The Savage Blogger

Savage Worlds at RockCon

2011-08-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

I"m going to be attending Rock-Con in Rockford, IL November 4th-6th and there are Savage things afoot. I'm going to be running a game of Space 1889: Red Sands Saturday morning in the 9 am to 1 pm slot. Pre-generated characters and miniatures (well, cardboard miniatures) will be provided. Other Savages are planning events of their own.

Also, if you like classic RPGs and/or Tékumel, I'm also going to be running an introductory game of the original Empire of the Petal Throne, Friday night. My partner in all things OSR, Victor Raymond, is also promising to take daring gamers on a trip into the empire of Tsolyánu where adventure, wealth, and very available priestesses of Lady Dlamélish await!

More details as they come.

Monkeying around with the design.

2011-08-02T22:02:00.001-07:00

I'm going to be adjusting the design of the site. Bear with me, please.

On "My" MARS...

2011-08-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Savage Settings is Adamant Entertainment's MARS. While it is not mean to be a translation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom tales (although you can find that setting Savaged here), Gareth's setting still has a enough sword and planet action to spark the imagination. Of course, like many gamer's I've decided to tweek it slightly to match my own vision of the Red Planet.

In my MARS, most of the Gareth's setting is still intact: Mars is still a world of deserts, jungles, and ruined cities. Red men still fight fight the green savages of the wates as well as war with the White Apes. The Gray Men still plot and scheme in their dark, dank chasms and the Synthe-Men still tend their ancient machines. Callor, Baltan, Lonaria and the rest are still major centers of action and intrigue.

One of the notable differences between the Gareth's Mars and my Mars is the climate. Rather than being a cold and dry world, I've cranked the thermostat up to max and have the Red Planet bathed in nearly constant heat from an unforgiving, swollen, red sun.

Yes, you read that correctly. A red sun. Rather than setting it in the 19th Century or early 20th century, my Mars exists millions of years in our future. By this time our sun is entering the Red Giant stage of its life cycle and slowly swelling, engulfing the worlds of the inner solar system as it expands. Mercury is no more and Venus will be next in a few millions years. Earth is no longer habitable by anything we'd recognize as life, but the humans of the far future migrated to and terraformed Mars many eons earlier. For a time, Mars was a garden world and a haven for humanity until civilization fell into barbarism. Humanity's descendants, modified by the processes of natural selection and ancient genetic engineering, became the various intelligent races of Mars. (With the notable exception of the Grays, they aren't from around here.) If there are any "Earthmen" on Mars, they are part of the original Homo sapiens colonists who first came to Mars many millennia ago who have been somehow "preserved" (e.g. suspended animation tube), or they have been plucked from space and time by the Grays.

I'm also working on fleshing out the religions of Mars. Gareth made mention of one deity Faina the Provider, in the "Slavers of Mars" adventure. I plan on expanding the pantheon of deities a bit more, as well as work out the details of their particular rituals and practices.

Now that I've told you about my Mars, I want to hear about your Mars. Do you play the setting "straight up" or do you modify it like I did? If so how?

"Sad Savage. Saaaad."

2011-06-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

Excuse me, I need to rant a little bit.

The last year hasn't been very good to me. I lost my job last summer and despite my education and experience I can't seem to get hired, much less interviewed, for even the most menial of jobs. I'm beginning to worry that returning to school--and consequently running up thousands in student loan debt--to peruse a career in computer programming was a wise choice. I've got bill collectors hanging on the bell and my piddly unemployment checks aren't helping cover my bills. I keep waiting for the next shoe to drop; cancer, heart disease, or some other massively expensive medical condition that would send even the most well-insured individual into a lifetime of debt or bankruptcy.

As a result, I haven't done as much gaming as I'd like to as I wallow in depression. anger, and a fruitless search for a new job. I haven't been able to afford to go to any of the major conventions and it looks like that's not going to change anytime soon, if ever. I was looking forward to going Origins and "Savage Saturday Night" again this year, but that dream was shattered each time I received a letter from a respective employer telling me that I don't even warrant an interview. Even an evening at the friendly local game store is getting prohibitively expensive; gasoline, food, incidentals, etc..

