tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21625018195878797102024-03-13T16:20:30.151+00:00Of Dice and MenIan Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-10011892005427339562022-11-23T23:08:00.003+00:002022-11-23T23:26:43.899+00:00Firearms in D&D Part 3: Getting Old School<p>So, in the <a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/08/firearms-in-d-whats-deal.html">first part</a>, we discussed what issues we need to consider when adding black powder weapons to a D&D-derived fantasy world.</p><p>In <a href="http://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/08/firearms-in-d-part-2-whats-already-out.html" target="_blank">the second</a>, we checked out D&D and Pathfinder's current iterations of firearms to see if we could steal anything fun.</p><p>In this one, we will delve into the dark, murky and sometimes controversial world of the OSR to see what we can glean.</p><p>Starting with a personal favourite, <b>Small But Viscous Dog</b> - the rotten lovechild of B/X and WFRP.</p><p>Firearms are fairly deadly (as befits a WFRP-alike). They ignore armour at close range, which is more difficult to model in games where you fight monsters. They also have high damage dice, which can be a swingy way of representing the damage of firearms.</p><p>I had considered ignoring armour, but as the game is a swashbuckling pirate game, most people won't be wearing armour at all, so it's a bit of a moot point. I would like armour to be something worth using, so I will keep AC against firearm attacks. Makes more sense to me, at least.</p><p><b>AD&D 2e</b> had the famous "Green Books" - the Historical Reference collection. We are interested in <b>A Mighty Fortress</b>, which covered the Elizabethan Age (and a bit after that as well). As with most things AD&D, there are a collection of awkward, exception-based rules for firearms which make them somewhat difficult to track on the tabletop.</p><p>At close range, firearms once again ignore armour; at medium range, the target's AC is penalised by 5, and at long range AC is penalised by 2. There are <i>very</i> loose rules for cover (i.e. it must be more "substantial" to qualify for the cover bonus; no rules are given past that. These firearms also given exploding damage dice, which is a fun idea and a good way to represent the inherent deadliness of firearms.</p><p>There are also rules for misfires, hang fire, fouled weapons from excessive use and point-blank firing. It's fairly extensive, but feels like it might bog down the game.<br /><br />I can see allowing exploding damage die for crits with firearms, rather than simple double damage; that could be a fun little wrinkle. Otherwise, the other rules feel a bit excessive, and I don't mind combining fouling, hang fire and misfires into the fiction of rolling a natural 1.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirEUlzLnhXVv8kz-MNjvCezIPc3mK23E2-Lf7SUKxHSYinUuAu-jBYluteH9JwNNTSNWMX2bzGkTHAd3ypycLiJVhB0yQSbE03ztW4aYJSbIdGjUOwcTjxQb8-IhOfTxWUfaRn4gK72yEwDfVk8H7LvEjEPNN7wJdoiML_MbW8JGR_KjTHLytvYljK3w" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The ladies of LotFP, preparing for a fight" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirEUlzLnhXVv8kz-MNjvCezIPc3mK23E2-Lf7SUKxHSYinUuAu-jBYluteH9JwNNTSNWMX2bzGkTHAd3ypycLiJVhB0yQSbE03ztW4aYJSbIdGjUOwcTjxQb8-IhOfTxWUfaRn4gK72yEwDfVk8H7LvEjEPNN7wJdoiML_MbW8JGR_KjTHLytvYljK3w=w477-h640" title="The ladies of LotFP, preparing for a fight" width="477" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ladies of LotFP, Preparing For a Fight!</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Lamentations of the Flame Princess</b> is another Black Powder Fantasy game, of sorts. I wouldn't recommend spending money on these rules, <a href="https://devilghost.com/blog/20181118113628.html">for a number of reasons</a>, but luckily they are free!</p><p>As part of the Early Modern setting that became part of the game as it developed, LotFP includes pistols, muskets and arquebuses, in matchlock, wheellock and flintlock varieties. It even has rules for rifling!</p><p>Again, firearms ignore armour at close range. </p><p>This brings the idea as to what sort of firearms I want present. I like the idea of having all three firing mechanisms present; it's a little bit anachronistic, but I like having the option of some areas being underequipped, while some are able to afford much nicer weapons. You can find small smithies cranking out simple arquebus-style guns, but if you want a proper rifle, you need to find a professional gunsmith.</p><p>We'll end on <b>Adventurer Conqueror King (ACKS)</b>. Now, I generally don't recommend the system - the author is not only <a href="https://ggwiki.deepfreeze.it/index.php?title=Alexander_Macris">kind of a shitty dude</a>, but he also <a href="https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/acks-autarch-added-to-forbidden-topics-list.830945/" target="_blank">supports a <i>lot</i> of other shitty dudes</a>. It's also obsessed with minutiae and detail, in a way that isn't as much fun as it thinks it is, and the rules aren't free in any respect.<br /><br />If you really want to read ACKS, my advice would be to read what sort of game this is for and act accordingly. Yo ho!</p><p>ACKS has the Guns of War supplement, which feels very similar to LotFP's (no doubt a result of using the same historical basis of the Pike & Shotte era). All firearms do 1d8 damage, pistols have ranges of 25ft/50ft/100ft, while rifles are 50/100/200. Weapons have detailed time to reload (for both trained and untrained soldiers), with bonuses to reload times for high Dexterity, penalties for being over burdened, items to reduce the loading time, several types of ammunition...</p><p>It's just a bit much, honestly. There's nothing here that wasn't covered elsewhere, better.</p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-19903224347019074962022-08-10T14:20:00.000+01:002022-08-10T14:20:12.242+01:00Firearms in D&D Part 2: What's Already Out There?<p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">In the </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2162501819587879710/1615184866871876060" style="text-align: left;">first part of this series</a><span style="text-align: left;">, I looked at why guns were such game changers, and how that might be represented on the tabletop. This time, we'll be looking at what the bigger fantasy games have done with black powder weapons.</span></p><p></p><p>As I am using <b>Blood & Treasure</b> as my base for the game, it makes sense to look at there first.</p><p>In B&T, black powder weapons are designed with higher damage in mind - each has a +1 to their dice, making them slightly more lethal than bows (the game does the same for crossbows). In exchange, guns have a much shorter range than bows; in practical terms, most fights won't take place over long enough distances for range bands to matter all that much in most games.</p><p>For a pirate game, they might matter if someone is trying to shoot from one ship to another, but that's why you have cannons!</p><p>Both firearms and crossbows have a Reload score; to reload one of these weapons, you need to roll under this chance in 6 to reload the weapon in that round (for instance, a hand crossbow has a 3 in 6 Reload, while a musket is 1 in 6). This offers a good balance between semi-auto flintlocks and being completely unable to reload in a fight, but can lead to frustration when reloading is up to the dice. Indeed, it should encourage the classic "brace of pistols", wearing three or four pistols to prevent needing to reload during a fight, but give some tension to those "last shot, better make it count" sort of fights.</p><p>I might alter this so your Reload rate increases by 1 each round, making it more and more likely that you will succeed. So, a Reload of 1-in-6 becomes 2-in-6 after a failed roll, then 3-in-6 and so on. At a rough guess, average reload times will go up by a round or two. Might need to do some math to work out how that changes things. This might make things more fast-paced, and less is needed to balance guns when everyone has them. </p><p>These are a few mechanics that interact with firearms - notably, some subclass options that increase your Reload rate, and even a 1% chance of getting a magical gunpowder weapon in a random treasure hoard. It doesn't have any specific magic firearms or ammo, which is a bit of a missed opportunity.</p><p>There's also <b>Pathfinder's</b> take on firearms, which I covered in my <a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2013/04/osr-d-guns.html">original post</a> on this topic (almost a decade ago, Christ).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIESkMIMvGLBhWnhoOSux_T8LFiI2u2aBYbgT5Rljy0snL06ChFuKQ3AlDmJt0y3ogw1dlecTGmFep270fSjMddPqDKZvT3F4DzZyblpSHnMcRHiEs2Ji3urOTB5M2984IXF_5Pr8XjViGpT51Rs-tsvI668lhuiXhh-DP4wpEaV_rINykjokHNlOu1A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIESkMIMvGLBhWnhoOSux_T8LFiI2u2aBYbgT5Rljy0snL06ChFuKQ3AlDmJt0y3ogw1dlecTGmFep270fSjMddPqDKZvT3F4DzZyblpSHnMcRHiEs2Ji3urOTB5M2984IXF_5Pr8XjViGpT51Rs-tsvI668lhuiXhh-DP4wpEaV_rINykjokHNlOu1A=w410-h640" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does Pathfinder give you combat bonuses for being absolutely covered in random shit?</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>To look at <b>Pathfinder 2e</b>, we can see that things have changed <i>quite</i> a bit. Guns no longer cost a king's ransom (<i>1000gp</i> for a flintlock pistol? Now down to <i>6gp</i>), and the mechanics have morphed into their own sort of divergent 5e-esque form. While I can't lift most of the mechanics from 2e, one idea I really love is <a href="https://2e.aonprd.com/Equipment.aspx?Category=37&Subcategory=74">Beast Guns</a>.</p><p>Building weapons out of monster parts, like in Monster Hunter, is always cool as shit. I would happily convert the idea over; maybe allow these parts to be used to make unique magical weapons and items. Blood & Treasure already has a more involved system for making magic items, where monster parts can easily be used in conjunction with other ingredients (so long as you know someone able to make magic items). It might also give a mechanical difference between magic weapons and magic firearms, as if magic hasn't caught up to technology, so you need to use a more directly magical thing to get it to work.</p><p>Over in <b>5e</b> land, there are two black powder weapons available; pistols and muskets. For 250/500gp, you can net yourself a 1d10/1d12 ranged weapon, with decent range, and the Loading tag (and Two-Handed for the musket). It's effectively a slightly better crossbow, that costs 5 times as much. Not the best representation, with nothing to really set them apart from other weapons (it feels like 5e really dropped the ball with its weapon tags).</p><p>So, not a lot to really pull from in the Big Two, but next time we will start peeling through other OSR games for some more ideas!</p><p><br /></p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-16151848668718760602022-08-01T23:40:00.004+01:002022-08-02T00:31:59.482+01:00Firearms in D&D - What's the Deal?<p>So, this is a topic I have <a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2013/04/osr-d-guns.html">covered before</a> on this blog. But, as I come towards working more on my <a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/search/label/Saltbox">Pirate Saltbox</a> game, I am back to researching alternatives that help capture the "sword and pistol" mode that a real Pirates game requires.</p><p>So - why were firearms so revolutionary? Well, there's a few points to consider.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Ease of use</b> - even the most basic firearms can be considered "point and shoot". Bows require strength to pull back, adjusting for wind and arcs over distance, and longbows compound both those factors - King Edward III supposedly said "If you want to train a longbowman, start with his grandfather". You needed the right height and build to have a chance at using it correctly. But <i>anyone</i> can point a stick and pull a trigger, even a peasant. They weren't as accurate as a trained bowman, but when you could field so many easily-replaceable troops, who cares?</li><li><b>Penetrating Power</b> - warfare always results in a arms race, particularly between weapons and armour. Firearms managed to overtake armour in a way that made almost anything short of steel plate completely useless (yeah, D&D's full plate armour? That was made as a <i>reaction</i> to firearms). Seeing as the rank and file couldn't be fully decked out in half-inch thick steel, most stuck to simpler cloth armour. Even then, they found that bullets would tear pieces of clothing and force it into their wounds, resulting in serious infections that were more likely to kill you than being shot. So, firearms were either deadly in the moment, deadly a few days later, or incredibly dangerous and disabling if you were <i>lucky</i>.</li><li><b>Scalability </b>- you can only make a sword so big. Firearms started as cannon, and advances in one area could be backported to the other fairly easily. Indeed, you could make cannons big enough to destroy castle walls, leading to yet another arms race that ended with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastion_fort">star fort</a>. </li><li><b>Unintentional Advances</b> - firearms also pushed new advances in metalwork and engineering, making them part of a larger set of developments that drove technology forward. Black Powder could be used for firearms, explosives, and many other applications. .</li></ul><div>Now, how do we go about representing these in a game? There are a few options, some of which work better than others.</div><div><br /></div><div>First off, ease of use. This one is easy to model - everyone who can use a sword can use a gun. I would say Fighters, Rangers, Paladins and Barbarians are all fair for using them, Wizards and Clerics not so much, though they along with Thieves and Bards *might* be limited to pistols; I can see it going either way.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is for adventurers, of course - many of the knightly classes saw firearms as dishonourable (anything that lets those stinking peasants be equal to their betters must be bad, right?), and most of the lower class wouldn't have access to firearms outside of military service. Of course, many would abscond with a few choice pieces for use when money is a little tight, setting themselves up as highwaymen. Many places did not require licenses or anything of the sort to own firearms, meaning they could easily spread through trade and barter.</div><div><br /></div><div>For penetrating power, there are a few options. Reducing AC, high damage, forcing saves... all of them are a bit fiddly in practice. Indeed, one set of rules that would give firearms their due is the AD&D Weapon Speed Factors and differing Damage vs Armour Type. </div><div><br /></div><div>Firearms should be roughly the same SF as crossbows (time to lift, aim, etc), maybe a point or two faster to balance out the longer reloads, and should have something to represent their penetrating power (maybe +1 vs light armour, +2 vs medium and +3 vs heavy armour - armour always has a chance to help stop it, but in most cases it will blow straight through, with half-plate and full-plate being the best possible protection but not <i>total</i> protection).</div><div><br /></div><div>But seriously, ain't nobody got time for that.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for scalability and other advances, those I can work into the background as I develop the setting more.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next time, I will go through some of the options laid out in other games, to see what appeals and what might work.</div>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-13078049206492745942022-04-10T15:10:00.003+01:002022-04-10T15:10:52.058+01:00Thud & Blunder - CLASH Done Right!<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjDbaDFNyMxC26VlNn9YdXjGZuzsB7xNRoGvYncwye5ez5u35R0BUhNdKf1OUIv6VwSrFaRkQn5V9bLQ6ze12XqQhN1tvRxgfcjFW6fEc7muGyYm-mtPK8wyXT-o8PER6MKewLjC-dQlBNz17tgqIxyn9lJarANVuiykIFYiiSwgEFwJNNPmx7FoTbaQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="595" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjDbaDFNyMxC26VlNn9YdXjGZuzsB7xNRoGvYncwye5ez5u35R0BUhNdKf1OUIv6VwSrFaRkQn5V9bLQ6ze12XqQhN1tvRxgfcjFW6fEc7muGyYm-mtPK8wyXT-o8PER6MKewLjC-dQlBNz17tgqIxyn9lJarANVuiykIFYiiSwgEFwJNNPmx7FoTbaQ=w339-h479" width="339" /></a></div></div>So, long-time readers might remember I was working on <a href="http://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/search/label/Generic%20Fantasy%20Skirmish">CLASH - The Generic Fantasy Skirmish Game</a>, built on the engine used in <a href="https://thegamesshed.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/in-the-emperors-name/">In The Emperor's Name</a>. I had planned on making a game that could be played with any sort of miniatures you had lying around, from old armies to a DM's collection of pre-painted minis. Almost <i>anything</i> could be quickly and easily statted up, and the core of the game was to be simple, quick to learn and fast enough to fit a couple of games in a night, or even a quick one while you waited for your gaming group to finally get together.<br />
<br />
