Cryptogram: Neuron Beast for the Cypher System

NEURON BEAST 5 (15)

Motive: Hunt and explore
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: 5
Armor: 1
Movement: Long
Modifications: Numenera Lore 6, Stealth 6
Combat: Neuron beasts are usually solo hunters of great curiosity and intelligence.
Tentacles: May inflict 1 damage that ignores armor to a target within immediate range.  Additionally, the target is grappled.
Psionics: May inflict 2 damage that ignores armor to a target within long range
Use: A lone neuron beast witnesses the characters exploring the area and begins to follow them.
Loot: A dead neuron beast yields 2 cyphers.

Clerical Work: Specialty Priests of Loviatar for D&D 5th Edition

I'm importing the idea of Specialty Priests and channeling a bit of DnD 4E by treating them as Feats.

Specialty Priests of Loviatar

Pains Feat

Prerequisite: Cleric with Death Divine Domain

• You can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any Constitution saving throw that doesn't include your proficiency bonus.

• You learn the thorn whip cantrip.

A Little More on Patreon

After quite a bit of soul searching, I changed how Patrons will work for me with Patreon.  Instead of a per post donation, I went for a simple $ per Month system.  If you feel like sharing a bit of coin with me per month, great!  If not, I understand as money is always far harder to come by, than it is to spend.

Everything on here will always be free.

Aeon: Dragonborn for Fantasy AGE

Dragonborn

Dragonborn Names

Ahep, Memphis, Neratiti, Nut, Sekmeht, Ula 

Playing a Dragonborn

If you choose to play a dragonborn, modify your character as follows: 

• Add 1 to your Strength ability. 

• Pick one of the following ability focuses: Communication (Leadership) or Willpower (Self-Discipline). 

• You have Dark Sight, which allows you see up to 20  yards in darkness without a light source. 

• Your Speed is equal to 10 + Dexterity (minus armor penalty if applicable).

• You can speak and read the Dragonborn and Common Tongue.

• Roll twice on the Dragonborn Benefits table or once on the Dragonborn Benefits table and once on the Dragonborn Heritage table for additional benefits. Roll 2d6 and add the dice together. If you get the same result twice, re-roll until you get something different. 

Dragonborn Benefits

2d6 Roll                    Benefit

  2               +1 Accuracy

3-4             Focus: Constitution (Stamina) 

  5              Focus: Strength (Intimidation) 

  6              Weapon Group: Heavy Blades* 

7-8             +1 Willpower 

  9               Focus: Strength (Might)

10-11          Focus: Intelligence (Military Lore)

 12             +1 Fighting 

* If the class you choose provides this already, you can take the focus Fighting (Heavy Blades) instead. 

Dragonborn Heritage

2d6 Roll                    Benefit

  2               You learn the Arcane Awareness Spell and gain 12
                   Magic Points. Your Casting Roll is 3d6 + Perception +
                   Smelling. If you choose the Mage class, you can
                   take the focus Intelligence (Power Arcana) instead.

3-4              You learn the Rock Blast Spell (as a breath weapon)
                    and gain 12 Magic Points.  Your Casting Roll is
                    3d6 + Constitution + Stamina. Your Spellpower is
                    10 + Constitution + Stamina. If you choose the Mage
                    class, you can take the focus Intelligence (Earth
                    Arcana) instead.

  5               You learn the Shadow Dagger Spell (as a breath
                   weapon) and gain 9 Magic Points.  The Casting Roll is
                   3d6 + Constitution + Stamina. If you choose the Mage
                   class, you can take the focus Intelligence (Shadow
                   Arcana) instead.

  6               You learn the Wind Blast Spell (as a breath weapon)
                    and gain 24 Magic Points.  Your Casting Roll is
                    3d6 + Constitution + Stamina. Your Spellpower is
                    10 + Constitution + Stamina. If you choose the Mage
                    class, you can take the focus Intelligence (Air Arcana)
                    instead.