And all of my ideas for campaigns lay fallow as well; a Realms of Cthulhu campaign where the PCs play mobsters as well as my Lovecraftian Dark Fantasy setting, my attempts to create playable (and possibly marketable) Savage Worlds rules for Tekumel, playtesting Totems of the Dead, running Space 1889: Red Sands, etc.. All of these cost time, money, effort, and enthusiasm that I no longer have access to. It's hard to get excited for anything when you're constantly worried whether or not you're going to end up living in a cardboard box by the end of the month.

I don't know that the Hell I'm going to do and I shudder when I think of what lies ahead. I don't want to hear maudlin reassurances about how things are "going to get better." because they're not. If anything, things are going to get a lot worse. So, "good bye" civilization and "hello" long, slow, slide into extinction. It was fun while it lasted.

New PC: Lálei Kardáma

2011-05-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been on an "Old School Renaissance" gaming kick and one of the most interesting projects I've run across is Humanspace Empires by The Drune; a science fantasy game that is set in the pulpy space opera "pre-history" of my favorite fantasy setting. I've had a chance to help playtesting this game and I really enjoy it. Even though there is still a few bugs to work out, Drune has done a fantastic job blending the best elements of the "Classic Fantasy Role Playing Game" with the original Empire of the Petal Throne to create a very playable dark scifi game.

That said, and with all due respect with Drune, the Savage within me will not rest until I have plugged Humanspace into the Savage Worlds engine! Therefore, here is my current PC in a playtest campaign that I'm currently embroiled, parsed into Savage Worlds using Powers and Edges from Slipstream:

Lálei Kardáma (WC)

Race: Human
Gender: Female
Rank: Veteran

Agility: d8, Smarts: d8, Spirit: d6, Strength: d4, Vigor: d6
Charisma: +2, Pace: 6, Parry: 5, Toughness: 9(4)

Edges: Attractive, Arcane Background (Psionics), Rich, Command, New Power (Object Reading), Femme Fatale

Hindrances: Loyal, Vow-Major (Imperial Navy), Vow-Minor (Order of the Verdant Sphere)

Skills: Fighting: d6, Knowledge (Space Battle): d6, Notice: d6, Persuasion: d6, Piloting: d6, Psionics: d6, Shooting: d6, Stealth: d4

Powers: Empathy, Telepathy, Mind Reading, Object Reading

Power Points: 10

Gear: Z-Ray Pistol (12/24/48, 2d6+1), Psi-Sword (Str+ d6+8, AP 12, requires AB: Psionics to use), Skin Suit, Mark II Shield Belt, Communicator, Translator Orb.

Background: Lálei Kardáma was born on Epsilon Eridani 4 to retired Imperial Fleet Admiral Dör Varákka and Sóra Kardáma, his favorite concubine. Sóra , a member of the Order of the Verdant Sphere--an exclusive cult of wealthy and powerful sybarists who seek spiritual enlightenment through sexual ecstasy, initially raised her daughter to become a poised and educated courtesan-priestess of the Order. However, Lálei had other plans than a life of just parties and orgies, and using her father's influence (as well some of the physical and psionic arts her mother taught her) was accepted into the Imperial Naval Academy at 16.

In the academy, Cadet Lálei was schooled in starship mastery and command. Eventually, her psychic abilities came to her instructor's attention and entered into the prestigious School of Special Intelligence were she honed her talents. Upon graduation, Lálei quickly rose through the ranks of the male-dominated Navy through a skillful application of merit and seduction (she had the unofficially-coveted role of "Captain's Woman" on two of her deployments). The Deeds of Glory is her first independent command and she is excited at the prospect for further adventure and advancement.

