Tuesday, August 30, 2016

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 30

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





Describe the ideal game room if your budget were unlimited. It would have an ocean front view and a large deck connected to it. Hardwood flooring and on the ceiling. A large awesome gaming table like the ones they sell at Gen Con. Recessed lighting that could be easily controlled. Floor to ceiling cabinets and shelves. Nice plush chairs on casters.

Avengers Initiative: Hercules for Icons

I've got an idea for an Icons game set in within the Marvel Cinematic Universe post Civil War where Tony Stark has begun the Avengers Initiative to recruit new members to the team to supplement War Machine and Vision. I'll probably start with adaptations of existing characters before moving into some originals. In many ways it could be a spiritual sequel to my Mightiest game.

Hercules is the son of Zeus, king of the gods of Olympus, and Alcmena, a mortal woman who lived about three thousand years ago. Recognizing the need for a son who would be powerful enough to defend both the Olympian gods and humanity from future dangers he foresaw, Zeus seduced Alcmena in the guise of her husband, King Amphitryon of Troezen. Thanks to Zeus's enchantment, Hercules was born with the potential for extraordinary strength, which he first displayed before he was even one year old by strangling two serpents which attacked him. As an adult, Hercules is best known for his celebrated Twelve Labors, which were performed in part to prove his worthiness for immortality to Zeus. (One of these Labors, the cleansing of the Aegean Stables, was actually performed by the Eternal called the Forgotten One, who was sometimes mistaken for Hercules.)

In the course of these Labors, Hercules provoked the wrath of three immortals who remain his enemies to this day. By slaughtering the man-eating Stymphalian Birds, he enraged the war god Ares, to whom they were sacred. In temporarily capturing Cerberus, the three-headed hound that serves as guardian to the Olympian underworld (not to be confused with the shape-shifting giant of the same name), Hercules offended Pluto, the lord of that realm. By killing the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, and other creatures spawned by the inconceivably grotesque and powerful monster Typhoeus, Hercules gained the bitter enmity of Typhon, the immortal humanoid offspring of Typhoeus and a Titaness.

However, it was the centaur Nessus who caused Hercules's mortal demise. Nessus kidnapped Hercules's wife Deianeira, whereupon Hercules shot him with an arrow. Feigning a wish to make amends, the dying centaur told Deianeira how to make a love charm from his allegedly enchanted blood, aware that it was now tainted with the lethal poison of the Hydra, in which Hercules had dipped his arrows. Some time after Nessus's death, Deianeira, distraught over her husband's latest infidelity, rubbed the supposed love charm into Hercules's shirt. When Hercules's donned the shirt, the poison quickly worked and caused Hercules great pain. In an attempt to end this pain, he built a funeral pyre for himself and set it ablaze. Zeus intervened however, consuming the pyre with his thunderbolts and bringing Hercules to Olympus to be made a true immortal.




HERCULES 

Determination: 3          

Stamina: 17

Origin: Unearthly

Prowess: Fantastic (9)

Coordination: Amazing (8)


Strength: Supreme (10)

Intellect: Fair (4)

Awareness: Average (3)

Willpower: Great (7)

Powers:
Leaping Good (5)
Resistance (Damage) Fair (4)
Super Speed Fair (4)

Specialties:
Athletics (+1)
Carousing (+2)
Martial Arts (+1)
Weapons (+1)
Wrestling (+1)

Qualities:
Golden Mace Forged By Hephaestus
Lion of Olympus
Prince of Power


Monday, August 29, 2016

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 29

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon






If you could host a game anywhere on Earth, where would that be? Disney World. I just love Disney World.

Diablo III: Grotesque for Shadows of the Demon Lord #MonsterMonday

#MonsterMonday




They are lethal creatures for two reasons: First, they are capable of dealing damage by producing spikes from their short, stubby arms and slamming forward. Secondly, Grotesque are basically living pinatas: upon death they explode and expel whatever lurked in their bellies.