7-8              You learn the Flame Blast Spell (as a breath weapon)
                    and gain 12 Magic Points.  Your Casting Roll is
                    3d6 + Constitution + Stamina. Your Spellpower is
                    10 + Constitution + Stamina. If you choose the Mage
                    class, you can take the focus Intelligence (Fire Arcana)
                    instead.

  9               You learn the Forest Blend Spell and gain 12 Magic
                   Points.  Your Casting Roll is 3d6 + Dexterity + Stealth.
                   Your Spellpower is 10 + Dexterity + Stealth. If you
                   choose the Mage class, you can take the focus
                   Intelligence (Wood Arcana) instead.

10-11          You learn the Lightning Blast Spell (as a breath
                   weapon) and gain 12 Magic Points.  Your Casting
                   Roll is 3d6 + Constitution + Stamina. Your Spellpower
                   is 10 + Constitution + Stamina. If you choose the Mage
                   class, you can take the focus Intelligence (Lightning
                  Arcana) instead.

 12              +2 Armor.

Cryptogram: Brodkil for the Cypher System

BRODKIL 5 (15)

Motive: Hunt
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: 5
Armor: 3
Movement: Short
Modifications: Initiative action 7
Combat: Brodkil demons hunt in packs.
Bionics: May inflict 3 damage on two creatures in immediate range.
Use: A pack of Brodkil have come through a new rift and are looking for their next meal.
Loot: A dead brodkil yields 2 cypher.

Aeon: Tiefling Race for Fantasy AGE [UPDATED]

Revised and updated with valuable input from Mark Miller and Joey Mullins.

Tiefling

By Grandanvil.

Tiefling Names

Aqta, Barakus, Callista, Ekemon, Ia,

Kriella, Loocis, Meloch, Nemiia,

Oryanna, Pelaios, Skanos, Thrice 

Playing a Tiefling

If you choose to play a tiefling, modify your character as follows:

• Add 1 to your Intelligence ability.

• Pick one of the following ability focuses: Communication (Deception) or Dexterity (Stealth).

• You have Dark Sight, which allows you see up to 20  yards in darkness without a light source.

• Your Speed is equal to 10 + Dexterity (minus armor penalty if applicable).

• You can speak and read the Common Tongue.

• Roll twice on the Tiefling Benefits table or once on the Tiefling Benefits table and once on the Tiefling Heritage table for additional benefits. Roll 2d6 and add the dice together. If you get the same result twice, re-roll until you get something different. 

Tiefling Benefits

2d6 Roll                    Benefit

  2               +1 Communication

3-4             Focus: Communication (Bargaining) 

  5              Focus: Intelligence (Arcane Lore)

  6              Weapon Group: Light Blades* 

7-8             +1 Dexterity 

  9               Focus: Dexterity (Legerdemain)

10-11          Focus: Intelligence (Religious Lore)

 12             +1 Willpower 

* If the class you choose provides this already, you can take the focus Accuracy (Light Blades) instead.

Tiefling Heritage

2d6 Roll                    Benefit

  2               +2 to tests vs the Spellpower of Earth Arcana.

3-4              +2 to tests vs the Spellpower of Water Arcana.

  5               Your Speed is equal to 12 + Dexterity (minus armor
                   penalty if applicable).

  6               +2 to tests vs the Spellpower of Lightning Arcana.

7-8              You learn the Shadow's Embrace Spell and gain 4
                   Magic Points.  You automatically succeed on the
                   Casting Roll. If you choose the Mage class, you can
                   take the focus Intelligence (Shadow Arcana) instead.

  9               You have spikes on your body, when a creature hits
                   you with a Brawling attack you deal 2 points of
                   penetrating damage to them.

10-11          Your Horns are a Brawling Weapon that deal 1d6
                   damage.  

 12              +2 to tests vs the Spellpower of Fire Arcana.

