RPG Bloggers

Official Gen Con 2012 Mutant Future Schedule from The Savage AfterWorld

The Savage Afterworld — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:26:00 +0000

Hey Gang,I'll be running three Mutant Future games at Gen Con this year (the only Mutant Future games, it appears). If you'll be in Indy and would like to traipse through the wastelands with yours truly, here are the events I'll be running:RP...

[...]

D&D Five Chat Transcript from DISCOURSE AND DRAGONS

Discourse and Dragons — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:52:00 +0000

Have any of you read the chat transcript from today? If WotC was ever interested in reclaiming gamers of previous editions, it sure doesn't sound like it now. Anyway, our group plans on kicking the tires on the playtest regardless. The primary upside?...

[...]

Playtests 3 and 4 are done! from Squamous Studios

Squamous Studios — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:45:25 +0000

During the last two Saturdays of last month, i conducted the last two play test sessions with various gamer friends of mine. Everyone had a good time with the game, and i got yet more helpful suggestions and criticisms on the game. And i actually witnessed my first argument over the design of the...

[...]

On the subject of healing from The Looney DM

The Looney DM — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Being the healing class in RPGs, both computer and tabletop, can be a thankless endeavor. Oddly enough I enjoy playing what has come to be known as the "leader" archetype in D&D style games. That is not to say I enjoy playing the healbo...

[...]

Hell on Eight Wheels: Fourteen – Traits from Observations of the Fox

Observations of the Fox — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:38:00 +0000

In Magic: the Gathering, most of the creatures traditionally have a single trait defining their race (eg. Elf, Dwarf, Goblin, Merfolk, etc.), some of the more recent sets have creatures bearing two traits, one of which is the race while the other might...

[...]

So What’s For Sale, Anyway? V from GMS Magazine

G*M*S Magazine — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:43:58 +0000

The fifth installment of Raging Swan Press’s „So what’s for sale…“-Series is 20 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages editorial, 1 page ToC/foreword, 1 page advertisement, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving 13 pages of content, so le...

[...]

Amazons, Archons and Azers [Blood & Treasure] from THE LAND OF NOD

Land of Nod — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:36:00 +0000

I'm now working my through the monster chapter doing a first pass on editing before it goes to Tanner for a more thorough look, and I decided "Why not preview a few monsters on the blog". (i.e. I needed a quick and easy post for the day because I'm bus...

[...]

[Gaming History] Power Gaming — Boot Hill NPCs from Cinerati -- Movies, Pop Culture, and Games

Cinerati — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:18:00 +0000

As a fan of Westerns, I've always wanted to play Boot Hill. I've owned a copy of the Second Edition of the game -- the one that came in the box and was published in 1979 -- for many years, but I have never had the chance to sit down and actually play a...

[...]

My house rule for planetary size from The Zhodani Base » Traveller

The Zhodani Base — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:04:13 +0000

A problem with the random generation of worlds in Traveller is that for small worlds (where size < 4) is that these worlds might get an ordinary breathable atmosphere. This is a problem, since the minimum molecular weight retained for … Continue reading →

[...]

What is Player Skill? from The Rhetorical Gamer

The Rhetorical Gamer — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:22:34 +0000

This comes up a lot. Player skill vs. Character skill. I think about this way too much sometimes and it seems like, at the end of the day, it is the most important question for me when I sit down to philosophize about gaming (which despite two and ...

[...]

Mapping Beyond the Flanaess: The Tharquish Empire from Greyhawk Grognard

Greyhawk Grognard — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:16:00 +0000

At long last, another in my series of Darlene-style maps covering western Oerik. This time, we cover the Tharquish Empire and the remainder of the Tharquish Dominions. I envision the region as a Greco-Roman type place (which is attested to in the Chron...

[...]

RPGNow Discounts – Through June from Sea of Stars RPG Design Journal

Sea of Stars — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:01:49 +0000

Those fine folks at RPGNow/DriveThruRPG have the latest set of discounts up, you can get any of the following items at 20% off (until 14 June) with the secret code at the bottom of this entry: Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion [Pinnacle Entertainment] Realms of Cthulhu [Reality Blurs] Karma...

[...]

The Troll Dens 2012-05-16 17:10:00 from The Troll Dens

The Troll Dens — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:10:00 +0000

He also does a great Red Sonja as noted in this early sketch of his.

