/a90720e8b9dee2a5c99a99fd9ea23a3d.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="300" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M-F28qfHwbqKFy6eXGhonEbzQ6eQjsLFJxTNDQkQHE8cDkCvi49fI-EnpN1iXWf4E-myXvm5McU5Ss0sKsQ2B3znr8y6UdoQzxuQr9yxnCSgzdMEvfUjDR8VPdOpwHOnvSWyIVsV6RJoTQpObwofNyLc1K77GQU_GdLWYkt4VMp3_pBGpIhK4zy9/s1600/a90720e8b9dee2a5c99a99fd9ea23a3d.png" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> I will make this post as short as I can, and politically neutral. I'm just going to state facts, not personal opinions. (Unless you want to consider my conclusion from the data presented my personal opinion.)</p><p> Let's have a look to see if the OSR has a majority political side, backed by data where gamers actually put money on what they wanted.</p><p> First, one of the writers that some people point to when they claim the OSR is this super-Conservative group, Venger Satanis. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1koz9DqW-5ecGNI6YJxxPwRWKuNp5QO48lHTZmrwnCyuN2nhs66MyztH_Hk5FnUbVuWj3W7HCU5pnk4K9VpPQJESsuOjqEYQWxE4yYGH46dpclpItjdZzfjufYCol4H5KGJpkS_AvSYBKHouLu_7n052SjKfCT2PaaNo0QPNYcUnpnluBMSmdG_0/s800/venger-headshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1koz9DqW-5ecGNI6YJxxPwRWKuNp5QO48lHTZmrwnCyuN2nhs66MyztH_Hk5FnUbVuWj3W7HCU5pnk4K9VpPQJESsuOjqEYQWxE4yYGH46dpclpItjdZzfjufYCol4H5KGJpkS_AvSYBKHouLu_7n052SjKfCT2PaaNo0QPNYcUnpnluBMSmdG_0/s320/venger-headshot.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Or is it Venger <i>Christianis</i>?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcsnvz4_jz5Ne--Lrhs1sAuLsPJvDt9nlvKv2DWFqT9VKkWZjcsTB6UWiG5y9EZtMT8kfHPGrU09HzqDGhTJku642GnjFB8QKK2NuRcWSpzKSvva4l9S6luLzsaqkC568bfqhp8Nmjp7YgCjbWKmq-Iy_yLbZJPyC3gDiHqFrMnTQXP4TuZDVJ9Uj/s1080/thumbnail_Screenshot_20220930-153040_Twitter1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="1080" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcsnvz4_jz5Ne--Lrhs1sAuLsPJvDt9nlvKv2DWFqT9VKkWZjcsTB6UWiG5y9EZtMT8kfHPGrU09HzqDGhTJku642GnjFB8QKK2NuRcWSpzKSvva4l9S6luLzsaqkC568bfqhp8Nmjp7YgCjbWKmq-Iy_yLbZJPyC3gDiHqFrMnTQXP4TuZDVJ9Uj/s320/thumbnail_Screenshot_20220930-153040_Twitter1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Anyway, moving on! This is the result of Venger's latest fundraiser (that I could find online) for his <i>Cha'alt After Dark </i>book:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL1Rof1vncxeF46wgJCyhxZ1VNOvn0MIAm9VHbek7cT-m1lcCzb_5vMTd3c-6BmIRBlyX14ItohB21cRXccOnCk-xrHIpOZ--NKD8q-oX9Vk6ANCMrUzmXZd0xELrO4VB6dRa5U7MwO9e4XgkrhVuevtaQxafKI577OGT39eYjVfvCmIVmdTRBFpi/s507/Screenshot%202022-09-30%20153614.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="507" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL1Rof1vncxeF46wgJCyhxZ1VNOvn0MIAm9VHbek7cT-m1lcCzb_5vMTd3c-6BmIRBlyX14ItohB21cRXccOnCk-xrHIpOZ--NKD8q-oX9Vk6ANCMrUzmXZd0xELrO4VB6dRa5U7MwO9e4XgkrhVuevtaQxafKI577OGT39eYjVfvCmIVmdTRBFpi/s320/Screenshot%202022-09-30%20153614.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Now let's have a look at a definitely Progressive OSR game, <i>Chromatic Dungeons </i>by Rod Waibel:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgT56yaLtqBmugnaC-Y3O0OovzG8ntPPwwUtwCteU7GLKo6GvblKQ5OzBmmM_gh0ZW3TWuCozo_3mOXUEJFN_OX0Wn6jxAfS_lIw5peAc7Z1TxxM9kCzAz2-XznTicrA8_ACRN8b6Io_3HA-HkFr9FhCdgPUd1rVxOpGOijetmBBa9cZ7ZiuwSreA/s1017/Screenshot%202022-10-01%20163137.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1017" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgT56yaLtqBmugnaC-Y3O0OovzG8ntPPwwUtwCteU7GLKo6GvblKQ5OzBmmM_gh0ZW3TWuCozo_3mOXUEJFN_OX0Wn6jxAfS_lIw5peAc7Z1TxxM9kCzAz2-XznTicrA8_ACRN8b6Io_3HA-HkFr9FhCdgPUd1rVxOpGOijetmBBa9cZ7ZiuwSreA/s320/Screenshot%202022-10-01%20163137.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This is a screenshot from the Chromatic Dragons Kickstarter:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Maison Neue Book", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-size: 16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHmw_BvpXiS5mWWAvwQfU2L19A54SamO2TaftaUQ07ec0E-rKHZ5GD5mNwHZLgrWER-e4j1mZgXa1CXA415DCzGffLqCNikuRvtFyLRpxDGvdvKDlrjyjndraZ9h6Ot0J1UQk0XVDSvLlmJWJ_UerDY8i4qPEMWxi4NyPwdL9zgNMspW7yGeC_ucfi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="873" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHmw_BvpXiS5mWWAvwQfU2L19A54SamO2TaftaUQ07ec0E-rKHZ5GD5mNwHZLgrWER-e4j1mZgXa1CXA415DCzGffLqCNikuRvtFyLRpxDGvdvKDlrjyjndraZ9h6Ot0J1UQk0XVDSvLlmJWJ_UerDY8i4qPEMWxi4NyPwdL9zgNMspW7yGeC_ucfi" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the results of the fundraising campaign for that game:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIjBOn6DMeq7Xbw1vlCkC9QmrUugVYlausouLotGBnapn_Zc_ACbdRyxFFnmKRaN6FIfCFfOWcYYdZcmU5jbQs40dLPZYKiY720eMNm3e_XWvQ5YsGdAuKueGdk7wehbR5RA94tP7Ig2vNdeRr-IjoE0v6dQiGICr2FT9bAOa9e-n4whIcOxvi5w1/s527/Screenshot%202022-10-01%20164407.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="527" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIjBOn6DMeq7Xbw1vlCkC9QmrUugVYlausouLotGBnapn_Zc_ACbdRyxFFnmKRaN6FIfCFfOWcYYdZcmU5jbQs40dLPZYKiY720eMNm3e_XWvQ5YsGdAuKueGdk7wehbR5RA94tP7Ig2vNdeRr-IjoE0v6dQiGICr2FT9bAOa9e-n4whIcOxvi5w1/s320/Screenshot%202022-10-01%20164407.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div> So there you have it. Between Venger Satanis-Christianis and Rob Waibel, Venger had slightly more backers while Rob had slightly more money from his backers. I consider this a tie, 1 point for each.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This is where you could argue my personal opinion comes in, I do think a higher price value can detract a few people so it's why I separate the number of backers and the total money raised as each worth '1 point' for my judging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Side-Note for transparency: </u>There are bigger names in the OSR than Venger Satanis-Christianis and Rob Waibel of course. I was initially thinking of two in particular. One I would consider conservative and the other progressive. I am not using them as examples because their popularity goes beyond the scope of the OSR alone. Also, the conservative one openly tries to make his games neutral of politics -unlike Venger who writes anti-abortion adventures- and the progressive one has people who follow his work in other areas than even the TTRPG hobby. Because of that, they seemed to me ill-suited for a balanced look at the OSR by itself stripped of other outside factors. I am sure some of you can guess who I am talking about but to confirm it would send the conversation in completely off-the-rails directions I am sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Also of interest:</u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_1oFX86Wfk" target="_blank">The OSR is Being Destroyed by the Right Wing!</a> (Video by James Desborough)</li><li><a href="https://elflairgames.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-osr-shorthand-and-pointless.html" target="_blank">The OSR: Shorthand and Pointless Arguments</a> (Article by Jason Vey)</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-57513254472171503802022-04-29T01:01:00.001-07:002022-04-29T01:21:07.864-07:00Ghoul Class for Undead Malefactors - First Draft (BX Rules)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><u>Ghoul</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEEW64YkwbgoIQtDG7EcyVpguKABuDRkyvTLU7tA4BDa9V8tnEqW6WBsST7iv4uZ_Z8IltkUE4FWzvwc69iJLrtY_fJKqfFS59UaZU44wcQeQztcTyW3taH8abh5N-SXcv_LdqSi6RodvYL5DRg48_ODnEVY9tn2OLn7tTjJsnlRWK0y0EOditxhK/s1892/ghoul-troopers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="1624" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEEW64YkwbgoIQtDG7EcyVpguKABuDRkyvTLU7tA4BDa9V8tnEqW6WBsST7iv4uZ_Z8IltkUE4FWzvwc69iJLrtY_fJKqfFS59UaZU44wcQeQztcTyW3taH8abh5N-SXcv_LdqSi6RodvYL5DRg48_ODnEVY9tn2OLn7tTjJsnlRWK0y0EOditxhK/w370-h431/ghoul-troopers.jpg" width="370" /></a></b></div><b><br /><u><br /></u></b><p></p><p><i> Linnias stood there with the other Ghouls and watched the Vampire Lady Virria Xarras bathe. He and his brethren were her bodyguards and thus followed her everywhere, but the only reason they would stare at her naked body as she stood in her bath was that she demanded it. She was a cruel one, as she did so to mock them all. </i></p><p><i> Her husband the Vampire Lord Fangar Xarras made sure that all the Ghouls who guarded his Lady had their genitals removed. </i></p><p><i> Being Ghouls they would slowly regrow the lost members over the next few weeks, so it was a painful procedure that was repeated as soon as they were deemed too repaired. Linnias was a recent servant to the House Xarras and so had only gone through the 'ritual' seven times so far. He had hoped to be transferred eventually to the Ghoul Trooper squads who went out on raiding missions outside of the Xarras City-State. It was beginning to look more and more unlikely that would ever happen.</i></p><p><i> He had been a Ghoul for a few months so it was a shock for him to learn that apparently, Ghoul regeneration had its limits. The longest-serving Ghouls of House Xarras eventually stopped regenerating what was removed during the rituals. Linnias did not know if it was due to some magic employed during the ritual or a subconscious reaction in the Ghouls who just did not want to go under that knife again. All he knew was that he wished he hadn't ended up serving House Xarras.</i></p><p><i> Lady Virria stared at him and grinned, thinking she must have been quite the torturous sight to the new servant. Far from it actually. Linnias had always favored the company of men both in life and in undeath. He had early on considered telling Lord Fangar of this to possibly avoid the ritual, but he feared the paranoid Lord would think it a ruse and have Linnias eliminated.</i></p><p><i> He had to find a way out, but now that he knew their secrets his Vampire rulers would never let him go. It was time to reach out in secret to the enemies of House Xarras and plot their final demise.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcge_B4XpeYNRRIYLdsaOsBx1ndvJkVkVt31LmEvQ7aiZFHZRL4MEkSfGBm7HSiZjkYuXVgCD1v_Q3FfKuKsqLCWJbUmy3gB4sBTAksaT6pgC-xODLxQNaVYXo3RRGc_XYnSeyyq1COWfdZM_Ugwjk6MHETCFiV336VBPzlzjF8QAAP6-dPoBdKyEk/s2103/Ghoul.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2103" data-original-width="1062" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcge_B4XpeYNRRIYLdsaOsBx1ndvJkVkVt31LmEvQ7aiZFHZRL4MEkSfGBm7HSiZjkYuXVgCD1v_Q3FfKuKsqLCWJbUmy3gB4sBTAksaT6pgC-xODLxQNaVYXo3RRGc_XYnSeyyq1COWfdZM_Ugwjk6MHETCFiV336VBPzlzjF8QAAP6-dPoBdKyEk/w237-h467/Ghoul.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p> These pathetic Undead of horrifying appearance live under the shadow of their Vampire superiors. Ghouls are disrespected and mistreated by the Vampire elite who command them. They crave human flesh, living or dead. Like all Undead they are cruel beings but amplified by the bitterness and frustration of how Vampires treat them. Most Ghouls would love nothing more than to lash out at Vampires, but they are supernaturally inclined to obey their orders. Still, it does happen that the occasional Ghoul attacks a Vampire in bitter frustration. Such Ghouls are often caught and executed before long. Ghouls are the soldiers, bodyguards, and enforcers of the Vampires. Their ability to withstand the sun also makes them perfect for venturing out of a City-State in search of nomadic tribes of Humans that they can capture and bring back to the City-States.</p><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Prime Requisite: </b>Dex, Str</div><div><b>HD: </b>d6</div><div><b>Alignment: </b>Ghouls can only be Chaotic</div><div><b>Armor:</b> Any</div><div><b>Shields:</b> Any</div><div><b>Weapons:</b> Any</div><div><b>Languages:</b> Common, Demonic</div><div><b>Combat Progression:</b> As Fighter</div><div><b>Saving Throws: </b>As Thief</div><div><b>Max. Level:</b> 13</div><div><br /></div><div>Bite: Ghouls have a natural bite attack that deals 1d4 damage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Immunities: Ghouls are immune to Ghoul Paralysis, Diseases, and Poisons.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ghouls do not need to breathe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ghouls do not eat or drink normal food, they crave the flesh of humans, alive or dead.