Thor's Day: The Sword of Omens for the Cypher System

THE SWORD OF OMENS

Level: 10
Form: The sword normally appears as a dagger (light bladed weapon) with the Eye of Thundera closed, that inflicts 4 points of damage.  However, as an action it becomes a longsword (heavy bladed weapon) with the Eye of Thundera open, that inflicts 8 points of damage.  

Thundercats, Ho!: The wielder may broadcast his location by projecting the Eye of Thundera into the sky as an action.  All allies within long range who see the symbol immediately gain a recovery roll.

Blast: As a longsword, the wielder may make a medium ranged attack that inflicts 4 points of damage.

Eye of Thundera: The sword grants the wielder specialization in Light Bladed Weapons, Heavy Bladed Weapons, Medium Ranged Weapons, and Perception while wielded.

Sight Beyond Sight (4 Intellect): You may use your Perception over a long range.

Depletion: -  

Patreon for this Blog

I've just launched a Patreon for this blog.  Basically it means absolutely nothing if you don't want it to, as everything at Cross Planes is free for everyone and I plan to keep up the current schedule for posting.

However, if you happen to have some additional funds and want to share them, well I can't begin to thank you enough.

Even if you don't, thanks for taking the time to visit and for your feedback.

Additionally, if you do decide become a Patron, please feel free to limit your support as I tend to exceed 30 posts a month these days.

Either way, thanks for reading.

Aeon: Sasquatch for Fantasy AGE

 

Sasquatch
AKA Bigfoot, Grass Man, Skunk Ape, Yeti

These mysterious creatures have visit our world for millennia via interdimensional travel.  They have found their way to numerous places scattered across the globe and inspired countless legends and campfire tales.  Are they scouts, hunters, spies, or something far, far worse?

Abilities (Focuses)
2 Accuracy (Throw)

0 Communication

5 Constitution (Running, Stamina)

2 Dexterity (Initiative, Stealth)

0 Intelligence

2 Perception (Hearing, Tracking)

5 Strength (Intimidation, Might)

1 Willpower

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

     Speed               Health           Defense          Armor Rating
       15                     40                   12                        2

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


Weapon     Attack Roll     Damage 
Smash              +7              2d6+5

Rock                +4              1d6+5

Special Qualities 
Favored Stunts: Stay Aware, Defensive Stance, Threaten (1 SP), Seize the Initiative (2 SP).

Armored: Their furry hides give sasquatch an armor rating of 2.

Threat: Moderate

Cryptogram: Skelebot for the Cypher System

SKELEBOT 2 (6)

Motive: Serve the Coaltion
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 6
Damage Inflicted: 2
Armor: 2
Movement: Short
Modifications: Light, Medium, and Heavy Ranged Weapons 3
Combat: Skelebots operate in platoons up to 32
Vibe-Blade: Inflicts 3 damage
Laser Cannon: Inflicts 6 damage
Use: A scout team of 12 skelebots are searching for resources the Coalition requires and run across the characters.
Loot: A dead skelebot yields 1 cypher.

Clerical Work: Specialty Priests of Tymora for D&D 5th Edition

I'm importing the idea of Specialty Priests and channeling a bit of DnD 4E by treating them as Feats.

Specialty Priests of Tymora

Luckbringer Feat

Prerequisite: Cleric with Trickery Divine Domain

• Whenever you make an ability check with a Gaming set, you are considered proficient with the Gaming set and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

• Once a day, you may automatically succeed on one saving throw that would avert an unfortunate or damaging effect.  You must declare the use of this ability rather than roll the saving throw.

Rifts: Rides Dragon Lines Focus for the Cypher System

A big thank you to +Joey Mullins for his feedback.

RIDES DRAGON LINES
You know how to tap into the strange magnetic lines that criss cross the globe known as dragon lines or ley lines. You may use the dragon lines to harness and wield the power of magic.


Connection: Choose one of the following.

1. Pick one other PC. This character has been your friend for a long time, and you have learned to bring her along when you ride the dragon. If the character is standing right next to you, you can take her with you when you use Dragon Ride. (Normally, the ability does not allow you to transport other creatures.)

