Campaign Hack - Hacking Basic Fantasy Modules to suit your own needs

This title should be "hacking basic fantasy modules to suit MY own needs", however if this appeals to you go ahead and steal it.

I've written often about my love of BFRPG, and a lot of the modules.  This however is my little hack of putting together a few of the modules.  Mostly to suit my own campaign tastes.

First things first - head on over to basicfantasy.org and take a look at the downloads section.  Better yet you can grab all of the modules on amazon.

The wonderful thing about the basic fantasy website is that you can download the odt files and do exactly what I did, copy and paste to your hearts content to create your own adventure.

Okie dokie first things first.  The whole thing is set in the "Morgansfort" campaign setting.  Check out the map on page 2.

For the home base for the players I plan to use the keep at Morgansfort, as its highly nostalgic and written very well.   The Old Island Fortress will not be very far from Morgansfort.  And is a perfect starting dungeon for players.

Now here is where the whole thing takes a turn to hack!

The keep at Morgansfort is located exactly where the small town is located in the Chaotic Caves module.  The Chaotic Caves comes with a small town that a GM can flesh out, and extremely excellent surrounding lands map.  All of the random encounters on the surrounding lands map are excellent.   As well as the bandit keep!  About the only thing that I think I would leave out in my campaign is the actual Chaotic Caves (As there's going to be more than enough to do).

Now for a few little extra adventures, within Morgansfort there is a "Nameless Dungeon" that you can place somewhere within the Chaotic caves map.  And the "Caves of the unknown" within Morgansfort.

As well, go and grab Tales from the laughing dragon module.  Place the tavern "Laughing Dragon" within the keep at Morgansfort and there yah go!  There are 3 great adventure paths thru out that module.

Now the only slight issue is that a lot of these adventures are built for 1st level players, and they will level up eventually, making some of the dungeons a little too easy.  No problem!  go and re skin em with the Basic Fantasy Field Guide.  Once the PC's get thru all of these messes, its time to grab a copy of one of the Giant Series and work that into the story line.  

Here is a list of rumors to get you started. roll 1d6

1.  Fonkin, the beloved gnome sage is missing. The town guard is busy fighting off brigands and doesn't have time to look for him

2.  Lizardmen raid the local shipping now and then, carrying off loot.

3.   Three witches haunt the roads near a keep further into the wilderness, selling evil potions and petty magic in exchange for souls. [FALSE]

4  Human bandits are causing problems for outlying farms.

5.  People have been killed and eaten by ghouls near the crypt area.

6.   a one-eyed farmer named Bart tells you of the Old Island Fortress. It was built in ancient times by a people long forgotten, and it now lies in ruins. It is said to be home to both fearsome monsters and fabulous treasure.

Creative commons project

As per usual I was thinking about writing, doing some writing in my head last night.  In the last little while I've stumbled upon a TON of excellent creative commons stuff.  So much so that I'm starting to feel a Open CC project coming on.  A few things first about Creative Commons and RPG's (at least this is my opinion).

• The system would either have to be system neutral, or a new system that would then also be Open CC for anyone else to use.  Or possibly something like Open d6, mini6 
• The world would be open, and other people could write for it, provided that they themselves release under open CC.  
• The title would not be pay what you want, or have any $ value to it.  I would of course put it up as a free download. 
• The note taking would be immense.  Any open CC material I find would have to be stated as such within the text.  Not really an issue, but its about book keeping - find something cool write that shit down. now. 

As far as links are concerned, here are a BUNCH! 

Open Source Old Book Illustrations 

Free Fantasy Maps - There are some super awesome ones here. 

Openclipart - You have to dig, but there's some great stuff here as well. 

Dyson Logos Commercial Maps - Licensed under CC 

Open d6 rules

Open Adventure - I have to check to see if this is actually CC or not. .

And of course you can find some amazing artwork at drivethrurpg.com

All of the above could get us started on something crazy big! 

Year in review 2015 - 3 Toadstools Publishing

It's been quite an entertaining year sitting under the shade of these toadstools.  In my infinite wisdom I decided to start doing a series of interviews.  These have gone over quite well, and I look forward to doing more in 2016.  If you know someone/or you would like to get interviewed please hit me up at shanepatrickward AT gmail DOT com.  

Here are the interviews from the past year. 

Interview with Thaumiel Nerub of D-oom Products

Interview with Tim Shorts from Gothridge Manor

Ladies & Gentleman Mr. Dyson Logos

It's your turn Venger.

It's your turn Frank! - Interview with Frank Turfler from Middle Kingdoms Adventure and Trading Co

It's your turn Johua! - Interview with Genius Loci Games

It's your turn James - A sit down with James Spahn of Barrel Rider Games

note:  the use of "It's your turn" comes from the email I send to the interview recipient. 