Lálei is a quiet but ambitious woman who uses her intelligence and sexuality as both a tool and a weapon. She is a fair leader, but is merciless when crossed. Physically, she is small but shapely frame with a dark complication, deep-brown slanted eyes, and long black hair she keeps tied back while on duty. As a legacy member of the Order of the Verdant Sphere, she has the sect's symbol tattooed just above her vulva and will often request the presence of a comely crew member in her quarters to assist her with her "mediations" where she uses her climax as a springboard to reach new states of consciousness where she briefly communes with... something joyous.

Still kicking...

2011-04-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hey Savages:

Yes, I'm still around. I've been dealing with school and lot of real life crap, as well as some new gaming obsessions. But things are going to be quieting down soon and the Savage Blogger will be back and better than ever.

Savage Holidays!

2010-12-16T14:03:00.000-08:00

From everyone here at the Savage Blogger (and by "everyone, I mean "just me") have yourself a fun, safe, and Savage holiday season.

Staggering out of another semester.

2010-12-16T13:41:00.000-08:00

Another semester here at WCTC is about over. Three down, one more to go.

More Savagery soon.

Coming Soon: "Totems of the Dead"

2010-11-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

David Jarvis from Gun Metal Games, posted the following on the PEG forum:

Hi everyone,

I'm posting to let you guys know about Gun metal games' next setting for savage Worlds; Totems of the Dead!

Totems of the Dead is a fantasy sword & sorcery setting inspired by Native American stories and mythologies combined with the Vinland Saga.

Come explore the cliff-side ruins of the ancient Stone Shapers and seek treasure in the abandoned monuments of the Mound Raisers. Face off against the sasquatch, wendigo and Uktena serpent, or beat back nameless horrors that have awoken from a forgotten age. Rediscover the totems of ancient pre-human cultures. Stoke the fires of bravery in your own heart by singing your death song, and above all, struggle to survive in this savage world!

David also posted a sketch of the proposed cover art (see above) last night and another tantalizing tidbit this morning:

Yeah It's gonna be tons of fun.

In addition to Nordic-inspired Skadians and native american-inspired cultures, we have Atlantean slavers and free-roaming barbarians, aztec-inspired cultures, ritual sorcerers, feral shamans... just a bunch of cool stuff.

So it's The Song of Hiawatha meets The 13th Warrior with Conan the Barbarian along for a hot, hot threesome. Pure awesome! I can't wait to see what they come up with.

Savage Star Frontiers

2010-08-11T19:21:00.001-07:00

I got into this weird, wild, hobby when I was 12-years-old. One Christmas, an out of state uncle sent me a $25 gift certificate for Toy R' Us. My father turned me loose at the Brookfield, WI. store where I picked up a gyroscope and a box of pre-made microscope slides featuring insect parts. I was passing the bargain sale bin when I saw it: a copy of TSR's Star Frontiers: Alpha Dawn boxed set! It was only 12 bucks, the concept of a science fiction game was intriguing, and Larry Elmore's cover art was sooooo cool! I was sold then and there.

Much to my stuck-up parents and fundamentalist Christian relative's dismay, Star Frontiers had started me down the dark path of role-playing and forever it dominated my destiny. While I have since played dozens of systems, Star Frontiers will forever have a special place in my heart.

You can find several Star Frontiers/Savage Worlds conversion available online, including:

Greg Bruni's Star Frontiers/Savage Worlds Conversion: A very well laid-out conversion reminiscent of the original rule books.
CmdrCrody_2000's Savage Worlds RPG Page: Featuring several files of for SF/SW conversion.
Shark Nibbles #2: Containing Bill Littlefield's SF/SW conversion, archived at the Savagepedia Wiki.

Thanks to Richard McLean for tracking down the Shark Nibbles' article for me.

A Top Secret Dispatch…

2010-08-06T11:34:00.001-07:00

I just got a message from my operative at Gen Con:

THE LIFTWOOD GUNSHIP IS GOING UP.

That is all. More to follow next week.

Savage IRC!

