Sorcery & Super Science!

February Sucks.

2012-02-12T12:33:00.002-05:00

This month has been terrible. I've been sick a lot and not much work has been done. The blog's not been updated, I spend most of my time in a zombie-like stupor when I'm not sleeping. I has a sad.

Call for Manuscripts!

2012-02-06T10:55:00.002-05:00

Alrighty all, I've just started the layout process on Advanced Adventures #25: Beneath the Heart of Empire and I'm out of manuscripts. I'll probably write two OSRIC adventures this year as I have two cool ideas I'd like to explore, but after that I need more manuscripts!

So here's where you come in. I'm accepting manuscripts for OSRIC/1e gaming. I'm looking for between 8k and 12k words, and I pay $0.01 per word upon acceptance for all rights. I hope that everyone knows that when you go with XRP, we're going to put out a good final product that proudly stands next to all the other Advanced Adventures.

Going the way it's going, it looks like the AA line will come to an end mid 2012 unless I get some new manuscripts. Contact me at josephbrowning@gmail.com.

Also, although not old-school, I'm also looking for some 1on1 adventure manuscripts for Pathfinder. The details are the same, but the word count in more flexible towards the upper end given the length of stat blocks.

Sunday Un-seriousness

2012-02-05T11:29:00.002-05:00

Been a while since the last post. Sorry 'bout that! Now, for something that you don't want to meet.

Advanced Adventures #22: Stonepick Crossing for Sale!

2012-01-30T11:34:00.000-05:00

Advanced Adventures #22: Stonepick Crossing has just arrived here at the Browning/Yee casa and it's now up for sale. It's our first OSRIC/1e adventure for levels 1-3 and the first adventure for us by Mark Morrison. I think it's a good fit with the line and should provide some fun and challenges for lower-level characters.

The tiny town of Stonepick Crossing sits on top of an old dwarven dam holding built some 500 years ago to end a long war. Recognizing the futility of direct assault, the dwarves built the dam to flood the goblin caves, flushing the foul creatures out of their caves and into the slaughter of honest combat. Now 500 years later, the dwarves have moved on and a small thorp has sprung up.

Mystery surrounds the protected town and rumors abound: locals disappearing in the middle of the night, strange noises from underneath the dam and even rumors of a monster in the lake percolate through the community. Which rumors are true and which are the ale-addled ramblings of old men fearful of their own shadows?

For the first time, we're releasing print copies at Lulu right when they become available from the Expeditious Retreat Press. We listened to what customers wanted and the print products are now available at both locations. Additionally, we have PDF products available at Your Games Now, RPGnow, and Lulu.

Last Friday's Game

2012-01-30T08:15:00.001-05:00

In my 1e game last Friday, the player's framed their murder of a stone giant emissary to the player's enemies on their enemies, killed a giant slug, and found out that one of the pillars in the structure guarding the Goremont Grim has an illusion upon it hiding a passage of some sort. Out from behind the illusion came 3 gargoyles which the party handily dispatched. After putting a glyph of warding (blind) upon the area the left to rest and came back to find they had apparently blinded a beholder. The mu/thief invised and snuck up behind the beholder for a backstab, but almost got himself killed as it was a gas spore.

Fun was had by all, and we're on again for this Friday (weather permitting).

The Joker is Tom Waits?

2012-01-29T11:12:00.001-05:00

Listen to this early interview of Tom Waits and close your eyes and you'll believe it's Heath Ledger's Joker doing the talking. Particular bits are at 0:40 and at 2:50. Makes you wonder if it's coincidence or if there's a connection.

Saturday Un-seriousness?

2012-01-28T10:56:00.002-05:00

Formula Folio

2012-01-25T08:29:00.003-05:00

Pass Without Trace
For the ink required to scribe a druidical pass without trace scroll

1 oz. of giant squid sepia
1 oz. of holly berry juice
A sprig of pine or evergreen
A leaf of mistletoe

During a full moon, burn the leaf of mistletoe, powder the ashes, and add to the sepia. In a pine or evergreen container, mix the sepia and the holly berry juice. Place the spring over the container and let rest for one day. Remove the sprig, decant into a wooden vial, and let rest for one moon. Makes enough ink for 2 scrolls. Any special quill is suitable.

Tome of Tomes

2012-01-24T07:16:00.001-05:00

The Ebon Book
Author: Unknown
Race: Unknown
Dimensions: 14x12x2.5
Weight: 9 lbs.
Materials: Bound in ebony, parchment
Rarity: Very rare
Fields of Study: Supernatural & unusual
Special Knowledge Categories: Dweomercraft, planes (outer)
Value: 2575 gp

This rare and dangerous book is bound in purest ebony and written in elven with terse brushwork. Within the covers are the names of hundreds of lesser demons and devils and their histories. The work is at least 450 years old, and contains all the details and information required by adept magic users for the creation of powerful magics dealing with demons and devils. A magic user with this tome will spend but half of the normal expenses when researching a new spell concerning the above infernal creatures.

Sunday Un-seriousness

2012-01-22T08:56:00.003-05:00

Weekend of No Gaming

2012-01-21T10:03:00.001-05:00

*sigh* I was supposed to play our weekly 1e AD&D game this Friday and play a day-long, double board game of Axis and Allies, but the weather has conspired against me. Instead of gaming, I'm working. Oh well, there's stuff I need to catch up on.

Here's hoping next weekend isn't so icetastic.

WotC Reprinting 1e AD&D Core Books

2012-01-19T10:31:00.002-05:00

Read it Here.

I'm very happy with this decision!

I Can Not Repeal The Words Of The Golden Eel

2012-01-18T11:30:00.002-05:00

Most Recent 4 Advanced Adventures at Lulu

2012-01-18T07:44:00.003-05:00

I've finished publishing the Advanced Adventures line at Lulu. Below are the most recent 4 modules.

Advanced Adventures #18: The Forsaken Sepulcher
Advanced Adventures #19: The Secret of the Callair Hills
Advanced Adventures #20: The Riddle of Anadi
Advanced Adventures #21: The Obsidian Sands of Syncrates

Even More XRP Products at Lulu

2012-01-16T10:56:00.001-05:00

I continue the slow process of adding the XRP catalog to Lulu with the below four products:

The Verdant Vault of Malakum
Stonesky Delve
Under Shattered Mountain
The Frozen Wave Satsuma

This is going to take quite a bit a time, but I'll chip away at it an hour here and an hour there. Thanks for your patience.

Metallic? Chromatic? Nope.

2012-01-15T10:48:00.000-05:00

Fruitastic.

More at Lulu

2012-01-14T09:14:00.001-05:00

I've been very busy with Pathfinder stuff and only added four more Advanced Adventures to our print catalog at Lulu. Below are the direct links.