2. Pick two other PCs. You know about an important connection between them that even they don’t know about.

3. Pick one other PC. This character has interesting ideas about the occult and how it can be mastered. If you are trained in the occult, after you talk to this character for an hour, you gain an asset on any task involving identifying, researching, interacting, or using the occult.

4. Pick one other PC. He has the worst luck with magic items of anyone you’ve ever met. You want to help him, but you aren’t sure how or even whether he will be open to your assistance.

Additional Equipment: You have a bag of miscellaneous wards and charms (if appropriate to the setting).

Magic Abilities: If you use special abilities that would normally use force or other energy, they instead use eldritch energies. For example, a force blast is a howling blast of baleful green. This alteration changes nothing other than the appearance of the ability.

Minor Effect Suggestion: The target is dazed by enchantment magic for one round, during which time the difficulty of all tasks it performs is modified by one step to its detriment.

Major Effect Suggestion: Items filled with magical power explode. You can target and destroy an artifact that a foe is holding or wearing.

Tier 1: Student of the Dragon. Your Intellect pool increases by 4 points. Enabler.
Sense Dragon Lines. You are trained in sensing dragon lines. Enabler.

Tier 2: Dragon Rider (4 Intellect points). You can move a long distance from one location to another almost instantaneously. You must be able to see the new location, and there must be no intervening barriers. Action.
Send Message (1 Intellect point). You may send a telepathic message a long distance to another creature along the same dragon line. Action.

Tier 3: Hoarde of the Dragon. You can drain the power from an artifact or device, allowing you to regain 1 Intellect point per level of the device. You regain points at the rate of 1 point per round and must give your full concentration to the process each round. The GM determines whether the device is fully drained (likely true of most handheld or smaller devices) or retains some power (likely true of large machines). Action to initiate; action each round to drain.

Tier 4: Dragon Speaker. You can learn two additional adept or magic flavor abilities of fourth tier or lower. Enabler.

Tier 5: Master Of The Dragon (5 Intellect points). You are trained in all adept and magic flavor abilities. As a result, you reduce the difficulty of any task involved in the use of an adept or magic flavor ability by two steps. Enabler.

Tier 6: One With The Dragon. Your Intellect Pool increases by 5, and your Intellect Edge increases by 1. Enabler.

Aeon: Deep One for Fantasy AGE

Deep One

The children of Dagon and Hydra have ruled the waves for uncounted millennia. Eventually, Dagon became aware of humanity and inspired both races to meet.  From these revels, the hybrids were born. Most humans found the hybrids monstrous, however Dagon's children embraced them as royalty.  And so the deep ones wait, quietly watching and subtlety shaping the lives of the land dwellers by inserting hybrid lords and ladies as agents of change.

Abilities (Focuses)
1 Communication (Performance, Seduction)

0 Accuracy

1 Communication (Seduction)

3 Constitution (Stamina, Swimming)

0 Dexterity (Stealth)

1 Fighting (Spears)

1 Intelligence (Arcane Lore)

0 Perception (Seeing)

2 Strength (Intimidation, Might)

0 Willpower (Faith)

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

     Speed               Health           Defense          Armor Rating
8/18 (Swim)             30                   10                        4

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Weapon     Attack Roll     Damage Bite                   +1               1d6+2

Trident              +3               1d6+5

Special Qualities Favored Stunts: Skirmish, Pierce Armor, Seize the Initiative (3).

Strange Song: A deep one can perform a Strange Song stunt for 6 points. 1d3 more deep ones will appear the following round, however they lack this ability.

Armored: Their fishy hides give deep ones an armor rating of 4.

Amphibious: Deep ones have gills and lungs.