2010-07-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

After some discussion on the PEG forums, Tyson Hayes (aka Tweek) has started a Savage Worlds IRC channel! Just set up your IRC client to irc.slashnet.org and sign onto #savageworlds. You can also use an online Chat client at #savageworlds IRC Channel (Mibbit) or if you're running Chatzilla on your Firefox Browser you can log in here.

Review: Serpent Scales #1 & 2

2010-05-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

Next to Tékumel, Ken Hite's The Day After Ragnarok has become one of my all-time favorite RPG settings of all time and it just gets better and better with each new release.

Among them, Serpent Scales: Fragments From The Wold After The Serpentfall, is a series of regularly-released PDFs that will focus in on a particular aspect of the DAR setting. In Issue #1, Ken Hite introduces us to "The New Konfederacy," the resurgence of everyone's 'favorite' militant, racist, redneck scum: The Ku Klux Klan! From their home base, The Grand Kounty (sic) of Birmingham in what used to be Alabama, these so-called "Night Riders" roam the Poisoned Lands spreading terror and chaos against those who don't fit their deranged notions of "purity." Their ultimate goal: the domination of Mayoralities and creation of a white supremacist empire!

This spunky little 16 page document gives an brief overview of the Klan's 20th century along with their organization and goals for the world of Ragnarok. The Grand Kounty is detailed in all of it's segregated, slave-trading, evil along with a run down of the despicable historical personages (Old Bull Conner is among them) that run it. A complete bestiary of Klan thugs including the terrifying Hell-Haints. Also included is a scenario generator that allows GMs to add the Klan to their campaigns.

The next issue is a little shorter. "[Happiness Is A] Sten Gun" is a 6 page brief on of the clunkiest, ugliest, and ubiquitous firearms to come out of World War II. It gives a history of the Sten gun along with its various models and rules on how to incorporate them into your DAR world. While not as in-depth as Issue #1, it does have one of the funniest headers I've ever seen on page 6.

Those who are familiar with Ken's Suppressed Transmissions articles from Pyramid know how he can weave myth and fact into fantastic seeds for RPG adventure. That's how DAR got started in the first place, and you can see it shine in Serpent Scales. Already two new issues are being planned; one will take place on legendary monster island ("Ahhhh! Godzilla!"), and other take us to Mexico where you'll find fascists, Aztec-themed serpent cultists and the luchadores who fight them for honor and justice!

School's out! School's Out...

2010-05-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

...the Teacher's let the Savages out!

Yes, summer break has finally come and I'll finally have to time to update this blog! Look for new content coming shortly!

Game Geeks Reviews DAR!

2010-04-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

Kurt Wiegel at Game Geeks gives his ringing endorsement of my favorite Savage Setting:

By Jove, old boy! It’s a Space 1889: Red Sands Preview!

2010-04-08T07:57:00.001-07:00

Michael Wolf has posted an in-depth preview of highly anticipated Space 1889: Red Sands campaign slated for GenCon 2010 release. While I'm really looking forward to getting this one, I'm disappointed that they choose to release this one at the one convention I can't go to this year. I don't suppose someone would be kind enough to pick one up at GenCon for me?

Please…?

Good News on the Cheyenne Front!

2010-02-26T21:14:00.000-08:00

Great news on Cheyenne Wright's medical status from the Folgio's:

"Cheyenne Wright...is about to be let out of the hospital! Lucky Cheyenne; it appears that what he has is some weird virus that only imitates the symptoms of congestive heart failure. Gah!"

"Gah" indeed!

Again, Cheyenne, being a freelance artist, has no health insurance (thanks Republicans!) and is going to need help taking care of his bills from his incident. The Folgio's are now planning an online eBay auction along with their Wallpaper's proposal to help raise proceeds, and donations are still being accepted at Cheyenne's PayPal address: aracanetimes@gmaill.com.

I implore anyone who can give, please do so.

Ron Blessing has a blog!

2010-02-24T11:22:00.001-08:00

Ron Blessing, game store owner and, with his wife Veronica, host of The Game's the Thing and Smiling Jack's Bar and Grill podcasts has started his own blog, Gamer: The Bogging!