The Lost Keys of Solitude by Joseph Browning & Suzi Yee 6-10
The Conqueror Worm by Alphonso Warden 10-14
The Barrow Mound of Gravemoor by Andrew Hind 5-7
White Dragon Run by James Boney 2-4

More XRP Products at Lulu

2012-01-12T09:22:00.000-05:00

After the result of the poll last month, I've listened to you and am in the process of adding the Expeditious Retreat Press catalog to Lulu. So far, I've added a handful of Advanced Adventures so those looking for print copies who prefer Lulu as a sales site will be able to purchase them there. Below are those currently available and their level range. I'll be adding more today.

The Pod-Caverns of Sinister Shroom by Matthew Finch 2-4
The Red Mausoleum by James Boney 12-15
The Curse of the Witch Head by James Boney 6-10
The Prison of Meneptah by Alphonso Warden 8-10
The Flaming Footprints of Jilanth by Andrew Hind 3-5
The Chasm of the Damned by James Boney 6-10
The Sarcophagus Legion by Andrew Hind 2-4
The Seven Shrines of Nav’k-Qar by James Boney 8-12
The Lost Pyramid of Imhotep by Alphonso Warden 4-7

I should also point out that Lulu's running a buy-one-get-one-at-50% sale. The code advertised on their front page is SECONDHALF.

Hip Hip Horay! It's Weasel Stoping Day!

2012-01-10T08:56:00.001-05:00

5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons is Here

2012-01-09T09:17:00.001-05:00

From the NY Times...

Unsurprising, IMO. I've also received confirmation that the announcement could have happened up to a year ago which is, according to my memory, when rumors really started among fellow publishers.

And Dungeons & Dragons’ designers are also planning to undertake an exceedingly rare effort for the gaming industry over the next few months: asking hundreds of thousands of fans to tell them how exactly they should reboot the franchise

In other words, WotC is taking a page from Paizo's playbook. Paizo's taken the reins away from WotC. And honestly, good on them. WotC's development of a new game expressly for the reason of IP protection (because of the OGL) was ill-advised, ill-planned, and ill-executed, IMO.

Finally, the plug (which is what it is - there is no article-based reason for the mention) for the other gaming system mentioned in the article is transparent when you know that the developer of that game and the author are friends and shared the same booth with yours truly last year.

UPDATE:
According to WotC there will be a first-draft of the new rules available for attendees of the Jan 2012 D&D Experience. Another point of confirmation regarding the duration of 5e development.

Sunday Un-Seriousness

2012-01-08T10:11:00.000-05:00

Formula Folio

2012-01-07T11:11:00.002-05:00

Locate Animals
For the ink required to scribe a druidical locate animals scroll

1 oz. of giant squid sepia
1 oz. of holly berry juice
A dowsing fork of oak wood
A fallen leaf of an oak tree

During the longest night of the year, draw a series of concentric circles upon the fallen leaf using the dowsing fork and the sepia. Crush leaf into an oaken bowl and add remaining ingredients. Decant into a silver container and let sit until the longest day of the year. Makes enough ink for 2 scrolls. Use a quill made from an egg-laying hen.

Tome of Tomes

2012-01-06T09:55:00.002-05:00

Bone Knitting
Author: Capyl Benshaw
Race: Human
Dimensions: 6x5x1
Weight: 1 lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Common
Fields of Study: Supernatural & unusual
Special Knowledge Categories: Medicine
Value: 65 gp

A small treatise on the art of medical immobilization, Bone Knitting is not only useful to the prospective medical student, but to the traveling itinerant who risks injury. Written in clear, easy-to-understand common and appropriately illustrated, the work is a valuable to all.

If Youth is Wasted on the Young..

2012-01-05T18:16:00.001-05:00

make sure that you don't waste your Old Age as well. :)

Formula Folio

2012-01-05T13:39:00.002-05:00

Invisibility to Animals
For the ink required to scribe a druidical invisibility to animals scroll

1 oz. of giant squid sepia
1 oz. of holly berry juice
1 oz. of catnip
A drop of skunk stink
A small piece of fresh red meat
10 oz. of spring water

In a stone container, mix the sepia, berry juice, catnip and skunk stink. In a stoppered silver container, pour mix over the red meat. Let sit in the warm sun for as many days as it takes for the meat to liquefy. Remove and let air for several days until solidified. Place in an iron container, add spring water and boil over a cedar fire until the ink congeals. Store ink in a silver container. Makes enough ink for 4 scrolls. Any special quill is suitable.

On To Bigger Things...

2012-01-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

Having just finished the first draft of Worlds Apart, I now get to go through the mental switch to working on a different system. I'm jumping over to Pathfinder to work on an even bigger project than Worlds Apart (I've already got about 65k words on it and I still have a lot to do). These sudden switches I find more and more difficult after long stints in a particular system. I seem to spend a good half hour or so going "Wuh?" before my brain settles down and starts reconnecting with the system methodology. I suspect it's just a fun side-effect of getting older. :)

But the alternative is a lot worse!

Lyart Subsector Map - World's Apart

2012-01-03T07:04:00.003-05:00

Finished the Lyart Subsector Map for World's Apart yesterday. I'm using a mapping style similar, but not exactly, to Mongoose's OGL Traveller. I'm putting more information on the map itself, although there will still be an island roster showing all the details of each location. I'm pretty pleased with it.

Another Lulu Sale & Thanks!

2012-01-02T09:58:00.003-05:00

I suspect that if you wanted something from Lulu you've already picked it up, but they're running a 25% off sale using the coupon code ONEMORETHING305 until Jan 6. So if you haven't, there you go.

Thanks to everyone who responded to the poll! It looks like I need to get more printed versions of our products up at Lulu.

Cry Havoc! and let loose the dogs of Accounting!

2012-01-01T10:38:00.000-05:00

With the new year comes the accounting of the old. Easiest to track is hours worked (yep, I log 'em) in comparison with previous years. I started tracking my hours 3 years ago as I wanted to see the relationship with our income vrs. the amount of time I spend working. So far, any correlations have yet to manifest, but I'll keep plugging away. What that says to me is that as a small business owner in the creative business, working smarter is more effective than working harder. Not surprised to much on that, but I'll keep looking at it.

Happy New Years to you all, may 2012 be better than 2011.

My 1e Players Acquire Unusual Henchmen

2011-12-31T10:53:00.001-05:00

I've been running a 1e game now for a while and the group just turned 5th(ish) level and have just acquired some new henchmen. The group was exploring the megadungeon/dimensional portal/mega-sentient creature called the Goremont Grim that they released from eldritch bonds by accident when they found themselves looking back upon their earlier selves when they first discovered the Goremon Grim and back when it was still bound.

Their current selves were watching their old selves from behind a wall of force that rendered them invisible and unable to communicate. Of course, being the great DM that I am I totally forgot about the various magic items the party has, so when the m-u pulled out the rod of absorption* they got earlier and brought down the wall, the party was face to face with each other.

To make a long story shorter, the younger group decided to hench for the older group (all but one of them that is) so the party is in the strange situation of having themselves as henchmen.