GROTESQUE          DIFFICULTY 10
Size 2 horrifying undead
Perception 11 (+1); darksight
Defense  9; Health 50
Strength 15 (+5)   Agility 9 (-1)   Intellect 8 (-2)   Will 13 (+3)
Speed 10


Immune damage from disease and poison; gaining Insanity; asleep,
   charmed, dazed, diseased, fatigued, frightened, poisoned, stunned
ATTACK OPTIONS
Spike (melee) +5 with 2 boons (2d6+3 plus Knocked Down on an attack roll of 20+) 
Knocked Down Knocked prone.


SPECIAL ATTACKS
Rupture When a grotesque dies it explodes and each within short range must make a Dexterity challenge roll, on a failure they take 3d6 damage or 1/2 damage on a success.




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#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 28

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What film or novel would you be most surprised that a friend had not seen or read? Star Wars. Any of them. I encountered this about three years ago, a young woman who role-played, was engaged to a role-player and who's father role-played. She had never heard of Star Wars.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Savage Rifts: Xiticix Killer






Lone Star, the Coalation State, developed the Xiticix Killer on orders from their Emperor. This monstrosity is ONLY supposed to exist on Xiticix and should die out when the D-Bees are finally extinct...


Xiticix Killer
Attributes: Agility d12, Smarts d6 (A), Spirit d6, Strength d12+1,
Vigor d12

Skills: Climbing d8, Fighting d10, Notice d8, Stealth d10

Pace: 12; Parry: 9; Toughness: 20 (6) M.D.C.


Equipment
• Claw Str+2d6+1
• Blaster Harness Range 15/30/60; Damage 2d6; RoF 2

Special Abilities:
• Bite/Horns Str+1d6+1

• Tentacle Str+1d8+1; Reach 2
• Quill Range 3/6/12; Damage 2d4; RoF 1
• Armor 6 M.D.C.
• Ambidextrous
• Combat Reflexes
• Dodge
• Fearless
• Fleet of Foot
• Improved Block
• Quick
• Regeneration Slow
• Size +6

Hackable: HeroQuest + FATE





I've always been a bit disappointed in FATE Core, it's far crunchier than I want. But, I realized today that my expectations are the problem, not FATE. I expect it to be a game of language and not mechanics due to my interest in HeroQuest (of Gloranthan fame). However, I like how FATE handles damage and consequences better than HQ. So I've decided to explore running HeroQuest with FATE Core.

First choose three Keywords: a Background, a Profession and a Defining Characteristic. Assign Great to one, Good to a second, and Fair to a third. Anything outside of your Keywords will default to Mediocre.

Now, pick three Aspects that further customize your character.

Everything else will be per FATE Core except Stunts will not be used.

That's it.

Ignorance Isn't Bliss



I've observed much of the discussion of misogyny in Role Playing on the Interwebs, but have obtained from entering the fray due to, apparently, being both steadfast in standards of who I game with and lucky that I who I started gaming with weren't jerks (in that way, at least).

Last night I went to a friend's birthday party, she and her husband are in two games I run and I play with her in a third. I met her other game master from a different game, and was shocked.

Let me give you some background first: 

I was raised by a really, really strong woman. My Mom is no shrinking wallflower and not being a kid who was into sports or really being outside much, I was around women more than men. My wife is the smartest and toughest person I've ever met. She is no wallflower, either. We raise our daughters to be independent people. Period.

Additionally, while my original gaming group, through it's many iterations   only had two ladies in it (my wife and oldest daughter), it was only because we didn't now any ladies who role played. As guys, we joked and insulted each other, but we never crossed certain boundaries, it was simply understood. The once incident we ever had was in a champions game where an invisible player lifted the skirt of a female reporter and the whole game stopped and we chastised the player for a about half an hour. When my wife and oldest daughter joined our table, nothing changed because there was no poor behavior tolerated.

My friend's GM, we'll call him George, started immediately talking about his games and gaming experiences and somehow got around to talking about that time my friend's character was raped and impregnated by a minotaur. My wife and I sat there. He emphasized that it was a natural progression of the story, after seeing the look on our faces (and telling us how doesn't care what people think, while also explaining his actions for our approval). My wife asked, "Would you have raped a male character?" 

