Venger strikes again, this time with X-Cards!

 It's been awhile since I've caught up with Venger.  You can check out his going's on here: http://vengersatanis.blogspot.com/
He just released some Cha'alt X-Cards
Here is the blurb: 

If you love Cha'alt, then here's a mechanic that brings those Cha'altian vibes to the fore!

This describes an entirely new and strange technique for improving your roleplaying game sessions... and making them weird, gross, horrific, hilarious, and exciting.

Use Cha'alt X-Cards with Cha'alt or any other RPG that's about or promotes eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalypse, humor, sleaze, pop-culture, and grindhouse exploitation.

Want custom-made cards or the Cha'alt hardcovers?  Let me know, hoss!

The best part, they are FREE! 

And speaking of free, if you haven't had a chance to try out Advanced Crimson Dragon Slayer yet, wait exactly are you waiting for? 

Here's the link.  

This is my own heavily house-ruled hack of B/X and 5e, suitable for one-shots, convention games, virtual play, and even face-to-face campaigns.  I'm currently 16-sessions into my Crystals of Chaos campaign set in the eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalyptic world of Cha'alt.  Check out my session reports on Venger's old school gaming blog for details.

Advanced Crimson Dragon Slayer is the updated version of Crimson Dragon Slayer D20, and going forward, this will see incremental adjustments (hopefully, improvements) here and there over the years.

In fact, there's room for a couple new races, and I've decided to run a contest to see who will come up with the most Cha'altian suggestion... that will be included in the next update, sometime in early November.  So, get your suggestions in by Halloween (not that it has to be horror-themed or anything, but it can be... whatever, yeah - totally up to you).

4 classes, tons of races, ascending AC, spell casting drains hit-points, lots of standard OSR type stuff, and plenty of weird things I threw in to mesh better with Cha'alt.  Plus, a character sheet (3 slightly different versions)!!!

Okay, that's almost all the things.... actually there's one more! 

Alpha Blue d20 (another super fun RPG) 

This is a different kind of Alpha Blue... for starters it's D20; it's also not quite as silly.  Yeah, this version is darker and grittier than the original.  Just as sleazy, though!  Maybe you've played Alpha Blue before, maybe you haven't.  Either way, I'd love to know what you think of this version.
I'm hoping to playtest and get feedback on Alpha Blue D20 before it goes into Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise.  
Okie dokie, that's what I got this morning.  Which isn't too bad considering I've only had a few cups of coffee this morning. 
I'm going to try and do a few more blogs once in awhile.  Highlight some fun stuff, like Venger.  
Maybe the next blog will be about my buddy Tim and what's happening over at Gothridge Manor.  
While you patiently wait, you can check it out here:  
http://gothridgemanor.blogspot.com/

Speaking of Tim, I should probably shoot him a message and see what's up, as well see if he's running a game currently.  My guess is likely! 
Alright folks have a good one. 

Monday Night Miserable Bastards - Session 1

Hilarious!

I got together with Tim, Matt, Joe and Erik to play some nerd games last night.  7 PM my time, which works out perfectly actually.  It took me a bit to figure out what was going on, as this was my first game with these guys.  They had previously played in the campaign so they had some ideas as to what was going on.

The premise that Tim has come up with is pretty cool.  We are basically out on the borderlands, and there are a few different factions vying for control.  My character "skord" had previously worked with Erik's character "rathgar".  I won't get too much into his background, as the guys may read this.

Speaking of backgrounds, Tim sent me a 6 page background/what's up with the setting pdf.  Which is awesome! I was blown away honestly.

So basically the party was sorta split.  Rathgar was in the tavern in the small town of Hounds Head (like seriously small town, the blacksmith can't even make arrows!)

The other 2 characters had just finished finding the body of a knight in the outskirts.

They eventually made their way back to town.  Where i was introduced.

We decided to talk with the sorta know it all sage of the town who gave us some good ideas.

We stayed in the tavern over night, and woke up to disguises left in our room.

Apparently the cleric Rathgar was met in the night by someone, who gave him a quest.  He gave us the very briefest of explanations and we were off.

Prior to leaving the halfling had a signet ring that he found on the body of a dead knight, he decided to stash it away in the eaves of the tavern roof.   We then headed out of town and caught up with a merchant caravan (one wagon) and two guards.  Some of the party took their time scoping out the situation.

What proceeded was one of the best roleplaying moments I've been involved in.  Cue some monty python playing women antics (complete with high pitched voices).

Basically the funniest distraction ever.  The merchant was so confused with these older women talking to him about all kinds of random things.  The halfling jumped up and basically robbed the caravan of moonstones.  Then got the horse and cart rolling away from the action.   Skord the warrior acted as the meat and restrained one of the guards.

Seriously so funny.  I can't even remember all of what was said, but my throat was sore from laughing so hard.   We left off with the moonstones in tow having escaped the situation without blodshed (which was what we needed to do).  The next plan was to go and check out a grotto covered in spiderwebs.  I cannot fucking wait for Monday (whose every said that before!).  Thanks guys! that was fucking fantastic.

Tim went and did a podcast about monday evening, and it's awesome (good recap!)
https://anchor.fm/gothridgemanor/episodes/Best-Heist-EVAR--With-a-gaggle-of-call-ins-e489kb


I gotta say I learned something from Tim's DMing style (and from listening to Froth's cast).  Sometimes it's the best thing in the world to sit back and just let the players go.  I often worry too much about planning things out.  Just sit back and let it happen! 

As some of you may know, I'm currently working on a Man cave in the basement.  It's a bit of a work in progress at this point, but I should hopefully be down there before the next session.  The last few times I've played on line, I've used my tablet (which works well) however the mic on it is on the back so I basically have to hold it in my lap.  As well (see picture) I've been in this small room with a bunch of crap, sitting in front of a small sewing desk.

As you can see it's not ideal.

I currently have a few ideas for a computer solution.  Just deciding on what the best plan is for me.

I ended up using roll20 on my laptop to see what was going on and for rolling dice, and hangouts for talking.

I got a line on a few computers.  Just figuring stuff out.

Sunday morning OSR hunt

I decided to spend a bit of time this morning over coffee looking at some cool new stuff OSR stuff.

Dice Roll Zine #2: It's currently available in print only here:  https://hogtowngames.bigcartel.com/product/dice-roll-zine-2  I'd hazard to guess it will be available on pdf thru drivethru shortly.  Here is the summary:

Dice Roll Zine is a 40-page, saddle-stitched, digest-sized print zine for old-school RPGs written by Steven A. Cook and illustrated by some of the best retro-inspired artists.

The second issue includes a Sorcerer class for Swords & Wizardry Complete games; 'Roll all the Dice' tables for generating fungi, plants & freaky stuff; The City-State of Kreth, a weird-fantasy city overview with history, factions, unique gear, rumors, adventure seeds, thumbnail descriptions and encounter tables for nine city districts, and more; new spells and magic items for an 'oldhammer' fantasy role-playing game; and various other cool rules options and odd things for your old-school games.  Please Note: Print buyers also get a PDF copy for free. Details are included with your print zine!

You can grab a copy of #1 here.  

1988 Dungeon:  Goblin's Henchmen does it again.  This is a really fun dungeon.  It's PWYW, get it here. 

This is an 1e AD&D adventure made in 1988. It was one of the first dungeons I ever made when I was a teenager. So, it’s about as Old Skoool as it gets … not in an OSR sense, but in a “I’ve made a dungeon who wants to play” kind of way. If you’re looking for understandable/sensible dungeon ecology, themes, plot, and balanced encounters etc., then you’ve signed up for the wrong adventure! 

The Ghost Fleet - A Edge of Space Supplement
I'm going to go ahead and download Edge Of Space, looks like a fun game.  I was thinking it might be a good one to pull out after a regular session of DND, or when I only have so many players show up.  Ghost Fleet is an adventure for the system. 

During the Confederation Wars the Madeiran Union was one of the fiercest and most mysterious sides of the conflict.  Striking from uncharted space at random vectors the Madeirans never seemed to be at a loss for ships, supplies, or men.  Even now nearly thirty years after the founding of the Confederation the Madeiran Union is still talked about with an air once reserved for urban legends.