Help Cheyenne Wright!

2010-02-24T09:14:00.001-08:00

As I do every Monday , Wednesday, and Friday, I stopped by Girl Genius this morning to see what Agatha Heterodyne is up to when I saw the following from Kaja Foglio:

"Cheyenne Wright, our highly esteemed friend and colorist, is currently under observation in the hospital. The doctors are not yet sure what's wrong, but it's actually sounding fairly alarming. We're quite worried."

Pinnacle fans, of course, will know Cheyenne's artwork from numerous Deadlands and Savage Worlds products. I've met Cheyenne at GenCon and Origins and he's a friendly, fascinating, and talented individual. The Foglios are putting together a fund-rasiers and in the meantime suggest that any who'd like to help out with Cheyenne's medical bills can make direct contributions to his PayPal address: arcanetimes@gmail.com

Good luck Cheyenne!

Yes , I’m still alive!

2010-02-24T09:01:00.001-08:00

UGH! Work, school, the holidays, more work, yet more school. I don't know how these "professional" bloggers do it!

Anyway, just thought I'd check in. I haven't deserted you folks… I'm just REALLY fracking busy!

New Hellfrost Character: Winterwhite

2009-12-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

Here is my current PC for the online Hellfrost game that I'm playing:

Name: Winterwhite, Race: Taiga Elf, Gender: Female

Agility: d6, Smarts: d8, Spirit: d6, Strength: d6, Vigor: d6

Pace: 6, Parry: 6 (5), Toughness: 6 (5), Charisma: 0

Skills: Climbing d4, Druidism: d8, Fighting d6, Healing: d6, Notice: d6, Shooting d6, Stealth d4, Survival d6, Tracking d6

Edges: Arcane Background (Druidism), Agile, Attractive, Forest-Born, Low Light Vision, Natural Realms, Winter Soul

Hindrances: All Thumbs, Enemy (Major), Heat Lethargy, Insular, Loyal, Stubborn

Powers: Bolt, Beast Friend, Heal

Equipment: Short Sword, 2xDaggers, Long Spear, Leather Armor, Waterskin, Flint & Steel, Bedroll, Backpack, Soap. 61 Gold, Pendant +1 vs Swarms.

XP: 10

I'm still working up a background for Winter here. However, we've sort of decided that she is the half-sister of Winterblade, a Frostborn member of the party.

Be Aggressive...

2009-12-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

My Wednesday late-night RPTools/Skype Hellfrost group has more or less adopted the the phrase "Be Aggressive" as its official battlecry...

(Oh, NSFW language, so don't come crying to me if the the boss catches you watching.)

Daring Tales of the Sprawl is OUT!

2009-10-28T20:01:00.001-07:00

Triple Ace Games has added the cyberpunk genre to the Daring Tales series of adventures called Daring Tales of the Sprawl. You can download the main setting rules for free here and purchase the first pair of adventures, Family Affair and Extraction 101, from DriveThruRPG, and Triple Ace's online store.

Daring Visions Blog is online…

2009-10-24T18:55:00.001-07:00

Daring Entertainment, publishers of the G.E.T. Into Action and Dawn of Legends Savage Settings have launched, Daring Visions, their own company blog. Stop on by and see what Daring dares to do in the near future.

Delays, Delays! Nothing but delays!

2009-10-11T21:02:00.001-07:00

It's getting to be about the mid-point of my semester here at prestigious Waukesha County Technical College. There are portfolio's to write, patch cables to crimp, programs to write, exams to study for, and final projects to start. In other words, I have a whole bunch of rather important stuff to do that get's in the way of this blogging silliness.

I hope to get the following reviews out of the way as soon as my schedule allows:

Realms Of Cthulhu by Reality Blurs
Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion by Pinnacle.
Weird War II by Pinnacle.
Disposable Heroes paper miniatures from Precis Intermedia.

In the meantime, enjoy the following insulting gamer humor: