Thursday, July 29, 2021

Worlds Without Number: Tiefling Origin

I really liked how Tieflings in Planechase didn't have universal traits so I decided to channel that a bit using Foci.




Tiefling
Across the many planes of the Polyverse are countless humanoids who bear a bloodline from the Lower Planes.

Level 1
Roll once on the Appearance table.
You can adjust your appearance in other ways with the Game Master's approval.

d8 Appearance
1.   Your skull is larger than normal
       Gain a +1 to your Intelligence Modifier.
2.   Your ears are larger than normal.
       Gain the Alert focus.
3.    Your eyes are mirror-like.
       Gain the Well Met focus.
4.   You have a small pair of horns on your head.
       Gain the Dealmaker focus.
5.   Your tongue is forked.
       Gain the Diplomatic Grace focus.
6.   You have feathers instead of hair.
       Gain the Gifted Chirugeon focus.
7.   Your body is covered in scales.
      Gain the Diehard focus.
8.   You have intricated birthmarks all over your body.
     Gain the Nullifier focus.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Masters of the Universe Revelation

Netflix dropped Masters of the Universe Revelations last week and like nearly anything in the 21st century, there is some outrage about it.

I encountered the Masters of the Universe toyline from Mattel when my buddy Barry (maybe the only kid more spoiled than I was) and I played with his He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Skeletor, and Beast-Man. I was hooked from the moment I saw their crazy proportions and I made my Mom drag me to Kay-Bee Toys to get all four. What Barry hadn't shown me were the enclosed mini-comics which were awesome.

Before the Filmation series, He-Man was the star of the Masters of the Universe but I found all the characters pretty darn cool and the cartoon's lore didn't really jive with the early mini-comics. I enjoyed the Filmation series but the introduction of Prince Adam and Orko was a little odd to my 10-year-old self. Due to some Marvel Comic 3-Packs of Conan the Barbarian and DC Comic 3-Packs of Tarzan I was already starting to dig pulp adventurers and I always preferred the story featuring a barbarian who finds a magic harness & cool weapons to Shazam-like transformation, but I watched the cartoon anyway and I consumed Masters of the Universe.

And obviously, I love Masters of the Universe since I've made so many posts about it.

Let me add something right here and now though, I'm not a Kevin Smith fan and his movies just aren't something I really dig. Maybe he was talked up to much before I saw Clerks or Mallrats or Chasing Amy or Dogma? In case you don't know Kevin Smith is Revelations showrunner and he says Revelation is a direct sequel to the Filmation series.

Also let me add that last year, largely due to the new Masters of the Universe Origins toy line, I got back into action figures. There has been "concern" among that community that Kevin isn't really a He-Man fan and that his series is supposed to subvert the character.

I went in pretty open-minded.

I've seen three of the first five episodes and I really love this show Kevin Smith and all. I won't lie to you that by the end of Episode 1 something major happens and the story goes off in a direction I didn't foresee. Also, this IS a direct sequel to the Filmation series but because of what happens it took me a few minutes to process where the story was going and I think some people might get turned off and miss out on a great story, but that's their loss.

The story, in my opinion, makes a lot of sense and really lets Masters of the Universe be about more than He-Man and Skeletor and I love that. I love it a lot. 

Orko isn't annoying and there are moments of real emotion from the nostalgia these characters experience after the events of the first episode. The status quo has changed dramatically and many of these characters, even the "bad guys" -- especially the "bad guys" are really going through something.

The one issue that might crop up is Teela's reaction to what happens and if you didn't watch the Filmation movie or know the lore you might not fully get her strong emotions. Is the show about Teela? Yes, and it's about Duncan, Orko, Evil-Lyn, Tri-Klops, Beast-Man, Whiplash, Trap Jaw, and Mer-Man through three episodes. But it is also okay that it is about Teela because this store isn't a Skeletor scheme-of-the-episode and there are real stakes involved because the people who loved it are now making it.

And I really, really love that.

Let me add that the voice cast is outstanding on every level but Lena Headey's Evil-Lyn is transcendent and her castmates include the Onion Knight, Luke Skywalker, and Batman.

I totally love this series and I hope it rises above the outrage. I do understand feeling a bit puzzled about Smith's "direct sequel" and the direction the story takes, but the property is better for it and I hope it makes a lot of people love Masters of the Universe. It certainly gave me everything I wanted in a MotU show as well as everything I didn't know that I wanted if that makes sense.