Well, turns out I got one-upped by the guys at <a href="https://theministryofgentlemanlywarfare.wordpress.com/">The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare</a>, the original writers of In The Emperor's Name. Over the course of a few games (In Her Majesty's Name, Daisho, and Blood Eagle), they tweaked the system (they need a name for their house system!), and finally turned their attention to the fantasy genre full-force (both <i>Daisho</i> and <i>Blood Eagle</i> are closer to "mythic" than truly fantastical).<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://theministryofgentlemanlywarfare.wordpress.com/category/thud-blunder/">Thud & Blunder</a> is slightly more in-depth than your standard skirmish game (the combat feels like a stripped-down RPG, with options for disarming, mounted combat, and an interesting campaign system). However, it flows fairly well, with a phased you-go-I-go system reminiscent of GW's classic skirmish games. The extra complexity is mostly optional - you can run it stripped-down, or as complex as you like.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As far as my goals for the game go, it hits every note - not only is it easy to stat up any mini in your collection, with formula for new weapons, a bunch of pre-made warband lists to crib from and tweak to your hearts content, it's also easy to pick up and play with minimal fuss.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even if you don't plan on using the system as-is, I would heartily recommend picking this up for the Scenarios, Complications and Landscapes- a massive list of plot hooks, weather conditions, alternate win conditions and changes you can add to any skirmish game to completely change the game! There are thousands of combinations you can create, meaning every game plays that little bit different. And it's incredibly easy to add your own, so you could never play the same game twice!</div><div><br /></div><div>All in, it's an amazing little game! <i>Well</i> worth a tenner, even if just for the Scenarios / Complications / Landscapes section.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully, I should be able to get a few games in over the next few months, so keep your eyes peeled for more T&B content!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-72273414122844973112022-03-17T22:50:00.002+00:002022-03-17T22:50:21.280+00:00Gygax 75 Challenge - Week 5: The Larger World<p>We are in the home stretch - the last section! Time to draw the rest of the fucking owl, as they say.</p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-make-campaign.html">Introduction</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-week-1-concept.html">Week 1 - The Concept</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-week-2-surrounding.html">Week 2 - The Surrounding Area</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/03/gygax-75-challenge-week-3-dungeon.html">Week 3 - The Dungeon</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/03/gygax-75-challenge-week-4-town-features.html">Week 4 - Town Features</a></p><p>Now, we tackle the longest part yet - detailing out the rest of the setting, even in sketches. This allows us to drop hints about what else may be out there, waiting to be discovered and played with.</p><p>This next session is long, so go get a snack and prepare for the absolute brain-vomit that ensues. This setting has been mostly knocking about in my brain for quite some time, so some bits were already half-filled for me; the other half is being lifted out of the <i>Skulls & Shackles</i> adventure path, though often through a remixed lens.</p><p>Remember, you can play along at home - head to <a href="https://rayotus.itch.io/gygax75">Ray Otis' itch.io</a> store and download the workbook (for free!) to get started!<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b><i><u>Sketch out the geography of the continent</u></i></b></p><p><b><i><u></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFgX-jLUsFGpHNrdOn9bIJ2YSKLiq565_RHdPLzyasbU6bRmJIotTCZQx2dlAvQ3PLE7c_oMFkdaioxAG0yDWSNS8_H1lZz_tIH5lsxukbZFzsLySPbeQltd96yqUwnvoMiJkXMCTP5fUg2-v6bM2i05pi1cRqnBFiUiPBSN5U536z5EzOd4YbzKBlCA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="837" height="761" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFgX-jLUsFGpHNrdOn9bIJ2YSKLiq565_RHdPLzyasbU6bRmJIotTCZQx2dlAvQ3PLE7c_oMFkdaioxAG0yDWSNS8_H1lZz_tIH5lsxukbZFzsLySPbeQltd96yqUwnvoMiJkXMCTP5fUg2-v6bM2i05pi1cRqnBFiUiPBSN5U536z5EzOd4YbzKBlCA=w656-h761" width="656" /></a></u></i></b></div><p></p><p>This one I have already done! The map I made for Part 2 will act as a basis, with a few quick notes to add...</p><p>Each hex here is 12 miles; each island will get a smaller scale map (1 hex per mile) as and when I need them. The first session should be mainly land-bound on New Rook, meaning I will have time to work on a backlog system.</p><p><b>The Chain </b>is a series of small-ish islands, which have been under a massive storm for as long as anyone can remember (there are references to it in nearly pre-historic tomes). However, around three decades ago, the storm lifted. The devil-worshipping <b>Elterian Empire</b> saw this as a sign of diabolic provenance; the world itself was opening up to their recent displays of power. So, they began warring against their neighbours, quickly enveloping and absorbing anyone in their path. Many were taken as slaves, while some got the chance to serve as serfs under Imperial rule. However, their overreach was their undoing; by going to war on so many fronts, even the superior numbers, advanced technology and Hellish interference the Empire could call upon couldn't stop them from over-extending. The Empire withdrew from the fronts to regroup, but not before razing the lands they stood in, to make sure no-one could use them until they returned.</p><p>Those who fled the wars moved east, away from the Western Empire and towards The Chain. Now that these islands, seemingly uninhabited, had become available, many chose to set up new lives here, hoping against hope the Empire would not be able to recover enough to move this far East. Of course, that was decades ago, and they are already putting out feelers as far as the far east of The Chain. Many locals see it as their sworn duty to avenge their fallen friends, family and countrymen, and will defend their new lands to the death.</p><p><b>1.</b> <b>Eilean Dubh, The Black Island</b> - recently settled by Dhaoine men and orcs, fleeing from a sound defeat by the Empire. Despite their warlike clans and a viscous streak a mile wide, they stood no chance against the overwhelming force of the Empire. Mainly small fishing villages, with a mysterious stone circle dominating the centre of the island.</p><p><b>2.</b> <b>Àite Sabaid</b> - another Dhaoine settlement, with clans reviving old grudges building to skirmishes. Currently making overtures to Eilean Dubh to pick sides and join the fight, much to their dismay.</p><p><b>3.</b> <b>The Sisters</b> - a group of seven small islands, in the process of being connected by bridges. The Southrons who landed here are beginning to build a few settlements, but currently host the Azure City, the only recognised place of magical learning in the Chain (mostly teleported from the Southron Lands a few years ago).</p><p><b>4.</b> <b>Foice, The Sickle</b> - a small Passoa community; most of the Passoa are strong advocates of the Empire, as one of the longest-conquered territories. However, many wish for freedom, and have come to the Chain to try for just that.</p><p><b>5 & 8.</b> <b>Na Leannanan, The Lovers</b> - two small islands, connected by a land bridge. The Dhaoine who settled here are a matriarchal group of Druids, who are aiming to create a site of Druidic power on these islands. This may allow them to control the weather all across the Chain, as well as many other campaign-changing deeds... should they manage before the Empire get a hold of it!</p><p><b>6.</b> <b>The Duchy of Perelandro</b> - recently taken by a Passoan mercenary, the Duchy has become a haven for blackguards, scoundrels, pirates, even apostate Azure City mages. While he was given his title by the Empire, he holds neither love nor loyalty to the Empire; he simply desires wealth above all.</p><p><b>7.</b> <b>The Spires </b>- less a collection of islands, more large, spiked rocks by way of stone termite mounds. Currently occupied by the wyverns of Simryth's Realm.</p><p><b>9.</b> <b>Tirafka</b> - a settlement of Northern Suzrein merchants who are looking to set up and protect proper trading routes towards their Northern home, rather than the small-scale inter-island trade in the Chain.</p><p><b>10.</b> <b>Turok </b>- a small settlement of Guana, who stay out of local affairs.</p><p><b>11. </b><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/03/gygax-75-challenge-week-4-town-features.html"><b>New Rook</b>,</a> the Starter Town!</p><p><b>12.</b> <b>Simryth's Realm</b> - Simryth is a Red Dragon, and seemingly the only Priestess of some dark Draconic god. Simryth breeds wyverns and other strange creatures, much the same way many people breed pigeons. These wyverns are frequently found on the surrounding islands, including The Spires at no.7, with frequent assaults on New Rook.</p><p><b>13.</b> <b>Iǫtunheimr, The Jotun's Land</b> - recently settled by a group of men and Jotun (Fyrðar Goliaths), this small island chain is shaping up to become a place of learning to rival the Azure City, though with a wider focus that just magical knowledge.</p><p><b>14.</b> Currently <b>unnamed and uninhabited</b>, this large island is home to another pair of Black Towers, and seemingly little else - no wildlife or flora aside from the hardiest scrub grasses.</p><p><b>15.</b> <b>Fort Hazard, The Court of Free Captain's Fortress</b> - the current meeting place for the Court of Free Captains, the true rulers of The Chain. Fort Hazard is incredibly well protected, with cannon golems and a standing army.</p><p><b>16.</b> <b>Búðir </b>- a large settlement of Fyrðar, currently undergoing a revolt against a tyrannical leader. This situation is right on the verge of spilling out into full-blown civil war, with the tyrannical Freyr Gottrick and his Hersir, Valen coming to blows over matters of policy and acts of petty tyranny.</p><p><b>17.</b> Currently <b>uninhabited</b>, aside from a large dome built from the same material as the Black Towers. Unlike the others, this one doesn't seem to have affected the area around it, but people are still unwilling to live in the shadow of such a place.</p><p><b>18. The Crucible</b> - a tight, rocky grouping of islands, with plenty of mass just below the surface. Many Captains will try to prove their skill by navigating this treacherous stretch, and a fair number haven't made it. Salvage operations are just as risky, meaning there is a lot of loot just waiting to be found!</p><p><b>19.</b> <b>The Triplets</b> - a trio of Black Towers, one of which has been broken. The strange black stone has shattered like hardened glass, but is still just as impervious to any attempt to break it further. The Cult of the Eye have set up a small base here, with some mysterious plan of action.</p><p><b>20.</b> <b>Little Helike </b>- a group of Southrons from Helike have made their home here, bringing unique grapevines and wine-making techniques from their homeland. Currently most of the island is taken up with vineyards.</p><p><b>21. Palmas</b> - this small island has recently come under the control of a group of pro-Imperial Passoa settlers. While they are not officially part of the Empire, they do espouse a desire for the Imperial Navy to pass through the area and conquer all the surrounding islands. They hold close to Imperial law, meaning most pirates will want to steer clear (aside from a spot of light robbery and raiding, perhaps).</p><p>The islands at the bottom will remain undefined, just yet - means I can see which parts of the setting catch the player's attention, and utilise those themes here.</p><p><b><i><u>Develop a pantheon of Gods & Powers</u></i></b></p><p>One of the aspects I want to emphasize is the melting pit of cultures and religions.</p><p><b>Pesha Gods</b> are based on Hindu deities or their Tamil equivalents. As the Pesha are the predominant ethnic group of Peridot (though not its only one), those deities will be of particular focus at the start of the campaign.</p><p>The <b>Dhaoine</b> bring the Celtic pantheon, with a focus on warlike aspects (somewhat tempered by an embarrassing defeat by the Empire). They are somewhat close to the people of the Scottish Isles, with Orcs, Goblins and Elves mixed in.</p><p>The <b>Fyrðar</b> bring Norse deities to the table, though they aren't Vikings; while it is hard to see Reinassance-era Norsemen without the influence of Christianity, enough of their history and folklore existed into that time to make a decent approximation. Fyrðar settlements often have Goliaths, Ogres and Orcs from their homelands as well.</p><p><b>Northern</b> Gods are often smaller, animistic spirits. Some have brought idols of their Gods to try and transplant them to their new environment. The Northern Lands have been somewhat undefined; I think a large continent, like Africa with all its unique cultures and peoples would be good, so let's say the main body that are settled in the Chain are similar to the Mali Empire, with a Shintoesque spiritual system instead of Islam as the state religion; Mansa warrior-kings, mercantile culture, a decently long history, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griot">griot</a> bards! There are a hundred countries to The North, but the Empire halted at the <b>Suzrein's</b> doorstep, leading them to be the most concerned with halting their progress. </p><p><b>Southron</b> Gods are the ancient Greek/Roman pantheon, with all the divine drama and interference with the mortal world that implies. Similarly to the Fyrðar, Southrons aren't exactly Ancient Greeks, but a possible continuation of that culture without the rise of Christianity. Southron settlements often have Dwarves and elves </p><p><b>The Empire</b> are devil-worshippers, so they venerate Archdevils and castes of devils as minor saints. Indeed, The Archfiend Asmodeus, the literal God of Evil, sits at the top of their hierarchy; they do manage to keep enough sanity to actually run an empire, so they should be strongly Lawful Evil (even if we aren't using alignment in this game). The <b>Passoans</b> are another group currently under Imperial rule, though there are definitely some who see the Chain as an escape from a life of diabolic slavery.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u>Create some high-level NPCs and villains, including DNA</u></i></b></p><p>This one is a cheat; I am going to lift the Free Captains from the Skulls & Shackles books. Pre-made and loaded with plot hooks, each is a worthy adversary, and some can take the role of allies, villains or speedbumps depending on player action.</p><p><b>The Court of Free Captains </b>are the true rulers of the Chain. While there are local councils and rulers, the overall laws of the Chain are passed down from this Court.</p><p>While anyone can declare themselves a Free Captain (one need only be the captain of a ship), a seat on the Court is a much higher ask - you need to be sponsored by at least 2 current members, and have a reputation as a great pirate. What this means seems to shift, depending on the pirate in question and which two current members are sponsoring them.</p><p><i>(And no, you can't win a place on the Council by running in a fucking boat race you cannot lose because the plot says so, why do you ask?)</i></p><p>The Court is currently ruled by <b>The Hurricane King Kerdak Bonefist, </b>a legendary pirate known for his attacks on Imperial ports. The rest will be revealed as they are required...</p><p><b><i><u>Create a calendar with festivals and other important dates</u></i></b></p><p>Due to the exceptional number of cultures in the area, there is no set calendar as yet. Each island has its own set of special dates and festivals, to be listed as I need them.</p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b><i><u>Rival NPC adventuring companies</u></i></b></p><p>Again, there are too many to count! Every boat captain worth their salt is trying to make a name for themselves out here. but I will list at least one type the PCs may come into contact with; pirate hunters!</p><p><b>Captain Fiorella Pictor</b> is an Imperial pirate hunter, focused on getting the maximum bounty she can - ships intact, crew subdued for trial rather than dead. Where possible, she will disarm the most obvious leader in a group, hoping to end the fight before it gets bloody. Her crew are armed with mancatchers and nets, though a few do bring cutlass and pistol for those who won't come quietly.</p><p><b>Pedro Carrera Mao de Ferro</b> is currently undergoing a crisis; as a Passoan, his family happily serve the Empire. However, he has yearned for freedom since arriving in The Chain, and is currently working out how to best unshackle himself from the Empire without risking his family's safety in the process. With the wind at his back and his crew by his side, he knows he can find a way. Until then, he will hunt enough bounties to make him seem the picture of compliance.</p><p><b>Lucantius Iulus</b> is less pirate hunter and more assassin, but he relishes in his work. Used to bring particularly dangerous prey to heel, Lucantius is held in very high esteem amongst the nobility of the Empire. Between his highly-trained crew, state-of-the-art ship and weapons, and his powers as a Diabolist, he is a dangerous foe and no mistake.</p><p><br /></p><p>… <i>And that's all she wrote. For now, at least - I will continue to add posts as I work on individual islands, and hopefully play reports at some point soon!</i></p><p></p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-52228223144085628892022-03-11T00:55:00.000+00:002022-03-11T00:55:23.184+00:00Gygax 75 Challenge - Week 4: Town Features<p>Welcome back to the next installment of my attempts to tackle the Gygax 75 Challenge - making a new campaign setting in 5 weeks!</p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-make-campaign.html">Introduction</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-week-1-concept.html">Week 1 - The Concept</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-week-2-surrounding.html">Week 2 - The Surrounding Area</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/03/gygax-75-challenge-week-3-dungeon.html">Week 3 - The Dungeon</a></p><p>This week, we tackle the Home Base - where players will return to to spend their ill-gotten gains, or lick their wounds to prepare for the next big adventure. In this case, there are multiple towns to choose from across New Rook Island, but I will focus on the largest - <b>Peridot</b>.</p><p>Remember, you can play along at home - visit <a href="https://rayotus.itch.io/gygax75" target="_blank">Ray Otus' itch.io</a> store and download the workbook (for free!) to get started!</p><p><span></span><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b><i><u>Find or Sketch Out a City Map</u></i></b></p><p>I am gonna use one of the inimitable <a href="https://dysonlogos.blog">Dyson Logo's</a> maps; he even has some released under <a href="https://dysonlogos.blog/tag/release-the-kraken/">a Creative Commons license</a>, so let's use one of those in case I want to throw all this stuff into a PWYW PDF at some point.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlAXdYeRj2c84JRCih9BS6k7oSukYxp8LGqIzN5PF-2MQjv6aYNmzAr02Rj1NhInKglXfz3ccsJ18RJimeigLgDuqCDhGf9uIH4r7zGUUsFSSL-kJm7tfIwk3N0-51frmC4WDd_hPX2AW_5loPZqh9KRg827uCFV3fyMB2lPT1Hck2UocoTivR-z2Yxw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="1057" height="799" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlAXdYeRj2c84JRCih9BS6k7oSukYxp8LGqIzN5PF-2MQjv6aYNmzAr02Rj1NhInKglXfz3ccsJ18RJimeigLgDuqCDhGf9uIH4r7zGUUsFSSL-kJm7tfIwk3N0-51frmC4WDd_hPX2AW_5loPZqh9KRg827uCFV3fyMB2lPT1Hck2UocoTivR-z2Yxw=w526-h799" width="526" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map by Dyson Logos</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div></div><p></p><p><b><i><u>Name several shops and what they sell</u></i></b></p><p><b>Gherrod's Chandlery</b> sells everything the aspiring mariner requires - from sails, nets, rope, marlinspikes, even boarding axes and cutlasses on occasion - if it's needed for a ship, Gherrod's your dwarf. It's also an easy place to find a few sailors, should you need to fill out the crew of a ship.</p><p>If you need muscle, rather than sailors, <b>The Ravens' Nest </b>is where to look. Mercenaries, enforcers, assassins and slayers of all stripes have made the tavern their unofficial haunt, to the point that mercenaries on New Rook are often dubbed "Ravens". Theoretically, they serve anyone, but the local mercs will challenge any newcomers to prove their mettle.</p><p><b>Marten's Smithy</b> will produce simple weapons and armour, as well as nails, kettles and other iron goods. While Marten's stock isn't of the highest quality, it sure is cheap!