Threat: Moderate

Cryptogram: Psi-Stalker for the Cypher System

PSI-STALKER 4 (12)

Motive: Feed
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 12
Damage Inflicted: 4
Armor: 2
Movement: Short
Modifications: Intellect defense 6, Sense Psychic and Magic Energy 6, Sense Supernatural Beings 6
Combat: Hunt and feed on supernatural beings of any kind.
Drain Intellect: They my drain 4 Intellect as an attack that ignores armor.
Use: A starving psi-stalker encounters the characters on the road.  Delirious, she attacks.
Loot: A dead psi-stalker yields 1 cypher.

Masters of the Universe Monday: Zodac for the Cypher System

Zodac is one of the last remaining members of the Council of the Wise, who fill the role of enforcing the cosmic balance.  Zodac was the leader of the Council and decided to retain his human form after most of the members of the Council became the spirit of Greyskull.  Their decision came in the wake of Skeletor stealing the Golden Discs from them by corrupting Zanthor, a Council member.

Zodac vowed to sail the cosmos in his chair, keeping a watchful eye over Eternia, but not interfering in the natural course of events.

He is aware that Prince Adam is He-Man and even gave Skeletor the idea to go after the Starseed to test wether Prince Adam was worthy of the mantle of He-Man.  Eventually, He-Man helped Zodac reform Zanthor, who joined him on his cosmic mission.

ZODAC 4 (12)

Motive: Enforce the cosmic balance
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 12
Damage Inflicted: 4
Armor: 3
Movement: Short or Long (Chair)
Modifications: Numenera 6
Combat: Zodac will intervene to enforce the cosmic balance.
Cosmic Traveller: He has 1 random artifact 

Use: Zodiac leaves a map to an ancient ruin for the characters to explore.  He tests them with traps and predators to determine if they are worthy.

Loot: A defeated Zodac yields 1d6+1 cyphers.

A Major Milestone

Over four years ago I started this blog as my entry into the Old School Renaissance of Dungeons and Dragons.  By June of that same year I'd hit 100 posts and was pleased as punch.  

My foray into the OSR didn't last too long though, as I began to share sessions reports, create material for 13th Age, the Adventure Game Engine (which powers Dragon Age and Titansgrave), Marvel Super Heroes (FASERIP), DnD 5th Edition, Pathfinder, Primeval Thule, Icons and the Cypher System (Numenera and the Strange).

Its been a long, strange trip and this, my friends, is my 1000th post.

I've managed somehow to get more than a few people on the wilderlands of the interwebs to give my musings a few moments out of their day.  And I'm extremely grateful to everyone who has come and visited Cross Planes.

I literally wouldn't want to do this without any of you.

Here's to the next 1000!

Cryptogram: Juicer for the Cypher System

JUICER 5 (15)

Motive: Raise hell
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: 5
Armor: 5
Movement: Long
Modifications: Initiative 7, Feats of Strength 7, Might defense 7, Speed defense 7
Combat: Juicers are blurs of mayhem and death.
Deadly: They have 2 random cyphers.
Use: A juicer has arrived at the town where the characters are staying looking for a doctor who can help him detoxify, but he is unreasonable and psychotic.
Loot: A dead juicer yields 2 cyphers.

Cryptogram: Parademons for the Cypher System

PARADEMON 2 (6)

Motive: Serve Darkseid
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 6
Damage Inflicted: 2
Armor: 2
Movement: Short or Long (glider-rocket)
Modifications: None
Combat: Parademons are most effective due to their large numbers and attack in groups of 6 or more and may have either of the following attacks.
Heavy Blaster: Inflicts 6 damage
Claws: Inflicts 4 damage
Use: Parademons are guarding an ancient sanctuary from the 4th World that the characters discover on a moonless night.
Loot: A dead parademon yields 1 cypher.

Cyptrogram: Skull Walker for the Cypher System

SKULL WALKER 7 (21)

Motive: Protect the Coalition
Environment: Anywhere

Health: 21
Damage Inflicted: 7
Armor: 3
Movement: Long
Modifications: Perception 8
Combat: Skull walkers reinforce scout teams, patrol borders, and act as scout in wilderness areas.
Laser Turret: As an action they may attack up to three creatures with an attack that inflicts 4 damage.
Smoke Dispenser: Once per combat, they may increase difficulty to see by one step.
Use: A dead boy squad is missing and a skull walker is looking for them.
Loot: A dead skull walker yields 1d6 cyphers.