*(This campaign I've been rolling absolutely randomly for treasure, so the party has some items that I would considered too powerful for their level, but I'm not going for that kind of game this time. The dice are Fate and we're all exploring what She has in store.)

Tome of Tomes

2011-12-30T10:33:00.000-05:00

Dwarven Symbols
Author: Finnock Jetdigger
Race: Gnome
Dimensions: 6x5x1
Weight: 1 lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Common
Fields of Study: Demi-humankind
Special Knowledge Categories: Languages
Value: 55 gp

A valuable source of information for dungeon delvers, Dwarven Symbols illustrates and explains the 50 most common signs of the symbolic language used by dwarves. Warning signs, directional signs, and informational signs: all of the common ones are in this short large-lettered work. After the publication of this work, the author was outcast by the dwarven communities in which he once had free access.

Formula Folio

2011-12-29T10:15:00.002-05:00

Faerie Fire
For the ink required to scribe a druidical faerie fire scroll

1 oz. of giant octopus ink
1 oz. of holly berry juice
1 oz. of phosphor from the end of a firefly

In a ceramic container, mix all ingredients. Seal container with beeswax. Place near a fire for 24 hours. Makes enough ink for 2 scrolls. Any special quill is suitable.

Lulu Sale

2011-12-28T09:40:00.001-05:00

Looks like Lulu's having another big sale of 35% off. Seeing as I'm supposed to be running a business here, may I provide you a link towards our stuff on Lulu? Today's code is BLIZZARDS305.

Expeditious Retreat Press Lulu Store

And if our stuff doesn't interest you, or if you've already purchased it, check out the other OSRIC products as well through this Link. More than likely, there will be something of interest for you.

Tome of Tomes

2011-12-27T07:52:00.001-05:00

Seabirds of the Northern Seas
Author: Drene Colehooding
Race: Human
Dimensions: 16x16x1
Weight: 5 lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Common
Fields of Study: Fauna
Special Knowledge Categories: Ichthyoids
Value: 225 gp

And exquisitely illustrated book, Seabirds of the Northern Seas contains illustrations and information on over 75 different birds common to coastal areas throughout the northern parts of the known world. Although the author’s name is known, nothing about his life is known; a mystery that confounds scholars given his obvious skills of observation and illustration.

Yeah, About Worlds Apart Being Nearly Done

2011-12-26T12:30:00.002-05:00

Turns out I thought I'd done the island creation sub-system and, lo and behold, I have not. So that's going to delay it a little be longer as I work that out and test it repetitively. Sorry 'bout that.

Space Hymns

2011-12-25T07:06:00.002-05:00

What I've been listening to lately...

Magic Items in Worlds Apart

2011-12-24T10:29:00.003-05:00

I thought for a long time about how I wanted to present magic items in Worlds Apart and finally I went with my gut on the issue: The Magic Items Section is going to be a toolbox as opposed to a shopping cart. There are two main reasons for this decision. Firstly, Traveler has always favored the do-it-yourself game and I want to continue that. Secondly, I want to non-codify magic in the game to leave it very open to each individual GM's interpretation of how it works in their world. I want magic to be the big unknown. Below's a brief example of what I'm talking about in regards to Worlds Apart magic items.

Magical Equipment
Magic comes in many different shapes and forms: potions, scrolls, wands, arms, armor, and just about every piece of clothing or jewelry imaginable. Most items are common items possessing a single trait, but some powerful items possess several, while the most powerful are truly unique. A character can control as many magic items as he has points of Magical Strength—any items beyond this limit on the character’s body simply do not function. Some items may require more than one point of Magical Strength to control. It takes a day for a PC to attune himself to a new magic item, providing him the benefits of the magic.

All magical items communicate their benefit and how they can be used when held. Some magic items may lie about this and convey false information.

Potions, Scrolls and other Consumables
Any items that are destroyed in their use (such as potions, scrolls, salves, magic foods, etc.) do not require attuning to use. They can be used by anyone at anytime. GMs should exercise their judgment for every item, but the general rule is that a consumable’s magical effects are instantaneous or they last for 1 minute, 1 hour, or 1 day. For example, a GM could rule that drinking a potion with the Healing trait would instantaneously heal 1d6 damage, applying an oil with the Bleeding magic trait will last for 1 minute, inhaling a magic incense with the Smoky magic trait would last for 1 hour, and eating an apple with the Commanding magic trait would last 1 day. The GM should clearly indicate to his players how he will rule for each magic trait when the item is discovered by the players.

Magic Traits
Magical item may possess one or more of the following traits.

Armored
This item resists change. When attuned, the bearer gains a bonus to his armor.

Bane
This item hates a particular type of creature or human culture. When attuned to this item, the bearer deals additional 2d6 damage to such creatures.

Backbiting
This item punishes trickery. Whenever the bearer, or one of the bearers allies, is attacked first (ie. does not initiate combat), the first successful hit against the bearer is magically transferred to the opponent who dealt the blow.

Bleeding
This item craves blood. When attuned to this item, the bearer deals and additional point of damage to all melee attacks. The target suffers this additional single point of damage for the following two rounds as well, resulting in a total of 3 points of damage.

Blinding
This item proves that there are some sights not fit for humankind. The bearer of this item can cause blindness in one target if the target fails to throw 8+ Magical Strength. This ability can be used once per week.

Commanding
This item has lordship over a particular type of creature. Those attuned to the item can command that type of creature to do as commanded and the creature must obey. Sentient creatures can resist the commands by throwing 8+ Magical Strength. Non-sentient creatures (such as animals) always obey the bearer.

Deflecting
This item resists targeting. An attuned player character can deflect a missile attack as a minor action if he throws 6+ Magical Strength.

Desirous
This item knows the wishes of the heart. The item shows the direction to that which its bearer most desires at the moment. The bearer may try to deliberately change his desires to change the guide, but doing so is difficult (throw 11+ Magical Strength).

Worlds Apart Update

2011-12-23T05:21:00.001-05:00

I've been slowly working on Worlds Apart (our new fantasy game using Traveller OGL rules) and I've only got magic items, the elf race, and a sample sector to finish before it goes into the first round of editing. I'm going to be focusing on that and hopefully get it done within a week. I'm very glad to have the big project come towards and end and hope everyone finds the game as interesting as I do.

Formula Folio

2011-12-22T12:08:00.002-05:00

Thought I should put up another of these...

Entangle
For the ink required to scribe a druidical entangle scroll

1 oz. of giant octopus ink
1 oz. of holly berry juice
An oaken bowl
11 stems of grass knotted together in a circle

In an oaken bowl, add the octopus ink and holly berry juice and mix well by moving the bowl in a circular motion. Coat the stems of grass with the mixture. Pour out the excess liquid and place the bowl containing the stems in a tree hollow for two full moons. On the last day of the second full moon, harvest the ink. The bowl will have changed shape into a wooden vial and within will be a thick black ink. Makes enough ink for 2 scrolls. Any special quill is suitable.

