Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Darkest Dungeons: Bone Soldier for Shadow of the Demon Lord



Much like the Bone Rabble, the Bone Soldiers were honorable and loyal soldiers that served our family in ages long since passed. They were the backbone of our family’s army and those who fought and died on the battlefield for our family’s name and glory were given honorable graves within the crypts of the Ruins. However, when their bodies died, so too did their loyalties…

Dragged back from the peace of death by vile necromancy, these skeletal swordsmen have been drafted into a unholy army of the dead to defend the halls of the Ruins in which their new dark masters resides. Dressed in the armor they were buried with and carrying the sword they once used in life, these skeletal fiends don’t have the swordsmanship they had in life, being just simple-minded undead only capable of simple slashes. However, they are stronger and much harder to vanquish than the Bone Rabble.
Bone Soldier          DIFFICULTY 5
Size 1 frightening undead
Perception  9 (-1); darksight
Defense 13 (hard leather); Health 15
Strength 13 (+3)    Agility 11 (+1) 
Intellect   9 (-1)    Will       10 (+0)
Speed 10

Immune damage from disease and poison; 
   gaining Insanity; asleep, charmed, dazed, 
   diseased, fatigued, frightened, poisoned, 
   stunned

ATTACK OPTIONS
Sword (melee) +3 with 1 boon (1d6 plus 1d6 
   on attack roll of 20+)


   
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Tuesday, October 30, 2018

White Star: Gorn



GORN


Armor Class: 7 [12]
Hit Dice: 2
Total Hit Bonus: +2
Attacks: Slam (1d6)
Saving Throw: 17
Movement: 10
HDE/XP: 2/30

   

Monday, October 29, 2018

The Black Hack: Forest Naga




Forest Naga HD 4
Claws STR (1 Close) 3 dmgƒ 
Bite - STR (1 Close) 3 dmg    
Tail Swipe - STR (1 Nearby) 5 dmg    

  • Spiteful! Deal Ongoing Damage to a target that makes an even Defence Roll
  • Blessed of Kali! May cast the spell Predator’s Stealth: Magical silence covering everything Nearby to a target - lasts Ud8 Moments. 

Forest nagas are still found in the lands surrounding Schwarzhold Forest and near the southwestern portion of the Lieber River. 

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Help Wanted!


I've just completed the first draft of an Adventure for the Black Hack Second Edition. It's called A Dark and Stormy Night. I'd like some extra eyes on it, so if you have time to take a look and get back to me by Tuesday 10/30 by 8pm EST, then please send me an e-mail at mark at crossplanes dot com with the following Subject: Dark and Stormy Help.

Here is the first draft of the cover.




Sunday, October 28, 2018

Labyrinth Lord: Avatar of Woe


Avatar of Woe for Labyrinth Lord
AL C MV 30' , AC 4, HD 11, #AT 1 (scythe), THAC0 10, DG 1d6+4, SV 11 cleric, ML 12, When a creature within 30' dies, it heals 1d8 damage, XP 1,015


The Avatar of Woe is a powerful humanoid wearing black garments and wielding a large scythe-like weapon. It thrives in times of great death, and can effortlessly slaughter anyone it wants to.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

New Release: The Race Hack Second Edition

Hi all,

I've just released The Race Hack Second Edition for David Black's The Black Hack Second Edition.

Additionally, if YOU bought The Race Hack First Edition and you have given me permission to e-mail you on RPGNow.com, you will be sent a Coupon to buy it for $1.29 ($1.99 Retail).

You can get The Race Hack Second Edition right here!








Labyrinth Lord: Bloodfire Colossus




Bloodfire Colossus for Labyrinth Lord
AL C MV 40' , AC 3, HD 8, #AT 2 (sword), THAC0 16, DG 2d6, SV 8 fighter, ML 12, When it dies all creatures within 15' must make a Save vs Breath Attack or take 1d6 damage, XP 1,60

It takes all it's strength to contain the fire within.

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Friday, October 26, 2018

The Black Hack: Fighter-Thief Class



FIGHTER-THIEF
STARTING STATS
Starting HP : roll 1d6 + 4
Starting HD : 1d8
Usable Weapons & Armor: Any and cloth, leather, chain, and shield
Attack Damage: See 'Sneaky Bastard'

D6 SCAR
1   Missing pinkie
2   Half an ear
3   Crooked nose
4   Two missing teeth
5   Jagged facial scar
6   Whip marks all over back

EQUIPMENT 
Every Fighter-Thief starts with a Thieves' Tools. Also, choose to start the game with either A or B:

• A - Leather vest (AV2), dagger, sword, 1d8 coins, half-mask with a skull motif.
• B - Scale tunic (AV2), a two-handed weapon, 2d6 coins, a list of your targets.

