15 Thousand Experience Points

Starfinder from Paizo The start of support

2016-05-30T19:07:00.001-07:00

Starfinder from Paizo

So it looks like Paizo is going to do a Science Fantasy setting / core rule set titled Starfinder. Not going live until August 2017, so in the meantime I will dust off some info that I have done in the past and as time goes along I will migrate my works closer and closer. As always I will not follow entirely within the setting, always more homebrewed, so off to start some translating from my old stuff to the new stuff.

Pulled from the initial communication are the following character ideas/concepts

Android Assassin

Ratfolk Mechanic

Spellhacking Lashunta Technomancer

Human Pilot

Power-Armored Marine

Of course we have no information at this time about what the final product will look like, what it will have for actual mechanics, etc.. So this is total speculation and a buildup to making product for the new game and setting line.

To start off I am going to pull in other old 3PP material and update with things like CMB/CMD and how they do skills and work up some alien races. I am going to use my T.E.S. (The End Space) as the starting point, with the world of Vermeil in the same system in this port over.

The End Space dates back to before 2000 and originally in a totally different system (Hero System 4^th Edition) so all that is coming in from there is Fluff and the crunch will be all brand new.

The original Vermeil writing dates back to 2009 (collected and originally started in 2005). So lots of changes will be present in the Crunch portions of those elements.

So following posts will focus on developing a space station and several worlds around it as well as pointing to existing materials and new aliens, monsters, items, etc. for use in your gaming.

My Inspirations and Resources (Initial Listing): This will expand as time and creating continues:

Babylon 5

Star Trek (Especially Deep Space 9 for the station elements)

DAW Books and covers (especially the 70s ones)

David Bowie songs and videos

Spelljammer

WARs Setting and d20 RPG

Shadowrun

Etherscope

d20 Modern (New skills mostly to pull in)

Pathfinder RPG Technology Guide

Pathfinder RPG Distant Worlds
Pathfinder RPG People of the Stars
Pathfinder RPG Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars

Links:
http://paizo.com/starfinder/

http://paizo.com/image/content/Starfinder/20160528-Station.jpg

http://paizo.com/products/btpy86j8?Pathfinder-Chronicles-Guide-to-Absalom

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/openGameLicense.html

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srdarchive

While watching Frozen for the first time

2016-03-26T20:42:00.001-07:00

While watching Frozen for the first time

So on the Disney Freeform channel I got to see the network premiere of the movie Frozen. Having no girls to take to this sort of movie, this was my first viewing of it. Of course as it came on I started taking some notes on occupations and characters I would see, the original intention being to use in Fantasy Setting for NPC ideas. Instead it turned into taking notes to use for an impromptu setting idea.

So this is not very detailed, would take a GM a bit of work to pull it all together in your Fantasy System of choice, but feel free to riff off these lists and ideas.

Occupations and Characters (Just some of them as watching it)

Maybe a new setting or concept based just on these

The wife did say this is pretty stereotypically Disney, pretty formulaic

They did give the best lines to the snowman overall

It was not a bad little movie. At least the Female Heroine saved herself instead of someone saving her instead, giving redemption to her sister instead of relying on some outside male figure

Ice Carver / Ice Block Maker

Snowman

Snow Creating Magic User

Sister

Parents

Royalty

Trolls that can turn into Rocks / Boulders

Staff Members

Pictures that can be talked to

Sailors Lost at Sea

Those that shroud the Dead’s Portraits

Clergy

Vocalists

Afflicted with a Curse

Townsfolk

Suits of Armor

Princess

Prince

Commoners

Dancers

Dressmakers

Peacocks

Frozen Ice Sculpture Creature

Spell Frozen Steps

Ice Block Salesman

Wolves

Reindeer

Spell Run over Snow like the Wind

Winter Wonderland

Spell Impaling Ice

A Castle Made of Ice

Snow Golem Guardian with pure ice claws (elemental golem, snow and ice, regen in cold)

Love is a powerful and strange force

Spell Freeze the Heart (Death unless unfrozen by love)

The traitorous individual from another kingdom

The Reindeer King

Large round Snowman (Single ball of snow with eyes and ice arms)

The Snow Queen

A Fantasy setting

A small city far into the mountains on a fjord

Fishing is a major enterprise

Logging and Ice Block Carving (Winter) as well as major exports

There is a small castle ruled by two sisters who are reclusive

One is rumored to be a Sorceress made of Ice, the other one the public face to the dual rulers

There are several nearby kingdoms they trade with

Adventure locations

The Castle in the City

The nearby woods (wolves are common there in large packs that attack)

The Ice Castle far into the mountain (Where it never melts even in the height of summer) Snowflake Themed

The Stone Circle (portal to Faerie Lands), location of the Rock Trolls (Rock Elementals)

Sudden Snowstorms that sweep down from The Mountain

Ice Carvers Camp

Loggers Camp

Trading Post half way up to The Mountain

The Northern Lights (Another realm that can be travelled to only at night in the cold), composed of cold, light, faerie fire like landscape

The eternally iced in Wooden sailing ships, Galleon styled ships eternally frozen in place as shipwrecks

The courtyard eternally covered in ice even in the height of summer

Seasonal Flavor Texts and Inspirations : Winter/Holiday

2015-12-26T13:23:00.000-08:00

While working on an article for the Horror Gaming EMagazine Protodimension Magazine FB Group I started putting together a list of Key Words suitable for Winter / Holiday Times.

See Below

Potential Seasonal Keywords

Winter / Christmas

Ballet

Black Ice

Blizzard

Christmas

Decorations

Elves

Fog

Freezing

Freezing Drizzle

Frozen

Frozen Lakes

Gifts/Gift Giving

Gingerbread

Ice

Icicles

Lights

New Years

Nutcracker

Ornaments

Pine Trees

Presents

Reindeer

Saint Nick / St Nicholas

Santa Claus

Sleds/Sleighs

Sleet

Snow

Snowflake

Snowmen

Snowstorms

Stories

Tales

Tinsel

Toymaking

Toys

White Out Conditions

Winter

Yule

Yuletide

Crossposting to my other gaming blogs

Roses, Petals, and Thorns (Second Post) Spells and List

2015-09-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Thorn Spell List

New Spell List for Druids, Rangers, Clerics with earth, growing, plant like spheres, other spell casters that are nature or growing oriented

This is a shortened up list with some changes to spells to reflect the overall focus and intent as being Thorns, Thorny, Rose Bushes and Rose Petals as well.