Formula Folio

2011-12-21T14:04:00.003-05:00

Detect Snares & Pits
For the ink required to scribe a druidical detect snares & pits scroll

1 oz. of giant octopus ink
1 oz. of holly berry juice
1 oz. of soil
1 piece of twine

In a ceramic container, mix all ingredients. Seal container with beeswax. Place container where an animal was once snared or pitted and let sit for 1 lunar cycle. Makes enough ink for 2 scrolls. Any special quill is suitable.

Rush Music in a Japanese Game Show

2011-12-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

So I was watching an 1986 episode of Takeshi's Castle last night and in the background they were playing an instrumental version of Territories from 1985's Power Windows album. I had a rather weird moment of conflict of worlds during the recognition process. Rush music and 80's Japanese Game shows previously did not mesh in my world view. Aparantly Takeshi's Castle was known for using popular music... the one I heard is "Home Run: Territories: The theme of The Animal."

The 10%

2011-12-19T06:11:00.000-05:00

I just looked at some of S&SS blog statistics and found that about 10% of visitors are classified by Google Analytics as non-Native English Speaking. I was surprised by that and thought I should say "Hi!" to all those who visit the site from around the world. The internet bring us together in ways that were never able before and hopefully when I'm old and near death, I'll look back upon the development of the 'net as one of the great steps of humanity. Here's to hoping!

Tome of Tomes

2011-12-19T05:59:00.004-05:00

Finally in workable condition. Lots of catching up to do.

Curses of the Pharaohs
Author: William Wisterson
Race: Human
Dimensions: 14x12x2.5
Weight: 7 lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Very rare
Fields of Study: Humankind, supernatural & unusual
Special Knowledge Categories: History, dweomercraft
Value: 525 gp

This work is invaluable to those contemplating any form of tomb-robbing, for within are dozens of different common curses as well as how to recognize a cursed area. In addition to the practical knowledge, there is much here about the dwellers of ancient Kemet and their society. Anyone reading this book and studying for at least a month gains a 10% chance to detect or notice any cursed area or cursed object associated with ancient Kemet.

Sunday Un-seriousness

2011-12-18T09:06:00.004-05:00

I'm still sick. Better than before but sick - not 100%. Sorry for no updates recently.

Still Sick. Ugh.

2011-12-11T11:06:00.001-05:00

Tome of Tomes

2011-12-09T06:08:00.001-05:00

Both Suzi and I are sick and we've been so for several days now. It's a sniffy, sneezey, coughy apartment here at XRP land. I haven't got nearly as much done as needs be done.

Elven Dialects
Author: Jacinth Infal
Race: Half-elf
Dimensions: 8x10x1.5
Weight: 4lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Uncommon
Fields of Study: Demi-humankind
Special Knowledge Categories: Languages
Value: 105 gp

Infal expertly details the differences between spoken elven throughout the civilized world, her extensive travels proving vital to the accuracy of her work. Elven Dialects is mainly composed of a series of short dialect dictionaries showing different meaning and usage.

The Bane of Big Ideas

2011-12-07T09:56:00.001-05:00

So I'm working on World's Apart (a fantasy game based upon Mongoose's OGL Traveller), A Magical Society: India, and an unannounced Pathfinder project. All of these are probably 80-100k word projects. That's three big irons in the fire. The problem with these large projects is that I tend to get serially obsessive: working on one exclusively for a short while before moving on to the next. This leaves me little time to do the small, daily, creatives that I really *need* to be doings: Tome of Tomes, Formula Folio, Creatures & Objects Below the Shattered Moon. These four smaller projects help keep my brain from "focus tiredness" and they make good small posts here at the blog and eventually nice little PDFs.

The Bane of Big Ideas is that they trample all before them. Time to force the old brain into doing *everything* that needs to be done.

On a side note, I've just accepted another Advanced Adventure Manuscript (it'll be #25 or #26) and I'm still looking for more. I"m always looking for more AA material.

Where's theres a whip, there's a way!

2011-12-06T09:57:00.001-05:00

Woke up this morning singing this song. Time to get to work!

Awwww....

2011-12-05T18:09:00.001-05:00

XRP PDFs 50% off at e23!

2011-12-05T11:07:00.001-05:00

We're running a 50% off PDF sale with the good folks at Steve Jackson Game's e23 until the end of the month. We've sold our PDFs with e23 for several years now and I realized that I hadn't ran a big sale with them before, so I thought December would be a good month to do so.

Squirrel Spiders

2011-12-04T09:18:00.001-05:00

This would be a cool critter to stat up in Sorcery & Super Science! I should do so, I think. Thanks for all the well wishes on the big 40, all, and hope you enjoyed the presents!

I'm 40! And I have some presents for you!

2011-12-03T10:12:00.001-05:00

Today I am 40! Whoda thunk I'd make it this far? Now that I've had by celebratory breakfast of delicious egg and potato tacos, I've put up a single day sale on our our Sorcery & Super Science! products at rpgnow.com.

They're all $1.

Yeah, that's pretty insane... I've never done a $1 sale, but hell, you only turn 40 once and I might as well spread the cheer. Happy birthday to me!

Worlds Apart Layout Tinkerings

2011-12-02T08:06:00.001-05:00

So I've been working on Worlds Apart (our Mongoose Traveller-based fantasy game) for a while now and have been tinkering with the layout. I'm trying to be a bit more graphic-designy on this one. Here's a mock-up of the table of contents spread. I'm pretty pleased with it, but I know I've much more tinkering to do.

Talking About the Business of RPGs

2011-11-30T10:28:00.001-05:00

This is something I don't do very often - talk rpg business in public. I normally don't do this because those who are not in the business really don't *know* the business and sadly, I've found that those who know the least tend to be the ones that want to talk the most, certain that they know what's what. Now this may not be the best way to begin a post where I'm effectively asking to speak to people about the business who are not in the business, but I'm interested in your opinions as customers.* And customer opinions are important regardless the knowledge behind the creation and manufacture of a product.

What I've been thinking about is Lulu and how we at Expeditious Retreat Press view the site. We have all the Advanced Adventures PDFs, the two hardbacked Advanced Adventure Compendiums, and Malevolent & Benign: A First Edition Bestiary for sale at Lulu. This means we've been treating Lulu as a source of mainly digital sales and sales of hardbacked material that isn't cost-efficient for us to print in sort runs. I'm certain I could do profitable short runs of the hardbacks, but I would have a lot of sunk cost and would need to spend considerable time before those costs are repaid and turned into profit. I prefer faster turning material - less capital risk, quicker return - because this industry can be *brutal* to those who make a single mistake regarding a sunk cost. Capital, once spent, is gone until recouped and the faster that turnaround the better, IMO.

However, the big sale at Lulu has made me think that perhaps I should be viewing Lulu as a secondary source of *physical* product. There is obviously a demand for our hardbacked-stuff, but I'm now wondering were I put all the Advanced Adventures (as well as a significant part of back catalog) for sale as physical products at Lulu if we would grow physical sales significantly. Sales of physical product is Lulu's purpose, after all, but I have been hesitant to do such because we also sell physical copy direct from the Expeditious Retreat website.