Thor's Day: Tizona for D&D 5th Edition

TIZONA

Magic weapon (sword), artifact (requires attunement)

• You gain a +4 on attack and damage rolls with this magic weapon.

• Any creature that makes a melee attack against you has disadvantage on the roll.

"I am Tizona, made in the year 1040."

ECHELON: The Emissary for the Cypher System

This one's for you, +Mark Means 

THE EMISSARY is a Virtuous Explorer (with combat flavor) Who Soars Across the Sky

Might: 12 Edge: 1

Speed: 12 Edge: 1

Intellect: 12 Edge: 0

Effort: 1

Armor: 2

Cypher Use: 2

Practiced:
Light and Medium Weapons

Trained:
Intellect Defense, Sense Motive and Lies

Special Abilities:
Fleet of Foot 
Muscles of Iron (2 Might)
No Need for Weapons 

Tier 1: Hover (1 Speed)

Power Shifts:
Resilience (2 Shift)
Power (1 Shift)
Strength (2 Shifts)

Equipment:
Medium Armor (2 armor)
Hyper Vision (Medium Ranged 4)

Background:

CLASSIFIED under orders of Arthur King, Commander of ECHELON Forces North America.

Cryptogram: Techno-Wizard for the Cypher System

TECHNO-WIZARD 4 (12)

Motive: Create numenera
Environment: Anywhere

Health: 4
Damage Inflicted: 4
Armor: 3
Movement: Short
Modifications: Numenera 5
Combat: Techno-wizards have 4 random cyphers available to them.

Use: A techno-wizard has an artifact that has locked onto one of the characters' cyphers and is leading her to them.

Loot: A techno-wizard yields 1d6 cypher and has a 1 in 20 chance of having an artifact.

ECHELON: Flash Mob for the Cypher System

So, I got the Cypher System Rule Book PDF last night.  Here is my first character for the Supers genre:

FLASH MOB is an Intelligent Speaker (with combat flavor) Who Existes in Two Places at Once

Might: 12 Edge: 0

Speed: 9 Edge: 0

Intellect: 14 Edge: 1

Effort: 1

Armor: 2

Cypher Use: 2

Practiced:
Light and Medium Weapons

Trained:
Remembering Experiences, Science

Specialized:

Climbing

Special Abilities:
Danger Sense (1 Speed)
Encouragement (1 Intellect)
Understanding (2 Intellect)

Tier 1: Duplicate

Power Shifts:
Intelligence (3 Shifts)
Healing (2 Shifts)

Equipment:
Special Light Armor (2 armor)
Power Baton (Medium Bashing 4)

Background:

Jon Martin Cooper Jr. is the oldest son of Jon Martin Cooper Sr. and Lena R. Cooper.  His parents met while going to college at Texas State University in Texas.  After graduating, they married and moved to San Diego, California with Jon Sr. taking a position at Future Perfect and Lena becoming an Art teacher at Sizemore Elementary.

Jon Jr. or JJ's science and math scores were off the chart and after graduating high school at 15, he was offered a full scholarship from Future Perfect in exchange for a 3 year contract upon graduation.

JJ, only 19 upon graduating with his PhD in Biochemistry and Biology, took a position on a team doing bleeding edge research at Future Perfect in Oakland, California to fulfill his contract.  Unbeknownst to him and his colleagues, their team was exposed to a strain of Isotope X that Future Perfect had unearthed in Iraq during the First Gulf War.

JJ achieved apotheosis later that week, when his apartment building caught fire.  His fear created allowed to create a duplicate so he could help his neighbors escape the blaze unscathed.

As the fire was being battled, JJ was approached by a man named Nathan who claimed that he worked for ECHELON on a project called The Kiln and that Future Perfect was responsible for exposing his team to Isotope X, as guinea pigs.  He offered to help JJ and any of his coworkers. 

