Now THIS Looks Like a Fun Movie: Knights of Badassdom

I enjoyed Your Highness, but this might be even more fun.

Certainly hits the mark as a good movie to see with your gaming group, as long as you don't take yourselves too seriously.

On the 15th Day of Free Holiday swag, My Bartender Gave to Meeeeeeee: Tavern Tables

There are tables, and there are Tables.  The Tome of Adventure Design is a Book of Tables (Frog God Games - review forthcoming).  Tavern Tables is a short PDF that helps one detail - you guessed it - Taverns.

Pretty neat, since my PCs are always finding new taverns, and I like to make them unique.  Now I can.  And you can too!  For Free ;)

From the Blurb:

Tavern Tables is a short ebook full of dice tables for rolling up taverns. A list of 100 adjectives and 100 nouns gives you names like "The Greedy Zombie Tavern" or "The Brassy Wench Inn," and further tables provide for food and drink price and quality, the bartender's disposition, and any interesting patrons that you might find.

There are also tables for brawling and drunken shenanigans - does that PC who had a little too much wake up missing a few silver, with the mayor's daughter, chained to a wall in the dungeon of a fanatical cult, or all of the above? And if that's not enough, there's some example NPCs created with the tables in the book that you can drop right into your game.

Where Did My Taste For Fiction Go?

I used to read every nite (and sometimes in the morning). Fantasy trilogies, seemingly endless series, favorite authors, spiffy covers - I didn't need much of an excuse to find something to read. Almost all was fantasy or scr-fi.

Now, with the exception of the latest Discworld novel, I don't seem to have the stamina or the focus to get thru a work of fiction these days. I had no problem reading the recently published follow-up to Fort Apache: The Bronx (non-fiction) in 2 days, but I can't seem to pick up a regular novel these days.

Soloman Kane I'm slowly working my way thru, but as it's short stories, it seems to work for me these days. I used to HATE short stories when I was in my 2-3 novels a week phase of reading.

I wish I could blame my change in taste on a particular author or work, but I can't. Tastes change with age I guess. I'm sure at some point it will all swing back around again.

On The 14th Day of Free Holiday Swag, My Bartender Gave to Meeeeeee: Renaissance, a D100 Black Powder RPG

Last week I was talking about Mongoose Runequest, and how Mongoose's license had expired and that they had re-released the rules as Legend (and for a lowly buck at that).  Now Cubicle 7 comes along with Renaissance - D100 Black Powder SRD.  It builds upon OpenQuest, which itself is build upon the Mongoose Runequest SRD and OGL.  You follow so far?

No?

Doesn't matter.  Here's what matters.  Renaissance is free.  As in it cost nothing.  From Cubicle 7.

Here's the blurb:

Renaissance is a free D100 roleplaying system designed for historical and fantasy gaming in the age of black powder weapons. It features familiar mechanics, grim and gritty combat, extensive period weapons and equipment lists, dozens of professions, and rules for factions and belief systems. It also includes two magick systems - the powerful battle alchemy first introduced in Clockwork & Chivalry 1st Edition, and a streamlined and expanded version of the witchcraft rules from the Silver Oggie Award-winning supplement Divers & Sundry. Based on Newt Newport's OpenQuest and released under an Open Gaming License, which allows companies and individuals to incorporate the rules into their own games, is also showcases the rules system of Clockwork & Chivalry 2nd Edition, the epic historical fantasy RPG from Cakebread & Walton, authors of Abney Park's Airship Pirates.

Peeking At My Review Process

I've been posting my (previously posted) reviews to RPGNow, and I've noticed that I review stuff I tend to really like. I shouldn't be all that surprised. Generally speaking, I know what I like, and I tend to review what I like. Why waste time with something I know ahead of time I'm not going to enjoy?

OSR games, adventures and resources are on the top of that list. Right to the top. Don't pass GO! Don't collect $200 ;)

Savage Worlds, d100 (OpenQuest, RQ, Legend and the like) and similar games are also on that list, but I tend to get to them at a slower pace.

Some of the Indie games strike my fancy (Resolute, Bean! and the like fit into the category). If I'm interested and have access to a review copy, I'll snag a copy and post a review when I can.

If you have something you want me to review (and I have access to a copy) I'll take a peek upon request. You can make your suggestions as comments to this post, or drop an email to tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom.

I may be adding some fiction to the pile. Heck, that could be a whole other post

On the 13th Day of Free Holiday Swag, My Bartender Gave to Meeeeee: Novarium (RPG)

Leave it to Greg (aka Chubby Funster) to gift us with another free RPG.  This time he gives us Novarium.    It has it roots as a re-imaginating of sorts of Ars Magica, but with the Chubby Funster twist.

Players have their primary PC, and a secondary PC to use when their main is otherwise occupied off stage.  This allows for the world to grow and time to progress.  The last game I played that had multiple characters for the PCs stable was Dark Sun in it's first incarnation.  I feel old now ;)

Production quality is, once again, what every professional should hope to release upon the public.  It's made for ease of reading on computer screen or tablet.  Fully bookmarked.  Amazing art.  Very well done.