Monday, July 26, 2021

Marvel Monday: Hulk for Godbound

       


Immoral Hulk for Godbound

AC: 5 (Requires a magic weapon)
HD: 9
Attack: +9 x2
Morale: 10
Move: 40'
Save: 6+
Damage: 1d6 unarmed straight, magic weapon
Effort: 6
Words: Endurance, Madness, Might

Powers
• Eyes of Unreason
• Fear No Steel
• Harder Than This
• Leap the Moon
• Shoulders Wide as the World
• Stronger Than You
• Unbreakable
•Undying
• Thews of the Gods



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Sunday, July 25, 2021

World of Warcraft: Tauren Origin for Worlds Without Number

     

Art by Rogier van de Beek



Level 1
They gain a +1 to their Constitution or Strength Modifier up to a maximum of +3, their maximum System Strain is their Constition +2, and their horns are a melee weapon that deals 1d6 damage and Shock of 2/AC 13.

Level 2
They gain Survival as a bonus skill, a +1 to either their Mental or Physical Save, and an Effort of 1. They may Commit Effort for the Day and spend their Main Action to stomp their hoof on the ground requiring each creature within 5 feet to make a Physical Saving throw and on a failure take 1d8 damage and lose their next Move Action.

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Warhammer 40,000: Necron Immortal for Stars Without Number

    


Necron Immortal for Stars Without Number

HD: 4
AC: 17
Atk: +4
Dmg: Seen below
Move: 10m
ML: 11
Skills: +3
Save: 12+

• When a Necron Immortal is reduced to zero hit points roll a Saving throw and on a success, it instead survives with 1 Hit Point.

• Immortals are armed with a Tesla Carbine which has a range of 50/100m and targets up to 1d4 enemies within range as a Main Action (bolts of electricity jump from enemy to enemy). The target(s) must make an Evasion Saving throw or take 3d4 damage.  


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Friday, July 23, 2021

Warhammer Fantasy: Skaven Stormvermin for Worlds Without Number

   


Skaven Stormvermin for Worlds Without Number

HD: 4
AC: 16a
Atk: +5

Dmg: Wpn+1
Shock: Wpn+1
Move: 30'
ML: 10
Instinct: 2
Skill: +2

Save: 10+

• If a Stormvermin's To Hit roll is a natural 18 - 20 the target takes 1d6 System Strain. 

• When a Stormvermin makes an Execution Attack the target has a -3 penalty to their Physical Saving throw.

• When a Stormvermin rolls Lead, Notice or Sneak skill checks, roll 3d6 and drop the lowest die.

• Skaven can see in utter darkness out to a distance of 60 feet.



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Thursday, July 22, 2021

Star Wars: Jawa Origin for Stars Without Number

    



Jawas
What Jawas hid underneath their heavy robes was subject to much speculation with rumors claiming they were giant rodents or devolved humans. Although Jawas were typically small, measuring only one meter, some of them were significantly taller than that. 

When Jawas began to walk, they were given moisture-regulated and insulated robes that they would wear their whole life. Their robes were originally hemmed to the armpit. As they mature, the hem is lowered to cover their height. Most Jawas measured their height by the amount of hems their robes had had. An average adult Jawa had usually had five or six hems in their robes.


Level 1
A Jawa gains Survive and either Fix or Trade as a bonus skill.

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Warhammer 40,000: Necron Warrior for Stars Without Numbeer

   


Necron Warrior for Stars Without Number

HD: 2
AC: 16
Atk: +2
Dmg: 2d8+2
Move: 10m
ML: 11
Skills: +1
Save: 14+

• When a Necron Warrior is reduced to zero hit points roll a Physical Saving throw and on a success, it instead survives with 1 Hit Point.



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Monday, July 19, 2021

Marvel Monday: Klaw for Godbound

      



Ulysses Klaw for Godbound

AC: 4 (Requires a magic weapon)
HD: 7
Attack: +9 x3
Morale: 10
Move: 30'
Save: 10+
Damage: 1d8+1, magic weapon
Effort: 4
Words: Engineering; Madness; Vengeance

Powers
• Blood For Blood
• Bloody Vengeance
• Brilliant Invention
• Furious Counerstrike
• Hallucinating World
• Soul of the Machine



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Sunday, July 18, 2021

Warhammer Fantasy: Skaven Clanrat for Worlds Without Number

  



Skaven Clanrat for Worlds Without Number

HD: 2
AC: 14a
Atk: +2

Dmg: Wpn
Shock: Wpn
Move: 25'
ML: 8
Instinct: 4
Skill: +1

Save: 14+

• Skaven are known to coat their weapons in shit, poison, disease, or even warpstone. If a clanrat's To Hit roll is a natural 19 - 20 the target takes 1d6 System Strain. 

• When a clanrat rolls Notice or Sneak skill checks, roll 3d6 and drop the lowest die.

• Skaven can see in utter darkness out to a distance of 30 feet.



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Thursday, July 15, 2021

Warhammer Fantasy: Squig for Worlds Without Number

 



Squig for Worlds Without Number

HD: 1
AC: 14
Atk: +2

Dmg: 1d4
Shock: 1 / 15
Move: 30'
ML: 10
Instinct: 9
Skill: +1

Save: 14+

• When taking the swarm action with other squigs add  +1 damage to Shock up to +3.