He asserted he would and has, with much gusto. And then he said this, "I will admit that I generally don't understand why girls get so upset about rape though." 

My wife turned red and said "Girls? Gena (my friend), is a woman."

I said, "Don't you think that's misogynistic?"

He proceeded to tell us a story about how his buddy's wife "who was only at the table because she wanted to spend time with her husband", in her first role playing game got so angry when he cut up her characters face. Adding, "She's very beautiful in real life and I think it made her insecure."

Before either of us could reply, Gena said, "No, she got mad because she sank a bunch of points in the Beautiful advantage and you indiscriminately made those points useless, it was central to her concept."

He simply said, "Women."

My wife left the table to cool down. We both simply decided to stay for a bit more and not make a scene at Gena's birthday party. It might not have been the right decision, but Gena plays in his weekly game and considers him a friend.

After way too long a story, I'm sad to say that I've finally encountered this type of jerk and am very glad that I don't game with those types of people and wouldn't let them at my table. I occasionally forget how deep tribalism is within our hobby.


#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 27

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





Describe the most unusual circumstance or location in which you have gamed? In a car going to Gen Con back when it was in Milwaukee.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Hackable: Flat Damage for the D6 System




One problem I have with many dice pool systems is that you roll to hit, roll for damage, and then the opponent rolls to soak. That's quite a bit of rolling.

While this hack applies to the D6 System (powering Star Wars RPG, Ghostbusters, Project, Breachworld, Might Six, Mini Six) as a whole, I'm focusing on the excellent Mini-Six from Anti-Paladin Games.

Essentially, if you hit your target in combat your damage value is your weapon (either a flat number or Str+number) x 4. Additionally, for each 6 you rolled hitting the target add +2 damage.

So If I rolled a 4, 6, 6, 5 to hit my enemy with a sword, it does Str(3d)+2d+2 or 22 plus 4 for rolling two 6s for a total of 26 damage.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Hackable: An Alternative Skill System for AD&D 2nd Edition





The other day I had a brainstorm to replace Non-Weapon Proficiencies and Thief Skills in ADnD 2E.

Basically you adapt the THAC0 combat system to skill checks.

Thieves, Rangers, and Bards would have there Skills advance at the same level as Warrior's THAC0.

Having a Non-Weapon Proficiency from your class's group would advance at the same level as Priest's THAC0.

Having a Non-Weapon Proficiency from a group outside of your class would advance at the same level as a Rogue's THAC0 (this also replaces NWP's cost extra).

Having no Non-Weapon Proficiency would advance at the same level as a Wizard's THAC0.

Most Difficulty Classes would be 10, 5, 0, -5, remember that DC goes down the more difficult it is.

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 26

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What hobbies go well with RPGs? Comic books were my gateway into RPGs. The ads in comics for DnD, Robotech, TMNT all got me interested. I think music can help give you some ideas and inspire you. Novels and films both, obviously, rife with plot ideas. Math is good if you like designing systems.

#RPGaDAY 2016: DAY 25

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What makes for a good character? I try to come up with a specific trait: an unusual feature, voice, catch phrase and to find a motivation from the character's past.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Shadow of the Demon Lord: The Second Scroll of Mera of Xebel

A spell scroll made with the Poison Pages supplement for Shadows of the Demon Lord:





Mera of Xebel penned this spell scroll, her second, on stained white parchment during her tenure teaching Advancing Aquamancy at the legendary magical academy of Fathomcrest, located on the island of Qurry within the Kingdom of Sails. The scroll is kept in a case made from the spine of an orca and Mara chose to write her work in trollish, a language she learned from her mentor, Grim Naomi of Belgrandia. The scroll is over three-foot long and is completely filled with her small, cramped text of waterproof green ink, milked from one of Naomi's pet verge rays.

Her scroll teaches the reader the Water tradition and over time, the following incantations as the reader's Power allows: Freeze, Produce Water, Ice Blast, Wellspring of Life, Wave, Sphere of Water, Cold Snap, and Bind Water Genie.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

#RPGaDay 2016: Day 24

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon






What is the game you are most likely to give to others as a gift? This is a tough one, top four are Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set for 5th Edition, Shadows of the Demon Lord, 13th Age, or Savage Worlds Explorers Edition.

