Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Centurion for Stars Without Number

          


Cylon Centurion 

for Stars Without Number


HD: 1

AC: 15

Atk: +1 

Dmg: 1d10

Move: 10m

ML: 11

Skills: +1

Save: 13+

  • Is immune to damage from unarmed attacks and primitive weaponry.
  • Has Notice +1 and Pilot +1



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Friday, May 27, 2022

Sprawls Without Number: Gabriel Hound for Stars Without Number X Shadowrun

          



Gabriel Hound 

for Stars Without Number X Shadowrun


HD: 3

AC: 14

Atk: +4 

Dmg: 1d8

Shock: 1/AC 15

Move: 15m

ML: 9

Skills: +2

Save: 14+

Effort: 1

  • Commits Effort for the scene as an On Turn action and becomes nearly transparent for the rest of the scene, gaining a +2 bonus on all Sneak checks and giving most creatures no chance to spot them at all unless they are specifically vigilant for intruders or the Hound gets within five meters of them. The effect ends instantly if the Hound moves violently, such as with running or fighting. 
  • Commits Effort for the day as a Main Action and target a visible creature which must make a Mental save or become paralyzed and helpless for the rest of the scene. On a successful save, they lose their next Main Action. If the target is attacked the paralysis ends immediately. This ability can target a given creature only once per scene. 
  • Commits Effort for the scene as an Instant action to Move or make a Fighting Withdrawal as an On-Turn action.
  • Commits Effort as a Main action; while it is committed the Hound changes its appearance to a vaguely humanoid creature that moves on all fours.
  • Is allergic to sunlight and is -2 to all actions while exposed to it.




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Thursday, May 26, 2022

Sprawls Without Number: Cyberpunk X Stars Without Number X Worlds Without Number


I've spent the last several weeks kind of taking a break from the OSR and focusing on DnD 5E but I've found that I keep coming back to the works of Kevin Crawford and Sine Nomine.

Stars Without Number and Worlds Without Number are both amazing RPGs that mix, in my opinion, the best of B/X, ADnD, and 5E. I don't find myself really looking to house rule either game as I do with Old School Essentials, Hyperborea 3E, or Labyrinth Lord. I like Cantrips, Ascending AC, and Skills most of the time and Kevin has covered them in these games. I think, more importantly, I like all of the tools Kevin gives a Game Master to help foster their campaigns and the way he lets you see the wheels behind the system you are using.

In fact, over on Reddit he gave a glimpse of Cyperpunk game in the style of SWN and WWN and that glimpse gave me everything I need to run Shadowrun. I've loved Shadowrun since I saw the 1st Edition of the game and though I am very much a "system guy" there is something about the Magic system in every edition of SR I've looked at (and Earthdawn set in the same world in an earlier age and with a different system) that I just can't wrap my mind around. While I think DnD 5E compatible of the game is a no-brainer I'm happy to take all of the tools that Kevin has given us over the years and just run Shadowrun with them.

I'm calling Sprawls Without Number and I'll be working on it here for a bit.

Here is an 3rd Level Orc Street Samurai I made using the Operator Class and choosing the On Target and Wired Edges at Level 1:

Orc Street Samurai Level 3


Strength 14 (+1)

Dexterity 12 (+0)

Constitution 14 (+1) Max Strain 7

Intelligence   8 (-1)

Wisdom 10 (+0)

Charisma          8 (-1)


Hit Points  23
AC 16

Melee +4

Ranged +3


Saves
Evasion 11+

Mental 12+

Physical 10+


Skills

Exert +0

Notice +0

Puch +0

Shoot +1

Sneak +0

Stab +2

Survive +0


Weapons

Mag Pistol +4(2d6+2)


Vibro Axe +6     (2d10+2)

Miss   (3/AC 15)

Adjacent Foes  (3/AC 15)


Edges

On Target

Wired


Orc Traits 

Nightvision out to 60 feet

Foci

Close Combatant Level 1 & 2



Cybernetics
Adrenal Pump 

Torque Actuator (Twitchlock Actuator for Strength)

Dermal Armor

Holdout Cavity 











Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Wednesday Comics: Deathlok for Stars Without Number

           



Deathlok the Demolisher for Stars Without Number

HD: 6

AC: 15

Atk: +8 x 2

Dmg: 1d6+3

Move: 20m

ML: 11

Skills: +2

Save: 12+


• Ranged attacks deal 1d4 Shock

• Initiative roll of 1d8+4

• Panspectal Optics

• Deathlok cannot be surprised

• Deathlike can use pistol-sized range weapons in melee without suffering penalties for the proximity of melee combat