</div><div><br /></div><div>Infravision up to 30 ft.</div><div><br /></div><div>Skills: Ghouls have some skills in common with the Thief at the same progression rate. They are Hide in Shadows, Move Silently, and Climb Sheer Surfaces. Note that if a Ghoul wears any armor other than leather, these skills are halved (rounded down).</div><div><br /></div><div>Supernatural Devotion: Ghouls have a supernatural fear and devotion to Vampires, even if their true, actual feelings are bitter and hateful. As such, they suffer a -2 penalty on all attacks made against a Vampire and on all Saving Throws made against a Vampire's attack. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ghoul Paralysis: A Ghoul can Paralyze a target once per day. This ability works as the spell Hold Person but only on an individual and the Ghoul needs to make physical contact with the target.</div><div><br /></div><div>Regeneration: Ghouls can regrow lost limbs in 1d4 weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ghouls can have their own Pack of Ghouls at Level 10, along with their own home base. This is normally under a Vampire's approval and supervision but not always.<i> (Details to be fleshed out.)</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Level Up Table: Starting at level 2 and every two levels thereafter, a Ghoul can roll on the Level Up Table and apply the result to their character. N<i>ote: The final version of this Class will have a much longer list.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Level-Up Table</div><div>1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Child Soldiers: You now have 1d4+1 human child soldiers at your service. Work out with your GM how this came to be. They are brainwashed into serving you and their Morale when doing so is 12. (For other situations roll their Morale as normal.) You have to pay for their equipment and any other requirements to keep them alive f you choose to do so. They otherwise share the same stat block as a Goblin but without any of the Goblin traits.</div><div>2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You have discovered the secret to becoming a Vampire! Work out with your GM how you find this out and what it is that you need to do to accomplish this. See the rules for Becoming a Vampire on page XX.</div><div>3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You now have claws. Same stats as the Bite.</div><div>4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Every time you eat someone's face there is a chance of 1 in 6 that your own face will mimic the one you ate and make its appearance. It doesn't change your overall appearance and size, not even the rest of your head. Not even your fangs change, only your face. You keep that face for 1d4 hours before it reverts back to normal.</div><div>5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(More to come.)</div><div><br /></div><div>XP to get to Level 2 (Full XP Chart to come) - 1800 xp </div></div><div><br /></div>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-89464801402930691852021-10-23T06:18:00.004-07:002021-10-23T06:18:36.730-07:00The Only Way to Kill the Monster<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijIiVmJuBScMmPWKH8AkUO7f5NTAfC7cnKhLWfMBOAU1HV9Df3FrzF7-Sc8DO9lIKsvzdGGtsy7mowtZadXiVumtgulNc3aQT-j7ulwkizwUXDkqhnpUyZWUSYwTkgZjD_B5Bqua1YYo/s500/6a00d8341c464853ef0240a4f8c949200b-500wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="500" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijIiVmJuBScMmPWKH8AkUO7f5NTAfC7cnKhLWfMBOAU1HV9Df3FrzF7-Sc8DO9lIKsvzdGGtsy7mowtZadXiVumtgulNc3aQT-j7ulwkizwUXDkqhnpUyZWUSYwTkgZjD_B5Bqua1YYo/s320/6a00d8341c464853ef0240a4f8c949200b-500wi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Just a quick random table for conditions required to kill a monster. (Either to make the death permanent or to bring it below 1 hp at all, up to you.)</p><p><br /></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li> The person attacking the monster must be holding a flower with one petal left. That petal must then remain attached to the flower for a whole day, otherwise the monster comes back more powerful than ever! (Plus 1d4 HD)</li><li>The monster must be killed by a blade that has been sunk into the heart of someone who trusted the person who stabbed them.</li><li>The attacker must keep a live wasp inside the mouth and quickly swallow it after the killing blow has been dealt on the monster.</li><li>The attacker must not see the monster on the same day or night that the killing blow is dealt. Only once the monster is truly dead can the attacker look upon the monster. If the attackerlooks at the monster at the exact moment of the killing blow or while the monster is dying, the attacker will become a monster like the one that died on the next full moon. (Might be avoided with a Saving Throw if the GM wishes.)</li></ol><div><br /></div><div>This was just a little something I threw together for fun but if anyone wants me to make the list longer please leave a comment.</div><p></p>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-4289983899081562292021-09-19T18:10:00.001-07:002021-09-19T18:12:36.099-07:00Paragon Man! A Character Concept for 'Actual Fucking Monsters'<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7Ic8kWkXitDN7Of-IJcxA06catMICsUsbEArx5J_e2n8TLiUGGIHtJ7Sy5QMckIk4M8U-nDvlEax5pSj9cEdaH42TLFs2ne6SbP17dEozdVSlQh24Jiklvohvjy2ZgOwHvstQ7Apk-4/s490/Strongman.JPG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="405" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7Ic8kWkXitDN7Of-IJcxA06catMICsUsbEArx5J_e2n8TLiUGGIHtJ7Sy5QMckIk4M8U-nDvlEax5pSj9cEdaH42TLFs2ne6SbP17dEozdVSlQh24Jiklvohvjy2ZgOwHvstQ7Apk-4/w327-h396/Strongman.JPG.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> Concept: </b>Carlton Clarke, an unassuming and often bullied reporter is actually Paragon Man, the only Actual Superhero! The last survivor of his home planet, he was sent to Earth as a baby... You know what, I'm sure you know how the story goes. What you might not know is that Carlton/Paragon Man is addicted to saving those close to him. His 'loved ones' if he really felt emotions such as love instead of acting like he does. You might think that's a GOOD thing, right? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Well, it would be if all the times he saves his friends and 'love interests' were legitimate. The thing is that to fill his Satiation, Paragon Man secretly plots to put his pals and love interests in danger! Never killing his enemies under the pretense of a 'no killing' code to make sure they can try to take revenge at him through his 'loved' ones -allowing him the chance to save them-, posing with his 'friends' in public as much as possible to make them obvious targets... Sometimes he even secretly helps his enemies escape prison without anyone knowing. (A jailed criminal might find the bars of his cell compromised, not knowing earlier Paragon Man sneaked in to weaken them with his superhuman strength, for example.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If any of those close to him die he is legitimately distressed and saddened, but not out of any human sense of empathy, rather because it has become harder to fill his Satiation without them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Although he doesn't fully understand why, he has also realized over the years that he is more powerful when he is mocked and bullied as Carlton Clarke. He hates that fact but plays the role of the meek mild-mannered man who never defends himself, acting in ways that will attract ridicule knowing otherwise he'll find his powers weakened. He would love nothing more than to kill those who torment him under his human identity but he needs them to be the most powerful version of himself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If that wasn't enough, he has noticed he is also more powerful when he is popular and celebrated by the masses of his city as Paragon Man, something that he does enjoy a lot. As a reporter, he writes countless articles and opinion pieces celebrating Paragon Man to make sure he is at his peak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u>PARAGON MAN as a starting AFM Character</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Type:</b> Those Who Are Born (Alien)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Nature (d6): </b>Superhero Best Pal. (Fills Satiation if he Rescues a Person Close to Him)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Mind d6</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Body d12</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Spirit d4</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Mask (Reporter) d4: </b>Investigaton d6, Writing d6, Persuasion d6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Powers: </b>Armoured d8, Olympian d8, Flying d8*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Banes: </b>Mineral from his Home World d8, Weakened if Not Ridiculed as Carlton Clarke d6, Weakened if Public Opinion Wanes d4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*Flying is a power from the AFM Companion</div><br /><p></p>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-38658687541577755822021-08-18T22:23:00.001-07:002021-08-18T22:23:22.056-07:00UNDEAD MALEFACTORS First Look<p> A first look at an OSR TTRPG book I'm currently working on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tn1iDaAWGF8" width="320" youtube-src-id="tn1iDaAWGF8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-49041598363503796282021-02-09T20:02:00.005-08:002021-02-09T20:02:52.749-08:00OSR Crossover<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJxePoxeAnMKqEkrpkSML16NbRdyiqTjIosCuZeWalzK_dMtyho5Ew7OaKdM7c777ZNoY2lsn75SUBAb0lJjWflNSGI10k3YlhoXO2oOOYc99VZEjPHrtElJsGAQe76Nch0NCd58yYiQ/s729/osr-crossover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="729" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJxePoxeAnMKqEkrpkSML16NbRdyiqTjIosCuZeWalzK_dMtyho5Ew7OaKdM7c777ZNoY2lsn75SUBAb0lJjWflNSGI10k3YlhoXO2oOOYc99VZEjPHrtElJsGAQe76Nch0NCd58yYiQ/w499-h212/osr-crossover.png" width="499" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Elevator pitch: This post is an invitation to anyone with an OSR Actual Play show (no matter the platform) to contact me to do a crossover story that would span across different participating shows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More Context: I have an Actual Play OSR show titled <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgR9m6uT2uwKA-EZZ_4TtVQ" target="_blank">CHRONICLES OF THE CRIMSON HOUND</a>. The quick description of the show is that it's Horror Cyberpunk instead of Medieval Fantasy and that I am the Player Character in my show, with every Serial (A game session edited into episodes) having a different Guest GM. Since most OSR out there is Medieval Fantasy, some dimension-crossing would be involved in the story to make this crossover happen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The goal is to have a single story that would begin on my channel, then the next episode would continue in the channel of the next crossover participant, and so on. The amount of parts to the story would depend on how many shows would like to participate, but each episode would have the Crimson Hound finding himself in the world of one of the shows that chose to participate, playing with the show's regular group under its regular GM.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> There are more details to the logistics of this of course, but I don't want to make this post too long so if you're interested in this idea or have any questions, contact me at <titleoftheshow>@gmail.com or on any of my social media which you can find on the show's blog <a href="https://chroniclesofthecrimsonhound.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Talk to you soon I hope!