But I think my choice would be Shadow of the Demon Lord. The game, in my opinion, is both "old school" and "new school" at the same time.

The game engine is easy to teach and hums along in the background and is internally consistent. Character generation is quick and intriguing. My players plan out there characters but in a fun way, not from a min maxer point of view. Building opponents is quick and easy and the Gamer Master advice is brilliant.

It is currently the only game line that I buy completely in PDF and print.

Savage Worlds of Warcraft: Core Hound



Core hounds are the vicious but faithful servants of Ragnaros and his minions. The beasts have the appearance of massive bulldogs with two heads, each equipped with a mouth filled with rows of flaming teeth. Their bodies are covered with armored hide and studded with bony spikes. A streak of flames runs down their spines from head to stubby tail. The oldest and most powerful of the core hounds is Magmadar, the alpha male and sire of the entire current pack.





CORE HOUND

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4 (A), Spirit d6, Strength d10, Vigor d10

Skills: Fighting d8, Intimidation d8, Notice d6+2

Pace: 10; Parry: 6; Toughness: 10 (3)

Special Abilities:
• Bite Str+d8
• Alertness
• Armor 3
• Damage Field (Constant; No Power Point Cost)
• Improved Frenzy
• Fleet-Footed

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 23

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon






Share one of your best 'Worst Luck' stories. One of my most recent occurred last night in our Monday Shadow of the Demon Lord game. Corrie, our Warrior, could not roll greater than a 5 on a d20 for the whole evening. I got to the point I would award him fortune, it was so bad.

Of Mars: Plant Men for 13th Age





The adults of the species can grow to a height of ten to twelve feet standing erect, the children of the species grow out from the parents' armpits, appearing identical to the adults. They are cycloptic, possessing only one eye in the center of their faces. The eye is pure white, with no apparent iris or pupil. There is no mouth in the head, and the nose consists of one nostril, which resembles a bloodless bullet wound. The head is covered with thick black hair, which can grow to a length of eight to ten inches. Each hair is about as thick as an angleworm and moves independently of the others; these act as the creature's ears. The rest of the body is humanoid in shape, but the feet are three feet long and very broad and flat, and the arms are short and undulating, not unlike an elephant's trunk. The hands are tipped with razor-sharp claws, and in each palm lies a mouth; the claws shred the leaves and grasses that make up the bulk of the plant men's diet so that they can be easily swallowed. Completing the anatomy is a tail which is round at the base but becomes flat at the tip. The "blood" of a plant man is green and sticky, resembling syrup.

The plant men travel in packs, using their broad feet to launch themselves into the air, not unlike the earthly kangaroo. The brain is only slightly larger than the tip of the pinky of an adult human, and is only capable of directing the plant man's movements and processing what they see and hear. They are incapable of any sort of reasoning, acting only on instinct. Their diet consists of plants and blood from animals. If threatened, they leap into the air and strike their foe with their tails, which are so strong that one blow can crack the skull of a Green Martian as if it were an egg.



PLANT MEN
2nd level spoiler [PLANT]
Initiative: +3

Tail +7 vs PD - 10 damage
     Natural Roll of 16+: The target is stunned.


Pack: There are 1d4+1 Plant Men.

Nastier Specials
It's Claws Have Mouths On Their Palms! vs AC - 7 damage

     Natural Even Roll: The target is weakened.

AC 18

AC 16          HP 36

MD 10

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 22

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What are some random events in your games that keep happening? This is more something I have to be careful of but I tend to have the player's have some kind of well connected backer and my first instinct is ALWAYS to have the backer double cross them. So, I keep that in mind in move forward in other ways, or occasionally double cross them.

Diablo III: Khazra (Goatman) for Shadow of the Demon Lord






The Khazra , otherwise called "Goatmen" or Goat Demons, and referred to as Aries Vehement are a race of mutated humans which have taken on the appearance of bipedal goats, and follow the orders of their demon masters.