My concern is would we split that revenue stream, and if we did, would it result in increased profitability regardless? I make more per unit selling direct than in any other way, and were I to end up splitting the stream by customers choosing Lulu over our website, I could end up making less even while selling more. Additionally, there will be a considerable time cost in making the material available at Lulu. What I want to happen would be to reach customers who do not shop at our website, but who would gladly shop at Lulu.

So the question to you if you would be so kind to respond is "Would you be more likely, equally likely, or less likely to purchase a product at Lulu rather than at the Expeditious Retreat website?" I've made it a poll, for easy answering.

*We are customers, not consumers. I find the term "consumer" derogatory. We are not senseless gaping maws - we are people first, sources of cash second.

Lulu Sale Extended for Tuesday

2011-11-29T07:27:00.001-05:00

Lulu has extended their 30% off sale for today, Tuesday Nov 29. The code is now CYBERTUESDAY305. So if you'd like, our OSR hardback books are still for sale at a considerable discount.

Advanced Adventures Compendium 1 - AA #1-10
Advanced Adventures Compendium 2 - AA #11-20
Malevolent & Benign: A First Edition Bestiary

Nerdgasm!!!

2011-11-28T19:51:00.001-05:00

I am In Love with the internet.

Lulu Cybermonday 30% off Code

2011-11-27T15:25:00.001-05:00

Lulu's been putting out some great coupon codes lately. The last one was buy one get one 50% off, but this one may be the best I've seen them do. 30% off your entire order. Pretty cool. It's only for tomorrow, though.

CYBERMONDAY305 for 30% off at lulu. If you plan on doing an insane amount of shopping MORECYBERMONDAY305 gets you 35% off, but you have to order at least $750 worth of books. Yeah, me neither... :)

May I recommend three hard-backed OSR products?
Advanced Adventures Compendium 1 - AA #1-10
Advanced Adventures Compendium 2 - AA #11-20
Malevolent & Benign: A First Edition Bestiary

The Kara-Tur Boxed Set

2011-11-25T12:36:00.001-05:00

I just picked up the Kara-Tur boxed set at Half Price Books and I'm glad to see it sitting on my shelf. It's something that I've wanted to look at for a long, long time and now I'll be able to devour bits and pieces of it at my leisure. I know that I'm probably in the Old-School minority, but I've always like the 1e Oriental Adventures hardback and I'm intrigued to see what type of setting they supported it with.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

2011-11-24T11:03:00.001-05:00

Hope all my fellow Americans enjoy their Thanksgiving. Today, I shall have tasty food!

Pathfinder and India

2011-11-21T09:26:00.001-05:00

I've been working a lot on Pathfinder material lately and I've just gotten a few books on India that are calling me from the shelves. In particular, The Economy of the Mughal Empire c. 1595, is demanding that I pick it up and read it. The other books, Mughal Warfare and A New History of India are no slouches, but I'm such a sucker for table about grain production and how many tons of silver were mined in a decade. Raw data for the fantasy grist mill.

Sunday Un-seriousness

2011-11-20T09:15:00.001-05:00

My act of courage for the day is going grocery shopping on a Sunday. Yeah, I'm soooooo brave. :)

Lulu "Buy One Get One 50% Off" Code

2011-11-15T18:31:00.001-05:00

Lulu's running a buy one book get another at 50% special until Friday, Nov 18th. Enter the code SECRET305 at checkout.

May I recommend our Advanced Adventure Compendiums for your hard-earned geld? :)

Advanced Adventures Compendium 1 - AA #1-10
Advanced Adventures Compendium 2 - AA #11-20

Regardless, there's plenty of OSR stuff at lulu if they don't interest you.

Tome of Tomes

2011-11-15T07:46:00.001-05:00

Numbers
Author: Jabbit Heuch
Race: Human
Dimensions: 8x10x1.5
Weight: 4lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Rare
Fields of Study: Physical universe, supernatural & unusual
Special Knowledge Categories: Math, astrology & numerology
Value: 85 gp

Exploring the mechanical methods of number manipulation as well as their esoteric quality, Numbers has long been the go-to book for anyone interested in the subject, but Heuch’s unique take on the supernatural powers of numerology as just as long been the source of great contention within the erudite community.

Tome of Tomes

2011-11-14T09:35:00.001-05:00

Fyshe of the Sea
Author: Blawn Carling
Race: Human
Dimensions: 16x16x1
Weight: 5 lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Common
Fields of Study: Fauna
Special Knowledge Categories: Ichthyoids
Value: 35 gp

An old work, and one slimly illustrated, Fyshe of the Sea has long been a staple of many libraries on the subject. There is little here to recommend for deep investigation, but the work serves as a good general source for pointing where more information is needed.

Sunday Un-seriousness

2011-11-13T10:46:00.001-05:00

Yet another reason why I need to start exercising...

Ahwoo! Werewolves in London

2011-11-11T10:11:00.001-05:00

From An American Werewolf in London poster. Brilliant, IMO.

Starting a New Project

2011-11-10T13:34:00.001-05:00

Because, well, you know, I'm not busy enough as is. Sorry for the irregular updates lately - been busting ass on something new and trying to get the older stuff done as well.

Tome of Tomes

2011-11-08T07:49:00.002-05:00

Been a while since the last book...

Stone Giants of the Garvian Mountains
Author: Greyd Koppie
Race: Human
Dimensions: 8x10x1
Weight: 2 lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Uncommon
Fields of Study: Giantkind
Special Knowledge Categories: History, law & customs
Value: 50 gp

A study of the stone giant tribes within the Garvian Mountains, this work provides an insider’s look into their history and culture. Koppie lived most of his adult life moving between the major tribal leaders. He even acted as an intermediary settling disputes between clans, such was his respect among the various tribes.

Sunday Un-seriousness

2011-11-06T11:32:00.004-05:00

Sometimes rpg work feels like...

One Shot and Scenarios for Sale!

2011-11-03T10:17:00.004-04:00

The PDFs are up for sale for $2 each at Your Games Now and rpgnow.com. If you're interested at all in quick-playing rules and one-shot rpging, you should take a look.

More Advanced Adventure Reviews

2011-11-02T17:20:00.002-04:00

Sexy Gelatinous Cube (no, really)

2011-11-01T10:21:00.000-04:00

Heh.

My Un-serious side has been spilling over into non-Sundays lately. :)

21 Reviews of Advanced Adventures

2011-10-31T07:33:00.002-04:00

We've gotten a massive string of reviews of our Advanced Adventures line from Bryce over at tenfootpole We're always looking for review links and please feel free to send them to josephbrowning@gmail.com and I'll put them up at our website. He did them in reverse order (starting with #21 and ending with #1).