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><br /><p></p>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-21450793649321409232020-09-22T19:15:00.000-07:002020-09-22T19:15:44.367-07:00New BX Class: Dhampir Vigilante<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bM0eZUv0abMMjdIDq4WNWvUp1DlKi6vsf987t4BNqni9RwrZ7Hj9lk2nOAuBJVShACvX_z-GMS8I0Y8Ugw0LEdbh_z-lsYy1_AciM1K76N3aaARjWGwx4RkU-C8uJt8McU7ZOFLqqLg/s972/thumbnail_PART_1600551308466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="577" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bM0eZUv0abMMjdIDq4WNWvUp1DlKi6vsf987t4BNqni9RwrZ7Hj9lk2nOAuBJVShACvX_z-GMS8I0Y8Ugw0LEdbh_z-lsYy1_AciM1K76N3aaARjWGwx4RkU-C8uJt8McU7ZOFLqqLg/w381-h640/thumbnail_PART_1600551308466.jpg" width="381" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For those who don't follow my other blog, I made a new BX Class that you can find <a href="https://chroniclesofthecrimsonhound.blogspot.com/2020/09/new-bx-class-dhampir-vigilante.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><br /><p></p>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-28893253419158586022020-08-18T21:16:00.003-07:002020-08-18T21:16:33.913-07:00CHRONICLES OF THE CRIMSON HOUND (OSR Cyberpunk Horror Pulp Serial)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13_bX6L2D3DiGLmQcVja5WWvbBQsYOMuAIEHbYc5WJcF9BWxsZtUfK7fPYX6oEnoN7A3ntsbDkvtEXhkNP6yrpgrgnB-H3SYw9oXq22yl40EfHNpwzEThVbiNEKNdwJ7GeFrjF_fQg_g/s2048/CHbanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13_bX6L2D3DiGLmQcVja5WWvbBQsYOMuAIEHbYc5WJcF9BWxsZtUfK7fPYX6oEnoN7A3ntsbDkvtEXhkNP6yrpgrgnB-H3SYw9oXq22yl40EfHNpwzEThVbiNEKNdwJ7GeFrjF_fQg_g/w512-h288/CHbanner.png" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Excerpt from <a href="https://chroniclesofthecrimsonhound.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the blog dedicated to the Chronicles of the Crimson Hound</a>:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><p></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"> <b>WHAT IT IS</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"> Chronicles of the Crimson Hound is a Pulp-style Cyberpunk Horror online series, told via recorded Tabletop RPG sessions using OSR-style rules.</span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING</span></b></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><b> </b>While I will always be playing the titular character of the Crimson Hound in every episode, the show will welcome a rotating cast of different Game Masters, all with their different styles, stories to tell and even house rules. Each of these sessions run by a Guest Game Master will be split into many episodes to create a Serial.</span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">WHAT THE SETTING IS</span></b></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><b> </b>The setting this series takes place in is a Cyberpunk world inhabited by humans mostly unaware of the supernatural. It is not set in our future and is its own different world, in the same way that most Medieval Fantasy settings are not set in our past. </span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"> The stories will mostly take place in the gothic city of Glumengrad, a rainy mix of Gargoyles and Neon. Its citizens, desperate for the distractions of the coolest new tech and upgrades, ignore the dangers of the Supernatural that lie in wait in the shadowy alleys and corners. </span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"> That is where the Crimson Hound, masked man of mystery, hunts down the monsters and other unnatural dangers to humanity. </span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"> (For more on the titular character, there will always be an updated Character Sheet after every multi-part Serial is done.)</span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><b>Inspirations: </b>Batman, The Shadow, Blade, Hellboy, Blade Runner.</span></i></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><i><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE</span></b></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><b><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><b> </b>Read the full post <a href="https://chroniclesofthecrimsonhound.blogspot.com/2020/08/introduction-to-chronicles-of-crimson.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"> The YouTube Channel for the show is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgR9m6uT2uwKA-EZZ_4TtVQ" target="_blank">THIS ONE</a>.</span></p></div>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-6174781033020894702020-08-02T16:24:00.001-07:002020-08-02T16:24:30.459-07:00OUR OSR WORLDS AT WAR!!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU5_P1hZxTugXGGE_hYaJWhd4rrX4R8J6CZPvAfnkKG7g3_2AK5IVegrE_Lhul3LJTEFLAP_pkUdvYYMv4XhjICXQkAOBjePySf0yTRhLeqkCeaHwrgwgCfXe74Aw7UX5UGqWbRBrHJw/s926/image-20160713-12383-fygvoa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="926" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU5_P1hZxTugXGGE_hYaJWhd4rrX4R8J6CZPvAfnkKG7g3_2AK5IVegrE_Lhul3LJTEFLAP_pkUdvYYMv4XhjICXQkAOBjePySf0yTRhLeqkCeaHwrgwgCfXe74Aw7UX5UGqWbRBrHJw/s640/image-20160713-12383-fygvoa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's an idea I had just now that really amused me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I was grabbing a few OSR/system neutral books to read for later, most of them Setting books, and couldn't help but notice that some of the authors of different books I own have had online arguments in the past where it would be safe to say they dislike each other strongly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> For the sake of good taste, I shall not divulge the titles of the books or the names of the authors. <b>FOR THE SAKE OF BAD TASTE HOWEVER</b>, I had a really fun idea!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNuLTO6rHY0G5iSJj4cl29W55T-2BJKlDGz8AzoPD_lui_mekbfEXT40f2LhC9Ga3T7PYYtoTbo9NyjMP3FohOtYfGNAu7y195YtmTIpIYBXotJHwDOw0dulcfVSdRhAJp7DNzAr1HQw/s672/let-them-fight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="672" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNuLTO6rHY0G5iSJj4cl29W55T-2BJKlDGz8AzoPD_lui_mekbfEXT40f2LhC9Ga3T7PYYtoTbo9NyjMP3FohOtYfGNAu7y195YtmTIpIYBXotJHwDOw0dulcfVSdRhAJp7DNzAr1HQw/w320-h177/let-them-fight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If like me you have different Setting books from authors who don't like each other, grab their respective lands, put them in your Campaign World and have them go at war with each other! It actually seems to me like it would make for a great campaign. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> First of all, wars always make a campaign more interesting, thrilling and dangerous. One only needs to look at movies like <i>Yojimbo</i> or <i>A Fistful of Dollars</i> to see how even a small-scale conflict between two groups opens up many possibilities for adventurers looking for coin, a full-on war even more so. That said, when that happens both sides are normally created by the same author and so even if there is a strong attempt to make both sides different, there's a certain artistic similarity that cannot be shaken off between them. In other words, the two sides share the same DNA and inclinations of the author so to speak, either because both sides are just too similar or because in an effort to not have that happen, the author made sure to avoid <i>any</i> similarities between them. I'm not saying there are no exceptions mind you, just stating the creative pitfalls of such a project. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Anyway, you don't really run into that problem if each side was created by a completely different person with completely different goals and inclinations in their writing. These days these Setting books are not full worlds as much as a land or part of the world to be inserted into already existing campaigns so the work to have them both co-exist in your world should be minimal. All you have to do is extrapolate why they went to war and how each side would react. All those NPCs, locations, magic, etc, how would they react/be used in a war? If these settings were created by authors who disliked each other, it should be fairly easy to find how their worlds, their very creations, also would not see things the same way. In some cases the very real-life conflict that took place can even be projected into the NPCs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Let them fight!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-23063949794221928352018-04-14T11:49:00.003-07:002018-04-14T12:39:06.970-07:00What Happens to Joe the Farmer Now? You Tell Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjs2Ugat4g42p3vP9RqGuNznUbkjTV02GXFfiMnjBXhgKU2Dt29rkn8HuxjO3e4yCUsPWTby5rcX-fGTPGR3s6iRiqEAlsMwO0586YTXZEDziFSH09hYoM99ZUX23a9wxNfRfPbCs2AI/s1600/farmer_just_maxing_and_relaxing_by_gershom-d4ju19j.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjs2Ugat4g42p3vP9RqGuNznUbkjTV02GXFfiMnjBXhgKU2Dt29rkn8HuxjO3e4yCUsPWTby5rcX-fGTPGR3s6iRiqEAlsMwO0586YTXZEDziFSH09hYoM99ZUX23a9wxNfRfPbCs2AI/s640/farmer_just_maxing_and_relaxing_by_gershom-d4ju19j.png" width="350" /></a></div>
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So I made a <a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2018/04/joe-farmer-and-4-vorpal-sword.html" target="_blank">post about a simple farmer finding a Vorpal Sword in the woods</a> the other day. It was to discuss certain aspects of magic items in a campaign world and how different people would react to them. Discussions were had that I thought were interesting and people elaborated on what they think should actually happen to such a simple farmer finding such an item. </div>
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The original idea itself wasn't what I'd call interesting, nor was it meant to be since it was all tongue-in-cheek. But if anyone wanted to elaborate and tell their version of what happens next, here's the place; Simply leave a comment as long or short as you want with your version of the following events in Joe's life. Anything goes, you can add details to how the sword works or behaves (if you decide it should be sentient), you can choose what happens with the cousin, add characters, etc. </div>
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The story's beginning itself as presented in the original post is extremely simple, here it is: <i><span style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Joe the Farmer is a Level 0 Commoner with 4 HP. While walking in the woods yesterday, Joe has found himself a +4 Vorpal Sword!</span><span style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> Joe knows it's magic because he's swung it around a few times for fun and he notices that with the magical bonus granted by the sword he somehow seems to know what the fuck he's doing with it. His stance is good, the swings are aimed right. When he tries the same with a tree branch just to see if he somehow picked up fighting skills thanks to his daydreamings, it doesn't work. 'Tis a magic sword alright!</span><span style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Joe is very lucky in that he has a nephew in the city who trades and sells things to adventurers and criminals in the black market. Joe could sell this magic sword, even with the cut his nephew would take it would certainly be enough to retire!</span></i></div>
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Since previous posts were about discussing everyone's personal views of how such a thing would take place and counterargue each other, I want to clarify that this post is rather for the fun of sharing exactly how YOU would see it go down. Feel free to use gaming terms like I did if you want or to go into full fictional writing mode.</div>
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I hope some of you will participate, as the previous quick comments on what would happen to Joe (wether for or against my own arguments) were fun and I would like to read more and see how different people have different expectations for this sort of thing. </div>
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<br />Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-18700619148350196332018-04-12T05:51:00.003-07:002018-04-12T05:56:49.477-07:00In defense of Magic Shops and Vorpal Swords<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPE9qslwzvBdeMsdIblRacOD53gzd9mBohjE8DDPg434iP-qSbKvVHHZVWssruX0Q4gZkWRY3cEUd0nmRfR7cC5e7wsjBtuxD79KpgSVr1AzPcn9GIhbkIib2_JtCYmLySphbinZM2nJs/s1600/candra-gloomblade-magicshop+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="900" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPE9qslwzvBdeMsdIblRacOD53gzd9mBohjE8DDPg434iP-qSbKvVHHZVWssruX0Q4gZkWRY3cEUd0nmRfR7cC5e7wsjBtuxD79KpgSVr1AzPcn9GIhbkIib2_JtCYmLySphbinZM2nJs/s640/candra-gloomblade-magicshop+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