Cryptogram: Dead Boy for the Cypher System

DEAD BOY 3 (9)

Motive: Protect the Coalition
Environment: Anywhere

Health: 3
Damage Inflicted: 3
Armor: 3
Movement: Short or Long (Hover Bike)
Modifications: Ranged Weapons 4
Combat: Dead boys operate in squads of 5 to 10.  1 in 5 dead boys will be armed with a heavy ranged weapon.   1 in 10 dead boys will be an officer with 2 random cyphers or a psi-stalker who inflicts damage that ignores armor and has Nano Hunter 5 as a modification.

Use: The Coalition are performing maneuvers on their border and have sent out several recon units to test their latest ordinance.

Loot: A dead dead boy yields 1 cypher.

Cryptogram: Tiger-Men for the Cypher System

TIGER-MEN 3 (9)

Motive: Serve the Great Caesar

Environment: AnywhereHealth: 3
Damage Inflicted: 3
Armor: 1
Movement: Short
Modifications: Climbing 4, Tracking 4
Combat: Tiger-Men usually operate in units of 3 to 5.

Use: A cadre of tiger-men have been preying on ships operating up and down a major river and the characters are onboard one of their targets.

Loot: A dead tiger-man yields 1 cypher.

Clerical Work: Specialty Priests of Auril for D&D 5th Edition

I'm importing the idea of Specialty Priests and channeling a bit of DnD 4E by treating them as Feats.

Specialty Priests of Auril

Icepriest Feat

Prerequisite: Cleric with Nature or Tempest Divine Domain

• You gain cold resistance.

• You learn the ray of frost cantrip. 

• You gain a +1 to damage with axes.

Cypher System Goodness!

So, I preordered my print copy of the Cypher System Rule Book at my local store, and I got my PDF from Monte Cook Games tonight (I'm about to start digging into it).

A huge thanks to Tommie Webb Ryan and the whole team at MCG, they have always demonstrated incredible customer service when I have dealt with them.

The other cool thing?  I believe Alliance Midwest will be shipping out the print copy of Worlds Numberless and Strange to arrive later today.

I'll keep you posted.

Masters of the Universe Monday: Skeletor for the Cypher System

SKELETOR 4 (12)

Motive: Conquor Eternia and destroy He-Man

Environment: Anywhere
Health: 12
Damage Inflicted: 4
Armor: 2
Movement: Short
Modifications: Use Magic 5
Combat: Skeletor is a gifted swordsman, but his greatest talents lie in wielding magic.
Havoc Staff: Every other round he may inflict 2 points of damage to every creature in immediate range.
Magic Spells: He has 4 random cyphers 

Use: Skeletor has come to the ruins of an 8th World castle, seeking artifacts and power.  A castle the characters happen to be exploring.

Loot: A defeated Skeletor yields 1d6 cyphers.

Cryptogram: Splugorth Warrior Woman for the Cypher System

SPLUGORITH WARRIOR WOMAN 4 (12)

Motive: Serve the Splugorith

Environment: Anywhere
Health: 12
Damage Inflicted: 4
Armor: 2
Movement: Short
Modifications: Large Ranged Weapons 5, Perception 5
Combat: The blind warrior women who serve the Slugorth are slaves trained to work with the Minions who command baleful barges.  Their only orders are to find more slaves and to destroy anyone who gets in their way.
Net Gun: If entangled, their targets must beat a difficulty 5 to break free.
Wrist Lasers: They inflict 2 points of damage that ignores armor.

Use: A barge is in the area and the warrior women have split up to bring in slaves from the area.  Two of the women are approaching the characters' camp.

Loot: A dead warrior woman yields 1 cypher.

