Movement: 10 Damage Bonus STR: +D6 HP: 15
Typical Armor: Endoskeleton (4) WP: 8
Skills: Awareness 10, Evade 11,
Abilities: Fearless
Typical Weapons: Mace (Skill level 11, damage 2d4)
Movement: 10 Damage Bonus STR: +D6 HP: 15
Typical Armor: Endoskeleton (4) WP: 8
Skills: Awareness 10, Evade 11,
Abilities: Fearless
Typical Weapons: Mace (Skill level 11, damage 2d4)
Gaming wise things are a bit slow for me, but I really don't mind. Our Wednesday 5E game lost some players and is in limbo, my D&D Camp game for kids is now in the hands of the players who are taking turns being the Dungeon Master, my Friday 5E game has been the victim of numerous scheduling issues, and my Saturday Hexenburg game became the victim of being too busy at work to carve out a couple hours to run it.
Having the extra time has been a bit of a blessing though since things are so busy at work. Running a family business is never easy but the last two years have been tough. Tariffs affected us pretty heavily because 98% of comics are printed in Canada and we have seen sales slump since gas has started climbing. I've been doing this for 27 years though and there is always some kind of crisis so you just try to manage it as best you can.
With the extra time I've been diving heavily into Traveller and various Cepheus Engine games and settings. I've also been watching lots of Sci-Fi: For All Mankind, Foundation, The Expanse, Alien: Earth, and Space 1999. In fact, I had never watched Space 1999 before and I'm four episodes in. It's darker than I expected.
I've also been brainstorming two Sectors for a Traveller Sandbox per this excellent post by the sagacious Robert Conley.
Rob Schwalb has finished the Dungeon of the Damned for Shadow of the Demon Lord and I'm really contemplating running it when its my turn to run on Fridays.
I've found time to go through Palladium's reissue and remastering of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness RPG and I'm going to do something with it soonish.
And I'm super excited by the forthcoming Book of Magic for Dragonbane and Free League's announcement that they now have access to the Elric license (Goodman Games has access to it too).
Slowly, over the last few years I've fallen in love with Traveller/Cepheus Engine/Quantum Engine games. The journey started when I discovered Barbarians of Lemuria which used 2d6 like Traveller and "skills" are treated as professions. It felt, to me, like Simon took inspiration from Traveller with its four year professional terms. That is purely speculation on my part.
Next I discovered Stellgama Publishing and Zozer Games which both have dozens of cool and clever sets of rules and settings powered by variations of the Cepheus Engine.
Finally, Mongoose announced that a Traveller powered version of Dark Conspiracy, a game I never to got to play but really fell in love with, would be crowdfunding this summer.
So I've dove in.
And I was amazed that Bundle of Holding is having Traveller Week in the lead up to May 1, 2026 AKA Traveller Day.
Today kicks off with a resurrection of December's Traveller Update and the debut of Traveller Imperial Navy. Three more bundles will be revealed as the week unfolds.
I've been looking for a straight-forward skill system for years and Traveller really grabs me. It's clean and easy to teach but can support other systems for the various genres I want to emulate. I really can't recommend it enough.
Gugalanna, The Bull of Anu for Sword of Cepheus
900kg, Humanoid, summoned killer, #App: 1, Treasure: n/a
STR 20 (+4), DEX 14 (+2), END 17(+3), INT 8 (+0),
EDU 6 (+0), SOC 11(+0); Stamina/Lifeblood 20/40
Athletics 2, Battle 2, Melee Combat 3, Scout 1, Survival 1
Fists/Horns (3d6+4 with STR bonus); Armor 6;
Speed 15m/action; Morale n/a
Giant red bull-god who must kill a victim when summoned before he may return to the heavens.
Silver Surfer for Superpowered!
Combat 3
Knowledge 2
Physical 4
Social 1
Stealth 0
Superpower 4
Technology 0
Endurance 26
Lifeblood 54
Move 10m; Fly 50m
Weakness Protect the innocent
Traits: Hardy, Immunity, Tough
Origin Former Herald of Galtactus
Powers:
Common - Armor; Blast; Evasive; Flight; Willpower
Cosmic - Awareness;
Speed - Fast; Faster Than You; Insubstantial
Attacks: Blast 3d AV 2d; Unarmed 2d
Armor 2d Protection
Amor Rating: --
Cost: --
Supply: --
While wearing the pendant gain 4 HP and reduce the STR requirement of any weapon you wield by 3.
Movement: 10 Damage Bonus STR: +D4 HP: 14
Typical Armor: Studded Leather (2) WP: 10
Skills: Awareness 12, Evade 13, Sneaking 12
Abilities: Lightning Fast
Typical Weapons: Light Crossbow (Skill level 12, damage 2d6), Broadsword (skill level 13, damage 2d6+d4).
"Clothed in rags and dirt, hung all over with hand weapons, their hair long and matted, were the strangest, most disgusting creatures...