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Sunday, May 22, 2022

Star Wars: IG-100 for Stars Without Number

          




IG-100 MagnaGuard  for Stars Without Number

HD: 5

AC: 16

Atk: +7 x 2 

Dmg: 2d8

Move: 15m

ML: 12

Skills: +1

Save: 13+


• Melee attacks deal Shock 2/AC 15

• For Initiative roll 2d8 and keep the highest die


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Saturday, May 21, 2022

Journey Into Mystery Orogo for Stars Without Number

        


Orogo for Stars Without Number

HD: 9
AC: 14
Atk: +4 
Dmg: 1d10+2
Move: 20m
ML: 11
Skills: +3
Save: 13+
Effort: 9

• Facile Mind Level 1
• Far Thought Level 2
• Memory Editing Level 4
• Reflex Response Level 3
• Suppress Cogntion Level 2
• Telepathic Assault Level 3
• Transmit Thought Level 1
• Telepathic Contact Level 4
• Unity of Thought Level 4

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Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Old Gods of Appalachia: Horned Head for Worlds Without Number



The Thing Whose Name Sounds Like Horned Head, But Is Not  

for Worlds Without Number


"Its coat was black as soot. Its hooves were wet with a viscous smearing brown. Its eyes burned with a foul blood-colored light. But the things she could not look away from were its antlers. They were amber. Translucent and honey-colored, pulsing with a low poisonous smolder, bits of ash falling from them here and there."

-- Old Gods of Appalachia Episode 0.5: The Witch Queen


HD: 10

AC: 20 

Atk: +12

Dmg: 2d6 + 3

Shock: 6 / 14

Move: 50'

ML: 11

Instinct: 3

Skill: +3

Save: 9+

  • Averse to witch’s crafts
  • Beguiling
  • Draining
  • Intangible
  • Terrifying
  • Unending

Monday, May 16, 2022

Marvel Monday: Gargantos for Godbound

  


Gargantos for Godbound

AC: 4 (15) 
HD: 8
Attack: +8 x3
Morale: 12
Move: 50' 
Save: 11+
Damage: 2d6
Effort: 2



D6                                   Gargantos Tactics                               
1        Move horizontally or vertically toward it's 
          quarry using its tentacles.

2        Commit Effort for the scene use its tentacles to 
          parry attacks, gaining immunity to 
          non-magical weapons.

3        Use its action to attack a target, if it hits it 
          grasps the target in one of its tentacles,
          automatically hitting the next round as well.

4        Use its action to hurl a large object toward 
          enemies within sight, doing 1d10 damage to all 
          within 20'. 

5        Commit Effort for the scene as an 
          action viciously pummel a foe, automatically 
          doing 3d6 damage.

6        Expend one hit die to make three extra attacks.

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Sunday, May 8, 2022

Worlds Without Number: Sisiutl

 

Image by Jim Wilson


Sisiutl for Worlds Without Number

HD: 10
AC: 13 
Atk: +6 x4

Dmg: 1d10
Shock: 2 / 15
Move: 50'
ML: 9
Instinct: 5
Skill: +2

Save: 12+

• Icy Stare: Twice per scene it can paralyze a creature with its gaze on a failed Mental save. The target cannot move or take an action and at the end of its turn it may attempt another Mental save and is freed on a success.

A sisiutl is a creature that bridges the boundaries between the Material and Spiritual Planes. It is fearsome guardian, and serves to protect and mediate interactions between mortals and spiritual outsiders. They are usually found near portals between planes and places where planar boundaries are thin. Sisiutls are somewhat stern and no-nonsense, but they have a fondness for cooked meats and other gifts that are difficult to make or obtain without hands.


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Friday, May 6, 2022

5E: Fantomah, A Free Comic Book Day Superhero from the Lone Bards



My buddy Justin Isaac, of the Halls of the Nephilim blog and the Lone Bards, has a special Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition compatible superhero in honor of Free Comic Book Day. It is Pay What You Want on DriveThruRPG and is available now.

Please check it out here.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

DnD Beyond X Wizards of the Coast



I deal with Wizards of the Coast as both a customer and as a merchant and the last few years has seen me have to graciously accept that WotC has bigger fish to fry than two game stores in KY. I get it, I really do, but I seriously doubt Target, Walmart, or Amazon will host Magic: the Gathering tournaments.