[...]

1e to 4e: Bringing wandering monsters back into D&D from The RPG Athenaeum

The RPG Athenaeum — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:05:05 +0000

While perusing some old .pdfs of legacy edition Dungeons & Dragons modules, I was struck by how common random monster encounter tables were in the old adventures, and was reminded of the prominence of random encounters in the rules themselves. The first edition (1e) Dungeon Master’s...

[...]

Indiegogo: Barrowmaze II Hits 5k! from DISCOURSE AND DRAGONS

Discourse and Dragons — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:37:00 +0000

A quick update to say that the Barrowmaze II Campaign on Indiegogo just hit 5k! As a stretch goal to 6,000 I'll add a new field of Barrow Mounds and a deluxe Random Barrow Mound Crypt Generator that will have application to BMII and beyond. Be sure to ...

[...]

Tales From the Auction: Cryx Army, Part 2 from JP on Gaming

JP on Gaming — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:26:00 +0000

The Cryx Satyxis raiders are females imbued with dragon blood. After I bought them and began assembling them, I noticed that their horns were missing and that their whip-like lashes were broken off. So I added self-made whips and painted their horn-les...

[...]

Disbelief 2: The Disbeliefening from Troll in the Corner » Role Playing Games

Troll In The Corner — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:45:52 +0000

A few weeks ago, a commenter lamented that I didn’t give specific examples when it comes to the suspension of disbelief, breaking it, and potentially getting it back. I aim to misbehave please, and thus I’ll try to expand upon that idea a b...

[...]

White Dwarf Wednesday #16 from The Other Side blog

The Other Side — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:26:00 +0000

We open the 80s with White Dwarf #16 for Dec 1979/Jan 1980.First up we notice another step up in the cover art.We have a few pages of ads and the editorial begins on page 7. Ian Livingstone talks about how WD was voted the best games magazine in the re...

[...]

Web Clip Wednesday: The Good, The Bad & The Weird from The Geek Life Project » RPG

The Geek Life Project — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:53:51 +0000

While this looks like just an awesome movie (Yep, it’s on Netflix list.) I can’t but help think that our Deadlands posse is probably going to end up doing some wild and crazy crap like this. Not only are our characters like that but also us...

[...]

[Marvel Heroic Roleplaying] Play This Character: Johnny Gato, Hotblooded Bancho from Life and Times of a Philippine Gamer

Life and Times of a Philippine Gamer — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:29:37 +0000

Johnny Gato, Hot-blooded Bancho Solo D10, Buddy D8, Team D6 Distinctions - Ex-Delinquent - That all you got?! - Hot-Blooded Hero Power Set: Newton’s Third Enhanced Durability D8 Powered Strike D8 Leaping D8 SFX: Absorption – On a successful reaction against a Physical attack action,...

[...]

Character Improvement In A Comic Book World from BARKING ALIEN

Barking Alien — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:22:00 +0000

What I am about to say would seem to go against the accumulated genius of two of Superhero gaming's brightest and most experienced minds. I could be looked at as a fool, a heretic or simply a madman. This is nothing new for me. I disagree with genius a...

[...]

D&D Next Idea: Cast Any Spell in 10 Minutes from Blog of Holding

Blog of Holding — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:57 +0000

Mike Mearls talks about plans for the Wizard in his latest D&D Next article, Balancing Wizards in D&D. One of his ideas is that using a scoll would require expending a spell of that level to use; so the idea is that scrolls wouldn't increase overall power, but they would allow for more...

[...]

[Skull & Shackles] We’re On a Boat?! from Held Action » Role-Playing Games

Held Action — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:25 +0000

Two Fridays ago, as promised, I joined a new role-playing group to kick off the Skull & Shackles adventure path for Pathfinder. Eric (Felix Cailean), Joey (Lady Viola Leona Eudonius), John (Jetsam ibn Abbasid ibn Yunus al-Bhar; Jetsam al-Bhar for &...

[...]

Living Life By Playing The Game from Troll in the Corner » Role Playing Games

Troll In The Corner — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:20 +0000

My father views board games as a critical tool for learning concepts such as tactics, probability, and the importance of having flexible plans. This is why he had to beat me at every game of Risk for two years he claims. “I couldn’t jus...