Spells with the * in the list indicates changed or new spells from the OGL SRD

Thorn SPELLS

0-LEVEL THORN SPELLS (ORISONS)

Create Water: Creates 2 gallons/level of pure water.

Detect Magic: Detects spells and magic items within 60 ft.

Know Direction: You discern north.

Mending: Makes minor repairs on an object.

Resistance: Subject gains +1 bonus on saving throws.

Petals of Virtue: Target gains 1 temporary hp. *

1ST-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Detect Snares and Pits: Reveals natural or primitive traps.

Entangle: Plants entangle everyone in 40-ft.-radius.

Pass without Trace: One subject/level leaves no tracks.

2ND-LEVEL ThORN SPELLS

Barkskin: Grants +2 (or higher) enhancement to natural armor.

Delay Poison: Stops poison from harming subject for 1 hour/level.

Soften Earth and Stone: Turns stone to clay or dirt to sand or mud.

Rose Shape: You look exactly like a large thorny bush or Rose Bushes for 1 hour/level. *

Warp Wood: Bends wood (shaft, handle, door, plank).

Wood Shape: Rearranges wooden objects to suit you.

3RD-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Magic Fang, Greater: One natural weapon of subject creature gets +1/four levels on attack and damage rolls (max +5).

Neutralize Poison: Immunizes subject against poison, detoxifies venom in or on subject.

Plant Growth: Grows vegetation, improves crops.

Quench: Extinguishes nonmagical fires or one magic item.

Snare: Creates a magic booby trap.

Speak with Plants: You can talk to normal plants and plant creatures.

Spike Growth: Creatures in area take 1d4 damage, may be slowed.

4TH-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Command Plants: Sway the actions of one or more plant creatures.

Freedom of Movement: Subject moves normally despite impediments.

5TH-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Awaken the Plants: large plant or tree gains human intellect.

Commune with Nature: Learn about terrain for 1 mile/level.

Petal Stride: Step from one Rose Bush or Patch to another far away.

Wall of Thorns: Thorns damage anyone who tries to pass.

6TH-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Find the Path: Shows most direct way to a location.

Ironwood: Magic wood is strong as steel.

Liveoak: Oak becomes treant guardian.

Move Earth: Digs trenches and builds hills.

Repel Wood: Pushes away wooden objects.

Transport via Plants: Move instantly from one plant to another of the same kind.

7TH-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Animate Plants: One or more plants animate and fight for you.

Changestaff: Your staff becomes a treant on command.

Transmute Metal to Wood: Metal within 40 ft. becomes wood.

True Seeing M: Lets you see all things as they really are.

8TH-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Control Plants: Control actions of one or more plant creatures.

Repel Metal or Stone: Pushes away metal and stone.

9TH-LEVEL THORN SPELLS

Regenerate: Subject’s severed limbs grow back, cures 4d8 damage +1/level (max +35).

Thorned Shambler: Summons 1d4+2 thorned shambling mounds to fight for you.

Roses, Petals, and Thorns (Old Posts from another forum uploaded here)

2015-09-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

In July of 2009 over on the Barrok's Tower Forum was a competition. Just found my old entries for there and cleaned them up a bit and posting there here in a series of entries.

The theme was Plants and here is what I created, cleaned as I said, for that back then. All originally posted on that forum and reposted here. Intended for the Pathfinder RPG d20 System from Paizo.

At the time I essentially chose the underlying theme of Roses and Thorns for what I was going to use as the basis.

In the competition I ended up creating an organization, an NPC, a new spell list, along with several new magic items and some alterations to, then, existing spells.

So below is the new organization known as The Rose Watchers with their current Queen Melviana

The Patron Queen of Roses

Melviana is the current Patron Queen of Roses. This is a hereditary title passed down among the Rose Watchers, an order of females devoted to life, love, and plants especially roses.

The Rose Watchers were founded about 9 generations ago in a small principality far to the east when the local tyrant was overthrown and a female rose to take over, assuming the title of Protectress instead of Tyrant as the former ruled had styled himself.

Once the Protectress was safely in charge, she had a small militant order set up to help ensure the principles of Honor, Loyalty, Perseverance, and Devotion to Kindness were upheld in her area of the world.

Unfortunately her reign was short, cut down by assassins from the neighboring militant nation, which then invaded hoping to subjugate the fledgling state.

As running battles were waged against the numerically superior forces invading, the defenders looked far and wide for assistance from anyone or anything that was kindred in spirit to the ideals of the Protectress and willing and able to help. It finally was found in dreams and visions sent from the spirit that guides the growth of rose plants.

From this humble spirit came a promise. So long as the Rose Plant was held sacred in this land, it would help to the extent of its powers. The pact was agreeable and was made, sanctified with blood spilt from a hand willingly impaled on a rose bush thorns.

The spirit came and asked for permission to meld with the spirit of the one who had impaled their hand. It was given and the First Patron Queen of Roses was born in that moment.

With the mystical aid of the Queen of Roses the small nation was able to inflict severe enough losses to deter the invasion. With the respite that came from it, the governing of the land went to a new Protectress, with the Queen of Roses advising and leading the Thorn Guard, the new militant order founded to help defend the land.

Each Queen of Roses is slightly different. The base comes from the spirit that co-habitats the body of the Queen. The rest comes from the person that made the sacrifice to gain the power. Each one comes into additional power per their personality and inclination. A more martial candidate would focus on increased damage and speed while a more mystical one might focus on spells that block and defend. It is all different and so long as the Queen remains true, loyal to the land, to the Rose Spirit and good in heart and character then there are no limitations. The spirit controls nothing, makes no suggestions, just lends power and remains in the back, strengthening and helping to protect the Queen that honors its charges.