So from the <a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2018/04/joe-farmer-and-4-vorpal-sword.html" target="_blank">comments in my previous post</a>, it would seem that some players snob the Magic Shop and the Vorpal Sword. The latter has been accused of being 'boring'.<br />
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This is my rebuttal of those two attitudes when it comes to my own personal preferences and what I think is a world's internal logic. I think in the end it's a matter of personal taste and there is no wrong way to do it; either magic shops fit in your campaign world or they don't, either you and your players think Vorpal Swords are cool or you don't. I'm just explaining my point of view.<br />
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When it comes to magic shops, I agree it is kind of weird to expect shops to carry more than mere potions when it comes to my sensibilities, but let's apply logic here; if in your games you have NPC Magic-Users pop up at least once every five sessions (excluding monsters and the like), they are not a rare thing in your campaign world. (Unless in your story players happen to interact with the very few Magic-Users who are all in the same place for a story-specific reason, I dunno.) And everything has a price.<br />
It is NOT far-fetched that some of them would choose to gain LOTS of gold from their skills in big cities or in small towns that see a lot of traffic from warriors, nobility, mercenaries and adventurers. It even makes lots of sense that they would be high-level, as much as some might scoff even more at the notion. A high-level Magic-User with a magic shop has found an easy way to make money without endangering oneself in dungeons all the while being able to deal with most (if not outright anyone) who might try to rob them. Many might claim a high-level Magic-User might have better things to do like study arcane research or take over kingdoms. Well, I'm sure evil Wizards try to take over stuff, that's why adventurers have to go stab them and then loot their Tower of Evil. And what better way to fund your research than by having a business that brings in lots of money? Commoners won't be able to afford what's in there so they might get only a few visits per week, if not per month, but when those visits happen they made countless gold already by selling potions and yes, magic items. (Even if I myself might have trouble coming to terms with it I cannot deny the internal logic of such a situation.) Plenty of time left for research.<br />
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If you want a good RPG book that deals in how a D&D medieval society with access to magic would behave, check out <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/2018/A-Magical-Medieval-Society-Western-Europe?term=medieval+fantasy+society&test_epoch=0&it=1?affiliate_id=330323" target="_blank">THIS ONE</a>.<br />
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Now, on to those BORING Vorpal swords!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qVYMiJOlaEZWIF9GwCmluxoDjOoMqc5-qX0FbisnNoPXQ-jCj4NSYIegdMdXQ7CGiXlc6oQCWf41uNB2IYlUSnLwEjVw1iakMaaJTcM7CNsbTuSisIhUoTekIiWsbTtRFD9MI90PSuA/s1600/2e9331c8b3f98de29c234389162eb55a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qVYMiJOlaEZWIF9GwCmluxoDjOoMqc5-qX0FbisnNoPXQ-jCj4NSYIegdMdXQ7CGiXlc6oQCWf41uNB2IYlUSnLwEjVw1iakMaaJTcM7CNsbTuSisIhUoTekIiWsbTtRFD9MI90PSuA/s640/2e9331c8b3f98de29c234389162eb55a.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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<i>*Yawn* So boring... Not exciting at all!</i></div>
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Look I get it, it's easy to dismiss the notion of a <b>+<insert numerical bonus></b> weapon. I myself (influenced by <i>Lamentations of the Flame Princess'</i> take on magic items) have often created weapons that do useful stuff but also have an interesting drawback. But that's mostly just because I like to watch my players struggle. But that's just the thing, are you <i>really</i> gonna tell me the Vorpal Sword is <i>boring</i>?</div>
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I mean, sure you can, to each their own. But as a DM with a long-running campaign I can tell you that even to this day, the excitement at the table when a 1 or a 20 comes up is still there. Players still shift in their seats, exclaim something or even stand up for a moment. Now imagine if that 20 means you decapitated a motherfucker. (So it's not just that numerical bonus btw.) How is that boring? Yes, the Vorpal Sword is <i>simple</i>, but to me it will never be <i>boring</i>. I think people mix those two things.</div>
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In many ways I believe it's because the OSR is in such a creative moment in time that we all look to subvert some old standards while also venerating the basics, so we shift from one attitude to the other regarding those standards. These days a lot of people seem to have a dislike for simple magic items, they all need to be really complex. The LotFP players who commented in my last post seemed to be behind magic items that REALLY mess with players as the norm for what magic items should be. (And if I misread your meaning, dear commenters feel free to comment again to debate me.) To which I'd point, from the start The Game had cursed items if you want to make players wary of magic, and even as someone who includes magic items with drawbacks let me tell you, if the items basically just fuck with the players <b>all</b> the time that's not really cooler than one who just does good stuff. </div>
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It is in my personal opinion extremely valid to have simple magic items and even ones that do just good stuff, the same way you can find cursed items that basically just mess with players. Yes I'm aware of the context of Weird in LotFP and how it has different goals, but even with that context I'd keep those points in mind personally.</div>
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I know this might be different for other groups but in my personal experience players tend to venerate magic items more from the story that's behind them and less so by their magical effects. I've seen them treat a 'boring' +X Weapon like a big deal because it had a cool visual description and they looted it from a Demon who had killed a long-time ally NPC. Killing the demon had been sweet revenge and to this day they call it 'The Demon Sword'. Not the most original name, but it's a name that came naturally between the players as they discussed it. Sure they also keep magic items that do other more interesting stuff effect-wise, but because those items were taken in less memorable ways they don't even give names to the damn things!<br />
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The story effort behind magic items has in my experience a lot more to do with how interesting a magic item ends up being than a lot of people give it credit for. And to be clear, I'm all for weird and original magic items! I just like to combine both the simple and the complex, the overall good with the overall dangerous and I think that approach has more value in the end in making magic mysterious than it being mostly always useful or mostly always fucking with you.<br />
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Another thing that makes a magic item memorable at the table is the story that it ends up telling when all the dice have stopped rolling. And decapitating your enemies is a memorable thing; They made a franchise out of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gYEesw-CRiYj6hH0V0KE4W5KSWi0qUOl6mP5Rl81UJUOMDD_smcyLuE4r3MVfuI-AalTg-Ih__h3FJyT_Ybuzhp96Jj_vwVjotqynAd56p_uYIuhAfsUV0fWCf53wXRf8sahywZLoq8/s1600/4_2a812a1d-3dff-42e8-b734-40b928136301_530x%25402x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gYEesw-CRiYj6hH0V0KE4W5KSWi0qUOl6mP5Rl81UJUOMDD_smcyLuE4r3MVfuI-AalTg-Ih__h3FJyT_Ybuzhp96Jj_vwVjotqynAd56p_uYIuhAfsUV0fWCf53wXRf8sahywZLoq8/s640/4_2a812a1d-3dff-42e8-b734-40b928136301_530x%25402x.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEJ8lpCQbyw" target="_blank">HERE'S THE LINK TO THE SONG BECAUSE IT'S STUCK IN YOUR HEAD ANYWAY NOW. YOU'RE WELCOME.</a></b></div>
Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-67971046208066349172018-04-08T17:38:00.001-07:002018-04-08T17:39:55.911-07:00Joe the Farmer and the +4 Vorpal Sword<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxTZ3vvXxTQU6K1A9-9DGndPRR02DOKz3p8bB3QqF1PgeNilPpscHEKj5A3q-gy2pzZnB4m8zGwNNM6EtJlvzSAuln-G4p-Qg291Tn9hj4TO8k6cVcbQSN_PxP5Hgji2on3pvxE649xQ/s1600/farmer_just_maxing_and_relaxing_by_gershom-d4ju19j.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxTZ3vvXxTQU6K1A9-9DGndPRR02DOKz3p8bB3QqF1PgeNilPpscHEKj5A3q-gy2pzZnB4m8zGwNNM6EtJlvzSAuln-G4p-Qg291Tn9hj4TO8k6cVcbQSN_PxP5Hgji2on3pvxE649xQ/s640/farmer_just_maxing_and_relaxing_by_gershom-d4ju19j.png" width="350" /></a></div>
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<i>Say hello to Joe the Farmer, everyone!</i></div>
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<i> </i>Joe the Farmer is a Level 0 Commoner with 4 HP. While walking in the woods yesterday, Joe has found himself a +4 Vorpal Sword!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh_6f2hQU6UJRndNmaYHQtVQnJ19acgU3HVEstjdgmCszwkWh067rFAhP75mYJWF5gd570TVARrlRxfJxRBZG21oen8kGqlPR6pRDy-3oS1jnHUtTjjm8aGj1f_Bgd7Hli3N8YglEHko/s1600/vorpal-sword-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="633" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh_6f2hQU6UJRndNmaYHQtVQnJ19acgU3HVEstjdgmCszwkWh067rFAhP75mYJWF5gd570TVARrlRxfJxRBZG21oen8kGqlPR6pRDy-3oS1jnHUtTjjm8aGj1f_Bgd7Hli3N8YglEHko/s640/vorpal-sword-0.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>
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<i>Ayup, this seems t'be a magic sword just lost by someone in these here woods!</i></div>
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Joe knows it's magic because he's swung it around a few times for fun and he notices that with the magical bonus granted by the sword he somehow seems to know what the fuck he's doing with it. His stance is good, the swings are aimed right. When he tries the same with a tree branch just to see if he somehow picked up fighting skills thanks to his daydreamings, it doesn't work. 'Tis a magic sword alright!</div>
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<i>From 'Castles & Crusades: Monsters & Treasure' (And many other OGL games):</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbltBBS5TvPqJNwDfKaofC6_EoPyuvSAhae4cypGbDCNH0FN8FtY3SBggJ69yNeXdIT1tik355l2IKp-cHGdV4Ey69esu0EsHdvhjrZ6ukeFlRV-8QNIiDk3rABzM_utdF8xDIkMKmQo/s1600/IMG_20180408_193808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbltBBS5TvPqJNwDfKaofC6_EoPyuvSAhae4cypGbDCNH0FN8FtY3SBggJ69yNeXdIT1tik355l2IKp-cHGdV4Ey69esu0EsHdvhjrZ6ukeFlRV-8QNIiDk3rABzM_utdF8xDIkMKmQo/s640/IMG_20180408_193808.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Joe is very lucky in that he has a nephew in the city who trades and sells things to adventurers and criminals in the black market. Joe could sell this magic sword, even with the cut his nephew would take it would certainly be enough to retire! (Joe doesn't know this yet but the sword is worth 38 750 GP!)</div>
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I'm sure there are some dangers to face in avoiding being backstabbed or stolen from while selling the sword, but overall if Joe can pull this off, his life is about to be amazing! Right? Well, not according to the <i>Lamentations of the Flame Princess</i> Referee book!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS1uS6GZJ4io7KTejPxT_WJX9NmOQabr7QT9sQy3-OmW8JFuwPZFwgwx7lE1Ss4fSVqWDNVbRDsy6whLh_9T2NuS60pqw2KFZhifDM1fLGrL2rZhwrwvMkUxO9CHi3jPD3CyU1MNDzks/s1600/IMG_20180408_192939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS1uS6GZJ4io7KTejPxT_WJX9NmOQabr7QT9sQy3-OmW8JFuwPZFwgwx7lE1Ss4fSVqWDNVbRDsy6whLh_9T2NuS60pqw2KFZhifDM1fLGrL2rZhwrwvMkUxO9CHi3jPD3CyU1MNDzks/s400/IMG_20180408_192939.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let me just add now that this is all in good fun and I love LotFP. Now let's proceed. I know the way Joe stumbled upon the sword already contradicts the style and treatment of magic items in LotFP, but that last sentence specifically is the whole reason why I came up with Joe in the first place. In some ways that last sentence seems like a comdemnation of how other versions of D&D treat magic items. And I suppose this is my reply to that statement.</div>
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What is Joe supposed to do with this sword if not sell it? He's a farmer. He's got 4 HP. Oh sure, some adventurers start with about that amount but my point is that Joe never intended to be an adventurer, it's just not in him. Having the ability to swing a sword like a 3rd or 4th Level Fighter (depending on your ruleset of choice) is not gonna change much when there's stuff like this out there in the dungeons he'd have to go to in order to gain even more gold:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpwtCrmlBu9Aq1KldlcQhXZQhBX6GAZbzu3EmCk5dWH09845wPmA4WlPYy-LzYfObrq39XWbpdtYAbmuoWpYRMCGn0KORfs5BHVat7O_S_nbLjyYbG1-MM0y1Jp-blT3N8-O5faKMPWE/s1600/Monster_Manual_5e_-_Beholder_-_p28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpwtCrmlBu9Aq1KldlcQhXZQhBX6GAZbzu3EmCk5dWH09845wPmA4WlPYy-LzYfObrq39XWbpdtYAbmuoWpYRMCGn0KORfs5BHVat7O_S_nbLjyYbG1-MM0y1Jp-blT3N8-O5faKMPWE/s400/Monster_Manual_5e_-_Beholder_-_p28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Besides, by selling the sword he'll already be rich. Why risk his life? Only adventurers remain unhappy after a jackpot of over 35 000 GP! Does having the sword make him one of these guys?:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL36gBXMSOyd-haZlNr3QHUgYt6UjjViBc4HnlRDHE-YKhrofRNRfgJHLB1UhL0gt7XY0l-EoDOLE203FugfMiTqE6fKZUvb5JQETdtH9LpqA0dr2wT2b3ydehDiCWoyvj3TuK8pbAX8/s1600/89b9a604115d9b143818cdfeda6076be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL36gBXMSOyd-haZlNr3QHUgYt6UjjViBc4HnlRDHE-YKhrofRNRfgJHLB1UhL0gt7XY0l-EoDOLE203FugfMiTqE6fKZUvb5JQETdtH9LpqA0dr2wT2b3ydehDiCWoyvj3TuK8pbAX8/s640/89b9a604115d9b143818cdfeda6076be.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqd8bgDZSX3z74z_OdI9fTN5dYBuTVmUs8RXqlfepSUlgc4K3kka8FvuTTxva_JORJMq2KT5BXGBu5wq28KItrdRX6ou4VV42_Q-gEwt0sU_4V8JhngzXXeD_k-j1Wto-ZQCf2v_MAu4/s1600/ff7271ceb403460ac4a986296e34a8c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqd8bgDZSX3z74z_OdI9fTN5dYBuTVmUs8RXqlfepSUlgc4K3kka8FvuTTxva_JORJMq2KT5BXGBu5wq28KItrdRX6ou4VV42_Q-gEwt0sU_4V8JhngzXXeD_k-j1Wto-ZQCf2v_MAu4/s640/ff7271ceb403460ac4a986296e34a8c9.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pKVel66LAexnGAfHvMpanKwMCCaJlzc7VpGaA1j8O58UMzO5o2Nx84d_L5rrfRKUgdaQzQoqaorW2s2lWbc40v5iqKuSKg1v2cAR-1zbSmGeVS8RziaxfbZaBtYufb4n3zP41qM3tUU/s1600/umZjIED.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1282" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pKVel66LAexnGAfHvMpanKwMCCaJlzc7VpGaA1j8O58UMzO5o2Nx84d_L5rrfRKUgdaQzQoqaorW2s2lWbc40v5iqKuSKg1v2cAR-1zbSmGeVS8RziaxfbZaBtYufb4n3zP41qM3tUU/s640/umZjIED.png" width="546" /></a></div>
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Sure, I can see the argument coming that if he did go out there with that sword and survive long enough, he'd eventually BECOME one of those guys. But that sword doesn't make him a god. He's just like any other starting Level 0 or 1 out there. The difference is in the mindset. Joe the Farmer never wanted to go risk his life in dark dungeons. He just wants to not have to farm anymore. And despite what LotFP's Referee book would claim, EVERYTHING has a price! All of the guys above would love to buy that sword and they will very likely be able to amass enough gold to get it too!</div>
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And let's not forget that his relatively amazing skill with the sword comes entirely from that specific sword. What if he comes across a Disenchanter or some other magic-destroying creature?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DQ2a2SNiEhPkKucYPXIUBwZjMNpk-nVKykpyZnXKayF78pQtCmZao9FAf26_VVIS2yFPkmiuUbtCn_jjieL6BGBLUWKhyphenhyphenSXFHgcr0DK6dpCMSr9uH5nCWGflgjusuM-hw8_9EA1NAM0/s1600/Disenchanter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="241" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DQ2a2SNiEhPkKucYPXIUBwZjMNpk-nVKykpyZnXKayF78pQtCmZao9FAf26_VVIS2yFPkmiuUbtCn_jjieL6BGBLUWKhyphenhyphenSXFHgcr0DK6dpCMSr9uH5nCWGflgjusuM-hw8_9EA1NAM0/s640/Disenchanter.JPG" width="436" /></a></div>
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<i>"Yum, this magic shield tastes like the tears of a Player Character!"</i></div>
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Hell, let's forget about the high-level adventurers and special monsters, what about just a bunch of goblins?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJkQYKoHruvOvL6GZKNdNeCy_JSNwvk8SRL2lp6pxRQNdQKBjco23hdWAl_6LmuJCkQKAEdPZG2p-fHY_b_4WVmOKAh1veFvPzKmFq2s0p3yQZnfZWHwDurrCxasH2U0lz7qn1vhZMYM/s1600/goblin_attack-e1485291462912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1120" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJkQYKoHruvOvL6GZKNdNeCy_JSNwvk8SRL2lp6pxRQNdQKBjco23hdWAl_6LmuJCkQKAEdPZG2p-fHY_b_4WVmOKAh1veFvPzKmFq2s0p3yQZnfZWHwDurrCxasH2U0lz7qn1vhZMYM/s400/goblin_attack-e1485291462912.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Does Joe have 25 GP to spare to buy even the most basic leather armor? I'm sure a bunch of goblins can easily shank him in one round even as he manages to slay a single one of them. Then the goblins can bicker and stab each other over who gets to keep that fancy sword.</div>
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All of this is obviously in good fun, I love LotFP and I get the point it is trying to convey. And yes I know that PCs are (normally) not farmers who just want to avoid danger and retire as soon as possible. But I insist, everything has a price and the reality is that even for PCs there's gonna be magic items they might just not need for their purposes, just like Joe the Farmer does not need a freaking Vorpal Sword, despite it being arguably one of the best weapons you could get. But everyone needs GP!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtBgTYKi11BhGCaTkntnqezDxI-0BduZL1T8xf0CpampdcYVol93Qj2Eb9i0kwBmzFuscNm88YSp1bKFCDKrR7hP466mwaydhWLPkTiurIxpSKRYeSe217aQ5qoxvSMMFs7bTcK6k1DA/s1600/flous-1327183861959-u.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtBgTYKi11BhGCaTkntnqezDxI-0BduZL1T8xf0CpampdcYVol93Qj2Eb9i0kwBmzFuscNm88YSp1bKFCDKrR7hP466mwaydhWLPkTiurIxpSKRYeSe217aQ5qoxvSMMFs7bTcK6k1DA/s400/flous-1327183861959-u.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-41098858903325766512018-04-07T23:36:00.002-07:002018-04-07T23:36:25.072-07:00Bargain Bin Children's Books: Monster and Adventure Supplements! Look at this Monster Book I once got for 3$!:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtIvj3a79jS-6aLZLaaV1dNn2mr5AOEziRhrwPs1ahKRoZWlsZfefBSWAz0lEFWZ0gPwbeoTNRR0rz_n54ZrafWgbj8JXd6FhzH2DGhTcj6dYgW3m6Mb0hMuPVdQXClpnJxSji0okzhU/s1600/PART_1523165134446.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtIvj3a79jS-6aLZLaaV1dNn2mr5AOEziRhrwPs1ahKRoZWlsZfefBSWAz0lEFWZ0gPwbeoTNRR0rz_n54ZrafWgbj8JXd6FhzH2DGhTcj6dYgW3m6Mb0hMuPVdQXClpnJxSji0okzhU/s640/PART_1523165134446.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I discussed it a few years back in <a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2013/09/brunos-rpg-talk-episode-7-dollar-stores.html" target="_blank">THIS VIDEO</a> about using Dollar stores to find cool stuff for your D&D games. Hell, <a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2018/03/home-made-dm-screen.html" target="_blank">I even made my whole DM screen</a> from things bought there. And you might tell me "Hey wait now, that's a children's book, that's not a D&D monster book!"</div>
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Well sure, theoretical nay-sayer, you'd be correct... But I'm a big fan of looking for inspiration in unexpected places, <a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2015/07/inspiration-is-all-around-you.html" target="_blank">as I once also discussed</a>. </div>
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To be honest, today I was looking for a children's storybook I could buy for cheap to adapt into an actual playable D&D adventure and share it on the blog. I couldn't find the right book for that specific idea for the time being, but I'm keeping my eyes open. However, one could easily fill a hex map with unlikely inspiration. A lot of monsters from the book seen above interact with the modern world a lot, so they could fit a modern horror game perhaps. But others can work with traditional D&D with very little to no changes to their story and <i>modus operandi</i>.</div>
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Don't believe me? There's some legit creepy stuff in there. Let us take a look at the Cry-Alotis:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXXJIsD7Eyr85OMcWl6d7uthr8HsKbvVxcjLIAh-kCJhLLKwb2BmZqbANdvHrvEKNu1G9VMXFUF6edwRrxuxyVudkjNZPZyvb0eeOBH12ngH_JjTp5VyUHjdUc3erU0s6QS4oGV9BvMg/s1600/PART_1523165132288.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXXJIsD7Eyr85OMcWl6d7uthr8HsKbvVxcjLIAh-kCJhLLKwb2BmZqbANdvHrvEKNu1G9VMXFUF6edwRrxuxyVudkjNZPZyvb0eeOBH12ngH_JjTp5VyUHjdUc3erU0s6QS4oGV9BvMg/s640/PART_1523165132288.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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O.k sure, he looks a bit gooffy now (and I'll spare you my thoughts on what the front of his body looks like) but look at that thing next to him; That's a tree. This thing is HUGE. It also has a very human-like face, which is sort of disconcerting if you describe it the right way at the table. Here's the full bio on the guy:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi6SpJOqbWSCo6Ea3oxTrxLz6ts6ZgWzYE7G-wqSHapC37LqO6SCQ6ik9bVZhrn6fCFLm0SUivV_HzyTHRg3wkgbnWxFV14fCg2G0u9d3IjwEGi68F4OJv6JsTVduuQChyphenhyphenAg_Cibiqis/s1600/a558469e41720c505338d4f7dc3d2650.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="674" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi6SpJOqbWSCo6Ea3oxTrxLz6ts6ZgWzYE7G-wqSHapC37LqO6SCQ6ik9bVZhrn6fCFLm0SUivV_HzyTHRg3wkgbnWxFV14fCg2G0u9d3IjwEGi68F4OJv6JsTVduuQChyphenhyphenAg_Cibiqis/s640/a558469e41720c505338d4f7dc3d2650.png" width="598" /></a></div>
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At the beginning of the book in the 'Monster Rules to Follow at all Costs' they mention it's good to always have monster food ready to feed those who may want to eat you. He likes Salty Pretzels so we'll take that into account. O.k then...</div>
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Its body makes me think of a T-Rex in shape and size. A T-Rex has 18 HD in the closest OSR monster book I've at hand! (Castles & Crusades:Monsters & Treasure) Not that its mouth would be as powerful from the looks of it. O.k then...</div>
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<b>The Cry-Alotis</b></div>
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18HD</div>
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<b>Movement:</b> 40 feet</div>
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<b>AC:</b> 15</div>
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<b>Attacks:</b> Bite 5d4 + Tail Slam 1d12</div>
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<b>Special:</b> <u>Grab</u>: Anyone smaller than the Cry-Alotis who's hit by its Tail Slam must succeed at a Saving Throw v.s Paralysis or be constricted by the tail. Only one person at a time can be held like this. Every round the victim can try a new saving throw to escape, but if it's bitten by the Cry-Alotis while constricted, the victim will be Swallowed Hole. </div>
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<u>Swallow Whole</u>: While Swallowed Whole, a victim will automatically receive 4d6 Acid damage each round from inside the stomach of the creature. The victim can use small edged/cutting weapons to cut their way out, if they manage to cause at least half the creature's normall HP in damage they will have succeeded in cutting through and the creature will be dead even if it normally would have had HP remaining. All attacks from the inside will automatically succeed. Someone Swallowed Whole can attempt to use a bigger edged/cutting weapon but they must succeed at a Saving Throw v.s Paralysis at -4 before every attempt.</div>
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<u>Loves Salty Pretzels</u>: If given the choice between eating humanoids and eating salty pretzels, the Cry-Alotis will always choose Salty Pretzels first. (This should be a little known fact without researching the monster first but maybe Bards could have heard tales using Bardic Knowledge or the similar skill/ability from your system of choice. And if your system doesn't have Bards then ignore that last bit.)</div>
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<u>Guilt</u>: The Cry-Alotis feels guilt over the fact that it needs to eat humanoids to survive. (He can survive from certain vegetables temporarily but not in the long run and they are very distasteful to him.) If anyone tries to make him feel guilty or sad in any way, the Cry-Alotis must succeed at a saving throw or spend 1 Turn crying without pursuing anyone. This effect will be undone if the monster is attacked while it's crying however. If a DM feels kind, the Cry-Alotis can even hint at this guilt by talking to itself out loud or by apologizing directly to his victims for what it is about to do.</div>
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<u>Reduced Chances of Surprise</u>: Depends on your rules of choice for the math but between its size and its constant crying, it's very unlikely that this creature would surprise anyone.</div>
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If anyone uses this guy for their campaign, please let me know!</div>
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<br />Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-89560876054554838752018-04-07T17:53:00.000-07:002018-04-07T17:53:05.523-07:00Superheroes vs Death Frost Doom!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently ordered Amazing Adventures, its Companion, and the <a href="https://www.trolllord.com/tlgstore/#!/Amazing-Adventures-Book-of-Powers/p/69621196/category=11639154" target="_blank">Book of Powers</a>. The latter has rules for playing superheroes. Even though I like ICONS as a Superhero RPG, I also like the idea of an OSR-like system for them. (Even if I suspect ICONS will probably run more smoothly for the genre.) </div>
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Henchman Abuse has some funny play recaps of when he ran <a href="http://www.lotfp.com/store/DeathFrostDoom" target="_blank">Death Frost Doom</a> for his players and it was just cool to see how he converted that adventure to fit his post-ap Sci-Fantasy setting. (Links to part <a href="http://henchmanabuse.blogspot.ca/2013/09/session-recap-9122013.html" target="_blank">ONE</a>, <a href="http://henchmanabuse.blogspot.ca/2013/10/session-recap-10102013.html" target="_blank">TWO</a>, <a href="http://henchmanabuse.blogspot.ca/2013/11/session-recap-10282013.html" target="_blank">THREE</a> and <a href="http://henchmanabuse.blogspot.ca/2013/11/session-recap-11142013.html" target="_blank">FOUR</a>.)</div>
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The idea of having a team of Supers doing basically dungeon runs appeals to me. After all, what are supervillain lairs if not traditional RPG dungeons? How would an adventure with superheroes go with something like Death Frost Doom, or Fuck for Satan, or The Tomb of Horrors even?</div>
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I'm gonna try it at some point. And I'll be sure to post the results on this blog when I do.</div>
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<br />Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-33724242772004394472018-04-06T12:00:00.000-07:002018-04-09T11:57:34.922-07:00My contribution to Dungeon Lord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some years ago in 2016 I was contacted by Terra Frank to contribute to her Dungeon Lord magazine. I worked on it to flesh out an idea she really liked form my blog posts and she decided to make the theme of the issue all about this idea of mine. There was even an interview with me in the mag. It was very cool and flattering.</div>
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For a long time I wasn't paying attention to Goggle Hangouts and during that time I missed Terra Frank's private message about the issue being out and how she'd send me a few printed copies once those would be ready. I finally saw the message last month. She sent that message in February 2017. Oops. </div>
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She doesn't seem to be on social media much these days so she hasn't seen my reply yet. No printed copies have been made of the magazine so I have received none, there's even a comment at the product's RPG Now page asking if there's gonna be a copy in print. I hope she'll eventually come around to doing those, I like the idea of people being able to hold a physical copy of my first work for the tabletop RPG world.</div>
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The irony of it is that since I was getting no replies I ended up buying a copy. I had to pay to read the magazine I contributed to. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming Terra for this since at this moment she hasn't even seen my request for a PDF copy and I was too curious for the final result to wait another year. (It seems to be the pacing of our conversation after all.)</div>
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I've found a single review of it online so far at <a href="https://dcctreasures.blogspot.ca/2017/02/dungeon-lord-cruel-issue.html" target="_blank">DCC Trove of Treasures</a>. </div>
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The review is positive overall, I'm happy to say: "<b style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;"><i>Dungeon Lord </i></b><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;">continues with a kick-ass issue that marks a new high for this zine (in my humble opinion, anyway). The Do-It-Yourself ethos, combined with great artwork, makes the issue a joy to read."</span></div>
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That said, there was some useful and fair critique of some aspects of it, which I want to openly address:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;">"Note that the prospective judge will probably want to do some prep work before running this...DCs for checks and saves are not given, not every creature has statistics, and some of the mechanics mentioned in the dungeon or the accompanying bestiary are from other systems. There is also, as presented, no way to enter or leave the dungeon, as neither stairs nor passage leads into Room #1."</span></div>
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I have to make a confession, I don't own DCC RPG. It seems like a really cool book but I already own so many versions of D&D that I never got my hands on it. I wrote the dungeon with vague mentions of Saving Throws without using DCC's terms for saves and then asked someone else to convert it to DCC for me. It was a task that was not fully completed it seems. I dropped the ball there, if I was going to write for that system I should have familiarized myself with it and written all those bits myself. If I'm writing the material, I should be the one making sure all the details are right. </div>
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As for the entrance missing in Room #1... Whoops, indeed.</div>
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I also want to add that some bits from the interview are out of date of course. <b>Chronicles of Death and Dungeoneering</b>'s storytelling project where people could vote on the outcomes of a story I wrote is a project I have dropped, but I'm keeping the name and logo for a project that I'll announce in this blog when it's ready.</div>
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You can get the Cruel Issue <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/204345/Dungeon-Lord-the-Cruel-Issue?affiliate_id=330323" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div>
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<br />Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-66265485860280856902018-03-25T06:41:00.001-07:002018-03-25T06:41:47.064-07:00Idea for a Low Life Adventure: Explorers from Another Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is an idea I've had for a while, but first of all I'd like to specify it requires players with a good sense of humor and able to roll with the unexpected.<br />
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So you grab your Savage Worlds book as well as the Science Fiction Companion and tell your players you're gonna run them an old-school sci-fi game of Flash Gordonesque aesthetics. You tell the PCs they can play robots and even friendly aliens as per the books, but at least one Human would be a good idea. Heck, maybe you even run them a story or two of classic sci-fi adventures to set them at ease.<br />
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The idea of having the sci-fi specifically be a cheesy old-school one is so the players will retain a certain sense of humor about the whole thing and not feel too betrayed when the twist happens; They come across a black hole, are dragged into it and find themselves in... THE WORLD OF LOW LIFE, set in their own distant future! (With their ship too damaged to fly again at that point of course.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptvzlZa52C6UH5-rXX9Q3hRByhg36MQooqXt3X8RkDKrDPeK5NftjgKKKNa_8saRFkaEkq54N_DcHrQTSNkRd9xFYVxQxBwEEidZHrZ-r3-NpTbdMXii87k-iouT1JKe1Pl8Y6wfaGIY/s1600/Phyllin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptvzlZa52C6UH5-rXX9Q3hRByhg36MQooqXt3X8RkDKrDPeK5NftjgKKKNa_8saRFkaEkq54N_DcHrQTSNkRd9xFYVxQxBwEEidZHrZ-r3-NpTbdMXii87k-iouT1JKe1Pl8Y6wfaGIY/s400/Phyllin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Truth be told as hilarious as this idea is to me, it does have a bit of a railroady aspect to it in the sense that it assumes the players cannot avoid the Black Hole for this twist to happen. There's a few ways to deal with that.<br />
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- You don't run games previous to this event, the game starts after their characters have already been through the black hole as background. It is recommended you initially drop them in a spot without intelligent beings in their immediate presence and with monsters that won't betray the comedic tone of the setting right away. As they move closer to civilization, they start to understand this isn't the game they thought it would be...<br />
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- You can also openly let your players know from the start that some of your ideas might include an event or two they won't be able to avoid and promise them bonus Bennies for their temporary loss of player agency when the time comes, as well as the promise that it won't be a recurring thing.<br />
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- You could use Low Life's Oith as a Ravenloft-like place they visit temporarily before finding a way to escape from it, the 'Weekend in Hell' type of adventure. (Weekend in Heck?)<br />
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For those familiar with the Low Life setting, you might now see why I mentioned at first at least one Human would be recommended for the adventure. How would the visit of such a being affect Oith's civilization? Maybe it doesn't at all, maybe everyone thinks the Human is the weirdest Bodul they've ever seen. Maybe the mere presence of a Human or two starts a local religious war (and if it does it should really be based on ridiculous notions regarding the PCs and their looks and habits).<br />
