Strange Glyphs

DnDNext, Modular Games, and Setting

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

When a new edition of the world's most popular role playing game is announced, people react. Boy, do they react...

I'm uninterested in stoking the fires of the edition wars with this post. If you're looking for flaming of a given edition or play-style, you're going to be disappointed. I was curious about another aspect of releasing a "modular" game system.

To be sure, the concept of a modular role playing game system is not a new idea. Take a look at Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying core rulebook, any edition of Steve Jackson Games' venerable GURPS, Hero Games' HERO System, Green Ronin's True20, or Savage Worlds. Each of these are useful and entertaining games.

My question: Should a core rulebook for a game include a default setting?

Several of these previously-mentioned games do not have settings included in their core books. (I think HERO might be the exception there.) Would a modular RPG benefit from having a solid, well-defined setting in their core rules books?

I feel that, given DnD's tremendous popularity, it will need somewhere solid into which the casual tabletop gamer can drop their spell-slinging mystics and thugs with axes. DnD4e's default setting was the Nentir Vale (borrowing heavily from previous editions' settings later in their development). DnD3x's default setting was Greyhawk, but it seemed to suffer from an editorial push to be generic enough that it didn't outshine the rules the game presented in the three core books.

Regardless, I'm curious about the kind of balance that authors feel should be created between a system and setting in a "generic" or "modular" game.

All the best games integrate elements of the setting into their rules. The things on your character sheet should mean something in the world your character lands in. An Orlanthi shaman won't have spells to summon fire elementals. The Knights of the Blue Rose will be expected to arbitrate disputes in the outlying areas of the kingdom, regardless of their arcane or martial abilities (or even their ability to speak the local language). You can tell how successful an Investigator in Call of Cthulhu is by comparing their number of encounters with the Mythos and their Sanity score.

To get this level of detail, in a potentially "generic" rule set, could be an editorial challenge. Done well, the integration of these two parts of game-craft should show inventive / creative types how to apply the core rules to their own settings.

At least that's what I'm hoping for.

To Greyhawk or Not To Greyhawk?

2012-01-05T20:00:00.001-06:00

Every few years, I look at the current state of the table-top roleplaying culture and I wonder where I should be running my games. Not whose house to gather at, not which room to take over and strew books around in, but what setting to use?

Let's face facts: I don't have the same amount of time to devote to writing material to use for game. Work is more and more invasive on my time, real life takes its toll. So, how do I spend my time prepping for the sessions I run? So far, it's been about taking established Greyhawk material and translating it to Pathfinder rules. That, or creating whole-cloth the stuff that I need for my specific game. Greyhawk is awesome, and there are no more books being released there.

Golarion, on the other hand, has new material being released from both professional and amateur sources. (This is, of course, the default setting for the Pathfinder RPG. And more than just quantity, the quality of the Golarion releases is quite high. Personally, I haven't seen the kind of layers and detail that are being wrought for Golarion since 80's-era Glorantha. Detailed local shrines which actually have effects on the characters who attend them, personalities and politics in every corner of the world, well-balanced NPCs who genuinely need the player-characters as either their foils or their allies.

Also, have I mentioned that this is already in the system my players prefer to use?

Greyhawk was my first setting. I'm profoundly affectionate for it. However, I might need to swap over to a different setting for the games I'm running in my limited time. Yup. I'm thinking it might be time to set Greyhawk aside for a little while (at least until I get done with my writing for it).

Opinions? Confessions?

Let me know!

The Sorcerer Supreme . . . most ill

2011-12-22T10:57:00.002-06:00

Jemma Salume's studies in mythology and desire to engage with the Marvel canon's Dr. Strange are two aspects of this artist that make her an immediate draw for me.

Add to this the concept of Mos Def as a Sorcerer Supreme. OMG!

I wish her all the best in the future. Not only is she a talented artist, but appears to have a cunning sense of humor as well. I will buy her a (drink or comic of her choice), should we ever meet. Then, we'd chat about Dr. Strange for a while.

Boo and Yah!

Also; Wanderer is actually being written. But so are about four other projects, two of which I'm being paid for. So, the going is slow. The holidays are a time of celebration and writing for me. More will make it out of my subconscious and into my keyboard this week. Hang in there. For reals.

[Comics] Dr. Strange's Villains, redesigned

2011-08-02T14:21:00.001-05:00

There was once a time when Marvel's occult aspects were the only thing I was reading from the publisher. It appears difficult to maintain a magic meta-plot for any length of time, which is a real shame.

I *love* Marvel's Lovecraftian-influenced outer gods and parallel realms.

I should write down all the ideas I have for the Dr. Strange franchise and associated characters. Maybe someone could use them to re-invigorate this downtrodden milieu in the Mighty Marvel Manner?

Take a look at an artist's re-design of several of the Sorcerer Supreme's opponents. Beautiful work, thoughtfully designed, clearly implemented with engaging color schemes. W00t! It has my creative juices flowing, just looking at the sadistic looking Baron Mordo and the world-dwarfing Shuma-Gorath.

What in the world is the Dread Dormammu doing in that awesome armor?!?

Djinns and Shaitan and Efreeti, oh my!

[Wanderer] RPG.net Swords and Sorcery thread

2011-05-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

It would appear that the urge to use the simple Traveller-style RPG system for a more . . . fantastical setting is common. Witness this thread over on RPG.net. These intrepid souls are using the Mongoose Traveller implementation for their base system.

Things haven't gotten too deep as yet, but they've got a focus and are getting things done.

So, in the immortal words of Doc Grognard, "...and three of us makes conspiracy!".

Awesome!

[Pathfinder] Sirrian's Tome of Changes

2011-05-26T10:10:00.002-05:00

Sirrian Lightchaser’s Tome of Changes

Description- The Tome of Changes is a square, approximately three hand-spans on a side. Polished darkwood covers bind together one hundred and twenty pages of thin, strong paper. The covers of the Tome lay flat against its pages, with a strong set of metallic cords penetrating the darkwood and pages in a regular pattern creating the hinge which opens the book. Both the cording and the paper of the pages are unique, with each owner of the Tome researching their potential origin without success.

The Tome of Changes is unusual in that it appears to have started out as a working field-notebook, then evolved into a more serious record of Sirrian's development as a mage. Reflecting this, there are three distinct sections to the book. Each section is detailed below.
First Section- The first section of the Tome is read by opening the cover from right-to-left. Notes are written in Old Suel, with ink and water stains occasionally marring otherwise neat and orderly handwriting. This chapter consists of 31 pages of field-notes, research scribblings, random reminders in the margins, as well as these specific spells:

Level 2- Summon Monster II, Cat's Grace, Shatter, Make Whole, Knock, Alter Self

Level 3- Arcane Sight, Gaseous Form, Keen Edge, Magic Circle Against Evil, Sirrian's Brilliant Wings, Slow

Sirrian's Brilliant Wings
School- Transmutation; Level- sorcerer 4, wizard 3
Casting Time- 1 standard action; Components- V, S, F (a scale from a reptile)
Range- touch; Target- creature touched; Duration- 1 minute/level
Saving Throw- Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance- yes (harmless)

The subject of the spell gains a pair of gold dragon wings. With them, the subject may fly at a speed of 60 feet (or 40 feet if carrying more than a medium load, or wearing more than medium armor). It can ascend at a third speed and descend at double speed. Its maneuverability is Good.

Using the new wings requires only as much concentration as walking, which allows the character to cast and attack normally. The transformed subject may both charge and run, and may not carry more than its maximum load aloft (this amount includes armor).

The subject gains the ability to slap foes with their new wings, even when flying. Wing slam damage is based on Size of the subject, and the subject may only apply half their Strength modifier to the damage rolled. Small Sized creatures do 1d2 damage with a Wing Slap. Medium do 1d4 damage with a Wing Slap. Large do 1d6. Huge do 1d8. Should the subject be aloft when the spell's duration ends, they begin falling immediately as the wings used to maintain altitude no longer exist.

Odds and Ends
A mage who studies the pattern of the notes and works out the order in which they were entered (DC 18 Spellcraft check, DC 17 Craft (cyphers), or DC 15 Linguistics) will permanently gain a +2 bonus to their Spellcraft checks for identifying spells of the Transmutation school as though they were a Wizard specializing in the Transmutation School. They do not, however, gain the penalties for opposing schools.

Should the mage have Transmutation as an opposed school, the DC's listed above are raised by +4 each. Should they then make one of the connections, the character will gain a +5 bonus to their Spellcraft checks for identifying spells of the Transmutation school as they are cast, thus negating the penalty associated with having Transmutation as their opposed school.

Histories
Coven of Sublime Vapours- In this part of the spellbook, Sirrian makes several notes about a strange cult he encountered. They were a large group of humans and orc finding veneration of a Green Dragon / Basilisk hybrid. The longer they were exposed to the beast's vile exhalations, the further their physical transformations grew. Stony armored plates covered their skins, fangs elongated from mouths. Orcish followers developed venom sacks in their mouths.

The dragon hybrid itself had long ago solidified to the point that it was immobile. Destroying the beast and its followers was accomplished by dropping Stinking Cloud bombs into their center of worship and using siege tactics against the armored cultists as they fled. The Clan of Thurkalow (Dwur residents of the County of Ulek) helped Sirrian with the more martial aspects of the raid.

His Calm Stare- This strange church seemed to appear in the Free City in CY54, and its adherents would spend long hours in attentive contemplation of a statue. The device was a depiction of an yuan-ti abomination, coiled in repose with a single arm raised. Materially, it appears as a dull brown stone. Very hard, but polished to a high sheen. Followers of the Church of His Calm Stare slowly became less discriminate about their food; consuming rarer and rarer cuts of meat until finally they would chase animals in the street and take bites from them. Their speech became more sibilant, with elongated 'S' sounds and a droning cadence.

Finally, the City Guard was forced into action. They raided the Church grounds proper and removed the statue. Sirrian, in the form of a Suel fem, accompanied the Guard and records the location of where the statue was taken and stored. City Hall, 2nd sub-basement, Section 5, far left corner in the wooden crate that was built around it. The crate is labeled "Property of the City Guard", "DANGER", and has the number "RG100232-CY57".

[IMCotD] Cultists Everywhere

2011-05-24T09:47:00.000-05:00

(9:34:30 AM) Gerall: the number is from Madison
(9:35:15 AM) Kevin: yep.
(9:36:43 AM) Gerall: so, who is it if you know so much?
(9:37:11 AM) Kevin: that guy from the Jersey Shore reality show: The Situation. :D
(9:37:41 AM) Gerall: whew- i was worried it was coming out of Lovecraft country...
(9:38:02 AM) Kevin: dude, he's a cultist. I'M SURE OF IT!
(9:38:44 AM) Gerall: so, what you're typing is that's not a *real* 6-pack?
(9:39:13 AM) Kevin: it is most certainly not.
(9:40:02 AM) Gerall: ::shudder::

Under the Broken Moon

2011-05-10T07:50:00.007-05:00

Session 1: Ariel's Plea

This past Saturday, me and three of my friends went to our FLGS to play the Gamma World-Thundarr mashup. I had a blast, and, from what my players said to me, they did too. We didn't get through the whole scenario I created, but we have only about an hour left to roleplay - two major encounters. Here's more detail on how the game went.

Character Creation:
I was hoping it wouldn't take more than an hour to create a hero. It took about 1.5 hours to wade through it all. The players had just enough choice to make things interesting for them, but not too much that they were overwhelmed with choices. We drafted Mutations and Omega Tech cards. I also wanted to use the D&D Fortune Cards so I gave them each a pack and we drafted those too.

We ended up with a Mok/Prescient Warrior, a Vampiric/Illusionist Noble, and a Plant/Arcanist Healer. It was a pretty good variety of powers and origins. I was pleased at how the randomness turned out.

The listings of powers I made for each Origin and Calling turned out to be invaluable. It was slightly overwhelming to have that many powers, mutations, and tech to use. Factor in Fortune Cards and the normal strategy of D&D 4E, and it quickly added up to lots of stuff to think about. Almost too much.

Cut-Away:
It should be noted that I have the best players in the world. Their reading of my Cut-away to start the session was amazing. A special award to goes to Paul, who had the hardest part to read: Gemini the Wizard. He delivered the "head-turning" performance with pinache. Thanks, Paul.

Combat:
All the powers and tech oozed atmosphere for the deadly world of Gamma World. Playing in Thundarr's Campaign made the world seem even more real to me. It was a very dangerous place. Gamma World as a system is very deadly. Damage can easily exceed your Bloodied value even for the 6th level PC's we created. The Omega Tech and Mutations are incredibly important because they help mitigate damage even avoiding it all together occasionally with Immediate Interrupts from things like powered armor.

Magic and Tech meshed well; I was a little worried it would feel stilted. It was very Thundarr-ish to me. We had two magic-oriented Origins in the group and their magic spells seemed like just another part of the world.

The D&D Fortune Cards, while cool effects, did not seem to affect the game as much as I'd hoped. They were merely a side note, occasionally coming into play. They were severely overshadowed by the Mutations and Tech. I believe they would be more useful for lower level charcters, though.

The Adventure:
I think my "hook" for this one-shot was a good one. I'll tell everyone about it once we complete it this weekend. The first encounter was much tougher than I expected for the PC's. I did not expect that much damage to be thrown around. Gravity Well is a very cool Mutation, by the way.

My second encounter, at Gemini's Palace, was a bit choppy. With only three players, I had to scale back the onslaught of Gemini's guards, but I think I scared them a little with the blue-bug's dimensional powers.

Conclusions:
1. It was a lot of fun. I would do it again for sure.
2. Might try 1st level next time.
3. Gamma World's mods to the D&D 4E engine are valid and make the game very fun and Gamma World-ish. They have succeeded in that regard.
4. Thundarr is a great place for post-apocalyptic roleplay.

I hope some of my players make comments. I would love to hear what they thought about the game. I'll post more thoughts once the scenario is done.

[WWIR] DnD3e / Pathfinder - Dark Prophecy

2011-04-28T22:16:00.000-05:00

What Would I Run? - Forgotten Realms
I've re-read some excellent 3.0 / 3.5 material recently; namely, the Shining South source book for the Forgotten Realms setting. There's something about the nation of Halruaa and the mages who run it. The nation is nicely meshed into the metaphysics of the setting, including their fervent Mystran and Azuthian Churches. Given my habits as a GM, I want to include a cult or coven to Shar as well... I love using cults - just ask any of my players. And I wanted to give the characters something different to chew on for this game.

So, add all these habits and drives up and what do you get? What would I run using 3.x Forgotten Realms?

Short answer: The PCs would be members of the cult of Shar hidden among the Halruaan nobility. The coven is busy, working toward the fulfillment of The Prophecy. For more details, check it out after the break...