The current Queen of Roses is Melviana. She came into her power only a very short while ago, and while she has inherited the powers, she is not experienced in their use, and has a long ways to go in gaining her full potential. She was a novitiate in The Thorn Guard when she had a vision leading her to assume the mantle of The Queen, when the previous one was gravely wounded in battle against marauders. The passing of the mantle went, and the previous wearer survived the transition and even though she is crippled, is available for counsel and advice to the latest holder of the spirit.

Additionally as the Queen of Roses, she became the Captain of the Thorn Guard, her bodyguards, protectors, scouts and eyes and ears in the kingdom. They are an elite fighting force, geared towards stealth instead of a stand up fight. Commonly outfitted in Masterwork Leather Armor, armed with Javelins, Light Crossbows, Rapiers and Daggers, they are skilled in wilderness survival and many are also trained in woodcraft and hunting.

Melviana

Patron Queen of Roses

Female, Human, Rose Spirit Possessor

Appearance:

She is female, aged 23 when she assumed the mantle and responsibility. Before her change she was average height, fair of complexion, comely to the eye, with a slender build and almost naive sensitivity. While she was training in the martial skills, she was not very adept with them. Being more inclined to scholarly and sage oriented pursuits.

Once she took on the mantle she assumed the overall appearance that a Queen has. She grew taller, standing as a tall man would, with a build now that is almost thorny, her hair taking on the deep red of Rose Petals, with a light pink complexion to her skin. Her nails became as thorns and her underlying body toughened as well.

Specials: She has the plant and Outsider subtypes now to reflect the co-existence in her body of her and the Rose Spirit. This has given her the following Special Abilities and Immunity that all Queens possess.

· Die type converts to d8

· BAB figured as if a Fighter of equal class levels

· All Saves as Good

· Darkvision and Lowlight vision 60 Feet

· Proficient with simple weapons, shields, and light armor (if not already proficient)

· Gains Skill Points equal to (2 + Int Modifier, minimum of 1 skill point) per level gained in addition to skills gained for increasing a class or racial level. When the Mantle is taken on the recipient gains skill levels equal to (2 + Int Mod x4) to be distributed in the following skills only (these all become class skills for future purposes) Concentration, Diplomacy, Knowledge (Roses), Sense Motive. Each skill must get at least 1 Rank of these bonus ranks placed into it. Any other points can be placed as desired among these 4 skills.

· Gains Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning.

· The Queen is no longer subject to critical hits.

· The Queen of Roses needs to breathe and eat, but does not sleep.

· Gains a 1 time bonus of 16 Hit Points (equal to max die roll of 2d8) when becoming the Queen of Roses)

Melviana

Patron Queen of Roses

Human, Plant, Outsider

3rd Level Expert, 1st Level Druid (Progressing as a Druid currently)

Str 8 -1

Dex 10 +0

Con 8 -1

Int 14 +2

Wis 13 +1

Cha 13 +1

Class Expert 3, Druid 1

Level 4

HP 36

EP Bottom of 4th level

Align Neutral Good / Roses

AC +3 (MW Leather), +2 ( MW Shield), +0 Dex,

BAB +2

Saves

Will +3

Ref +1

Fort +5

#Attacks 1

Damage Per weapon

Special Abilities:

Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), poison, sleep effects, paralysis, polymorph, and stunning. Darkvision and Lowlight vision 60 Feet, Not subject to critical hits, does not need to sleep, Spellcasting, Animal Companion, Nature Sense, Wild Empathy,

Spells (with Int Bonus)

x3 0 Level

Cure Minor Wounds: Cures 1 point of damage.

Detect Magic: Detects spells and magic items within 60 ft.

Guidance: +1 on one attack roll, saving throw, or skill check.

x2 1st level

Faerie Fire: Outlines subjects with light, canceling blur, concealment, and the like.

Magic Fang: One natural weapon of subject creature gets +1 on attack and damage rolls.

Class Skills Ranks Bonus Total

Appraise (Int) 6 2 8(10)

Concentration (Con) 4 -1 3

Craft (Int) 0

Decipher Script (Int) 6 2 8(10)

Diplomacy (Cha) 4 1 4

Gather Information (Int) 6 2 8

Handle Animal (Cha) 1 1 2

Heal (Wis) 1 1 2

Knowledge (nature) (Int) 1 2 3(5)

Listen (Wis) 6 1 7

Profession (Wis) 4 1 5

Read/Write Languages (Int) 4 2 6

Ride (Dex) 1 0 1

Speak Languages (Int) 4 2 6

Spellcraft (Int) 1 2 3

Spot (Wis) 4 1 5

Survival (Wis) 1 1 2 (4)

Gear (in the field normally)

Rose Petal Leather Armor (Prof) +3 AC

Masterwork Small Shield (Prof) +2 AC

Masterwork Rapier (Prof) +1

Masterwork Dagger (prof) +1

Feats

1. Human Bonus (Diligent +2 bonus on all Appraise checks and Decipher Script checks)

2. Human Bonus (Martial Weapons)

3. Prof Simple Weapons (Class bonus)

4. Prof Light Armor (Class Bonus)

5. Prof Shields (Bonus as the Queen of Roses)

Class Abilities

Animal Companion (Owl)

Nature Sense +2 bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks

Wild Empathy

#RPGaDay2015 Day 2: Kickstarted game most pleased you backed (posted 08/05/15)

2015-08-05T11:48:00.003-07:00

#RPGaDay2015 Day 2: Kickstarted game most pleased you backed

So onto the Day 2 question. Kickstarter, feast or famine, all the cool kids, I so need to finish up my first product I have planned to do a KS for (note to self). The land of plenty and new releases for small and established creators alike.

It has to be one of the first ones I backed. Amanda Palmer’s CD released via KS. If I recall it was the first project to break a Million. I have so many hours put into playing that CD since it came out.

#RPGaDay2015 Day 1 Forthcoming Game you are most interested in? (posted 08/05/15)

2015-08-05T11:13:00.001-07:00

#RPGaDay2015 Entries

For 2014 I participated a few of the days

Playing catch up for 2015 here right now

#RPGaDay2015 Day 1 Forthcoming Game you are most interested in?