</p><p>If it's proper quality weapons and armour, look no further than <b>The Blade Works - </b>a small group of weaponsmiths who arm the entire island, and beyond. Each smith focuses on one or two types of items, meaning they are experts at their craft - and you do need to pay extra for that expertise. They are also one of the only places capable of building firearms and cannons; <b>Balwinder the Artillerist</b>, a powerfully-built Pesha woman, is legendary across the island as the best cannon-maker around.</p><p>Balwinder's husband, <b>Amanpreet</b>, is a slight man, often found wearing the finest fashions; he is one of the main traders in silks and fabrics on New Rook, and makes high-class clothing for a select clientele. </p><p>While fresh food (meat, veg, fruit and fish) can be bought at the <b>Cheap Street Market, </b>there are a number of shops which sell ready-to-eat treats and snacks - <b>Acantus</b> sells souvlaki, <b>Marta</b> always has a stew of some sort for a few coppers, and there is the ever popular <b>Tannim</b>'s Turtle Roast.. Many will also sell rations for ships - shorter travel times mean that some fresh food can be taken on most journeys, but iron rations, hard tack and salt beef are all in demand.</p><p><b><i><u>Locate and describe;</u></i></b></p><p><i><u>A political faction and its rival</u></i></p><p>The <b>New Rook Reformists</b> wish to create a set council for the island, with lifetime appointments and much stricter rules regarding who settles on the island. Many find their politics distasteful, and their apparent willingness to side with the Empire should they get into power leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many. Opposing them are the <b>Court of Free Captains - </b>the actual ruling body of the islands, who prefer things to be free and loose.</p><p><i><u>The place where characters could lose all their money</u></i></p><p>While the <b>Raven's Nest</b> has games of chance, you're as likely to lose an eye as you are your coin. For proper high-class gambling, drinking and companionship, try the <b>Golden Caravanserai - </b>a haven of good drugs, expensive drinks, and high-stakes games.</p><p><i><u>A place where people gather to hear news and speak their minds</u></i></p><p>The <b>Town Square</b> often holds many people speaking their mind, to whoever will listen, but monthly they hold a Town Hall - all citizens are welcome to speak, make their thoughts heard, and hold their elected officials to account. The system of governance is based heavily off of shipboard diplomacy - the Tyrant is an elected position who marshals the island under times of war; the Seneschal is equally important, while having more of a hand in day-to-day faire. These positions tend to last a few months to a year, as people are voted in and voted out.</p><p><i><u>A secretive Guild Hall and its reputation</u></i></p><p>The <b>Guild of Night's Secrets </b>is currently based out of a tower in the Temple Quarter. They are very careful to both cultivate a scary reputation, and ensure that no-one is certain when they have been involved in a particular situation. Sorcerer-assassins, The Guild of Night's Secrets are a constant whisper on the tongues of the lower class, and a thought in the back of the mind of important people all over New Rook.</p><p><i><u>The best (and worst) place to obtain a hot meal and a clean bed</u></i></p><p>The best place to rest your weary bones is the <b>Golden Caravanserai</b> - it's a high-class brothel with additional sleeping arrangements, with the most decadent food going. The worst is any of the many flea-pit rooms above the lower-rent pubs that spring up whenever someone fancies trying their hand at running a business; piss-weak beer, mouldy food and a hard pallet bed with a rat-chewed blanket if you are lucky.</p><p><i><u>A religious centre and the god(s) to which it is dedicated</u></i></p><p>The <b>Temple Quarter</b> is chock full of temples, dedicated to any number of different Gods. The Pesha brought hundreds of Gods from their homeland, and each has a presence here. The other settlers also brought their own - from the Northern idol-worshippers to the Southron family-drama pantheons, there's a God to suit everyone in the Temple Quarter.</p><p>The current largest temple belongs to Kadalon, God of the sea and patron of sailors. Kadalon's priesthood are a common sight throughout the city, offering blessings and doing good works.</p><p><i><u>A feature unique to this town</u></i></p><p>Only known to a few, there is in fact a Teleport Circle within the city walls. Hidden under the town square, those few who know are keen to keep it secret - should the Empire find out about it, it would be easy for one of their mages to crack the code and begin using Peridot as a staging area for an invasion.</p><p><i><u><b>Create 5 NPCs, each with a "DNA" (Distinguisher, Need, Agenda/Asset)</b></u></i></p><p><b>Balwinder</b> the Cannoneer - Very tall and muscular, often wears stylish clothes which accentuate her figure; back home in Pesha, it is not considered "proper" for a woman to be tall or fit, and she is proud of her body - and her husband loves his huge wife, so he makes sure her clothes are on point. Peridot gives her a chance to be herself, and pursue her passion - cannons! Balwinder is currently looking for samples of Dwarven cannons and firearms to reverse-engineer, and even better a Dwarven smith to teach her the techniques required to make Dwarven steel. Balwinder is one of the few smiths in the area who can make cannon and firearms to order, meaning she should be one of the PC's best friends.</p><p><b>Amanpreet</b> the Clothier - Slim, femme and always impeccably dressed. Amanpreet wants to set up shop across the islands, becoming the number one merchant for silks, fabrics and high-end clothing around. To do so, he needs contacts on the other islands, and will often charter trips to the nearby islands (or bum a ride with anyone going that way).</p><p><b>Captain Fyre</b> the Tyrant - A rotund man with a thick Northern accent and a bushy red beard. Fyre is the current Tyrant of Peridot, the martial leader of the town. Fyre needs better-trained soliders - the militia are not in the best of shape, but he can't afford to train a standing army. Ideally, he want to buld Peridot into a proper fortress; paranoid about a possible incursion from the Empire, he wants his town to be the safest place to command from.</p><p><b>Karal </b>the Whisper Master - a thin, sallow-skinned Elf with piercing crimson eyes. Head of the Guild of Night's Secrets, Karal is a dangerous man to cross. He will often offer favours to those willing to be bold and direct, in exchange for a favour at some later date. His true agenda is to seat himself on the Court of Free Captains, and knows that the quickest route onto the Court is to kill one of the current Captains. However, he is a very useful friend to have, so many willingly enter his debt, becoming pawns in a game they know frighteningly little of...</p><p><b>Sereya </b>the Priestess - chubby, always cheery, wears a tricorn hat with a spectacular golden peacock plume. The current High Priest of Kadalon, Sereya is looking to proselytize a bit; she would like to see Kadalon become the patron God of this chain of islands. Of course, with people coming from all over to fill them up, she knows that isn't a likely cause, but she is willing to spread her faith wherever she goes. She might even be convinced to travel with the PCs to the further reaches of the island chain, should they prove themselves friends of the Temple.</p><p><i><u><b>Extra Credit</b></u></i></p><p><i><u><b>Create 5 hirelings or specialists the characters might recruit</b></u></i></p><p><b>Morris </b>the Link (Halfling) - short, bright, constantly moving. Morris always wanted to be a pirate. Giving up a potentially stable job as a farmer to stow away on a ship, he is far from home and strapped for cash. Morris will do just about anything - brave to the point of foolhardy.</p><p><b>Lurn</b> the Guide (Guana Ranger) - thin and ropey, dark, mottled scales with vibrant red accents. One of the few Guana to have settled in another culture, he is an expert woodsman, and a capable navigator and tracker. If you are going exploring, hiring Lurn will save you a lot of hassle, even if he doesn't know the area.</p><p><b>Murga</b> the Sage - squat, thick, an intense expression at all times. a man with a wide range of knowledge, Murga can translate most common languages, has a working knowledge of magic to identify magic items, and can even cast a few simple spells - for the right price.</p><p><b>Borri</b> and <b>Karl </b>the Bondsmen (Human Reavers) <b>- </b>tall, powerfully built, with shaggy blond and red hair in complex braids. Borri and Karl are brothers, recent arrivals from the North. Looking to make a name for themselves, they currently act as bounty hunters; however, they will happily take jobs as men-at-arms, mercenaries and anything else that lets them hurt people for money. They also refuse to work seperately.</p><p><i><u><b>Generate 7-9 rumours that are going around town</b></u></i></p><p>The <b>Black Towers</b> are all linked - someone's brother's wife's son said he knew a guy who went into one Tower and was found a month later 5 islands over. (True)</p><p><b>Amanpreet</b> the Clothier has started working with the Guild of Night's Secrets - how do you think they get all those tight-fitting black outfits? (False)</p><p>The <b>Empire</b> has been making overtures to try and win over the Guana living <b>Basos</b>. The lizards refuse to talk about it. (True and true, though they have not been successful so far)</p><p>The <b>Raven's Nest </b>has started a fight club, on nights of the new moon. The current champion is an Southron Ogre and is apparently unbeatable in a straight fight. (True, he's a master of pankration - break out the grappling rules!)</p><p>The <b>New Rook Reformists</b> aren't just willing to work with the <b>Empire</b> - they are already on their payroll. (False, though some members have been trying to make it so)</p><p>The countries of the <b>Southron Reaches</b> are eagerly eyeing the advance of the <b>Empire</b>, and are preparing for their eventual conquest and expansion towards them. (Partially true - they are keeping an eye on things, but not outright spying, and think the Empire is overextending itself trying to take these islands)</p><p><b>The Court of Free Captains </b>holds a hidden fort, far to the north, guarded by a dragon. (True, and false - it's a skeletal dragon under the control of one of the Captains)</p><p><i>Jesus, that's a lot of stuff! But, another week done - join us next week for Part 5 - The Larger World!</i></p><p><br /></p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-49315014351709140792022-03-08T23:15:00.004+00:002022-03-08T23:15:39.377+00:00Blood & Treasure - The Artillerist and Topkick Classes<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, I am working on my Pirate Hack for Blood & Treasure, to use with the setting I am making with the <a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/search/label/Gygax%2075%20Challenge">Gygax 75 Challenge</a>. Part of that is tweaking a few classes, such as turning the Barbarian into the Reaver (the battle-mad front line of a good ship raid), or turning the NOD Companion's <a href="https://landofnod.blog/2013/01/01/in-my-day-the-curmudgeon-class/">Curmudgeon class</a> into the Old Salt (for NPCs who have been around the block a few times, or for a slightly different player choice).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The two I am adding are the Artillerist and the Topkick.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">THE ARTILLERIST</span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhst4fgFaUu2WIXFqRu3FXI9WpogEdFAaRV9M9fd-U8_FeSLC7GqUccl-aa-F8GFBoLu8B-fbWomy8oveUskKjFM0AV6vcrhVLuErR4a8eKJmjvvCgxA3AHRV2qlGG4aurIwx_JnjyFYoy0GneVC5b2PxgrMH1JMeimr5hzlllu4PEY2Q66FFiN52GZ8Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="900" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhst4fgFaUu2WIXFqRu3FXI9WpogEdFAaRV9M9fd-U8_FeSLC7GqUccl-aa-F8GFBoLu8B-fbWomy8oveUskKjFM0AV6vcrhVLuErR4a8eKJmjvvCgxA3AHRV2qlGG4aurIwx_JnjyFYoy0GneVC5b2PxgrMH1JMeimr5hzlllu4PEY2Q66FFiN52GZ8Q" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.deviantart.com/devburmak/art/Cannoneer-253415525">Cannoneer by DevBurmak</a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Requirements</b> - Intelligence and Dexterity 9+</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Armour Allowed</b> - Padded, leather, ring mail, scale mail, tower shield/pavises</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Weapons Allowed</b> - All black powder and siege weapons, club, dagger, mace, polearms, shortsword, sling</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Skills</b> - Bend Bars, Break Down Doors, Engineering, Move Silently, Riding</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Black powder isn't exactly <i>new</i>, but it is the cutting edge of technology. The Artillerist rides that edge, a master alchemist and pyromaniac extraordinaire. While they can fight, they prefer to hang back, using their fancy new weapons whenever possible.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When using black powder weapons, the Artillerist reduces their reload time to 4/6, or 1 round when using pistols. They can also use weapons which require a staff or support without one.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Masters of black powder and alchemy, the Artillerist can concoct small explosives in their downtime. Each takes 10 minutes to make, and the artillerist suffers no chance of failure (basic or explosive!) when making them.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A 1st Level Artillerist can concoct normal explosives that become more powerful as they increase in level, and can create different concoctions as the table below;</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPxUH46pGoGjW7EbjtIRjsEz-wMAB2nVsr-e_ghpfm1IVZF8IAUmYXuemmryuhbrkqMORX3KWaPTWtvpv3hZpqEIZAkwdmrJIvTPcGbXFypVwEMv2zf_277fKwBcfSHP46CgUVjWX6d_1rZfF_ZqWfudbQuKCFwP1sy9y9YVv9Qv6MWHhYIMF6RjUHUQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="408" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPxUH46pGoGjW7EbjtIRjsEz-wMAB2nVsr-e_ghpfm1IVZF8IAUmYXuemmryuhbrkqMORX3KWaPTWtvpv3hZpqEIZAkwdmrJIvTPcGbXFypVwEMv2zf_277fKwBcfSHP46CgUVjWX6d_1rZfF_ZqWfudbQuKCFwP1sy9y9YVv9Qv6MWHhYIMF6RjUHUQ=w440-h246" width="440" /></span></a></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">All these bombs have a blast radius of 5 feet, or as their listed spell. An Artillerist can sacrifice one dice of damage to increase the radius by 10ft.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">At 5th level, the Artillerist counts as two people when operating any siege or artillery weapons, and can reroll any artillery or thrown weapon scatter dice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">At 9th level, the Artillerist can open a Gunnery School, teaching the arts of black powder. They attract 1d6 men-at-arms per level, 1d6 1st level artillerists who wish to train under them, and a 3rd level artillerist to act as a lieutenant/deputy headmaster.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjzHIogN2ay002nOQXvfDpGi_noQHp6RjdvvZAqhvZfVBTfDqFWQHeNg4QpA5mcrKsrheEbnilm6Rm8P--Y4UEp4SN4Bs_oZ0GF8P6BlYl-Xd28AA8Qo_mGxazu47tAy4gXIUE2LCivzpj3vLj86DAnB2JlLmYUzPsdNWrjKkuvORjW84qBdgqGXEoPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="486" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjzHIogN2ay002nOQXvfDpGi_noQHp6RjdvvZAqhvZfVBTfDqFWQHeNg4QpA5mcrKsrheEbnilm6Rm8P--Y4UEp4SN4Bs_oZ0GF8P6BlYl-Xd28AA8Qo_mGxazu47tAy4gXIUE2LCivzpj3vLj86DAnB2JlLmYUzPsdNWrjKkuvORjW84qBdgqGXEoPg=w498-h537" width="498" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Topkick is a master of small-unit tactics; the one leading boats on shore missions, or groups to infiltrate a coastal fort to bring it down from the inside. Similar to a Captain being in charge for shipboard battles, the Topkick is the absolute authority on his missions. This does not mean he cannot be questioned, but simply that his fellows trust his word when it comes to tactics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This version of the Topkick is heavily lifted from <a href="http://awizardskiss.blogspot.com">A Wizard's Kiss</a>, who did <a href="http://awizardskiss.blogspot.com/2012/09/old-school-classes-from-4e-warlord.html">a version of the Warlord</a> for OSR games. While he hasn't updated for a while, his blog is full of cool stuff - go have a look!</span></p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">THE TOPKICK</span></b><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMphiwd1yc1d36WrY_zCZN6aWr1X9sLn6yHawsGPyGOzN9YZLfecjvb2T_y9qrRoVKaEATuEgl-baBR6VEHn2qud9ZuKT6iGKSem6qnA3Y6-Uj4Wsqvaq6NHK9b9tMfB-XUyW1Qn8blEutXhuBi-xovv1BERYrUAkA6Eqe64jc5Fbh2J-TYhEf2O5BZA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMphiwd1yc1d36WrY_zCZN6aWr1X9sLn6yHawsGPyGOzN9YZLfecjvb2T_y9qrRoVKaEATuEgl-baBR6VEHn2qud9ZuKT6iGKSem6qnA3Y6-Uj4Wsqvaq6NHK9b9tMfB-XUyW1Qn8blEutXhuBi-xovv1BERYrUAkA6Eqe64jc5Fbh2J-TYhEf2O5BZA=w430-h240" width="430" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Captain Flint is a Topkick for sure</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Requirements</b> - Intelligence and Charisma 13+, Strength 9+</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Armour Allowed</b> - All<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Weapons Allowed</b> - All</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Skills</b> - Communication, Politicking, Riding</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span lang="en-US">Topkicks
demand absolute dedication from their allies in battle. This doesn't
mean the other players have to obey everything the Topkick tells them
to do, it just means that when the Topkick says jump, your character
trusts him enough to know that there must be a knee-high buzzsaw
approaching or suchlike.</span></span></span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">To
establish this trust, the Topkick must spend ten minutes talking to
any new party members. There cannot be more than one Topkick in a
party - if there are, then their orders confuse each other and the
Topkicks' abilities are all negated. The Topkick cannot command a
group of people larger than the Topkick's Charisma</span> <span lang="en-GB">score</span>
<span lang="en-US">(until 9th level - see below.)</span></span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">Topkick</span><span lang="en-GB">s</span>
<span lang="en-US">can spend a standard action to use a <b>Command</b>,
which is a catch-all term for various speeches, orders, battle-cries,
etc. that have the power to turn the tide of battle. The Topkick can
use one Command per level per encounter - the focus required for this
sort of tactical thinking and charismatic oration is very mentally
draining.</span></span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Commands
only work on allies who are conscious and can understand the Topkick.