[...]

MINDPROBE: "Superheroes Don’t Get Oscars, They Get Action Figures!" from HeroPress

HeroPress — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

As The Strobe says in The Specials: "Superheroes don't get Oscars, they get action figures". Short of having their home town or city erect a statue in their honour, a line of action figures is possibly one of the most concrete ways a superhero group is...

[...]

The Troll Dens 2012-05-16 13:59:00 from The Troll Dens

The Troll Dens — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:59:00 +0000

Here's another Buscema sketch of Conan. This one captures that raw nerve of power that is the barbarian. Frazetta was able to capture a moment, while maintaining that motion, but Buscema capture a mood. Excellent stuff.

[...]

Kuźnia Gier to release 1984: Animal Farm at Essen from GMS Magazine

G*M*S Magazine — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:19:23 +0000

Today Kuźnia Gier officially announced their new Essen release. The game is entitled “1984: Animal Farm” and created by the team responsible for “Kingpin” and “Alcatraz” – Krzysztof Cywicki, Rafał Cywicki and...

[...]

A whole bunch of games from DriveThruRPG are 20% off – here’s how to get them from Troll in the Corner » Role Playing Games

Troll In The Corner — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:05:26 +0000

So you’re looking for something new to play? Maybe a nice addition to a system you’re already familiar with or something that’s totally new to you? I’ve got two things to say about that. First, go grab the Wayne Foundation Chari...

[...]

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats from STUFFER SHACK

Stuffer Shack — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:44 +0000

People have options when it comes to how they want to be entertained. If you’re anything like me, one of your first choices is your favorite RPG. The question is, how can we get more people to share that choice with us? As there are more players, the...

[...]

Giving My Setting, Hubris, a Facelift Part 3- Mutations from Wrathofzombie's Blog » Role-playing

Wrath of Zombie — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:48:54 +0000

For previous posts- Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four) One thing I really dug in Warhammer 2e was the descriptions of mutations and beastmen. I knew I wanted something tainted and pervasive in my world and thought corrupting mutations that can fuck up my players would be loads of good fun....

[...]

On Abundunt Wealth from Hack & Slash

Hack And Slash — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Are you feeling a little dark? Gothic? Do the shadows creep long throughout the realm of your world?Looking to add interesting flavor to your game? Useful tables.Well, holy crap Tales of the Grotesque and Dungeonesque is awesome. And he's compiled many...

[...]

The Gassy Gnoll: Three (Plus) Elements of Comedic Necromancy (May of the Dead) from Game Knight Reviews

Game Knight Reviews — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:21 +0000

The Gassy Gnoll isn’t much of a comedian. Sure, he can occasionally come up with a witty quote or spontaneously create bad puns like joke grenades (that usually fizzle), but that’s about it. Farting on stage isn’t much of an act, no matter how much movies like Jackass try to make...

[...]

return of Wizardly Wednesday from Jeffs Gameblog

Jeff's Gameblog — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:52:00 +0000

Not everyday you see a wizard wearing a wristwatch.

[...]

Over The Edge RPG rules now available under the OGL from Stargazer's World

Stargazer's World — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:17:35 +0000

When I heard about Atlas Games releasing the rules under the OGL I was mildly interested. I have never read nor played Over The Edge and I didn’t even have a clue what the game was about. The name ringed a bell, but that was about it. But a lot...

[...]

Diablo Dowager from Tower of the Archmage

Tower of the Archmage — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Have you ever heard of WoW Widows? They’re the partners of World of Warcraft players who can't step AFK and spend time in the real world. It isn't just limited to WoW either. Just about every MMO has some. It goes beyond computer games too as evidenc...

[...]

Your Whispering Homunculus: Fifty Strange Timepieces from Kobold Quarterly

Kobold Quarterly — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:26 +0000

Master Pett’s Your Whispering Homunculus presents only the finest in British gaming. Indeed, you are not likely to find a more comprehensive assortment of miscellany anywhere. (So much more than just another bloke in a dress.) [previously] “Grotsward, what time is it?” “Six Threbs beyond Tulward,...

[...]

