tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13765753678923666672024-03-20T08:11:36.423-07:00Fantasy Heartbreak WorkshopBut deeper in something in the shadows moves, large and ponderous.
It seems the Lich-Mage, King of Death, has left something here. . .
A trap for the unwary.Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-60712993907813820832023-07-23T10:59:00.023-07:002023-07-23T11:12:42.561-07:00Magic Items: Wings of Thistledown & Wand of Whimsy<p> The following items are condensed from dreams, impressions, and tales drifting through the Feywild, or in similar fairy or dream realms. While items with similar effects may be created by mortal magicians, there is no known way to create these specific items. They must be found among fey and dreams, or obtained from another owner.</p><p>Within a fey realm, the <i>Wings of Thistledown</i> and <i>Wand of Whimsy</i> are often found as part of a stereotypical fairy costume for dolls. But, since they are normally found in the toy chests of fey giants, the magical items in question will be scaled to work well for most small and medium creatures.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Wings of Thistledown</h2><p>These are small, costume wings which go on a character's back. The wings may be made of nearly any lightweight material including starched fabric, stiff paper, feathers, wire and gauze, or tufts of cotton. They may attach via separate straps, or be sewn into an outfit of particolored leotard and crinoline tutu. When the wings are worn, they allow the character to move across a surface as delicate as paper or snow without breaking it. When falling the wings automatically cast the <i>Featherfall</i> spell on the wearer.</p><p>These effects work even if the wearer has no time to attune with the item.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Wand of Whimsy</h2><p>This type of wand may take many forms, but typically either has an ornate motif in whatever the local culture considers feminine, or appears as a gaudy, simplistic children's caricature of what a wand should be, often with a stylized star at the tip.</p><p>Anyone can use a <i>Wand of Whimsy</i>, but a short rest is required to attune with it. All saving throws against the wand's effects are DC 15.</p><p>A <i>Wand of Whimsy</i> can be used as follows:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Any number of times the following spells can be cast as a standard action:</li><ul><li>Dancing Lights</li><li>Minor Illusion</li><li>Prestidigitation</li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Once per 24 hours, the user may create an effect as if the <i>Wand of Whimsey</i> was a Wand of Wonder: Choose a target within 120 feet of you. The target can be a creature, an object, or a point in space. Roll d100 and consult the following table to discover what happens. If a spell cast by the wand normally has a range expressed in feet, its range becomes 120 feet if it isn’t already. If an effect covers an area, you must center the spell on and include the target. If an effect has multiple possible subjects, the GM randomly determines which ones are affected. Possible effects include (1d100):</li></ul><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><b>01–05</b> You cast slow.</li><li><b>06–10</b> You cast faerie fire.</li><li><b>11–15</b> You are stunned until the start of your next turn, believing something awesome just happened.</li><li><b>16–20</b> You cast gust of wind.</li><li><b>21–25</b> You cast detect thoughts on the target you chose. If you didn’t target a creature, you instead take 1d6 psychic damage.</li><li><b>26–30</b> You cast stinking cloud.</li><li><b>31–33</b> Heavy rain falls in a 60-foot radius centered on the target. The area becomes lightly obscured. The rain falls until the start of your next turn.</li><li><b>34–36</b> An animal appears in the unoccupied space nearest the target. The animal isn’t under your control and acts as it normally would. Roll a d100 to determine which animal appears:</li><ul><li><b><i>01–25</i></b> a rhinoceros appears</li><li><b><i>26–50</i></b> an elephant appears</li><li><b><i>51–100</i></b> a rat appears</li></ul><li><b>37–46</b> You cast lightning bolt.</li><li><b>47–49</b> A cloud of 600 oversized butterflies fills a 30-foot radius centered on the target. The area becomes heavily obscured. The butterflies remain for 10 minutes.</li><li><b>50–53</b> You enlarge the target as if you had cast enlarge/reduce. If the target can’t be affected by that spell, or if you didn’t target a creature, you become the target.</li><li><b>54–58</b> You cast darkness.</li><li><b>59–62</b> Grass grows on the ground in a 60-foot radius centered on the target. If grass is already there, it grows to ten times its normal size and remains overgrown for 1 minute.</li><li><b>63–65</b> An object of the GM’s choice disappears into the Ethereal Plane. The object must be neither worn nor carried, within 120 feet of the target, and no larger than 10 feet in any dimension.</li><li><b>66–69</b> You shrink yourself as if you had cast enlarge/reduce on yourself.</li><li><b>70–79</b> You cast fireball.</li><li><b>80–84</b> You cast invisibility on yourself.</li><li><b>85–87</b> Leaves grow from the target. If you chose a point in space as the target, leaves sprout from the creature nearest to that point. Unless they are picked off, the leaves turn brown and fall off after 24 hours.</li><li><b>88–90</b> A stream of 1d4 × 10 gems, each worth 1 gp, shoots from the wand’s tip in a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. Each gem deals 1 bludgeoning damage, and the total damage of the gems is divided equally among all creatures in the line.</li><li><b>91–95</b> A burst of colorful shimmering light extends from you in a 30-foot radius. You and each creature in the area that can see must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or become blinded for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.</li><li><b>96–97</b> The target’s skin turns bright blue for 1d10 days. If you chose a point in space, the creature nearest to that point is affected.</li><li><b>98–00</b> If you targeted a creature, it must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. If you didn’t target a creature, you become the target and must make the saving throw. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target is instantly petrified. On any other failed save, the target is restrained and begins to turn to stone. While restrained in this way, the target must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The petrification lasts until the target is freed by the greater restoration spell or similar magic.</li></ul></ul><p></p><div><br /></div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-77433944034654091412023-07-13T07:35:00.000-07:002023-07-13T07:35:54.610-07:00Magic Armor/Weapon: Stompy Boots<p>Stompy boots are always large (seemingly oversized), metal, armored boots. Each pair was once worn by a Knight of Chaos and is now infused with their essence. Stompy Boots have the following advantages and disadvantages:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Grants +1 protection (cumulative with other armor worn).</li><li>Kicking attacks are now treated as 1d6 weapons with a +2 magic bonus to attack or damage. This bonus also applies to attempts to break things via kicking.</li><li>Attacks which involve stomping on an opponent from above, do 1d12 base damage instead of 1d6.</li><li>Any time the character is moving, they automatically fail at attempts to sneak or hide. Even characters without a sense of hearing can feel the vibrations in the ground and air from these boots.</li></ul><p></p><div>(These boots inspired by an item from the <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2065840/TROUBLE_JUICE/" target="_blank">Trouble Juice</a> video <a href="https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/858940" target="_blank">game</a>.)</div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-76584294759952521542023-07-03T13:00:00.001-07:002023-07-12T13:16:52.643-07:00Magical Weapon: Flambeaux<p>Flambeaux are a category of magical weapons, typically taking the form of a shortsword whose blade blazes and illuminates like a torch when drawn. Flambeaux are treated as +1 magical weapons and can set flammable things on fire with a touch. However, once a Flamdeaux is drawn, it negates invisibility and all normal attempts at stealth used by the person bearing it.</p><p>Sheathing the sword must be done in daylight. If the sword is sheathed under other conditions, then the flames transfer to the carrier. The bearer's head seems to dance with bright tongues of harmless flame. These intangible flames can only be extinguished by soaking the bearer's head while lit with daylight, or if another individual takes and attunes with the sword.</p><p>Because of these inconveniences, some consider Flambeaux to be cursed weapons, or at least of mixed usefulness. However, they are also somewhat easier to construct than many other traditional flaming swords.</p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-72842481517356121412023-07-03T12:34:00.002-07:002023-07-03T12:34:24.070-07:00Magic Material: Memori Foam<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>How much memory foam do I have to eat to remember why I put up with most of this shit?</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://mastodon.social/@JonBaker/110646598449401966" target="_blank">- Jon Baker</a></i></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div><br /></div><div>No information is truly lost to entropy. It sublimes into the seething sea of virtual particles and quantum interactions. But sometimes this potential information can accumulate as Memori Foam, a semi-tangible substance: In areas with unusual energy qualities, in the tissues of some strange creatures, or through specific scientific or magical processes.</div><p class="MsoNormal">Memori Foam comes in accumulations of one or more doses, which can have many functions. The more common uses include:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Recovery:</b> If a dose is smeared across the surface of a broken item or damaged text, then it forms a powerful psychic impression, allowing all people who touch it in the future to gain an insight into the complete text or shape of the item. Those with the right skills may use this ability to recreate a copy of the item.</li><li><b>Spellcasting:</b> Ingesting the foam allows one to cast or write down any spell, even if they are not of an appropriate level/tier or have not studied it before. The spell cast depends on the number of doses consumed:</li><ul><li>One dose per spell level.</li><li>If the spell is not one allowed by your classes, it requires 2 extra doses.</li><li>Wish spells may not be case in this way.</li></ul><li><b>Remembrance:</b> A piece of information is revealed to the ingester. At their preference this information is either something they are specifically seeking out, or something generally relevant and useful to the situation. The number of doses consumed dictates how obscure the information may be:</li><ul><li><b>1 Dose</b> – Reveals a memory from their own past. This may be a lost or suppressed memory.</li><li><b>2 Doses</b> – Information relevant to the ingester’s own skills, training, or history, but not necessarily something the ingester has been directly exposed to in the past. This includes anything which might reasonably be gleaned with a skill check of up to DC 30.</li><li><b>4 Doses</b> – Information that is not relevant to the ingester’s own personal skills, training, or history. But this excludes concealed knowledge.</li><li><b>8 Doses</b> – May be used to gain even a concealed or hidden piece of knowledge being sought. If there is some reason the knowledge does not exist or would be completely inaccessible (e.g. due to godlike power) or is uncertain (i.e. some aspects of the future are uncertain), then the ingester gains this information, but finds they’ve only consumed one dose of foam.</li></ul></ul><p></p><p></p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-77950201225631937692022-12-30T00:01:00.002-08:002022-12-30T18:55:59.363-08:00Dragon Teeth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ejR2EDZSyy7GZjLKyyG1Ay8uKoOAG2gB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPD4eNqi6xGcdPJcvmpHq0D0ixWTUGBxZ2JGdJyT_GmcOBSagybsWVzRTeHse_hPrl06lLGMdDZciEyzSKYl1QoP4JPX2ulvI99sAC3FwO2jwlG4Y53DfiYjUTwkrADS75Of8kL_iskOeyix6rlBMtPOfEQLjjUa1LfxBzqrROCvE_v9ATLpa8Zr3Pwg/s320/Screenshot_20221230-030621_OneDrive.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><div>Rough draft of a game I've been working on, tentatively named "Dragon Teeth".</div><div>This is derived from the <a href="https://microlite20.org/" target="_blank">Microlite</a> branch of games and is intended to be very vaguely 5E compatible.</div><div><br /></div><div>Other goals:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fewer classes</li><li>Instead of 20 levels, just six tiers encompassing common power levels games tend to center on.</li><li>Warrior (fighter) class is very easy to play without a lot of extra details to keep track of.</li><li>Expert (rogue) class is a skill monkey.</li><li>Four magic classes:</li><ul><li>Adept - Innate magic</li><li>Mage - Learned/academic magic</li><li>Invoker - Magic provided by an external patron.</li><li>Druid - Basically a nature invoker. Slightly different abilities.</li></ul><li>Spellcasting system largely derived from some experimental 5E ideas on how to make the system more flexible and powerful, yet arduous and difficult to overuse.</li><li>Part of the idea is also that the system should be simple enough to easily add custom bits.</li></ul><div>Initial drafts can be found here:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ejR2EDZSyy7GZjLKyyG1Ay8uKoOAG2gB" target="_blank">Dragon Teeth Draft</a></div></div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-19957964405944313932022-10-20T12:47:00.011-07:002022-10-20T12:50:23.582-07:00Realm of Mists & Mirrors<p>On Reddit recently, user wittmitin described <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/y7g8k0/need_help_with_ideas_for_littjara_fog_and_mirror/" target="_blank">a plane of existence</a>:</p><p></p><blockquote><i>It is the realm of the Shapeshifters and is made of an ever-shifting forest of mist and reflection. It is very easy to get lost inside.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>And requested details which would make the place an interesting experience.</p><p>This seemed like a fun opportunity to brainstorm, and below is what I came up with.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>So, elements in play in this realm: Fog, Mirrors, shapeshifters.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Navigating</u></b></h3><p>Assuming this is a hex crawl, just progressing toward your destination is more difficult because of the tricky nature of the place. Each time you make two checks to navigate, though these are different depending on the local environment:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Mist</b> - In areas of excessive fog, each hex moved requires a Survival check and a Perception check to not get confused by the poor visual region.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Mirrors</b> - In areas where there is no fog, each hex moved requires a Survival check and a Insight check. Because of the ever shifting nature of the place, the only way to tell for sure where you're going is by reading the demeanor of your reflections. When getting close to specific goals or obstacles, hints in the reflection's personalities will tell you if you are in danger or on the right track.</li></ul><p></p><p>The outcome of these checks determines your progress:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>If you pass both, you move in the right direction.</li><li>If you pass only one check you either stay in the same zone or go only slightly off track (a hex adjacent to the one you intended).</li><li>If you fail both checks, you travel in a random direction.</li></ul><p></p><p>The same character need not make both checks.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><u>Creatures</u></h3><div><p><b>The Double-Half Animals</b> - These are deer, rabbits, and similar forest creatures which look normal at first, but on closer inspection their bodies are bisected by mirrors. These are really two half-animals which move together along the mirror surface in perfect sync.</p><p>If you attempt to hunt and kill the animal, you automatically make two attacks (e.g. with an arrow). If both succeed, then the two halves of the animal are struck at the same time. If only one attack succeeds, then half the animal dies (50% chance mirror half, 50% chance natural half). In this case, the still-living half continues to run on along the surface of the mirror and may escape. If the mirror version survives, then you can see the inside of its bones, spine, organs, guts, etc.</p><p>The meat is edible 50% of the time. The other 50% the chirality of the molecules that make up the animal half is reversed, and will make you violently ill. An Intelligence check related to Arcana, Alchemy, Poison proficiency can tell if it is edible.</p></div><div><div><p><b>The Mirror People</b> - In all the reflective surfaces, there are images of your party. All distorted, although some only barely so. Touching a mirrored surface frees one of the mirror people. They are always silent, but may or may not be hostile. Some might want to return to the mirror surface, some might flee to live free in the wood, some might attempt to kill their double, some will try to return to the prime material plane and take over their double's life. Only Insight checks can reveal their attitude toward the party.</p></div><p></p><ul><li>Stat the characters as if they were created via a Simulacrum spell.</li></ul><p></p></div><div><p><b>On (not so) Little Cat Feet</b> - There is a giant cat made of fog which moves utterly silently and is nearly invisible as it inhabits the denser foggy areas. It prefers to toy with its prey before eating. It is not invulnerable though, and you may be able to fascinate it with typical cat things (e.g. will attack the end of a rope beign pulled around a corner).</p></div><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Use Owlbear stats, except treat if effected by the spells: Greater Invisibility in fog or Blur outside of fog.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Unformed Changelings</b> - Sometimes, usually in the distance, you can see a pale, amorphous humanoid shape walking haltingly through the forest, seemingly in confusion. These are Changelings, humanoid shapeshifters, who have never before taken form. They lack personality or clear purpose, and will continue in this state until they encounter a humanoid creature.</p><p>It is unclear these Unformed come into being. Some believe they condense out of the mists or emerge like virtual particles from their own reflection.</p><p>If the Changeling is seen but doesn't detect the PCs, then it continues on its way in the same manner.</p><p>If it sees the PCs at a distance, it will halt for a moment, then begin to slowly approach. However, it can be easily eluded, and will forget the PCs after a round or two.</p><p>However, if it encounters player characters at closer than 10 yards:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Changeling will take on the shape of the most charismatic character within the vicinity.</li><li>The Changeling will begin to form it's own personality. This will likely be unique in many ways, but will always be of opposite alignment to the person whose shape it first copied.</li><li>While it will lack the specialized skills and abilities of the person it first copied, it will pick up very general forms of knowledge the character possessed, such as language and how a typical person in their homeland lives.</li><li>The Changeling is unlikely to immediately attack, but may flee or try to integrate itself into the party before slipping away at an opportune moment.</li></ul><div>Within a week of taking their first form, the Changeling will gradually take on the qualities of either a standard Changeling or a Doppelgänger with its own thoughts and goals.</div><p></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Terrain & Environment</u></b></h3><p><b>10,000 Years Bad Luck</b> - Anyone smashing a mirrored surface that is part of the forest on purpose will take disadvantage on all their attempts while in the forest. This ends when they leave the realm, but for the rest of their life, their reflection will always appear to be screaming in horror.</p><p><b>The Impenetrable Fog</b> - In certain areas the mist will become so thick as to be literally impassible, it gradually gets thicker and more difficult to push through until one gets stuck, as if in a Web spell.</p><div><b>The Whispers</b> - In any foggy area, on a failed perception check you might hear whispers. Roll 1d6:</div><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Whispers are unintelligible.</li><li>Whispers spout useless snippets. Bits of shopping lists, random questions, greetings to people you don't know.</li><li>Whispers say something about you personally that only a close friend might know.</li><li>Whispers mention trivia about someone else, possibly an enemy. Maybe true or useful.</li><li>Whispers tell something untrue or misleading.</li><li>Whispers are taunting, terrifying or getting too personal. On a failed Wisdom Save (DC 15), take the Frightened condition and flee randomly. Save attempt each round to stop.</li></ol><p></p><p><b>Smoke & Mirrors</b> - In some areas with thicker fog, a combination of fog and reflections will cause parties to become separated from each other. Thinking they are traveling together still, while only reflections of their comrades are nearby. It becomes very difficult to meet up again.</p><p><b>The False Foods</b> - The mirror flora do grow here, and some are edible (e.g. mushrooms, fruit, roots, nuts, etc.). But these become extremely difficult to identify, since they change shape to resemble other fruit. To successfully find such a plant, make a survival check as usual. But to identify if it is edible, you will need to succeed at either an Investigate, Alchemy, Arcana or Insight check. This allows you to spot flaws in its disguise and figure out if it is deadly or not. Even if you identify that it won't kill you, there can be beneficial side effects similar to various spells. Roll percentile dice:</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable">
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center"><b>% Roll</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center"><b>Similar Spell</b></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p><b>Details</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">01-49<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">n/a<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Regular
plant of its kind. Edible. One ration
worth.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">50-52<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Alter Self<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Alters
you to look like another character of your choosing. You must lock eyes with
the character to duplicate them. This effects lasts until you leave the
plane. Outside the plane it lasts the usual duration for this spell.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">53-55<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Bestow Curse<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Your
skin and everything in your possession becomes reflective as if in a mirror.
The first time someone hits you, the surface shatters, and the one who hit
you is afflicted with a Bestow Curse spell.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">56-58<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Blur<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Within
the plane, lasts until your next long rest. Outside the plane, lasts the
usual duration.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">59-61<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Color Spray<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Your
body turns momentarily transparent, and any light passing through it refracts
to produce a color spray.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">62-64<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Dimension Door<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Works
between any mirrored surfaces within range.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">65-67<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Disguise Self<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Alters
you to look like another character of your choosing. You must lock eyes with
the character to duplicate them. This effects lasts until you leave the
plane. Outside the plane it lasts the usual duration for this spell.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">68-70<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Fog Cloud<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>The
fog cloud is centered on you and follows you, you can see through it, but
others can not. Your cloud allows you to pass through Impenetrable Fog.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">71-73<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Gaseous Form<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>On
this plane works until your next long rest, but elsewhere works normally.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">74-76<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Goodberry<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>It is
just a very nourishing plant.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">77-79<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Grease<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Not
actually grease, the surface you throw the fruit onto simply becomes mirror
finished and slippery as ice.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">80-82<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Magic Jar<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>An
image of the person of your choosing becomes trapped within the crystaline
fruit. Otherwise the spell works normally. One use per fruit.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">83-85<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Major Image<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Throwing
the fruit down, it becomes the image of your choosing.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">86-88<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Mirage Arcana<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Works
normally.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">89-91<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Mirror Image<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Works
normally.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">92-94<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Mislead<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Works
normally.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">95-97<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Prismatic Spray<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>Your
body turns momentarily transparent, and any light passing through it refracts
to produce a color spray.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td valign="center" width="“70”">
<p align="center">98-00<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="“180”">
<p align="center">Shatter<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td valign="center" width="500">
<p>When
struck like a bell and thrown, the fruit produces a destructive sound before
it also shatters.<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p>
Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-19896778422726732262022-06-03T13:40:00.003-07:002022-06-03T13:43:36.205-07:00The Hives at the Fields' Furthest Margin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3i-RdJBejj9Gny3D3m1V5o4d3KnVgFfWG1t67O3rw67d4JxpsSi2K3YyK3LMyTO2v6yQLLkqddhknBxNA8s84bUSefZPVW6I7GP82UTu2pdSt9EApwCWRycj8VemkwZg_H5oegFbaRLzGV9HVhtBG6StbmwX0YNPr_iKNahu23kC_ogBu37KPzhIwg/s544/honeybeeoncomb2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="402" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3i-RdJBejj9Gny3D3m1V5o4d3KnVgFfWG1t67O3rw67d4JxpsSi2K3YyK3LMyTO2v6yQLLkqddhknBxNA8s84bUSefZPVW6I7GP82UTu2pdSt9EApwCWRycj8VemkwZg_H5oegFbaRLzGV9HVhtBG6StbmwX0YNPr_iKNahu23kC_ogBu37KPzhIwg/w295-h400/honeybeeoncomb2.png" width="295" /></a></div><p><b>Logan (the DM) had posed question:</b></p><p></p><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://twitter.com/LogantheDM/status/1530010323029204993" target="_blank">@LogantheDM<br /></a></i><i>Bees would have to be a fey based fantasy race, right? Like say I am making bee people for #DnD and was trying to explain why they are more people than just giant bees? Fey, right?</i></div></blockquote><p></p><p>In my mind "fey" connotes things "liminal" in some way, an in between state. Like both familiar and strange. Or at the edge of cultivated lands (not deep woods or in town). Is it real or a dream? You thought this person was dead, but (through magical thinking) they seem alive-ish.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><div>So the thing is to find some way that bees fit this vibe.</div><div><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Fey Bees</h2><p></p><p>On a drowsy summer day, if you go to check furthest hives at 5 minutes to noon, the skeps seem larger somehow, though they measure the regular size if one has the tools to check. If you tarry for more than a few seconds, the soothing buzz makes you fuzzy in the head and the cloying sweet smell is overpowering.</p><p>And you find you can go inside the hive, even though it should be too small for you. If you're not hostile then the bees seem not to mind. Bumbling into someone near the crowded entrance, an old matronly nursemaid bee takes you under her wing and leads you on a tour of the grubs (<i>"They're suffering tracheal mites, the poor dears. Wouldn't happen to have a few crystals of Dr. Tincture's Menthol about, would you? Would do them no end of good."</i>). She doesn't speak, just does a bit of a dance now and then, but you understand her meaning somehow.</p><p>And all the time you are just yawning and want to fall asleep & nap in drowsy midday warmth. But the nursemaid says you daresn't. A big thing like you would no doubt thrash in your sleep and wreck the combs and cells.</p><p>Only a few things here might get you in trouble during your visit: Stealing the honey (though some trade or service might be arranged in exchange), attacking someone (especially the grubs), or harming the hive.</p><p>Those who break the rules find large clusters of bees (whose bodies seem the size of mules) crowding around, bundling the offender in closer and closer. The twitching of their flight muscles becomes so rapid, their bodies warm to baking temperatures. Any offender mobbed in such a way must make a wisdom save to fight off the bees or they will be slowly cooked alive. Anyone succeeding the wisdom save finds themselves in a field once more, being stung by a swarm of regularly sized bees.</p><p>If anyone smokes or lights a fire while inside the hive, the nursemaid shrieks at you in an absolutely terrified and terrifying voice, unlike anything you've heard from her before. The workers all freak out and every bee in sight starts gorging on honey or packing up grubs and flying away. Even if the fire is minor or doesn't touch the walls, the hive melts away and you find yourselves in a field again, surrounded by a spattering of melted wax and the normally sized bodies of dead bees.</p><p>Those who demonstrate grace and peaceful intentions during their visit, or who bear appropriate presents, may gain an audience with the queen: She is a regally crowned and gowned insect, very plump with child. Her voice is the buzz of all the bees in the hive.</p><p>If you do some great service for her, she may grant you her blessing, and swarms of bees will assist you at unlikely times during certain dire situations you might happen into over later adventures. Upon leaving the hive amicably, no matter how long your visit, you wake up 5 minutes after noon in a field near the hives.</p><p>You may or may not ever be able to return.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">See also:</h3><p>Other works that probably played some part in shaping my thoughts about this </p><p><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Apis" target="_blank">Clan Apis</a></b> by Jay Hosler - A (relatively) accurate comic about the life of a honeybee in a hive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncPhxaQw6pKDQX9TrGkY1zMGk6X90IsEZD0A6hAlyo5nQs2Kfrb716VT3QK4RgQNupkPmxsPYRdX81Q9gIAPBJ8ncIt4MS7m1Zu_UiKON8iBmtdu1G8plp_UTK0K9tUuZ0CURQt_If5NP0Fn6xTYcz1cm0fSeGzztsvIKju7p8EcZzk5gO1ZxLMnRsg/s563/Clan-Apis2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="563" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncPhxaQw6pKDQX9TrGkY1zMGk6X90IsEZD0A6hAlyo5nQs2Kfrb716VT3QK4RgQNupkPmxsPYRdX81Q9gIAPBJ8ncIt4MS7m1Zu_UiKON8iBmtdu1G8plp_UTK0K9tUuZ0CURQt_If5NP0Fn6xTYcz1cm0fSeGzztsvIKju7p8EcZzk5gO1ZxLMnRsg/w400-h226/Clan-Apis2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><b><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/15137/15137-h/15137-h.htm" target="_blank">The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-winkle</a></b> by Beatrix Potter - This is in some ways the most direct parallel with what I wrote. It has nothing to do with bees at all, but has the quality of mid-day reverie leading to fantastical-yet-mundane encounters that came to my mind.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVxaXMg9ROE0jDlHCntMDrjvuKCxc2PS2Uhg6fmN7QVPTu78O4T4iB8fJbtQQPoLpyJGy9jn9MRncA0ujkF3NJ3f5Mm9lcpJfWnfs9UGJ-d18HSyhWFjBGy8I3QSQOKEXBk7GIgXIxuq0AuOlLL9sgRI9yCFon6n1IhHSUEM3exLy3CBUedrC96UO9g/s400/16-tb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVxaXMg9ROE0jDlHCntMDrjvuKCxc2PS2Uhg6fmN7QVPTu78O4T4iB8fJbtQQPoLpyJGy9jn9MRncA0ujkF3NJ3f5Mm9lcpJfWnfs9UGJ-d18HSyhWFjBGy8I3QSQOKEXBk7GIgXIxuq0AuOlLL9sgRI9yCFon6n1IhHSUEM3exLy3CBUedrC96UO9g/w274-h320/16-tb.jpg" width="274" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVULTLSLJN1tNyHWXg9KfTsTLOybJA5rDJW8yx6j13HA-Fniu91ZJ75Qx3ES2zNxwWgpQ9E4IMfyJT_RmzUw6T_MZZUBeB6LcuOCzCQk2J1lsuLZWxJENUCu-wlyfcW85pIYlRWNJu-EmOXSxUBCSaeVm40mPZFp7Nl3ZKk13BqOD1GEb9VQQNz95juQ/s400/24-tb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVULTLSLJN1tNyHWXg9KfTsTLOybJA5rDJW8yx6j13HA-Fniu91ZJ75Qx3ES2zNxwWgpQ9E4IMfyJT_RmzUw6T_MZZUBeB6LcuOCzCQk2J1lsuLZWxJENUCu-wlyfcW85pIYlRWNJu-EmOXSxUBCSaeVm40mPZFp7Nl3ZKk13BqOD1GEb9VQQNz95juQ/w274-h320/24-tb.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b><a href="http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/2010/09/bee-on-comb.html" target="_blank">The Bee on the Comb</a></b> by Kit Williams - This was published as an "armchair treasure hunt" book. While it deals little with the experience of life in the hive per se, bees feature prominently. And many of the paintings evoke a reverie/half-dreaming mode of viewing the natural world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJkP_ebCL9E7qI8zEPzYlfOsMibratUaeXJD9QS6xgL29aHpZvRnaX8jlecjD9LOIKnqtlg7JQPVhckzDyopzpT1rqiVNidd-RESnoZsrMOCJNlRZvWp5QmhsIF4wZw5cJTG2tvqySDdlRUEdh0o0CznJqZe9EeNojM-gLsrtO758RnyRAidNK5Qt_g/s500/tbitc2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="390" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJkP_ebCL9E7qI8zEPzYlfOsMibratUaeXJD9QS6xgL29aHpZvRnaX8jlecjD9LOIKnqtlg7JQPVhckzDyopzpT1rqiVNidd-RESnoZsrMOCJNlRZvWp5QmhsIF4wZw5cJTG2tvqySDdlRUEdh0o0CznJqZe9EeNojM-gLsrtO758RnyRAidNK5Qt_g/w192-h246/tbitc2.jpg" width="192" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5GlKEDXfX6A_5Ut5097UKF2RHMvThMXPR9EgzcyeJjkR1Y1G3icxn7uRiGk3JDhiamWZqcwTiRoTbRPb2jdx9jCQ6QtIbSeAl8Lap5EpNIJffgcJ95U3Bcheax7y_qD9KTTkGGG_rJVKIcT7fgLb1_OBqZgGWZdI1xv7upARQhz2Aoi9Npqdj3FeTw/s500/tbitc3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="381" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5GlKEDXfX6A_5Ut5097UKF2RHMvThMXPR9EgzcyeJjkR1Y1G3icxn7uRiGk3JDhiamWZqcwTiRoTbRPb2jdx9jCQ6QtIbSeAl8Lap5EpNIJffgcJ95U3Bcheax7y_qD9KTTkGGG_rJVKIcT7fgLb1_OBqZgGWZdI1xv7upARQhz2Aoi9Npqdj3FeTw/w189-h246/tbitc3.jpg" width="189" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT7x6401rdr6HGNOpNEDTaPYzonLWx_KknzJfEUZnodiRjrCspKZpudtJXLQaF0t9s4MCx6IVWDqAV1rQ_-5ieDnhz8kvqOU9By1HKq_4FYxI1elTl1ykRvAPYqlT4xDGWojDSGUid4UYWd0QLGVwpb5BR5KFcvffM2ePGnp2PYEoxdg6MaLNFLa4OA/s500/tbitc1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="384" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT7x6401rdr6HGNOpNEDTaPYzonLWx_KknzJfEUZnodiRjrCspKZpudtJXLQaF0t9s4MCx6IVWDqAV1rQ_-5ieDnhz8kvqOU9By1HKq_4FYxI1elTl1ykRvAPYqlT4xDGWojDSGUid4UYWd0QLGVwpb5BR5KFcvffM2ePGnp2PYEoxdg6MaLNFLa4OA/w189-h245/tbitc1.jpg" width="189" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUSaCeVIIeoegy_mB0BV8NBD0R0vEqsg6stlFRIt1LKoLbgSJi-27Ha7m65RPoElHhsXT8zVCxrKFGeDl-FeV4XlSS9hJIq9stNeCf39ssGNyfe74rAJ0DPLz4Cooh3ICYQ9hHd9vFF7cPaFqcI459g9dCtCA33p-JGgmTxT_U-muZwTwGrPC_ioJ6g/s1155/tbitc4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="1155" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUSaCeVIIeoegy_mB0BV8NBD0R0vEqsg6stlFRIt1LKoLbgSJi-27Ha7m65RPoElHhsXT8zVCxrKFGeDl-FeV4XlSS9hJIq9stNeCf39ssGNyfe74rAJ0DPLz4Cooh3ICYQ9hHd9vFF7cPaFqcI459g9dCtCA33p-JGgmTxT_U-muZwTwGrPC_ioJ6g/w637-h238/tbitc4.jpg" width="637" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-5866290912740360062022-05-27T14:04:00.003-07:002022-05-27T14:11:48.219-07:00The Crone: An Alternative to the Hag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bilibin._Baba_Yaga.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmpapmuqCKyrYrQ4XXZB2qndEBdCguzviJ0L1ECRt_ltbJq-OIq1kNn1EF3z05gyGsAvOFzxcW8dFHLx0OwLq7NiIRkir4CmhxsjilgmmBCCw18N-9xU4ZnGPqItPlV-U5eGbK8pgk6meSRyHYaDbo_BGV_Oi_NnxCGslD1y2JrbhbqqbZEy5cAqzfA/w500-h640/Bilibin._Baba_Yaga.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Originally in response to the question:</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/In-D-D-is-there-a-creature-that-is-the-good-or-neutral-equivalent-to-a-hag/answer/Peter-Kisner?ch=10&oid=143310707&share=0a16c710&srid=zdt3&target_type=answer" target="_blank"><i>In D&D is there a creature that is the good or neutral equivalent to a hag?</i></a></p><p>I don’t know of any such creatures canonically in 5th edition which are good or neutral versions of the hag.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Swanmays</h3><p>The closest equivalent I can think of from previous editions are Swanmay. The Swanmay are a secretive sisterhood of shapechangers (swan specific) with ranger-like abilities. I knew of them originally from the <b><i>AD&D 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual</i></b>, but they also show up as a playable race in the <b><i>Complete Book of Humanoids</i></b>. Swanmays are not exactly the same concept as hags, but kind of have a <i>magic women of the wilderness</i> type thing going on.</p><p>I strongly suspect that Gygax (or some other creative person working in the D&D sphere) got the idea for Swanmays for them from Poul Anderson's novel <b><i>Three Hearts and Three Lions</i></b>, where one of the primary characters is a Swanmay.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>But even if there's not a perfect match for <i>hags-but-good</i> in D&D, I’m always interested in the idea of reskinning the descriptions of existing things and changing their powers just slightly to represent new things. In this spirit here’s a new entry:</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Crone</h2><p>Crones occur when a mortal woman forms a particular sort of affinity with the Triple Goddess archetype, gaining certain powers but being bound to certain restrictions.</p><p>Each Crone gains powers similar to those of a Hag, but while they are physically tough in a fight, their spell-like abilities tend to favor enchantment, divination, healing, nature, and less violent means of immobilizing intruders.</p><p>Crones tend to live in somewhat isolated areas, but often within a day’s walk of some small community. They seem to have an dual attachment to both the natural and human worlds.</p><p>Many rumors about Crones abound, some may even be true:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Each crone is as different from the other as a deer is from a tree or a pond. Each seems to shape, or be shaped by, the land she dwells in.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>At the changing of the seasons, all the Crones in a land gather in conclave to weave the next season’s fortunes into being.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Crones can be salty, mercurial, or violent to those who intrude upon their domains. Interlopers have been put under geas or turned into beasts or trees for their impertinence. While men are more apt to experience their immediate ire than women, anyone showing particular arrogance or threatening a Crone’s charges is likely to incur their wrath.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Each Crone has a weakness for some adored thing. It might be something simple such as babies or young children, food or clothing that is rarely found anymore, particular songs, specific pet animals, men with a certain facial shape. In the presence of their weakness, a Crone loses none of her powers but is more apt to interpret things in a positive light.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Even the most hostile and misanthropic crones are bound by metaphysical laws to perform certain acts if called upon. These may include:</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>To succor women or children from abusers or other calamity.</li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>To assist women through pregnancy or other life transitions.</li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>To perform certain seasonal or holiday rituals for a nearby community.</li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>To divine what price must be paid, or what action or quest must be performed to assist a community through a drought, invasion, haunting, or other crisis.</li></ul></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">Related Depictions</h3><div><div>There are a number of depictions (or discussions) I'm aware of regarding cruel or merely cantankerous magical old women living outside society, some of whom might fit either the hag or crone archetypes (or straddle the line. The few that come immediately to mind are:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Xan (from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_Who_Drank_the_Moon" target="_blank"><i>The Girl Who Drank The Moon</i></a>)</b> - This is the character who probably most directly inspired the Crone description above.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baba-Yaga" target="_blank">Baba Yaga</a></b> - A witch and/or ogress of Slavic folklore.</li><ul><li>The first part of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday_Begins_on_Saturday" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Monday Begins on Saturday</a> features a version of Baba Yaga somewhat tamed by the vagaries of Soviet thaumaturgical bureaucracy. Her residence, the Log Hut on Chicken Legs (LOHUCHIL), now partially converted into a museum and boarding house, by requirement of appropriate authorities and committee decisions.</li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yama-uba" target="_blank">Yama-uba</a></b> - A mountain witch of Japanese folklore.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Annis" target="_blank">Black Annis</a></b> - Of English folklore. Actually gets a specific depiction in some D&D products.</li><ul><li>There's a song of the same name (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icaBOoi16Ak">covered here by Solas</a>), originally written by Antje Duvekot. Uses the imagery of Black Annis, but apparently inspired by an abusive family situation.</li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Zeniba" target="_blank">Zeniba</a> & <a href="https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Yubaba" target="_blank">Yubaba</a> (from Spirited Away)</b> - Seem somewhat inspired by Baba Yaga (albeit a slightly less terrifying depiction).</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/mcft/mcft13.htm" target="_blank">Smallhead and the King's Sons</a></b> - An unnamed hag is one of the primary antagonists in this Celtic folktale.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Mother Gerd (from <i>Three Hearts and Three Lions</i>)</b> - One of the first characters the protagonist comes across upon leaving WWII Europe and entering the more magical alternate reality. She is an obsequiously helpful yet duplicitous witch of questionable allegiance. Maybe not as powerful as the typical hag depiction, but certainly in the vein of unsettling old magic women living in the woods.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="Why Are Old Women Often The Face Of Evil In Fairy Tales And Folklore?" target="_blank">Why Are Old Women Often The Face Of Evil In Fairy Tales And Folklore?</a></b> - Article/discussion on the topic. Title is self esplanatory.</li></ul></div><p></p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-9204287479188210262022-03-17T19:06:00.037-07:002022-03-18T23:17:32.895-07:00Star Trek RPGs<p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Someone on Quora had inquired if there were a Star Trek RPG like AD&D (not sure if they meant AD&D in particular, or just used that as a generic stand-in for RPG).</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">In response this was just a roundup of all the Star Trek RPGs I could think of.</span></i></p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; text-align: left; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">More official games I'm aware of:</span></h2><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-e76d5bd12ee4ae889429941ef23b4251-lq" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Role_Playing_Game" target="_blank">Star Trek: The Role Playing Game (FASA)</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - It’s been a long time since I saw this book. My recollection was that it was very much unlike D&D and had a relatively unusual initiative system that was clever but a bit complicated. Printed in the early 1980s, so it predates Next Generation and everything after.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgX6MJos9SDlQUPvsfSVhT6BMgjKBbhmccXo-MzBWbeOBK0z3sPqSxEplJICUhv2KrB670GiYo9bx-NDFIjF-ML2u5ivB5F_65RvW86OSfwTq3zsHpqi093wsAV4tEkRyibc6LHW-l4RXWrf-1HKdXcjfe-YIj2u7LQ1RcrqH5zCpxVZBICbHaw1Kn-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="196" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgX6MJos9SDlQUPvsfSVhT6BMgjKBbhmccXo-MzBWbeOBK0z3sPqSxEplJICUhv2KrB670GiYo9bx-NDFIjF-ML2u5ivB5F_65RvW86OSfwTq3zsHpqi093wsAV4tEkRyibc6LHW-l4RXWrf-1HKdXcjfe-YIj2u7LQ1RcrqH5zCpxVZBICbHaw1Kn-w=w222-h291" width="222" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation_Role-playing_Game" target="_blank">Star Trek: The Next Generation Role-playing Game (Last Unicorn Games)</a></b> - Seems to have published quite a bit in the late 1990s, just before Decipher picked up the license.</span></span><p></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" height="305" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-5a5f7f66e008c62a07bc622aaf97cff8-lq" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="216" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Roleplaying_Game" target="_blank">Star Trek Roleplaying Game (Decipher)</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - A game using the “CODA” system. This came out in the D&D 3rd edition era, and has some clear influences from D&D 3E. However, it also differs quite a bit (like rolling 3d6 instead of a d20, and developing character backgrounds in stages). In general not a bad system.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" height="290" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-48163f8b3e2324fc2a5e862c75ac0e97-lq" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="226" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/214552/Star-Trek-Adventures-Core-Rulebook?cPath=8425_28215" target="_blank">Star Trek Adventures (Modiphius)</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - This is the only one still in print as far as I know. This I actually haven’t looked into very closely. However, there is a </span><span class="q-inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><a class="q-box qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 KlcoI" href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/222948/Star-Trek-Adventures-Quickstart" rel="noopener nofollow" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="www.drivethrurpg.com">free quickstart guide</a> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">you can take a look at to learn more.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=prime%20directive&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=" target="_blank">Prime Directive</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - I was aware that there was a spin-off Star Fleet Battles wargame that started with the Star Trek universe but eventually evolved in a different direction. However, I didn’t realize that game had an RPG spinoff as well. As </span><a class="q-box qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 KlcoI" href="https://www.quora.com/Is-there-a-Star-Trek-role-playing-game-like-AD-D/answer/John-Rudd-2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_top" title="www.quora.com">John Rudd pointed out</a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, this is the Prime Directive RPG, which used several systems over the years.</span></span></p><hr class="q-box qu-bg--gray" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; height: 2px; margin: 2em auto; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 148px;" width="148px" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; text-align: left; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Games that are less official include:</b></span></span></h2><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" height="271" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-519281f14022135d9bc3f739ac978a87-lq" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="209" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/95075/Star-Explorer-Original-1982" target="_blank">Star Explorer</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - Apparently a 1982 homage to Star Trek. Seems to be described as a hybrid of board game and RPG. Don’t know much else about it.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: ;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" height="281" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-d9a5a8e5e620dcb5d7783b5604c2683b-lq" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="215" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/80756/Starships--Spacemen-Original-1978" target="_blank">Starships & Spacemen (1E)</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - I don’t know much about this edition, except that it came out in 1978.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: ;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" height="270" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-3eb166eb02e5f231b15cdd2744de626c-lq" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="208" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/108104/Starships--Spacemen-2e" target="_blank">Starships & Spacemen (2E)</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - This is a new edition, published by a different company. Not sure if it is compatible with the old edition. However, it is compatible with the Mutant Future RPG (a Gamma World semi-clone) and the Labyrinth Lord RPG (which is a B/X D&D clone). So this is somewhat close to AD&D compatible, but not exactly.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: ;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" height="276" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-e09c5012d0b495fc409511132eb7138b-lq" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="217" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/153685/Five-Year-Mission" target="_blank">Five Year Mission</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - A supplement to run more Star Trek-like games using the White Star RPG rules. White Star is derived from the Swords & Wizardry White Box rules, which in turn are a clone of the original D&D “White Box” edition.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;">So Five Year Mission is sort of compatible with AD&D. Although, to be honest, AD&D has a significant amount more complexity and nuance than the early D&D editions this supplement is derived from.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="q-box qu-mx--n_medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin-left: -16px; margin-right: -16px;"><div class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; filter: blur(0px); margin-bottom: 1em; position: relative; transition-duration: 1s; transition-property: undefined; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><img class="q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block" height="156" src="https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-798912de69a8271980a2eeab3cbeb9f2" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="227" /></div></div><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/" target="_blank">Lasers & Feelings</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - This is a free, very rules-lite, one page game. Maybe a bit tongue-in-cheek too. Or as serious as you want it to be. Also has a </span><span class="q-inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><a class="q-box qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 KlcoI" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPxkz0tFs4I" rel="noopener nofollow" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="www.youtube.com">semi-related song</a>.</span></span></p><ul class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 2em 1em 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><li class="q-relative" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2017/12/galactic-hinterlands.html" target="_blank">Galactic Hinterlands</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - This is my own (not yet play-tested) work. A hack of Lasers & Feelings. Moderately more detailed and somewhat less whimsical.</span></span></li></ul><hr class="q-box qu-bg--gray" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; height: 2px; margin: 2em auto; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 148px;" width="148px" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; text-align: left; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><b>Now we come to the less polished, more legally dubious fan works:</b></span></span></h2><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://critical-hits.com/ch-presents/strange-new-worlds-an-unofficial-star-trek-hack-powered-by-the-apocalypse/" target="_blank">Strange New Worlds</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - An unofficial supplement for using the Apocalypse World game mechanics (a.k.a. Apocalypse Engine / Powered by the Apocalypse)</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://fartrekrpg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Far Trek</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - A free, unofficial, neat medium/small game using a 3d6 + traits vs. target number system.</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: ; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://trek.abillionmonkeys.com/" target="_blank">Where No Man Has Gone Before</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> - A free, unofficial Star Trek game. This game is something like 47 pages long, which is kind of ironic because it seems to be derived from the Microlite20 (M20) system. Microlite20 was an attempt to make a version of D&D 3rd Ed. only a couple pages long.</span></span></p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-46895630515856815922022-03-06T00:01:00.005-08:002022-03-06T00:01:46.066-08:00Settings - For Low Magic 5th Edition D&D<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5saHwb65IO9ZRXEsw59TZpRE5Szp7wqQEeLDcds-xekTQ12kElu3u4BTZHrvaDy-zpBfuP5IplCCQhZ5lvvXhzWo_-iJjETLtSUQm6EYUAWWIJQc4WWi803EVVvlO6a7GxAmlwSb0o3IDo29vF1u0p18Dmdx2714DYQ1_YIzrtDjbxEZ2t0872WDdDA=s861" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="861" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5saHwb65IO9ZRXEsw59TZpRE5Szp7wqQEeLDcds-xekTQ12kElu3u4BTZHrvaDy-zpBfuP5IplCCQhZ5lvvXhzWo_-iJjETLtSUQm6EYUAWWIJQc4WWi803EVVvlO6a7GxAmlwSb0o3IDo29vF1u0p18Dmdx2714DYQ1_YIzrtDjbxEZ2t0872WDdDA=w400-h336" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2022/02/low-magic-rules-for-5th-edition.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Previously</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I suggested ideas for how to run a 5th Ed. D&D game with lower availability of spellcasting. Weirdly however, even though the idea of trying to run low spellcasting games of 5th Edition holds some interest for me, I've sometimes been at a loss what sort of game I'd find that combination a useful fit for, or (if I was a player) attractive to play in.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This post is a follow-up, brainstorming various settings which might make use of such a lower magic system. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">In these settings humans (and maybe other creatures) might have access to a few spells, but spellcasting classes as such are not available. Spells are mostly cast either through artifacts or rituals except maybe a few cantrips.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Hyborian Age</b></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">The obvious default seems like it would be something Conan-esque. After all, that is part of the inspiration behind D&D. A world build on the crumbling ruins of older things, but now largely a land of decadent city-states and harsh lands in between.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><h3><span id="docs-internal-guid-39841470-7fff-67c5-0d7a-81b015cda831"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Legendary/Eldrich Europe</span></span></h3><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again, this seems like an obvious choice. Might c</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">overing anything from antiquity through, lets say, the high middle ages. Sort of Ars Magica or Cthulhu Invictus type stuff.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are fae demesnes dotted in the weird and desolate parts of the world, dragons, unicorns, kelpies and the like stalk the countryside. Old powerful magicians are feared as tamperers with the natural order, and the strange arts of local hedgewizards can only barely be trusted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or maybe, for the weirder, use fear rules and treat certain unnatural things as innately unsettling alien monsters.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lithic</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">As much as the idea of neo/paleolithic has <a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/search/label/Lithic" target="_blank">attracted me in the past</a>, I've alway found the idea of structuring adventures or campaigns in that era to be a bit daunting. I think 5E D&D could handle it mechanically, especially with tweaks to lower the magic level. But not quite sure how well the desperate struggle for basic subsistence in a world at the dawn of prehistory matches up with the durable fightyness of modern D&D.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Atlas Games does seem to be giving it the old college try with <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atlasgames/planegea" target="_blank">Planegea</a>. But looks a bit higher powered than the low magic fantasy I'd envisioned.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-39841470-7fff-67c5-0d7a-81b015cda831"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Owl Light: The Aftermath</span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This would take place in my own <a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/search/label/Owl%20Light" target="_blank">Owl Light setting</a>, but during the 400 year Aftermath period after the Cataclysm war and before the Daybreak Kingdom was established. During this period things are a complete mess, most "humans" around are probably crazy-powerful magicians, seemingly living mentally in worlds of their own, along with a few less powerful ones who are totally confused and daunted to find their villages or regions on other planes of existence randomly uprooted and shoved into this world.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most player characters would be foot soldiers of the factions which fought in the war. Mainly</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> dwarves, orcs and warforged. Some continue on their (now defunct) missions for extinguished polities. Others try to make local alliances and operate </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">independently</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, but are in constant fear of being having their brains "rooted" by ancient survivors who happen to know the old command languages programmed into their very genes.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survival amid famine, marauders and terrors from the last war are all persistent issues to contend with.</span></span></p><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tomb World</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An idea <a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2021/12/setting-tomb-world.html" target="_blank">previously posted</a>, a set of small communities trying to win back land and resources from the calcified undead hierarchy dominating most of the planet. This might actually be a pretty good fit, if undead dominance relied on their mastery over magic, compared to the stunted skills of the living.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tend to think undead magic would mostly be of the arcane variety, though undead bards (ghostly enchantments) or druids (wilderness decay and life cycles) might be an interesting twist.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Plague</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea is that all PCs are a set of warforged who wake up on a moderately developed magitech world. They have no past memories, but occasionally receive mental instructions from an unresponsive source to investigate various points around the region. It quickly becomes obvious that an extremely fast acting disease has wiped out nearly all animal life on the planet's surface.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is sort of a set of images in my head, but I don't know completely where to go with it yet. For one thing, maybe a bit close to home with recent Covid-19 issues. For another thing, it seems like it subverts expectations of D&D a bit too much. Trouble thinking of actual conflicts for them to get involved in, or a resolution to their current state. So pretty much getting back burnered for now.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-39841470-7fff-67c5-0d7a-81b015cda831"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Otherworld Incursion</span></span></h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something is different. The barriers between worlds are weakening and things are coming through here and there, notably from the Feywild or Far Realms or Shadowfell.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe reality is going through a periodic cycle of disharmony (such as the one that brought down the last civilization). Or maybe some outside beings who've have been trying to chip away at this realm's defenses for centuries are finally meeting success. Or maybe it's those damn cultists invoking them for power.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever the cause, a rash of abductions, mutations, irrational phenomena and madness have been the ultimate result.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Characters are part of a team sent out to try and track down such incursions, prevent them worsening and seal them away.</span></p><div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winterwold</span></h3></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A (frequently cold) points of light, Black Forest type setting, with grim towns and strange woods. Probably mostly dwarves and humans with a few elves and gnomes living in the wilder places. Things like werewolves, forest giants, wild hordes and mad druids are a conceivable threat.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Setting might be like 20% Ravenloft, 20% Three Hearts and Three Lions, 15% Mythago Wood, and 10% Banner Saga.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Probably uses some fear mechanics for uncanny encounters, though partly fae or magic connected PCs might have to deal with sanity mechanics to retain a connection to the mortal world and avoid being lured away to an more otherworldly existence.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Against The Dragons</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chromatic dragons and their tyrannical humanoid minions control the world. They grant warlock or clerical powers to their cultists. All others only have access to martial prowess or low magic. Setting elements:</span></p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Races</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Gnomes are the ancestral race. All others were bred or genetically manipulated by dragons as servants or playthings. All other races are available, but:</span></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dragonborn</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - These are literally half-dragons. They have no favored status, being something of an embarrassment to the dragons who sired them.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Orcs</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Created as brute squads and for heavy labor.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gnomes/Elves</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Created to facilitate art, crafts and magic.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dwarves/Halflings/Humans</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - The unintended crossbreeds of orc, elf, and gnome. These beings have become much more numerous among the commoners and a few have administrative jobs among the loyalists.</span></li></ul></ul><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Factions</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - The dragons undertake leisurely wars against each for greater demesnes, treasure, or petty grudges. Sometimes they make alliances for strategic reasons or breeding purposes, but such things rarely last more than 50-100 years. There are three main groups of characters operating under the dragons:</span></li></ul><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Loyalists</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - These are humanish creatures who are essentially on board with what the dragons are doing. Some have received special powers, equipment or benefits, authority from their connections.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commoners</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - These are under the authority of the dragons, and compelled to obey them. Some are more comfortable with draconic law than others. However, most will not risk themselves. Or must be persuaded to do so. Some might harbor or assist rebels less directly though.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebels</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - All those at war against the dragons and their forces. Rebels tend to operate in covert groups in any given area. Dragons rarely perceive them as much of a threat, and it's assumed Loyalist servants take care of most necessary Rebel suppression without direct guidance.</span></li></ul></ul><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Languages</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - There are a number of languages spoken in the setting:</span></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Primal</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Among themselves the dragons speak primal.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Local Tongues</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - To help divide and conquer, each dragon imposes a unique languages among their subjects, making it difficult for commoners to interact with those of other domains. Dragons also tend to tightly control who can learn other languages (secret police, etc.), mainly allowing only loyalists to do so.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Rebel Cant (thieve’s cant)</b> - A secret language of rebels, shared between dragon fiefs. Highly illegal.</span></li></ul></ul><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turning of the Age</span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The world has gone through several ages, during each a given type of power prevailed in the world. Now is the lull as one age ends and the next begins:</span></span></p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gloaming</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - An age of primal dragons and fae mists. This was an era of primal terror for ancient proto-humoids. The magic of this era was Sorcery and Druidism.</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Age of Divinities</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - The fae and dragons were driven to the margins of existence as the hopes and fears of mortals gave rise to Divinities: powerful beings who empowered and defended them against the hungers and caprices of those earlier powers. The magic of this era was Clerical and Warlock power.</span></li></ul><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Age of Magi</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - The inflexible systems of Divinity gave way as the science of Wizardry gave a more rational and baggage-free means to wield power and manipulate the universe. Arcane magic dominated this age until the mages began to lord their skills over the less capable</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Interregnum</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - The Mage-Princes have been deposed, their ashes scattered. Those who easily harness the power of earlier eras are generally feared as dangerously deranged or anti-humanist. Only through hedge magic and a few crafted items, is magic worked now.</span></li></ul><p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The Coming Era</b> - No one knows what the next era will bring. Machines? The resurrection of a previous age? Many are trying to shape the coming age, or at least prevent some old and previously known evil from reemerging.</span></li></ul><p></p></span></span></div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-53722622371091053132022-02-24T18:35:00.006-08:002022-02-25T21:48:17.167-08:00Low Magic Rules for 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkJt1BM1MZPjyMvlkJx_sX4owFgObX04bagzbOuZVRPCMGbX273cIdo39IRuwRcIO6BPl1YeIdUaIDxt_RHLWkvyugf6QXIQgJhRAlodzpQ8NoR36IdAv9oWVNWoClKeahPZ6N-gF-pXrBSHUKvuU9EktSig42CyzDprWwwfkiBo9LvbZKV01-EWG-pg=s1063" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1063" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkJt1BM1MZPjyMvlkJx_sX4owFgObX04bagzbOuZVRPCMGbX273cIdo39IRuwRcIO6BPl1YeIdUaIDxt_RHLWkvyugf6QXIQgJhRAlodzpQ8NoR36IdAv9oWVNWoClKeahPZ6N-gF-pXrBSHUKvuU9EktSig42CyzDprWwwfkiBo9LvbZKV01-EWG-pg=w400-h288" width="400" /></a></div><p>The following are a set of rules (limitations mostly) I came up with which would allow 5th Edition D&D to be used for lower magic settings and types of games. Maybe something closer to historic-fantasy, though this might work for other kinds of settings as well.</p>
<p>Note that each of the elements below is essentially a separate toggle, you can use some and not others, as the setting dictates.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Races</h2><p>Players are generally only allowed to play human characters. However, DMs might allow one of the following options:</p>
<p></p>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Option 1: Quirky Humans</b> - Certain other races may be allowed, but are reskinned to simply represent slightly unusual humans.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Option 2: Shunned</b> - Certain other races are allowed, but represent weird beings from outside human civilization, shunned by most decent folk. Some individuals and organizations may view them with sympathy, but there’s every chance of a mob rising up against them.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Option 3: Dying Race</b> - Alternately, other races may not be always outcast, but members of ancient peoples whose time in this world is drawing to an end. They are viewed more with an air of pity or inspire thoughts about the vastness of history and impermanence of all things.</li></ul><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Classes</h2><p>Only the following classes are allowed:</p>
<p></p>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Barbarians</b> - If they fit the setting, they are generally allowed. If you aren't doing away with the supernatural entirely, then any type of Barbarian is available. However, if you are limiting magic even more, then Barbarians able to commune with nature spirits may be excluded.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Fighters</b> - Any kind of Fighter is allowed, so long as they do not cast spells.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Monks</b> - Martial artist Monks may not fit as well in every setting. But even in settings where they are possible, those with the ability to cast spells should be excluded.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Rangers</b> - Rangers fit fairly well except for their spellcasting abilities. A few options for DMs who want to include them:</li><ul><li><b>Option 1: <i>Spirit Seeker & Spirit Walker</i></b> - Grant them the Barbarian Features of these names at appropriate levels.</li></ul><ul><li><b>Option 2: <i>Wild Shape</i></b> - Grants them the Druidic feature of this name.</li><li><b>Option 3: <i>Ritual Spells</i></b> - If you want them to use ranger spells, treat them as having the Ritual Caster and Magic Initiate feats with regard to Ranger spells only.</li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Rogues</b> - Any kind of Rogue is allowed which does not cast spells.</li></ul><p></p>
<span><!--more--></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Feats</h2><p>The only magic-related Feats allowed are:</p>
<p></p>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Ritual Caster</b> - A character with the appropriate class listing of Ritual Caster can cast normal ritual spells as per the usual rules. But additionally, they can cast any other spell on the class list they have access to (e.g. via spellbook) after a Long Rest and 8 hour ritual.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Magic Initiate</b> - All harm-causing cantrips are treated as 1st-level spells, but otherwise this feat works normally.</li></ul><p></p>
<span><!--more--></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Magic Items</h2><p>Spell books (or holy texts) still exist and may contain spells from any class list. Characters can not prepare spells to use on the fly (like a Wizard).</p>
<p>However, a character with the Ritual Caster or Magic Initiate feats, who also has the Arcana skill may use spellbooks (or the Religion skill for holy texts, or the Nature skill for druidic texts) to create and use magic items of the appropriate class type, as if they were a caster of equal level.</p><p>In addition there may also be documents containing plans, schematics, or rituals needed to produce specific magical objects. These may still require the appropriate skills, but do not require knowledge of specific spells as prerequisites.</p><p>Assume that every 8 hours of work produces 25gp worth of materials. This does not mean that a person's wage daily wage is worth anything like 25gp for most activities. It merely means that it takes a lot of extra money to circumvent the sheer number of hours spent crafting magical items.</p>
<table style="text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;"><b>Rarity</b></td>
<td style="text-align: right;"><b>Cost to Produce</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Scrolls</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">Cost to Produce</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Common*</td>
<td>50 gp</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Uncommon* </td>
<td>500 gp</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Rare*</td>
<td>5,000 gp</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Very Rare</td>
<td>50,000 gp</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Legendary</td>
<td>500,000 gp</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">- For Common, Uncommon, and Rare items, also add the cost of a regular item to the total value (like Uncommon Mariner's Plate armor would be 500 gp for the enchantments +1500 gp for the plate armor).</span></p><p>Scrolls, or equivalent single-use items, only usable by those with a specific skill set, have slightly different costs:</p>
<table style="text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><b>Scroll Level</b></td><td><b> Cost to Produce</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Cantrip **</td><td>10 gp</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">1</td><td>25 gp</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;">2</td><td>50 gp</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">3</td><td>100 gp</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;">4</td><td>200 gp</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">5</td><td>400 gp</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">6</td><td>800 gp</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">7</td><td>1600 gp</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">8</td><td>3200 gp</td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">9</td><td>6400 gp</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>**<span style="font-size: x-small;"> - Cantrips only take one hour to create a scroll for.</span></p><p>Some rarer materials may allow an item creator to circumvent these costs.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span><!--more--></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;">NPC Magicians</h2><p>More powerful magicians may exist. Possibly some using the standard D&D rules. But these operate only as NPCs. For one reason or another they don't tend to get along well with most of humanity. As a result more powerful magic items and artifacts may be possible to more easily obtain by working through these folks.</p><span><!--more--></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Money</h2><p>Most goods and services still have the same value, but excessively large treasures are rarer. In most adventures, any copper or silver coins listed in an adventure should still be used. However, the number of gold coins (and the value of any gems) should be scaled down to 1/10 or 1/100 of their normal amount.</p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-78217381451420174892021-12-29T13:05:00.002-08:002023-05-19T00:12:36.013-07:00Setting: Tomb World<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWJSiTizoJk1vfaqKTDua1k0ve-pKFzewSCQ1_aRhRZIEkUwnqn2_6KYLOYvpS2X4Y6kQB_ao9Ut1qtsOjx4BSL0diAblwodwgBhwx1b6CMXx80U0P7bPKWSu_v5iXmqqoM6clYLdeMaqQS2Ez1kd_ta8OHs7fSeILNkNvCq1lwxKyyoKfJSGERb14ZQ=s977" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="977" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWJSiTizoJk1vfaqKTDua1k0ve-pKFzewSCQ1_aRhRZIEkUwnqn2_6KYLOYvpS2X4Y6kQB_ao9Ut1qtsOjx4BSL0diAblwodwgBhwx1b6CMXx80U0P7bPKWSu_v5iXmqqoM6clYLdeMaqQS2Ez1kd_ta8OHs7fSeILNkNvCq1lwxKyyoKfJSGERb14ZQ=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This isn't a setting I expect to primarily focus on, but wanted to throw together some notes about it before forgetting. The idea as been partly kicking around in my mind for awhile now, but was brought to the forefront by the </i><a href="https://twitter.com/panarin_misha/status/1475446309943398406" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">💿🐎<i> on Twitter</i></a><i> recently regarding the ethics of looting bodies. </i><i>Possibly something like this already exists, but I can't recall this exact view of it being brought up before.</i></div><p>The idea of a vast necropolis isn't that bizarre, a few of my favorites are:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Charn from <b><u>The Magician's Nephew</u></b> by C.S. Lewis. Charn is a dead world after Queen Jadis spoke <i>The Deplorable Word</i>.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/384490/NECROPOLIS_BRUTAL_EDITION/" target="_blank">Necropolis: Brutal Edition</a> - A fairly simplistic brawl and explore game taking place in a seemingly vast necropolis.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Abarrach from the <b><u>Fire Sea</u></b> book of the Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. A world where the choking fumes and heat of an underground lava sea have killed off everyone who is not a powerful magician. The remaining magicians use the animated bodies of the dead to accomplish necessary work.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Tomb worlds of Warhammer 40,000. Maybe not exactly tombs, since the Necrons that inhabit them are aliens-turned-skeletal-robots. But intended to give a similar feel.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A necropolis is the scene for bits of <b><u>Shadow of the Torturer</u></b> by Gene Wolfe. In some ways the entire world seems like a necropolis with bits of evidence of all those who've come before.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Ghormenghast by Mervyn Peake, while not truly a necropolis or tomb at all, has a certain stagnancy and shambolic decrepitude I associate with with similar settings.</li></ul><div>But the thing that got me thinking about this was: What if the culture of respecting the dead was taken to some kind of logical extremes? If respect for ancestors and the dead was given higher priority than the needs of the living? Or worse: If the dead lingered on for centuries and millennia as <i>undead</i>, accumulating materials and power. Not even actively hostile to the living, but simply endlessly acquisitive.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a story by H.G. Wells called <u style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/12163/12163-h/12163-h.htm" target="_blank">The Sleeper Awakes</a></u> (also <a href="https://librivox.org/the-sleeper-awakes-by-hg-wells/" target="_blank">LibriVox</a>), which I sometimes feel doesn't get the attention of his other works, that kind of deals with this issue. Essentially: A man makes a couple minor investments then falls into an odd still-living trance for 200 years. He wakes to find himself owner of the world due to compounding of his investments over time. Trustees rule in his stead over a population increasingly reduced to sort of property-less day laborer serfs. Horrified by this turn of events he, of course, attempts to upset the entrenched social order with mixed success.</div><div><br /></div><div>The whole novel is essentially a parable of generational wealth accumulation and an increasing wealth gap.</div><div><br /></div><div>This might easily apply to the undead as well. If a man can passively accumulate wealth over a couple hundred years, what about a more active individual or regime?</div><div><br /></div><div>Current events of such a setting might take place in a time and place where much of the world's arable land has been reduced to gently rolling necropoli. Powerful magics are possible, but all the material resources required have been tucked away in tombs, cities and storehouses of the dead. Even the base materials necessary to make new tools have been used up by the dead.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last reservation for living humans, the "Paupers Preserve", contains only the minimal land and tools for living humans to eek out an existence. The dream of every living person is to do well enough in life that they gain some high place among the undead. But this hope is futile as nothing the living can do is of true use to the Undying Gentry. At most, upon death, the living may be animated as minor minions, sold to some member of the Gentry for a pittance.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a crop failure, or some other tightening of resources, a rebellion is in the works. Farmers have begun covertly planting and harvesting among the tombstones. Bolder adventurers begin raiding actual seplechers and burial complexes for resources. The vast stores of gold and silver are of limited use, but iron and copper are scrapped to make useful tools. And all the magical Wonderous Items, hoarded and never used, are being redistributed to those who can use them.</div><p></p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-77888711898164502872021-12-26T13:24:00.005-08:002021-12-26T13:24:43.057-08:00Owl Light: The Fey - Prodigal, Reformed and Iron EldIn the Owl Light setting the "Elf" body type seems to have been some sort of standard template used by the gods and powers in ancient times to create lithe, skilled beings. Elves from other worlds in many cases appear to have arisen over the course of aeons as part of natural evolution in those places, sometimes as precursors to humans or co-sentients on their worlds.<div><br /></div><div>But the crop of Elves (the Eld) currently predominant on Hypethra mostly originate from the Netherworld. In this realm the dreams and thoughts of all sentient creatures accumulate, peopling the realm with every imaginable permutation of archetype and narrative, and sweeping the landscape with gradual but ceaseless changes as the whims of psychic currents dictate.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Prodigal Eld</h3><div>The Prodigal Eld are those creatures fresh sprung from this tumult, still given over to the Netherworld's bizarre currents. Free will is a novel concept to most Prodigal Eld, but their convictions are backed by the strength of worlds. Most from the mortal realm find Prodigal Eld some combination of mercurial, capricious, naïve, detached, or irrationally passionate about their cause.</div><div><br /></div><div>The style and culture of Prodigal Eld often makes a cursory nod to that of the nearby mortal cultures, but always with some extravagance, ornateness, exaggeration or exotic flair.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Reformed Eld</h3><div>Reformed Eld have chosen the mental freedom of the mortal world over the power of their ancestral realms. They are something closer to mortal, though still unaging. Things of the Netherworld still recognize the Reformed as kin, and for all regular purposes they are treated as Fey beings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reformed Eld occasionally have their own communities, but often blend with local cultures with little beyond physical qualities to set them apart.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Iron Eld</h3><div>The Iron Eld are those who have pitted their wills most ardently against this temptations of their Fey heritage. They are staunch philosophical proponents of free will and independent thought and powerful opponents of all forms of enchantment and mind control. The stereotype of Reformed Eld paints them as having a martinet work ethic and nigh puritanical belief in reason and natural order.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is some degree of mixing with local mortal cultures, and indeed mortals are generally welcome at the meetings of Iron Eld. However, the emphasis they place on their values can seem a bit extreme and unnecessary for many mortals, so their enclaves often stand slightly apart. While not mandatory, a greatcoat and tricorn hat have become common attire for Iron Eld.</div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-88930792704624266312021-12-08T23:13:00.000-08:002021-12-08T23:13:12.739-08:00Skill Option: Languages & Cants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://kisnerp.itch.io/skill-option-languages-and-cants" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="687" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFLb2nQ9RhYOChLtZXg9Axsjr-TieiBVLpsiBiGDmCnpsgEEBiBp3SuOcf2TDEabOvuWZM_TrYTBhAdrBNAbCrsAqWWaxUkwsRw9JofM3mGTQr_ll_ts5vbu-0RXQbeYKZqyatgtivsub/w436-h360/Languages-and-Cants-Cover.png" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div>This is a supplement meant to refine and flesh out the idea of languages in an RPG a bit and expand the concept of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cant_(language)" target="_blank">cants</a> (as inspired by D&D's <a href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Thieves%27_cant" target="_blank">Thieves' Cant</a>). Most of this has been wrapped into the still nascent KROP game (a homebrew based on GLOG), but it should be relatively easy to adapt to other similar types of fantasy games.</div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://kisnerp.itch.io/skill-option-languages-and-cants" target="_blank">Supplement here.</a></h2><div><br /></div><div><div>You can find more related info here:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Earlier Stuff</b> - This supplement is an expansion of some of the ideas discussed in earlier posts:</li><ul><li><a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2019/11/languages-cants-thieves-other.html" target="_blank">Languages: Cants (Thieves' and other)</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2019/12/languages-monastic-linguistics-unusual.html" target="_blank">Languages: Monastic Linguistics & Unusual Tongues</a></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Thieves' Cant</b></li><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thieves%27_cant" target="_blank">Thieves' Cant - Defined</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080624185330/http://php.iupui.edu/~asimmon/thief.html" target="_blank">Thieves' Cant - Lexicon</a></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Other things of interest</b> - None of these were directly adopted into this work, though they were things partly in mind at the time:</li><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_slang" target="_blank">Back Slang</a> & <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyming_slang" target="_blank">Rhyming Slang</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet" target="_blank">1337</a> - Hacker obfuscation jargon.</li><li><a href="https://www.logodesignlove.com/hobo-signs-and-symbols" target="_blank">Hobo Signs</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari" target="_blank">Polari</a> - Cant used by a number of professions historically and notably mentioned in recent years due to it's use in covert communication among the British gay subculture prior to the 1960s.</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCshu" target="_blank">Nüshu (Women's Script)</a> - Writing form historically used in Hunan China exclusively by women.</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_isolate" target="_blank">Language Isolates</a> - Languages not closely related to any others remaining in existence.</li><li><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:en:Nautical" target="_blank">Nautical Terminology</a></li><li><a href="https://armynavyoutdoors.com/blog/learn-military-hand-signals-like-a-pro/" target="_blank">Military Hand Signals</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_handshake" target="_blank">Secret Handshakes</a> and other <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibboleth" target="_blank">Shibboleths</a></li></ul></ul><div><br /></div></div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-21778425031949437192021-10-02T16:34:00.001-07:002021-10-03T08:34:28.834-07:00Background and Evidence in Dungeons and Locales<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11300538686/in/photolist-hKNwBs-hLcn78-hUEGzz-hLaR8L-i6AFCr-ie7WwL-idAmNR-idAdrU-ie912C-ie7iLi-hUG3bB-hL8Qtx-hMu3VS-idFmQN-i7JZPA-i87x5k-i4wHws-i7S2Jy-hL5gqL-hPRYNN-hUEebB-i17f8f-icAddw-idzbKD-hZsug2-i6tbqx-hLboKk-hLafC2-hSCtdb-hYGtoQ-hZpryT-hUvYW2-idDrLv-i71sM1-i8cMvJ-i7VXod-i7GEkt-i87pY6-hUhnc2-idCSp1-i7Ms2J-idDHpr-idEfUF-iducb8-hUDpqt-hLa9QF-idypbw-idxC5i-hUBMeS-hUC8it" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1029" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoLgkQCLZU1nqQVyvZlyjnOxVSGoC5-l6fPyvjninb6qE8cZnHfCb3tPDUZKSmuRHbtKPgENlCYm-xVkP5QJhC-iyh-cPfdN84g-YrLor4NEn6CNgYhQmgfPm-5pz9MGggAdbzFFDlBkV/w400-h305/Mine-Salt-Columns-11300538686_c331e35c70_o-REV.png" width="400" /></a>Anne (of <a href="https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>DIY & dragons</i></a> and <a href="https://bonesofcontention.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Bones of Contention</i></a>) has recently been running a weird post-human setting for for us using <a href="https://losing-games.itch.io/mausritter" target="_blank">Mausritter</a>. Today she was reflecting how she realized the recent dungeon delve we were involved in lacked any real ability to socially interact with the occupants or phenomena it contains.</p><p>But, while this might limit things in some ways, I don't think that's necessarily bad. There can be a variety of different, valid ways to set up a scenario, and not all of them necessarily have to involve social interaction.</p><p>Leaving aside for now specific physical challenges and dangers, or interactions with more recent denizens of an area; I like having locations set up based on an event or events that happened there in the past, with the nature of things in the area dictated largely by the consequences of those events. There are several ways I think revelations about past events can play out, either in any given sub-location (room), or in the location (dungeon) as a whole:</p><p></p><ul><li><b>Cryptic evidence</b> - There are a bunch of things here that don't necessarily make sense. Clues but not enough to give a strong idea of what happened or what significant factors involved.</li></ul><ul><li><b>Straightforward evidence</b> - Circumstances encountered tell a fairly specific story of what occurred. Or at least clearly revel a specific incident.</li></ul><ul><li><b>Explanatory evidence</b> - Usually notes or words written down explaining things, maybe a video or phantasmal image spelling out some detail of the past.</li></ul><ul><li><b>Interactive witnesses</b> - People who actually saw events of the past, or maybe know the story of what happened in the past. They may have motives of their own. This might be separate from other encounters with creatures who don't know about why things are the way they are.</li></ul><p></p><p>Even these may not be an exhaustive list of all possible types of revelatory interactions. And none of these methods of revelation are necessarily better or worse than the others, but each provide a different tone or opportunity to the situation:</p><p>Interactive witnesses may have more information, but it may be tainted by viewpoint or their own motives. Or they may be hostile and difficult to gain information from. Or it may be incomplete for other reasons (only a glimpse, only saw part of the process, only heard stories from ancient ancestors, etc.).</p><p>If there's only cryptic evidence, or straightforward evidence of limited scope, then the characters may never figure out everything about the area. But this can be okay for adding a sense of mystery. After all the actual past is not necessarily completely knowable in a lot of crime or archeological instances.</p><p>It may be in some ways more fulfilling to find out everything about the history of the situation, but the aroused and unfulfilled curiosity of not knowing all can provide an interesting feeling as well.</p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-35657236411489033792021-02-10T22:22:00.000-08:002021-02-10T22:22:05.648-08:00Review: The Endless (2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM9Y6qWXkmlXuoiAA4_AeF0XL_TgMl0bW6l8o3uf1LAb8xaQBGwfk5ZzB_uzYK9ywH6qQWXIcvD-Z0DhVc-rE4O8tCoU6I83vbCxW3LfdNh37hRWn7T3ln7QttU0L2pfn2Hrrv3BCqhgo/s743/The-Endless2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM9Y6qWXkmlXuoiAA4_AeF0XL_TgMl0bW6l8o3uf1LAb8xaQBGwfk5ZzB_uzYK9ywH6qQWXIcvD-Z0DhVc-rE4O8tCoU6I83vbCxW3LfdNh37hRWn7T3ln7QttU0L2pfn2Hrrv3BCqhgo/w409-h640/The-Endless2.png" width="409" /></a></div><br /><p>I'd been meaning to watch <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Endless_(film)" target="_blank"><i><b>The Endless</b></i></a> for awhile since it came on Netflix and finally got around to it last night. As it kind of came across in the teaser, this was a middling, somewhat light, cosmic horror movie.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXdIpxSXHqImoqAyc3ividnYIpNSsaejsPovUUbFz2lo2gdfEz2_htXiZ0t9vmUY025fcCJfT8acrZUsIlSrCJIBFBv26PnRe6xMzpe3zFw541bugAt0TBiRxr3-Th9D5mH-i67MmjAWS/s375/Believers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="255" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXdIpxSXHqImoqAyc3ividnYIpNSsaejsPovUUbFz2lo2gdfEz2_htXiZ0t9vmUY025fcCJfT8acrZUsIlSrCJIBFBv26PnRe6xMzpe3zFw541bugAt0TBiRxr3-Th9D5mH-i67MmjAWS/w136-h200/Believers.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>The premise starting out put me in mind of the 2007 math-cult film <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Believers_(film)" target="_blank"><i>Believers</i></a>. But as <i>The Endless</i> progresses, the cultish nature of the group in Camp Arcadia becomes less of an issue compared to the otherworldly nature of the place itself and the looming supernatural threat. In the end it reminded me a little of the premise of Jeff VanderMeer's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Reach_Trilogy" target="_blank"><i>Southern Reach Trilogy</i></a> books (though I haven't seen the movie <i>Annihlation</i>, based on the books, so I'm not sure how closely that parallels the premise).<p></p><p>For my tastes, the premise and situation were fairly interesting, and the special effects were appropriately understated in some spots and adequately dramatic in other bits. But the film was not without flaws:</p><p>After the first couple scenes there was a definite air of hipsterdom to the film. With a bit of variation, it really focused on cool-adjacent young-adult-looking people and their hobbies. And, fair enough: hipsters get to have films made about them too. And it fits the story premise. But something about it felt like covering for the fact that this is the type of young, artsy crowd who might make a movie like this.</p><p>The characters and their actions for the most part made sense. But, on a scene-by-scene basis, their motives and interactions sometimes seemed a bit "off" or not entirely clear. This may in part have been an attempt to keep things mysterious, or have characters "in the know" covering up their knowledge. But I couldn't help feeling that they were almost talking past each other sometimes in cases where it didn't really add anything.</p><p>Scenes and actions sometimes felt a couple beats slow. Usually this seemed an attempt to dwell on the weird ambiance of the place, and usually it was fine. But sometimes it seemed a little overmuch, and I was ready to get on with the next bit already.</p><p>Some things in the film were not made particularly clear. In the interest of leaving things a little mysterious this wasn't too bad. But occasionally it was either a little silly or required some reading between the lines. For instance:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>There's a hint of the Matrix-type foolishness that <i>no one can explain things to you, you just have to experience it for yourself.</i> Which is kind of BS. People could totally have explained some things to the brothers on multiple occasions.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>There's this concept of the "circles" that gets mentioned offhand a couple times, but I don't remember it being really explained. Quite late in the film it occurred to me that people's actions were probably meant to imply (though I don't think it was ever actually stated) that anyone stuck in the situation could not leave their specific circle.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>If you don't pick up on the thing about circles, then one of the older brother's choice not to tell the husband about the presence of his wife seems like an arbitrary and possibly dickish move. But if you realize the spouses are trapped in different circles, it seems an act of mercy to not burden the husband with knowledge of his wife's similar entrapment.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>In conclusion:</b> The height of moviemaking, <i>The Endless</i> is not. And I could certainly see it as not being quite to everyone's tastes. But, general, I was personally satisfied with the film. Then again, I found <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primer_(film)" target="_blank"><i>Primer (2004)</i></a> to be not completely terrible and kind of innovative. So take my recommendation with a grain of salt.</p><p><br /></p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-24745402192074625822021-01-29T06:27:00.000-08:002021-01-29T06:27:02.643-08:00Review: The Day Star by Mark S. Geston<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo_syk5nkR5qaJ9-UgX2eSnetmi2WLR2rlMhdDDHyzGQaeeKuUtRE9tNbhYfrP1ZL2e2ogR35d1nUuRA-_dmN-8mpRIIaXSv-gnUQvnmyVGxUl-4QXTQXM0vo0J_wkoJ9uohdPi4yt8Yj/s1957/The+Day+Star+-+Mark+Geston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1957" data-original-width="1173" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwo_syk5nkR5qaJ9-UgX2eSnetmi2WLR2rlMhdDDHyzGQaeeKuUtRE9tNbhYfrP1ZL2e2ogR35d1nUuRA-_dmN-8mpRIIaXSv-gnUQvnmyVGxUl-4QXTQXM0vo0J_wkoJ9uohdPi4yt8Yj/w384-h640/The+Day+Star+-+Mark+Geston.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; text-align: left;">I thought I'd posted this earlier, but apparently I wrote this review back on G+, so here it is now from an archived copy:</span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;">------</p><p>I originally looked into The Day Star by Mark Geston simply based on the awesomeness of it's cover (depicted) but it took quite awhile before I finally got around to reading it recently. I probably should have managed to fit it in a long time ago though, since it is such a short work.</p><p>The book might fit, if awkwardly, into the dying earth genre of fiction (certainly it's world weary enough to make the cut). And while reading I kept seeing elements and flashes of other better known books, though I get the sense there's no direct influence involved.</p><p>The cosmology bears some similarity to King's Dark Tower setting: a multi-world universe shaped by powerful human technology of old which tried to bend the world to human will and is now in disrepair. Although not a perfect correlation, the weakening of the universe's boundary which occurred when the Day Star cracked might be analogous to King's concept of a thinny (with similar outcome in the case of The Mist ).</p><p>The Day Star also contains strong implications of repeating patterns among it's places, situations, the lives of individuals, and humanity's progress in general. These cycles are not presented as exactly redemptive or damning, but more just inevitable and maybe a bit tiring.</p><p>Certain descriptions put me in mind of the surreal blend of elements and details Harrison floods the page with in his Viriconium stories. It also reflects, to a lesser degree, Viriconium's implication that things are so far afield that they're almost unrelatable to modern modes of thought.</p><p>The Day Star itself also has kind of a Tower of Babel quality to it: The idea of some Great Work of humanity, meant to gather greatness together and impinge on the transcendent. But a project inherently flawed and doomed by hubris.</p><p>I came away reasonably satisfied, but at the same time felt it could've used a bit more focus and a bit less vague introspection in it's characters. In fact "vagueness" is probably the thing I was most discontented with in The Day Star. Characters are often lost in their thoughts, but their feelings regarding the situations they are in, and especially regarding each other, often feel only half described. Particularly in the earlier part of the book, I couldn't tell if the author was leaving interpretation of the character's underlying perspective as an exercise for the reader's deep contemplation, or just being vague because they hadn't thought the character's mindset through well enough. But I am an impatient reader, so the failing could be mine.</p><p>In conclusion: I'm glad I read The Day Star. It's an okay book and quick read. But I can't get very strongly excited about recommending it. If you see a cheap copy it wouldn't hurt to pick it up. But if you've got Book of the New Sun or The Dying Earth or The Night Land on your shelf, maybe read those first.</p><div><br /></div>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-3763222925262279192020-10-10T22:46:00.002-07:002020-10-10T22:50:58.652-07:00In the Light of a Ghost Star - Stats & Psionics Expansion<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr3SwTgzjIMmfdvKmD6pNjH0EL9Rik1tp6ManIO4QaCJstwzQkx5SA4I_FmwKbPeb26k7v_8Nj4Peysqt9UOg6-DifH-dZ9JXrnIxGZw9rkAebYWxDGk2TcACApaHZ3rvYVCg9OZAMs-q/s631/Barren+Planet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="631" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr3SwTgzjIMmfdvKmD6pNjH0EL9Rik1tp6ManIO4QaCJstwzQkx5SA4I_FmwKbPeb26k7v_8Nj4Peysqt9UOg6-DifH-dZ9JXrnIxGZw9rkAebYWxDGk2TcACApaHZ3rvYVCg9OZAMs-q/w604-h201/Barren+Planet.png" width="604" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nate Treme's <b><i><a href="http://natetreme.com/ghoststar" target="_blank">In the Light of a Ghost Star</a></i></b> tabletop RPG is about humans of the far future, whose ancestors fled to Mars during the Sun's red giant phase. Now that the Sun has entered its white dwarf phase, they return to Earth to scavenge ancient items of interest among the weird things inhabiting the now dark planet.<p></p><p>Since I've been thinking of running this game at some point, I was reading over it the other day and realized two things which seemed to be lacking, so created a supplement of optional rules to cover them:</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Social Stat</u></b></span></h2><p>The game grants three character abilities which are couched as professions but treated as attributes or similar stats:</p><p><b>Fighter</b> - For combat and most other physical feats.</p><p><b>Explorer</b> - Mainly for sneaking and perception.</p><p><b>Scientist</b> - Most other forms of analysis, knowledge and technical expertise.</p><p>These seem a fairly elegant combination for each character to have, but the definition was extremely brief in the original documents, and didn't cover social or cultural aspects in any significant way.</p><p>The optional rules linked below expand what each stat covers just slightly, and additionally propose a fourth stat:</p><p><b>Emissary</b> - Related to communication, influence, cultural and social insight.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Psionics</u></span></h2><p>By default <i><b>In the Light of a Ghost Star</b></i> does not really cover unusual talents or traits. All characters simply have the same basic stats to varying degrees, as well as whatever special advantages they can gain from items in their possession.</p><p>This supplement offers the option of gaining odd powers of mind and body, though always at a price. These powers require purchase of a separate <b>Esper</b> Stat and may arise from different sources such as mutation or ascetic training.</p><p style="text-align: center;">This supplement is CC-BY licensed.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://kisnerp.itch.io/itloags-stats-psionics-expansion" target="_blank">Download through Itch.io</a></h2><p><br /></p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-65506633178202719802020-09-23T03:44:00.002-07:002020-09-23T03:53:10.770-07:00The Forgotten Planet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryYAn3PtRTsvxWIolmgzqgOVV60iQqGmByvYaOXw1Zi7eyKl2S86dI0Nz8FT9MEqkcjqOVjw-rK25_6brH2CjuPf0kdxADMF_BrrhANWEUoqJSojAPml7ASVcXkCRBtKXaGfAifKPXZTR/s500/ForgottenPlanet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryYAn3PtRTsvxWIolmgzqgOVV60iQqGmByvYaOXw1Zi7eyKl2S86dI0Nz8FT9MEqkcjqOVjw-rK25_6brH2CjuPf0kdxADMF_BrrhANWEUoqJSojAPml7ASVcXkCRBtKXaGfAifKPXZTR/s320/ForgottenPlanet.jpg" /></a></div><p>Been listening to a bunch of Librevox podcasts of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_Leinster" target="_blank">Murray Leinster</a>'s (William Fitzgerald's) work. The tone varies quite a bit among his works, but the stories often seem to follow the trope of speculating male protagonist inventively resolving problems to the delight and frustration of love interest and/or fellows.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>The Forgotten Planet</i> is no exception. It takes place on a planet incompletely terraformed due to administrative error, where the highest form of life is amphibian, and giant fungi and arthropods dominate much of the wetter lowlands beneath a constantly overcast sky.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Events of the story take place 40 generations after a ship crash lands on the world, a time at which the survivors' descents have been reduced to a pre-stone age existence with almost no social structure by the brutal nature of survival among terrifying giant insects and spiders.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The plot involves the protagonist and his loosely knit band managing to improve their lot in life during a surprisingly short period of time through discovery, observation and improvisation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Like a bunch of Leinster's other work, this contains a some well thought out musings of scientific principle, but mixed with bits of speculation and social understanding that have been since discredited. And a number of cliche old tropes crop up that may cause some eye rolling.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Still, I found <i>The Forgotten Planet</i> a pretty gripping yarn of savage survival in a weird world. Seems like good fodder for an RPG setting.</p><p dir="ltr">On Librevox: <a href="https://librivox.org/the-forgotten-planet-by-murray-leinster/">https://librivox.org/the-forgotten-planet-by-murray-leinster/</a></p><p dir="ltr">On Gutenberg: <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41637" target="_blank">http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41637</a></p>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-75286900488916816972020-07-18T10:13:00.001-07:002020-07-18T10:13:14.090-07:00HexDrive Game Jam - The Astral Navigator's Handbook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://itch.io/jam/hexdrive-zine-jam/rate/704592" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehrxxrp13hi7tWZjWHmri3GwfvzEMxXLsP0_He7m0iYfiZli6Z3yhUAYW3uMhl8gu98gxNDkZj_rCFjpqBxZl3AuEIx9AvtAo4IUX9pAbo_JQJ72CG7BLNS0U6wrQBPKW_mG8_yMU3Eox/s320/Astral+Navigator+Book+Cover.png" width="253" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://itch.io/jam/hexdrive-zine-jam/rate/704592" target="_blank">The Astral Navigator's Handbook</a> is my completed entry for the <a href="https://itch.io/jam/hexdrive-zine-jam" target="_blank">HexDrive Zine Jam</a>.<br />
<br />
The HexDrive Zine is something being put together by Micah Anderson & Anxiety Wizard. As they <a href="https://twitter.com/anxietywizard/status/1278198995559436288" target="_blank">described it</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>[HexDrive is] about the greatness of spelljammer, and how none of us have read spelljammer ... do not read spelljammer! (if you have, forget everything!)</b></blockquote>
I'd never gotten involved with these kinds of game jams in the past, but this concept meshed perfectly with some ideas I'd been thinking about for years now, so it seemed like the prefect excuse to get things down in print. Possibly this is the fastest I've ever written a game supplement from scratch, managing to crank the thing out in two about weeks start to finish.<br />
<br />
The Astral Navigator's Handbook is a largely systemless CC-BY licensed supplement intended for use with your preferred fantasy role-playing game. But unlike Spelljammer, it could be shoehorned into a game of slightly more sci-fi style space opera with only minimal effort.Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-19055109577593188212020-06-20T18:55:00.001-07:002020-06-20T19:03:45.166-07:00The Battle for the Dwarven Gubbins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My daughter (11) and I, both fairly inexperienced with wargames, decided to try and run a session using <b><i>One Page Rules</i></b> <a href="https://onepagerules.com/portfolio/age-of-fantasy-skirmish/" target="_blank">Age of Fantasy: Skirmish</a>. As if to reenact the game's cover art, we opted to run humans (her) vs. ratfolk (me).<br />
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<a href="https://onepagerules.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/preview-skirmish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="preview-skirmish" border="0" src="https://onepagerules.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/preview-skirmish.png" /></a></div>
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The two sides contested among the ruins, each seeking to lay claim to pieces of the lost Dwarven gubbins-technology.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4k8He5mw3RZ8FFmN4Y9T5PULlQYpaI1FEc8DGW7n7GfqBpa_wgav-087Uyvgqe8bAkWqkLMsxXhwWdGBF0HCttGIjbCEG5L4ycJJe95XjScnKhsmhByPBZd-87SEcLjAgqT-NqAxVCYt/s1600/20200620_153146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4k8He5mw3RZ8FFmN4Y9T5PULlQYpaI1FEc8DGW7n7GfqBpa_wgav-087Uyvgqe8bAkWqkLMsxXhwWdGBF0HCttGIjbCEG5L4ycJJe95XjScnKhsmhByPBZd-87SEcLjAgqT-NqAxVCYt/s640/20200620_153146.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<br />
I spent the week 3D printing a vast number of tokens (only a few of which ever got used) and a few pieces of terrain pieces (all of which saw play). Unfortunately, despite my hours of printing, the table was still a little sparse on terrain. So we added a bunch of clay pieces from kids early art projects and a couple other random items crowding our bookshelves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrP5pNaRPbhyphenhyphen8cJf9CSuso85E5nZ35p8SEiJ0QPxPni_oEbXrFqzKQSsfhTmUE5QHOPWKsy0VJUocL1PekMIIXGGGRzErblTTxEHo3vusbmAR3CbLRdP_-61Xkl5NhAeejLXpL1N_cVTZ/s1600/20200620_153159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrP5pNaRPbhyphenhyphen8cJf9CSuso85E5nZ35p8SEiJ0QPxPni_oEbXrFqzKQSsfhTmUE5QHOPWKsy0VJUocL1PekMIIXGGGRzErblTTxEHo3vusbmAR3CbLRdP_-61Xkl5NhAeejLXpL1N_cVTZ/s640/20200620_153159.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Member of a ratfolk patrol manages to remain upright as comrades stumble around apparently falling-down drunk. Presumably the commander should've provided better basing for the troops.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W1BR1PYB5cLxNp4QPDFvdFA-cZZqDWYWLFZEBWW8DjKmz0nzzzxQs548bXfyL_hgDhRZ4xzdKpXaYaH7Ns93ytHAv9ALYRB5Rp3Fe4zcZzD5K3p-fE6ZpKCMcY_2NKq7BjNavwMdeaGj/s1600/20200620_153219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W1BR1PYB5cLxNp4QPDFvdFA-cZZqDWYWLFZEBWW8DjKmz0nzzzxQs548bXfyL_hgDhRZ4xzdKpXaYaH7Ns93ytHAv9ALYRB5Rp3Fe4zcZzD5K3p-fE6ZpKCMcY_2NKq7BjNavwMdeaGj/s640/20200620_153219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
We ran just the basic game, still learning the rules, but had a blast. Kiddo is now old enough not to get impatient with the level of rules and steps of play. Even her brother (9) who's not usually into these kinds of things took a slight interest. Sounds like we might play again in a couple weeks.<br />
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<i>Patrol of rat-warriors scales a bizarre Dwarven monument to face off against the human marksmen who'd been sniping at them across the way.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfJ8Jf4Q5GXzKmLO1_BUpsRwT2ot4JeZDgUO3i-V0oVdB0ItgM9DE8kPO_VdRql2dJgFu3ScjesHXSma837xRzIJW5Q5w-lJlkO1XXZMoVw_HbV9MYB6AmCpMpNSLAY7DlnNXMXBDrpnN/s1600/20200620_172925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfJ8Jf4Q5GXzKmLO1_BUpsRwT2ot4JeZDgUO3i-V0oVdB0ItgM9DE8kPO_VdRql2dJgFu3ScjesHXSma837xRzIJW5Q5w-lJlkO1XXZMoVw_HbV9MYB6AmCpMpNSLAY7DlnNXMXBDrpnN/s640/20200620_172925.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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<i>A lone human warrior, last survivor of their unit, holds off the onslaught of a ratfolk patrol. One gubbins at least won't fall into rodent paws this day!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlyE-g7_sCLz3swH37DWUONZsJvvTErr0iUX78VvGbAKR_T14UwhMJ0UWPnrWozYU9smuIYw-kQlYAd-w5uOleeUtHW821Dk72zm3iQNuuFEtizI4PMW9b11yOXJwW_DVXF_mgVUN22zM/s1600/20200620_172949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlyE-g7_sCLz3swH37DWUONZsJvvTErr0iUX78VvGbAKR_T14UwhMJ0UWPnrWozYU9smuIYw-kQlYAd-w5uOleeUtHW821Dk72zm3iQNuuFEtizI4PMW9b11yOXJwW_DVXF_mgVUN22zM/s640/20200620_172949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It looked like the situation would end in a draw. But at the last moment of the final round, the human captain put on a burst of speed, charging across the battlefield to dispute a ratfolk sniper's hold over one of the gubbins caches, thus ending with the humans retaining sole control of a single cache, thereby claiming victory!<br />
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<br />
3D Printed components and miniatures used in this session include:<br />
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<b><u>Tokens:</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Original version: <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4146337">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4146337</a></li>
<li>Heavily modified to better fit my printer's abilities: <span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8vUGPib6b7Y">https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8vUGPib6b7Y</a></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Terrain:</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><b>Tudor Stairs</b>:</li>
<ul>
<li>Original Version: <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1758162">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1758162</a></li>
<li>Heavily modified for better printing and narrower stairs: <a href="https://www.tinkercad.com/things/2aMQYA1zRU">https://www.tinkercad.com/things/2aMQYA1zRU</a></li>
</ul>
<li><b>Agave Tree</b> - <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3303620">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3303620</a></li>
<li><b>Soul Plant</b> - <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3675929">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3675929</a></li>
<li><b>Ruined Walls</b> - <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3751733">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3751733</a></li>
<li><b>Dwarven Pillars</b> - <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2620832">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2620832</a></li>
<li><b>Thorns</b> - <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2806925">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2806925</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><u>Minis:</u></b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><i>Caesar Miniatures</i></b> - <i>(Currently both apparently out of stock)</i></li>
<ul>
<li><b>Adventurers</b> (F104) - <a href="http://www.minitoysoldier.com/prolist.asp?id=363">http://www.minitoysoldier.com/prolist.asp?id=363</a></li>
<li><b>Ratmen</b> (F108) - <a href="http://www.minitoysoldier.com/prolist.asp?id=279">http://www.minitoysoldier.com/prolist.asp?id=279</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-18113832175420973332020-05-23T19:18:00.001-07:002020-05-23T19:30:19.328-07:00The Hedge Lich<a href="https://freesvg.org/img/1587401743smokingskelly-1898.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Smoking Skeleton" border="0" height="400" src="https://freesvg.org/img/1587401743smokingskelly-1898.png" width="400" /></a><br />
Originally written in response to:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.quora.com/Can-a-PC-be-a-LICH-in-D-D-5E/answer/Peter-Kisner" target="_blank">Can a PC be a Lich in D&D 5E?</a><br />
<br />
An actual lich would be pretty powerful for a typical player character to be at lower levels. So, probably successfully becoming a lich would make one an NPC in most games. Instead I suggest a compromise for those wanting to play a walking skeleton:<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Hedge Lich</h2>
Sometimes wizards try to become a lich when they just aren't well studied enough to pull off the appropriate ritual. Other times a mage creates a ritual attempting to resurrect someone, a gift which only divine power can truly provide. Often the result is simply failure, but occasionally the caster creates a lesser form of free willed undead sometimes referred to as a "Hedge Lich".<br />
<br />
The flesh of a hedge lich gradually rots away leaving only an animated skeleton. A hedge lich has the same ability scores they had in life as well as any classes, skills or proficiencies. However, they lose any racial abilities except those which are innate physical features of a skeleton (e.g. claws or teeth are still present and effective, scales are gone and provide no protection, wings are present but provide no lift, and low light vision, luck or breath weapons are all absent).<br />
<br />
<h3>
Acquired traits:</h3>
<b>Darkvision:</b> 120 ft.<br />
<br />
<b>Reviled</b> - Disadvantage on all Charisma based social interactions except intimidation if the listener can see your appearance. This is negated while using effective disguise, illusion or other spells to hide your appearance.<br />
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<b>Disillusioned</b> - Gain advantage on checks to resist charm or illusion spells unless they are specifically tailored to undead. You gain a Wisdom saving throw to see through illusions even when the effect would not allow a save.<br />
<br />
<b>Chains Forged In Life</b> -There is a sort of "fool's phylactery", some object you are bound to. If it is destroyed, your soul is released from this existence to eternal reward or damnation. As long as the item exists, even if your body is destroyed, you are unable to move on or be truly resurrected, though someone using the same ritual may reanimate you as a hedge lich again.<br />
<br />
<b>Free of the Flesh</b> - You no longer need to eat, drink or breathe. Additionally, you are immune to all normal poisons and diseases, though some magical or exotic forms may still effect you.<br />
<br />
<b>Anathema</b> - Channel Divinity and similar powers which effect undead also effect you, unless cast by a cleric dedicated to the same divine beings you are.<br />
<br />
<b>Mockery of Life</b> - Healing magics which cure hit point loss fail to work on you. However, magic which grants temporary hit points may still functions. The Arcana skill is used on you in place of the Medicine.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://freesvg.org/smoking-skeleton" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Source</span></a>Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-23374333771697173992020-05-12T14:20:00.000-07:002020-05-12T14:20:47.361-07:00Necromancy: The Hallowed ScienceSomeone on Quora asked:<br />
<h2>
How would you make a goodly aligned necromancer in Dungeons and Dragons?</h2>
This garnered <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-would-you-make-a-goodly-aligned-necromancer-in-Dungeons-and-Dragons" target="_blank">responses from a lot of folks</a>.<br />
<br />
Options <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-would-you-make-a-goodly-aligned-necromancer-in-Dungeons-and-Dragons/answer/Peter-Kisner" target="_blank">that came to my mind</a> included:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>The Good Doctor</b> - A humanist medical researcher who feels that it is not ideal to trust gods and magical patrons for healing and support, since they may have motives not aligned with those of individual mortals. Only a reasoned approach to magic can be trusted. Unfortunately academic understanding of magical healing and revivification is still in its infancy, but research continues!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>A Gray Gift</b> - A necromantic prodigy. You didn't ask for this talent, but you can just perfectly envision how the entropic and animating forces intertwine within flesh. Sometimes you wonder how something so easy is so difficult for most folks to understand. Others view your abilities as ghoulish and unpleasant. But the gods can't have given you this understanding in vain, surely there must 11be some way you were intended to use your insight for the good of others.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Goth With a Heart of Gold</b> - People don't like my grotty, decadent magical and fashion choices? Well f*** ‘em! I've seen plenty of authoritarians and “upstanding citizens" bullying or marginalizing those who won't or can't conform, throwing the “freaks" in the gutter with last night's chamber pot. That will never be me. My necromancy is a metaphor for accepting what society rejects, scavenging the discarded and giving them worth again.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Conscripted for the Common Good</b> - Eat, drink and have fun while you live, but take care of that body of yours: it is only on loan from your community while you live. In our advanced society, there is just not enough manual labor available to get the necessary work done. Everyone in this community learns a little necromancy. The least among us may be merely exterminators and pest control, but entropy-work has uses in medical fields, the military, and most importantly labor “recruiting". Sure we all want to be studying history, literature or theoretical thaumaturgy, but everyone has to devote part of their time to public service.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Licensed Supernatural Investigator</b> - It's dirty work, but someone's gotta do it. In this hard boiled, violent world everyone needs something to give them an edge. Necromancy's just your something. Sure, it'd be easy to sell out your services to the mob, become another black magic goon. But, rough exterior not withstanding, you just can't help feeling something for every teary-eyed, hard-luck client who shows up at your office. This soft heart of yours sure doesn't pay the bills great, and it's libel to get you killed one day, but at least it let's ya sleep at night.</li>
</ul>
Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-35678700894167067492020-04-04T16:59:00.002-07:002021-12-08T23:19:11.165-08:00SKROP: Standard Kobold Rules of Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anne's been running us through some <a href="https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/search/label/glog" target="_blank">pretty great sessions</a> using Arnold K.'s <a href="http://goblinpunch.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-glog.html" target="_blank">GLOG</a> rules and Skerples <a href="https://coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2019/10/osr-glog-based-homebrew-v2-many-rats-on.html" target="_blank">Many Rats on Sticks</a> variant. And I'm really digging both the lightness of the system and the magic rules. But as much fun as it is, I can never leave well enough alone.<br />
<br />
For one thing, no matter how much I love the old school DIY <i>just cobble it together and make it work</i> nature of games like this, I'll always miss the newer roll-high type systems. So this, and a bunch of other little fussy preferences, are what gave rise to <b>SKROP</b>: <b>the Standard Kobald Rules of Play</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>SKROP v1</b> - <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ms49NW8s5RTJgkyDbZJdk0MwaRCnecXO/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">PDF</a> | <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uIY9z7j0xDyKo1DrfkchYrg8bFy4uJrT/view?usp=sharing" rel="" target="_blank">DOCX</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>12/9/2021 - Edited to note:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A newer version of this document edited, significantly expanded and altered, should be out in the next few months. The name is being changed to simply "KROP" (Kobold Rules of Play).</i></div>
Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1376575367892366667.post-42612156541568121352020-03-19T16:13:00.000-07:002020-06-21T19:22:01.808-07:00Just a little bit Numenous.<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="273" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/152571722" width="640"></iframe>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ShannaGermain/status/1237871774705913856">Shanna Germain's</a> link to the short movie STRAND, recently got my interest in Numenera fired up again. Which led to a discussion of the game with <a href="https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Anne</a> & <a href="http://bernietheflumph.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Josh</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
In the course of conversation it came up that, while interest was expressed in the world and setting, certain things about the Cypher system hadn't set right with some of us. In the subsequent days, this led me review my own laundry list of issues with what, at first glance, seems like an elegant system, but on closer inspection seems a bit kludgy.</div>
<br />
This in turn started the brainstorm as to how to fix things. Or at least patch them up while still making them compatible with published materials I enjoy:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Fewer Dice and Calculations</b> - Dice rolling seems needlessly complicated (adjust difficulty with multiple factors, multiply result, then roll against? I tried to fix this once in the old <a href="https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2015/07/cy6her-system.html" target="_blank">CY6HER</a> post awhile back and took a page from that. The d20 is removed and uses just a d6 for all rolls instead.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Cyphers</b> - I don't personally mind one-use items, but the idea that you can only have so many at a time seems a bit of annoying. Although I do get why they were trying to push that, and I think it works better in a clarke-tech sort of setting like Numenera where different items don't cooperate with each other, the explanation in the book seemed a little pat with mention of "radiations". I haven't gone to great lengths to fix this, but tried to simplify a little and equivocate more on what the incompatibilities represent.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>A Stat Too Few</b> - There are three core stats: Speed, Might & Intellect. This bugs me more than it maybe should. My complaint is that one mental stat covers a lot of ground, while Speed, and especially Might are a lot narrower in scope. This seems like it makes it too easy to pour power into all abilities even vaguely related to the mind, senses or social skill. I broke part of this out into an optional additional stat called Intuition to cover the social and sensory side at least.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Fiddly Character Creation</b> - Character creation at first appears deceptively simple with it's three stats and "I am a [descriptor] [type] who does [focus]." which at first feels improvisational, until you realize very quickly that each of those bracketed words actually takes you to a set of predetermined options later on that just break up your main choices into more bits and pieces. I went a little way toward simplifying the [descriptor] piece of this.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Edge vs. Pool</b> - This is more a personal issue of mind, but: I'm okay with the idea of a Pool representing reserves of power you have to spend on things related to a stat. But I felt something like Edge, innate level of strength and competence, should play a more significant roll as well. Something to always add to rolls, instead simply lowering Pool costs. I tried to simplify the language of how Edge and Pool are combined and clarify things, but I couldn't go as far as I'd liked in this direction while keeping the system conveniently backwards-compatible with the original game.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Human after all</b> - In a setting that takes place a <b>BILLION</b> years in the future, I thought there would be fewer recognizable humans among the player characters. So I was kind of disappointed to find not only are humans the default (you can play others, but only a couple options are provided, and not near the front of the book), but nearly all the PC-centric artwork is of humans. I tried to remedy this by positing a section on making your own Abhumans and creating a couple other options from some of the creatures found in the core books.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>It's only a model</b> - The ad text for the game seems to pride itself on how unknowably weird the detritus of the future would be. But certain bits of the stories and flavor, once I actually dug through the book a bit, seemed to give the impression that: No gods or true mind powers here, even if it is really wonderous and weird, it's all pretty much explicable through technology, just at an advanced level. As an alternative, I've included a flavor option for various forms of less Clarke-style magic to exist.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Familiarity breeds contempt</b> - A bunch of the Numenera described seemed almost too easily identifiable. I didn't actually try to fix this with my own work, but instead recommend using a combination of the tables in Kevin Crawford's <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/89991/Mandate-Archive-The-Dust" target="_blank">Mandate Archive: The Dust</a> to reskin existing cyphers and artifacts as something less immediately identifiable.</li>
</ul>
<div>
The result of all this, something I'm tentatively calling the <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=18UcmD9FJ0DoB1hekpHoWiizAxCxbFqtv" target="_blank">CRYPTIC SYSTEM</a>.</div>
Peter K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17181421723646836427noreply@blogger.com0