The Attractor - the Cult
Shar may be listed as a Neutral Evil goddess of Shadow, but for this horror-oriented game to work, the cell of worshipers would have to have some guiding hierarchy. That's where the Child and her Prophecies come in. The Lady of Shades has made it a priority to bring together the cell of adventurers, and her High Priestess claims to know her grand designs. Should none of the PCs want to play a mage specializing in Divination counters, the Child will have an older sibling (once thought to be the Child) who is a master of this odd magical pursuit. He will also be trained in a special Knowledge skill: Shar's Prophecy. PCs are allowed to take training in this skill as well, should they feel the need (and after the first few games, they should certainly feel the need).

Investment for the PCs comes in the form of either a bonus Feat (something Shar would approve of and grant), a profound magic item, or access to unique magics.

Initial Conflict - Hiding the Child
At the onset of the campaign, the challenge comes from outside the cult. Player characters will learn about the police forces and Inquisitors of the mighty nation of Halruaa. Contacts should be established with the seedy underside of this shining feature of Faerun. Forward thinking PCs will work toward putting mundane investigators in their debt. Reactionary PCs will have to move the Child from one safe-house to another, and deal with her outbursts at having to leave behind her friends.

After the first move or two, the Child will develop an imaginary friend. Just before the next section begins, one of the least arcane-trained will be able to see the shadow-friend as well...

Further Trouble - Training the Child
Here, the PCs will be charged with delivering the Child to various sages and magi for her metaphysical training. Given how the game has progressed, the choice for the development of the Child should be made by the GM; training as a Wizard, or as a Sorcerer. Wizardly training would allow her exposure to the careful rules and laws of Halruaa, and develop her disdain for the country's mores.

Training as a Sorcerer leads to further unseemly-society as the "scent" of the Child's magics becomes apparent to her instructors. For the PCs, the work of fulfilling the Prophecy becomes an extortion game. Keeping her teachers in the cult's pocket, or sufficiently threatened that they do not call the Inquisitors down on their heads.

One of the Inquisitors will gain a serious lead on the locale of the Child after one of these abused instructors is attacked by the Child's shadow-friend (ruining the agreement they'd made with the PCs).

Developing Trouble - Controlling the Child
Once the Child's shade gains a taste for blood, it will become more and more difficult to contain her temper. She will begin understanding her importance to the cult (this group of people who have raised her away from her parents, and forced her into the cruel and insipid tutelage of the society of Halruaa). In addition, the High Priestess of the cult will want to begin examining the Child's development.

Here are where things get really difficult for the PCs. Should the Child begin seeing them as obstacles and liabilities instead of trusted companions, they could be faced with a visit from her shade. Additionally, the High Priestess will begin a set of interviews with the Child to determine her progress. Specific tests will include learning her level, her attribute modifier (for her preferred class), and the number of ranks / total modifier for the Spellcraft, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Shar's Prophecy), and Knowledge (Halruaa Nobility). She will want the Child to have the maximum available Ranks in these skills, and to otherwise be adept and ready for a potential confrontation with other mages and Inquisitors.

Should the Child have chosen to invest her resources differently (based on the GM roleplaying her since the beginning of the campaign), the High Priestess will begin sorting out who allowed her to be otherwise influenced (or who may have deliberately influenced her in other directions). Depending on how the PCs and the Child spin things, the characters may find themselves on the receiving end of the shade's dire attentions. Alternately, they may find they are no longer protected by Shar from certain magics. Specifically, they will find that Feats that affect their saves don't work against the Child. In addition, they get a -4 to their saves when subjected to the magics the Child has chosen to specialize in.

Climax - Unleashing the Child
After the High Priestess has tested the Child, the Inquisitor who has been harrying the party will finally discover her location. I would suggest that a contact that the group has made inside the official machineries of state tip the PCs off to this information. Obviously, resulting in a chase across the city. Unfortunately, the Inquisitor in question has convinced the Diviners of the true threat (plus, the Child and her Shade are beginning to seriously show up on their mystic radar, so to speak). The longer the chase lasts, the more resources the officials of Halruaa will gather to put this anathema down.

The penultimate battle will be a serious conflict with the Inquisitor confronting the party with several Azuthian Mystic Theurges, a brace of Jordani, and the cooperation of many of the city guard and police. Pull no punches. Grind them down as hard as you can while the Child and her Shade begin helping out in the fight. Should either of them kill one of the city's defenders, increase the effective Strength of the Shade by 4 for each individual put down. When the Shade begins destroying the arcane / divine opposition, its substance will grow even darker and it will gain in Channel Resistance by 2 for each. The environment should begin reflecting the conflict taking place. Dark clouds begin to roll in. Temperatures drop.

When the Inquisitor herself falls in battle, the Shade and the Child will fuse. The skies will darken, the wind will kick up, and her unconscious form will begin levitating up into the open air. Start counting up the levels of spells aimed at her; they're being absorbed. When the nascent Child has endured 20 or 30 levels of combined levels of incoming malevolent spells, her transformation will be complete. The Child is now a fully formed Apsect of Shar, guided by the consciousness and personality of the Child. Time to go Godzilla in Halruaa.

Remember that, at this point, the Cult's purpose is fulfilled and Shar will demand that her followers reap what they have sewn. Those that performed well and obeyed her dictums will (at this point in the campaign) be immune to much that the Aspect will throw around. Characters who earned the High Priestess' emnity will find those penalties to their saves painful as their charge begins using her powers without regard to their safety. PCs who have disappointed the Child, or otherwise had antagonistic relationships with her, will be some of the first that the new Aspect actively seeks revenge against.

Welcome to the end of Halruaa.

Yeah, I'd be very interested in running a game like this one!

[DnD4e] Under the Broken Moon - Thundarr Roleplaying

2011-04-25T11:22:00.009-05:00

By Kevin Morrell (aka The Splash)

One of my favorite cartoons is Thundarr the Barbarian. Thundarr is a very heroic figure that fights for freedom and justice and that appealed to me as a little kid of 10 years. It has been more than 30 years now since it aired. This cartoon aired before I even dove headlong into rpgs!

So, I bought the new version of Gamma World. I like what they've done with it. 4E seems very flexible. After watching a few episodes of Thundarr's ass-kicking, I thought, "Why not a Thundarr-Gamma World game?" A match made by the Lords of Light.

First thing I gave some thought to was Origins. These are a character's race and what powers they have from birth. So I went through all the lists of Origins I could find and made a few minor tweaks. I created a list of 20 Origins for this game. It's not a complete list of all the races from the cartoon, but it will do for my purposes. Each Origin has art for it on the back of its page. I did this so I could cut the booklet in half and have each Origin with a pic on the back. These will print out in booklet format, by the way.

Origins Booklet 1
Origins Booklet 2

To me, Origin doesn't grant enough kewl powers. The Legion of Gold supplement adds something called "Vocations," but even those are not enough. so, I have implemented simple classes which I have named "Callings." These give you something at every level. You can easily have multiple Callings, but you'll sacrifice the higher level powers. You are rewarded for focus and specialization.

Callings booklet

Origins will be randomly rolled, but you get to choose your Calling(s). I cobbled together a short character creation booklet.

Character Creation Summary Booklet

For my one-shot adventure, I have decided that characters will be 6th level. This gives them good variety of powers and makes them pretty tough to boot. I will also implement an Alpha mutation card draft. This makes it "random" but you still get some choice in what you get for mutations. Omega Tech will also have a short draft too. They only get 2 Tech cards each, so it will indeed be a very short draft. I haven't decided if I'm going to use the new Fortune Cards that came out for 4E. A Fortune Card draft might be cool too. Maybe.

There is a version of a web-project Thundarr game using Over the Edge's rules. It is called "Under the Broken Moon." I couldn't think of a better name than that, so I'm using it for my one-shot.

Under the Broken Moon Project

There is another project I found online called "Demon Dogs!!" It uses D&D 4E for its rules. It's located here.

If you've never seen -- or it's been years since you've seen -- the Thundarr cartoon, check out YouTube or buy the DVD's. Good stuff. I leave you with the intro from each episode.

"The year 1994. From out of space comes a runaway planet, hurtling between the Earth and the Moon, unleashing cosmic destruction. Man's civilization is cast in ruin. Two thousand years later, Earth is reborn... A strange new world rises from the old: a world of savagery, super science, and sorcery. But one man bursts his bonds to fight for justice! With his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel, he pits his strength, his courage, and his fabulous Sunsword against the forces of evil. He is Thundarr, the Barbarian!"

Dwimmers of the Fanhir

2011-03-25T12:35:00.006-05:00

The Fanhir have taught their ways for generations in Rhovanion, the vast Wilderlands of eastern Middle-earth. Their name Fanhir means "Cloudmaster" in the tongue of the Sindarin.

Mastery of the Sky and Clouds is the magic they possess and they teach it to few people as they deem their dwimmers secret power that sorcerors would use without wisdom to dominate others.

Few Fanhir are left to pass on their magic. Many died at the end of the Second Age fighting Sauron's dark power. The Third Age still has a few of these secretive wizards left and they still wage war on the Dark Lord.

Here is a short selection of the Fanhir's dwimmers I have created for the Song of Arda One Roll RPG. Hope they inspire you.

Cloud Shifting (2 Points per die)

Fanhir are learned in the ways of the clouds and understand how to manipulate them to create better or worse weather. The Fanhir with this dwimmer can shift the severity of the current weather by one degree. He could make a rain into a thunder storm or a blizzard into a mere heavy snow.

Cloud Shifting U

· Useful: Capacity: Range, Booster +2, Duration +2 (Width hours), Ritual -2, Exhaustion -2

Cloudreader (1 Point per die)

The Fanhir’s of old guard their secrets jealously, but those chosen to study with them learn the ways of the sky. Fanhir is Sindarin for Cloudmaster. This dwimmer allows the caster to “read” his near future in the clouds. The caster can ask the Gamemaster one question with a short phrase or yes or no answer about the coming day’s events. The answers are usually cryptic, but sometimes helpful. The caster must sit under a sky with clouds and ponder them for at least half an hour before an answer comes to him.

Cloudreader U

· Useful: Capacity: Range, Booster +1, Ritual -2

Lightning (2 Points per die)

From his hand or staff, the caster looses a powerful blast of lightning. The bolt ignores physical armor and Dodge is the only defense. Magical defenses can still function against it. The bolt does Width+2 in Shock and Killing with the Electrocuting effect.

Lightning A+2

· Attack: Capacity: Range, Electrocuting +1, Non-Physical +2, Chant & Gestures -1, Direct Feed -2, Exhaustion -2

Rain-ward (1 Point per die)

This minor dwimmer gives great comfort to traveling magicians, granting the caster the ability to keep himself from getting wet in the rain. It doesn’t alter the weather or stop the rain from falling, but somehow no raindrops hit the caster, no matter how strong the storm.

Rain-ward U+1

· Useful: Capacity: Self, Duration +2 (Width+1 hours), Self Only -3, Fatigue -1

Ray of Sunlight (2 Points per die)

The Fanhir despise the denizens of the Other Side and those who use its foul dwimmers, necromancers. To protect themselves and those they work with, the Fanhir have devised this dwimmer to protect against the depradations of the undead. The light burns and distracts the dead, creating Interference Dice for the the protected to use against the attacks and magic of them. As with most magic of the Fanhir, it costs the caster dearly in his personal energy.

Ray of Sunlight D

· Defense: Capacity: Range, Range Capacity +2, Interference +2, Duration +1 (combat), Chants and Gestures -1, Fatigue -1, Exhaustion -2, Against Undead Only -1

Refreshing Breeze (1 Point per die)

The Fanhir of Rhovanion are fond of this simple dwimmer and teach it to their apprentices. The caster calls a brief, but warm and restful, breeze. This wind refreshes those within 30 feet of the caster by reducing their Exhaustion by 1. A person can only benefit from this magic once in a day.

Refreshing Breeze U

· Useful: Capacity: Range, Radius +2, Fatigue -1, Gestures -1, Limited Width -1

[How To] Read Only Game Stuff From This Blog

2011-03-20T21:19:00.001-05:00

Here's an RSS feed for game-only stuff from Strange Glyphs. Copy this URL and put it into your news reader of choice. Then it'll be nothing but Wanderer, Traveller, Greyhawk, Pathfinder and BRP... and whatever else Kevin contributes to the blog. :)

Excelsior!

[Debian GNU/Linux] Epiphany Slowness - solution found!

2011-03-20T21:07:00.001-05:00

My tumblr-hosted technical blog appears to have disappeared into the aether, so I'm going to be posting more non-gaming stuff here. If you're into gaming posts only, you'll want to read only the material with the RPGBloggers label. That'll keep you on top of my gaming strangeness.

My laptop runs Debian GNU/Linux. With the latest update, my favorite web-browser Epiphany is slow as a goat on the initial load of a web page from a given domain. Once we get the PAINFULLY SLOW first page loaded up, further requests to that domain load up lickety-split. So, it was looking like a DNS issue...

Tech details after the break!

As it turns out, this is due to the WebKit engine that the Epiphany browser has been ported to. It's wanting to gear-up on IPv6 while my network only groks IPv4.

After making appropriate sacrifices to the Google oracle, it turns out there's a handy way to disable IPv6 in the newer versions of the Debian OS. Once that was addressed, Epiphany turns into the speed-demon it has always been. Fully awesome, all the way down to the bits on the bus. ::airguitar::

Now, one day in the far future, when IPv6 becomes the mainstay of addressing the nodes of the interwebs, I'll go in and re-enable the feature and bask in Debian's awesomeness again. In the meantime, I'll be riding copper using the IPv4 protocol. Hell yeah!

[Review] Pink Lady Apples

2011-03-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

No, this is not a gaming post. I'm trying to remember specifics about which kinds of apples I enjoy. Hence, the creation of these posts about various breeds of apple and how they make my mouth feel. You can skip this if you're not into food like I am.

However, the format for this post will mirror other review-style for future posts. Each review will consist of 5 categories, and each category gets a grade from 0 - 20. Total review metric is the summation of all the category's scores. Dig it...

Color - 18 of 20 Pink Lady apples, at my grocer, are some of the more appealing for Color. A solid red color, with a hint of the titular pink of their breed's name. Blushes are caused on apples and peaches by the leaves of the tree blocking sunlight from falling on the skin of the fruit. Interestingly, blushes are more like tan lines. Where the sun touches a pink lady, she gets rosy-red. Lighter patches (typically at the top near the stem of the fruit) range from dull pink to green.

Skin Texture - 16 of 20 My fruit enjoyment is exceptionally affected by Texture. The skin of a Pink Lady is thick, with a clean bite. Once properly washed, there is only the vaguest impression of a natural wax to it. Unlike some fruits, the peel does not contribute to the sour aspects of the apple's taste (as documented later in this post).

Flesh Texture - 19 of 20 The flesh of the Pink Lady is firm (at least at this stage of ripeness), and not too mealy once you start to chew. Having one at hand while this post is being written, I'm also observing that the flesh of the fruit doesn't seem to be diving towards the deep brown bruised color too quickly. For cooking with them, I'd imagine Pink Lady apples would be on the mid-to-high scale for keeping their shape and texture.