KHAZRA (GOATMAN)          DIFFICULTY 10
Size 1 khazra
Perception 11 (+1); shadowsight
Defense 12 ; Health 15
Strength 14 (+4)   Agility 11 (+1)   Intellect 9 (-1)   Will 8 (-2)
Speed 12

ATTACK OPTIONS
Axe (melee) +4 with 1 boon (1d6+3 plus Knock Back on an attack roll of 20+) 
Knock Back The target is pushed backward 1d3 yards and knocked down.



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Monday, August 22, 2016

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 21

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What was the funniest misinterpretation of a game rule in your group? I We were playing a TORG module and my friend, Barry, misread a "cosmic bomb" as a "cosmic bum". We sat there trying to figure out why some hobo from the cosmos was suddenly trying to kill us.

The Old World: Black Knights of the Vampire Counts for 13th Age #MonsterMonday

#MonsterMonday




Black Knights are the horrific reanimated corpses of long-dead tribal chieftains and primeval knights who were raised from their resting place by Necromancers and Vampires. In the times before the Empire, there were few domesticated horses, and horsemen were exceedingly rare. In most tribes, a steed was a symbol of wealth and status. So it was often that only a chieftain and his closest warriors would ride mounted into battle, the wealthiest of their number clad in crude iron plate and carrying stout shields. When these early knights died, their horses were ritually killed and buried in the barrows alongside their masters so that they may carry their deceased master into the afterlife.


BLACK KNIGHT
7th level wrecker [UNDEAD]
Initiative: +6
Vulnerability: Holy

Sword and Shield +12 vs AC - 28 damage
     Natural Roll of 16+: An additional 10 damage.

Nightmare Steed: Black Knight's may take a movement action as a free action.

Nastier Specials
Cohorts: As an action a Black Knight 1d3 Skeleton Warriors.

AC 24

AC 21          HP 108

MD 19

Sunday, August 21, 2016

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 20

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What is the most challenging but rewarding system you have learned? I don't have trouble learning system, but the first game I learned was the Champions 4th Edition or "the big blue book". You can literally make anything with Champions/HERO System and it's like a language. I don't have the interest in such systems these days, but I can still call upon it when I needed.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Back This: Villains and Vigilantes 3.0 the Mighty Protectors



After a long legal battle Jeff Dee and Jack Herman's venerable Villains and Vigilantes 3.0 is now live on Kickstarter.

There is a chat from RPG.Net that goes over the new edition here.

Here is Bandit, a villain from the game.

Here is Knighthawk, a hero from the game.

Their forums cover quite a bit of material (this game has been in development for years).

There is also a G+ Community owned by Jeff Dee.

I already back the Kickstarter and recommend it (I'm a fan of Champions 4/5th Edition, Marvel Super-Heroes, V&V 2.1, DC Heroes, Brave New World, and Icons).

You can find the Kickstarter here.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Shadow of the Demon Lord: Narcoplasm



Narcoplasm
A new drug has been hitting the streets of Crossings over the last few months, known as narcoplasm. The drug has been specifically created for clockworks and is packaged in a valve designed to interface with them. When a clockwork takes a "hit" of narcoplam, roll a d6 and consult the following table.

Die Roll          Effect on Clockwork
     1                Bane on Will Challenge Rolls for 1d6 minutes.
     2                Boon of Agility Challenge Rolls for 1d6 minutes.
     3                Bane on Perception Challenge Rolls for 1d6 minutes.
     4                Boon on Strength Challenge Rolls for 1d6 minutes.
     5                Bane on Intelligence Challenge Rolls for 1d6 minute.
     6                Gain +2 to Defense for 1d6 minute.

Additionally, the clockwork must make a Will Challenge Roll with 1 bane, on a failure they are Impaired for 1d3 days or until they take narcoplasm again.

Other races that inhale sarcoplasm must make a Strength Challenge Roll with 3 Banes, on a failure they are Poisoned for 1d6 days.

Rumors insist that a clockwork named Hopper, from the City-State of Droll, discovered the substance from a giant, blue rock that fell from the sky. 