They also need to be within 30' or the command is too faint or
garbled to be heard.</span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pick
one Command at 1st level and one other at each odd-numbered level
thereafter:</span></p><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Encouraging
Command: </b>The Topkick and any allies under their command gain +1
to their side's Initiative rolls. <i>6th Level: </i>+2 to initiative
rolls.</span></p><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Defensive
Command: </b>The Topkick can gather their allies into a shield wall -
if three or more are together and armed with shield, they can an
extra +1 AC, and provide cover to anyone behind them. 6<i>th Level:</i> gain +2 AC in the shield wall.</span></p><p class="western"><span lang="en-US"><b>Invigorating Command:</b></span><span lang="en-GB"> The
</span><span lang="en-US">Topkick</span><span lang="en-GB"> inspires
one ally to fight on through the pain, giving them 1d6 temporary hit
points (last until the end of the encounter or 1 turn). <i>6th
Level:</i> 1d6+level hitpoints, and if the ally is unconscious, you
can use this to slap them awake.</span></p><p class="western"><span lang="en-US"><b>Inspiring Command:</b></span> <span lang="en-GB">The
</span><span lang="en-US">Topkick</span> <span lang="en-GB">brings
one ally back from the brink of terror and defeat, allowing them to
reroll a failed morale check or saving throw vs. fear. This command
can be used as a reaction (i.e. on the turn of the person failing the
save or morale check.) <i>6th level:</i> Can grant all allies
a rerolled morale check, OR grant one ally a rerolled save against
domination, confusion, or other mental effects.</span></p><p class="western"><b><span lang="en-US">Warning Command:</span> </b><span lang="en-GB">The
</span><span lang="en-US">Topkick</span> <span lang="en-GB">warns one
ally of an incoming attack, granting them a +4 bonus to AC for one
round against the next attack from a designated enemy. <i>6th
level:</i> </span><span lang="en-US">The Topkick predicts every
attack just before it happens, granting the bonus against all
incoming attacks in the next round.</span></p><p class="western"><span lang="en-US"><b>Analysing Command:</b></span> <span lang="en-GB">The
</span><span lang="en-US">Topkick</span> <span lang="en-GB">points
out a weak spot in the enemy's armour or their posture, allowing one
ally to gain a +2 bonus to hit and damage against that enemy on their
next attack. <i>6th level:</i> All allies gain the bonus against
that enemy for one round.</span></p><p class="western"><span lang="en-US"><b>Tactical Command:</b></span> <span lang="en-GB">The
</span><span lang="en-US">Topkick</span> <span lang="en-GB">sees an
opening in the flow of battle and orders one ally into it, granting
them an extra action. <i>6th level:</i> This Command, and the
extra action it grants, can be used before initiative is rolled.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">At
9th level, the Topkick gains the ability to command an army of up to
100 soldiers per level, or one ship per level. Everyone in the army is considered to be an
ally for the purposes of Commands, though the effects will still be
limited by the 30' radius. Furthermore, the Topkick</span><span lang="en-GB">'s</span>
<span lang="en-US">Commands can now also be used as Gambits -
essentially the same thing but on a Naval scale. For example, a
Tactical Gambit could be used to steal a ship into an enemy formation, an
Analysing Gambit could maneuver a ship into position to flank, etc.
DM fiat/negotiation will be required here, as it isn't a perfect fit with the Freebooters Naval Combat rules, but I am sure I can make it work!</span></span></p><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb_eEcib1I-JerVII_MaHb_BfW8_jOtF1tCkn1ex4Xi-x-d2lyhZ9PKkTQv30mwsgmBMAwRoFNT-1leLKMjIylKnUZwDyppYJ-S_YO4DE26tWoZ6QrFGweo7djc1GB45n9aeNvIGiyOgJcWdV93vM1VPVss7dlblcHerNFiSY_Z2WuvOGazWIvcDtY_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="426" height="527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb_eEcib1I-JerVII_MaHb_BfW8_jOtF1tCkn1ex4Xi-x-d2lyhZ9PKkTQv30mwsgmBMAwRoFNT-1leLKMjIylKnUZwDyppYJ-S_YO4DE26tWoZ6QrFGweo7djc1GB45n9aeNvIGiyOgJcWdV93vM1VPVss7dlblcHerNFiSY_Z2WuvOGazWIvcDtY_Q=w428-h527" width="428" /></a></span></div><p></p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-81982234133299028702022-03-03T23:43:00.002+00:002022-03-03T23:48:45.214+00:00Gygax 75 Challenge - Week 3: The Dungeon<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, we return with the next part of the <a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/search/label/Gygax%2075%20Challenge">Gygax 75 Challenge</a> - making a campaign setting from scratch over 5 weeks.</span></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-make-campaign.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Introduction</span></a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-week-1-concept.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Week 1 - The Concept</span></a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-week-2-surrounding.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Week 2 - The Surrounding Area</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The third section is the "main event" - The Dungeon! The first big challenge for a new group of players to tackle. It's got to take planning, logistics, and most importantly luck to truly conquer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember, you can play along at home - visit <a href="https://rayotus.itch.io/gygax75" target="_blank">Ray Otus' itch.io</a> store and download the workbook (for free!) to get started!<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This section is a bit more involved than the others; it requires a great deal of detail, thought and planning. And, it gives me a chance to talk about one of my big problems with Skulls & Shackles!</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, part of the overall vibe of the AP is that, while there is a lot of plot going on, the books provide side quests which can increase the player's Infamy (a stat that has some minor effects at various points). One of these side quests involves a mysterious isle, a cyclopean black tower that has been mentioned as a mystery a few times previously in the AP... and it's a 6-room dungeon with a spoopy Lovecraft-lite monster at the end. There's a magic sword that is a Minor Artifact... that also isn't an important part of the story, nor are its powers particularly game-breaking for this AP. It's a weird little diversion, to say the least.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSiq8Kua3RPhqbUq9qXHeTNudVf_5yj1Q92ZPH-WUHGE_t2eoyJjnJSRzu_mraT82Clh9HywZJF8dEQEBbWya8mE7fgQl2_RviF-iUFcUkBDICYR8kj4a3m_Czl0s02K1pOoc6jApEsEQgtedgpJ2CDI5tlq5wgnWU_cVw40eI2NSoAJVH13-RzKRpvg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1320" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSiq8Kua3RPhqbUq9qXHeTNudVf_5yj1Q92ZPH-WUHGE_t2eoyJjnJSRzu_mraT82Clh9HywZJF8dEQEBbWya8mE7fgQl2_RviF-iUFcUkBDICYR8kj4a3m_Czl0s02K1pOoc6jApEsEQgtedgpJ2CDI5tlq5wgnWU_cVw40eI2NSoAJVH13-RzKRpvg=w630-h410" width="630" /></a></div></div></span></div></div></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disappointing to say the least! It definitely felt like a rush job, to fill out a few pages of the AP. Well, I wanted my Black Towers to be a little more interesting, so now they are spread throughout the map. They are the only possible sign of a previous civilization from before The Storm that cut this area off from the world for thousands of years. With no known match to any other ancient civilization, these Towers are mysterious to a fault. Those who enter them tend not to come back, though the few who have are changed by their experiences - tales of strange Undead, odd monstrosities, of maps that cannot make sense.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gives me a way to include some proper Dungeons, with background reasons for them to exist, as well as Big Background Plot to create!</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Northern Tower</span></u></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Northern Tower is a cylinder, 200ft tall and 50ft wide. The area around the tower is devoid of life; even the thick jungle seems unable to encroach within a few metres of the Tower.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seemingly made of a single black stone, the walls are smooth; almost obsidian in colour and texture. Close inspection of the Tower reveals delicate etched swirls, some of which resemble some unknown script.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Roughly halfway up its height, there is an entrance - a large, fully circular doorway. The door itself is made of the same black stone, and would be invisible if the door was not slightly ajar.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the base of the Tower lies two skeletons - fairly recent (within the last decade), foolhardy explorers who slid from the Tower whilst attempting to climb.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those who attempt to decipher the language on the surface of the Tower will not be able to do so without the books inside. Those who do must make a Will saving throw for each hour studying, or take 1 point of Wisdom damage.</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Those who attempt to climb the surface without tools may find the shallow engravings to be impossibly sharp - make a Reflex saving throw for every 10ft climbed or take 1d3 damage and fall.</i> </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Describe the entrance to The Dungeon in 7-10 words</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A circular hole, eerily dark, halfway up the structure.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make a point-to-point map</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVmFv_BaVSDrV9u34RSu6ZGzt1MJlR6sPCoCLAooN4cVXDZKbWD4go78e8hGEZ0KBwmtCq3JL3Rnmf_C3ghVKzuGqoNzho9sFSpMnrHpf1YkorMY4KfMclwH4pzFHpsmdKGLsde7y-FhVPJesK8K2PzvLRQSd4gYNG7i2SIpMRKKbCPvpa3Tr7WStLtQ=s1416" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1416" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVmFv_BaVSDrV9u34RSu6ZGzt1MJlR6sPCoCLAooN4cVXDZKbWD4go78e8hGEZ0KBwmtCq3JL3Rnmf_C3ghVKzuGqoNzho9sFSpMnrHpf1YkorMY4KfMclwH4pzFHpsmdKGLsde7y-FhVPJesK8K2PzvLRQSd4gYNG7i2SIpMRKKbCPvpa3Tr7WStLtQ=w587-h295" width="587" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sure, it's a bit rough, but it works!</span></div><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">For each level, include d6+6 rooms/areas and connect them</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This I am tweaking - each "level" consist of three levels of the Tower. The rooms are larger than the outside of the Tower, some only slightly, but others (like the Monster Mash) are much larger than they should be.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, for extra confusion, you enter the Monster Mash from the Trapped Room. Trying to go back down those stairs instead leads you to The Builder's Tomb, and going upstairs from there take you back to the Trapped Room.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Builders had some strange space-folding magics, which makes exploring their ruins a dicey proposition. It also means I can make rooms vary in size, to prevent them becoming standard-sized circular rooms.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Include d3+1 ways up/down per level</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, gonna tweak this - as it's a tower, there is one way up and down - although, those are not always the same up and down as you expect.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Come up with three themes (1 per level)</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here, we roll for a "budget" to use when stocking the dungeon. Level 1 gets 5, Level 2 gets 3, and Level 3 gets 5. We spend these points to make references to each theme throughout the dungeon, as set dressing, creatures, sensory details etc.</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, Undead are already a big theme of the island, so that's an obvious one. A mix of recent explorers and a more ancient culture/type, perhaps. This will be the theme of Level 1.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second will be Cyclopean Ruination - elements of the original builders, bizarre architecture, strange magical traps. This will be Level 2.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The third will be Monstrosity - there's gonna be some Real Weird Shit deeper down into the tower. This will be Level 3.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make a list of 11 different monsters and place them</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, as players will be 1st-3rd level when tackling this dungeon, I want a mix of simple fights, and more powerful single monsters. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Zombie - 3 in <b>The Last Expedition</b>, 1 pinned to a wall in the <b>Entrance.</b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Skeleton - 3 in <b>The Last Expedition</b>, 4 in the <b>Stellarium</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Ghoul - 1 in the <b>Long Stairs Down</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Darkmantle - 2 in <b>The Long Stairs Down</b>, dead one in <b>The Monster Mash</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Giant Centipede - 3 in the <b>Monster Mash</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Grick - 1 in the <b>Monster Mash</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Starlings (Monster Tome) - a clutch of 2d6 in an aquarium in the <b>Monster Mash</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Metal Monsters (Monster Tome) - eight Small monsters in the <b>Monster Mash</b>, which may combine into a single Medium Metal Monster if allowed to meet up.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">9. Stirges - 2d6 in a nest in the <b>Trapped Room</b>. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">10. Iron Cobra - one as part of the <b>Trapped Room</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">11. A new monster! Kinda. The Builders have been converted from the Sons/Spawn of Kyuss from Greyhawk; as a weird, unusual undead creature, they make for a great "boss monster" for the Tower. Obviously, these will be in the <b>Builder's Tomb</b>.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Undead Builders</span></u></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What remains of the presumed builders of the Black Towers, these creatures are much taller and thinner than a man, with stretched, canid faces and oddly curved bones. These specimens sit on thrones, and wear scraps of rotted armour and clothing. Most strange is the masses of vivid blue worms that infest their corpses, somehow still alive even after seeming centuries of being locked in this room.</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Large Undead; Chaotic (CN); Low Intelligence; Clew (1d3)</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>HD</b><span> 4 <span> </span></span><b>AC</b> 12</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ATK</b> <span> Slam (1d8 + disease)</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>MV</b><span> 50 <b>Saves</b> <span> F13, R13, W12</span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>XP</b> CL 6 (1000xp)</span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special Qualities: The Builder exudes a sense of palpable dread and confusion (30ft radius as <i>Cause Fear</i>), can regenerate 1d4 points of damage per round (fire, lightning, acid and holy magic cancels), and is infested with vibrant blue worms (each round, a worm will try to attach itself to anyone within 5ft; +3 melee attack to successfully land. Once landed, will wriggle into position on the back of the neck for one round, during which it can be removed; after which it enters the skin and burrows into the brain in 1d4 rounds. <i>Remove Curse </i>or C<i>ure Disease </i>can kill the worm at this stage. If it succeeds, the victim dies and resurrects with the same stats as the Builder Zombie in 1d10 turns).</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spread d6 features throughout the dungeon</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I rolled 3.</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <b>Stellarium </b>contains a large orrery, which projects an illusory image of the world's place in the Planes and among the stars. It can be used for more than just viewing, but it would require researching the materials in this room and <b>The Library </b>to figure it out.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <b>Long Stairs Down </b>is a large, circular stairway with no guardrails. It seems to stretch on endlessly down, though a determined group may find an entrance to the top floor of the <b>Southern Black Tower </b>after two day's worth of travelling down.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Trapped Room </b>contains a statue of the Dark Lord Dagon in the centre; while it is trapped (naturally), anyone who offers prayers and sacrifices to the statue may be able to catch the Demon Lord of the Sea's ear, however briefly.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">For each room/area, note whether there is treasure</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <b>Entrance</b> has no treasure. <b>The Last Expedition </b>has a magic weapon and some supplies and loot, <b>The Library</b> contains a few scrolls (or equivalents), the <b>Monster Mash</b> contains a few harvested monster parts, the <b>Builder's Tomb </b>has the usual D&D tomb loots, and the <b>Stellarium</b> contains ancient star charts, high-quality goods and other things which can be sold to the right buyer.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Name three wonderous items and locate them in the dungeon</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Aiger's Kiss</b> is a unique <i>+1</i> <i>cutlass of fish command</i>, originally owned by Captain Tevenida Aiger - the leader of the last expedition to the Tower. Aiger's Kiss is currently buried up to the hilt in the chest of the zombie of the former Captain Aiger in The Last Expedition.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Currently, her son, Valerande "Barracuda" Aiger is gathering the bravery to try and reclaim the sword - should the PCs come out on top, Barracuda will eagerly hunt them down to reclaim it.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A <b>Ring of Protection +1</b> sits on the finger of one of the Builder zombies in The Builder's Tomb.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The strange magical orrery in The Stellarium runs on <b>Dust of Illusion</b> - there are two doses on a nearby bookshelf.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spend any remaining theme budget adding detail</span></u></i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't have any budget left! In fact, I might have overdone a few bits in places, but I quite like the feel of the place, so I am happy to bend those rules.</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><u><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Extra Credit</span></i></u></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, I did not have time to create a proper map this week; however, I hope to get it done over this coming week. And, the Wandering Monster table doesn't really fit the feel of The Tower; I may make decisions to have monsters move from level to level as needed, but it feels like overstuffing the Tower to have any extra monsters.</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, this turned out to be quite an involved step. Well worth it - it lays out the basics you need, while sparking ideas about what else you can include, and sometimes forcing you to add new stuff. It's a very interesting take on stocking a dungeon; one I will definitely use in the future.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will post individual descriptions of each room over the coming week, so be sure to check them out!</span></p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-7721620991297874312022-02-24T22:52:00.003+00:002022-02-27T01:10:43.319+00:00Gygax 75 Challenge - Week 2: Surrounding Area<p>So, we return with the next part of the <a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/search/label/Gygax%2075%20Challenge">Gygax 75 Challenge</a> - making a campaign setting from scratch over 5 weeks.</p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-make-campaign.html">Intro</a></p><p><a href="https://ofdiceandmenrpg.blogspot.com/2022/02/gygax-75-challenge-week-1-concept.html">Part 1</a></p><p>The second section is about creating "the surrounding area", the starter point for the game - launching point of (hopefully) many years of adventures!</p><p>Remember, you can play along at home - visit <a href="https://rayotus.itch.io/gygax75" target="_blank">Ray Otus' itch.io</a> store and download the workbook (for free!) to get started!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Now, at first I admit I went overboard. As a naval sandbox, I wanted to make an area that was large enough to provide enough area to sail around, hiding all sorts of trouble and fun. However, to keep with rough nautical conventions, that means using a scale where one hex is <i>12</i> <i>miles*</i>. That ends up covering a lot of ground, and it means that the "dead spots" on the map with no content are truly dead. I plan to fill those in with a fairly comprehensive set of encounter tables, but the little I did will serve as a good basis for future steps.</p><p>I used the free version of <a href="https://www.hexographer.com">Hexographer v2</a> to create the maps - it's a great resource, super easy to use, and free!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuHi3pTCmVNYo3MjAreT_K57aEDbs1WOoEe-V9LW9G2w_X_xKnrFZcIMSmiGCrVMXgD7kL6IOfAsZzM3_UI-ajY_g6XmiYRQE6eK1iR5-u6dNsfLx5ka7i-HI4c72eFDc_dDcD2T4XjF1lAiEw9gcwDQYQAAufi92_PbK_xej1e8LhbKsBE_OwAmUmZw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="670" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuHi3pTCmVNYo3MjAreT_K57aEDbs1WOoEe-V9LW9G2w_X_xKnrFZcIMSmiGCrVMXgD7kL6IOfAsZzM3_UI-ajY_g6XmiYRQE6eK1iR5-u6dNsfLx5ka7i-HI4c72eFDc_dDcD2T4XjF1lAiEw9gcwDQYQAAufi92_PbK_xej1e8LhbKsBE_OwAmUmZw=w490-h568" width="490" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>However, the advice given is to start much smaller - make a 1-mile hexmap of the "starter" location. This ended up working out great, as it meant I could reasonably start players without a ship, but with opportunities to earn enough to buy a small vessel and start sailing relatively quickly. It also serves as a base for furture exploration; being in the centre of the map, and near several small island chains as well as one major island (which I will come back to in a later post), the starter map seems like a good compromise.