In the wreckage of the MMS Yu-Ti on a desolate, un-named ice world. The CMSC has discovered the existence of a Madeiran Ghost Fleet deep in the Levigos Nebula near the center of the Rim and behind the lines of Bug space.   Believing that the fleet lay as salvage the CMSC dispatches the Sword of Hathor to survey the Ghost Fleet in hopes that the vessels could help replenish the losses sustained in the war against the Bugs … the problem is this is a Ghost Fleet in more than just name …


Edge of Space is a simple 2d6 beer and pretzels roleplaying by Chubby Monster Games and was created by the (in)famous master of cartography Matt Jackson.  Edge of Space has a simple background to get the players and GM started:  You are Space Marines for allied human systems and must defend against the onslought of alien hordes that wish to drive you and your race to total extinction.  The game is available for $1.00 on rpgnow.com and has some support by Genius Loci Games and other publishers.

Gothridge Manor is at it again!: Tim just released this cool looking adventure:
https://www.patreon.com/gothridge
I present to you Three Adventures for the Compleat Adventure. The title is a play off the old Compleat series. I decided to return to my old ways, doing short adventures. Presenting situations to the party to explore, figure out, and possibly defeat. I’ve written three situations for three environments. Design wise the GM has the map on the left page and all the content for the map on the right page. No flipping!

First is the urban environment, Searching Ashen Alley. The party has something stolen. They see the thief head for an alley way and now need to deal with the dangerous of the city. This one is a randomly determined encounter that can introduce the party to the thieves guild. For good or bad.

The second is a traditional dungeon crawl, Tomb of the Berserker King. Nothing says adventure than plundering the tomb of some forgotten king. A nasty little crawl that might cost the characters more than they get in return. 

The third and final installment is a roleplaying situation, The Hanging Tree. I believe these type encounters can develop depth for the characters. It gives the characters a chance to help without ever drawing their weapons. The situation deals with a suicidal boy. The topic could trigger some people so please consider that. 

Matt Jackson has a bunch of great maps over on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/msjackson/posts

Really diggin this town map that Matt drew.

 Dhul Crag:  Nine days ride to the south, but still two day's ride from The Wall sits the small village of Dhul Crag. An Outpost in the middle of a dangerous wilderness, this walled cluster of buildings serves as a welcome respite from the horrors of the surrounding Deep Wold, a well-known forest of grim portent. The sturdy oak wall has, so far, been penetrated only once (repairs are are ongoing).

Other cool things that have caught my eye, but haven't had a chance to check them out yet (that's a helluva a title!) 

*The Ubix #2:  In the realms of dream and the hitnerland wilds, The Ubix signals your path to adventure! This is an OSR zine of 4 RPG elements underscored by simple black and white artwork. Within these 14 pages you'll find bloodstained surgeons, hateful vampiric aliens, levitating thrones, and a spell that you may never awake from!

Mice with Legitimate Grievances:  A small dungeon for 1st or 0th level characters. The Mice Folk have had enough. First a man thing came into their home to start playing with dead things (yuck!), and now the man things have damaged their roof with careless farming. So help them: the next man thing they see is going to get bopped on the head with a stick!

The Screaming Swamp:  This is an expansion of my contribution to the Tenkar’s Landing G+ Community collaborative sandbox setting, Eilean Dubh (The Black Isle).  Each contribution to The Black Isle is a single 6 mile hex. There is a lot here in this lone hex. One can easily change to a 12 mile hex, making each sub-hex a mile. Even larger hexes may be used, if you need a massive swamp.  I have added more tables specific to this area and swamps in general. The text has has much more revision, correction, and additions than the version released in The Black Isle.

MOI:  The mewe hex descriptions are basically done, I've got a few more to add to it (and by the sounds of it Scott had a few extra that he was working on).  Managed to cultivate a really interesting d100 table of "shit you find on the ground".  After all that is done, I think I'll crowd source a few small dungeons, possibly using paratime design's maps.  Then it'll get released into the wild.  I do have one epic conundrum, the maps are all licensed under creative commons, which is cool.  I just dunno if I can use the OGL for the mechanics within the product?  I'll mull that over in my head.  As is typical with any of my collabs, this is just for fun, and will be a download available only on this blog.  Should be complete in a week or two.  

Have a Happy Sunday! 

GREYHAWK! MYSTARA! BLACK MARSH! IRON FALCON! AFF! - a.d.d. gamer confession

I admit it.  I'm an A.D.D. Gamer. 
What does that mean?
Well what it means is OOOOH SHINY!