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 19

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What innovation could RPG groups gain the most benefit from? We benefit from Facebook as a tool for scheduling, announcements and play away from the table between sessions.

Shadows of the Demon Lord: Jaunt, an exotic tome

A esoteric manual made with the Poison Pages supplement for Shadows of the Demon Lord:






Antoine Silverheart penned this folio known as Jaunt, sharing the sensual lessons taught to her by the Ogden Ja of Seduction and Song. The work is twenty-five pages long, but in poor shape with extensive staining and several pages only being held in place due to the fact that the folio locks shut with a clasp on it's edge. The work's cover is supple goblin leather with a metal trinket that Antiope reveals to be the Ogden Ja's parting gift to her. The key is held in place with a brass peg on the front of the folio.

The interior is flowing golden script in dwarven on vellum pages. Sparse illustrations can be found throughout the work and are simple renderings of the Ogden Ja's manse, Cloy, in the realms of faerie.

Hidden within an illustration on page eleven is the rank 2 incantation of the Song tradition, Song of Captivation.


#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 19

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What is the best way to learn a new game? I have a knack for RPG systems and can glance through a book and pick up most systems in under ten minutes. However, I think the best way to play a game is to go over character generation in advance and offer a small battle sequence to show how things work.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Ultramodern5: Fifth of November Cell Member Compatible with D&D 5th Edition






The Fifth of November believe that the Earth is ruled by sentient beings that were born here long before humanity, known as Reptilians. They believe that they can change their shape and have taken over our world, even though we dramatically outnumber them. The cell led by Knick in London, wants to destroy the Queen of England her Royal Family and expose the Reptilian plot. Cell members are highly motivated and fanatical in their beliefs.



Fifth of November Cell Member
Medium humanoid (shape changer), lawful evil
________________________________________________

Armor Class 13 (ballistics armor)
Hit Points 9 (2d8) 
Speed 30 ft.
________________________________________________
   Str            Dex         Con           Int         Wis         Cha
10 (+0)        12 (+0)        10 (+0)        14 (+1)      10 (+0)      10 (+0)
________________________________________________

Skills Deception +2, Perception +2, Stealth +3
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages English, German
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

________________________________________________


ACTIONS

________________________________________________ 

Low-calibre Autoloader. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 40/60 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) piercing; Reload (16 shots)

Fragmentation Grenade. Targets within the space the grenade land and with a 10 foot radius must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target within the space takes 9 (2d8) piercing damage and all other targets take 4 (1d8) piercing damage. On a successful save targets take half damage based on their range from the grenade. Cell members have 1d3 grenades on their person.

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#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 17

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What fictional character would best fit in your group? For what game? Conan the Barbarian. Because they: Crush your enemies. See them driven before you. Hear the lamentations of their women.

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 16

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What historical character would you like in your group? For what game? Teddy Roosevelt in a game of White Wolf/Onyx Path's Adventure!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Ultramodern5: The Fifth of November



The Fifth of November is a growing threat within the United Kingdom with suspected ties to operatives within the United States of America. It is often associated with the hacktivist group, Anonymous, but the Fifth's brand of terrorism is the old-fashioned kind, explosives.

James Ellis, Thomas West, and Ernest "Ern" McTavish were arrested by London Metropolitan Police on May 1st, 2016 outside of the Natural History Museum. The three men were found near a large van full of high explosives, while trying to break into the Museum wearing Guy Fawkes' masks around 2:30 am.. Several "paranormal" books and paraphernalia were found in the cab of the van, including The Opal Interviews by Gregory J. Dowell, Manx Kelley's The Reptilian Problem, and The Ludermann Grimoire translated by Emery Rowan Price.

After being taken into custody, West and McTavish committed suicide due to a hollow tooth filled with a neurotoxin.  When questioned James ellis said, "Naw, I ain't dying for this bunch. I ain't that loyal."