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This idea doesn't have to be for sci-fi only, I hear magic portals are a thing in Fantasy... Again, just make sure there's at least one Human in the group. For giggles.Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-81597536999930301882018-03-10T10:51:00.000-08:002018-03-10T10:51:09.305-08:00Home-Made DM Screen! Sharing these photos of my home-made DM Screen. If you like it, the photos show the process, tools and materials used to make it (in no particular order). I got all the pieces and materials at Dollar store. If you have questions on how I made it or suggestions to make it even better, feel free to comment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cnal23BBlPsmuKoE80-UYgT1oKLRapEfu4CDTR8uptRxovRLabvpQbS4gHka03n-jHjkx3Zwcutb5lHiWTNwd4FuN8c-LaoMgGeSS-S-ODSEH4VaG8pWBR3cY1Oadmyom7q_zqw-Lew/s1600/PART_1520611387606.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="820" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cnal23BBlPsmuKoE80-UYgT1oKLRapEfu4CDTR8uptRxovRLabvpQbS4gHka03n-jHjkx3Zwcutb5lHiWTNwd4FuN8c-LaoMgGeSS-S-ODSEH4VaG8pWBR3cY1Oadmyom7q_zqw-Lew/s400/PART_1520611387606.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The inside has blackboard sections and one corktile side. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_tozPi95MhTcJnY3XrdocKU4Fa6j7OPTW2RhETbQl4kywgeu6-2EWDfWr5fiEqH_34fF-UAig8eNfseBJ9_Pv4C0dI1Zt3PDJVLxCUDfYcaMrOD9A2mS_rti2FbrgrV4EMii3XIn8UU/s1600/PART_1520704774914.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="820" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_tozPi95MhTcJnY3XrdocKU4Fa6j7OPTW2RhETbQl4kywgeu6-2EWDfWr5fiEqH_34fF-UAig8eNfseBJ9_Pv4C0dI1Zt3PDJVLxCUDfYcaMrOD9A2mS_rti2FbrgrV4EMii3XIn8UU/s400/PART_1520704774914.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>I use the blackboard on top of the drawers to mark initiative during combat.</i></div>
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<i>The Dice Tower a friend made for me happened to be just the right height!</i></div>
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<i>Quick rules references for less book-browsing mid-game. Not done writing them all yet!</i></div>
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<i>The drawer box was its own thing at the store, I didn't build it from scratch.</i></div>
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<i>The first store I went to had more modern-looking walls. I found the more medievalesque ones after.</i></div>
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<br />Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-68635295805361831662018-03-07T18:17:00.001-08:002018-03-07T18:23:42.115-08:00House Rule for Humans and Half-Elves in 'Castles & Crusades'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First a somewhat long side-note/introduction/rambling to explain why I'm House-Ruling those Races in the first place as well as my thoughts on how I came to this idea. If you just want the House Rule simply go to the end of this post, really. </div>
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So I have been running my D&D campaign for many years now, using the 'Castles & Crusades' system. As far as OSR systems go, it's my favorite. </div>
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It was the one that first used the OGL to return to a more Old-School style. It was the first to use the Saving Throw as a skill check. (Attribute checks basically do almost everything in the game in fact.) It involved every single Attribute to specific saving throws, making no attribute a bad choice. It's super easy to use with pretty much everything OGL/D&D out there.</div>
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It does a lot for me as a DM. I don't have to worry about skill points for NPCs. It separates Race and Class which I personally prefer. It doesn't make starting PCs a <i>bit</i> too powerful for my taste (Looking at you, 5e. <a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2015/12/brunos-rpg-talk-episode-9-dear-5th.html" target="_blank">Which to be fair I would have bought if C&C didn't exist already, it really is a nitpick</a>.) It doesn't have those<a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2015/02/thoughts-on-level-limits.html" target="_blank"> Level Limits I hate so much</a>. (Although they forgot about the <a href="http://eyerayofthebeholder.blogspot.ca/2015/02/the-wish-spell-in-my-campaign.html" target="_blank">implications of removing said limits when it comes to Elves and the Wish spell</a>!)</div>
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I know some people dismiss it because the SIEGE engine is often criticized. I myself am not an adherent of the SIEGE engine, where all Saves start at 18 except for Prime Attributes (all characters get to choose 2, except Humans who get 3) that start at 12. Instead of the saving throw Target Numbers going down as characters level up, players get to add their level to their die roll. It's pretty much the same thing really, except the numbers on the Target Numbers never change that way. As you can imagine, saving throws for Level One PCs on non-primes are kinda tough since you need 18 or higher to succeed. Since you get to add your level even at Level one I guess one could say it's 17 but still pretty tough, and that's for most of your saves unless you're a Human, then that's 50% of your saves. On top of that, for years I thought that if you were rolling a saving throw against a monster's special attack, its HD was a penalty to your roll, although today I was trying to find that rule somewhere and couldn't find it, so maybe I got it confused with the rules for Turning Undead and for Saving Throws vs Spells. I digress big time.</div>
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Anyway, I was turned off by the SIEGE Engine because it made Saving Throws a bit too harsh in my opinion. I decided to go the route of other OSR games, set the initial TN at 15 for all Attributes and then lower them by 1 every level. Simple, yet it removed the advantage of playing a Human and to some degree a Half-Elf raised by Humans in the game.</div>
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My solution was the use the rule of Basic Fantasy Roleplaying and give Humans a 10% bonus to XP (5% for Half-Elves raised by Humans.) <a href="https://clashofspearonshield.blogspot.ca/2018/03/regarding-xp-bonuses-worthless-10.html" target="_blank">Except I recently read this</a>. My initial reaction was to consider increasing the % bonus to XP, but I figured now might be the time to get rid of the extra math while calculating XP for every PC and over the years I've noticed that playing a Human was slightly boring. Why not fix that and go back to what C&C was doing to an extent without using the whole 18/12 system?</div>
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So basically Humans get a +6 to one of their saves over other Races, and Half-Elves raised by Humans get a +2. If the initial TN is 15, putting a +6 on a Saving Throw roll seems a bit too good. Spreading the +6 as a +1 for every Attribute felt m'eh. So I could split the +6 bonus into two bonuses of +3 for Humans. But I was reminded again of how BORING it is to play a Human in many OSR games. I wanted something that would make it <i>feel fun</i>, even if in a very superficial way. </div>
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5e has the advantage idea of rolling two d20s and picking the best one as your roll, but an advantage won't allow you in any case to go over a TN you previously couldn't beat and I already use the advantage idea when I don't feel like coming up with a proper numerical bonus to something. It just wouldn't feel like this special thing only Humans have. Still, rolling more dice is fun, so maybe I can take that +3 and replace it with 1d6. On average it's the same thing, but it's more <i>exciting</i>.</div>
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So Humans have <i>Human Spirit: 1d6</i>, where they can choose two Attributes that will get a +1d6 bonus every time they roll them. And following that premise, Half-Elves raised by Humans get <i>Human Spirit: 1d4</i> for one Attribute. When rolling with Advantage, only the d20s are multiplied, not your Human Spirit die.</div>
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Please let me know what you think!</div>
Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-70928002108506710872018-03-07T16:56:00.003-08:002018-03-07T16:56:47.111-08:00Dwarves in 'Lamentations of the Flame Princess'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just a quick observation that I made a while back regarding Dwarves in <i>Lamentations of the Flame Princess</i>.<br />
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Normally in most versions of D&D, Dwarves have a slower movement speed , as do Halflings. The latter are described as 'swift' in <i>LotFP</i>, so they're given a bonus to their Dexterity modifier and a bonus to their AC. No comment regarding their movement speed, which actually means they move the same speed as a Human. Same goes for Dwarves. (And it's interesting to also mention as a quick side-note that the traditionally agile Elves are given no Dexterity modifiers in this game, they can be as clumsy on average as Humans can.)<br />
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So anyway, one of the cool things Dwarves have (in this version and in others) is that it takes more encumbrance to slow them down. And all the Races/Classes (same thing in <i>LotFP</i>) move at the same speed here. So if everyone moves at the same speed by default, and if it takes more encumbrance than the others to slow Dwarves down...<br />
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That makes Dwarves, by default as soon as encumbrance comes up, the fastest Race in <i>LotFP</i>.Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-75401312505214868672017-04-28T09:06:00.001-07:002017-04-28T09:15:53.477-07:00ICONS: Nuke the Fridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Indiana Jones and the <i>Kingdom of the Crystal Skull</i>, Indy survives a nuclear explosion by hiding inside a fridge and riding the shockwave within its apparently sufficient safety.<br />
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As an experiment with the <i>ICONS Assembled Edition</i> ruleset I wanted to test if it was 'possible'. I'll admit at first I was gonna throw the math into it and expect to end up ruling that 'Indy just can't survive that explosion per the rules and actually needed to spend a permanent Determination point to explain how he escaped after all.' as per the 'Back from the Dead' rule in page 44.<br />
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I was wrong.<br />
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Let's start with the fridge. The GM rules that no Retcon is required for it to be there, since Indy is inside a kitchen after all. The Material Level of the fridge would be 4.<br />
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Let's continue with the Nuclear Explosion. In page 118 it says that a target with Level 9+ resistance to Damage, Heat and Radiation can survive the nuclear blast if he can make a Strength test against a difficulty 10 killing outcome.<br />
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The GM rules that the fridge can offer protection against Damage, Heat and Radiation, but at the Material Level of the object which is 4. Is Indy done for? Not so!<br />
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Before we continue, here are Indy's relevant stats for this post: Coordination 6, Strength 4 and the Athletics Specialty at Master level.<br />
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Indy's player has to use a Stunt, and he only has time for one because of the countdown. Indy's about to 'ride' a nuclear blast within a fridge, so he decides to try an Athletics Stunt. Problem is, there are three powers to replicate/boost to even be allowed a shot at surviving with a Strength test, Damage Resistance, Heat Resistance and Radiation Resistance. The fridge only covers 4 levels of each. That would normally require three different Stunts. Indy's player argues that maybe all he needs to replicate is the Adaptation power once inside the fridge, since that will be his environment in a way. The GM agrees.<br />