Sweetness - 16 of 20 Fruits are, biologically, seed delivery systems. They're designed to fall from the parent plant and rot, their flesh providing the calories the seeds will need to establish themselves in the environment and start their lives as plants. The Pink Lady's flesh tends toward an initial burst of sweetness, then as the fruit is worked over one's palate, the flavor changes and the apple's Sour aspects take over. I've enjoyed sweeter apples, but only in breeds that are aimed for that destination.

Sourness - 18 of 20 As a word of warning, my sour-aesthetic is only moderate. Higher grades in this category mean a medium to stronger-medium sour punch. Pink Ladies seem to be ideal for my taste-buds here. As noted above, after the initial sweet impression and more of the fruit is chewed, the medium-sour effects of this device really shine. The sweet and sour aspects of the fruit never over-power one another. Great marks here!

In Conclusion - 87 total
Awesome apple! I am looking forward to trying Pink Lady apples in some pastries. As a raw snack, they're also pretty high on my list of preferred apple. I know it's odd to have me say this so early in the process of tracking the apple aesthetic, but I'm using my memories of other apples instead of the blog for the judgement call. When we get deeper into the reviewing process, others will probably see my internal strangeness and the patterns thus revealed.

Enjoy your apples!

[LotR] Song of Arda - A Dwimmer & An Enchantment

2011-03-17T09:32:00.010-05:00

Well, I can't wait for Cubicle 7's new Hobbit RPG. I'm in the process of using the One Roll Engine (ORE for short) for playing in Middle-earth. I'm calling it "Song of Arda." Not original, I know, but I like it.

ORE is the same ruleset for REIGN and Wild Talents and Nemesis, among a couple of others too.

This post is specifically about MAGIC. I'm using 4 types of magic, all using the same rules from Wild Talents Miracle creation. Each has a slightly different flavor and power level. These are lifted from other LotR rpg's out there.

Spell-craft & Spells: lower-powered, more personal magic.
Dwimmer-craft & Dwimmers: more powerful, larger scope.
Enchantment: Even bigger, long lasting too.
Lore-craft & Secrets: Crafting items and stuff usually magical stuff.

So, below are one dwimmer and one enchantment, both Attack magic. Flame of Anor is a dwimmer used by those who serve the Secret Fire as Gandalf does. Fires of Udun is an enchantment and sorcery used by those who serve the Shadow. These have been adapted from the Decipher Lord of the Rings RPG.

I've added some Extras and Flaws. I'll explain some of those in another post. Just wanted to show people what I'm working on.

Flame of Anor (1 Point per die)

This dwimmer, one of the most powerful weapons the Wise have against the Shadow, projects a bolt of white light bright enough to pierce any gloom. The beam harms on the servants of the Enemy – ranging from Nazgul to Orcs – and other evil creatures as well. The bolt does Width+2 in Shock and Killing plus Burn and Daze and can Penetrate 1 HAR. Flames can be extinguished with Coord + Athletics roll. This requires one action to attempt and can be attempted only once each round.

Attack+2: Capacity: Range, Burn +2, Daze +1, Penetration +1, Chants & Gestures -1, Exhaustion -2, Can be Extinguished -1, Direct Feed -2, Only vs. Shadow -1

Fire of Udûn (5 Points per die)

This sorcery calls upon the fearsome power of the underworld, Udûn, to consume in flame every living thing in its path, whether friend or foe. It produces a sphere of fire 30 feet in radius anywhere in Range. Each creature in the area suffers Width+2 Shock and Killing, plus Burn and 3 Area Dice.

Attack: Capacity: Range, Radius +2, Burn +2, Area +3, Traumatic +3, Base Will Cost -4, Direct Feed -2, Exhaustion -2, Chants -1

[MetaGame] How would you stat prehensile hair?

2011-03-03T15:37:00.002-06:00

One of the fun aspects of the gaming hobby is getting to translate characters from comics and fiction into game. I read all kinds of comics, and have enjoyed all kinds of supers-oriented games. So, the $50k question: if I were to stat up, say Medusa from the Marvel Universe for an RPG excursion, how would you do it?

My first inclination would be to go with telekinesis, weighted down with restrictions that keep it short range and leverage-dependant.

So, if I were to go with Mutants and Masterminds v3, what collection of powers would you go with and why?

[IMCotD] Gygax Ascension Day

2011-02-17T10:12:00.001-06:00

(9:21:52 AM) Gerall: Ernest Gary Gygax (July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008)
(9:23:52 AM) Kevin: ah.
(9:24:19 AM) Kevin: that's a friday. I should have that off.
(9:24:29 AM) Kevin: we should game that day. :)
(9:25:18 AM) Kevin: or roll up a 1st ed. ad&d character.
(9:27:03 AM) Gerall: Boss: "What do you need that day off for?"
Gerall: "Gygax Ascension Day..."
(9:28:29 AM) Kevin: yep. good name for it.
(9:28:57 AM) Gerall: we need to create some 1st ed ADnD characters and post them to the blog
(9:29:26 AM) Kevin: sounds good.
(9:50:44 AM) Gerall: i get to play the gnome illusionist!! COLOR SPRAY!!
(9:51:55 AM) Kevin: sounds like after the scourge. true?
(9:52:28 AM) Gerall: i haven't gotten the urge to Gnome it up out of my system yet.
(9:53:01 AM) Kevin: "gnome it up" lol
(9:53:39 AM) Kevin: gnome: verb. To hit a person with a Color Spray.
(9:53:49 AM) Gerall: LOL

[Android OS] Tablets and Aesthetics

2011-02-13T11:23:00.001-06:00

For those who may not be aware, I am a gadget junkie. Free Software advocate wouldn't be an inaccurate description for me either. Given this combination of interests, I've gone bonkers over the latest batch of tablets using the Android OS. I have a ViewSonic gTablet (currently loaned out to another gamer), and a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Given these differing devices, I've come to a few conclusions about my personal sense of "portable computing aesthetics". Enjoy my ranting after the break!

Screens
ViewSonic gTablet- 10.1" diagonal
Samsung Galaxy Tab- 7" diagonal

My wife owns an iPad, which I find to be a nice screen-size. The ViewSonic device in my Android corral has a similarly-sized screen, but suffers from a few design difficulties that keep it from being my go-to gadget. First, the screen is not centrally located on the device. This means the border between the edges (top and bottom) are not equal. There's a larger gap between the bottom than the top.

Why? Poor design, that's why!

Asymmetry is a deal-breaker in evolution. Individuals with too much variation are not seen as attractive as more symmetrical people. It's wired quite deep in our brains, and mine complains when I use the gTablet. I should be able to invert the screen without having to change my viewing orientation. The Galaxy Tab doesn't suffer this affliction. The ratio of virtual pizza to virtual crust is even on opposing sides (but a little thicker on the top/bottom axis). Symmetry I can deal with. Asymmetry evokes images I'd rather not have in my head...

ROMs
ViewSonic gTablet- Touch-n-Tap v1.0.3 shipped / Touch-n-Tap v2.2.3 installed ASAP
Samsung Galaxy Tab- Android 2.2 stock with Samsung-themed apps instead of stock Google apps

Samsung is evidently quite proud of their Home Screen app and the tweaks they've put on the stock Google Applications (like Mail, Gallery, and the Browser). However, their native color scheme makes me nauseous. Back when I was young and inexperienced, I painted miniatures for my roleplaying hobbies. I once abused a WarDancer mini with a horrid blue skinned / green hair color scheme. I get dizzy looking at this miniature to this day. Samsung's "native" color scheme? Evidently, they used that WarDancer for their reference palate. Blue for everything, green for highlights and progress indicators. Ouch!

Why not just put stock Android on these devices? Because they're clinging to sales paradigms from the era of Sears and Roebuck...

They believe they can mediate the end-users' experiences by putting their horrid colors all over Google's applications. Quit it! Just give me Android and let's face the fact that you're a hardware provider. Nothing more. If you want to give me options for Samsung apps, they should compete with everything else in the Market. If they are worth it, they'll thrive. If they stink, they'll die quietly starved for attention. (Anyone else notice a theme of "evolution" emerging in this post?)

The stock ViewSonic ROM is so horrible that Staples pulled the unit from their sales floor because, once people got it home the built-in software allowed them to do nothing useful. They went even further than Samsung does; replacing all aspects of the stock Android experience with things they haven't really given any design time. Once you get this device rooted and running an alternate ROM, it becomes useful. However, "average" users of portable electronics aren't going to do this. They can't. Stop selling an experience, and start selling me hardware. Stock Android people!

Syncing with PCs
ViewSonic gTablet- standard Android-device-as-thumbdrive
Samsung Galaxy Tab- Proprietary Kies protocol

On the ViewSonic, it feels like the designers didn't give any further consideration to the sync method. They were busy writing the TnT interface. So, the default Android system managed to squeak into the mix. One of the saving graces here is that the default sync provides handy access to the SD card; the ideal vector for root-a-licious usurpation of the ROM. Bang!

Samsung has put its own software update method on their Galaxy devices. Phones, too. No over-the-air updates for any of these gadgets.

Lame.

Maybe the next generation of devices will overtake these early gadgets by addressing these problems and bringing a more seamless aesthetic to their designs.

[BRP] Chronicles of Future Earth, the setting that almost was...

2011-02-05T09:56:00.001-06:00

Sarah Newton is more creative and prolific in her writing than anyone has a right to be. I was brought into her development of the The Chronicles of Future Earth via quiet PM on the BRP Central forum, and was astonished.

This release from Chaosium is only about one-third (one-quarter?) the material Sarah had intended to shoe-horn between its covers. She's documented a far-future world populated with miracle technology, sorcery, and an Immortal God-Emperor ruling The Venerable Autocracy of Sakara. The monstrous Gene Wolfe vibe makes me squee.

Add to this that the Autocracy's capitol city Korudav is approximately five times the area of Glorantha's Pavis (including the Rubble!), and you'll begin to sense the tremendous breadth of setting here. I've seen her full-maps of a re-envisioned Urth, not just the snippet included in this release. I am happily paging through my copy of this now (purchased from Chaosium's website - in the interest of full disclosure), and am enjoying fitting this wonderfully unique bit of gaming into my imagination.

My hope is that this supplement will prove popular enough that Chaosium looks upon the scraps on their cutting-room floor with future interest. I haven't spoken with Sarah Newton much (since I deleted my Facebook account), but I wish her well with her new position at Cubicle 7. Given her momentum for the project two years ago, and the horrid time she endured waiting for the manuscript to see the light of day, I can only imagine she's moved on. Ah well.

Fun facts to know and tell: there's an adventure set in TCoFE already in print! Take a look at Sarah's submission in the BRP Adventures book. Yeah, I'm obsessive. So what?

[Android] Blogger's Android client - finally!

2011-02-03T21:20:00.002-06:00

This will help me get ideas into the blog, no doubt. Here's something simple from my tablet. Vaati Monks, and a tribe of dragon-tainted centaur wandering the central Flanaess on Greyhawk have kept me writing. Plus, the deeply baroque effort on Wanderer hasn't stopped.
Hang in there! There is lots more to come.

[Wanderer] The Coiners' League

2010-11-12T17:54:00.000-06:00

The Coiners' League

History
At the foundation of empire, three powerful guilds were fighting for dominance of the new political landscape. The Tal Oligarchy's sacred beggars, the Rumasquari Burgler Academy, and the Orim settled into an agreement where each formal member of an organization could seek protection (if not commiseration) with the others. This arrangement has become known as the Coiners' Pact.

Purpose
The Coiners' League continues to provide a means for its members to train, organize, and hide from law enforcement personnel across the Empire. When forced to identify themselves, members of the constituent organizations actually prefer being referred to as Coiners, as this does not reveal anything about the country of origin or traditions that trained them. Training is still very region-dependent, with the guildhalls of individual traditions vetting new members, teaching their crafts, and enforcing their rules. Each cell, regardless of origin, must honor the League's Favors.

Doctrine
Each member in good standing holds Favors matching their rank within the organization.

Favor of Guard / The member may ask for help evading law enforcement.
Favor of Grace / Member may ask for hospitality from those of similar rank.
Favor of Guile / Member may call another into a potentially dangerous scheme.
Favor of Gear / Member can call upon another to use a single bit of kit or equipment in their cause.

Rites
Joining - The Commission roll documented in the basic Rogues career is the entry point into the Coiners. Thieves and scoundrels who fail to make commission are not recognized as Coiners, and in fact might find themselves underfoot if they're not careful.

Gaining Favors - The privileges listed above are not granted easily or without members proving themselves to the organization. To qualify for each of the Favors, a Coiner must grant that Favor to another. Given how most of the underlying sects of the League operate, individuals can expect to be asked for Favors aplenty. People who prove themselves competent will quickly generate contacts and influence. Those with less skill or expertise are expected to observe and learn from their betters, thus improving the entire organization.

Trades and Ranks
As with all endeavors, the League encourages specialization and focus in individuals and cooperation among members. Effective theft benefits all, so the saying goes. Toward this end, members can find their area of expertise using these specialized careers. Each Trade presents two new skill tables that the character may roll on for their career development.

Fence - Fences act as the interface between the final money and the Coiners who grab the goods. Often, Fences keep their membership in the League secret to protect their connections into normal society.

Advanced Trade

Trade Skills Skills Table

Table (Edu 8+ only)

================================

1 Liaison Language

2 Broker Evaluate

3 Evaluate Lore

4 Disguise Forgery

5 Broker Liaison

6 Streetwise J-o-A-T

Pen - lawyers, forgers, and process men, the Pens provide an interface to fooling the Law.

Advanced Trade

Trade Skills Skills Table

Table (Edu 8+ only)

================================

1 Evaluate Lore

2 Forgery Bribery

3 Carousing Language

4 Language +1 Int

5 Forgery Liaison

6 Art Art

Rough - bodyguards and bandits, Roughs supply muscle for the League.

Advanced Trade

Trade Skills Skills Table

Table (Edu 8+ only)

================================

1 Tactics Leader

2 Armed Combat Bribery

3 Barfly Healing

4 Recon Warcraft

5 Armor +1 Edu

6 Transport Stealth

Slight - those who practice the art of pickpocketing, disappearing into crowds, and covert reconnaisance.

Advanced Trade

Trade Skills Skills Table

Table (Edu 8+ only)

================================

1 Athletics Instruction

2 Stealth +1 Dex

3 Recon Tactics

4 Survival +1 Edu

5 Athletics Recon

6 Thievery Navigation

Tumbler - specialists with mechanical locks and traps, Tumblers provide a knowledgeable set of hands.

Advanced Trade

Trade Skills Skills Table

Table (Edu 8+ only)

================================

1 Evaluate Broker

2 Traps Instruction

3 Thievery Lore

4 Locks Forgery

5 Investigate Streetwise

6 Recon J-o-A-T

Turn - Turns concentrate on learning the aggressive use of body language and the confusing use of the spoken word. They are the face-men and seducers of the League.