Memories Don't Always Revisit Well

I loaded up Baldur's Gate 1 last night and gave it a try. This game rocked back in the day, but I found the graphics almost painful. More accurately, I strained to read the game text.

In defense of the game, it certainly wasn't designed for a 27" computer screen. It will probably be readable on my lapptop.

I'm gonna jump ahead to Baldur's Gate II next, and see if the situation resolves itself. Or maybe all the way to ToEE - the community patch apparently makes the game a near 10

Sometimes All It Takes is a Nudge...

So, I went and got married and somehow Google+ got forgotten about.  Thanks to Greg messaging me earlier today I got to be reminded about it... heh

For now I'm going to be sending out the Holiday Swag posts a few times a day until i catch up.  Maybe even throw a random thought up there on occasions.  Go figure ;)

Oh, and I'm reposting most of my reviews on RPGNow.com.  So if you see erik from tenkar's tavern as the reviewer, its me.

On the 12th Day of Free Holiday Swag, My Bartender Gave to Meeeeee: The Pathfinder Bonus Bestiary

Hey, I think you could actually sing the title of this blog post.  Not saying you should, just saying you could.

Brenden was nice enough to point out the Pathfinder Bonus Bestiary.  It's a short (yet well produced - it is Paizo after all) monster manual for Pathfinder.  It is easy enough to convert to the OSR game of your choice, as it's always easier to cut out the chaff then to add back in.

13 creatures, some of whom I recall from the old Fiend Folio in 20 art filled pages.  Good stuff for the right price.

From the blurb:

Unleash the Beasts!

Get your first look at the future with more than a dozen menacing monsters that we couldn't make room for in the Pathfinder Bestiary. These creatures won't be making an appearance in the Pathfinder RPG for at least a year and will thus only be available in this book for a long while. Showcasing the new rules and flexibility of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, this collection of creatures draws from more than 30 years of gaming history and includes:

• Deadly beasts and familiar allies, such as allips, caryatid columns, faerie dragons, huecuvas, shadow mastiffs, and more!
• New rules for monstrous companions, arcane creations, sinister traps, variant creatures, and other options for use with both 3.5 and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
• Explanations of never-before-seen rules being included in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
• A preview listing of nearly every monster to be included in the upcoming Pathfinder Bestiary
• Reimaginings of some of the most iconic creatures in gaming, vibrantly illustrated by some of the best artists in fantasy

Mini Review: Loviatar 5 and Scrollworks 1

Alright, I'm not really reviewing Scollworks Volume I Issue 1, but I came across it as I cleaned out my old desk (renovations never seem to end) and as it's Christian's first RPG fanzine that I know of, I thought I'd give it a mention along with Christian's latest.

Loviatar #5 has an amazing cover.  When your main article is Hex 001, this cover is the perfect match.  Well done!

As for Hex 001 itself, I'm very interested to see where this goes.  It's a really nice starter area with hints of things beyond the hex itself.  This would make a very nice ongoing feature (hint) building off of previous hexes.

It's been ages since I've opened a GURPS book that wasn't Discworld.  So the GURPS article took me a few moments to refresh my memories of the system, but in truth, the article could have been systemless and worked nearly as well. The set up (fluff if you will) could easily fit any modern age RPG.

Shamble is a short WoD piece for a "Walking Dead" inspired zombie.  Again, well done and is easily adaptable to other role playing systems.

Great as always.  Love mail in my mailbox that isn' junk or a bill ;)

The Flame Princess is Running a Sale!

Lamentations of the Flame Princess is running a sale on all of it's PDF releases on RPGNow.

Wondering what all the hype is about with Vornheim?  Find out for yourself for $1.35

Want to check out LotFP's Weird Fantasy RPG (Grindhouse Edition)?  Just $1.35

Interested in why I think The Grinding Gear is one of the best adventures I've ever read (haven't run it yet tho')?  You guessed it, just $1.35

Jim can be a larger (and louder) then life personality, but he has more then his fair share of gems in his collection.  Help yourself before December 10th, when the regular prices return.

On the 11th Day of Free Holiday Swag, My Bartender Gave to Meeeeeee... Blackmarsh, a Free Campaign Setting

If you've been around this corner of the blogosphere, you probably already know about the Bat in the Attic blog.  You might have missed his utterly awesome sandbox campaign setting: Blackmarsh.  It's free, works well with any of the OSR games (and probably even the newer stuff the young kids are playing these days.

If you don't have it already, grab it now.  Really.  Right now.  Not later, as you might forget.  It's that good.

From the blurb:

In the days when man knew only the working of stone and fought for their existence against the orc and the goblin, the sky turned to ash and down fell the fiery mountain onto the land. The world tore open and the grey waters rushed in. Those who survived the impact were lost as boiling clouds rushed out in all directions leaving a wasteland in its wake.

The Mountain That Fell left a gift; magic. Near and far, those of learning and strong of heart discovered new powers to shape the world. In the desolation around the Smoking Bay the adventurous found viz, magic in physical form. And there was more, scattered amid the landscape were strange artifacts and stranger creatures that survived The Mountain That Fell. For a time men, dwarves, orc, goblins, and other races braved the dangers and fought each other in the wastelands. Then the elves came into Blackmarsh expelled the feuding races, drove the monsters out, and healed the land.

In the present day, many come to Blackmarsh to harvest viz, kill monsters, or seek the strange artifacts left by The Mountain That Fell. The only force that stands against the wilderness is the Blackmarsh Rangers. Anyone who is willing to defend the land and its people are welcomed into their ranks. Powerful kingdoms outside of Blackmarsh are beginning cast a covetous eyes toward the land's riches. Will the adventurers of your campaign become wealthy and powerful? Or will their bones join the many that have sunk into the swamps?

Blackmarsh is a complete, ready to run setting for your campaign. It can be run as its own setting or an expansion of your existing world. Contained in Blackmarsh are 17 geographical entries, 78 described locales, and one detailed town; Castle Blackmarsh. Each entry provide one or more adventure hooks to use in your campaigns.

Sorcery & Super Science! Super Saturday One Day Sale

Thanks to The Underdark Gazette for pointing out Expeditious Retreat's one day sale on it's Sorcery & Super Science line.  At a buck a piece,  I'm grabbing a few myself.

And a happy 40th to the ERP man himself.  Joe, enjoy the day!

Go for the eyes Boo, GO FOR THE EYES!! RrraaaAAGHGHH!!!

If you are looking for a gift for yourself, you can't do much better then the Dungeons & Dragons Classic Anthology of computer games.  For less then 20 bucks, i get to replay Baldur's Gate 1 + 2 (and all the expansions), Icewind Dale 1 + 2, Plansescape Torment (one of the best computer RPGs of all time and Temple of Elemental Evil (i never finished it the first time - this time I'll instal the community hack right from the start).

I guess the old SSI GoldBox games would be the true originals of D&D computer gaming (and I did love them) but Baldur's Gate was amazingly addictive.  I really need to take some sick time off from work.  Haven't done so in over 4 years and it would make for some great computer gaming time ;)

They've also put out a collection of all the Neverwinter 1 + 2 games and add ons.  That runs 29 bucks.  Great stuff there too, and I picked up both collections already, but I think I need to revisit Baldur's Gate first.

On The 10th Day of Free Holiday Swag, My Bartender Gave to Meeeeeeee! - Gamemastering, The Essential Guide to Gamemastering

Free, fully bookmarked, 330 page PDF on how to be a better GM.

It's $29.95 on Amazon with 3 five star reviews for an oversized paperback.

Why pay thirty bucks when you can get Gamemastering for free?

Welcome Winter - Please Feel Free to Exit Quietly and Quickly

Woke up to frost on the car this morning. Monday we hit 70 degrees, last night we went below freezing.

When I was in High School and College, the summer months were prime gaming time. The backyard, a picnic table and endless gallons of Iced Tea kept us going for hours and hours.

The winter months were the hardest on us as gamers. Besides studying and other necessary school work, walking in the cold and snow to the house we were gaming wasn't as nearly as much fun as in the summer. Canceling a game session due to cold or snow wasn't unheard of, but it certainly was painful.

VTTs don't suffer from the cold or weather ;)

On the Ninth Day of free Holiday Swag, My Bartender Gave to Meeeeeee... The Hounds of Adranos for Runequest.

Being that I brought your attention to Mongoose's Legend RPG, a reworking and fully compatible reimaging of the Mongoose RuneQuest RPG (alas, no license lasts forever in gaming) earlier today, I now bring you the free adventure: The Hounds of Adranos for RuneQuest (Legend).

Legend RPG?   A Buck

The Hounds of Adranos?  Free

A fun and successful gaming session?  Priceless

From the blurb:

The Hounds of Adranos is an adventure for RuneQuest Fantasy Earth. Recommended as an add-on for Alephtar Games setting Stupor Mundi, it can also be played with the core RuneQuest rulebook alone.

This scenario includes:

- twelve pages of action-packed adventure

- full stats for all NPCs and monsters

- cardboard figures for all characters in the adventure

- cardboard figures for all Stupor Mundi recommended Player Characters

- two full-color maps of the Adranon dungeons

Mongoose Runequest is Dead, Long Live Mongoose Legend

Mongoose's license for the RuneQust trademark expired yesrterday. Legend, Mongoose's new RPG built upon the bones of MRQ2 OGL, has released today.

For a buck.

I'll post more on this after I've had a chance to read my PDF copy. 

That will give time for y'all to read your $1 copies ;)