New Big Dragon puts D30 Sandbox Companion and D30 DM Companion on Sale - Limited Time

I'm on a bit of a posting tear today. No, it's not because I suddenly have hunkered down and I'm working on my projects. Instead, I've had puppy duty much of today / tonight, which means (mostly) supervised play time in an area she won't get into too much trouble. Yes, I've been posting in those moments she passes out from exhaustion. I've also been listening to way to much classical music in the hopes of keeping her relaxed when she's in her crate.

In any case, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that +Richard LeBlanc has put the D30 Sandbox Companion on sale for $3.95 and the D30 DM Companion on sale for a mere 2 bucks. Both are in PDF and available over at RPGNow. Sale prices are only through August 3rd.

The D30 Sandbox Companion has probably gotten more use from me since it's release than anything else I own in the OSR sphere, with the exception of the Swords & Wizardry Complete Rules. It really is that good.

Bundle of Holding Brings Back Stars Without Number Bundle

Bundle of Holding has brought back the Stars Without Number bundle from last October.

If you are looking for an OSR based scifi RPG, THIS is the way to go. It is an excellent system.

If you pay beyond the average, you also get get Other Dust - a post apoc RPG using the same core system. Think Gamma World for modern sensibilities.

The expanded bundle includes Engines of Babylon, which isn't available anywhere else (and should be linked to your account if you got this bundle back in October.)

Does "Save or Die" Have it's Roots in Tournament Play?

Is that G1-3 in your hands?

The latest Roll For Initiative (which I posted about yesterday) looks at G1 and remarks that it has it's roots as a tournament module. To the best of my recollection, all of the early AD&D module releases had their start as tournament modules for various conventions.

In my early days of running and playing in home brewed adventures and dungeons, the only "save or die" anyone encountered was Giant Centipedes (and even then the save was at + 4 if I recall correctly). Our traps caused damage, sleep, paralyzation, teleporting and the like. It could kill, especially if you failed your save and the damage rolled was high enough, but outright "save or die" was few and far between - at least until we found official AD&D modules from TSR.

Those converted tournament modules seemed to have death lurking behind every lock, door, chest and intersection. Which makes sense for what it was written to do - whittle down a party of pregenerated characters to wind up with a winner. The thing is, most campaigns don't play out well like that.

So, while "save or die" was certainly part of old school play, i think it remembered more because of the official TSR modules from the early 1e days than actual play in most groups, or at least the groups I played in in two states, two schools, college and beyond. You learned to fear when an earl¥ 1e adventure was brought to the table, as death literally was around the corner..

Kickstarter - Lost City of Barakus - In Hand

I received my hard cover copy of The Lost City of Barakus yesterday
- and it was estimated to arrive in August, so it is early and one heck of a birthday present. My Barakus. My... precious.

How's that for another Kickstarter miracle?

I liked the old 3x version that I picked up in my "reading but not playing days" and the S&W version has that beat hands down. The Lost City of Barakus is more than just a mega dungeon - there is enough of a setting presented to play this as a sandbox with multiple points of interest.

I am sorely tempted to run this after my summer hiatus away from DMing for the regular group.

It's 40 bucks over at the Frog God web store, and that really is a bargain - especially as the HC includes the PDF for instant gratification ;)

Latest Roll for Initiative Podcast Looks at G1 - Steading of the Hill Giant Chief

The latest episode of the Roll for Initiative podcast went up today, and the main topic of discussion was G1 - Steading of the Hill Giant Chief. It really does hit some old memories for me.

I'm not sure what my first module purchase was. Either G1-3 or A1 of the Slavers series (actually, A1 was the only part I had of that series for the longest time). I do remember that all of my initial AD&D module purchases were originally tournament modules.

Tournament modules require a whole different thought process on the player side than a regular campaign adventure, and I believe this is where the whole old school "save or die" or don't even try, comes from. I had traps in my home brewed dungeons in my early days of gaming, but hadn't encounters save or die before I started reading the TSR modules of old.

I also forgot how far 8 pages of adventure could go back in the early days. G1 crammed a lot of game play into minimal pages.

Big thanks to +Vincent Florio for plugging the Tenkar & The Badger podcast on RFI. Hopefully we'll meet (or gods forbid exceed) the expectations of most folks that bother to listen ;)

North Texas RPG Con 2015 Early Registration Ends Tomorrow - July 31st

Early registration for NTRPG Con 2015 ends tomorrow, so your chance to save 10 bucks on the four days of the convention is running out after tomorrow. For me it's a savings of 20 bucks, as it's me and my wife.

I'm going to be there next June and so should you.

I will be organizing a Tenkar's Tavern / Tavern Radio gathering at the hotel bar at the next NTRPG Con, probably on Thursday Night. I'll buy the first round for up to 2 dozen blog readers / podcast listeners. It's the least I can do - and I'll make sure and shave this time too ;)

Tavern Radio is Live

Yep, the Tavern Radio website is live. I'd have more to say, but four pints and three shots for my 47 birthday (which is tomorrow but who is really paying attention?)

Thank God I was sober last night when we recored episode one...

Episode 1 of Tenkar & The Badger is Recorded - Matt Finch was an Excellent 3rd Chair

Earlier tonight +Jason Paul McCartan . +Matt Finch and myself recorded the first episode of the Tenkar & The Badger Podcast. Matt was an excellent guest and a pleasure to have with us for the inaugural episode.

If all goes well, the edited and final version should be up on Friday. If not... well, hopefully we'll have some pieces from Episode Zero to torture you with fairly soon.

I'm just thankful my internet didn't start dropping until after the podcast was recording. I did miss out on some after the podcast chatter but that's fine.

I do expect the episode to spark some conversation when it releases, as The Quick Primer for Old School Gaming was a large part of the conversation, and it probably didn't go as you expect (nor did it take the path I expected, and that's damn cool.)

Oh, the TavernRadio website should be live in a day or so.

Wandering Monsters, Random Encounters or Unplanned Events?

I've been watching the puppy interact with the cats over the last few days, and it's gotten me thinking about Wandering Monsters and Random Encounters in OSR gaming and the like. Why has it gotten me thinking this way? No idea, except for all of the high energy interactions I guess.

From my perspective, wandering monsters and even random encounters are generally missing out on events - something that occurs that the players may or may not immediately interact with. Personally, I'd like to see some foreshadowing events on those random tables.

I see wandering monsters as the simplest of the tables - all monsters, damn near all combat situations.

Random encounters take the wandering monster table and add situations where the PCs can interact without combat.

Unplanned events goes one step further and adds in events the PCs see but can't interact with and events that transpire without the PCs need to interact with, but can. This could include foreshadowing, visions and natural events such as weather and the like.

Of course, the further you go from "Wandering Monsters" the more complicated and detailed the potential tables get.

Random puppy induced thoughts...

Tavern Radio has over 100 Members - Episode 1 of the Tenkar & The Badger Podcast Records Tomorrow

We hit over 100 members over the WOSR Tavern Radio G+ Community, which means everyone that's a member over there before episode 1 of Tenkar & The Badger goes out on Friday has a chance to win a $10 RPGNow GC, as we are giving away one GC on Friday.

Recording happens tomorrow night.

I figure I can't get more nervous than I already am, so it can only get better ;)

Remember, we don't supply translators, so you are on your own...

Puppy Pickup Was Successful ;)

Danke, our miniature long haired dachshund, was brought home yesterday afternoon, and is already being chased and chasing my parents' cats.

She's only loud when she's put in here crate.

I suspect I have a second model for the gaming book pictures ;)

What is Your "RPG Rule Zero?"

What is your "RPG Rule Zero?"

My Rule Zero is "You must have faith in the DM to run a fair and fun game and to interpret the rules of said game to ensure fairness and fun." This rule tends to not sit well with rules heavy games, but as I tend to avoid most rules heavy games, that isn't much of an issue.

Yes, OSR for the win! ;)

If You Have Questions / Thoughts you want Brought Up with Matt Finch, Ask Below

The first episode of the Tenkar & The Badger Podcast records on Monday evening (and should go live on Friday for the masses) - a mere two days from now. +Matt Finch will be the guest for the first episode.

If there is anything in particular you want asked, leave a comment below. No guarantees that we will get to ask your question, but we do guarantee that we will read them to ourselves if nothing else ;)

(As a small aside, if we get 100+ members in the WOSR Community before the episode goes live on August 1st, I'll give away a $10 RPGNow Gift Certificate to a random community member. As I post this, we have 88 members, so it is VERY doable.)

My POD Copy of D&D 5e Basic has Arrived!

Someone uploaded the D&D 5e Basic Rules to Lulu last week. They were only up for a day or so, but I snagged a copy while they were there.

All I can say is this: WotC should seriously consider putting up an at cost POD option for the D&D Basic Rules at the DnDClassics storefront. This is a much more table friendly version than the PDF.

House Rules - Do You Do Them and Why?

Recently I was asked if I had my house rules for S&W in one place, and the answer I wanted to give was "Yes. In my head."

It's not that I don't have them written down - most if not all of them have been posted and discussed here at The Tavern - I just don't have them all in a single post, let alone a downloadable document. Maybe with next week's mostly staycation I'll have a chance to rectify that.

The thing is, with me, I find it damn near impossible to run any game, especially an OSR game, as written. With nearly 35 years in the hobby, I have my own ideas of what works best. These days, with all of the OSR games available (many for free) making a mongrelization of the various rule sets is much like picking from the classic Chinese Restaurant menu - 1 from column a, 1 from column b, etc. Swords & Wizardry Complete is my baseline, but my games step far away from that baseline in actual play.

Do you use house rules in your campaigns? Just a few minor ones or a crapton of large ones? Maybe something inbetween. Do you RAW (run as written) and if so, why? If you house rule, why?

Kickstarter - RPG Mini Mods - Role Playing Games Mini Modules

What can I tell you about +Lloyd Metcalf ? Well, he was the main artist doing work on Whisper & Venom (a NTRPG Three Castles Award Finalist and ENnie Award Finalist for 2014). I actually own one of his original pieces of work. I truly do like his art. I have no idea about his adventure writing, but I'm willing to make a bet (with my own money) that Lloyd writes a decent adventure. I guess I'll find out with his RPG Mini Mods.

$24 for print copies of all three mini mods, $32 if you want a set of three 5"x7" prints of the covers. Can you guess what level I'll be ponying up for?

Let's face it, not every GM has time to sit down and prepare adventures on short notice every time the players decide to pop in for some RPG fun. 

A Mini Mod quest is simply a side quest in short format, designed to serve many purposes. 

A Mini Mod can be a quick one-off adventure or a side quest in a longer campaign. You can use a Mini Mod to unobtrusively make sure that players come across objects or tavern-rumors with connections to larger story lines. You can also use one to enrich the campaign setting in a longer story arc. 

Mini Mods will keep your players entertained and give them things to do while other events are cooking. You can use them as a springboard to further adventures or just to add depth to your world, and all with minimal pre-planning time. 

This Kickstarter will raise the funds necessary to produce 3 complete Mini mods in their entirety. The Bogey  has previously been done, but will receive a re-write and some added details from our newly added writer Christopher Scott Thompson along with Ian Graham and myself (Lloyd Metcalf). 

Christopher is already hard at work fixing up The Bogey of Swindle and ironing out the bugs in "The Children of Blackweb Bog". Two great mini mods to get the ball rolling. 

We will pay our professional writer to help us along in creating "Midnight Oliviah" with successful funding. A mini mod inspired by a lady known to a number of Texans, but loaded with character ready for any world. 

All Mini mods will be illustrated by myself (Lloyd Metcalf)

Episodic Play

I was thinking about one shots / convention play, and how it plays out differently than campaign play. But then I thought a bit about campaign play, and even with campaign play there are different methods.

Episodic play is much like the average TV series - each episode is self contained and has little direct effect on the following episode (there are obvious exceptions like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead and such).

I see the DCC RPG as written defaulting to episodic play. Start each session (or story arc - which is a whole 'nother post) with the party ready to jump in and go. Wrap up at the end of the episode, hand have weeks or months in between and then move on to the next piece.

The nice thing about episodic play is that the DM can handwave lots of the time sinks in between sessions (travel especially).

I have more thoughts on this, but sleep deprivation the last few nights has obstructed some of my thought trains ;)

Bundle of Holding - ORE: One-Roll Engine

I've heard only good things about the One-Roll Engine, especially Wild Talents, on the Happy Jacks Podcast. I also received Godlike in some bundle or other, and I really like the setting (although to be honest, I didn't look at the rules themselves, as supers is generally not a genre that I readily embrace).

This is a very tempting bundle, as I suspect if I did play a supers game, it would probably use the rules / setting of Godlike.

Ah well, I have a week to decide...

Kickstarter - Non-Player Cards: An Artful & Inspirational Generation Tool (NPC Character Generator)

I like inspirational tools when I'm brainstorming some adventure creation. It's why blogs like The Dungeon Dozen and resources like the D30 Sandbox Companion are so popular. They don't give you a finished product - but they give you inspiration for use in limitless adventures.

Non-Player Cards: An Artful & Inspirational Generation Tool is something similar, but it's for use in generating memorable NPCs (although I expect players could use it to add depth to their PCs) and includes something that most other products of the sort don't really stress - inspirational art. That is the whole point to putting this on cards, it is not?

In many cases, NPCs are one of the trickiest aspects of GMing. Questions about: What should I name him/her? What should their role be? Their occupation? How will they act differently from the last 50 NPCs I've already used for my players? All surface as a GM. 

Non-Player Cards is a deck of 300 cards that can be used with any tabletop setting, allowing you to create and build NPCs and characters for any game you choose to play. 

What is Non-Player Cards? 

The Non-Player Cards is an easy-to-use 300-card deck that contains a series of "categories" that help in the generation a unique NPC. You can even use this deck to enhance existing NPCs or even add some direction and inspiration on how players can role play their characters. (see below for what are on the Cards) 

Is there a book with the same information? 

Yes! In addition to the Deck, we are packing all of those cards into the Reference Booklet! Every backer who receives a PDF reward will also receive the PDF of the Reference Booklet.  

If you want the Booklet in print, there’s a backer level for the PDFs and Print Booklet! OR if you want the Deck and the Booklet, it’s just a $10 add-on ($12 international). The book will be ~50 pages, 6x9, in full-color and printed through DriveThruRPG's (DTRPG) Premium Print format.

So, book, cards or both, there is a method that should work for you.

Me? Personally, I love using cards for this stuff instead of dice, as the art itself can inspire. Which reminds me, I need to review Creature Decks: 0e/1e RPG Creature & Encounter Decks. Yep, I'm finding the use of cards / art for inspiration to be invaluable.

GM, Player or Both?

I've asked this question in the past, but with the influx of new readers, it's something that can easily be asked again:

Do you feel more comfortable as a GM, a player or can you easily embrace both roles?

I see myself primarily as a DM / GM, but I've been having a blast when the opportunity to play as a player comes my way. There was a time where I had difficulty feeling comfortable as a player, but I find these days I can embrace it and enjoy.

So, where do you fall?

Moving into the Slow Lane for the Rest of the Week

Between the past weekend's stress, the current multitasking at work, puppy prep and safety check for the weekend pick up and getting some prep in for the recording of episodes 1 and 2 of the podcast early next week (yeah, it kinda just worked out like that) among other projects I need to work on, all of which means that the 2 to 4 posts a day are probably going to slow down to 1 to 2.

No, I haven't had a chance to check the OSR Superstar final entries yet and get them moving on to the judges - hoping for tomorrow, but in truth it may not happen until Thursday.

But hey, the puppy prep is worth it at least ;)

Danke, the Puppy will soon meet her feline step-sister, Ashley

New PWYW - The Doom-Cave of the Crystal-Headed Children (Free RPG Day 2014)

+James Raggi has released the LotFP 2104 Free RPG Day adventure, The Doom-Cave of the Crystal-Headed Children, in PDF as PWYW.

So, if you missed it in print, you can now grab it in PDF. If in doubt, grab it now and toss James a few silvers later if you like it.

Xmas in July Sale at RPGNow - 25% Off Selected Items

Christmas in July Sale

See that banner above? Yep, look up. That one.

RPGNow / OneBookShelf is running a Christmas in July Sale with a crapton of PDFs (and possibly Print on Demand - I need to look closer) on sale for a limited time. How much is a crapton? A lot.

I'l try and highlight some OSR choices over the next few days - assuming I survive the next two at work. Covering my unit, another unit and assigned to two days of training - I really need some clones.