</p><p>Which brings us to the island of New Rook.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQmFp4js-w9oS7Fu8SbZBckkOZQV6FwLhKpArHI5s26FLzLFA0yEVFWrqg6QfRC2X5RiYe5QDVAc1bOQwZB45xsXxyBwPdT-wtk3wQVAZzHFlDxtO0ZFRz4hkkZwsofDz_0J-JS5ixWZSoAf3Tpt8fuXGNnrRkF7djDgVZRTiJT7ltQ7K288_ydGwl7Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="754" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQmFp4js-w9oS7Fu8SbZBckkOZQV6FwLhKpArHI5s26FLzLFA0yEVFWrqg6QfRC2X5RiYe5QDVAc1bOQwZB45xsXxyBwPdT-wtk3wQVAZzHFlDxtO0ZFRz4hkkZwsofDz_0J-JS5ixWZSoAf3Tpt8fuXGNnrRkF7djDgVZRTiJT7ltQ7K288_ydGwl7Q=s16000" /></a></div></div></div><p></p><p><b><u><i>One Settlement of a Significant Size </i></u></b></p><p><b><u>Peridot</u></b></p><p>The largest town on New Rook, Peridot was the first city settled on the island. Originally formed by a large group of Pesha refugees, Peridot has developed into a bustling, cosmopolitan city that is constantly growing.</p><p>The Pesha brought many elements of their culture, but as others arrive, more cultures, Gods and traditions all syncretize to form a new safe haven, away from the horrors of the Empire's war machine. Anything you could desire can be found here, for the right price. Artisans, smiths and mages all offer their wares in the town square, and new talent appears on a daily basis.</p><p><i>A South-Asian inspired sense of architecture, lots of bright colours, painted frescoes, beautiful temples.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i><b><u>Two Other Settlements</u></b></i></p><p><b><u>Pearl</u></b></p><p>Pearl is a small fishing village on the coast. After settling there, the Pasha found themselves facing aggression from a shoal of Sea Elves, moving through the undersea caravanserai just off the coast; the Elves assumed they were from the Empire, having faced off against their ships in the past. After some diplomacy, an alliance was formed; the Sea Elves provided the bounties of the sea, while the Pearlers provided wrought metal and the land-bound crafts they could provide. The population is now spread between the village and the sea, whether on boats or small floating caravans.</p><p><i>Very rustic, classic fishing village aesthetics, nets everywhere</i></p><p><b><u>Basos</u></b></p><p>More of a temporary refuge, Basos is a city built by Guanas, for Guanas. These lizardfolk have settled on smaller islands further north, but have created a small foothold on the northern coast of New Rook. This allows them to trade with the settlers of New Rook, and keep an eye on them to make sure they are not going to push north in a surge of expansionism.</p><p>The city mostly consists of small clay-adobe buildings, with complex solarium windows installed to catch the sun during the day and retain heat at night. The areas closest to the beach are designed around natural basking spots; even the trading areas have large raised platforms to better catch the sun at midday.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u>One Major Terrain Feature</u></i></b></p><p><b><u>Lake Pyrite</u></b></p><p>The large lake in the centre of New Rook drains out to the sea in two small rivers, creating natural waterways from one end of the island to the other. As of yet, no work has been done to create a ferry system, or to remove the heavy jungle around the lake. This is partially due to the towns only being settled in the last few decades, and partially because said jungle contains a number of small bandit groups who raid the outlying villages.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u>One Mysterious Site To Explore</u></i></b></p><p><b><u>The Isle of the Black Towers</u></b></p><p>Just off the south-western coast of New Rook, The Isle stands apart from New Rook, and the locals like it that way. Generally held to be either haunted or just plain evil, this island is covered in thick jungle, which sways silently in the wind. Hidden amongst the jungle are various strange flora, and seemingly no animal life, even after a decade of the Storm being clear of the Isle.</p><p>The Isle is named for the two cyclopean black basalt towers that can be seen from the mainland of New Rook; over 100 feet tall and perfectly cylindrical, they cut an imposing shadow as the sun sets.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u>One (Main) Dungeon Entrance</u></i></b></p><p><b><u>The Northern Tower</u></b></p><p>The north-most tower on The Isle of the Black Towers has an entrance around half-way up its height. Some have tried to enter, but so far none have returned from their expeditions. Well, one supposedly did, but Old Jim doesn't talk much anymore.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u>Extra Credit</u></i></b></p><p><b><i><u>Create a Random Encounter Table</u></i></b></p><p><b><i><u></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHzHIxv1-EqJwcvIfyikgJ50F9n5duDu1PGH4Wyxlm4cqDBJ4bbcBR_8rzlJBYuKHKO55eD2rF4Q9YtzsGajJhXNZ5ntKu10IS-i0ny_bfrIsb-BFtXJyFosWqwX2H3BO-sgt8CAclqMCNLmUfFx8AWWm9nBBuzNxygT0mZf75ugeLAo4WClO36yIZ2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="734" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHzHIxv1-EqJwcvIfyikgJ50F9n5duDu1PGH4Wyxlm4cqDBJ4bbcBR_8rzlJBYuKHKO55eD2rF4Q9YtzsGajJhXNZ5ntKu10IS-i0ny_bfrIsb-BFtXJyFosWqwX2H3BO-sgt8CAclqMCNLmUfFx8AWWm9nBBuzNxygT0mZf75ugeLAo4WClO36yIZ2A=w581-h434" width="581" /></a></div></div><i><br />Join me next week for Section 3: The Dungeon!<br /></i><p></p><p><br /></p>
Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-59622832752217183372022-02-17T15:40:00.003+00:002022-02-17T15:41:06.712+00:00Gygax 75 Challenge - Week 1: The Concept<p>So, Week 1 begins!</p><p>I have am easy start here, because I already have most of the concept in mind. I want D&D Does Pirates, rather than just a lightly-reskinned D&D game. The setting becomes an important part of that - it needs to be alive and vibrant, offering more opportunities than just dungeons.</p><p>Of course, there <i>will</i> be dungeons, I'm not a monster.</p><p>Remember, you can play along at home - visit <a href="https://rayotus.itch.io/gygax75" target="_blank">Ray Otus' itch.io</a> store and download the workbook (for free!) to get started!<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b><u>Tasks</u></b></p><p><u><b><i>Get a Notebook</i></b></u></p><p>Easy, got dozens of them. I am using a cheapo sketchpad from <a href="https://flyingtiger.com/collections/arts-crafts/products/sketch-pad-a5-1450091?_gl=1*647hhr*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjM5ODI2ODAzLjE2NDUwMzk0MjE.*_ga_6C7F3V1WH3*MTY0NTAzOTQyMS4xLjEuMTY0NTAzOTQyMS42MA..">Flying Tiger</a>; gives me room to write, doodle, and the paper is thick enough to take any clippings or things pasted in without becoming difficult. I will also be using digital notebooks; I find OneNote is amazing for this sort of planning.</p><p><b style="font-style: italic;"><u>Develop Your Pitch</u> </b></p><p>Now, I have some of this stuff already in mind, but let's get the out on paper;</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>A Living Setting - </b>a sandbox game is nothing without a vibrant, living setting. The world changes with your actions, or without them. Make alliances, break countries, forge a new path for your characters and the world they live in. Make history! Change the world!</li><li><b>It's A Pirate's Life For Me! - </b>this game will be fairly thematically focused. Be pirates, do crimes. Explore a new world. Get rich! Live in hard and fast, enjoying your freedom all while an oppressive Empire breathes down your neck. Tonally, I want it a little gritty and a little fun. Permanent injuries (cause we want an excuse for peg-legs), difficult fights, but a sense of camaraderie and fun as well.</li><li><b>Alignment Isn't An Issue</b> - Alignment doesn't work too well in a game of grey morals like this one. While there will still be Demons and Devils, <i>people</i> are just... people. So no alignments for the common man. Clerics might need to live up to Codes, like Paladins, instead of following their God's Alignments. Means there is plenty of wiggle room for corrupt churches, weird cults and fighting the "good guys".</li><li><b>Technology and Magic Are Marching Forward - </b>not only are black powder and cannon changing warfare, but the printing press is changing people's lives, while magic struggles to keep up with the availability and reliability of technology. Of course, that just means Wizards have to really pull out the weird and wonderful stuff to show they're still relevant in this new world.</li><li><b>Anti-Colonialist </b>- your players are fighting for a new world of their own, while The Empire wants to take your land from you. The setting has been hidden behind an unnatural storm for generations, and has only just been released. Now, refugees from a war caused by The Empire are settling here, exploring this new land, while The Empire sees an opportunity for greater domination. Running these sorts of games comes with a lot of unchecked colonialist themes, so being aware of them and working against them is important to me.</li><li><b>Simple Mechanics, Lots of Choice - </b>I will be using a homebrewed version of <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/189591/Blood--Treasure-2nd-Edition-Rulebook">Blood & Treasure</a> for this game. I don't want to get bogged down in complex mechanics; at the same time, I want there to be <i>something</i>. The ability to tweak classes to fit the new theme, and even to make my own, is a big selling point. B&T hits that sweet spot pretty well. It even advertises itself as "rules light, options heavy" - perfect for my needs.</li></ul><div><b><u><i>Sources of Inspiration</i></u></b></div><div><b><u><i><br /></i></u></b></div><div><i><b>TV & Movies</b></i></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><u>Black Sails</u> </div><div>One of the best bits of pirate-related media in recent years. It's got drama, violence, gratuitous hot naked men... what's not to like? It also gives a deeper look at shipboard politics, the behind the scenes actions of movers and shakers in a setting, lots of interesting mundane plots to draw from, and of course plenty of imagery to use. Seriously, go watch it!</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Pirates of the Carribean</u> </div><div>The first one, at least. It's a fun time, visually gorgeous, costuming is on point, and of course the classic "undead pirates" schtick. I expect for all my attempts at a more serious tone, this is where the players will end up. Well, either here or Muppet Treasure Island. C'est la vie.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Video Games</b></i></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><u>Assassin's Creed: Black Flag</u> and <u>AC: Rogue</u> </div><div>Seriously, Black Flag is a way better pirate game than it is an AC game. Why didn't we get another pirate game immediately after this? Same basic skeleton, none of that first person future nonsense. Well, we kinda did. Rogue is interesting, for having a similar set of mechanics, with a new setting and plot (you get to play a bad guy!). Again, lots of imagery (and concept art) to borrow from. Less of the plot stuff, but who knows.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Books</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div><u>Skulls & Shackles</u></div><div>This whole thing started with S&S, so let's use it. Lots of cool plot hooks, maybe the odd bit of dungeon inspiration (one in particular I will go into), as well as the general setup of a pirate haven harassed by an evil Empire... Yeah, I imagine a fair amount of stuff will get transferred over. </div><div><br /></div><div><u>The Gentlemen Bastards Cycle</u> </div><div>Just started the second book, but the happy-go-lucky nature of the protagonists in the face of the horrors wrought in the first book really gives a hint at the sort of shenanigans and tone I would like to strive for.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next time I manage to visit a library, I expect to be able to pick up a few non-fiction books about Pirates for some proper reading.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Websites</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.thepirateking.com/index.htm">The Pirate King</a> </div><div>Has all the info you could ever need about pirates - need a primer on nautical navigation? Appropriate slang? Period-accurate fashion? <i>Rum reviews?</i> Rob's your man.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Extra Credit</u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i>Make a Moodboard</i></b></div><div>I used <a href="https://www.befunky.com/create/collage/">BeFunky</a>, a free online collage maker to do this one. Give it a go!</div><div><br /></div><div>I might redo this as I go, add new stuff or remove other things as inspiration strikes.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJX-GBJMhcyZyCCyJTBCcyNcI1UKtW-GnSSkfmYnPgYNFT3rVdwrOeEGBknbN1wjW0cn9DYtG2mtPe-5rT0otst1Ho44dIwd8OYZFp4qtDZhGvWfLkakCQO3xEvEAcZqwU5v6O-F6c5k7yaast8JEiJP0rupQaX9sAH32Uu0WGmK_d37TPy0SQWThE6Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3264" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJX-GBJMhcyZyCCyJTBCcyNcI1UKtW-GnSSkfmYnPgYNFT3rVdwrOeEGBknbN1wjW0cn9DYtG2mtPe-5rT0otst1Ho44dIwd8OYZFp4qtDZhGvWfLkakCQO3xEvEAcZqwU5v6O-F6c5k7yaast8JEiJP0rupQaX9sAH32Uu0WGmK_d37TPy0SQWThE6Q=w647-h460" width="647" /></a></div><br /><br /></i></b></div><p></p><p></p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-56630975731910882312022-02-16T19:03:00.003+00:002022-02-17T01:29:04.077+00:00Gygax 75 Challenge - Make A Campaign Setting in 5 Weeks!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi74ce_PPZ_zH9R6t43U0OC6W2k_FBTIVgFF41IYxFZSW8zVQy1GpLucXrJe829FrHGVwZV4ICuKrtxTMRLyxUzQFL0jn_Z89swHi8wcadIbSaqkbf0nwrgMjZNZyMUchNQ8vgoyIDD1YUPNekH8WP68d5hkjx8xtntdYNVhDAQ2mbXCeWrbli9q0UNuQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2858" data-original-width="1849" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi74ce_PPZ_zH9R6t43U0OC6W2k_FBTIVgFF41IYxFZSW8zVQy1GpLucXrJe829FrHGVwZV4ICuKrtxTMRLyxUzQFL0jn_Z89swHi8wcadIbSaqkbf0nwrgMjZNZyMUchNQ8vgoyIDD1YUPNekH8WP68d5hkjx8xtntdYNVhDAQ2mbXCeWrbli9q0UNuQ=w251-h389" width="251" /></a></div>So, it's been... <i>a while</i> since I have posted here. Things have been up and down, lots going on, but here's hoping I can make this time stick. I have been pushing myself to be a little more creative, as I feel that a lack of any creative output has really caused some issues in my life.<p></p><p>To help with that, I am going to give the Gygax 75 Challenge a go - see if I can use it to make a campaign setting in 5 weeks. Specifically, I am going to work up a setting for a long-in-the-tooth back burner project; an OSR Wavecrawl/Saltbox Pirates game.</p><p>Each week, I will post up what I have managed, and by the end of it, we will see what I have managed to make. Hopefully, this will end with a wonderfully weird and interesting place to run a few games.</p><p>You can even follow along at home - visit <a href="https://rayotus.itch.io/gygax75" target="_blank">Ray Otus' itch.io</a> store and download the workbook!<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>For some background, we start a literal decade ago (Jesus Christ I feel old), with Pathfinder's Skulls & Shackles Adventure Path.</p><p>Skulls & Shackles was something fairly different; after a few city-based adventures, some larger save-the-world type stories, Paizo had a lot of success with <i>Kingmaker</i>, a sandbox-story hybrid. So, they started working on another mix of standard story progression and sandbox elements, this time with a pirate theme! </p><p>Swashbuckling, derring-do and adventure on the high seas! At least, that was what was promised.</p><p>Anyone who has read through any of the Pathfinder APs knows that they tend to have some issues. Skulls & Shackles' come out <i>very</i> quickly. The opening has your characters doing nothing but making skill checks for <i>30 in-game days</i>, with some breaks for roleplaying getting to know your shipmates. And you'd better get to know all two dozen of them, 'cause there's a test at the end!</p><p>Once you get past that, the game's "sandbox" elements come to the fore - you have a pirate ship, so go be pirates! Have two whole levels worth of non-plot related random encounters, I guess? But don't go to any of the exciting places on the map, those become important in the next book.</p><p>And the worst of the worst, despite being a pirate-themed adventure, it doesn't assume people will be using guns? Despite having rules for them (which were new and shiny when this came out)?</p><p>I guess it <i>does</i> have sidebars about how to add guns to each book, but it might as well just say "reskin a few enemies" and be done with it. But, <i>come on</i> - a pirate game without braces of pistols? Without <i>cannons!? </i>Fuck me.</p><p>I will go into my other issues with the AP as we go, but yeah - I realised I wanted a D&D-ish pirate game, and Skulls & Shackles didn't scratch the itch, so much as give me hives. So, I decided to look at making the whole thing into a proper sandbox. However, there is a <i>lot</i> of content there (six books!), so it might be better to see about splitting it up into easy to make chunks.</p><p>Tune in over the next 5 weeks to see how things pan out!</p>Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-48306058734723995082018-10-15T09:53:00.000+01:002018-10-15T09:53:21.858+01:00War Cults of the Southron Reaches Preview - The Bloodied Brotherhood<i>Another preview of <b>War Cults</b>, this time a full Cult! Ares is a fairly typical God of War, but the real fun comes from dealing with the fallout from having his Cult in your town...</i><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljBJCWop9Kc/W8RTyySxOuI/AAAAAAAACuw/TvH1RFK6Bi8102q5E7k2MnswqyVRvJgaQCLcBGAs/s1600/Ares.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="246" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljBJCWop9Kc/W8RTyySxOuI/AAAAAAAACuw/TvH1RFK6Bi8102q5E7k2MnswqyVRvJgaQCLcBGAs/s640/Ares.png" width="384" /></a>Ares is the God of War,
Bloodshed and Violence. A Chaotic being of great mirth and deep,
sullen depressions, He represents the chaos of the battlefield and
the subjugation of enemies. His worship is somewhat limited – his
Chaotic aspects don’t tend to attract much respect outside of
wartime.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
His followers are a
violent lot – more interested in strength of arms and the rush of
battle than anything else, even their own safety. The rites and
rituals of the cult are often linked with bacchanalian drinking
sprees, bloodsports and animal baiting. Those cities which host
full-time Ares Cultists accept their presence with a grimace –
while they are known for their excesses and property damage, they are
also fantastic when the city requires defence, or to create a sense
of security during times of unrest.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The warriors recruited
by Ares’ Cult are normally at peak physical strength – able to
use weapons as tall as they are with ease, and take blows that would
outright kill lesser men. In some of the City-States of the Southron
Reaches, children as young as three are chosen from suitable parents
and inducted into the Cult to be trained as warriors. They undergo
intense physical training and religious indoctrination to make them
the perfect servants of the Bloodied God.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Many warlike humanoids
(mainly orcs and hobgoblins) will create altars to Ares after
encountering his Cultists, and humanoid priests of the Bloodied God
are not uncommon. And indeed, any blood shed in his name grants some
measure of power – while rare, there are a few full-blown Clerics
of Ares amongst the Orcish tribes of the Firgian Wastes.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><u><br /></u></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><u>Rites</u></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ares calls for his
followers to be ready for battle at all times, and his Rites reflect
that. He has no set days of worship, nor times dedicated to him –
the chaos of battle can strike at any moment.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bloodsports – the
Bloodied Brotherhood takes part in ritualised fights to first blood
between members. These fights can have a number of stipulations,
ranging from specialised weapons (cestuses, short swords and clubs
are popular options), styles (pankration, blind-fighting and with
certain limbs bound) and specific win conditions (first to hit the
floor, first to make a sound, last man standing), between anywhere
from two to a dozen combatants. Casualties and deaths are frequent,
but healing magic goes a long way to making sure they are able to
continue to serve the Cult. These bloodsports are also used as a form
of trial and execution for crimes against the Cult – fighting to
the death. If the accused survives, they are allowed back into the
fold, their crimes forgiven – Ares clearly holds them in high
regard.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bloodletting – for
those members of the Cult who are considered extreme even by the low
standards of the Bloodied Brotherhood, the Cult allows them to
release some of their rage via controlled bloodletting. While in mad,
drug-induced frenzies, the Cultist is tied to a sacrificial altar,
made of dark polished stone with channels designed to collect any
spilled blood. Symbols of Ares, conquered foes and other esoteric
symbols are carved into the flesh of the Cultist, letting out their
hot rage and excess blood. This blood is collected, to be painted
onto the faces, bodies and weapons of other Cultists before battle to
grant them the rage of their fellows.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Baiting – while the
Cult used to perform animal sacrifices to Ares, they noticed He
seemed more likely to grant them his favour when the animals were
given a chance to fight back. Much like the bloodsports, these
battles are either between a Cultist and a beast, or between beasts
themselves. While some of these beasts are locally sourced (wolves
bears, owlbears and giant vermin being favourites), the High Priests