The last few years have really low key for me, in terms of seeing new products and when they are coming out. The main in town game store closed a few years ago. While it was open I kept getting Game Trade Magazine each time it came out, giving me a great view of upcoming stuff. Now I mostly see what is coming from a few companies whose sites I view, updates on what other people are supporting on Kickstarter, and from friends.

That said I did see a post from GENCON about Jasco Games coming out with a supplement for their UFS Card game for Cowboy Bebop. I will get that sight unseen once it is ready.

Also earlier this AM I saw a post from Wyrd Games for a few mini-game from them, which I will keep an eye out for.

http://jascogames.com/

http://www.wyrd-games.net/

Here is the link to this years Questions

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5qVCt_ukXnMWPrUAZ_EuU__jRNqWGYJMIGWfB8UWZqamp-xJ7zUzhKZu8XecT8JuAW8abV2W3zEXEWcC7_9Z06lQmHwL89qsZ80PnFb-49rFPpagsKmlw_o2b8-WpY3XXXEqWf8ZHrZ8/s1600/rpgaday2015.jpg

Creatures and Character Inspirations and Random Generation

2015-07-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Creatures and Character Inspirations and Random Generation

So on FB I saw an ad for a game titled Magerealm: Rise of Chaos. In the ad there was a card or character titled Inferno Bear which lead immediately to thinking about conditions and creatures combined into PCs, NPCs, or Monsters. So see the following list where you roll or chose on Column 1 and then on Column 2 to create something random.

In looking them over they should work the best for Superhero style games as well as monsters in Horror or in Post Apoc Games as well. Feel free to mix and match to your hearts content of course.

Take into account that conditions like Electric can also stand for Electrified or Electrical. Alternate terms are not included in the base table though. Ice can be Ice, Icy, Icicle, and so on, in further example. Looking over the choices some of them are not the most viable, so take that into account and alter accordingly.

These tables are made before I actually start playing the game. So take them for what they are worth.

Condition / Environment

1d30 or roll 1d6 to determine which 1/3rd to roll a d10 for

1. Blizzard

2. Cold

3. Darkness

4. Dawn

5. Decayed

6. Dusk

7. Eclipse

8. Electric

9. Empty

10. Faceless

11. Fire

12. Flames

13. Forgotten

14. Forlorn

15. Frozen

16. Ice

17. Infectious

18. Inferno

19. Light

20. Loneliness

21. Masked

22. Mold

23. Molten

24. Rain

25. Shadow

26. Sleet

27. Snow

28. Snowstorm

29. Toxic

30. Viral

Creature / Thing

1d20

1. A.I.

2. Bear

3. Bee

4. Boar

5. Bot

6. Cat

7. Cyborg

8. Dog

9. Eagle

10. Hawk

11. Hornet

12. Lion

13. Owl

14. Rat

15. Robot

16. Shark

17. Spider

18. Tiger

19. Wasp

20. Wolf

The Kingdom Wrapped in Fog (A spur of the moment vignette setting for Fantasy RPGs)

2015-06-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

The Kingdom Wrapped in Fog

A spur of the moment vignette setting for Fantasy RPGs

Multiple inspirations to this setting idea. Mostly it is a desire of mine to have just almost throwoff, odd little gaming settings for people to use and enjoy. Parts and elements are pulled from other ideas, and will be recycled into future ideas and products.

This is being put together in a single night, and put up as finished as it will be in a few hours of creating.

Thanks to Eric F for his posting of the town he lives in as a megadungeon, another inspiration for The Kingdom Wrapped in Fog.

His creation is at

http://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-alternative-torrington-connecitcut.html

Key Flavor Words (Many Pulled from Art Journal Magazine)

B & W

Writing / Words

Hobo Signs / Symbols

Magic / Digital / Web

Broadsheets

Shanty / Rickety

Pale Flesh (Skin)

New England Small Towns

Imbalance

Footsteps fading away

Fog

Threads & Stitches

Tarot

Court Suit Cards

Blue

CP (Cyberpunk)

Hopeless Dreams

Procedural / Bureaucracy

Cracked Cobblestones

Distress

Mirrors

Razors and Scalpels

Museums and Art

True Detective (First Season)

For GMs use the above list of words to inspire your adventures

The Setting in brief

About 25 years ago the fog came and has not left. The city was enveloped in the fog and it has not entirely lifted since. The city continued, life continues. Since then other changes have come about, new races and beings, advances in magical technologies, the discovery of gunpowder and the subsequent development of firearms, inspired it is said by fevered dreams of a dead madman.

The city is surrounded by vast forests, with a deep ocean a short river barge ride away. Never a center for trade, it does export wood and timber, along with charcoal, to distant lands and parts. A wide slow moving river flows out from the distant mountains, through the forest and past the northside of the city, ending in a small harbor several miles away.

The city is mostly small wooden structures, two or perhaps three stories in height, cobbled stone streets and narrow alleys between dwellings. Along the river are lots of warehouses, with logs coming down from the forest freshly cut and ready to be shipped outward.

Farms exist on the top of buildings, along the outer edge of the city, in clearings out in the forest as well. Most of the crops grown are large mushrooms to provide food for the city. Most plants do not do well in the unrelenting fog making the fungals options the best choice for the population. Imports from distant lands help to supplement the bland diet, along with strange herbs and spices found and discovered in the forest.

It is laid out in a generally north and south orientation. The area along the river is the main industrial, with water wheels providing motive power for the burgeoning industries and Tinner factories. Abutting that section of the city are slums and shanties that give way to nicer dwellings. The south side of the city, farthest away from the river, is where the largest and most affluent homes are located at. Often surrounded by large stone fences with hired private security to protect their property and interests.

The western side of the city is where the forest cutters, military forces, charcoal burners and fungus farmers all live, work, and have their social lives at. The easternmost part of the city is within a few miles of the river and contains most of the city government buildings as well as the constabulary and militia buildings.

Scattered over the entire city are bars, hostels, places to eat, small merchants, craftsmen, and all the other necessities that a large scale city needs to survive and have its population thrive.

Races Present in The City

Humans are the predominant force here, making up a good 70% of the total population.

Changelings (as per the ARG) are on the rise, coming from human families and finding out their reality at majority. They are about 5% of the population.