THIEVERY
Roll Attribute Tests with Advantage performing the following actions:

• Delicate Tasks
• Moving Silently and Unseen
• Climbing or Listening and Eavesdropping

NIMBLE EXPERTISE
(See TBH 2E pg. 21)

SNEAKY BASTARD
• A Fighter-Thief has a ‘pool’ of Damage Dice (d4s) equal to their HD.
• When making an Attack distribute any number of these Damage Dice among any number of Nearby targets.
• For each target the Player assigns the Damage Dice, the Player must come up with an exciting and bespoke narration for the Attack.
• Make an Attribute Test for each target to see if they are hit, if so, roll the Damage Dice assigned to them and reduce their HP by that amount.
• If a Fighter-Thief has Moved silently to get behind a Creature, and they are unaware of the Figher-Thief ’s presence, the Fighter-Thief may add their Fighter-Thief ’s Level to that creature's damage.
• The pool of Damage Dice resets at the start of the Figher-Thief's turn.


A DAGGER FOR EVERY OCCASION 
(See TBH 2E pg. 21)

GAINING A NEW LEVEL
Acquire and share a number of Experiences equal to your current HD to advance a Level. When you gain a Level:

• Roll ad d20 once for each Attribute - if you roll over, it goes up one point, make an extra roll either Dexterity or Strength
• Gain 1 HD - roll a d8 - gain that many additional maximum HP.
• Gain a Damage Die.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Labyrinth Lord: Parademon




Parademon for Labyrinth Lord
AL C MV 30' (flying 30'), AC 5, HD 2, #AT 1 (claws), THAC0 16, DG 1d6+1, SV 2 fighter, ML 12, XP 80

Loyal to their master Darkseid but none too bright, the armored Parademons fly through the air, carrying powerful weapons used to quell the rabble. Their true strength is in their numbers, which reach into the thousands. When acting together, they can overwhelm even the toughest heroes. They are chosen from the most sociopathic and cruel residents before being given gliders and trained in combat. They are often accompanied by gigantic dogs called Hounds.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2018

The Black Hack: Pholcitaur & Skulltopus




Pholcitaur HD 2
Claws STR (1 Close) 3 dmgƒ 
• Frenzied! Every time the pholcitaur misses, it gains an additional Attack in all subsequent turns. All additional Attacks cease if it deals damage.

The pholcitaur generally dwell in ancient ruins that were left behind by the Progenitors, whom they worship. The pholcitaurs believe that they were created by the Progenitors and that is their sacred duty to preserve the secrets of their creators. Sadly, this often brings the generally peaceful folk into conflict with adventurers and treasure seekers.






Skulltopus HD 3

Tentacle STR (1d4 Close) 4 dmgƒ 
• Arcane Resistance! Roll with Advantage when making an Attribute Test to resist magic.
• Slippery! Once per battle, when a Character hits the skulltopus, they are forced to re-roll the Attack.

Nyarlathotep has a wicked sense of humor. Sometimes, after a spectacular failure by a cultist of Cthulhu to raise their dead and dreaming master, the Crawling Chaos will raise of them from the dead and infuse a bit of chthonic essence to them. He does it to leave a message for other cultists: wait until the stars are right to meet your end.



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Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Savage Worlds: Jason X



In 2008, Jason Voorhees is captured by the United States government and held at the Crystal Lake Research Facility. In 2010, a government scientist decides to place Jason in frozen stasis after several failed attempts to kill him.

After being awoken in present his rampage begins anew.