AA1: The Pod-Caverns of the Sinister Shroom
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=353

AA2: The Red Mausoleum
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=350

AA3: The Curse of the Witch Head
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=347

AA4: The Prison of Meneptah
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=344

AA5: The Flaming Footprints of Jilanth
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=341

AA6: The Chasm of the Damned
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=338

AA7: The Sarcophagus Legion
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=331

AA8: The Seven Shrines of Nav’k-Qar
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=328

AA9: The Lost Pyramid of Imhotep
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=167

AA10: The Lost Keys of Solitude
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=323

AA11: The Conqueror Worm
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=315

AA12: The Barrow Mound of Gravemoor
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=312

AA13: White Dragon Run
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=304

AA14: The Verdant Vault of Malakum
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=301

AA15: Stonesky Delve
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=298

AA16: Under Shattered Mountain
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=204

AA17: The Frozen Wave Satsuma
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=202

AA18: The Forsaken Sepulcher
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=200

AA19: Secret of the Callair Hills
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=161

AA20: The Riddle of Anadi
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=198

AA21: The Obsidian Sands of Syncrates
http://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=196

Sunday Un-seriousness

2011-10-30T10:12:00.003-04:00

Advanced Adventures Hardback Compendiums

2011-10-29T17:04:00.001-04:00

Yep, you heard right! We've got two hardback compendiums (Number 1 compiling AA1-10, Number 2 compiling 11-20) up for sale now at Lulu for $50 each. That's about 40% of what you'd pay to purchase them individually.

I just got my copies in and they look happy on my shelves. :)

Advanced Adventures Hardback Compendium One
Advanced Adventures Hardback Compendium Two

Hot Elf Chicks Eating Scrambled Eggs on a Flying Alpaca

2011-10-29T10:49:00.003-04:00

See here, for understanding. :)

Sometimes You're Spackler, Sometimes You're the Gopher

2011-10-28T06:48:00.001-04:00

One More Time, With Feeling...

2011-10-27T10:26:00.002-04:00

I got the cover ready for Meet the New Boss and I just have to share. I think it looks hilariously cool.

Meet the New Boss

2011-10-26T13:08:00.001-04:00

So I got the art in for Meet the New Boss, our forthcoming scenario for One Shot, our forthcoming game for one-shot rpging. We've got a lot forthcoming, I guess. :) Meet the New Boss is about 5 mafia bosses sitting down to talk out their problems. The art is by Joan Guardiet.

Filth Rat

2011-10-25T07:40:00.003-04:00

Another critter below the shattered moon...

Filth Rat
Mutated Rat (Basic)
C0 A4 S1 F4 R0 I3 W1: Ego 16: Health 18: Fortune 13
Movement 7/62

Description & Information: Filth rats are most commonly found in the ruins of the ancients. They live in small packs of less than a dozen and are very territorial. They are around 4 feet in length (including tail) and weigh up to 50 pounds. Although they are capable of delivering a rather nasty bite, they prefer to attack from a distance, earning their name by throwing their excrement with their tail to a range of 50 feet. A filth rat colony is lead by the elder matriarch and composed mainly of male rats vying for her attention. Other females are ostracized from the colony once breeding age is achieved.

Intrinsic Powers
• Filth rats are wiry and tough creatures and reduce all physical damage received by 1 point per hit.
• Filth rats may attack with a bite, dealing +3 piercing damage and a +4/ rank 4 combat condition, but they rarely do so unless cornered.

Limited Use Powers
• Filth rats can throw their newly excreted feces at targets up to 50 feet away. This deals no damage, but forces hit targets to succeed on a rank 10 Fortitude conflict or spend the next two turns retching, capable only of self-defense. Additionally, if the conflict fails by more than 4 points, the target is diseased.

Dwarves - Worlds Apart

2011-10-24T08:46:00.002-04:00

I'm still plugging away at World's Apart - my take on a fantasy Traveller (the Mongoose OGL Version). One of the things I'm trying to do differently with World's Apart is I'm trying to remain faithful to the nature and focus of the Traveller rules on exploration, trade, and ships while bringing in the fantasy element, as opposed to simply using the Traveller rules to make a more generic fantasy game. I'm not interested in "playing D&D" with different rules. I want to play Traveller in a different environment.

So with that, here's the first non-human race - Dwarves. You notice that non-humans in Worlds Apart are significantly tougher than humans. This is for two reasons. One, they're all optional as I expect the players to be all human and two, they have to be tougher to actually make the mythical races mythical. Balance shmalanch, I'm interested in options.

Dwarves

Dwarves are a hardy andartistic race, quick to love, laugh and brawl. They love a good little fightand quickly well up with deep emotion at the drop of a hat. They are anintrinsically non-magical race with a preternatural understanding of mechanicalworks. Their love of wealth is well-known and true and is matched only by theirlove of drink.

Characteristics: Dwarves adda +1 to Strength and Endurance. Dwarves have a maximum of 17 in those twoabilities.

Special Effects: Every time adwarf is directly and personally subjected to some magical effect, there is aslight chance (throw 12+ without modifiers of any sort) that it simply does notwork. This does not work on magic that affect an area, only upon magic thattargets the dwarf specifically. Surprisingly, dwarves have no difficultiesusing magic items.

Background Skills: A dwarfgains background skills as does a human. However, all dwarves gain Mechanic 0as an additional background skill.

Careers: A dwarf charactermust go through two terms as a dwarf before other careers (except drifter) areallowed. Of course, a dwarf may choose to remain in the dwarf career. Dwarvesdo not count their required two dwarf terms when determining their number ofprevious careers for qualification purposes. Unlike humans who begin rolling onthe aging table at the end of their 5^th term, dwarves do not startrolling on the aging table until at the end of their 10^th term. Adwarf may never learn to use magic: if such is indicated, ignore the result.

Qualification: End 5+

–1 DM for every previouscareer.

Assignments: Choose one ofthe following:

• Brawler: You love a good fight and are always ready foranother. Death in combat is your destiny.

• Bawler: All those who die need remembrance. You remindyour people of those who have gone before.

• Bastard: You realize that between the battle and the tears,there’s money to be made.