Tieflings are another race that are on the increase, as their mature also they find out their true reality. They are about 5% of the population.

Tinners are a construct race created in the last several decades, used mostly for manual labor, but they are autonomous and are almost 15% of the population with more every day. (Look for these in a future post)

A fifth race has recently started to make a presence known here in the city. They call themselves Sidhe and they are a long lived, proud and noble race. (Use stats for Elves, or High Elves if such applies to your game). They are about 5% of the population.

Some core setting concepts

Graft, corruption, greed, deceit are the way of business and government.

The Mayor of the the city is named Vanessa Van Shorn and rumor has it she has a sister who is also a Mayor in another city very similar to this one.

Firearms are on the increase. Most street toughs will have at least a pair of single shot pistols. Most are wheel locks and are dependable.

Most types wear leather armor and heavy coats. Armor heavier than that tends to only be the province of military types. Blades are everywhere though and for those without the funds for a pistol there are always crossbows.

The Tinners are an increasing influence in the workforce of the city. With the lack of their needing to sleep or eat, to simply need to refuel with more charcoal and water, they make for an excellent foundation to industry, as well as mainstays to the constabulary and militias, as well as the lumber crews.

Since the fog arrived, the births of changelings and tieflings has been on the rise, the more years go by, the more are being born. This worries many of the older, more established families in the city.

The current mayor has been in power for over ten years, and does not look a day older than when she took office. She always has a pair of hulking bodyguards with her when she is out in public (a pair of male Ogre Fighters in heavy chain armor with large halberds as weapons. The pair are known to be fanatically loyal to the Mayor and her family.

Think in terms of small New England towns, fishing villages, quaint English towns, Charles Dickinson Factories, Steampunk without the Steam (yet perhaps), but with a population of about 20,000 or so, covering a good 15 square miles of buildings, streets, alleys, and underground sewer systems.

Good inspiration lies at these three websites

http://www.historytoday.com/blog/2013/01/victorian-city

http://www.judithflanders.co.uk/books/the-victorian-city-everyday-life-in-dickens-london/

http://www.victorianweb.org/places/cities/cities.html

Stock Character Write Up Template for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Use

2015-06-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Stock Character Write Up Template for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Use

(This is the current version I am using in my products for character write ups. Fill in the blanks, customize as you see fit, borrow for your own products, go ahead and have fun).

Name

Description

Race/Gender

Class

Stats

Strength

Dexterity

Constitution

Intelligence

Wisdom

Charisma

Combat

Level

BaB

CMB

CMD

Saves

Fort + /base

Ref + /base

Will + /base

Armor

Weapons

Gear

Outfits

Skills Ranks Stat Bonus Total

Acrobatics (Dex)

Appraise (Int)

Bluff (Cha)

Climb (Str)

Craft (Int)

Diplomacy (Cha)

Disable Device (Dex)

Disguise (Cha)

Escape Artist (Dex)

Fly (Dex)

Handle Animal (Cha)

Heal (Wis)

Intimidate (Cha)

Knowledge (arcana)(Int)

Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int)

Knowledge (engineering) (Int)

Knowledge (geography) (Int)

Knowledge (history) (Int)

Knowledge (local) (Int)

Knowledge (nature) (Int)

Knowledge (nobility) (Int)

Knowledge (planes) (Int)

Knowledge (religion) (Int)

Linguistics (Int)

Perception (Wis)

Perform (Cha)

Profession (Wis)

Ride (Dex)

Sense Motive (Wis)

Sleight of Hand (Dex)

Spellcraft (Int)

Stealth (Dex)

Survival (Wis)

Swim (Str)

Use Magic Device (Cha)

Feats

Class Abilities

Spells/Day

Spell List Prepared Level Name

Spell Book/List

Special Qualities

Background and Write Up

Stock template for new races

2015-06-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

Stock template

Concept

Race Type

Base Speed

Ability Score Mods

Languages

Racial Traits

Ability

Defense

Feat and Skill

Magical

Movement

Offence

Senses

Other

The Trackless (A 365 Style Posting Project: Day 5 06/05/15) Table of Contents for The Trackless

2015-06-05T07:52:00.001-07:00

A Starting Point to the overall creation process

As an organizational tool I find a nice Table of Contents to be very valuable. When I go to create a new longer piece of fiction or homebrew setting or gaming piece I outline it by way of a Table of Contents in essence. Blocking out the sections I want, initially, using the Headings Features then turn it into a TOC. This gives me a framework and a structure to fill in as well as a way to see what is missing when it is farther along.

So here is the initial blocking out for what is to hopefully a useful project and product for others. (To be honest this is pretty stock lineup for myself. These are really the things in a RPG product that I find to be useful and what I want to see in them, so I do include them in my own products and projects as well)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Overview

Background

Setting Details

Character Creation

Suggested Races and Classes

New Feats and Talents

New Skills and Applications

New Magic Spells and Items

The Trackless Details

Hazards and Dangers

Encounters

New Creatures

Setting Inspirations

OGL

The Trackless (A 365 Style Posting Project: Day 5 06/05/15) Creatures that could be encounters inside The Trackless

2015-06-05T07:31:00.002-07:00

Creatures that could be encounters inside The Trackless

This is an abbreviated listing from yesterday. A later post will pull in the creatures from the different Bestiaries and then new creatures and re-skinned ones

Sourced from varied websites

Mixture of Freshwater and Saltwater Denizens

This list is more what might make for encounters, especially if a template or two is applied or size increase using the Monster Rules or the rules in the Unchained Book especially. Triple the size of a Snapping Turtle and it becomes a concern to a lower level party and if it is even larger, well that is almost a real beast.

Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temmincki)

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Black Rat (Rattus rat)

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Cottonmouth Snakes

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Feral Pig (Sus scrofa)

Florida Panther

Insects (Of All Sorts)

Norway Rat “Common Rat” (Rattus norvegicus)

Saltwater Crocodile

Sea Snakes

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Water Buffalo

Water Moccasin

White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Much of the above list copied from

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/bond_swamp_animal.pdf

Other site utilized is

http://www.greatswamp.org/SeeDo/Mammals.htm

The Trackless (A 365 Style Posting Project: Day 4 06/04/15) Some Common Creatures in US Swamps

2015-06-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

Some Common Creatures

Sourced from varied websites

Mixture of Freshwater and Saltwater Denizens

Now the majority of these creatures will not be suitable for an encounter. Things like a Fox, Rabbit, Vole, Bats, etc. Others could be encounters like Bears, Bobcats, especially the Alligators or Crocodiles. Another issue with this list is that is for both Fresh and Saltwater so if you pull them all in at once,

it would be a severe mishmash. However to get an idea as to what creatures may be living in The Trackless, it should be most suitable.

Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temmincki)

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

American Toad (Bufo americanus)

Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata)

Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa)

Barred Owl

Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

Bird-voiced Treefrog (Hyla avivoca)

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Black Rat (Rattus rat)

Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

Broad-headed Skink (Eumeces laticeps)

Bronze Frog (Rana clamitans)

Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)

Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota)

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)

Common Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)

Cotton Mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus)

Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus)

Cottonmouth Snakes

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Crabs

Deer Snakes

Dwarf Salamander (Eurycea quadridigitata)

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciursu carolinensis)

Eastern Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis)

Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos)

Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus)

Eastern Mole (Scaolpus aquaticus)

Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)

Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)

Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus)

Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)

Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)

Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii)

Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius)

Eastern Woodrat (Neotoma floridana)

Egrets

Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis)

Feral Pig (Sus scrofa)

Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)

Flamingo

Florida Cooter (Pseudemys floridana)

Florida Panther

Flying Fox

Fowler’s Toad (Bufo fowleri)

Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Frogs

Gapper’s Redback Vole

Golden Mouse (Peromyscus nuttalli)

Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)

Ground Skink (Scincella lateralis) Turtles

Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)

House Mouse (Mus musculus)

Insects (Of All Sorts)

Jabiru

Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva)

Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia)

Little Brown Myotis (Bat)

Loggerhead Musk Turtle (Sternotherus minor)

Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata)

Mangrove Monitor Lizards

Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)

Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys palustris)

Masked Shrew

Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius)

Meadow Vole

Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Mink (Mustela vison)

Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)

Mole Skink (Eumeces egregius)

Mud Salamander (Psuedotriton montanus) Mammals

Mud Snake (Farancia abacura)

Mudskippers

Muskrat

Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans)

Norway Rat “Common Rat” (Rattus norvegicus)

Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Oldfield Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus)

Osprey

Otter

Pine Vole

Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata)

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Red Bat

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Red Salamander (Psuedotriton ruber)

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Red-Bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)

Red-Bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)

Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna)

River Otter (Lutra canadensis)

Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula)

Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)

Saltwater Crocodile

Sandhill Crane

Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)

Sea Snakes

Seminole Bat (Lasiurus seminolus)

Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)

Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

Six-Lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus)

Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus)

Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)

Smoky Shrew

Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae)

Snails

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata)

Southeastern Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus)

Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius)

Southeastern Pocket Gopher (Geomys pinetis)

Southeastern Shrew (Sorex longirostris)

Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus)

Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita)

Southern Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus)

Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

Southern Leopard Frog (Rana utricularia)

Southern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)

Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis)

Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris)

Southern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera)

Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera))

Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti)

Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Spring Peeper (Hyla crucifer)

Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella)

Starnose Mole (Condylura cristata)

Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon baurii)

Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Swamp Rabbit “Cane Cutter” (Sylvilagus aquaticus)

Three-Lined Salamander (Eurycea guttolineata)

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Turtles

Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means)

Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum)

Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Water Buffalo

Water Moccasin

Water Turkey

White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)

Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Wood Duck

Wood Stork

Woodchuck

Woodland Jumping Mouse

Woodland Vole (Microtus pinetorum)

Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta) Alligators

Much of the above list copied from

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/bond_swamp_animal.pdf

Another site utilized is

http://www.greatswamp.org/SeeDo/Mammals.htm

Note: I plan to cross post this to two other of my own gaming oriented blogs as it can pertain to both of those as well.

The Trackless (A 365 Style Posting Project: Day 3 06/03/15) Tallert: Pre-Gen for The Trackless

2015-06-03T18:11:00.002-07:00

Tallert

Human, Male, Fighter, Level 1

Concept: Woodsman, Wood Cutter, Ax Fighter

Stats Score Bonus

Str 15 +2

Dex 13 +1

Con 16 +3

Int 8 -1

Wis 12 +1

Com 10 +0

Class Fighter

Level 1

EP 1

HD d10

HP 13

Combat

BaB +1

# Att 1

CMB 3

CMD 14

Saves

Fort +2 (+3 Con)

Ref +0 (+1 Dex)

Will +0 (+1 Wis)

Init +1

AC +3, +1, +1 = +5; Touch +2, Flat Footed +3

Armor Studded Leather

Weps Woodsmans Ax (Battleax), Daggers (2), Crossbow Lt, Quarrels (10)

Dmg Axe 1d6/1d8 x3; Dagger 1d3/1d4 19-20 x2; Crossbow 1d6/1d8 19-20 x2

Magic

Feats/Proficiencies

Proficient Simple, Martial, All Armor, Shields

Combat Reflexes Extra AoO

Stand Still Stop Enemies from moving past

Dodge +1 Dodge Bonus AC

Specials

Skills(Class Only)

Climb (Str)

Craft (Int)

Handles Animal (Cha)

Intimidate (Cha)

Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (Int)

Knowledge (Engineering) (Int)

Profession (Wis)

Ride (Dex)

Survival (Wis)

Swim (Str)

Gear and Equipment

Rucksack

Heavy Boots

Traveling Clothes

Tarp

Firemaking Kit

Heavy Leather Cloak

Leather Gloves

Wax Candle (2)

Background and Details

Born in a small community located a short distance from the more Central Edge of The Trackless, Tallert grew up in heavy woods abutting the swamp. He learned at an early age to treat the swamp with respect and to rarely enter it farther than eyesight into it to let him escape if necessary. Several of his childhood friends disappeared in the depths, never seen again. As he got closer to maturity (15) he took to the woodcutter trade, learning how to fell trees, trim them, management, as well as what dangers lurk in the natural woods and what he could about The Trackless. Once past majority he chose to set out for a while to see more of the lands to the north and west of his small settlement.