I get a great idea for a campaign, and I start working on it.  Then I get a great idea for a new campaign, and I start working on it, THEN I get another great idea for a campaign, and I start working on it.

I've been slowly working on a AFF adventure set in and around Darkwood forest.

THEN I listened to this:
https://anchor.fm/gothridgemanor/episodes/Working-on-the-Campaign-e3ck6l

And right around the time I was listening to Tim's podcast, I was also talking with Chris Gonnerman about Iron Falcon.  BTW there's a new iron falcon group on mewe, check it out.

Not to mention the ever entertaining google hangouts thread that I'm a part of with Matt and the crew.

So more inspiration has struck me.

I've toyed with running mystara, greyhawk (recently) and a pile of other campaigns in the last few years.

Here's the problem.  Well 1.  I have a.d.d.  2.  (the most important) I'm not currently running any games.  So instead of focusing on my current game, I keep thinking of new and fun ideas to try.

The latest thing that's on my mind is to finally run Black Marsh.  I even have a starting point.  And of course I'm thinking using iron falcon would be fun.  Even though I've stated often that Whitebox would be handy especially when running a game online.

So I'm off to write a players campaign notes for black marsh.

Maybe I'll get my shit together and run a one shot soon.

That's my friday thoughts!

Wooo! Winner winner chicken dinner!

So a few weeks ago, Gothridge Manor held a contest for signing up to his mailing list.  The winners were picked at random by rolling percentile dice (seriously you can't more D&D than that can you?)  And I won! (Which I blame my Irish heritage on).  Anyways, the other day I got the package in the mail, which was very nice.  Considering mailing anything to Canada is stupid expensive!

Here's the unboxing (with my lovely wife model Jen).



I was thinking the tavern cards could be a fun game as part of a drinking & carousing thing.  The idea would be the following:  Every player gets 5 cards, and throws three back (after they look at them).  The cards that have been kept get thrown on the table and you build the tavern (and story) with the cards.

I urge you to go check out Tim's new awesome site!  He's got a pile of books for sale in his store.

https://www.gothridgemanor.com/

Take it easy everyone!

GM Games Spotlight

Starter Adventures
Starter Adventures is where you learn to fight, steal, cast spells and heal.  You'll have to use your wits to figure out puzzles.  Use a sword to murderize goblins.  And crumble the undead beneath the power of your god.  Starter Adventures is targeted toward introducing a new player into RPGs.  Inside are four short adventures for each of the four main classes, a tavern to hangout in, and a full-fledged adventure when they've got enough blood encrusted on their blades. GET IT HERE. 

Stone Fields Of Azoroth 
The Stone Fields of Azoroth is a mini-sandbox for a party of experienced adventurers.  The first book contains the Village of Bad Water, settled in the Stone Fields.  The village is fully detailed and provides an endless amount of role-playing opportunities.

GET IT HERE. 

The Flayed King 
The Flayed King started out as Tullis Well, I had the map and in my game the Northmen use wells in their religious ceremonies.  So I started writing with this in mind and somewhere the concept of The Flayed King originated as I wrote.  I heavily borrowed from the story of Odin losing his eye to gain wisdom.  This guy didn't fair so well.  Throw in a bit of Authurian and Egyptian mythos and this is what I created.
GET IT HERE. 

Cave of Seiljua

Ragnar has slandered a fellow clansman, but fled before he was brought before the Thing.  The jarl orders the players to return Ragnar...alive.  The jarl believes Ragnar is hiding in an old cave within the wildlands.  A place once hunted often to thin out the horrible creatures that lived there. 

GET IT HERE

GM Games also produces the fantastic zine "The Manor", you pickup the bundle here: or the individual issues below. 

Issue 1

The Manor is a jammed packed, Old School zine.  Inside you'll find a stink'n old salt pit with one of my favorite creatures, a d12 table from the mischevious mind of Jason Sholtis, one of the many secrets of Rural Pennsylvania, a poetry slam by an old time blogging favorite Rusty Battle Axe, a table of random forest encounters and a boot merchant with a bad, bad past. 

Issue 2

Issue 3

Issue 4

Issue 5

Issue 6

Issue 7

Issue 8

Issue 9

You can also check out Micro Adventures by Gothridge Manor on Patreon.