Thought Eater Contest

Zak S started running an awesome essay contest about a month back.  Great idea!  However I haven't written an essay in about 14 years or so.  I actually had to google "How to write an essay".  Apparently there are prizes involved (Yes I really want a copy of R&PL and now I am going to grab the pdf).  Now that the results are in and I didn't make it thru, I wrote the 2nd post for "realism".  This contest was a great idea, its been so long since I wrote an essay. http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.ca/2015/10/thought-eater-1st-round-winners-rules.html?showComment=1445177535874#c2404922361350624239

A few modules 

I released a few modules this year as well, the recent "Mad God's Jest" and the "Tomb Of Gardag The Strange" 

Reviews for "The Tomb Of Gardag The Strange" 

http://merricb.com/2015/04/30/osr-review-the-tomb-of-gardag-the-strange/

http://warbeneaththeearth.blogspot.ca/2015/05/review-tomb-of-gardag-strange-by-shane.html

http://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.ca/2015/05/review-and-commentary-on-pay-what-youd.html

The Mad God's Jest - Review 

http://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.ca/2015/12/review-of-free-osr-adventure-mad-gods.html

A few module reviews I've done. 

note:  I need to do more reviews, I really enjoy doing them. 

Netherstorm Core Rules - Review!

No Escape From New York - Module Review

REVIEW - TBG-1: Manse on Murder Hill

Blackmarsh Review

Popular Posts

*there are of course a bit skewed as they are the most popular posts for today.

52 Swords & Sorcery Apocalyptic Prophecy's

500th Post - Free Adventure! The Mad God's Jest.

Announcement! 3 Toadstools has officially partnered with D-oom Products

Well that's about it for the time being, please enjoy your holidays! I'm looking forward to all the craziness we come up with next year! 

Pretty sure I'm throwing my nephews in a dungeon tomorrow.

I've often talked about the "endless tunnels of enlandin".  In fact I really should setup a play by post for it.  You can grab it here btw - http://www.dragonsfoot.org/php4/archive.php?sectioninit=CD&fileid=163

Here's why I like basic D&D,  I'm bringing a bag of dice, my copy of basic, and the dungeon in a bag.  That's it!  No 3 large tomes, no remembering the DM screen, or minis, no having to bring large pools of dice, or a calculator for that matter.  Just the small rules book, the dungeon and a couple of dice and we are good.  Of course add imagination.

Now to the Endless tunnels, honesty a really great module, I dunno how many times I've read it, I started playing it one night after a 5e game with my players.  I believe it has 5 dungeon levels in the nice throw back blue!  There's a dragon in there, a crazy wizard, all kinds of random bad guys, traps, etc.  The module isn't really set anywhere, so by happenstance It will be set within Thunderrift (which I've been having a love affair with).

Now all I gotta do today is wander over to +Dyson Logos  blog  and grab one of the awesome character sheets he has and I'm good to go.

So tomorrow after presents, and a few rum & eggnogs, the boys will be off to battle kobolds in the first level of the dungeon.

Should be fun!

Do you have any plans for Christmas gaming?

This just in... I just got a fucking fantastic review

http://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.ca/2015/12/review-of-free-osr-adventure-mad-gods.html

So do I think that the Mad God's Jest worth the the time and energy for down loading? Yes, yes, I do actually.

While you are over at Swords & Stichery, check out the awesome "Retro Reviews" that Eric keeps doing.  Love em.  Some of these modules I've heard of, some I haven't.  I appreciate his opinion.

When Stars Fall

Nights Dark Terror

Temple Of Death

Master OF The Desert Nomads

Vault of The Drow

Descent Into The Depths Of The Earth

Ghost Tower Of Inverness

BTW I'd love to have this collection of retro modules.  

You can grab "The Mad God's Jest" right here. 

Announcement! 3 Toadstools has officially partnered with D-oom Products

Super awesome! In order to spraed more OSR goodness, we've partnered with D-oom Products.  They are putting together & printing some of the 3 Toadstools modules, and selling them in Finland (Why yes my mind is officially blown!).  The cool thing about this is that D-oom are great to work with!  +Thaumiel Nerub has been attending little cons and has converted some of the modules to Finnish as well (also super neat).  I love how small this community actually is.  And the fact that we can work together to do fun things like this.

Here are the links.
http://doomproducts.blogspot.fi/p/yhteistyokumppanit.html

http://cryptofrabies.blogspot.fi/p/partners-supporters.html

As well we have been co-writing a hex crawl, its currently in its infant stages, but here's another little preview.

205  Arena.  Within this hex is a grand gladiator arena.  It is open most days from early afternoon until evening.  PC’s can bet on gladiators from either the red or black team.  The process of betting is as follows:  Players & the GM pick (the GM playing the part of the “house”) which team they would like to win.  They then bet in gold pieces, minimum bet is 5 GP’s.  Everyone rolls percentile dice (d%), whoever is the highest, their gladiator won.  In the case of a tie, the pot is split.  

A very popular gladiator named “Renald The Ravanger” has been out of commission for the past few weeks.  No one has seen him in atleast a fortnight.  His residence is a room within the arena complex.  If the PC’s investigate his room, they will find a handwritten note detailing his absence.  He has left the city of Barcombe in search of his long lost love.  Another note on the dresser points to a extremely expensive ransom for her safe return. It is signed by “Craglex”.  (Craglex is an Orc warlord, who is currently residing in a small cave south of the city in hex 27).  

The Mad God's Jest - FREE Adventure

GET IT HERE FOR FREE

Deep inside the mind of Captain Sherborne, he's cracked. His dreams haunted by a Harlot. However nothing is what it seems. He wanders the world looking for brave souls to help him. Will you? 

Includes 1 hand drawn map, 4 pre generated characters. And a bunch of fun tables! 

*Note this product will remain free, it is in celebration my of 500th blogpost. Please enjoy.