Standing in about 5 foot tall, stocky with thick muscles accustomed to the swing of the ax. Light brown hair and common features, with a quiet personality.

NOTE: Tallert is the first of what will be the Pre-Gens for the setting

The Trackless (A 365 Style Posting Project: Day 2 06/02/15) General Starting ideas on PCs

2015-06-03T18:07:00.002-07:00

06/02/15 Day 2 The Trackless General Starting ideas on PCs

So most player characters will originate from outside of The Trackless. Young folk growing up on the edges and outskirts of the area, strangers from distant lands come to plunder and plumb the depths of the near mythical swamp in their own lands, treasure seekers and bounty hunters scouring the lands for their chosen prey. All these and more become tempted by the stories and tales told about The Trackless and its inhabitants, past glories and supposed lost cities and such.

Whether there is much truth to any of the tales, it is certain than more than one fool has met their match and found their final resting place to be in the waters and other dangers of the swamps.

(This post composed on 06/02/15 and posted 06/03/15)

The Trackless (A 365 Style Posting Project: Day 1 06/01/15)

2015-06-01T05:37:00.003-07:00

The Trackless

The Trackless stretches all along the eastern edge of the Great Land. To travel along the inner edge would take several Moons to go from the southern side to the most northern section.

Only this born within The Trackless can have a chance to navigate it. None born outside has ever made it more than a few days travel into it, without becoming lost. Legends and rumors abound of those lost in there for several handfuls of days being able to find their way out, physically alive. Few are the truths to such tales.

The Trackless is a massive stretch of swamp, bayou, and bog that runs along the eastern side of the super continent known as The Great Land. It extends at least 2000 miles in distance from top to bottom, having a depth estimated at least 500 miles or more at the widest part. An ecology and environment all to its self. In the Great Land there are other swamps and bogs and such. There is only one Trackless.

The nature of the place changes depending on where it is at. The southern portion is more mangroves, bayou styled land, hummocks and alligators abounding. Much more navigational on the waters, until the land closes in and the route disappears. The waters are full of alligators, water moccasins, and worse. Spots where one moment the soft ground underneath in the water gives way to a hole hundreds of feet deep with a rip current pulling the unwary to the bottom. Every step is a potential deathtrap for those not born to it.

The middle section is more swamp, more dry spots, just as many ways to perish. Filled with poisonous insects, toxic mushrooms and toadstools, and other humanoid perils. At times the muck will seem to grab a hold of a leg and something with teeth, or fangs, will gnaw and gnaw until only white bone is left on the screaming victim.

Heading more north it gets colder and colder until the waters are more frozen, the swamp is more peat and bog, and fog rises in strange patches all across it. Still one solitary land, with multiple landscapes within it. Up north the dangers are more frostbite, exposure, large predatory creatures searching for their next meal.

Common denizens all across The Trackless includes humans born within the space and able to naturally navigate the usually landmark lacking landscape, lizard like humanoids cursed by ancestral matings, witches and hags, all manner of poisons and toxins leeching out of the waters and soils and into the plant and animal life. In places are giant bears festooned with fungus and mange, competing with cougars and bob cats on dry land, while alligators in the south and crocodiles more in the center vie to control the waters.

Dangers lurk around every tree and in each pool of water for those not born here. For those native to The Trackless, the dangers remain but the instincts they come with aid in avoiding many things that others would fall prey too.

Welcome to The Trackless

Later posts will bring in more details, NPCs, encounters within The Trackless, as well as those that live just outside it and how they interact with the dangerous place that is just beyond their forests and homes.

Writing and Creating Monsters and a potential resource for Gamers and Writers alike

2015-05-22T20:16:00.001-07:00

Writing and Creating Monsters and a potential resource

http://amzn.to/1elN5E5

Pulled from the book “Writing Monsters” by Philip Athans. I had skimmed a copy at my local Big Box Bookstore (Only one in town for new books, we have an excellent used bookstore as well that I had visited today and got 3 books on Investing and Stock Trading for $11.50).

I got a couple of chapters in and jotted a few notes from it as inspiration for gaming and writing. Lots of great ideas in the first few chapters, and enough as I skimmed it before us leaving (due to weather) to prompt me to put it on my list of must haves.

So here is the Table of Contents from the book. Just skimming over the ToC is enough to give me ideas. You could even just copy and paste it into a document and then fill in the blanks after stripping off the Chapter titles and headings, and then using it to do some monster making. So look over the below list and see what it sparks in your horror gaming and writing.

Part I: What They Are?

Chapter 1: What is a monster?

Chapter 2: What makes a monster scary?

Chapter 3: Transformation

Chapter 4: Where do they come from?

Chapter 5: Monster or Villain?

PartII: Why They’re here

Chapter 6: How “Monster-Rich” is your world

Chapter 7: Monsters as metaphor

Chapter 8: Monsters as obstacles

Chapter 9: Monsters as agents

Chapter 10: Monsters as sources of pity

Chapter 11: Monsters as sources of magic or technology

Chapter 12: Bringing out the good and evil in people

Part III: How to write them

Chapter 13: Setting the rules

Chapter 14: Size

Chapter 15: Powers and Abilities

Chapter 16: Weaknesses

Chapter 17: Description

Chapter 18: The Five Senses

Chapter 19: Staging the reveal

Chapter 20: Isolation

Chapter 21: Originality: Cliche vs Archetype

So now pulled out of Chapter 2, What makes a monster scary? These are essentially headers in the chapter that were expanded on. It looks like you could use the list as a framework or almost blueprint for monster creation. In example in the first section, the What are people afraid of?, the author of the book illustrates that they had looked up a Top Ten List of Phobias and used them as a basis for a novel in fact.

l What are people afraid of?

l They are unpredictable?

l They have a disturbing capacity for violence?

l They exhibit an “otherness”

l Our imagination makes them scarier

l They are amoral

l They are beyond our control

l They are terrifying in appearance

l They turn us into prey

So go check out the book and pick it up for yourself and get some great tips and ideas

http://amzn.to/1elN5E5

Advanced Bestiary Is in the House

2015-02-28T22:13:00.000-08:00

I picked up the Advanced Bestiary from Green Ronin today as a birthday gift to myself.

