Cepheus Sorcery

Over the last year, I've looked at quite a few Traveller/Cepheus Engine products from various publishers. While I understand the appreciation for building your character through Education and Careers it's not something I'm a huge fan of. However, Stellagama is a publisher that has been making Cepheus products that are lighter on rules yet still capture the OSR appeal I think Traveller/Cepheus has.

My favorite of these began with Cepheus Quantum(it's free )and has carried over to Cepheus Atom (think Gamma World) and Barbaric! (think DnD or RuneQuest).

Yesterday, they uploaded Cepheus Sorcery which is a 2 page set of rules for using the Cepheus system in a Sword & Sorcery setting. Like their other Cepheus Quantum games, it's just a masterpiece of getting to the heart of what I find important as a player and a Game Master. I have less time these days and while I love DnD 5th Edition and Shadows of the Demon Lord it's cool to have such a proven set of rules in a mere 2 pages.

I haven't been taken like this with a set of rules since the Cypher System.

It's free and there is literally no reason not to download it. If you like it, pick up Barbaric! too.

Rifts: Glitter Boy Power Armor for Cepheus Atom

  

Glitter Boy Power Armor Cepheus Atom

• Gauss rifle 6D damage (Range of 500/1000, must 

   take an action to deploy anchors into the ground 

   before firing gauss rifle)

• Protection 15 (takes no damage from laser 

   weapons)

• DM+4 to all Physical Throws

• DM+1 to all Combat Throws

• Power cell charger

• Integrated gas mask, communicator, 

   night-vision goggles, and rad suit

• No heavy armor penalty

If you like this post and others like it and have an extra $1 a month, please consider becoming a Patron of Cross Planes on Patreon.

GameStorming: Earth 2238

In the last year, I have let my Anxiety keep me from running a campaign and I decided this week that it is time to face that head-on. It's neat to have a group willing to go along with different games and an erratic schedule, but in my opinion, a campaign is more fulfilling for everyone involved.

I'll be using D&D 5th Edition and we'll start around 3rd level. I've limited the races available to Tieflings, Dhampyrs, Hexbloods, Eladrin, Aarakokra, Warforged, Tritons, Hobgoblins, Changelings, Orcs, and Humans, but have not limited classes thus far. 

Speaking of setting, I'm looking at a post-apocalyptic world, probably between 100 and 500 years after the cataclysm. There are plenty of examples of the previous civilization but most of the secrets of those bygone days are little understood by the people currently alive.

I'm going to post some pieces of inspiration for the game.

Burnt World: Behemoth Non-Human for Barbaric!

Behemoth for Barbaric!

Behemoth: In some lost millennium, as a bizarre experiment or perhaps as some sort of curse, giants were magically crossbred with humans. They may attack from the rear rank and gain +1D Endurance.

 

Burnt World: Ravagers & Wyrm Priests for Barbaric!

 Stellagama's Barbaric! has really captured my imagination and I'm working on a setting that is very much inspired by Dark Sun and I'm calling the project Burnt World. 

Below are two new traits.

Ravager: A sorcerer may quickly and destructively drain magical energy directly from the surrounding environment and its inhabitants in a 5-foot radius causing the vegetation to wilt and die and imposing a DM-1 on all creatures in that radius. When they cast Hastily a Ravager gains Advantage on their Sorcery Skill throw.

Wyrm Priests: These beings gain the ability to cast sorcery in exchange for serving the Wyrm Kings. Wyrm Priests always choose their spells instead of rolling them randomly.

.

Rifts: Blind Warrior Women of Altarra for Cepheus Atom

 

Blind Warrior Women of Altara for Cepheus Atom

Infamous clones bred to serve Atlantis and the Splugorith. 12/25, Move 15m, Armor 4, Wrist Blaster (range 100/400 3D damage). Combat-3, Knowledge-1, Physical-2, Survival-2. 

If you like this post and others like it and have an extra $1 a month, please consider becoming a Patron of Cross Planes on Patreon.

Rifts: Dead Boys for Cepheus Atom

Dead Boy for Cepheus Atom
The foot soldiers of the Coalition State, they have been fed lies upon lies about the world outside their walls and they loyally enforce those twisted laws of human supremacy. 9/18, Move 10m, Armor 5, Assault Rifle (range 50/200 3D damage, Auto). Combat-1, Physical-1, Survival-1.