After extensive questioning, Ellis admitted to join the Fifth of November or the 5/11, nearly three years ago and his cell's plan to blow up the Museum to "get the Queen's attention". According to Ellis, his cell was led by what they called a Daemon, who went by the name Knick, who handed out assignments and informed them that Earth's first sentient species, the Reptilians controlled the world, and was led by the Great Britain's Royal Family. Ellis' cell was going to destroy the Queen and her ilk, here in London.

Ellis gave the London Metropolitan Police an enormous amount of information, but when they followed up on the cell's headquarters, at the Baker E, a posh bakery in Deptford and New Cross, seven people, including four officers, lost their lives due to explosive traps left behind.

Almost simultaneously  the transport transporting Ellis to a higher security installation was targeted and destroyed by a rocket propelled grenade. Ellis, the three officers transporting him and six civilians were killed by the attack, with another fourteen injured. With witnesses describing the a woman with a dark complexion firing the weapon from a green and black van that strongly resembled the "Mystery Machine" from the Scooby-Doo cartoon.

The next day, a bouquet of yellow roses was delivered to Commissioner Eleanor Brightwell, the head of the London Metro, from Knick with a note alerting her that "The game had changed and the odds are against you. You will hear from us twice today and then we'll let you be for a few months. It's time to remember, remember. This current reptilian Queen will your last."

Within an hour of the roses' arrival, a West London double decker bus was boarded by a sucide bomber killing twenty-six and injuring another eighteen. And within four hours after that, a Brixton Post Office was sent an explosive package that killed another eight victims and injured another seventeen.

True to his word, no further attacks have occurred from "Knick". The government has made the 5/11 their top priority and Royal Family has had their personal security intensified.

In the last week of July, the Sun's front page showed a post card from of the Hollywood Hills with a handwritten note saying "Vacation is almost over. Remember, remember. It's gonna be a blast (or twenty)!" And signed, "Love, Knick".

Handwriting experts have confirmed that the writing matches the note sent to the Commissioner. When pressed, the Editor-In-Chief of the Sun, Herbert Stodge, admitted that the post card had simply arrived in their daily mail.


Monday, August 15, 2016

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 15

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What types or source of inspiration do you turn to most often for RPGs? As a Game Master, action/adventure films, old saturday morning cartoons and comics books. I didn't read Tolkien until I was in my late 20s and am not the most avid reader of fantasy fiction. Honestly, if wasn't for comic books, I would never have become a reader. As a GM, I have always looked at feature films for pacing, action set pieces, and even plotting. What I noticed as a player in my early days is that the adventure seemed to be less about the player's and saying "no", instead of "yes". That didn't make sense to me. To me the game is about the players, giving them a spotlight, laughing and inspiring them to do cool stuff.

As a player, I take inspiration from everything. I try to find something memorable about my character, a speech pattern, a physical characteristic, something. I usually try to channel a particular actor, if I can. 

New G+ Community for the Unity Table Top RPG

Join us in talking bout this awesome new game that finished funding on Kickstarter, yesterday!


The Old World: Blood Knights of the Vampire Counts for 13th Age #MonsterMonday

#MonsterMonday




The Blood Knights were once an honorable brotherhood of Imperial Knights that had dedicated their lives to protecting the lands just west of the Imperial province of Wissenland. However, after their horrific transformation into Vampires, these once noble Knights have since become the bearers of the unholy blood of the Blood Dragon bloodline. This transformation came about when an unexpected visitor demanded entrance into the confines of Blood Keep in the Imperial year of 1887. This man held the name of Walach Harkon, a student of the Vampire Firstborn Abhorash himself. In one single night, Walach Harkon had personally dueled and slain every single member of the original Knights of the Blood Dragons, and turn those he deemed worthy into Vampires.

Corrupted by the influence of the Vampiric curse, these once noble Knights have been unwillingly turned into the monstrosities they swore themselves to hunt down and defeat in the name of the people and the villages under their lordship. Blood Keep became a Vampire lair, from which the deathly knights preyed upon those they once protected and loved.



BLOOD KNIGHT
5th level wrecker [UNDEAD]
Initiative: +4
Vulnerability: Holy

Vampiric Knight +10 vs AC - 18 damage
     Natural Roll of 16+: The target loses a Recovery die and the 
     Blood Knight regains 10 hit points.