I am so going to use and abuse this book to no end at all.
I have only skimmed it twice since buying it but so many ideas already from the templates and examples. I think tomorrow I will grab up my Bestiary 1 and start at the front with my favorite monsters and template them out, along with some NPCs with the templates that catch my eye right away.

Link to the book at Green Ronin Store lies in this link to Advanced Bestiary at GR Games

2014-08-01T21:28:00.001-07:00

A hand drawn location map for my first Pathfinder PBP Game at the Paizo Boards

Random Monster Making First Draft

2013-11-30T16:15:00.001-08:00

This is the original starting point for Random Monster Making Lists I had come up with. Between this and the other post it should be pretty easy for a GM to get started with new creature creation.

Random Monster Making


Roll Type    Option 1

1    Aberration
2-5    Animal
6    Construct
7    Dragon
8    Elemental
9    Fey
10    Giant
11    Humanoid
12    Magical Beast
13    Monstrous Humanoid
14    Ooze
15    Outsider
16    Plant
17    Undead
18-19    Vermin
20    Roll 2 times or chose 2

Option 2
Roll for core concept
1d4    then 1d4 or 1d6 (Humanoids)
1    Alien
    1    Aberration
    2    Dragon
    3    Ooze
    4    Outsider

2    Humanoid
    1-2    Giant
    3-4    Humanoid
    5-6    Monstrous Humanoid


3    Could be possible
    1    Animal
    2    Magical Beast
    3    Plant
    4    Vermin

4    Other things
    1    Construct
    2    Elemental
    3    Fey
    4    Undead

Random Creature Starting Points

2013-11-30T15:44:00.000-08:00

For all of you GMs out there looking for a starting point to your new creatures, here are some simple lists to give you a starting point to making a new creature or encounter.
A couple of die rolls and you have the concept, ready to be fleshed out with some crunchy bits.

These are targeted to The d20 OGL/Clones or Pathfinder Roleplaying Game systems with a dark tone/bent to them.

Base procedure: Select or roll in Row 1 and Row 2, or twice in Row 2
Then chose or roll in Row 3 and roll in Row 4
Select the Hit Dice or Roll to get a random value
Consult the Monster Creation Guides to flesh out with crunch

Some of the results might get skewed a bit. In instance choosing a Fine size creature with 20 hit dice. Really does not seem plausible.
In these cases best judgement is the real guideline. If in doubt start at Medium size and increase or decrease from there hit dice wise

This is a reprint of an article I had done years ago on another site.
This is lightly reorganized and updated.

Row 1
Die Roll	Name/Title
1	Aether
2	Air
3	Clockwork
4	Coal
5	Dark
6	Earth
7	Fire
8	Light
9	Moon
10	Oil
11	Patchwork
12	Quilted
13	Shadow
14	Spirit
15	Steam
16	Stellar
17	Sun
18	Toxic
19	Walk
20	Water

Row 2
Die Roll	Name/Title
1	Assassin
2	Blank
3	Butcher
4	Crawler
5	Creeper
6	Flenser
7	Hunter
8	Killer
9	Malevolent
10	Opaque
11	Render
12	Runner
13	Seeker
14	Snatcher
15	Soarer
16	Stalker
17	Thief
18	Wader
19	Wanderer
20	Wielder

Row 3
Die Roll	Type of Creature
1	Aberration
2	Animal
3	Construct
4	Dragon
5	Elemental
6	Fey
7	Giant
8	Humanoid
9	Magical beast
10	Monstrous humanoid
11	Ooze
12	Outsider
13	Plant
14	Undead
15	Vermin
16	Robot/Android
17	Alien
18	Template
19	Chose
20	Combine 2 or more

Row 4
Die Roll	Size
1	Fine
2	Diminutive
3	Tiny
4	Small
5	Medium
6	Large
7	Huge
8	Gargantuan
9	Colossal
10	Chose

Row 5
Die Roll = HD	Hit Dice
1	1
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7
8	8
9	9
10	10
11	11
12	12
13	13
14	14
15	15
16	16
17	17
18	18
19	19
20	20

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game License Link

2013-10-24T21:40:00.002-07:00

Below is the link to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game OGL License

Updated Link as of 03/01/2015
OGL License Link for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game on the PRD

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Creature Stat Block (Mine/Blank)

2013-10-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Below is the blank creature stat block I am going to be using for my own creations from this point forward
Feel free to borrow/modify for your own gaming needs

Name

Alignment

Size

Type

Init

Senses

Perception

Defense

AC , touch , flat-footed6 (Details of Armor and Bonus)

Saves

Fort +, Ref +, Will +

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee

Ranged

Statistics

Str , Dex, Con , Int , Wis , Cha

Stat Bonuses

BaB

CMB

CMD

Feats

Skills

Languages

Ecology

Environment

Organization

Treasure

Special Abilities

Description

All The Dungeons from Gamemastery Guide

2012-11-29T18:19:00.000-08:00

All The Dungeons from Gamemastery Guide

So the other night I was thumbing again in the Gamemastery Guide from Paizo LLC for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. It is one of the better resources, since the very first / original DMG for reference materials in my opinion.

So I was paging in it, from societies, to dungeons, to rooms in a dungeon ( I have an idea roughed out for another dungeon consisting of interlinked rooms by a dimension door essentially) and was surfing for ideas.

I tend to re-read certain spots depending on what or where I am looking for inspiration for. That day I had a 1 short adventure idea, inspired by the Steely Dan song Godwhacker. Essentially a high level multiplanar bounty hunting scenario. First target is a Githyanki Assassin and his undead spider demon inspired girl friend. They are going to get written up even if I do not make the adventure. Thinking about 15 CR for each of them.

Well that same night I opened my Gamemastery Guide to the Dungeon Creation section and thought to myself. I Should Do Each Of The Dungeons. Then I counted, making it 50. There are some of the ideas that are more appealing than others, such as the very first one of a Hedge Maze. Some of them are completely unappealing such as the What's Down the Plug Hole of the Wizard's Sink? Still I am going to do all of the ones that appeal to me over the next few months.

The first one will be the first entry on the table, A Hedge Maze.