The Squig (short for "Squiggly Beasts") is considered by many to be the simplest form of Greenskin life. Squigs seem to be extremely simple in terms of their motivations. So far, they have only ever been reliably observed exhibiting two behavioral patterns; eat anything edible that is nearby, then move more-or-less randomly until there is something else to eat within range, and once more wander about aimlessly. A number of bizarre offshoots of Squigs have been seen in various locations within the Old World, though they inevitably favor lightless areas such as caves and underground tunnels.


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Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Star Wars: Wookiee Origin for Stars Without Number

   



Wookiee
They were a species of tall, hairy humanoids that were native to the planet Kashyyyk. They were quite strong and were known to rip people's arms out of their sockets when provoked. Though being from a temperate planet better known for its swamps and forests, they were able to be comfortable on icy worlds such as Ilum and Hoth without any protective clothing, including gloves and boots.

Wookiees had extendable claws which they used for climbing; using them for anything else violated the Wookiee honor code. Despite their fearsome appearance and volatile temperament, Wookiees were regarded as intelligent, sophisticated, loyal, and trusting. When angered, Wookiees were known to descend into a berserker rage.
Wookiees had a long lifespan, appearing not to age over a span of fifty years. They could learn to understand other languages, like Galactic Basic, but they were physically unable to speak them. To those who had not learned to understand Shyriiwook, the Wookiee language, it appeared they spoke in a series of growls and purrs. 

Level 1
A wookiee gains Punch as a bonus skill and they gain a +1 bonus to their Strength modifier, up to a maximum of +3.

Level 2
They deal +1 Shock with melee weapons if the Armor Class is not too high to be affected and they gain Exert as a bonus skill.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Silent Legions: Kushtaka

   




Kushtaka for Silent Legions


AC: 5
HD: 2
Atks: Bite +2

Dmg: 1d6
Move: 30' / 20' Swimming
Morale: 8
Skill: +3
Special: Disguised

Madness: 1
Save: 12+



Physically, kushtaka are shape-shifters who will imitate the cries of a baby or the screams of a woman to lure victims to the river. Once there, the Kushtaka attempt to kill their victim.

It is also said that the Kushtaka emit a high pitched, three part whistle in the pattern of low-high-low.

Finally, kushtaka hate shamans, witches, and magicians and will go out of their way to destroy them (60% chance to detect within 90 feet).


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Worlds Without Number: Displacer Beast


Displacer Beast

 for Worlds Without Number

HD: 3
AC: 13
Atk: +5

Dmg: 1d8 / 1d8
Shock: 2 / 13
Move: 40'
ML: 9
Instinct: 6
Skill: +2

Save: 13+

• If a creature's To Hit roll against the displacer beast is odd it becomes a miss.
• A displacer beast does not take Shock damage on a miss in melee combat if the To Hit roll is odd.
• Its tentacles have the Long trait.
• Due to its tentacles a displacer beast may Grapple two foes at the same time.

"The displacer beast is a "vaguely puma-like creature" with tentacles that are "dead black". The "molecular vibrations of the displacer beast are such that it always appears to be three feet [from] its actual position." Because of this they get a bonus to AC and saves.

It uses its two tentacles in combat, slashing victims with "the rough, horny edges of these appendages"."


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Monday, July 5, 2021

Marvel Monday: Captain America for Godbound




Captain America Level 5 for Godbound

Abilities       Score   (Modifier)  [Check]
Strength          14        (+2)           [7+]
Dexterity        13         (+1)           [8+]
Constitution   16         (+2)           [5+] 
Wisdom          13         (+1)           [8+]
Intelligence     13         (+0)           [8+]
Charisma        18         (+3)           [3+]

AC 
3 (2 with Shield)

Saving Throws
Hardiness   13+
Evasion      14+
Spirit          12+

Facts (+4)
Just A Kid From the Lower East Side
A Good Soldier, A Better Man
The First Avenger
A Stranger in a Strange Time
Sentinel of Liberty
Agent of SHIELD
Nomad
Defend the U.S. from Threats Foreign and Domestic

Words
Universal
    Corona of Fury (Smite Action) [Shield Slinging]
Endurance
    Defy the Iron
Peak Human
    All Natural
    Human Grit
    Indomitable Will
    Mortal's Luck
    Off the Wall
    Street Sweeper
    Trained Aim
Protection
   Shed the Black Rain
   Unbreakable
    
Equipment
Unarmed  +8; 1d6+2, Fray 1d8
Shield +8; 1d8+3, Fray 1d8, Magic

Hit Points     30

Effort            6

Influence      5

Goal   
To Defend Liberty


   