Attributes: Agility d10, Smarts d8, Spirit d10, Strength d12, 
                   Vigor d12


Skills: Fighting d10, Intimidation d12, Notice d8, 
            Stealth d6

Pace: 12; Parry: 7; Toughness: 11 (3)

Special Abilities 

• Machete STR+d6 
• Armor (2)

• Brawny

• Fleet-Footed

• Harder To Kill

• Hardy

• Improved Frenzy

• Improved Nerves of Steel

• Improved Sweep

• Killer Instinct

• Level Headed

• Low-Light Vision






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Monday, October 22, 2018

1,000 Faces: Auggie Dukain





August "Auggie" Dukain

Male Human
5E Level 3 Light Domain Cleric of Lathander
LL Level 3 Cleric

Ability Scores:
Str 13    Dex 10    Con 12
Int 13    Wis 16     Cha 16 


Traits:
Well Spoken

Compassionate
Courageous
Womanizer


Role: Auggie is good to use as an ally who helps character recuperate between adventures more quickly. He's very useful to navigate the church's politics, rival religions, and any members of the upper class they need to contact. Auggie gets along well with the upper crust and has had several romantic liasons among the wives and daughters of useful targets. In a pinch, Auggie will does his very best to help his friends out and will not back down if they are in real trouble. He is stationed at the Light of Dawn Cathedral.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

The Black Hack: Basilisk & Cyborg

I'm working on a Bestiary for The Black Hack, here are a couple of previews:


Basilisk - HD 2                            
Gaze - WIS (1 Nearby) 2 dmg    

Petrified! Creatures damaged by the basilisk must Test their CON or be Paralysed






Cyborg - HD 6                              
Hand Cannon - DEX (1 Distant) 5 dmg    
Snikt! - STR (1 Close) 7 dmg 
  • Armoured! The cyborg has an AV equal to 1⁄2 its total HD (rounded down).

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

New Release: The Class Hack Second Edition [UDATED]

Hi all,

I've updated my Class Hack, Race Hack, and Class Hack 2 to David Black's The Black Hack Second Edition. It's up for sale right now.

Additionally, if YOU bought The Class Hack First Edition and you have given me permission to e-mail you on RPGNow.com, you will be sent a Coupon for $1.00 Off The Class Hack Second Edition.

You can get The Class Hack Second Edition right here!



Sunday, October 14, 2018

OSR Guide For The Perplexed Questionnaire

G+ is dying, but there has been a renewed energy to the OSR. Many within the community have decided to try out the social media startup MeWe and the OSR group is here, a new DIY forum has sprung up, James Young created a compiled list of blogs to help get the blogosphere restarted, and Ramanan and John Carlson created an .opml file to use with your feed reader, like Feedly or Inoreader (go to the little cog by subscriptions > manage subscriptions > import/export). Ramanan also wrote a tutorial for it. Right now, undeath after G+ is pretty cool.

Finally, Zak S also posted a questionnaire challenge for the OSR blogs, and here are my responses.


OSR Guide For The Perplexed Questionnaire

1. One article or blog entry that exemplifies 
the best of the Old School Renaissance for me:

2. My favorite piece of OSR wisdom/advice/snark: 
   Just because you and I play DnD, doesn't mean we
   can or should be friends, and that is okay.

3. Best OSR module/supplement:
   Blackmarsh.
   4. My favorite house rule (by someone else):

5. How I found out about the OSR:
   Grognardia.

6. My favorite OSR online resource/toy:

7. Best place to talk to other OSR gamers: MeWe.

8. Other places I might be found hanging 
out talking games:
   Twitter.

9. My awesome, pithy OSR take nobody 
appreciates enough:
   Masters of the Universe makes EVERYTHING better.

10. My favorite non-OSR RPG:

11. Why I like OSR stuff: It's DIY and it empowers
   the players and the DM.

12. Two other cool OSR things you should know 
about that I haven’t named yet:
   Untold Adventures has replaced Swords and 
   Wizardry for me. Weird Adventures is a great
    setting.

13. If I could read but one other RPG blog 
but my own it would be:

14. A game thing I made that I like quite a lot is:
   The Class Hack for David Black's The Black Hack.

15. I'm currently running/playing:
   Running Dragon Heist for DnD 5th Edition. 
   Just completed running a Shadow of the Demon Lord 
   campaign.
   About to start playing Vampire: the Masquerade 5E.

16. I don't care whether you use ascending or 
descending AC because:
   I used THAC0.

17. The OSRest picture I could post on short notice:

This sums up everything I love about RPGs and the OSR.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Manimals: Level 4 Otter Psychic Magican for Shadow of the Demon Lord & Godless

In my last post I began exploring mixing After the Bomb with Shadow of the Demon Lord's Engine. First, I think that Pallaidum's rules could easily be bolted onto SotDL with some basic tweaking.