will occasionally pay for some more exotic fare for the Beast Pits.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><b>Dramatis Personae</b></u></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Xephos, Head Priest
of Ares</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Xephos is a giant of a
man, standing seven feet tall, broad as a bear and muscled like a
bull. Dark black ringlets run down to his shoulders, framing a face
that looks like it might have been chisled from granite. Like many
Southrons, he is frequently found nude – however, he is known for
wearing the pelts of beasts he has slaughtered in the arena as
headdresses and cloaks. He also maintains his nudeness even when
socially unacceptable, such as during official events or political
meetings. Of course, no-one calls him out on this, as his station
means he could get away with slaying just about anyone with no
repercussions.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Despite the scarred
nature of his fellows, Xephos does not bear a single scar on his
body. While some claim he uses magical healing to maintain this
appearance, most assume it is from his prowess in battle.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Much like his God, he
is a man of titanic mood swings – one moment in a deep melancholy
for having no equal to battle, the next a crimson rage so deep as to
terrify even his closest clergy, to being the happiest man in the
room. He is truly unpredictable, and a truly terrifying enemy.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Deathdealer
Mercenaries</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Bloodied Brotherhood are also
famous for selling their services as mercenaries, to raise funds for
the Cult and find new and creative ways to murder people for their God. Mostly, they are hired by the Southron City-States during skirmishes
or as a defending force from external invasions, but some will sell
their services to other kingdoms, even travelling far across the
world to spread the word of Ares and earn both money and renown for
themselves and their God. While these travelling mercenaries will
wear leather armour to keep with local traditions, they will revel in
any opportunity to remain nude as they would back home. Of course,
this can make them somewhat notorious in some areas.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><b>Plot Hooks</b></u></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The weekly Beast Fights
have gotten out of hand, and a creature has escaped to wreak havoc
within the city!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Pitmaster is
looking for a new beast for the Beast Pits, and is offering top
dollar for something interesting. While out drinking, you hear tales
of a particularly mean old Owlbear nesting somewhere nearby…</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Two recently-joined
Acolytes of the Bloodied God have been causing trouble, throwing
their weight around. A few concerned citizens have asked you to deal
with them quietly and <i>respectfully</i> (no-one wants retribution
from the Bloodied Brotherhood).</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Recent attacks by
humanoid tribes are being led by Orcish Clerics of Ares. Might the Cult be
able to use their standing to begin parlay with the invaders, or even
bring them on side?</div>
Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-87065537984103236742018-10-09T01:18:00.000+01:002018-10-09T01:18:12.939+01:00War as Religion<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>So, during my hiatus from the blog, I have collected together a few ideas for future publishing projects. One is going by the working title "<b>War Cults</b>", and will detail a few sample religions based around conflict and war, as well as a micro-setting based on Ancient Greece by way of D&D. Here's a quick sample...</i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It’s a historical
truism that religion reflects what a culture maintains as important,
and vice-versa. Cultures which respect academia tend to have mystery
cults, those who live closer to nature worship entities with intimate
ties to the elements and the land, and those with expansionist
tendencies tend to worship Gods who will help them conquer and
expand. A common theme amongst such cultures were
“Hero Gods” – regular men who, through their skill at arms or
achievements in battle, became god-like figures in their own right,
or mortals granted abilities through divine heritage. This brings
human motivations, including nationalism, into the realm of Godly
pursuits, further driving the idea of conquest into their culture.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Many polytheistic
cultures held Gods and Goddesses of Strength, War and Battle in high
esteem – soldiers directly worshiped them, while those who never
saw battle still sent prayers during both times of war and during
peacetime. They held many different domains – from those specific
to Bloodshed and Battle, to Tactics, to defending the homestead.
However, the sheer act of deifying these aspects shows the ways they
can be used in a day-to-day context – asking for strength,
quick-wittedness or bravery in many contexts.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But, during times of
war, these Gods take the centre stage. One can even see these wars as
the worldly representation of battles in Heaven – God versus God,
pushing to weaken the other through defilement of places of worship
and subjugation of worshipers. Many of these cultures would outlaw
the religions of conquered cultures, solidifying the idea that “their
Gods won”, while others incorporate them into the conqueror’s
mythos, creating a larger pantheon from which to draw upon.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even in monotheistic
faiths, there are often aspects of the main deity which impart
similar strengths – from patron saints of soldiers, to direct
divine intervention during times of war. Religion becomes not only a
support for war, but quite often a catalyst.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In fantasy, this
tendency becomes even more pronounced – rather than true
polytheism, servants of Gods choose one to worship above all, and
those who choose Gods of War tend towards a more militant stance,
making them excellent characters with strong motivations.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of course, one might
also note that in many fantasy settings, gods with warfare-based
domains also double as the gods of non-human races (Orc Gods are
often saddled with this dual nature). This tends to push them towards
expansionist tendencies, violent actions, and generally puts them
straight into the antagonist camp.</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(The morality of human
expansionism being something to strive for, and non-human
expansionism being outright Evil, is best left as an exercise for the
reader).</div>
<br />
<br />Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-31912695572884798872016-10-12T00:15:00.000+01:002016-10-12T00:19:21.785+01:00We Be Goblins! Remix EditionSo, I got a hankering to run We Be Goblins as a fun way to get the ball rolling again with my old group. However, reading through it and the three followup/prequel modules, I wasn't as massively taken with them as I remember.<br />
<br />
For a module series focused on a fun, anarchic experience, the Pathfinder rules are a <i>terrible</i> fit. Too chunky, not enough leeway, more concerned with simulationism than <i>fun</i>.<br />
<br />
Even the non-mechanical assumptions are pretty jarring - there's a whole tribe of goblins looking to score some fireworks, but only 4 of them get to do anything? You're a rag-tag group of the lowest rung of the humanoid ladder, but you're organised into a perfect Fighter-Thief-<i>Cleric</i>-<b><i>Alchemist</i> </b>combo? You get to compete for <i>magic items</i> the tribe just has laying around?<br />
<br />
There's a lot of small things that feel a little off with the modules, so here's the way I want to try it:<br />
<ul>
<li>Goblins are the lowest of the low. They roll their stats with 3d6, and have all the usual Goblin traits. Goblins don't get the usual Pathfinder Feats or Traits, and have no Class. </li>
<ul>
<li>(It's a stolen joke, but it's a classic)</li>
</ul>
<li>They start with 1d4 HP, modded by Constitution.</li>
<li>Each player also gets two pre-gen backup Goblins, cause this is gonna be a deadly one.</li>
<li>Goblins are a chaotic, ramshackle lot - each Goblin has to roll for a Name, Trinket, Lucky Frog and Trait on the following tables:</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; direction: ltr;" summary="" title="" valign="top">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Roll</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Name</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Trinket</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.2173in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucky Frog</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
1-2</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Addur</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A single,
half-soggy firework</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Spotol</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
3-4</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Aka</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A bag of salted
slugs</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Fat Frog</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
5-6</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Boorgub</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Hand-sized spider
in a cage (named Stankrush)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1694in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Dogfinder</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
7-8</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Chee</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jar of pickled
halfling toes just about ready for eating</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Amfibier</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
9-10</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Chuffy</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Halfling-sized
toasting fork</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Splat</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
11-12</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Churkus</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
20 feet of rope
with dead moles sewn into it</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bitey</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
13-14</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Drubbus</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Small silver hand
mirror, in surprisingly good condition</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.3215in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Froggy McFrogface</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
15-16</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Fevva</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jar of Dwarven
perfume (half drunk)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Squish</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
17-18</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Gawg</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Rusty meat hook
(1d4 dmg)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1166in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bugeater</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
19-20</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Geedra</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Flint and tinder</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Gump</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
21-22</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ghorg</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Human-sized bridal
veil</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Shitter</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
23-24</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8763in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Gogmurch</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Halfling ladies’
corset (AC+1)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0868in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Stink</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
25-26</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8763in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Goomluga</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
3 metal skewers
(1d3 dmg, throwable)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0868in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Pigface</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
27-28</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Gretcha</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Stuffed raven</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.2173in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Really </span>Fat Frog</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
29-30</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Hibby</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bottle of
brine-soaked alligator eyes</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Barbar</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
31-32</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Hoglob</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Child’s doll with
the eyes taken out</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.2173in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Lord Frogington</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
33-34</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ikky</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Grappling hook</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.2173in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Actually a Toad</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
35-36</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Irnk</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
3 tindertwigs</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Boggy</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
37-38</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Janka</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Cowbell (worn)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Smokey</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
39-40</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jurk</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Homemade Thieves'
Tools</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.2173in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Munchmunch</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
41-42</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Kavak</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Squashed dried
toad (his previous lucky pet toad)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Cobblers</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
43-44</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Klongy</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jar of pickled
fish heads</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Kick</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
45-46</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Luckums</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
6 Goblintallow
torches</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bubbles</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
47-48</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Lunthus</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Almost empty salt
shaker</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bip</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
49-50</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Lupi</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Pig’s tail jerky</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Stabber</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
51-52</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Medge</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Wooden flute (too
splintery to play without injury)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1166in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Mad Dug</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
53-54</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Mogawg</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Gourd of pickled
leeches just about ready to eat</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.2173in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Horsesniffer</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
55-56</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8763in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Mogmurch</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Skull face mask
(+1 AC, fragile)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0868in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Shagrat</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
57-58</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Murch</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Juicy slug in a
small pot</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Dunk</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
59-60</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Namby</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Metal codpiece,
anatomically correct (+1AC)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Goose</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
61-62</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Nurpus</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Heavily-soiled
Human-sized Jester’s hat</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Spits</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
63-64</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Olba</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Pumpkin-head
lantern</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Warty</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
65-66</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ooft</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Black eyepatch
(with hole cut in it to see)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Blob</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
67-68</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Pogus</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Hard leather boot
(used as belt pouch)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Windy</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
69-70</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Poog</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bag of incredibly
weevil-infested flour</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1756in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
FIRETOAD</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
71-72</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Rempy</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ancestral
dogslicer, stolen (1d6 dmg)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Hairy</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
73-74</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Reta</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A very thick piece
of charcoal</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jarp</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
75-76</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ronk</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A stick. It's <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> sharp. (1d4 dmg)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.175in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Looky Lou</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
77-78</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ruxi</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.502in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A bag of spotted
blue mushrooms (DC11 Fort save or 1d6 Int dmg and hallucinations)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0868in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sticky</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
79-80</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Rotfoot</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Lucky charm
necklace made of Halfling ears</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.2173in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Slipper-Slide</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
81-82</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Scroff</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Large wooden spoon
(1d3 dmg)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Smudge</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
83-84</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8763in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sweetums</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Stone skinning
knife (1d4 dmg, fragile)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0868in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bonk</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
85-86</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Unk</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
3 dead rats</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.202in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Maggiepie</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
87-88</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Urub</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Metal brazier
torch (1d4 dmg plus fire)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Plop</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
89-90</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Vogun</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Brass trumpet
(well out of tune)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Parp</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
91-92</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Vruta</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Rattleshirt of
small animal bones (+1 AC)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Lurky</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