Cryptogram: SAMAS Power Armor for the Cypher System

SAMAS POWER ARMOR 5 (15)

Motive: Protect the Coalition
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: 5 (Rail Gun)
Armor: 3
Movement: Long (Flying)
Modifications: Pilot 6
Combat: SAMAS power armor are used as hunter/killers.
Wrist Missile Pod: Once per combat, they inflict 3 points of damage that ignores armor to their target and every creature within immediate range. 
Use: A recon mission brings a SAMAS within range of caravan the characters' are traveling with.
Loot: A dead SAMAS power armor yields 2 cyphers.

Strange Ideas

I've just begun really digging into Monte Cook Games' The Strange.  Its concept, reminds me of a mix of pre-crisis DC Comics, Stargate (film and TV series), and TORG.

While Im waiting for the Cypher System Rule Book to see Supers in all of their glory, I've been looking at a set-up where the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the main setting.  However, its recursions are based off of other eras of Marvel TV and Movies.  So you'd have Fox's X-men on another Earth, Both of Fox's FF films on separate worlds, then Blade on another world, Ghost Rider, the first Hulk film, etc.  You'd even have an earth with the Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and Captain America TV outings from the 70's.  Maybe even an earth that is the home of the first Captain America and unreleased FF film?

Its mostly brainstorming and I don't see much probability of it being played, but you never know.

Crytogram: Dragon Hatchling for the Cypher System

DRAGON HATCHLING 5 (15)

Motive: Discovery

Environment: Anywhere
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: 5
Armor: 3
Movement: Short (walking) or Long (flying)
Modifications: Use Esotery 6
Combat: Dragons are mystical creatures by their very nature with several abilities:
Breath Weapon: As an action they inflict 2 damage to all creatures in short range.
Magic Wards: As an action they gain Intellect defense 6.
Premonitions: Initiative 6.
Shapeshift: They may appear as any creature they are aware of that is level 4 or lower and have Imitation 4.
Cyphers: They have 2 random cyphers.

Use: A dragon hatchling has found an ancient vault full of treasures.  It has begun preying on local livestock and the nearby farmers have hired to character's to deal with it.

Loot: A dead dragon hatchling yields 1d3 cyphers.

Numenera

A few weeks ago, I worked a conversion of Monte Cook Games' Cypher System to Icons.  I did it, because my two experiences running Numenera were--meh.  This lead to some great discussions with +Michael Barry  and +Joey Mullins and made me reread Numenera and the Strange.

It also lead to a shot gun blast of creatures from Rifts converted to the Cypher System in the last few days.  And He-Man.

Well, tonight, half of my DnD group couldn't make it, so I whipped up three pregens and gave one of the adventures from the excellent Weird Discoveries a spin.

I had a Charming Nano Who Commands Mental Powers.

An Inquisitive Jack Who Carries a Qiver.

And a Rugged Glaive Who Fights Dirty.

We had a blast.  They understood the system within a few minutes and we finished the adventure with gusto.

They even talked about finding a way to insert it into our friday nights.

I'm hoping a get more chances to do stuff with the Cypher System soon.  However, I have two long term games I'm running and these days I'm less willing to throw a curve at my players.  I guess I'll just have to be patient.

Cryptogram: Dog Boys for the Cypher System

DOG BOY 2 (6)

Motive: The hunt
Environment: Anywhere
Health: 6
Damage Inflicted: 2
Armor: 2
Movement: Short
Modifications: Perception and Sense Nano at level 3
Combat: Dog boys work in packs of 3 to 6, hunting nanos for their masters, the Coalition.
Use: A pack of dog boys have cornered a nano in broke down transport that the characters happen to run across.
Loot: A dead dog boy yields 1 cypher.

Clerical Work: Specialty Priests of Kossuth for D&D 5th Edition

I'm importing the idea of Specialty Priests and channeling a bit of DnD 4E by treating them as Feats.

Specialty Priests of Kossuth

Firewalker Feat

Prerequisite: Cleric with Light Divine Domain

• You gain fire resistance.

• You are proficient in unarmed attacks. 

• Your unarmed attacks deal 1d4 fire damage.