Star Wars: Trandoshans for Stars Without Number

   



Trandoshan
They were sentient humanoids with smooth, scaly skin. Trandoshans ranged from being tall and fairly gaunt to being short and more rotund. Trandoshans were powerful beings and had long thin arms that ended in either three thick digits, or four thin digits, including a thumb. Trandoshans had a pair of eyes set back on a pointed skull, and a jaw filled with pointed teeth. They hatched from eggs, with individuals who shared a hatch of eggs calling each other clutchmates.
Trandoshans often walked barefooted and had feet with three digits each. A Trandoshan's skin color could vary wildly, and Trandoshans could be found with green, red, orange, brown, or yellow skin. Some Trandoshans had brownish-orange skin with red stripes on their face. They were able to regrow their limbs if they were severed. Trandoshans used their sharp claws to climb tall trees in the forest or jungles they naturally inhabited.


They regrow lost arms or legs in 1d6+1 weeks. Gain a +1 bonus to their Strength modifier and when attempting to climb roll 3d6 on the Exert skill check and drop the lowest die.

Sunday, July 4, 2021

The 9 Realms: Session 1 & 2


A few weeks ago I ran Godbound for a small group of friends, 3 players in all. I used some pregens found here and my players chose to run Thor, a Red Dragon, and Legolas. They investigated some disappearances in the village of Kwung at the base of Red Witch Mountain. 

The session was great and heavily featured investigation and a lot of role-playing. The characters discovered that Loki & Hela were manipulating a pact that Odin had made many centuries ago and that the Red Witch was abducting villagers who were involved in the death of her apprentice. Like all others before her, the current Red Witch took on an apprentice to replace her so she eventually escape her mortal coil and become a part of the magical weave around Midgard. To solve the situation characters went into Hel and made a pact with Hela, two, in fact, which reunited the Red Witch and her apprentice were reunited and the natural cycle restored.


Tonight, I had 3 players again, Thor's player returned and was now joined by Loki and Doctor Strange. The Celestial Beauracracy detected an anomaly at the Violet Gate in Svartalfheim and dispatched the Pantheon to investigate the situation in a kind of "pre-crime" scenario ala Minority Report. 

I used Kevin Crawford's excellent tools in Godbound to generate a nice outline for the session and it worked great.

The Beauracracy had allowed the Brotherhood in Bonds, who serve the Shackled God, to take over maintenance on the Violet Gate but various omens pointed to something dangerous occurring there soon.

The trio met the new leader of the Brotherhood, Hyrm, the sentient python advising him (who is also the serpent from Eden), an Oni named Harvey, a heroin-addicted quantum physicist named Kevin, and a blind astronomer named Liz.

The investigation revealed that the former leader of the Brotherhood, Kip Kob Khana was a makluan -- a member of the same alien race as Fin Fang Foom, had masqueraded as a human throughout many centuries until he found a way to use the Violet Gate to take necessary technology to his homeworld so that they could conquer Earth. The trio was able to intercept the Makluan armada at Jupiter and was able to decimate the fleet. The surviving ships insisted on a formal treaty with the Celestial Bureaucracy and the accompanying feast to honor the trio. However, all of that was only a ruse as Kip and their leader, Leng Leng Leng, used the Violet Gate to attack the brotherhood and escape the Dark World.

Doctor Strange went to Alfheim and was met by a trinity of Light Elves while Thor and Loki went to Nidavellir, the Realm of the Dwarves, where they encountered several fallen Dwarves. It was then that Thor and Loki called out to the Sorcerer Supreme who was being attacked by the Light Elves who had allied with the Makluans.

And that is where we ended things.

The plan is to continue things next week.

Friday, July 2, 2021

Masters of the Universe: Webstor for Godbound

     


Webstor

for Godbound Free Edition

AC: 3
HD: 7
Attack: +7 x2
Morale: 8
Move: 30
Save: 12+
Damage: 1d10 piercing, range of 300 feet, magic weapon
Effort: 4

Powers
• All Directions As One
• Disclose the Flaw
• Untouchable
• Verminous Venom


Real Name: Araneus son of Raknus

One of the last remaining members of an ancient Eternian race of Spider Warriors called the Arachna, Webstor™ was awoken from hibernation beneath Snake Mountain and occasionally allies himself with Skeletor®. In ancient times, the Arachna were an advanced dominant race until driven underground by the Snake Men™. Araneus retains much of the knowledge of his people and while seemingly savage, is an expert mathematician and strategist as well as an accomplished escape artist. He often arms himself with a grappling hook Fast Pack and uses his climbing power to escape capture!

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Monster Monday: Ork City's Chupacabra for Shadowdark

Welcome to Ork City! In the middle of Ork City's Hatt Island is the Park, a wild and dangerous forest filled with all manner of nightmar...