On Play-By-Posts and Social Contracts from Exchange of Realities

Exchange of Realities — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:25 +0000

Ah, the play-by-post game. You’d think it would be a supremely stable means of gaming; after all, it can work despite people being on opposite sides of the world, and people actually get to think about their turns without their fellow players being bored out of their minds. But a vast...

[...]

Hell on Eight Wheels: Thirteen – Abilities from Observations of the Fox

Observations of the Fox — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:03:00 +0000

What is the point of a special ability if it isn’t special?Abilities need to have some kind of significant impact, otherwise players won’t bother using them, and they might just forget to use them. If abilities aren’t used, there isn’t much poi...

[...]

Most Games Just End from Reality Refracted

Reality Refracted — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Short post for today, but it is something I've found myself explaining to several people of late and figured it deserved a blog post of it's own.Most experienced DMs will tell you this. Some will tell you it with a feeling of sadness for what could hav...

[...]

Talk to me about C&C from The Other Side blog

The Other Side — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:46:00 +0000

My son's group has moved from Pathfinder, to ACKs and now to Castles & Crusades.I recall playing around with this game a little bit when it first came out. But now I see there are a bunch of new 4th printing covers that are green. Are t...

[...]

Beholder – gone in sixty seconds from The ArmChair General

The Armchair General — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:56:46 +0000

The twelfth level superdungeon party decided to try to catch the patrol that had left the fort before they attacked it. Using the knowledge of Robert the Captain turned prisoner they avoided the double back and arrived safely at the meeting place where...

[...]

Hell on Eight Wheels: Twelve – Teams from Observations of the Fox

Observations of the Fox — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:31:00 +0000

Getting back to work on Ho8W; it’s been a while since I’ve looked at this, so it’s probably good that I start on a completely different part of the rules. I’ve been thinking about the ways in which skaters are differentiated. This seems to be t...

[...]

Review – Dreamchipper from Sea of Stars RPG Design Journal

Sea of Stars — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:22:03 +0000

Dreamchipper is a blast from the past, an adventure for the original version of Shadowrun. It is still a fun read and a fun adventure but a few additional pages with suggestions on ways to update and adapt it to the current edition and setting would not have been amiss. Dreamchipper for Shadowrun...

[...]

Click Here to See What Rocks from Gothridge Manor

Gothridge Manor — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:45:00 +0000

Loviatar's 9th issue does! So somewhere in the shuffle of stuff I did not post my thoughts on the latest issue of Loviatar. To you not so smart people who have not subscribed to it, get an automatic +1 boost in Intelligence for doing so. An...

[...]

May of the Dead from themandragora.com » RPGs

Bill Heron — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:45 +0000

Undead and Loving It As part of the May of the Dead blog carnival I’ve put together some thoughts on the undead and running them in RPGs. The core ideas is coming up with a single emotion or passion that drives each undead type, and applying that to their outlook and the ways of playing...

[...]

Kickstarting Deadlands Noir from The Geek Life Project » RPG

The Geek Life Project — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:36:40 +0000

Pinnacle Entertainment announced their new secret setting and it’s Deadlands Noir and their funding it via Kickstarter. It was only announced at noon Eastern time today and it’s already exceeded its goal. Wow. Now, I know I haven’t be...

[...]

First DemonLord title and draft cover from Trollish Delver

Trollish Delver — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:26:00 +0000

I've recently been working on DemonLord, the gamebook series based on USR and I just wanted to share a couple of things with you. First off, the title I'm running with is DemonLord: Mountains of Ember, which may give a bit of insight into what the...

[...]

Raging Swan Press releases So What’s the Hoard Like, Anyway? II from GMS Magazine

G*M*S Magazine — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:23:04 +0000

This week, Raging Swan Press is proud to announce the release of So What’s the Hoard Like, Anyway? II a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game compatible GM’s RESOURCE by Andrew J. Martin and Liz Smith. Your PCs are deep in the dungeon and have just defeated ...

[...]

The Forgotten Depths from Alex Schroeder: RPG

Alex Schroeder — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:52:11 +0000

Starting with a monster list.

[...]

Free Map Muesday from The Labyrinth

The Labyrinth — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:44:00 +0000

Here is this week's free map for you. Like all of our Free Map Monday Maps, this map is 100% free for your personal use. It is devoid of city/town markers, mountains, forests, or anything else which leaves you free to add a...

[...]