Advanced Trade

Trade Skills Skills Table

Table (Edu 8+ only)

================================

1 Carousing Liaison

2 Intimidate Bribery

3 Seduction Lore

4 Influence Forgery

5 Disguise Liaison

6 Recon J-o-A-T

Alternate Skill Tables
When Trades or Organizations give characters access to optional skill tables, the tables may be used in addition to the "stock" tables of their original Career. So, Rogues who are members of the Coiners' League (those who have passed the Coiners' Commission roll) are allowed to roll on any of the Skill Tables that they qualify for.

Changing Trades
Once a character enters a given Trade in the Coiners', it is assumed they linger there to specialize and develop their skills there. However, the character may change to another Trade under the right circumstances. Changing Trades involves finding someone in that trade to mentor the character; in the meta-game sense the player who wants to change his character this way must choose a known NPC the Narrator has in the destination Trade and then choose a Favor to owe them.

In the case that the Referee doesn't already have an appropriate NPC, the player and Referee can work together to create an NPC to mentor the character. The player's character must then owe a Favor to that NPC that the Narrator chooses.

[Wanderer] Career - Nobles

2010-09-25T13:41:00.000-05:00

Nobles are the social backbone of the Empire. They are the elite, charged by their Sovereigns and the Emperor himself with responsibility for the peoples and settlements of the bonded Kingdoms. Each kingdom might have different titles based on their traditions, but the Emperor has clearly outlined expected behavior for those claiming noble status.

This may seem a little different from the Classic Traveller version of the noble, but it is the one career that knits Wanderer's default setting together.
Characters with a Social Standing higher than 10 may choose not take terms in the Noble career. If they do want terms in Noble, they are assumed to have either gained the attention of their local Sovereign by their acts or volunteered for duty. Either way they are given responsibilities for the commoners that surround them.

NOBLES
Enlistment: Special (Characters are automatically nobles if they have Soc 10+)
Survival: 3+
Commission: 5+ (DM +1 if Edu 9+)
Promotion: 11+ (DM +1 if Int 10+)
Re-enlist: 4+

  Table Personal Service Advanced
   of Development Skills Education Education Table
  Ranks Table Table Table (Edu 8+ only)
===================================================================
1 B Knight +1 Str Transport  Peerage   Healing
2 C Baronet +1 Dex Armor   Leader   Art
3 D Baron +1 End Lore     Lore   Tactics
4 E Viscount +1 Int Navigation Tactics   Lore
5 F Count +1 Edu J-o-A-T   Warcraft  +1 Aura
6 Armed Combat  Healing   Lore   Instruction

Rank and Service Skills
Noble - Armed Combat-1
Noble - Law-1

Skill Eligibility
Initial Term of Service - 2
Each Subsequent Term - 1
Upon Commission - 1
Upon Promotion - 1

Muster-Out Benefits
Per Term of Service 1
Rank 1 or 2 - 1
Rank 3 or 4 - 2
Rank 5 or 6 - 3
(Benefits Table: DM +1 if rank 5+)
(Cash Table: DM +1 if Gambling 1+)

  Benefits Cash Table
   Table (in Shields)
===================================
1 Fetish 10000
2 Weapon 50000
3 Armor 50000
4 Fetish 100000
5 Enchantment 100000
6 +1 to any Attribute 100000
7 Enchantment 200000

Amounts on the Cash Table are in Shields (Sh). No more than three rolls may be made on the Cash Table.

Cascade Skills

Armed Combat - Provides a choice among any melee or missile weapon.
Art - A specific medium or expression should be chosen. Haiku, Watercolors, Sculpting, Woodcarving, Sonnets, Weaving, etc.
Lore - Nobles are required to be knowledgeable about the areas and peoples they are responsible for. Animals, Nature, Theology, Law, Peerage, Metaphysics, Demons, Geography, Alchemy, etc.
Transport - Warriors are moved where they are needed, and this cascade skill allows the character access to the skills of Boating, Driving, Equestrian, and Seacraft.
Warcraft - Choose between any melee or missile weapon, Armor, Tactics, or Leader.

Social Standing as Rank
In the default Kingdom of the setting, social standing grants these titles to those who wish them. Note that claiming said title will bring with it the expected levels of responsibility...

10 - Squire
11 - Knight
12 - Baronet
13 - Baron
14 - Viscount
15 - Count
16 - Margrave
17 - Duke
18 - Elector
19 - Archduke
20 - Grand Duke
21 - King

The default Kingdom is egalitarian, and enjoys sexual equality. Note that these are the masculine forms of titles. Women who possess these titles will hold the feminine form of the title.

Material Benefits

Weapon benefits must be declared by type immediately; additional benefits of Weapon may be taken as skill in a weapon of the type previously taken.
Fetish benefits represent one-shot magic items, such as potions, scrolls, woad, etc. Fetishes may be taken as often as rolled.
Armor benefit grants the character a personal suit of armor. Nobles are outfitted with any armor they desire.
Enchantment benefit provides the character with a permanently ensorcelled item. Additional occurrences of Enchantment are treated as no benefit.

[WWIR] DnD4e - Good Bugs Hunting

2010-09-10T22:55:00.000-05:00

What Would I Run? - Dark Sun
I just got my hands on the Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition Dark Sun setting. As a fan of the previous versions of this world, I have to say I'm impressed with the current iteration. Keeping true to the feel of the original and incorporating 4e-specifics like the Dragonborn and Eladrin was done elegantly. The art is really nice. Write-ups for some of the major powers in the world in the back of the bestiary brought a ton of memories flooding back.

So, of course, I'm riding high on the wave of creativity evoked by these reading-marathons.

Ergo this post: What would I run using the new Dark Sun?

Short answer: The PCs would be part of an all thri-kreen group representing a wild clutch in the wastes. For further details, read more after the break...

The Attractor - the Clutch
One of the things I demand in the games I run is an attractor. By this I mean an in-game method of accumulating adventurers together and focusing them toward my plots.

For example, my March of Sterich game is organized around the military / police force protecting the Greyhawk nation of Sterich. My characters don't have to like one another, they just have to work together. Some are patriots serving their two year stint in the March for the opportunity to work out of the capitol. Others are criminal conscripts, forced to help their captors and work off their crimes. Mercenaries abound as well. This had lead to some interesting relationships in my March game...

A previous campaign I ran was a pan-planar cabal of Githyanki whose focus was preventing the Illithid infesting another Prime. Again, plenty of common-cause and lots of room for something beyond "You've all met for the first time at the Prancing Pony..."

So, given this kind of track record, one might see where a near-hivemind could get me thinking. Not just because of the immediate bond clutch-mates would have, but also the opportunity to give my players the chance to adopt the very alien minds of the thri-kreen. The story is as much about the clutch as the PCs and their travails. With the built-in hierarchy that the clutch provides, early adventures are easy to organise. With the concept that this is a community of thri-kreen, an early PC death could be easily replaced with a new character. The clutch leader will, of course, get challenged by a PC sooner or later and then the focus becomes something the PCs can influence more directly.

Initial Conflict - Kank War
The first set of adventures that the clutch leader will send the PCs on would be to secure a Kank Queen and her hive. Unfortunately, the hive of valuable beasts is being domesticated by a mid-sized tribe of Gith.

Levels 1 - 5 should be filled with:

Recon missions to assess the Gith forces. (Strangely, the gith appear to be directed by a pair of ssurran.)
Precise strikes to disable or destroy the Giths' Controllers.
Finally, the raid to finally take the ruins the Gith occupy and secure the hive.

Further Trouble - Holding the Ruins
Given the harsh environment of Athas, taking something for yourself doesn't ensure it will remain yours.

For Levels 6 - 12:

A nomadic tribe of ssurran arrive for their trained kanks. (Potential for negotiation - the ssurran don't care who train their mounts.)
Undead from the ruins begin burrowing up and re-claiming areas of the former temple complex the hive now occupies.
A wandering defiler shows up, hoping to sap the hive's life force for her latest item enchantment.
A band of fleshy adventurers arrives, beaconed by the rising undead, to seek out treasures and artifacts within the ruins.
The psurlons bound in the ruins (by the former cult) are released by the new activity in the area.

Next Installment -
Given the tastes of your group, they might want to pursue one or another lead that you present under the Dark Sun. Further planning really depends on what your players respond to. Maybe the wandering defiler got away? Did the clutch decide to help the fleshy ones with their digging? Was there a pact or a war with the ssurran? How many of the psurlons got free and are now planning further mayhem?

After a few session for Further Trouble, you should be able to tell where your groups wants to take their unique clutch.

Once I get a little feedback about these ideas from my players (hint, hint!), I'll continue documenting. Thanks for reading. If you end up using any of these ideas, please feel free to contact me and tell me about how things turned out.

-pax-

[WFRP3] The Gem of Aquos - Advanced Actions

2010-09-04T20:38:00.012-05:00

By Kevin Morrell (aka KK the Splash)

This is the second part of the Gem of Aquos series. In the previous article I listed the Basic Actions that come with being the Master of Aquos. In this part I discuss the Advanced Actions that can be learned to control Aquos. These Actions increase the power and flexibility of Aquos as a damage-dealer and healer.

Each Action listed below must be purchased normally through the advancement process of your current career. Some of these Actions are used by Aquos and some are used by his master, but all must be purchased by the owner of the Gem in order to be available for use.

Here is a pdf with all the cards in this article suitable for printing.

Empower Aquos: This spell is used the by Master to extend the duration of Aquos' summoning. It has a minor side effect of healing Aquos.

Strengthen Aquos: This Action increases Aquos' combat effectiveness: Aggression, Cunning, and Expertise.

Rage/Serenity of Aquos: Aquos can change his mood quickly. One effect is to alter is combat Stance drastically. The change also can grant some other benefits in the process.

Aquos Hateful/Cleansing: Aquos can use his wrath or compassion to his advantage. This paired set can either heal his allies or wreak havoc on his enemies' sanity.

Waterspout: By spinning himself, Aquos can attack multiple foes.

Wave of Water: Aquos can use this Action to quickly engage enemies and attack simultaneously.

Blast of Aquos: This is Aquos' main ranged attack.

Watery Grave: By plunging himself on the enemy, Aquos can deal great damage at the expense of causing himself to be dismissed.

The next installment will be the Knowledge of Aquos: water spells!

Note: These cards were created with the Strange Eons software which can be found at Strange Eons Downloads. You will need the following plug-in files installed as well: w3e.seetx by Hurlanc and wfrp3_adds.seetx.

[IMCotD] Dralasites and Shoggoths

2010-09-02T14:22:00.000-05:00

(2:12:09 PM) Kevin: wait, Dralasites don't have ribs...
(2:12:24 PM) Gerall: them and Shoggoths...
(2:12:41 PM) Kevin: which are you, then?
(2:13:26 PM) Gerall: you know that Dralasites are just the larval form, right?
(2:13:42 PM) Kevin: OMG. that explains a lot.
(2:13:48 PM) Gerall: dunnit?
(2:14:13 PM) Kevin: I just lost 10 SAN.
(2:14:23 PM) Kevin: but gained 5% in Mythos.

[Wanderer] Career - Mystics

2010-08-31T20:42:00.011-05:00

Classic Traveller's Book 2 was entitled simply Starships. This part of the core rules pervaded the rest of the setting and was instrumental in contributing to the "feel". When the Wanderer books were faked up, the artist made the second book of the trilogy hold the secrets for magic. Following the meta-pattern as much as possible, this bends our design of Wanderer to talk about magic or magical effects when Traveller speaks of starships and, well, travelling...

Low Passages in mustering out tables become one-shot magic items. Starships become Enchanted Artifacts tied to the setting. "Major races" and "minor races" are defined by their metaphysics; who codified their magics and teach them and who uses the magics taught by others.

With this concept in mind, let's talk about the Mystic career for our Wanderer.

Commission as Initiation
Mystics follow the standard character generation process, with the caveat that a successful "Commission" roll permits them to join a cabal, lodge, or covenant that is culture-specific. A commission into one cult or society provides the character with an alternate set of skill tables they can partake of, and possibly other setting-oriented consequences.

For example, initiation into the cult of Byanni Lorekeeper imparts a set of edicts the character must follow in daily life. If the character cannot fulfill these requirements, she cannot continue progression into the deeper mysteries of the religion.

The character cannot initiate into another organization at cross-purposes with their current affiliations. Being an Inviolate of Ahro, the Goddess of Life and Fertility, would preclude a character from joining the League of Blood Magi (who practice a vile metaphysic; trading lifeblood for longevity and Aura). Specifics about these relationships are left to the setting. There will be rules a little later to describe these faiths, and provide a random-generation system for them.

Commission and Promotion rolls as well as Ranks are determined by the organization that the character joins.

Characters who do not seek (or make the rolls) for commission can continue their development in the core Mystic career. Some of these characters once created their own organizations, which grew into the churches and covens within the setting. Characters who only take a single (or relatively few) terms as Mystics tend to become the hedge-wizards and quiet people of faith that fill the corners of the world.

Aura
Where the original Traveller contained rules for psionics and psychic abilities, Wanderer changes this into the more fantasy-oriented concept of Aura. Characters who take up the Mystic career awaken their Aura, and add it as an additional statistic to their character sheet. While all living things have a spirit, characters with Aura have honed their incorporeal selves into a new set of senses and hands.

Greater Aura scores indicate a person is more accomplished with magical efforts. Some organizations do not teach certain skills unless the character has a minimum Aura rating (as much for the protection of the individual as for the challenge that category of skill represents). Individual traditions will document their uses for the Aura attribute.

MYSTICS
Enlistment: 6+ (DM +1 if Int 9+, DM +2 if Edu 10+)
Survival: 3+ (DM +1 if Int 9+)
Commission: see Commission as Initiation
Promotion: see Commission as Initiation
Re-enlist: 2+ (Yes, re-enlistment is automatic.)

  Table Personal Service Advanced
   of Development Skills Education Education Table
  Ranks Table Table Table (Edu 8+ only)
===================================================================
1 +1 Edu   Transport   Art         Healing
2 +1 Int   Armed Combat  Lore   Implement
3 +1 Aura Navigation    J-o-A-T   Instruction
4 +1 Edu Implement     Lore        Liaison
5 +1 Dex Lore        +1 Edu   Lore
6 +1 Aura Healing   +1 Aura   Leader

Rank and Service Skills
Mystic: Implement-1

Skill Eligibility
Each Term of Service: 2
Upon Commission: 1
Upon Promotion: 1

Muster-Out Benefits
Per Term of Service: 1
Rank 1 or 2: 1
Rank 3 or 4: 2
Rank 5 or 6: 3
(Benefits Table: DM +1 if rank 5+)
(Cash Table: DM +1 if Gambling 1+)

  Benefits Cash Table
   Table (in Shields)
============================
1 Implement 50
2 Rote 200
3 Fetish 1000
4 Implement 2000
5 Rote 10000
6 +1 Aura 50000
7 Enchantment 100000

Amounts on the Cash Table are in Shields (Sh). No more than three rolls may be made on the Cash Table.