I'm working up a second character an Otter, I decided to give them +1 Perception, Swimmer, and Darksight for their Ancestry. Otherwise I used the SotDL rules as written.





Here is a level 4 Otter Psychic Magician

Strength 10 (+0)       Agility 11 (+1) 
Intellect 13 (+3)       Will 11 (+1)
Perception 14 (+4)   Defense 10 (Leather)
Health 26                  Healing Rate 6
Speed 10; swimmer  Size 1/2         Power 2
Languages and Professions 
   Common Tongue (read and write); Astrology
   Nature
Catch Your Breath 
Darksight
Psychic Power 4
Psychic Defense 
Psychic Spell 
Sense Magic

EQUIPMENT
Pistol (range 35) +1 with 1 boons (2d6)

TRADITIONS
Telepathy Sense Thoughts (3), Share Thoughts (3), 
   Message (2), Mind Stab (2), Read Minds (1)
Telekinesis Mind Over Matter (3), Crush (2), Hold (1)

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GameStorming: Shadow of the Demon Lord + After the Bomb or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles





I've been thinking about mixing the Shadow of the Demon Lord (SotDL) Engine to run Palladium RPGs, in this case, I'm looking at using it for After The Bomb (AtB) or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I've used the Human Ancestry as a base and used the AfB species description to adjust ability scores and the skill system for professions.

Here is a level 2 Bantam Chicken Warrior

Strength 11 (+1)       Agility 10 (+0) 
Intellect 10 (+0)       Will 11 (+1)
Perception 10 (+0)   Defense 12 (Leather)
Health 15                  Healing Rate 3
Speed 10                   Size 1
Languages and Professions 
   Common Tongue; Artisan, Mechanic
Catch Your Breath You can use an action
   or a triggered action on your turn to heal 
   damage equal to your healing rate. Once 
   you use this talent, you cannot use it again 
   until after you complete a rest.
Weapon Training When attacking with a 
   weapon, you make the attack roll with 1 boon.

EQUIPMENT


Baseball Bat (melee) +1 with 1 boons (1d6)
Machine Pistol (range 35) +0 with 1 boons (2d6)
Talons (melee) +1 with 1 boons (1d3)

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

Labyrinth Lord: Phantom Stranger




Phantom Stranger for Labyrinth Lord
AL N, MV 30', AC 6, HD 6, #AT 1, THAC0 13, 
DG 1d6, SV 6 cleric, ML 12, Turn Undead as a 6th level cleric, Hide In Shadow and Hear Noise as a 6th level thief, XP 570

The Phantom Stranger is a being caught in a time loop. Near the end of the universe, the Phantom Stranger approached a group of arcanists who are trying to transfer energy from the Big Bang to extend the life of the universe. The Phantom Stranger realizes that one of the scientists is in reality an Avatar of Anti-life, and that their efforts will prevent the universe from ever existing. The story concludes with the Phantom Stranger passing a portion of himself to a scientist, who dives through the portal to the Big Bang, intercepts the beam that would have drained the Big Bang, and becomes the Phantom Stranger, completing the cycle.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Labyrinth Lord: The Pholcitaur



Pholcitaur for Labyrinth Lord
AL N, MV 40', AC 7, HD 2, #AT 1 (weapon), THAC0 17, 
DG 1d6, SV 2 thief, ML 9, Climb Walls as a 2nd level thief, XP 80

The pholcitaur generally dwell in ancient ruins that they worship as the Progenitors. The pholcitaurs believe that they were created by the Progenitors and that is their sacred duty to preserve the secrets of their creators. Sadly, this often brings the generally peaceful folk into conflict with adventurers and treasure seekers.

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Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Darkest Dungeons: Swine Chopper for Shadow of the Demon Lord



Many years ago, when the Ancestor still had a small vestige of human decency left within him, he decided to use pigs as test subjects for his grim experiments rather than humans. Since the flesh of pigs is so similar to that of humans, they made nearly perfect vessels for the eldritch entities he was attempting to summon via blood magic and dark rituals. Many of the pigs that were possessed by these unspeakable horrors began to walk upright and gained more human-like features and intelligence, while others became weak and misshapen wretches -- the lucky ones, that is. Those specimens unfortunate enough to have been neglected and forgotten were left as little more than twisted piles of undulating, misshapen flesh.