C: Undead Lancer +11 vs AC - 18 damage
     Natural Even Roll: An additional 10 damage.

Nastier Specials
Nightmare It Rode In On: The Blood Knight uses the escalation die.

AC 21

PD 19          HP 72

MD 15

Fear Threshold: 24


Invisible Sun by Monte Cook Games on Kickstarter

Today is the launch of Monte Cook's newest game on Kickstarter, Invisible Sun. Since the companies founding I have backed every Kickstarter they have produced, at one level or another. I nearly did not back No Thank You, Evil! and I'm glad I changed my mind. The money I've spent with MCG has well been worth it.

What I've read about Invisible Sun reminds me, in many ways of Every and Mage: The Ascension 1st Edition. Two games that I enjoyed reading but never ran. While I'm sure Invisible Sun will be well designed and written, I have no assurance I will ever do anything with it.

Now, this isn't always a problem, but the initial level to back is $197.00. To playtest (which I have done before), is an additional $152. Based on the wording, and I may very well be mistaken, to get the Stretch goals requires you to back at the $539.00 level. There is no PDF only level, though the game comes with a PDF. MCG has made no bones about hiding that this a a deluxe or premium product and in a few short hours, they campaign has earned nearly $88k of it's $200k goal.

I think my problems are two-fold: 1) If I broke the bank and bought the $539 level and the Playtesting, that is $691. But I've been putting off being an iPad Pro that my wife would really like and my Macbook might need upgrading in a few months. 2) I don't know that I would ever run this. I actually have at least one group that I'm certain would try it, but I'm not sure its the kind of game I want to run.

I really hope MCG gives us a preview of the system, a quickstart would be a great idea for this campaign and would help me out quite a bit.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

#RPGaDay 2016: Day 14

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





Who would be on your dream team of people you used to game with? Nostalgia would tell me it would be getting my first group back together, Mark Means, Todd, Richard, Kurt, and Barry to play Champions. But nostalgia is usually a drunken fool whose memory is awful.

My dream team would be my wife, all of my children and my oldest's boyfriend, and Mark and Jackie Means, playing Dnd 5th Edition. I think we'd have a great time.

Unity: Let's Unlock the Monk Class

The Unity Table Top RPG Kickstarter has 3 hours left.

I've just bumped my pledge to include the standard hardcover and collector's edition hardcover, the double-sided world map and Game Master's Screen.

If you haven't pledge take a look at this amazing game.  Here is a link to the Sampler.

If you have pledged, take a look at the Collector's Edition, Screen, and Map to upgrade your pledge.

The Monk class is close to being unlocked and would be the game's 10th class. The image below shows everything that has been unlocked thus far.

You can check out the Kickstarter here.


Saturday, August 13, 2016

#RPGaDAY 2016: Day 13

I am participating in the #RPGaDAY2016 blog marathon hosted by BrigadeCon





What makes a successful campaign? The players. The system doesn't matter; the story is secondary; plans are great but they can be derailed in a single moment; saying "no" is most likely a missed opportunity (for the most part). I've had great ideas for campaigns, but if the players are not invested then my plans don't matter, I won't finish the game. I've let far too many games wither on the vine. 

My best games are focused on the players and their actions, their goals, and the simple act of returning to my table. Without the players, I'm merely writing a story. With my players, we're telling a story we might talk about for years to come.

Unity: Kickstarter In It's Final HOURS!




The Unity Table Top RPG is in its final 17 hours. It's just unlocked the Journey to Jade Mountain adventure that continues the stories of the other two adventures already provided.

Now, we just need to unlock the Monk! We can do this with your help.

I can't recommend this game enough, I've talked with it's designer and it's his enthusiasm that has made me truly look forward to running and playing Unity.

Please, back Unity here.

Monster Monday: Ork City's Chupacabra for Shadowdark

Welcome to Ork City! In the middle of Ork City's Hatt Island is the Park, a wild and dangerous forest filled with all manner of nightmar...