Cascade Skills

Art - A specific medium or expression should be chosen. Haiku, Watercolors, Sculpting, Woodcarving, Sonnets, Weaving, etc.
Armed Combat - Gives the choice of any melee or missile weapon.
Implement - Provides a familiarity with a specific metaphysical tool; Wands, Spheres, (specific) Holy Symbol, (specific) Runes, (specific) Cards, etc.
Lore - Mystics are renowned for their collections of knowledge, and this cascade skill is where they pick up these facts. Animals, Nature, Theology, Peerage, Metaphysics, Demons, Geography, Alchemy.
Transport - This cascade skill allows the character access to the skills of Boating, Driving, Equestrian, and Seacraft.

Material Benefits

Implements are the tools of the Mystic's trade; holy symbols, divination tools, wands, staffs, rings, etc. Multiple implement benefits can be taken as additional levels in an implement that has already been received, or as a new implement altogether. (Yes, some implements can only be used in specific situations...)
Fetish benefits represent one-shot magic items, such as potions, scrolls, woad, etc. Fetishes may be taken as often as rolled.
Rotes are specific formulae or hymns particular to the Mystic's tradition or specialty. They enable the character bonuses while casting specific spells and rituals. (Rotes will be documented in the Magic book.)
Enchantment benefit provides the character with a permanently ensorcelled item. Additional occurrences of Enchantment are treated as no benefit.

[WFRP3] The Gem of Aquos

2010-08-16T10:07:00.032-05:00

By Kevin Morrell (aka KK the Splash)

I'm a fan of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd edition. I've gamemastered a few sessions and love the dice mechanics combined with the action of the cards. My current adventure is based in Athel Loren, the great forest of the Asrai, the wood Elves. The party of four characters is made up of two Wood Elves, a Way Watcher and a Wardancer, and two High Elves, a Bright Wizard and a Sword Master. They have been inextricably embroiled in the return of Morghur the Master of Skulls, also called Cyanathair the Corruptor in the tongue of the Asrai.

They have recently found an ancient artifact dating back to the last appearance of the Chaos Lord in Athel Loren nearly 1000 years ago. Called the Gem of Aquos, it was an item created by Morghur to capture the immense power of an elven Water Master known as Aquos. His spirit bound in the Gem, Aquos served his new master, becoming spiteful, but still occasionally showing his famous compassion and calm.

Anyone who touches the Gem can become Aquos' new master. They must be trained in Channeling with Magical Sight allowing the new master to commune with Aquos' spirit to gain his insights into the magic of Water.

The first set of Action Cards are considered Basic and are thus granted to anyone who becomes Aquos' master. To be a worthy master, you must be trained in Channeling and make a successful Magical Sight check with a base Difficulty of 2 Challenge Dice. After that check, you must spend at least 5 hours with the Gem, pondering its magical nature and attuning its energies to your own. Once that is completed, you become the new master of the Gem of Aquos.

Below are descriptions and a low-res jpeg of the Basic Action Cards for the Gem of Aquos. Here is a pdf of all the cards suitable for printing.

Gem of Aquos Card: A short history and some rules for Elemental Stability. Also, it has a nice picture of Aquos in elemental form.

Small Water Elemental: This is the weakest incarnation of Aquos.

Medium Water Elemental: A more powerful version of an elemental.

Large Water Elemental: This is Aquos' natural form in his full glory and power.

Summon Aquos: This is the Action used to summon Aquos from his prison. It requires 3 Power to use and follows the normal rules for spells except that this Action is not technically a spell and does not require knowledge of Jade Order magic.

Maintain Stability: A wizard with his wits about him can help Aquos with Stability checks using this Action. It is a Reaction similar to Counterspell, adding Aquos bonus Fortune dice to his pool for Stability.

Watery Fist: This is Aquos' basic melee attack Action.

Haymaker: This is Aquos' more damaging basic attack.

Phase Shift: Aquos does not have normal armor, but can make weapons pass through him as a defense. This Action is a Reaction to any attack which threatens Aquos physically.

My next Aquos Blog post will be the Advanced Actions for the Gem. Stay tuned.

Note: These cards were created with the Strange Eons software which can be found at Strange Eons Downloads. You will need the following plug-in files installed as well: w3e.seetx by Hurlanc and wfrp3_adds.seetx.

[Pathfinder] New Poison - Pliancy

2010-08-16T07:14:00.001-05:00

The Ebon Six enjoy a broad range of resources; including their own mad alchemist. Rhi is creative, brilliant, and exceptionally cruel. Raised in the nobility of the Yeomanry, Rhi's reputation was shattered when his cannibalistic appetites were revealed.

PLIANCY
Type poison, ingested; Save Fortitude DC 22
Onset 1 minute; Frequency 1/minute for 3 minutes
Effect +1 point of Pliancy (see below); Cure 2 consecutive saves negates 1 point of Pliancy

For each point of Pliancy the character accumulates, the subject suffers a -1 to their saves on mind-affecting Enchantments (charm, compulsion), and Illusions (figment, glamer, pattern, phantasm). If the specifics of the Enchantment or Illusion does not expose the subject to immediate, noticeable danger the penalty is increased to -2 per point of Pliancy.

Rhi's Insanity
Born the sixth son of a low-caste Suel family, Rhi's fantastic mind became his family's hope for advancement in the hierarchical society of the Yeomanry. Trained extensively at the expense of his siblings, Rhi became an accomplished wizard and a creative alchemist. His fascination with drinking the blood of commoners was only discovered when one of his victims managed to escape from confinement while Rhi was entertaining leaders of state.

Pliancy is one of the concoctions Rhi distills to help woo potential victims; Ursht has discovered that the colorless, odorless fluid dramatically helps his meddling with the Yeomanry's nobles. In exchange for regular additions to his collection of commoners, Rhi keeps the Ebon Six supplied with enough Pliancy to host parties where the drinks and foods are powerfully tainted.

[Wanderer] Career - Rogues

2010-08-15T18:16:00.001-05:00

Among the peoples of the Empire, there is plenty of opportunity for illegal profit. There are innumerable practitioners of crime across the Kingdoms of the Empire, but the first and strongest organization to rise across multiple Kingdoms is known as the Coiners' League. Highly organized and focused, the Coiners keep their members ahead of each Sovereign's authorities.

ROGUES
Enlistment: 4+ (DM +1 if Soc 8-, DM +2 if Int 10+)
Survival: 7+ (DM +2 if Int 9+)
Commission: 7+ (DM +1 if Int 9+)
Promotion: 8+ (DM +1 if Int 8+, DM +2 if Soc 7-)
Re-enlist: 6+ (On a roll of 2, the character upsets the Coiners. On a 12, re-enlistment is mandatory.)

  Table Personal Service Advanced
   of Development Skills Education Education Table
  Ranks Table Table Table (Edu 8+ only)
===========================================================
1 Cutpurse +1 Int Barfly Streetwise Bribery
2 Burglar +1 Str Armed Combat Forgery Healing
3 Thief +1 Dex Stealth Recon Leader
4 Arm +1 End Transport Carousing Liaison
5 Hand Sleight +1 Edu Thievery Forgery
6 Master Barfly Thievery Locks Admin

Rank and Service Skills
Rogue: Thievery-1
Rogue Burglar: Streetwise-1
Rogue Master: Leader-1

Skill Eligibility
Initial Term of Service: 2
Each Subsequent Term: 1
Upon Commission: 1
Upon Promotion: 1

Muster-Out Benefits
Per term of service: 1
rank 1 or 2: 1
rank 3 or 4: 2
rank 5 or 6: 4
(Benefits Table: DM +1 if rank 4+)
(Cash Table: DM +1 if rank 5+, DM +1 if Gambling 1+)

  Benefits Cash Table
   Table (in Shields)
========================
1 Weapon 200
2 +1 Soc 1000
3 False ID 10000
4 Tools 50000
5 Fetish 100000
6 +1 Dex 100000
7 Enchantment 150000

Cascade Skills
Armed Combat: Provides a choice among any melee or missile weapon.
Barfly: Brawling, Carousing, or Gambling.
Transport: Boating, Driving, Equestrian, Seacraft
Thievery: Locks, Sleight, Stealth, Streetwise

Material Benefits

Weapon benefits must be declared by type immediately; additional benefits of Weapon may be taken as skill in a weapon of the type previously taken.

Fetish benefits represent one-shot magic items, such as potions, scrolls, woad, etc. Fetishes may be taken as often as rolled.

Tools benefit grants the rogue a set of professional implements according to their final rank:

Rogue Thief: Lock picks

Rogue Master: False ID

Enchantment benefit provides the character with a permanently ensorcelled item. Additional occurrences of Enchantment are treated as no benefit.

[Community] Stack Overflow for RPGs

2010-08-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

For those who may not know (read: people who aren't software developers), there's a site online called Stack Overflow. It's designed to allow social interaction between community members. You ask questions, your community answers them. You have an answer, you can contribute to someone else's questions...

Quite an effective way of hearing from your peers about tools and processes in the industry.

Now, someone's taken the Stack Overflow software and created a site for paper-and-pencil / tabletop RPGs! I'm excited about its bright future, and will be signing up for membership as soon as this is posted. This site is still in beta as of this writing, meaning that the administrators are looking for a certain magic number of people to sign up for accounts before moving the site out of beta...

So PLEASE! If you're interested in seeing a community of gamers grow an archived collection of gaming lore, join and participate. Communities are only as interesting as their members.

Game design, rules questions, player strategies, shared NPCs... Mmmmm!

[IMCotD] Traveller, or sick, sick ADnD

2010-08-04T08:19:00.002-05:00

(2:04:27 PM) Gerall: is Grandfather a psionic Droyne lich, like an alhoon (illithid lich)?
(2:04:55 PM) Kevin: no, no, no, NO.
(2:05:03 PM) Gerall: you sure?
(2:05:09 PM) Kevin: no.

[Pathfinder] Vidiin - After the Scourge (level 1)

2010-08-03T14:15:00.001-05:00

Background
Vidiin was just another gnome raised within the Percept Orphanage of the King's Kaer. Early on, his rebellious tendencies were aimed at simple attention-getting ploys. They became more and more elaborate as he grew up and his tastes changed. His first robbery provided all the children of Percept with new shoes. Unfortunately, it also got him on the wrong side of the Kaer's Thieves' Guild. To protect himself and provide the rush of recognition he's deeply addicted to, he has created a pseudonym; The Unseen Poet. The Poet's heists always involve difficult to trace goods, a robbery in silence, and a verse left at the crime scene.

Vidiin gets a different orphan at Percept to write out each verse as he composes it. Fencing is done through a front each time; someone who's conveniently unable to track things back to the Poet.

When not conducting illegal acts to bolster the Poet's reputation, Vidiin peforms dance and song in various bars around the Kaer. Vidiin himself is an accomplished entertainer with his own growing reputation. He does not believe that fighting will work as a long-term solution, and tends to go unarmed on any venture (as the Poet or as himself).

Vidiin has pale brown skin, his eyes and hair are violet. His hair refuses to assume the form of anything less than a crazily-anime asymmetrical style. When visiting the orphans, he wears a white linen shirt under a vest with a sarong. When performing, it depends on the venue, but the sarong is the only constant. Vidiin is uncomfortable in trousers, and does not wear them unless missing a sarong and there is an environmental reason not to be nude.

Vidiin - XP 1600 (2000 for next level); N Small Gnome; bard 1
: Init +3 (0 + Dex [3])
: Senses low-light vision 60ft, Perception +2
DEFENSE
: AC 14 (Dex [3] +1 dodge), touch 14, flat-footed 12 / vs giants 18, 18,
: hp (1d8+2) 10
: Fort 2 (0 + Con [2]), Ref +5 (2 + Dex [3]), Will +2 (2 + Wis [0])
: Resistance +2 vs. illusions
OFFENSE
: Speed 20 ft.
: Melee whip att +1 (BaB 0 + Str [0] + mw [1]) dmg 1d2 nonlethal (1d2 + Str [0])
   - Disarm; CMB vs. their CMD. Success = opponent drops item Vidiin chooses. Success 10+ = opponent drops both items. As a free action, Vidiin can pick up the item dropped.
   - Feint; Bluff vs. Sense Motive. Success = opponent looses Dex bonus to their AC for Vidiin's next attack.
   - Trip; CMB vs. their CMD. Success = opponent knocked prone. They get a +2 bonus to this check if they are multi-legged.
: Bardic Spells (CL 1)
  - Level 0 (DC 14) / unlimited per day / (4 known) Daze, Detect Magic, Message, Prestidigitation
   (Illusion - DC 15) / Ghost Sound
  - Level 1 (DC 15) / 2 per day (2 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (2 known) Magic Mouth, Sleep
   (Illusion - DC 16) Magic Mouth
  - Level 2 (DC 16) / 0 per day (0 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (0 known)
  - Level 3 (DC 17) / 0 per day (0 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (0 known)
  - Level 4 (DC 18) / 0 per day (0 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (0 known)
STATISTICS
: Str 10 [0], Dex 17 [3], Con 15 [2], Int 14 [2], Wis 10 [0], Cha 18 [4]
: Base Atk 0; CMB -1; CMD 12
FEATS
: Acrobatic +2 to Acrobatics and Fly skill checks.
: Background - Burglary Provides Acrobatics as a bonus feat. The skills Appraise and Disable Device count as class skills for Vidiin. +2 skill ranks to spend.
: Bardic Knowledge Vidiin may apply a bonus of +1 (1/2 his level in bard) to any Knowledge skill check.
: Bardic Performance Vidiin can use the Perform skill to create magical effects. He can use this ability for 8 (3 + bard level + Cha [4]) rounds per day. Starting a performance is a standard action, and may be maintained as a free action. Countersong (Su), Distraction (Su), Fascinate (Su), Inspire Courage (Su)
: Cantrips Vidiin puts the cantrips he knows to effective use. (See Bardic Spells)
: Defensive Training +4 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the giant type.
: Dodge +1 dodge bonus to AC.
: Gnome Magic Vidiin gets +1 DC on illusions he casts. His Charisma grants him the following spell-like abilities once per day: Dancing Lights, Ghost Sound, Prestidigitation, and Speak With Animals.
: Hatred +1 on attack rolls vs. Goblins and Reptilians
: Illusion Resistance +2 on saves vs. illusions
: Keen Senses +2 on Perception skill checks.
: Low-light Vision 60 feet.
: Obsessive +2 on skill checks for Profession - Performer
: Size - Small +1 size bonus to AC, +1 size bonus to attack rolls, -1 size penalty to CMB and CMD, +4 size bonus to Stealth skill checks.
: Slow Speed Due to size, Vidiin has a movement rate of 20 feet.
: Weapon and Armor Proficiency Gnomish weapons count as martial, proficient with all simple weapons, longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, short-bow, and whip. Light armor, and all but tower shields.
SKILLS
: Skill Points 6 + Int [2] +2 Background (10 total ranks)
: Bonuses / Penalties +2 Acrobatics, +2 Fly, +2 Perception, +2 Profession - Performer, +4 Stealth
  - Acrobatics +9 (Dex [3] + class skill [3] + acrobatic [2] + ranks [1])
  - Appraise +3 (Int [2] + ranks [1])
  - Bluff +8 (Cha [4] + class skill [3] + ranks [1])
  - Disable Device +7 (Dex [3] + class skill [3] + ranks [1])
  - Intimidate +8 (Cha [4] + class skill [3] + ranks [1])
  - Perception +2 (Wis [0] + racial mod [2])
  - Perform [Dance] +8 (Cha [4] + class skill [3] + ranks [1])
  - Profession +2 (Wis [0] + racial mod [2] + ranks [1])
  - Sense Motive +4 (Wis [0] + class skill [3] + ranks [1])
  - Sleight of Hand +7 (Dex [3] + class skill [3] + ranks [1])
  - Stealth +11 (Dex [3] + class skill [3] + size mod [4] + ranks [1])
LANGUAGE
: Common, Gnome, Sylvan
GEAR
: 87 gp, Many-Colored Cloak, 2 suits of Entertainer's Clothes (sarong, shirt and vest), sandals, +1 masterwork whip (which he is saving up to get a Merciful enchantment on)
STRATEGY
: When involved in criminal activity, Vidiin has learned the wisdom of keeping several middle-men between himself and the goods. His alignment keeps him thinking about who should be his fall-guy should things go sour. In fights, Vidiin knows he is not going to excel. Therefore he keeps his wits about him, and his eyes peeled for escape routes.
TACTICS
: If Vidiin is caught in a fight, his first thoughts will be for distraction and escape. Magic Mouth cast on various inanimate objects with the trigger "scream like you're being killed should someone come within range" is a favorite tactic, especially if he can trigger it on an opponent's race or clothing. Given the most likely situation he'll find himself in is running from the Guild or Lyran Justice, a nice faux-murder distraction will drive the Guild to ground and Justice off to investigate. Vidiin's whip is only used when he cannot otherwise generate a means to escape, and then only to foul up his opponents until he can. He is not interested in people getting hurt; he is focused on not getting caught. Withdrawl, withdrawl, withdrawl.