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Indy makes a Stunt test of 1d6+9 (Coordinaiton 6 + Athletics 3) to replicate Adaptation at Level 5. Indy succeeds, the 5 levels of Adaptation plus the 4 levels of Resistances form the fridge add up to 9 levels all together.<br />
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But that doesn't mean Indy survives, it just means he now has the right to roll to see if he can survive... a difficulty 10 Strength test!<br />
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Indy uses Improved Effort, granting him a +2 to his roll. Indy will roll 1d6+6 (Strength 4 + Improved Effort 2) against the GM's 1d6+10.<br />
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Indy rolls a 6 for a total of 12! The GM rolls a 1 for a total of 11!!!<br />
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Indiana Jones has survived a nuclear explosion!<br />
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Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-80168035765145742432017-03-20T18:56:00.000-07:002017-03-20T18:56:22.770-07:00Belle's XP Gains in 'The Beauty and The Beast'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The beginning of Belle's journey into the Beast's castle somewhat reminded me of a dungeon run, which got me to thinking of 'Beauty and the Beast' in D&D terms. And let me say, per classic 'XP for treasure and magic items' rules, Belle got lots for the short amount of time her campaign lasted! (As a side-note, I am using the 2017 movie as reference because it's the one I've seen most recently.)<br />
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I'm (mostly) using the rules from Castles & Crusades to be precise, so let's get started.<br />
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O.k, for starters I think this is a one-PC campaign, with Belle being the only player character. I see Beast as an NPC. The way in which the PC handles the situation sort of leads Beast into being the DM's 'main' character almost. I would argue it's a game run and played between a couple. ;)<br />
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Also, Belle is a Thief/Rogue/Specialist/Whatever-you-wanna-call-that-class. She sneaks around and knows about tinkering when she's helping out her dad with his gadgets. Or you could argue she's an Alice, a class from 'A Red and Pleasant Land'. It doesn't matter in the end for the sake of this post, because both Rogues and Alices have the same XP chart. She's Level 1 at the beginning of the campaign.<br />
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O.k, for the XP gains now. First of all, this is a RP-heavy campaign, so all of the XP reward options from the book are used here. RP XP is suggested to be at 25 xp/level per game session so there's that.<br />
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Since her first mission in the story is saving her father, we could give her a small 'treasure value' for saving her dad, but since that's just a thought and not 'by-the-book', I just wanted to drop the idea out there.<br />
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Some wolves attack her as she's trying to flee the Beast's castle, they're worth about 30 XP a piece. I don't remember how many wolves were there but she has to split the XP with Beast so again it's not that much XP anyway.<br />
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O.k, this is the big one. The library scene. Beast learns she likes books and tells her that the books are <b>hers</b>. Remember, Beast is an NPC in this theoretical scenario. This is a treasure Belle won via Charisma and diplomacy with the monster of the dungeon, so she totally gets all of its value's worth in XP. Sure, she has to bring it back to civilization/home... But I would argue that she's been in the dungeon long enough that it is at her current home by default. I'm not gonna start trying to calculate how much the library would be worth, it's so big that even if all the books had the value of a normal book, it would take her up to Level 2 right away, and it's not more only because you can't gain more than one level per game session. She'd basically be close to Level 3 already.<br />
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Next, they use a magic item to teleport to Paris. They're using a magic item that belongs to Beast so she's not getting XP for that one, but the little rose toy she picks up and brings back with her is treasure. Now, this might bring her to Level 3 right away, depending on a few factors... First, it depends on what rules you use for when a character gains an amount of XP that would be worth many levels. Some stop the XP at halfway to the following level, which I think is the official stance for Castles & Crusades. Personally I stop the XP at 1 XP before the following level. And one could argue the emotional value put upon the object gives it much more XP worth than its GP value for the purposes of the campaign. Personally I would have her reach Level 3 at that moment, but if you're very conservative you can keep her at Level 2.<br />
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After that the next XP gain Belle gets other than RP XP is for the magic mirror, which replicates the Scrying spell at will. This is an NPC giving the item to Belle as a reward, which she brings back to civilization with her, so it counts. That's worth thousands of XP right there. It replicates a Level 4 spell and doesn't have limited charges, so maybe it's worth 5000 XP if not more. That brings her to Level 3 or Level 4, depending on how we handle surplus XP when leveling up.<br />
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I can't remember if she helps fight Gaston at the end or if she just witnesses the fight so I'm not sure if she'd get XP for that fight or not. Gaston would be a Level 2 or 3 Fighter with high scores in Strength, Dexterity and Charisma. If it wasn't for his lack of learning I would have argued he was a Bard, the way he performs his act for the town and convinces them to go hunt down the Beast! (But I guess a good old Charisma roll can also accomplish the same.)<br />
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Finally she'd get a bit of Story XP for helping break the curse on the Beast and his servants.<br />
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Since the castle is no longer cursed whatever riches she gains from marrying the Beast doesn't go into her XP anymore because it's not 'dungeon' treasure, just regular one. Which is still awesome. The campaign ends there anyway so it doesn't matter.<br />
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Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-85552227158853134962017-03-05T08:59:00.002-08:002017-03-05T08:59:25.709-08:00Stuck in the City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My campaign is stuck in the city of Gloomengraad.<br />
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Real life obligations from my players make it so despite the fact that pretty much every week there's a game of D&D that I run at my place, not every player can show up all the time. That has many consequences on my campaign, both good and bad. In no particular order, and mixing the good and the bad, here are the consequences I have noticed:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Because not every player can show up every week, everyone has to stay at the same place for the characters to be able to meet up when it's game time. We can't leave a game to be continued in the middle of a forest if we're not 100% sure that the very same exact group of characters will be back next week, we have to bring them back to the status quo setting of the city. </li>
<li>I have to use dungeons sparingly since they have to be within or at least very close to the city, even for a Fantasy setting it would be silly if they showed up too often in such a small area of the map. The sewers and natural caverns nearby are my dungeon replacements so to speak.</li>
<li>Every game has to have a clear 'end of the game session' moment. We can't pick up exactly where we left off next time. Sometimes it means rushing the end a bit or asking the players to sort of collaborate so the story can stop at a specific moment.</li>
<li>Cliffhangers are difficult to manage, it's important to have players who will sort of metagame (normally a dirty word, I know) in favor of the reality of how the game is managed. Characters will not look for their colleague if the player of said colleague is not present that night. Kind of reminds me of superhero comics where in their solo titles they never call for help from their allies but in the group titles they're quick to do so.</li>
<li>Characters get to know the city well and its ongoing storylines so they get attached to the setting and situations naturally without much effort from the DM. They also make assumptions about what's really going on behind some plots. They can be eerily accurate or amusingly off the mark, sometimes in a single session.</li>
<li>Prep time is extremely easy when you don't have to create everything from scratch but have instead an established setting that you know well. Often you don't prepare a specific series of events as much as you decide what every NPC will want to do and just play it out logically.</li>
<li>It's difficult to make it all seem new and fresh after a while, so you have to shake things up a little bit when the players start getting too comfortable.</li>
<li>In a game where character death is something that can totally happen, players will often have to remind themselves that secrets that previous characters have uncovered are not known by their new characters. In a game of exploration that moves from one place to the other it's easier to remember than when the players really get familiar with one specific place.</li>
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Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-41742430156512871362016-11-29T16:36:00.000-08:002016-11-29T16:36:03.557-08:00ICONS Stats for Ash Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>ASH WILLIAMS</b></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Prowess 5</b><br />
<b>Coordination 6</b><br />
<b>Strength 4</b><br />
<b>Intellect 2</b><br />
<b>Awareness 4</b><br />
<b>Willpower 6</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><u>Powers</u></b><br />
<br />
<b>Boomstick (Blast Shooting Device)</b> Level 5 (Limit: Burnout)<br />
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<b>Chainsaw Arm (Strike Device)</b> Level 5 (Limits: Burnout, Preparation)<br />
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<b><u>Specialties</u></b><br />
<br />
Leadership, Occult, Technology (Master), Weapons: Blades (Expert), Weapons: Guns (Expert)<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Qualities</u></b><br />
<br />
Promised One/El Jefe<br />
This is my Boomstick!!!<br />
Chainsaw for a Hand<br />
<br />Brunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5671967878082569030.post-28388302709219426052016-11-29T16:30:00.000-08:002016-11-29T16:30:06.476-08:00ICONS Stats for Darth Vader<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>DARTH VADER</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Prowess 8</b><br />
<b>Coordination 8</b><br />
<b>Strength 4</b><br />
<b>Intellect 5</b><br />
<b>Awareness 4</b><br />
<b>Willpower 4</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><u>Powers</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Force (Cosmic Power)</b> Level 7: Absorption, Binding, Blast, Danger Sense, Detection (Emotion, Life, The Force), Extrasensory Perception, Leaping, Precognition, Telekinesis, Telepathy.<br />
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<b>Lightsaber (Strike Device)</b> Level 10 (Extra - Reflection)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Armor (Damage Resistance Device)</b> Level 4 (Extra: Life Support - Vacuum)<br />
<br />
<b><u>Specialties</u></b><br />
<br />
Military (Expert), Occult (Master), Pilot (Master), Power: The Force (Master), Technology (Expert), Weapons: Blades (Master)<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Qualities</u></b><br />
<br />
More Machine Than Man<br />
Chosen One<br />
Dark Lord of the SithBrunohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01448568062628550613noreply@blogger.com0