93-94</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Yalla</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
RICHES (1gp)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Egg</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
95-96</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ziku</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jar of goblin
urine, well aged (causes sickness)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1055in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Snoopy</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
97-98</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8763in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Zobmaggle</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Halfling-sized
powdered wig</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.0868in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Wakka</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6729in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
99-100</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .8569in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Zord</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 5.4826in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Human-sized wand (1d3 charges of a random 1st level spell)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 1.1006in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Soggy</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; direction: ltr;" summary="" title="" valign="top">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Roll</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Trait</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
1-4</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Dog-Sniff-Hate - you gain Scent, but only for dogs and dog-like creatures.</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
5-8</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Balloon-Headed - your head is <span style="font-style: italic;">way</span> too big. +1 to
Perception</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
9-12</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
DOG PUNCHER - +1
to hit and +2 damage vs dogs</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
13-16</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Pustular - you got
the Pox. Advantage on Fort saves vs Sickening/Nausea </div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
17-20</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Goblin Stupidity -
gain +1 to hit when fighting foes larger than you. </div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
21-24</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Goblin Bravery - first to run, last to die. +2 to Initiative</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
25-28</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Bouncy - your
bones are rubbery. Falls count as 10' shorter.</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
29-32</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ankle Biter - your
teeth are <span style="font-style: italic;">sharp. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">G</span>ain a bite attack
(1d4 dmg)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
33-36</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Ugly - you are
hideously scarred. +2 to Intimidate</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
37-40</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Pyromaniac -
you're used to getting set on fire. It is not your friend. Gain Fire Resistance 2.</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
41-44</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.9354in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Rager - you were
born with a tiny, green fury in your heart. Gain Rage as a 1st-lvl Barbarian,
but you can't tell friend from foe.</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
44-48</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
BURN BURN BURN -
you <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> fire. Fire is your only friend. You do 1d4 extra damage
with fire.</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
49-52</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Easy Rider - you
know just the right chokeholds to stay on a mount. +2 to Ride</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
53-56</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Coward - you know
just how to get out of fights. +4 to initiative, but you must pass a DC13
Will Save to get into combat in the first place.</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
57-60</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Oversized - you're
a biggun! +2 Str, Medium size</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
61-64</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Headcase - you're
insane, even by Goblin standards. Gain +2 vs mental effects</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
65-68</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Shaman's
Apprentice - you studied under the Tribe's magic-user. You learn 3 0-lvl
Adept spells, castable 3/day each</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
69-72</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Smartarse - you
have more brainpower than the average Goblin. +2 Int</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
73-76</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sarge - you were
born to lead. +2 Cha</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
77-80</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Tough - as old
leather boots! +2 Con</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
81-84</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sweaty - you
constantly ooze. +2 to Escape Artist</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
85-88</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Tinkerer - you're
always fiddling with something. +2 Craft (any)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
89-92</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Runt - you were
the smallest of the litter. -2 Str, +2 Dex</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6673in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
93-96</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8659in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Colour Thief -
your skin is oddly chameleonic. +2 to Stealth.</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: .6729in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
97-100</div>
</td>
<td style="border-color: #A3A3A3; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; padding: 4pt 4pt 4pt 4pt; vertical-align: top; width: 7.8611in;"><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Backstabber - if
you manage to sneak up on someone, you score double damage on all attacks
they don’t expect.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
Once you've made your Goblins, it's time to face the horrors...</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<br /></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;">
<i>Next time, I'll show my mashup of the best bits of the modules into one big chaotic mess - just right for Goblins!</i></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-79356851581387021582016-09-06T13:55:00.000+01:002016-09-06T13:59:10.283+01:00D&D's New Direction: Is It A Good Idea?So, a recent speech (<a href="https://twitter.com/mikemearls/status/762140746291916800">and series of tweets</a>) have told us one of the new focuses that Wizards of the Coast is taking with 5e is to focus on Actual Play, rather than Adventure Paths and League Play (though both of those will still be major factors).<br />
<br />
So why focus on watching how people play? Well, it provides something that APs and organized play simply don't - the actual experience of playing with friends.<br />
<br />
If you've played an Adventure Path, you know how different running through one can be to just playing - while there's often a strong theme and a tightly woven story to follow, you kinda <i>have to</i> follow it - a lot of player agency and choice is either removed or subsumed into the existing plot. There's a pre-written story, and if you don't follow it, it's kinda pointless buying it, right? Don't get me wrong - there's some great materials in these adventures, and the fact that they are linked means you can get some really awesome set-pieces built off the actions that led to them, and allows new or busy DMs the chance to give players an immersive experience, with long-lasting consequences and tightly-woven plots. But it means leading players towards certain outcomes, whether through <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BatmanGambit">Batman Gambit</a> levels of planning to get them to do what you want, or brutal railroading.<br />
<br />
Organised play leagues suffer the same limitations - by ensuring that everyone who takes part gets the exact same experience, it ensures that GMs are constrained in their creativity, and players don't get the full spectrum of play that RPGs can provide. When you have ostensibly limited options masked by unlimited possibilities, you can't experience "true" freedom to play.<br />
<br />
But now, WotC is apparently focusing on Actual Play - sharing and broadcasting live gaming, giving more focus to creativity and an open attitude towards not necessarily "pushing the brand". Sure, most of these are ostensibly using the latest D&D Adventure Path (<i><a href="http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/storm-kings-thunder">Storm King's Thunder</a> </i>actually looks... pretty fun!), but their previous use of Zak S and the RPG Pundit during 5e's development, followed by Zak openly discussing how he hacks 5e apart for his game, by sponsoring podcasts with more adult humour (watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3lMrwWkvZ8IhAlSpRPlVh1JR9xTzwJ7">Rooster Teeth</a> games for an idea), and by the recent opening up of the DM's Guild for user-created content, you can see a move towards being more open and willing to see how the games are played, rather than trying to tell you how to play.<br />
<br />
Is it a good idea? I don't know. I can see how it could be a great asset for them, and how it might allow the small team they currently have to get a better idea as to what players want, but I can also see it souring some of the types who use Adventure Paths exclusively, or who want a more organised experience.<br />
<br />
Only time will tell how this turns out, but I'm optimistic!<br />
<br />
<br />Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-90802741323706105332016-08-18T00:32:00.001+01:002016-08-18T00:32:12.593+01:00Let's Read: The Book of Erotic Fantasy: Chapter 2: Rules, Skills and Feats Part 1Welcome back, friends, for a further investigation into what a mathematician's sex life must look like.<br />
<br />
Chapter 2 (this is <i>really</i> taking a while) focuses on the mechanical aspects of sex in D&D. As if reading my mind, the first header here is "Rules? For <i>Sex</i>?" - apparently, you should <i>only</i> roll dice for sex when it's important to find out how good it was. It doesn't say <i>why</i> the quality of the sex might be important to a game, but it at least tells us sometimes you can just fuck and not roll dice.<br />
<br />
We're introduced to the Appearance stat - a seventh 4d6-drop-lowest roll that determines how attractive your character is. A few skills become partially Appearance-based - Bluff, Gather Information and <i>Intimidate</i> can be used with either Charisma or Appearance.<br />
<br />
Do you have to flash your pecs and perfect treasure-trail to intimidate some Orcs with your App?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vDDH9MKc9hk/V7Tq_ri6zxI/AAAAAAAABqQ/DDANaR22zJwU3vHBzYVe1DQhx-UZBA3OQCLcB/s1600/1399559833_guardians-galaxy-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vDDH9MKc9hk/V7Tq_ri6zxI/AAAAAAAABqQ/DDANaR22zJwU3vHBzYVe1DQhx-UZBA3OQCLcB/s400/1399559833_guardians-galaxy-640.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are you willing to deal with the fan backlash from breaking this guy's nose?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Weirdly, Disguise is now exclusively an Appearance skill. Surely being more attractive would make disguising yourself more difficult? Looks bring scrutiny, after all, especially when you're an 18 App demigod and everyone else is either a Half-Orc Barbarian with yet another dump stat or a shit-covered peasant!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There's a table which tells us that the average dragon is more attractive than the average Dwarf, which seems weird. And that the Will-O-Wisp, a <i>featureless ball of light, </i>has an App score of 20.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's literally more attractive than any normal human. A fucking <i>ball of light</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYVUWL2ZAWY/V7TtwPB63hI/AAAAAAAABqg/-x0TDFHhjiMrkzw9xPoGyyOJv93mqCIHgCK4B/s1600/willOWisp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYVUWL2ZAWY/V7TtwPB63hI/AAAAAAAABqg/-x0TDFHhjiMrkzw9xPoGyyOJv93mqCIHgCK4B/s320/willOWisp.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Censored for the prudish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It seems to be low-hanging fruit to mention that the table for aging penalties to Appearance includes Juveniles getting a +2 bonus for being "cute". With the content of this book, that seems more than a bit inappropriate.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And everyone gets a -2 penalty to Appearance checks outside of their species - except Elves, because Mary Sue.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Sidebar: Appearance and Sexual Organs</i> isn't about having an ugly dick, but says that due to personal preferences, being well-endowed doesn't give you a bonus to Appearance checks, and doesn't assure any skill in bed. No, that comes down to <i>Perform (Sexual Techniques)</i>, a skill we still haven't got to. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then we get another list of creature types and notes about their average Appearance. It has an interesting bit where Constructs require specific DCs to make them attractive (e.g. DC 30+ to give a score of 16-17), and that rotting Undead are App 1 or 2 ("Which of these corpses would you rather fuck?") and that Vampires are generally "sexy". There's a lot of vampire love going on here, and this was well before Twilight, so we can assume that Lestat had an influence here.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then we get <i>Size and Sex</i>, which features some interesting quotes - "A Halfling can use fellatio to pleasure an Ogre (or vice versa)"...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJrhnoUr49c/V7TyIQPf_LI/AAAAAAAABqo/WPT968BgLLEk_p91cLSD1hEjeRMprY8egCLcB/s1600/marco-hort-straws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJrhnoUr49c/V7TyIQPf_LI/AAAAAAAABqo/WPT968BgLLEk_p91cLSD1hEjeRMprY8egCLcB/s320/marco-hort-straws.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just gonna leave this here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But if you're trying anything with something a size category away from you, that's a -4 penalty to your relevant checks - which implies there's more to fucking than just <i>Perform (Sexual Technique)</i> rolls. And that makes me sad.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Next time, it'll be the real meat and potatoes - How To Sustain Sex, bedroom uses for existing skills, and of course, the STD table.</div>
Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-42740710973695713962016-08-17T22:25:00.001+01:002016-08-17T22:25:28.697+01:00Big Update!So, regular followers will know that I've done a lot of <a href="http://www.microlite20.net/blog/major-update-new-rules-new-designer">Microlite20</a> content - it's my preferred no-prep system, and I use it with any new group to gauge what kind of game they might be interested in.<br />
<br />
Well apparently, that work didn't go unnoticed - Seth Drebitko decided to <a href="http://www.microlite20.net/blog/major-update-new-rules-new-designer">take me on as a partner</a>, so now I'll be sharing my time between here and working on the next generation of M20 content!<br />
<br />
We have a few really cool things in the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled for new content coming from us!Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-17598976856888388382016-08-03T16:32:00.000+01:002016-08-03T16:32:05.742+01:00Let's Read: The Book of Erotic Fantasy: Chapter 1, Part Three: Sex and SpeciesOur first chapter still has a <i>lot</i> of info to get through, so I'll get stuck straight into the next section – <i>Sex and The Species</i>, looking at (as one might guess) how the
various species in a fantasy world might view sexuality.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It goes into detail regarding the “standard” sexuality for
each of the Core races, with added details about pregnancy for these races.
There’s nothing too exciting here, but there’s a <i>lot</i> to unpack. I’ll briefly summarise anything interesting:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dwarves are so mired in tradition, there are “Dwarven Sex
Manuals”, to show young (40 year old) Dwarves the accepted positions and
techniques to use. (Now <i>there's</i> some good loot if ever I saw it...)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elves are almost all bisexual.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gnomes are apparently sex-toy maniacs, and see sex as way
more fun than any other race.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Half-Elves are either too mature for Elves or slower to
mature for humans, making puberty <i>super </i>awkward.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The half-orc entry makes some <i>really</i> unfortunate mentions of gay half-orcs sexually dominating their tribe-mates being the closest thing they get to acceptance.<br />
<br />
And halflings are all polyamorous!<br />
<br />
Humans are, as always, the most varied, blah blah blah.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This section also covers centaurs, doppelgangers (and their bizarre snake-like mating rituals), dryads (and their tragic single-target sexuality), giants, gnolls (with an amazing lack of mention of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudo-penis">female pseudopenises</a>), Goblinoids, Kobolds, Lizardfolk, merfolk, minotaurs, nymphs, orges, satyrs (total shaggers) and sprites.<br />
<br />
<i>Phew</i>.<br />
<br />
The book also makes mention of a few races (giantborn, felids, serpentines) who aren't common OGL creatures. I'd <i>assumed</i> these are races from other products by the same company (the way Green Ronin offers advice for adding their base classes into their other settings), but as it turns out this is Valar Project's only book.<br />
<br />
Not that surprising.<br />
<br /></div>
It also gives a brief overview of the other creature types, like Aberrations, Elementals etc - which implies some things about druids (even though they said they wouldn't cover bestiality), introduces the idea of intellective necrophilia (i.e. banging a sentient undead like a Vampire), and gives a rather worrying foreshadowing in the Construct section:<br />
<br />
<i>"However, there is one type of construct, the pleasure golem, that is designed specifically for engaging in sex. See Chapter 6: Gods and Monsters for more information"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Well - I'm not sure if the idea of a Pleasure Golem or the fact there's a whole section dedicated to sex-monsters is worse. Let's cut our losses and say both. Both are worse.<br />
<br />
Now I tend to avoid using the artwork from the book, but I couldn't resist sharing this piece of wonder:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVoY-fTlJx0/V6IMcOmLaJI/AAAAAAAABmc/M6pbB21E25MzXiLgjzfZibSRYAU18EdtgCLcB/s1600/DRAGONBONE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVoY-fTlJx0/V6IMcOmLaJI/AAAAAAAABmc/M6pbB21E25MzXiLgjzfZibSRYAU18EdtgCLcB/s640/DRAGONBONE.png" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1000 hours in MSPaint to keep things under control</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><u>Sidebars</u> </i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Intelligence
& Sex</i> – your min-maxed Half-Orc Barbarian with an Int less than 6? Not
considered eligible in most societies for sex, apparently. It gives another tip to the idea that 10 times your intelligence score gives you a rough idea of IQ.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<i>House of a Thousand Pleasures</i> - describes a brothel with doppelganger prostitutes.<br />
<br />
Next up, the section we can <i>all</i> use - Rules, Skills and Feats.<br />
<br />
Joy.</div>
Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-11969576738279656492016-08-02T17:40:00.000+01:002016-08-02T17:40:02.573+01:00Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPlCwjduZeY/V6DMy7kcZnI/AAAAAAAABlk/z11AjEF3M8w0iHIy-0QCA9RRqAA7fJjRQCLcB/s1600/BOEF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPlCwjduZeY/V6DMy7kcZnI/AAAAAAAABlk/z11AjEF3M8w0iHIy-0QCA9RRqAA7fJjRQCLcB/s400/BOEF.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ah, shit. I still have to finish this?<br />
<br />
Goddammit.Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-51708661990658237992016-08-01T14:20:00.000+01:002017-01-20T19:53:48.432+00:00The Isle of Dread - Remix Edition Part 1<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1_lkkqLQwA/V59K0nYM7gI/AAAAAAAABlM/pMC-Knp7xp81ZPKWAsbok13Jic89yHydgCLcB/s1600/1469592176267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1_lkkqLQwA/V59K0nYM7gI/AAAAAAAABlM/pMC-Knp7xp81ZPKWAsbok13Jic89yHydgCLcB/s640/1469592176267.jpg" width="468" /></a>So, my previous game has ground to a halt due to grown-up issues, so I'm going to try and get everyone back together, or replace those who can't continue, with a better schedule and a new campaign.<br />
<br />
And what better way to start a new campaign than the Isle of Dread?<br />
<br />
I do plan on changing things up a bit, and injecting a little weird into the game. After all, the module is left fairly open with regards to what's really going on - one of the best things about older modules, in my opinion. That level of openness and hackability makes it way easier to make the whole thing fit into your world, rather than modern modules where you lift encounters or basic plots and have to leave the rest.<br />
<br />
I'll be using Blood & Treasure for the game, for a nice combo of new-school ideas and old-school charm.<br />