[Wanderer] Muses - Optional Experience

2010-08-02T20:53:00.002-05:00

The Problem
In modelling Wanderer on the Classic Traveller LBBs, we come to the inescapable conclusion that the original design did not provide for development of a character's skills after character generation. For the era, there was no precedent that advancement mechanics would be viable (or even popular). Modern RPGs are now an ecosystem of the descendants of games where character advancement was a means of making your character unique and fitting for the setting she was a part of.

Then, every once in a while, a fisherman off the coast of South Africa pulls up a coelacanth in his net and we get to see a game-system where character advancement wasn't the direction evolution trended toward way back then. Gems like Traveller, Dominion, and Dream Park where advancement takes a back-seat to running games immediately (Traveller), is not influential after initial roll-up (Dominion and Traveller), or games designed for newbies to cut their teeth on and leave behind (Dream Park). They don't fit the modern gamers paradigm and are often overlooked for systems that offer a character sheet where the numbers change over time.

Curiously, there are a number of new indie games which forgo having advancement schemes to concentrate on "the telling of the tale". These (to finally kill the metaphor) are cases of parallel evolution that have produced interesting things to sit and play for an evening. If they survive and create offspring, we might see more of this unique breed in the future.

So, how do I implement a system for classic Traveller that allows a character to become more closely knit to their setting and change from the time of initial creation?

A (Potential) Solution
I have the tremendous good fortune to play with a group that likes to try all kinds of different gaming systems. We've had all kinds of systems pass over our table, and I've learned a lot about game design from the exposure.

While the FATE system is not my preferred game science, learning it has planted the seed of Aspects in my head. During the creation of a character (or group, kingdom, starship, or magic sword), players choose key words and phrases as Aspects. For example, I created a Hyborean barbarian for a FATE game. His Aspects included "Bitten by a Demon", "The Spear Held", and "Kin Slayer". Any time my GM or players wanted to induce my character to react to one of these Aspects, the game provided a mechanic for them to do so.

This experience system for Wanderer was inspired by Aspects; I call them Muses. A Muse describes something the character has become familiar with, or is inspired by. They are created collaboratively between the player and the Referee, and tend to be short phrases. Things like "Fighting Orcs", "Badlands Affinity", or "Ancient Suel Culture".

How a Muse Helps

When a character goes to make a skill roll, she can apply any Muses to it that apply. For each, the character gets a +1 DM to her roll.

An example
Ikoun Llaredesh (an olven Knight of Selene) has Muses "Ulek Politics", "Fighting Hobgoblins", and "Hills Affinity". She is sent to convince the dwur of the County of Ulek that an alliance with Selene is to their mutual benefit. Ikoun has intelligence that Gu'trek Black Tusk and his hobgoblin legion are massing forces for an invasion, but she doesn't know where he'll strike.

The Referee rules that there are two stages to the diplomatic mission; 1) getting in touch with the correct faction within the County and 2) presenting the evidence of Black Tusk's legion and offering to show the dwur where it was found. Should diplomacy go well, Ikoun is authorised to commit (and lead) a Lance of Selene to the County of Ulek's patrols to help hunt them down.

For the first roll, Ikoun's experience with Ulek Politics is the only Muse capable of helping her narrow in to the right audience. Ikoun has Diplomacy-1, and applies her Muse for "Ulek Politics". Her player rolls the dice and gets a 7, then adds her DM +2 to the outcome. The 8+ roll succeeds on 9.

Finally finding a sympathetic ear (and more than a few who hate hobgoblins), Ikoun's task becomes an exploration of alliance. The Referee decides that an 8+ result will generate interest with a more aggressive clan leader (who will offer to work with Ikoun to confirm the legion's whereabouts). On 10+, Ikoun will create an official pact between the nations, and be incorporated into the normal Ulek patrols. Ikoun adds "Fighting Hobgoblins" and "Hills Affinity" to this final Diplomacy roll (total DM +3). Her roll of 6 becomes a 9, and she gets the attention of Thar BloodAxe. She will work with Thar and hope that the dwur will see for themselves how dire the situation is.

Gaining a Muse
Characters may have a maximum number of Muses equal to their Int + Edu. When the Referee approves of the Muse a player wants to acquire, a throw is made with these potential DMs:

DM +1 if Int 8+
DM +1 if Edu 10+

Like any other throw, an 8+ indicates the character has learned from the experience.

An example

The party was sent to the orc badlands to recover several villagers who were taken as slaves in a war-band's raid.

The party encounters an elf who had been injured and knocked unconscious by the retreating war-band; she has fallen into a gorge. Ollen the Mystic helps the elf by applying the Healing skill. Ollen's player aces the roll with 12 on 2D. The party's Scout Hellde must make more and more difficult Survival rolls to follow the warband's tracks over the stony ground. After 3 successful rolls in a row, she manages to lead them to the orc settlement in the caves. A fight ensues, and the entire group are caught up in the battle in the tunnels (Armed Combat, Brawling, etc).

Several of the captured villagers are liberated, but some are still missing. After investigation, Perna the Sage is called upon to sort out where the strange coins left by the slavers came from. The characters take the rescued people back home and Perna finishes her History research. The coins are marked with an evil mage's sigil, and the group begins preparations for an expedition to her keep in the north of the badlands.

Possible Affinities include: Ollen is a candidate for "Treating Elf". Hellde could take "Badlands". Everyone is eligible for "Battling Orc" or "Tunnel Fighting". Perna can take a Muse for the "Pallid Coven", or "Pados GraveDweller" the specific mage whose sigil she decoded and tracked.

Thoughts and feedback?

[Pathfinder] New Weapon Enchantment - Ruin

2010-07-31T23:12:00.003-05:00

Ruin: When a ruin weapon does any damage to an opponent of its keyed type, the target must make a Fortitude save with a DC of 17. If the victim fails the save, he is Stunned for a number of rounds equal to the wielder's Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 round) as crippling pain wracks his body. Against the designated type of enemy, the weapon's enhancement bonus is +1 better than its actual bonus as well as doing an additional 1d6 damage.

A creature affected by a ruin weapon may attempt a DC 17 Fortitude save on their initiative to break free of the effect. Only one ruin weapon can work on a victim at a time; the effect must end before the victim can be vulnerable to the effect again.

To randomly determine a weapon's designated foe, roll on the following table:

% / Designated Foe

01 - 05 / Aberrations

06 - 09 / Animals

10 - 16 / Constructs

17 - 22 / Dragons

23 - 27 / Fey

28 - 60 / Humanoids (choose one subtype)

61 - 65 / Magical beasts

66 - 70 / Monstrous humanoids

71 - 72 / Oozes

73 - 88 / Outsiders (pick one subtype)

89 - 90 / Plants

91 - 98 / Undead

99 - 00 / Vermin

Saun deDefri +1 Aberration Ruin Distance Returning Throwing Axe

deDefri was the founder of a githyanki martial tradition devoted to hunting down illithid. deDefri Stalkers are trained in a wide variety of weapons and defensive mental techniques. The saun is one of these weapons, a heavy version of the shuriken that can be held and used in close combat. It counts as a Light Martial Weapon, and uses the same stats as a throwing axe.

A Stalker who graduates to the 2nd Sorcerous Circle within the tradition is given one of these devices with the enchantments listed above. These weapons are important tools in the Stalkers' tactics, used to disable mind flayers as early in the fight as possible and provide the gith with the upper hand.

[Pathfinder] Ursht - 2nd Level

2010-07-29T08:52:00.003-05:00

History

The Ebon Six have been busy. Guided by visions from his sire, Ursht has helped them secure positions within the political landscape of the Yeomanry. After careful vetting of candidates to find those of weak will and corruptable mein, Ursht would be brought in (cloaked and masked) to mesmerize by leading special séances to speak with the ancestors of the attendees. These rituals were devised to give victims visions of political success, and the cult more information about what motivates their targets.

To help his growing influence in the Yeomanry, Graz'zt sent another of his devoted followers to aid the Ebon Six. Kneot the lamia is faithful of Graz'zt, a paladin in service to the Dark Lord. She was led to the Yeomanry by guiding dreams from her master. Her mission is to keep the Ebon Six from distracting Ursht from the purpose his father created him for...

With Kneot's arrival, the ghost of Surulla stopped bothering the cabal. Heneras is thankful of the break, but is suspicious of Kneot's claims about consuming the errant soul. Surulla has actually fled the Yeomanry attached to a caravan headed into Sterich for trade. Her goal is to warn a sympathetic ear about the cabal, but is subject to the whims of the caravan's merchant leader.

Ursht and Kneot know one another in all ways, and with her guidance the tiefling has begun research in the libraries of the nobility. Ursht's studies into Ancient Suel lore and history have been noticed by Heneras, but have not disrupted the cult's plays for political power.

Ursht - CE Medium outsider (native); sorcerer 1, cleric 1

: Init +3 (0 + Dex [3])

: Senses darkvision 60ft, Perception +3

DEFENSE

: AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 10

: hp (1d6+1d8) 11

: Fort +2 (2 + Con [0]), Ref +3 (0 + Dex [3]), Will +5 (2 + Wis [3])

: Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5

OFFENSE

: Speed 30 ft.

: Melee claws att +0 (BaB 0 + Str [0]) dmg 1d4 (1d4 + Str [0])

- spear att +1 (BaB 0 + Str [0] + mw [1]) dmg 1d6 (1d6 + Str [0])

: Ranged dart att +4 (BaB 0 + Dex [3] + mw [1]) dmg 1d4 (1d4 + Str [0])

: Cleric Spells (CL 1)
  - Level 0 (DC 13) / unlimited per day / (3 known) / Detect Poison, Guidance, Stabilize
  - Level 1 (DC 14) / 2 per day (1 + Wis bonus spell [1]) / (prepared) Command, Cure Light Wounds
   domain slot / Divine Favor, Obscuring Mist / (1 prepared) Obscuring Mist
  - Level 2 (DC 15) / 0 per day (0 + Wis bonus spell [1]) /
   domain slot /
  - Level 3 (DC 16) / 0 per day (0 + Wis bonus spell [1]) /
   domain slot /
: Sorcerer Spells (CL 1)

- Level 0 (DC 13) / unlimited per day / (4 known) Daze, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Touch of Fatigue

- Level 1 (DC 14) / 4 per day (3 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (2 known) Hypnotism, True Strike

- Level 2 (DC 15) / 0 per day (0 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (0 known)

- Level 3 (DC 16) / 0 per day (0 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (0 known)

: Spell-like Abilities (CL 1st) 1/day - darkness

STATISTICS

: Str 10 [0], Dex 17 [3], Con 11 [0], Int 14 [2], Wis 16 [3], Cha 15 [2]

: Base Atk 0; CMB 0; CMD 13

FEATS

: Abyssal Sorcerer Bloodline Ursht's father grants him demoniac access to magic.

- Knowledge [Planes] is a class skill for Ursht.

- Claws (Ex) These natural weapons can be grown as a free action. Two claw attacks as a full round action, each claw does 1d4 + Str [0] in damage. Usable for 6 (3 + Cha [3]) rounds per day.
: Aura Ursht exudes a palpable aura of Evil.
: Blind-Fight The tiefling inherits this bonus feat from the Darkness Domain. In melee, each time Ursht misses because of concealment, he can reroll the miss chance percentile roll once to see if his blow actually connects. Invisible attackers gain no advantages to hit him in melee.

: Cantrips Ursht has learned several cantrips he uses for the most nefarious of purposes.
: Channel Energy Ursht may channel Negative Energy within a 30 foot radius, doing 1d6 damage to the living and healing undead for 1d6. This standard action provokes no AoO. Will save at DC 13 (10 + Cha [2] + half cleric level).

: Darkness Domain The Ebon Lord's son has begun venerating the darkness within as well as without. This allows him several abilities.
  - Blind-Fight as a bonus feat.
  - Touch of Darkness (Sp) As a melee touch attack, Ursht can fill a creature's vision with shadows. The target then treats all others as though they had concealment (20% miss chance). Usable 6 (3 + Wis [3]) times per day. Each touch lasts for a duration of 1 (1/2 cleric level, min 1) rounds.
  - Domain Spells: [1] Obscuring Mist
: Darkvision Ursht can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

: Eshew Materials

: Fiendish Resistance Ursht has cold resistance 5, electricity resistance 5, and fire resistance 5.

: Fiendish Sorcery (Ex) Tiefling sorcerers with the Abyssal or Infernal bloodlines treat their Charisma score as 2 points higher for all sorcerer class abilities. Cha 17 [3] for Sorcerer class abilities.