Career Progress

Assignment	Survival	Advancement
Brawler	End 6+	Edu 6+
Bawler	Soc 5+	Edu 6+
Bastard	Edu 4+	Int 6+

Mustering-Out

Roll	Cash	Benefits
1	2,000 sp	Magic Item (weapon)
2	3,000 sp	+1 End
3	4,000 sp	Voyager Ship Share
4	5,000 sp	+1 Str
5	6,000 sp	Magic Item (any)
6	7,000 sp	+1 End
7	8,000 sp	+2 Soc, +1 End, +1 Str

Skills and Training

Roll	Personal Development	Service Skills	Advanced Education (Minimum Edu 8)
1	+1 Str	Art (any)	Leadership
2	+1 Soc	Athletics (any)	Medic
3	+1 End	Broker	Missile or Melee Combat (any)
4	+1 Edu	Mechanic	Social Science (history)
5	Gambling	Melee Combat (any)	Streewise
6	Melee Combat (unarmed)	Melee Combat (unarmed)	Tactics (military)

Roll	Assignment: Brawler	Assignment: Bawler	Assignment: Bastard
1	Athletics (any)	Art (any)	Admin
2	Carouse	Carouse	Advocate
3	Melee Combat (any)	Melee Combat (any)	Broker
4	Missile Combat (any)	Persuade	Jack of All Trades
5	Recon	Stealth	Melee Combat (any)
6	Streetwise	Streetwise	Streetwise

Ranks and Skills

Rank	Title
0	Dwarf	Carouse 1
1	Jackjaw	Melee Combat (any) 1 or Missile Combat (any) 1
2	Stonefist	Streetwise 1
3	Ironhand	Leadership 1 or Persuade 1
4
5	Master Dwarf	Tactics (military) 1 or Leadership 1
6

Mishaps

1d6	Mishap
1	Severely injured by a case of a smart mouth at the wrong time. (This is the same as a result of 2 on the Injury table.)
2	Not everyone appreciates a singing drunk. Roll Melee Combat 8+ to avoid injury. Roll on the Injury table treating a 1 result as a 6.
3	Magic fails you at an important time, leaving you wounded. Reduce a randomly determined characteristic by 1 point.
4	You make a shady deal that comes back to bite you in the rear end. Leave your career and suffer a -1 to your mustering out throw. If you have not completed two terms as a dwarf you become a drifter for your next career.
5	You drink much more than you should, even for a dwarf. You must make at least one cash Mustering-Out roll and that roll is reduced by 4 points.
6	Injured. Roll on the Injury table.

Events

2d6	Events
2	Disaster! Roll on the mishap table, but you are not ejected from this career.
3	A renowned weapon master takes interest in you, trading his knowledge for your abilities. Gain Missile Combat 1 (any).
4	The lure of the city calls you. Gain one of Streetwise 1, Carouse 1, Gambling 1 or Language (any) 1
5	A rich patron finds you very useful. Gain +2 DM to one Cash Mustering-Out roll.
6	You somehow end up in a library and find yourself interested in the sciences. Gain 0 in two different Any Sciences (any)
7	Life Event. Roll on the Life Events table.
8	You act as a go-between between two parties whom wish none to know of their contact. Gain one of Diplomat 1, Melee Combat (any) 1, Missile Combat (any) 1, or Stealth 1.
9	You make a big score and fund some education outside your normal scope. Gain one of Diplomat 1, Pilot 1 (any), or Tactics (naval) 1.
10	You perform a valuable service to your people. Gain +1 Social Standing.
11	You end up teaching others your craft and expand your normal repertoire of abilities through interacting with the local nobility in a different field. Either gain Advocate 1 or a +4 DM to your next Advancement roll.
12	You show great courage and valor in combat. You are automatically promoted.

Art by John Bingham

2011-10-23T10:35:00.000-04:00

John Bingham and I have worked together a lot in the Advanced Adventure line. I think he has a great style and perfectly fits with the tone. Here's his most recent for us for The Mouth of the Shadowvein (AA #24) in which a group of adventurers has just entered part of an underground tunnel covered with carvings on the walls and floors.

1e Game Update

2011-10-18T09:24:00.001-04:00

We played the first session on Friday and much fun was had by all, and several surprises. I've decided to go very random in terms of encounters and treasure and try to figure out the story of what's going on based upon that creative force. Highlights of the 1st session:

- The elf F/T/MU got the drop on an ogre that was sitting in the road eating a mite and managed to roll maximum damage on a backstab. The other players were surprised to see an ogre's head rolling down the hill after watching the elf sneak off.

- A magic pool that had a 4-in-6 chance of resulting in something good when drinking actually resulted in something bad for 3 of the 4 players. Losing 1 hp really hurts at 1st level, especially when one's a magic user.

- The players came near death several times, but managed to pull it off. The smart use of hirelings saved their bacon when 11 zombies rushed up the stairs. All three hirelings went down, but the party survived. The hirelings did as well, but they're in bad shape and still unconscious.

- The party found the big randomly-generated treasure. It was behind two secret doors, but the elf was just on fire for the game and found secret doors like a fat kid finds candy. I was a fat kid, so I know of what I speak. :)

- Holy crap it was a big treasure! Much larger than I would have done without randomness, but that's what Fate has decided was there, so we'll see how it plays out.

- The mites that tried to cleverly trap the PCs in a flaming barn failed to consider the effects that fire has upon the oxygen levels in their lair beneath the barn. The PCs finally broke in from another direction and found them all suffocated. Opps!

2011-10-15T11:49:00.001-04:00

Cover for Miss Adelaide's Soiled Doves

2011-10-08T12:54:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Suzi's been working on a One Shot adventure called Miss Adelaide's Soiled Doves. We got the art in for it today and I think it's got a great vibe. Art by Joan Guardiet.

Sully Nor Feltothraxis Have Your Best Interests At Heart

2011-10-05T18:56:00.002-04:00

Everyone walks through the dungeon thinking turn right or turn left, but Friends, there's another way: the middle road. This path is the one most-traveled, but least represented. It is composed of right-minded and sensible dungeon dwellers. It is the road for the gibbering and greedy majority, the dangerous and thoughtful masses. And where does this third road lead?

To the lair of Ullduthindor! Ullduthindor is the only rational choice between two paths that most of us avoid. Vote for Ullduthindor and you'll see that with your support and hard work, we can move forward and focus on turning your copper into silver, your silver into gold, and your gold into platinum! Ullduthindor for prosperity! Vote Ullduthindor for your Dragon's Name!

So go out today, Friends, and show that neither Sully nor Feltothraxis are the proper dragons to represent your interests!

Meet the New Boss

2011-10-05T11:59:00.003-04:00

I've just started work on a competitive storytelling game using One Shot. The players take the roles of dons from different mob families that are at war with each other who have come together in a secluded location to discuss ending the war. So far, I'm pleased with it and hope to get a lot more done today.

Sunday Un-seriousness?

2011-10-04T07:19:00.002-04:00

So it's not Sunday. Sue me. :)

More PDFs Uploaded to Lulu

2011-10-03T10:23:00.002-04:00

I've spent this morning in a haze, but managed to get the most recent 4 Advanced Adventure PDFs uploaded at Lulu. Now, on to other things! :)

Waspion

2011-09-30T13:40:00.004-04:00

Another unfriendly below the shattered moon...

Waspion
Mutated scorpion (Intermediate)
C6 A4 S6 F7 R-4 I3 W4: Ego 20: Health 46: Fortune 26
Movement 5/44 (fly at 50/440)

Description & Information: A horrible combination of wasp and scorpion, waspions are to be avoided. Their predatory nature and love of fresh meat coupled with their hive structure often creates wastelands of territory they claim as theirs.