<br />
For a start, let's make the Kopru more interesting AND give them a little more foreshadowing than "bad things on Taboo Island!"<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
So, Kopru.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3LvEccgSg8/V59L-L8GZcI/AAAAAAAABlU/v3XbGdtyXGQVwV0nuUQ3C8yCGFZ5wwH2ACLcB/s1600/kopru.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3LvEccgSg8/V59L-L8GZcI/AAAAAAAABlU/v3XbGdtyXGQVwV0nuUQ3C8yCGFZ5wwH2ACLcB/s400/kopru.gif" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BLEURGH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They're the degenerate remnants of a Mindflayer outpost who settled the Isle millenia ago. Due to the lack of suitable brains when they first arrived, they were modified to be able to digest almost anything - however, this caused the atrophy of their psionics, their intelligence, and some strange changes to their physical form.<br />
<br />
However, they are still intelligent enough to retain a disdain for demi-humanity, to the point of superiority complex, and retain enough psionic power to be able to <i>charm</i> their victims. Some have a slightly more expanded psionic repertoire, who normally gain positions of influence within their civilisation.<br />
<br />
They still worship the old Mindflayer Gods, in more primitive forms - The Devourer of Stars, The Eidolon of the Blind, The Blind Idiot, K'Tul'U...<br />
<br />
The Pearl at the centre of Taboo Island? A psionic amplifier artifact. It is currently nonoperational, requiring some weird and wonderful fuel source to reactivate. The Kopru have been trying human sacrifice to no avail, but continue their efforts out of stubbornness and a perverse enjoyment of subjugating the local humans. Perhaps it's a single, physical bubble of Yog-Sothoth...<br />
<br />
Taboo Island is covered in detailed hieroglyphs and pictographs detailing their history, their connection to the Mindflayers, and some other secrets about the surrounding areas.<br />
<br />
Some of the villagers on the surrounding islands have started to develop minor psychic abilities (as Wild Talents) due to the latent psionic energies suffusing the Isle. Some have even begun worshiping the Kopru Gods instead of their usual ancestor-worship, secretly performing dangerous and blasphemous rites in the dark places of the Isle...Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-85391908850117080782016-07-31T03:52:00.000+01:002016-07-31T03:52:52.708+01:00The Order of Nemesis<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CcLA-Gms0PQ/V5jGBgZwOSI/AAAAAAAABj0/xQXKp0By3sQtsR0w2CmUp-DeNe5XkS-BQCLcB/s1600/ec5680317c3713f4541a4e815ac24e63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CcLA-Gms0PQ/V5jGBgZwOSI/AAAAAAAABj0/xQXKp0By3sQtsR0w2CmUp-DeNe5XkS-BQCLcB/s400/ec5680317c3713f4541a4e815ac24e63.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Paizo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Paladins are holy warriors. The lead the charge against the enemies of their God, pushing back the grand forces of Chaos and Evil to the edges of civilisation, hoping one day to wipe it out entirely.<br />
<br />
They are shining beacons of righteousness and hope to all.<br />
<br />
Except the little people.<br />
<br />
When the Paladins stroll through town, they ask about demonic invasions, Orc warband movements, or the doings of the Evil Overlord next door. While dealing with Capital Letter Chaos and Evil, they rarely have the time to ask about corrupt landlords, abusive spouses, or uncaring madams, and even if they do, they simply dont care about these minor doings in the grand scheme of Evil.<br />
<br />
But The Order of Nemesis cares.<br />
<br />
Dedicated to an ancient Goddess (Nemesis, Lady Vengeance, She), considered heretical by most of the faiths of the land, The Order is made up of those who will not stand by and watch the innocent suffer. Recruited from the lowest rungs of society to protect those who can't protect themselves, they are the Grey Guardians of many a city - even if their presence is passed off as simply superstition.<br />
<br />
Recruits are taken from those who are wronged and wish for only one thing - revenge. Once She hears their prayers, they awaken one day with an oily, grey dagger under their pillow, and a message in their hearts.<br />
<br />
<i>Go seek your vengeance</i>,<i> my Child.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
If they go through their retribution, they are inducted into The Order soon after, donning no uniform bar a grey cloak and their dagger.<br />
<br />
The Order of Nemesis always has its ear to the ground - seeking out corruption and evil in the lowest parts of society, and providing revenge for those who cannot seek it themselves. They can make excellent allies, willing to share information to take down a high-priority target, or fierce enemies if you managed to wrong someone under their protection.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Order of Nemesis Code of Honour</u></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Protect those who cannot protect themselves</i></li>
<li><i>The lowest of Men deserve the same as any other</i></li>
<li><i>Any crime against the weak must be avenged</i></li>
<li><i>No man is beyond Her reach - not even Her Children</i></li>
<li><i>Forgiveness is weakness</i></li>
</ul>
<div>
In game terms, the Order is made up of Assassins. In systems where Assassins gain spells, they may choose spells from either the Assassin or Paladin spell lists. While they have to be at least Lawful, most are Lawful Evil.</div>
Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-47097946452947416742016-07-29T20:27:00.002+01:002016-07-31T05:32:10.100+01:00The Dungeon Mascot! An OSR Hireling Class<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D120g3_H98A/V5usC0aRZ_I/AAAAAAAABkE/s6i8L0xcvV4HWILbuA2xlNkS8ikW-uyXwCLcB/s1600/Wroot-Halls-of-Undermountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D120g3_H98A/V5usC0aRZ_I/AAAAAAAABkE/s6i8L0xcvV4HWILbuA2xlNkS8ikW-uyXwCLcB/s400/Wroot-Halls-of-Undermountain.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wroot The Goblin by Christopher Burdett</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When you are deep underground, fighting for your survival against horrors born in darkness, inimicable to your sanity, it can be a welcome relief to find a friendly face. Often, these are less powerful enemies who are more likely to surrender in exchange for their lives (or even a share of the treasure!). But, these party favourites can become a liability at higher levels, making them more likely to die at the hands of some deep horror or ancient trap.<br />
<br />
Letting them advance in this class might help with the survivability of the players new "pet", and might even lead to them to becoming a valuable party member! Or, knowing the average players, just another meatshield...<br />
<br />
<b>Requirements</b>: Must be a small creature of 1HD or less, must have rolled max on the Reaction Roll upon first meeting them.<br />
<b>HD</b>: 1d4+1<br />
<b>Attack</b>: As Thieves<br />
<b>Saves</b>: As Thieves<br />
<b>XP</b>: As Cleric<br />
<b>Weapons and Armour</b>: As Thieves<br />
<b>Level Cap</b>: 5<br />
<br />
Dungeon Mascots are a great tool for adventurers, helping to keep morale up with their friendliness and obsequity. Any allies traveling with a Dungeon Mascot gain a +1 bonus on saves versus fear or insanity, and provide a +1 bonus to Morale to other Hirelings.<br />
<br />
Dungeon Mascots also take on the role of packrat - they increase their carrying capacity by 25%.<br />
<br />
They are also eager to please, and organise their hauls with surprising efficiency - once per delve, they can pull any mundane item worth 10gp or less from their packs (this takes a turn). Every level, this increases by 10gp (to 50gp at max level).<br />
<br />
Once (and only once), they can throw themselves in the path of a lethal wound received by a PC, dying and making everyone a little sad. Some players with less scruples might abuse this, but such is the life of the Dungeon Mascot.<br />
<br />
Poor little bastards.Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-18767188567553337502016-07-28T21:57:00.000+01:002016-07-28T21:57:41.014+01:00Random Table - Goblins!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWcUrQGFgV0/V5h_vYU-CmI/AAAAAAAABjk/t5X2OkZCZm4tZpv4r46Uf7kQaeadPT26wCEw/s1600/warriorgoblin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWcUrQGFgV0/V5h_vYU-CmI/AAAAAAAABjk/t5X2OkZCZm4tZpv4r46Uf7kQaeadPT26wCEw/s320/warriorgoblin.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork from the <a href="http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/humanoids/goblin">Pathfinder SRD</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Goblins are a staple of every low-level adventurer's murder-diet. But they can get a little stale after a while. So, here's a random table to help determine exactly what kind of goblins are inhabiting your next dungeon...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr><td><b>Roll 1d10</b></td><td><b>The Goblins Are Actually...</b></td></tr>
<tr><td><b>1</b></td><td>Backwoods little cavemen. Their weapons are crafted from bone, any armour is leather and bone, and they train various dire and prehistoric animals as guard animals and attack beasts. Their chief rides an odd rat-sabertooth hybrid (stats as a sabertooth/lion with a disease bite)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>2</b></td><td>Masters of alchemy, in a trailer-park meth lab kind of way. They sling alchemical bombs and weapons, some have been modified by their masters (stats as anything else, like Ogres, Otyugh etc. visually horribly mutated goblin-beasts), plenty of drugs as loot. Some even have weapons of crystallized poison (one-use, does damage and make a Save vs Poison at a -4 penalty).</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>3</b></td><td>More than a little fey-tainted. They aspire to be more than their nature, but instead find themselves organised into grotesque mockeries of the Fey Courts, wearing mismatched clothes robbed from well-to do Halflings and Gnomes, and fighting with rusted rapiers and Elven weapons. Their speech patterns are filled with weirdly flowery prose mixed with base insults and filth.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>4</b></td><td>Ruled over by a Demon-descended goblin, head and shoulders taller than the others, with a cruel smile, all the immunities and one special ability from its parent demon. His followers paint their faces with blood, sacrifice captives, and worship him as a God. May have some least demons in his service as well.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>5</b></td><td>Infected with spores from a weird fungus in the dungeon. At night they are placid - you could even just walk right past them. But during the day, they wander the dungeon aimlessly, until the find a source of light brighter than ambient - then they suicidally rush it, hoping to infect more organisms until someone carries their spores outside of the dungeon to be carried away on the winds to another dungeon. More advanced infectees sprout hideous growths and have blind, lifeless eyes.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>6</b></td><td>Have become strangely well-adapted to their dungeon environment - pale and hairless, bulbous blank eyes, lanky limbs with claws and oddly sticky hands - stats as Kobolds, plus perfect darkvision, permanent Spider Climb, and a severe aversion to light (they flee from light, and if forced to fight fight at -3 to all rolls). They go out of their way to remove or extinguish torches.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>7</b></td><td>Cargo cultists who worship ancient Dwarven machines within their dungeon. Many wear brass armour and jewelery, and any with standing in the tribe (lieutenants, the chieftain) have Dwarven weapons (+1 damage), and may have constructed the ever-feared <a href="http://goblinpunch.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/d8-shitty-goblin-weapons.html">Goblin Tank</a> from inexpertly-welded shields and scraps.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>8</b></td><td>Brutal little cannibals. They wear demi-human skin-masks, carry cleavers and rusty kitchen tools, and don't kill their victims, instead capturing them to keep them fresh. There is a 25% chance that any given goblin is afflicted with a prion disease from eating brains (permanent berserker state, foaming, unable to tell friend from foe). Their areas always smell of cooking pork, and their loot often contains some pretty tasty jerky. </td></tr>
<tr><td><b>9</b></td><td>Oddly in touch with nature. They only use wooden weapons, wear leather armour, and their senior members (lieutenants,etc) have the abilities of a Ranger of their HD. The Chieftain has abilities as a Druid of her HD. Their areas are full of Assassin Vines and Shriekers which don't react to the goblins, and many animals (both regular and Dire) wander with them.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>10</b></td><td>Seem pretty nice. They're converts to the local religion, they trade with the locals, and are well-groomed and respectable. This is a front - they're all thralls of a powerful psionic creature, who uses them to allow him to trade for valuable components for a great machine it's building, to allow it to control hundreds of beings at a time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-28245758875131622572016-07-27T15:24:00.000+01:002016-07-27T15:24:15.404+01:00What's The Deal With The Guy In The Corner Of The Tavern?So, like I said - it's been a while since I posted here on the regular, and I'm still finding my feet with what to write about. Maybe some random tables will help get me in the groove again...<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.25pt;">
<u><b>What’s With That Guy in the
Corner?</b><o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.25pt;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.25pt;">
Every tavern has That One Guy who
sits in a darkened corner, mysteriously brooding or brooding
mysteriously. What the hell is his <i>deal</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 2.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>d12<u><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>He’s Actually…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>1<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Recruiting for a Chaotic cult. Might be a good way to gain access to
some unusual abilities… or end up chained to a sacrificial altar. <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>2<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A thickly-accented peddler from some unheard-of foreign land. His
goods are of fine quality, but unusual – odd tinctures and alchemical mixes,
drugs, black powder weapons – whatever just slightly breaks the feeling of
your current location. <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>3<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Offering quests, surprise surprise. There’s a 10% chance he’s working
with local bandits, who will attempt to rob the players when they reach their
destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>4<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Attempting to sell phony magical trinkets to drunken patrons, preying
on local fears. 1% chance that it actually works!<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>5<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A member of the Thieves Guild, watching out for thieves of particular
talent for a job, or eyeing up drunken adventurers with gold burning a hole in their
coin purse…<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>6<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A sorcerer, offering money for willing participants in various
experiments. He pays well, but there’s always the chance something might go
wrong… (Roll 1d4: 1 – random stat reduced by 1d4 2 – random stat increased by
1d4 3 – Minor physical change 4 – Roll on mutation table!)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>7<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A randomly generated Hireling, who simply wants to try and con for
better prices through being so mysterious.<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>8<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
An actor hired by the tavern owner to add atmosphere. He’ll angrily
shoo people away who try to break his mystique.<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>9<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A Murder-Brother of the Assassin’s Guild, looking out for a
particular target – he’ll happily give gold for information… just pray he's not looking for<i> you</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>10<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The Small God of Loose Lips – will ply patrons with drinks in the
hope of them letting loose some valuable little tidbit as tribute… Save vs
Magic at -4 to resist.<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>11</b></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576">A Paladin of Nemesis, Goddess of Revenge. He's keeping an eye out for the wronged and helpless, to aid them in finding their retribution.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 27.75pt;" valign="top" width="37"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>12<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 432.1pt;" valign="top" width="576"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Awaiting the arrival of a band of Halfling adventurers. They owe him
some money, and he’s looking for some leg-breakers to help deal with his <i>little</i> problem…</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162501819587879710.post-27853876063789906562016-07-27T02:01:00.000+01:002016-07-27T02:01:36.785+01:005e's Unearthed Arcana - My Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sEKziH2MW0/V5gErQOGlqI/AAAAAAAABjE/Zyb33BaX5tMTfglvFQ_X72II5o7w-GDpgCLcB/s1600/add-unearthedarcana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">+<img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sEKziH2MW0/V5gErQOGlqI/AAAAAAAABjE/Zyb33BaX5tMTfglvFQ_X72II5o7w-GDpgCLcB/s400/add-unearthedarcana.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
So, in an effort to stave off the splat-treadmill of 3rd edition D&D (a tradition still alive in Paizo's <i>ridiculous</i> amount of books for sale and more on the horizon), WotC has been keeping releases to a minimum - one Adventure Path every 6 months or so, and so far only a single actual sourcebook.<br />
<br />
There's also the fact that the D&D team has been downsized <i>dramatically</i> - leading to a lack of people to work on new products.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This lack of "official" content has led to an interesting experiment - the "Unearthed Arcana" articles posted monthly. These are short little documents detailing a variety of new rules - new races, class options, some hints to help set a 5e game in a classic setting, or in-depth looks at alternatives for current rules. These are all marked as "early" content - they might not be fully balanced, might show up in a different form in later books. As they say in the intro, "<b><i>they're written in pencil, not ink.</i></b>" But they do what they set out to do pretty well - give some examples of how to adapt content, and to encourage others to try and make their own content.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed, one can see the recent launch of the DM's Guild as a way to have their cake and eat it. The service allows users to post their own homebrewed ideas, and even get charge for it! Players now have all the content they could want, without having to use vital resources or to stretch their staff even thinner.</span><br />
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But let's focus on the Unearthed Arcana articles. Are they good for the game?<br />
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Well, yes and no.<br />
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For the good; it's a nice way of releasing small loads of content to fans, while keeping it all optional - if its not in a book, GMs don't necessarily feel forced to include it in their campaigns. It also allows the GMs who want a little more of an example how to alter existing material, to give an unofficial "okay" to those who want to homebrew content. (Of course, this aspect has been supplanted by the DM's Guild). It's also nice to see some love for setting that have't been fully updated yet (the Eberron and Dragonlance mini-bits were surprisingly decent), and lets WotC gauge interest in what content to release next. It's a nice way to maintain interaction with the community, especially now that the Wizards forums have been removed.<br />
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But, we come to the bad.<br />
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First off, the actual content of these articles varies... wildly. From the awesomely in-depth look at Feats, which picks apart what makes a good Feat and why they only included a few in the core rules, to the most recent - a series of tables to quickly roll up a character. Which honestly takes about as much time as just... <i>making a character</i>. While this is to be expected of what amounts to random doodles from the developers, it does mean that a decent amount of the material released is not going to be any use to your audience - and that's pretty crap when it's the <i>only</i> extra material they get.<br />
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Second, it can have something of the opposite effect to what was stated above - instead of encouraging people to go ahead and make their own stuff, people coming from more restrictive systems find themselves <i>having</i> to use these articles as a source of extra options - after all, it comes straight from the developer's pen, so it <i>must</i> be official (wording to the contrary be damned).<br />
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And thirdly for the bad stuff - why haven't they done a Dark Sun one yet, dammit!?<br />
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All in all, it's an interesting experiment, combining standard practices with the random releases of a developer's blog. I'd like to see more companies follow suit, but a little more creative control wouldn't go amiss.<br />
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<br />Ian Coakleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913819809213069717noreply@blogger.com0