: Nobility Domain Being protected by the cult, as well as knowing who his sire is, Ursht has begun being a true leader to his father's cultists.
- Inspiring Word (Sp) As a standard action, Ursht may speak an inspiring word to a creature within 30 feet, who then gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws. This effect lasts for 1 (1/2 cleric level, min 1) rounds. Usable 6 (3 + Wis [3]) times per day.
- Domain Spells: [1] Divine Favor
: Orisons Ursht may cast level 0 cleric spells, and has begun causing trouble with them.
: Persuasive Ursht has inherited his father's good looks and presence. +2 on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks.

: Skilled +2 racial bonus on Bluff and Stealth checks.

: Spell Prohibition Ursht may learn no spell with the Good descriptor.
: Spontaneous Casting Ursht may trade any of his prepared cleric spells for Inflict spells.
: Weapon and Armor Proficiency All simple weapons, light and medium armor and all but tower shield proficiencies.

SKILLS

: Skill Points 4 + 2x Int [2] (8 total ranks)

: Bonuses / Penalties +2 Bluff, +2 Diplomacy, +2 Intimidate, +2 Stealth

- Bluff +4 (Cha [2], racial mod [2])

- Diplomacy +8 (Cha [2], Persuasive [2], ranks [1], class skill [3])

- Intimidate +9 (Cha [2], Persuasive [2], ranks [2], class skill [3])

- Knowledge [Arcana] +7 (Int [2], ranks [2], class skill [3])

- Knowledge [Planes] +2 (Int [2])

- Knowledge [Religion] +3 (Int [2], ranks [2], class skill [3])

- Perception +3 (Wis [3])

- Spellcraft +6 (Int [2], ranks [1], class skill [3])

- Stealth +5 (Dex [3], racial mod [2])

LANGUAGE

: Common, Abyssal, Old Suel

GEAR

: Artisan's Clothes, Black Hooded Cloak, Belt, 2 Belt Pouches, Masterwork Spear, 10 Masterwork Darts

STRATEGY

: Ursht will rarely be encountered without a loyal bodyguard or Kneot. Ursht's cell of mercenary bodyguards have been reduced to two Suel women; both former mercenaries, now cultists. Elanc, a pale-skinned beauty, is a two-weapon fighter who wields dual sickles. Scoi, a dagger-specialist rogue, performs reconnaissance for the tiefling's noble appearances. Both women are in love with Ursht, and he enjoys their attention. He does what he can to keep them alive in fights.

TACTICS

: If Ursht is caught in a fight, he will use his cantrips and Intimidate skill to disrupt and demoralize opponents and give advantage to his cadre of bodyguards. His first priority is escape; Command (to Halt), Obscuring Mist, and a withdrawal is the ideal plan. Should he become cornered or forced to fight, True Strike, Touch of Fatigue, and a dual-claw attack is a good combination.

[VNS] Day 1 - The Science within Dagon

2010-07-26T22:10:00.002-05:00

Vacation Necronomicon School - Assignment #1

Our initial assignment concerns ruminations on the scientific aspects of Lovecraft's fiction, specifically within the story Dagon. Here are mine...

In reading several authors of the era, I find that Lovecraft uses science to supplement those elements of classical education that his contemporaries relied upon to evoke the sense of Unknown. Another aspect of this habit that appears to be overlooked by modern readers is that he was always trying to incorporate the latest scientific findings of his age into the mix. Archaeology and Astronomy were headline news of the day, and so the unnamed protagonist of Dagon recalls the then-uncovered ruse of Piltdown Man as scientific fact to help try and measure the age of the surfaced temple to the fish-god.

Also, the most horrific characteristics of the creature he encounters are not the tremendous size and scales. It instead displays traits shared by people of faith; bowing its head, and chanting in "...certain measured sounds." Religion and spirituality scare the author, as much as the expanding frontiers of science in his age did. Lovecraft was rooted in the past, and those things he did not understand or did not fit into his preferred time-frame kept him on edge.

Science is just another part of reality that scares him; he uses it to effect in Dagon.

[Wanderer] Career - Warriors

2010-07-26T09:25:00.008-05:00

Here are working notes on Wanderer's Warriors career path. Feel free to add feedback (constructive criticism is appreciated; flaming will getcha baned!).

Characters are created using the same outline as in Traveller Book 1, Characters and Combat. There are a number of cascade skills (which are documented), as well as the basics for skill accumulation and mustering out. As previously stated, the "default setting" described by these careers will be documented in a different post. Trust me; this initial Kingdom will have many similarities to those who have read the world's most popular roleplaying game.
WARRIORS
Enlistment 5+ (DM +1 if End 9+, DM +2 if Str 10+)
Survival 6+ (DM +2 if Str 9+)
Commission 6+ (DM +1 if Str 10+)
Promotion 8+ (DM +1 if Int 8+)
Re-enlist 5+ (On a 12 the character must serve another term.)

  Table Personal Service Advanced
   of Development Skills Education Education Table
  Ranks Table Table Table (Edu 8+ only)
===================================================================
1 +1 Str Transport Armed Combat Healing
2 Fighter +1 Dex Armed Combat Barfly Tactics
3 +1 End Armed Combat Recon Survival
4 Hero +1 End Transport Tactics Navigation
5 +1 Dex   Athletics Warcraft Warcraft
6 +1 Str   Healing Leader Instruction

Rank and Service Skills
Warrior - Armed Combat-1
Warrior Fighter - Tactics-1
Warrior Hero - +1 Soc (or Soc 8, whichever is greater)

Skill Eligibility
Initial Term of Service - 2
Each Subsequent Term - 1
Upon Commission - 1
Upon Promotion - 1

Muster-Out Benefits
Per Term of Service 1
Rank 1 or 2 - 1
Rank 3 or 4 - 2
Rank 5 or 6 - 3
(Benefits Table: DM +1 if rank 5+)
(Cash Table: DM +1 if Gambling 1+)

  Benefits Cash Table
   Table (in Shields)
============================
1 Weapon 50
2 Weapon 200
3 Fetish 1000
4 Weapon 2000
5 Armor 2000
6 +1 Str 5000
7 Enchantment 10000
Amounts on the Cash Table are in Shields (Sh). No more than three rolls may be made on the Cash Table.

Cascade Skills

Armed Combat - Provides a choice among any melee or missile weapon.

Barfly - This represents skills picked up during downtime for the soldiers and mercenaries who walk the Warrior path. Choose between Brawling, Carousing, or Gambling.

Transport - Warriors are moved where they are needed, and this cascade skill allows the character access to the skills of Boating, Driving, Equestrian, and Seacraft.

Warcraft - Choose between any melee or missile weapon, Armor, Tactics, or Leader.

Monetary Standard
The setting uses a silver standard for their coins. There are many different types of coins used by the burgeoning Kingdoms of the Empire, plus all the coins and metallic shards found in the ruins they have explored. The Empire's coins, in order from least to most valuable, are:

Cords (Brass coins with a hole through them for stringing onto cords)
Pots (Copper coins) 1 = 10 Cords
Shields (Silver coins with livery from Kingdom of issuance) 1 = 10 Pots
Helms (Gold coins with an image of the capital's keep from Kingdom of issuance) 1 = 10 Shields
Spears (Thin gold bar with notch on one end. Sovereign's name of Kingdom of issuance along non-notched side.) 1 = 15 Shields
Pikes (Thin electrum bar with notch on one end. Sovereign's name of Kingdom of issuance along non-notched side.) 1 = 10 Helms
Knights (Thin platinum bar with two notches on one end. Emperor's name along non-notched side.) 1 = 5 Pikes
Lords (Platinum bar with two notches on one end. Emperor's name along non-notched side.) 1 = 3 Knights

Material Benefits

Weapon benefits must be declared by type immediately; additional benefits of Weapon may be taken as skill in a weapon of the type previously taken.

Fetish benefits represent one-shot magic items, such as potions, scrolls, woad, etc. Fetishes may be taken as often as rolled.

Armor benefit grants the warrior a personal suit of armor according to their final rank:

Warrior - Studded Leather Curiass and Trews, leather padded Cap

Warrior Fighter - Banded Mail Curiass and Studded Leather Trews, leather padded Cap

Warrior Hero - Chainmail Shirt and Hood, Studded Leather Trews, Open Helm

Enchantment benefit provides the warrior with a permanently ensorcelled item. Additional occurrences of Enchantment are treated as no benefit.

Edit 2010-08-04 - formatting shift, changed the Knights money from a coin to the bar it was supposed to be.

Vacation Necronomicon School

2010-07-25T15:56:00.002-05:00

Well, smack my butt and call me Shirley...
Turns out there's a summer correspondence course to study the works of H. P. Lovecraft!

I believe I'll be participating in Vacation Necronomicon School.

Fun stuff.

[Pathfinder] Ursht - New Character

2010-07-21T13:57:00.001-05:00

A vile demon-worshiping cult has wormed its way into the noble Houses of the Yeomanry of the Flanaess. What began as a fashionable séance-enacting occult society evolved into The Ebon Six, a coven which venerates Graz'zt and holds ties to the warlord Iuz. To cement the cult's power and prove their faith to the Dark Prince, the cabal's leader Heneras gave Graz'zt his eldest unmarried daughter. Surulla disappeared in a flash during the ritual but was found several days later walking back towards the capital, babblingly insane.

Her pregnancy was not difficult for the cabal to hide. Ursht's birth killed Surulla, and her ghost still haunts her father and Ursht. The child was kept from normal society, brought up by the cult and sequestered away. Ursht knows the rites the coven created before his birth, and has contributed a number of new rituals to their repertoire since. His presence is venerated as a blessing by the Dark Prince, and they listen to Ursht's counsel as if he knew his father's will.

Ursht is not one for direct conflict. He would not survive a straight-up fight, and knows this. At this point in his life, he makes effective use of the members of the cabal as a screen. They protect him, and he guides them in enacting his father's will upon the face of the Flanaess. Ursht uses his "otherness" to fascinate the members of the cult, and is working hard at following in his father's path by seducing the women of the cabal and blessing their families with his noble blood.

Heneras has been told to familiarize the boy with the use of the spear, and to ensure he has access to any library he desires. Graz'zt is playing the long game again; focusing this scion into something terrible. Heneras has been told that their mutual grandson's development is more important than the cabal, and to beware the consequences of not doing as the demon-lord decrees...

Ursht - XP 0; CE Medium outsider (native); sorcerer 1
: Init +3 (0 + Dex [3])
: Senses darkvision 60ft, Perception +3
DEFENSE
: AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 10
: hp (1d6) 6
: Fort 0 (0 + Con [0]), Ref +3 (0 + Dex [3]), Will +5 (2 + Wis [3])
: Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5
OFFENSE
: Speed 30 ft.
: Melee claws att +0 (BaB 0 + Str [0]) dmg 1d4 (1d4 + Str [0])
- spear att +1 (BaB 0 + Str [0] + mw [1]) dmg 1d6 (1d6 + Str [0])
: Ranged dart att +4 (BaB 0 + Dex [3] + mw [1]) dmg 1d4 (1d4 + Str [0])

: Sorcerer Spells (CL 1)

- Level 0 (DC 13) / unlimited per day / (4 known) Daze, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Touch of Fatigue

- Level 1 (DC 14) / 4 per day (3 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (2 known) Hypnotism, True Strike

- Level 2 (DC 15) / 0 per day (0 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (0 known)

- Level 3 (DC 16) / 0 per day (0 + Cha bonus spell [1]) / (0 known)

: Spell-like Abilities (CL 1st) 1/day - darkness

STATISTICS
: Str 10 [0], Dex 17 [3], Con 11 [0], Int 14 [2], Wis 16 [3], Cha 15 [2]
: Base Atk 0; CMB 0; CMD 13
FEATS
: Sorcerer Bloodline - Abyssal Ursht's father grants him demoniac access to magic.
- Knowledge [Planes] is a class skill for Ursht.
- Claws (Ex) These natural weapons can be grown as a free action. Two claw attacks as a full round action, each claw does 1d4 + Str [0] in damage. Usable for 6 (3 + Cha [3]) rounds per day.
: Cantrips Ursht has learned several cantrips he uses for the most nefarious of purposes.
: Darkvision Ursht can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
: Eshew Materials
: Fiendish Resistance Ursht has cold resistance 5, electricity resistance 5, and fire resistance 5.
: Fiendish Sorcery (Ex) Tiefling sorcerers with the Abyssal or Infernal bloodlines treat their Charisma score as 2 points higher for all sorcerer class abilities. Cha 17 [3] for Sorcerer class abilities.
: Persuasive Ursht has inherited his father's good looks and presence. +2 on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks.
: Skilled +2 racial bonus on Bluff and Stealth checks.

: Weapon and Armor Proficiency All simple weapons, no armor or shield proficiencies.

SKILLS
: Skill Points 2 + Int (4 total ranks)
: Bonuses / Penalties +2 Bluff, +2 Diplomacy, +2 Intimidate, +2 Stealth
  - Bluff +4 (racial mod [2] + Cha [2])
  - Diplomacy +4 (Persuasive [2] + Cha [2])
  - Intimidate +8 (ranks [1] + class skill [3] + Persuasive [2] + Cha [2])
  - Knowledge [Arcana] +6 (ranks [1] + class skill [3] + Int [2])
  - Knowledge [Planes] +2 (Int [2])
  - Knowledge [Religion] +3 (ranks [1] + Int [2])
  - Perception +3 (Wis [3])
  - Spellcraft +6 (ranks [1] + class skill [3] + Int [2])
  - Stealth +5 (racial mod [2] + Dex [3])
LANGUAGE
: Common
GEAR
: Artisan's Clothes, Black Hooded Cloak, Belt, 2 Belt Pouches, Masterwork Spear, 10 Masterwork Darts
STRATEGY
: At this stage in his development, Ursht will only be encountered with several members of the cabal in tow. He is too important for them to be risked in random fights, and the cultists have used their considerable position and money to have three mercenaries attached as personal bodyguards. Ursht himself is less than pleased with this, but will use the resources to survive.
TACTICS
: If Ursht is caught in a fight, he will use his cantrips and Intimidate skill to disrupt and demoralize opponents and give advantage to his cadre of bodyguards. Should he become cornered or forced to fight, he will use his claws and True Strike / Touch of Fatigue to generate an opportunity to escape. Withdrawal is his favorite maneuver - he is a lover, not a fighter. He does not consider "commoners" worthy of his touch, but relishes the idea of causing pain.

[Traveller] Ship Design - Kha Class Strike Carrier

2010-07-12T19:47:00.004-05:00

To help in writing Wanderer, I wanted to run some Classic Traveller and get my "combat legs" back for the system. Talking with my group, I found several were wanting to run a military game and tear things up with Gray Ops, Battle Dress-equipped Imperial Marines. Given the scenario-based game, I thought I'd indulge in some custom ship design and make the ship the center of the stories.
Players create the Carrier's crew and a full squad of Marines (3 full Fire Teams - 12 Marines). Each individual Marine and the crew of their Carrier would be available to play was a character. New marines (to replace casualties) would be rotated onto the carrier's roster as necessary. The ship was specifically designed to deploy fast, hit hard, and disappear when appropriate.