Intrinsic Powers
• The waspion’s tough chitinous body reduces all physical damage by 4 points per hit.
• A waspion may attack with its front claws, dealing +8 piercing damage and a +4/rank 4 combat condition. It can do this in addition to a tail sing attack.
• A waspion may stings with its tail, dealing +6 poison damage and a +4/rank 4 combat condition. It can do this in addition to its claw attack. This is a toxic attack.
• A waspion can use its front claws to deflect a single melee attack every turn. It if does such, it cannot make a claw attack in the same turn, but it can make a tail sting attack.

Limited Use Powers
• Paralysis Poison (2 per day): Those struck by a waspion’s stinger may instead be stung with a paralysis poison, rather than the typical waspion poison. Those hit must succeed on a rank 10 Fortitude conflict or be paralyzed and unable to move for 1-6 hours.

Alien Was Even Scarier Than I Thought

2011-09-29T19:38:00.003-04:00

Here's a pic of how the alien looked underneath that head carapace... *shudder*

The Granger Tripod

2011-09-29T11:43:00.001-04:00

Perhaps the most dangerous thing below the shattered moon...

Granger Tripod
Adaptive Robot (Ultra)
C40 A10 S25 F30 R16 I6 W10: Ego 124: Health 210: Fortune 137
Movement 50/440
Components: (A) 10, 15, 20 (x10); (U) 2, 4, 5, 10 (x4); solar cell (U) 10, bio-mass cell (U) 10.

Description & Information: A greater warbot, common in the wars at the end of the 21st century, the Granger Tripod stands 50 feet tall upon three massive and flexible legs. It has full manipulative ability, possessing human-like hands upon the ends of three retractable, flexible arms. The Tripod is designed for tank-like duty.
    Tripods have three .50 caliber machine guns, each mounted on retractable tentacles exiting from the central body core high upon the three legs. In the center of the robot is an armored ammo storage area containing 12,750 specially-designed armor piercing rounds. Unlike normal .50 caliber ammo, the granger tripod .50 caliber ammo ignores 25 points of armor instead of the normal 20.
    Atop the core body, a large solar cell array provides the majority of needed energy. The array is retracted when facing potential enemies. The tripod additionally features a developed bio-mass cell power source, allowing it to feed when sunlight is rare and to regenerate damage.
    The main weapon of the warbot is a bright-red disintegration ray. This ray seems to cut through armor as if was not there and utterly destroys unarmored targets.

Intrinsic Powers
• Tripods have the best senses possible, possesses a +15 to sense conflicts. In addition, they have a +6 to extraordinary sense conflicts. They can see 10x as well as a human in the day as well as at night, effectively possessing full night-vision.
• Regenerate 20 additional Health per day. They also regenerate from any permanent injuries in a week’s time. Both require access to suitable food : grasses or wood.
• Reduce all damage (except ego) by 50 points per hit. Additionally, tripods are coated with a sheen of reddish ablative material, reducing damage from laser or disintegration rays by 75 points per hit. This coating can be removed and it retains it’s properties for two months if stored in (relatively) air-tight containers.
• Powerful hand-to-hand combatants, tripod punches deal +20 bludgeoning damage per hit and +4/ rank 12 combat condition.
• A tripod can make two .50 caliber attacks on two separate targets per turn, dealing +16 to damage, +4/ rank 10 piercing in single-shot mode. At normal firing speed of 30 rounds per turn an tripod deals +28 to damage and a +4/ rank 12 piercing combat condition. At burst speed (100 rounds per turn) it deals +40 to damage and a +4/ rank 16 piercing combat condition. Damage from the tripod’s .50 caliber machine gun ignores the first 25 points of damage resistance or armor of the target, or the first 20 points of damage resistance if normal .50 caliber ammunition is used.
• A tripod can use its bio-mass cell to replenish depleted .50 caliber ammunition at the rate of up to 1,000 cartridges a day. This requires consuming at least 10 tons of bio mass.

Limited Use Powers
• Disintegration Ray (20 per day): A tripod can blast one target with its disintegration ray per turn (to a range of 10 miles), dealing +100 damage and ignoring the first 25 points of damage resistance or armor of the target.

Best of The Dragon IV article years

2011-09-28T09:33:00.000-04:00

Looking over my Best of collections of The Dragon, I noticed something I thought rather odd about #IV. The copyright on IV was 1986, but the most recent articles were from 83. Additionally, only 4 of the 20 articles were from '83, with 6 being from '82 and '81. I wonder why this is so? Why no articles from '84 or '85?

The Large Map

2011-09-27T15:39:00.000-04:00

Well, here's the big map I've been working on. I've got the geographical features down (mostly, I have quite a bit of fine-tuning to do) and I haven't even thought about political or cultural aspects yet. All in all, I think it's a good map and I'm pleased with it. Each hex is 30 miles. (Terrain is dictated by at least half of the area being composed of that particular terrain. For example, a forest means that it's more forest than plain, but it could be 55% forest or 100% forest.)

Divergence

2011-09-27T09:14:00.000-04:00

Much of what I read on the OSR blogs is about making things different. This is, of course, one of the main points of the game - the creation of unique objects that can be shared among friends. This divergence from canon is tremendously important when dealing with experienced players steeped in lore, but there is little need for divergence from canon if the players are not very aware of the canon to begin with. As I contemplate the chance of running a 1e campaign for the first time in a long time, the canon beckons and I think I shall take the road more traveled. It obviously goes somewhere that a lot of other people have enjoyed...

The Map I've Been Plunking Away At

2011-09-26T07:50:00.002-04:00

I've been working on a large map recently. Below is an excerpt. So far, I'm pleased with it. (the dotted areas are hills - the map is done in a somewhat Harn-like style).

Tome of Tomes

2011-09-26T06:47:00.002-04:00

Cheeses of the Upperdales
Author: Leda Pertbottom
Race: Halfling
Dimensions: 4x5x0.5
Weight: 1 lbs.
Materials: Leather-bound, woodboard, parchment
Rarity: Common
Fields of Study: Demi-humankind
Special Knowledge Categories: Law & customs, sociology
Value: 35 gp

Not just a work about cheeses, but a work about the different peoples making them, Cheeses of the Upperdales is a comprehensive look at the many different demi-human populations in the Upperdales. Over 45 different types of cheese are discussed, along with the expected methods of service and consumption.

Sunday Un-Seriousness

2011-09-25T09:42:00.003-04:00

Somewhere below the shattered moon....

Search Engine Optimization

2011-09-24T14:49:00.000-04:00

Although anarchist over at Teleleli may think it's a load of Britney Spears naked, it's actually a load of Jessica Alba naked.

Formula Folio

2011-09-24T10:01:00.002-04:00

Detect Magic
For the ink required to scribe a druidical detect magic scroll

1 oz. of giant squid sepia
1 oz. of giant octopus ink
1 oz. of holly berry juice
1 mugwort

In a pine container upon a sacred stone, mix the sepia with holly berry juice and coat the mugwort. Seal container with beeswax and let sit for 1 year. Open at midnight and remove liquid and mix with 1 oz. of octopus ink. Makes enough ink for 2 scrolls. Any special quill is suitable.