Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Dungeon Crawl Classics: Session 1
Due to our DM's wife getting COVID-19 (thoughts and prayers to both them) I'm running a short DCC series for our group. The Characters are level 2 are going through one of Goodman Games' Halloween Adventures.
I enjoyed the session and I think the players did too. We got off to a bit of a late start as I was running a bit behind and we had to set-up remote play for one of our players, which we do every session, but our regular DM handles it and I had to figure it out with some help.
Part of the reason I haven't run more OSR campaigns is that I like Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition and we are pretty invested in it, in fact we own everything on DnD Beyond. I'm not saying that different editions don't have different strengths and weaknesses but there is, in my opinion, a certain common experience in DnD.
One of the reasons I've been wanting to try DCC with my group is that I appreciate that it deviates a bit from DnD with its Magic system and Mighty Deeds of Arms and it is a game that is in print and I can carry in my stores.
I had two to three players I thought would enjoy the Magic system and I think they did. I didn't explain Might Deeds of Arms very well so I hope to explore them more in our second session.
We were all a bit uncertain about getting so many "Failed and Lost for the Day" spellcasting results and I'm contemplating if I'm going to make a change to that in the next session. At the same time I didn't really emphasize the Luck mechanic and perhaps that would fix some of the disappointment. Yes, you can easily point out that maybe my Players and I are just "spoiled" by the heroic nature of 5E and I'm sure you are right, but we've played together long enough to know what we enjoy and to be honest about it.
I'm looking forward to finishing the module and will report further upon completion.
At this point I dearly enjoy Goodman Games products and the awesome community that sprung up around Dungeon Crawl Classics, but I don't know that the changes are still extreme enough to switch from 5E unless you have grown bored or frustrated of it. To some degree that is the motive behind my exploration of DCC, but I don't know that the rest of my group shares that motive.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Hail to the King: Robot X for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Jack "The King" Kirby's artwork and ideas are something that I appreciate the older I get. I'm loathed to admit it, but when Jack was doing the art for the Super Powers tie-in series for the Kenner DC toy line I was upset that a "better" artist didn't get the assignment. Thankfully, my tastes in art have improved over the decades.
I'm working on longer posts but I enjoy making Monsters and I enjoy Dungeon Crawl Classics and my current theme is Jack Kirby's Monsters statted up for DCC.
Hail to the King, baby.
Robot X for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Init +5; Atk gauntlet +11 melee (2d12) or optic blastTuesday, September 22, 2020
Dungeon Crawl Classics: Mapiguari
Mapiguari for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Init -3; Atk claws +2 melee (1d8); AC 13 HD 3d10; MV 15’; Act 1d20; SP backstab +5, climb 80%, infravision 60', sneak silently 60%; SV Fort +2, Ref -1, Will +0; AL N.
In South America, the Mapiguari is a giant nocturnal animal with long arms and claws, the skin of a reptile, and bright red hair. Legend has it, the creature avoids water, which might account for its smell.
Monday, September 21, 2020
Monstrous Monday: The Mindless for Dungeon Crawl Classics
The Mindless Steel for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Init +0; Atk teeth +3 melee (1d5); AC 12 HD 2d8; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP immune to non-silvered weapons; SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will -2; AL C.
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Dungeon Crawl Classics: The Incredible Dr. Steel
I'm blaming Needles and Brutorz Bill for this post.
Is the incredible Dr. Steel friend or foe?The Incredible Dr. Steel for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Init +4; Atk shining steel hand +d8+2 melee (2d6+d8+2); AC 16 HD 6d14; MV 45’; Act 3d20; SP deflect missles (Once per round when Dr. Steel is hit with a missile attack rolla a d8 and on a 1-2 he takes no damage); SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4; AL N.
The Incredible Dr. Steel for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Friday, September 18, 2020
Masters of the Universe: Scareglow for Dungeon Crawl Classics
I love He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and its aesthetic has shaped much of my gaming preferences. Mattel has launched a new line of action figures, Masters of the Universe Origins and a WWE tie-in line called Masters of the WWE Universe (they are from WWEternia) plus there are two animated series in development at Netflix.
In life, Karak Nul was a shifty bounty hunter who spent years attempting to break into Castle Grayskull, obsessed with the countless legends that it contained the power to be Master of the Universe. In death, he was cursed and banished into the dimension of Infinita, forever chained to his past crimes. He was brought back to Eternia by a magical spell cast by Skeletor to locate the most evil warriors in the five dimensions. Provided with a Scythe of Doom, Nul agreed to join forces with Skeletor and quickly became known as Scareglow, thanks to his ability to burst forth and freeze his enemies with fright.Scareglow for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Init +2; Atk scythe of doom tentacle +6 melee (1d12+1); AC 16 HD 6d8; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP terrify (DC 13 Will Save); SV Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +4; AL C.
Scareglow for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Dungeon Crawl Classics: Shayd, a Magic Dagger
Shayd
Dagger: +1 to attack and damage rolls
Alignment: Neutral
Intelligence: 5
• Obscure surroundings with a 20' globe of darkness.
• Whirlwind strike. Instead of making his normal attack, the wielder can make two attacks in a single round but rolls 1d10 for each attack instead of 1d20. He applies his normal attack bonus. Critical hits are not possible when attacking in this manner.
• Turn invisible. Up to 1d3 times per day, the wielder can turn invisible for a duration of 1d4 turns. The invisibility vanishes immediately if the wielder attacks.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Dungeon Crawl Classics: Dire Wraith Sorceress
The Dire Wraiths are an evolutionary offshoot of the Skrulls from the Andromeda Galaxy. Like the Skrulls, the Wraiths are shape-shifters, able to take the forms of other creatures. They are, in fact, Skrullian Deviants engineered by the starfaring Celestials. The Wraiths have both reptilian and mammalian like traits and the females lay eggs and lactate.
At some point in their history, female Dire Wraiths began to study sorcery. This caused a rift with their parent race, the Skrulls, and they were driven out of the Andromeda Galaxy.
Dire Wraiths are able to take on the forms of those they encounter, including the appearance of equipment and any clothing the victim is wearing. A Dire Wraith can assume any humanoid form between 4 ft to 8 ft tall, but the creature must first see the victim to be copied. In addition to assuming a victim's form, they may choose to consume the victim's brain and gain all of their memories and knowledge (the victim must make a DC 15 Fortitude Save), which will leave the victim a pool of ectoplasm.
Dire Wraith Sorceress for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Init -1; Atk hex +6 (1d7) or tentacle +2 melee (1d4); AC 13 HD 3d4; MV 40’; Act 1d20; SP absorb brain (DC 15 Fortitude Save), impersonate 90%, prestidigitation, spellcasting (+6 spell check & know 6 spells); SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; AL N.
Dire Wraith Sorceress for Dungeon Crawl Classics
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Dark Trails: Dances With Ghosts
Dances With Ghosts for Dark Trails
Thursday, September 3, 2020
Dark Trails Pregens: Sin-Eater, Gambler, Tommyknocker, & Revelator
Here are four more Pregenerated Characters for Dark Trails based on Dungeon Crawl Classics.
Dark Trails Pregens: Luchador & Occultist
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Cross Planes on Facebook
I've been wanting to set up a FB page for quite awhile and I don't know why I didn't or what motivated me to finally do it.
If you get a chance stop by and Like the page for me.
My intention is to post quick thoughts and information about posts I'm working on.
I'm currently working up pregens for a Dark Trails game I'm running on Roll20.
I get to take the Dungeon Crawl Classics rules out for a spin with gunslingers and luchador!
Monster Monday: Obstrevoi for Shadowdark
You can download a PDF here.