For all the gearheads out there, I'm implementing some deck plans (they'll be available here a little later). Here's the Imperial Database entry on the ship's class, plus the Classic Traveller High Guard stats for the beastie:

General Specifications
   Designed by the Imperial Navy at Gu Yards (Rhylanor/Spinward Marches) by Lt. Colonel Peiirkigki Kish. "Kha" is the Vilani word for "phantom" or "ghost", and each vessel takes the name of a kha from classical Vilani literature. The Kha class exists to perform counter-intelligence, reconaissance and other covert operations where deploying several fire teams of Marines should be accomplished with minimum profile. The strike carrier Ashagii is the latest unit built in the class.
   Governing tech level is 14, fitting a streamlined hull for atmospheric work.
   The ship is jump-3, maneuver-5, and power plant-7. The power plant provides 42 energy points. Fuel tankage stores 180 tons for jump fuel, and 42 tons to drive the power plant. The vessel has full functionality within atmosphere, and is equipped to skim for fuel and refine it. A bridge and a computer Model/3fib are installed.
   The Kha's hull fits armor of factor 8.
   Weaponry is installed in all 6 hardpoints as turrets, each as an independent battery. All batteries can bear on all targets. There are four single fusion gun turrets of factor 5 each, plus two factor 3 triple missile turrets.
   There are no discrete ship's vehicles, but the class mounts twelve launch bays for battle-dress grav-pod drop capsules. Marines step into the bay, are outfitted and available for drop.
   The crew numbers 13 (one Pilot, one Navigator / Captain, 5 Engineers, and 6 Gunners), plus 12 Marines, and requires one single occupancy stateroom and 12 double occupancy staterooms.
   A single cargo hold of 16 tons holds the munitions and equipment required for the vessel's designated operations.
   The ship has an agility of 5; its emergency agility is 6.

High Guard 2nd edition stats:
SC-954 Ashagii     SC-61357C2-800000-05003-0 MCr572.488 600 tons
batteries bearing 4 2 Crew=13.
   batteries 4 2 TL=14.
Passengers=0. Low=12. Cargo=16. Fuel=202. EP=42. Agility=5. Marines=12.

Service History in the Spinward Marches
Number Name Laid Down First Flight Base of Operations Status
==================================================================
SC-740 Ashaka   274-1004 290-1006 Rhylanor lost
SC-742 Khigu    286-1004 300-1006 Rhylanor lost
SC-800 Laashashi  043-1005 040-1007 Tenalphi lost
SC-889 Pekirni    112-1050 087-1052 Glisten lost
SC-895 Adasakam   291-1050 200-1052 Rhylanor in service
SC-902 Lilakhau   001-1068 035-1070 Rhylanor in service
SC-934 Agirmar    111-1070 067-1072 Glisten lost
SC-935 Ugkau    111-1070 070-1072 Glisten in service
SC-936 Kaaluu   111-1070 075-1072 Glisten lost
SC-941 Iimla    285-1080 142-1082 Tenalphi lost
SC-942 Misuuad    285-1080 142-1082 Tenalphi in service
SC-952 Iuar     176-1084 198-1086 Rhylanor captured / destroyed
SC-953 Ushshande  176-1084 198-1086 Rhylanor in service
SC-954 Ashagii    176-1084 200-1086 Rhylanor in service

The Kha class was designed between the Third and Fourth Frontier Wars on the chaotic borders of the Spinward Marches. The design of the ship has made its way back to Core and is among the more devious designs the Vilani keep on hand. The vessel has been used through the sectors of The Spinward Marches, Deneb, Corridor, and Vland.

Strategy and Tactics

Being covert operations vessels, ships of the Kha class bear no tail markings and follow standard transponder code operations during combat. Like all such ships, the process of deploying in-system is similar:

Jump into the target system.
Skim the furthest out gas giant to refuel.
Process the fuel.
Perform the mission.
Leave system.

The primary use for the Missile Turrets are ground support and bombardment. Kha-class Strike Carriers shall be destroyed before being captured, by Imperial decree.

[IMCotD] - Steampunk Edition

2010-07-08T10:15:00.003-05:00

IM Conversations of the Damned

(9:10:45 AM) Kevin: Next on a special episode of Steampunky Brewster -- she crashes her Zeppelin into the Royal Naval Base.
(9:11:20 AM) Gerall: Oh Punky!
(9:11:52 AM) Kevin: I want to watch this show!
(9:12:33 AM) Gerall: It was obviously the Rocket Nazis which caused the Zeppelin issue...
(9:12:49 AM) Kevin: Or the Gorillas.
(9:13:24 AM) GK: Oooh - Gorilla Scientists from the Darkest Congo!!
(9:13:30 AM) Kevin: Yes!
(9:15:16 AM) Gerall: They're actually here to help Steampunky fight the Rocket Nazis, but noone speaks their language...
(9:15:50 AM) Gerall: Good thing the royal naval base has a world-class translator!!
(9:16:13 AM) Gerall: Then we discover that the Gorillas aren't native to Earth; but Venus!
(9:16:36 AM) Kevin: Oh, man. get your mind back to Wanderer. :)

[Wanderer] beginning Careers section

2010-07-07T19:44:00.000-05:00

It is good to be done with the Introduction for Wanderer. Now, on to the hard work.

Careers are the meat-and-potatoes of setting definition for Classic Traveller. The first three LBBs defined the Vilani Imperium as the default setting. More interestingly, they accomplished this without broadcasting the fact. This allowed Referees to customize their setting if they wanted, stretching and warping the Vilani into their own interesting culture. Capturing the initial flash and impression of a specific culture without over-investing in a specific setting is going to be an interesting challenge.

My initial inspiration was to create a slightly modified system which used a "zero term" to define an initial culture. Leads to alternate careers could be embedded in a kingdom, allowing writers to proscribe some choices and make others more common by tweaking the enlistment requirement down or similar. Taking this "zero term" into account would, of course, push back the starting age of characters. Unless we tweak the number of skills which are common to characters...

...and so the inevitable mutation of my initial charge progressed. At least until Kevin reminded me of our purpose and drive: To use the stock system from Classic Traveller to implement a Fantasy Roleplaying Game.

Needless to say, I'm back on track now with the core rules as a reference. Our Wanderer is not a line-by-line transformation of Traveller. It is a game unto itself, that follows as closely as possible the design of its ancestor to give gamers the same quality tool kit they got when they picked up the original.

Good thing I'm not writing in a vaccuum. Thanks, Kevin!

[Pathfinder] New Weapon Enchantment - Wrack

2010-07-06T16:35:00.002-05:00

Wrack: When a wrack weapon inflicts any damage against the specified type of foe, the target must make a Fortitude save DC 15. If the victim fails the save, he is Staggered for 1d3 rounds as waves of pain course through him. Against the designated enemy type, the weapon's enhancement bonus is +1 better than its actual bonus.

Once affected by the wrack weapon, the victim may make a DC 15 Fortitude save (on his initiative) to completely break free of the effect. Only one wrack weapon can work on a victim at a time. To become vulnerable to it again, the current wrack weapon effect must end.

To randomly determine a weapon's designated foe, roll on the following table:

% / Designated Foe
01 - 05 / Aberrations
06 - 09 / Animals
10 - 16 / Constructs
17 - 22 / Dragons
23 - 27 / Fey
28 - 60 / Humanoids (choose one subtype)
61 - 65 / Magical beasts
66 - 70 / Monstrous humanoids
71 - 72 / Oozes
73 - 88 / Outsiders (pick one subtype)
89 - 90 / Plants
91 - 98 / Undead
99 - 00 / Vermin

Ursht's AngelHunter +2 Anarchic Good Outsider Wrack Spear
Ursht was born into the cult's highest echelons of power, and with good reason. Ursht's tiefling background is plentifully evident from his six-fingered hands, short horns, matte black skin, and long tail. The cult tells him his sire is Graz'zt, and surely this is proven truth when the great demon begins sending him visions. The visions lead him to AngelHunter, and also began his quest to destroy Viraniel (a powerful planetar divination-mage).

Ursht has spent his life, working toward the corruption and destruction of Viraniel's Pelor-centric church on Oerth. Ursht has also recently acquired a Torc of Nondetection, and thus is quickly becoming difficult for the Pelorian Church to track.

Ursht - sorcerer 5 / cleric 4 tiefling

[Pathfinder] New Poison - Splinter

2010-07-02T14:42:00.004-05:00

There are times when you just want to slow someone down, or get another chance to make your Stealth roll and hide from them. In this instance, Splinter is ideal.

SPLINTER
Type poison, contact; Save Fortitude DC 25
Onset 1 round; Frequency 1/round for 6 rounds
Effect -1d2 Perception skill; Cure see below

This horrible crystal never looses its edge, even when ground into a powder. Splinter crystals remain needle-shaped and profoundly sharp, no matter their size. Any contact with flesh drives the material into the victim's skin.

Once in the system, the victim looses the ability to keep coherent thoughts and suffers profound hallucinations. Each minute, the victim may make a new save to wear away 1 point of the Perception penalty and fight back the visions. This is the only non-magical way to cure the poison.

Creating Splinter is exceptionally difficult and dangerous. The Craft (Alchemy) skill roll is actually DC 27. On a catastrophic failure, the alchemist will be exposed to Splinter's effects. On a normal failure, the batch's materials are wasted creating a profoundly smelly cloud of blue vapors.

(The stats above are for the Pathfinder RPG from Paizo. Adjust as needed for your preferred system.)

[IMCotD] Do Robots Count as "Bugs"?

2010-06-29T13:15:00.003-05:00

IM Conversations of the Damned

(1:10:46 PM) Gerall: it's a TL8 colony
(1:10:56 PM) Gerall: they have machineguns and mortars
(1:11:01 PM) Jeff: Oh
(1:11:03 PM) Gerall: mines
(1:11:19 PM) Gerall: one or two vehicles to shoot at you from
(1:11:22 PM) Jeff: So this'll be a stand up fight
(1:11:33 PM) Jeff: not a bug hunt
(1:11:41 PM) Gerall: until the Zhodani battle robots show up, anyway
(1:11:53 PM) Jeff: Go Zho!!

[Wanderer] Introduction begun

2010-06-23T10:28:00.003-05:00

Got a little writing done last night for Wanderer. Using the original LBBs as a template, I'm writing the Introduction and "What is role playing" sections.

To be honest, strict discipline is the only thing keeping me to this old-school standard. I was one of those people whose first exposure to role playing was sitting at a table and watching a group work their way through the end of Slave Pits of the Undercity. Getting to actually see the ebb and flow of the game brought the experience home much more solidly than any "what is roleplaying" section I've ever read. My gaming group includes people who had to rely on these chapters during their formative gaming years, and I cannot imagine having to climb that hill on my own...

So, writing is beginning on the Wanderer project. Huzzah! I'm really enjoying it.

In other news, the default setting for Wanderer will be vague and allow for Referees to build what they want of their world. The initial premise is that progenitor civilizations blasted each other to bits hundreds of years ago, and currently heroes are beginning to protect their tribes and build new kingdoms. This will allow for the "randomly generated" aspects of the Traveller rules to be implemented in Wanderer without too much handwavium. Randomly generated entities will include; kingdoms, ruins (of the progenitor kingdoms), and beasts / monsters.

Generating random monsters to wander through the PCs' settlements ties into the previous collapse of civilization; magical experimentation led to their downfall. Generating random ruins and kingdoms provides the opportunity for solitary play. I don't want to use the term "dungeon", but it's a hard habit to break when it fits so well.

Modern role playing games have the concept of a Referee as default; original Traveller was brilliant in that it allowed for solitary play through the use of the randomly-generated creatures, star systems, planets, and cargoes. Ergo, Wanderer shall fit this paradigm as well. It's going to be an interesting experiment.

Can't wait until the end of the month! Work is keeping me hopping until the end of June. Wanderer development should rocket along swiftly after the first week of July.

[IMCotD] Gloranthan Grammar

2010-06-21T15:11:00.004-05:00

IM Conversations of the Damned

(3:08:45 PM) Gerall: I'm thinking Lineage - it's growing on me
(3:08:51 PM) Gerall: like a vine
(3:08:55 PM) Gerall: damn elfs
(3:09:20 PM) Kevin: Elves, man, not Elfs. That's Glorantha.
(3:09:27 PM) Gerall: LOL
(3:09:30 PM) Gerall: did that on purpose
(3:09:47 PM) Gerall: to evoke a reaction - thanks!
(3:10:02 PM) Kevin: ::shakes fist::

[Wanderer] Skills collected and organized

2010-06-21T12:53:00.001-05:00

Kevin, being the productive guy he is, has finished collecting together skills for the fantasy version of Traveller. Basic and Cascade skills are included. I'll be going over this list, adding descriptions and further game-science goodness as time permits.

Lots less Computer - lots more Archery!

Once this is hammered out, we'll begin the task of organizing the Careers. First step will be to detail the core Careers (Basic LBB careers, plus the interesting bits from Citizens of the Imperium), and make them human-o-centric. Basic Traveller being the target to emulate, we're envisioning longer books to do detail work within things like Mercenary, Sea Guard, Scouts, and Merchant Prince.

Which brings up the concept of species / ethnicity / culture / and race...

How does Race Module 1 - Elves grab you? We want to keep the original flavor of the Traveller implementation as much as possible. Anything presented in its own Module is a sapient entity capable of being played (however horrendously) by the PCs.

Anyone have a recommendation for a word other than "Race" for the title of the Modules? Feels strange to use that word in that context. Something archaic and meaningful? Let me know!

[Wanderer] Old-school Traveller hack

2010-06-19T09:10:00.002-05:00

Thanks to PSMangus, I've gotten bitten by the Wanderer bug... Kevin and I have begun writing, and it feels very good to apply some love to this venerable game system.

The Traveller boxed set was the first gaming item I ever bought for myself. It was amazing. The text was laid out differently than the Dungeons and Dragons material my friends were caught up in, and with a minimum amount of art the whole artifact evoked the image of the far future really well. It will be a real challenge to describe a Fantasy RPG with well-written text. One I'm looking forward to.

I can already feel a different "mood" take over when I think about PSMangus' Dreamer concept. H. P. Lovecraft's Dreamlands works have kept me entertained for years. The names, places, and exotics of that realm just beg for a gaming implementation too. I'm a fan of Chaosium's efforts in this direction, but feel that the BRP version of the game calls up shades of it's Elder sibling and taints what could be a tremendously unique setting. Using the tricks of presentation the original Traveller material taught us would be ideal for this setting!

Something just a little different from the sanity-smashing juggernaught that is Call of Cthulhu.

Who knew, all these years on, those little black books would be causing such a ruckus?