When the Ancestor discovered the ancient Warrens, he repurposed them into a dumping grounds for his most underwhelming results and disappointing failures. By the time the Heir arrives, the Warrens have become home to the descendants of those experiments called The Swinefolk, a warrior race of pig people whose sole desire is to butcher and feed on any human they can get their hoofed claws on.

This large, brutish and disgusting hybrid of man and pig is the one of the more common and healthier specimens of the Swinefolk, serving simultaneously as meat butchers and warriors. When not ferociously butchering the cold and mangled flesh of his soon-to-be dinner, the Swine Chopper will happily test its bloody, serrated cleaver upon the bodies of naive adventurers who might happen upon its squalid home. Slow and hulking, the Chopper relies on its trusty ball and chain to end tiresome chases with ruthless and brain-splattering efficiency.

Swine Chopper          DIFFICULTY 10
Size 1 frightening swinefolk
Perception  10 (+0); shadowsight
Defense 12 (hard leather); Health 25
Strength 13 (+3) Agility 10 (+0) 
Intellect   8 (-2) Will         9 (-1)
Speed 10

ATTACK OPTIONS
Ball and Chain (melee or short range) +3 (1d6+2 
   plus the target is Dazed until the end of it's next 
   turn on attack roll of 20+)

Butcher Cut (melee) +3 (1d6 plus Bleeding on 
   attack roll of 20+)
Bleeding The target must make a Str challenge 
   roll with 1 bane. On a failure, it takes 1d3 
   damage. At the end of each round, a bleeding
   creature must make a Strength challenge roll. 
   On a failure, it takes 1d3 damage. On a 
   successes, the creatures wound stops bleeding.
   
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1,000 Faces: Chestnut Boykin





Chestnut Boykin

Female Stout Halfling
5E Level 4 Mastermind Rogue
LL Level 4 Rogue

Ability Scores:
Str 11    Dex 15    Con 13
Int 13    Wis 9      Cha 14 

Appearance: 
Chocolate Brown Eyes
Curly Auburn Hair
Curvaceous
Tall For A Halfling

Traits:
Educated


Flight Over Fight
Likable
Looking for Love
Loyal


Role: Chestnut is best used as a major ally or handler for a group. She's well connected and loyal, but will always look to flee the scene over fighting. She is also a potential love interest for a member of the group and potentially, forcing the best interests of her lover over her loyalties.

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Shadow of the Demon Lord: Black Phillip


Black Phillip is malevolent hellish being, he sews death and chaos and seeks women to sign his book and become a witch.

Black Phillip          DIFFICULTY 100
Size 1 frightening monster
Perception  14 (+4); darksight
Defense 14; Health 75
Strength 16 (+6) Agility 14 (+4) 
Intellect 14 (+4) Will 14 (+4)
Speed 12
Immune damage from disease or poison; gaining 
   Insanity; dazed, fatigued, frightened, immobilized, 
   impaired, poisoned, slowed, stunned
Spell Defense A demon takes half damage from spells 
   and makes any challenge roll to resist a spell with 
   1 boon. A creature attacking the demon with a spell 
   makes its attack roll with 1 bane.
Foment Discord Once per round, Black Phillip can 
   use a triggered action on his turn to make a Will 
   attack roll against the Will of one target creature 
   within medium range of it. On a success, the target 
   becomes consumed by hate for 1 round.While 
   consumed by hate, it must take the first turn it can 
   and use an action to charge or make an attack with 
   a weapon against a target chosen by Black Phillip.


ATTACK OPTIONS
Horns (melee) +6 with 3 boons (3d6)

SPECIAL ATTACK
Bull Rush Black Phillip moves up to twice his 
   Speed. Once at any point during this 
   movement, it attacks with its horns. On a 
   success, the target takes 2d6 extra damage 
   and falls prone.
Sweeping Horns When a creature moves into 
   Black Phillip's reach, he can use his triggered 
   action to attack the triggering creature with his
   horns.


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Saturday, October 6, 2018

Labyrinth Lord: Spaceknight



Spaceknight for Labyrinth Lord
AL L, MV 35' (flying 60'), AC 1, HD 4, #AT 1 (ray gun), THAC0 14, 
DG 1d8+1, SV 4 fighter, ML 12,, XP 80

They are an elite group of cyborg humanoids from the planet Galador, created to battle the Dire Wraiths. Rom the Spaceknight is the most well-known member.

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Monster Monday: Obstrevoi for Shadowdark

  You can download a PDF here.