As a customer I've been nervous about their plans for 5.5/6E, especially where DnD Beyond is concerned. Our RPG group owns everything on there and that was a hefty investment. I assumed, at some point, they'd move away from DnD Beyond and expect us to buy all of those books again.

I'm glad to see I was wrong about that. Our group was delighted to see WotC buy DnD Beyond and I feel like our investment is much safer and far more future proof.

DnD Beyond has never been perfect, why DID it take 3 years to get a dice roller and how do you not have enough manpower to add in Unearthed Arcana any longer? However, it has always been worth the investment when it comes to character generation and storage and the character sheet on my iPhone is pretty darn slick. In short, I like it and have grown so accustomed to it that I miss having that type of app for other RPGs.

I hope WotC's ownership proves to be a positive move and I'm looking forward to Spelljammer and Dragonlance. In fact, I'd really like to see the Magic: the Gathering settings Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty and New Capenna as DnD settings in the next year but who knows?

I'm just going to take win of DnD Beyond and mind my own business for a few days.

Monday, May 2, 2022

The Red Door


The Red Door are slavers who terrorize the countryside looking for victims to fulfill contracts with individuals and nations throughout the Realm. The organization is comprised entirely of shapechangers and it  often uses religious rites to transform its members into shapechangers upon completion of their training, though other existing shapechangers are known to join as well. Recruits spends a full three months being training in battle, espionage, the worship of Malar, and alchemy. Those recruited have to finish a final test to prove their worth to the Beastlord and their pack members by hunting and killing a loved one to show that the Red Door is their new family. Those that aren't yet shapechangers are required to eat the heart of their victim to gain the gift of changing shape from Malar himself. Those who aren't able to finish their training or fail the final test are violently murdered and feasted upon by Red Door pack members.

The leader of the Red Door is known as the Alpha and his real identity  is Luvell Der Quince, the Viscount of  Odegg. He studied with his maternal grandmother from a very young age in magic, battle, diplomacy, and blackmail. He lived with his Gram because his mother died giving birth to him and subsequently his father, Viscount Hume Der Quince, could barely stand the sight of his fourth child and was glad to send him to his grandmother to be raised. His Gram, Eviyaa Ignnon, was rumored to be a witch of considerable power and rigorously trained her grandson to one day grab the title of Viscount from his brothers and sister. To this end his grandmother gave him a copy of the vile grimoire known at the Dtoome which legend says was dictated to Kalimanzos by Iuz while still in Iggwilv's womb. After studying the tome he was an accomplished Enchanter by twelve and at fourteen was accepted as a member of the Steel Chateau, an ancient order of spies and assassins.

By nineteen he had dispatched his three siblings and became Viscount after poisoning his father. By the time he was twenty-one he had formed the Red Door and began to reveal Malar to those he chose to join his pack. Luvell tells his pack members that Malar revealed the vision of the Red Door to him during the longest night of the year when he was twenty-five. The vision was Malar's gift to Luvell after he hunted his Gram down and consumed her heart and it was that night the Beastlord transformed him into a loup garou.

Those that were shapechangers before finding the Red Door hold a position of extra prominence within the organization. Even the Alpha praises them for their abilities which they had before they served Malar. Within the organization they are treated as priests of Malar, beings who knew the Beastlord's love before joining his pack. Though the final test doesn't give them access to shape changing it helps them focus and better control when they shape change and reduces the virulence of their ability to create others of their kind. They speak of Malar's song in reverent tones and explain that Malar is very particular about who should gain these gifts and it should only be those that are chosen by him.

The Red Door are vicious and cunning slavers who zealously follow Malar's will as dictated by the Alpha. Though slaving is their primary business, Luvell's position with lands and title and his past as a member of the Steel Chateau has allowed the group to have a say in politics all throughout the Realm and its members will blackmail sovereign rulers to create and enforce rules that the Red Door benefits from. The current Claymore, the leader of the Steel Chateau, is Wenthy Perlmutter who mentored Luvell in his time with the Chateau and he has always been willing use the Red Door to her advantage as Luvell has no interest in leading the Chateau and Perlmutter knows this allowing them to keeps their relationship harmonious. In fact, on two separate occasions she has used the organization to further her standing within the Chateau and to become Claymore.

Monster Monday: Obstrevoi for Shadowdark

  You can download a PDF here.