Oh, and for those wondering - Urgent Care cut the ring off my wife's swollen finger earlier this evening and put her on 10 days of antibiotics. I think we're clear for now.

Near Miss - Dodged a Real Life Tragedy, and Life Goes On

Mt DCC game ended shortly after 2 am last night. After some chips and a beer I was ready for bed. Shortly after 3 am, my cell phone rang.

Now, we all know middle of the night phone calls never bring good news. They are the bearers of ill tidings, and this was no different. My pop called to tell me my mom slipped and fell getting out of bed. She split her lip open and was slurring her words. He called EMS and my sister joined my mom on the way to the hospital (she and my niece are visiting my folks in the Poconos.)

Long story short, possible concussion from the fall, but no stroke (as was feared) and all other test s came back normal. She does have high blood pressure, but never knew as she is one of those stubborn folk that avoids docs like the plague.

She was released shortly before 10 AM after the tests came back negative. Can you guess I had very little sleep last night?

It's been a rough year from October of last year right through... well, now. Thankfully, the man upstairs kept this one with an overall positive - now mom knows she has high blood pressure and will need to see a doc regularly to take care of it.

Oh, and after work tomorrow it's off to Urgent Care to get a ring removed from my wife's swollen finger...

Alright, time to pass out ;)

Wherein We Come to the End of a Funnel and it Becomes All About Class

We wrapped up +Craig Brasco 's DCC RPG funnel last night, and the whole experience was a blast. I fully expected Graygor not to survive (total adds + 7 and 7HP) but survive he did - barely. He did have to cast his one shot use of Spider Climb.

My Cooper used a flaming barrel as an effective distraction in the final encounter - I knew there was a reason he was carrying it around ;)

In the end, for 3 players and 12 initial 0-level PCs we had 4 survivors - 3 were mine. That was literally, pure luck. +Keith J Davies , who lost his last PC in the final encounter, inherited the Cooper.

So, now it becomes, what class does Graygor take? The other survivors are leaning towards cleric and wizard. Do I become a thief with a Luck of 16 and no Agility modifier. Take a fighter? Use one of the classes from Crawl #6 perhaps? Both the bard and the paladin look like fun. Heck, so does the ranger, but I got a kick ass two-handed sword as a reward at the end of the adventure, and it wouldn't fit the ranger as written all that well. Whatever class I chose, he gets + 4 to HP each level, so even a d6 becomes 5-10 HP per level ;)

I have two week to decide...

New PWYW Release - Brave the Labyrinth #4 (LL Zine)

Brave the Labyrinth Issue #4 has been released into the wilds, and as always, it is prices to move - that's because it is priced under the Pay What You Want method. Grab it for free, and if you like what you see, toss a few silvers in the direction of Small Niche Games.

Here's the ToC:

-Two (2) new Dwarven races (Clockwork and Stone)

-Chaos magic to beef up your humanoid shamans

-The Demonologist class for Labyrinth Lord

-Two island maps (Player's and Labyrinth Lord's)

-New ideas for terrifying fantasy zombies

-Health insurance for adventurers

-One (1) adventure for 1st-3rd level characters (The Ruined Tower of Hilsosk the Mad)

-One (1) article on weapon mastery

-Six (6) new faerie magic items

-Beetlemirth!

-One (1) Review of Red Tide: Campaign Sourcebook and Setting Toolkit

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a copy - NOW!    ;)

Games From the Basement - Tunnels & Trolls 2e, 4e and UK 1e

A question about Tunnels & Trolls editions came up recently and in the midst of it all, I forgot about the "Black Spiral Cover UK Edition".

Now, here's how the breakdown goes best as I can tell.

1e was very limited - less than 100 copies.

2e was also very limited. My copy of 2e is +Ken St. Andre personal play copy.

I don't own a copy of 3e, but the cover is the same as 2e (even if the ink seems to be a different color in the pics I've seen).

4e is 2e with the supplemental rules incorporated.

UK 1e is the spiral cover, with contents of 2e plus the supplement, but it is laid out differently than 4e.

UK Orange Box and UK Corgi are the 5e rules of T&T.

Personally, I love the UK Corgi edition for the convenience factor - it's just a damn good size to carry around.

All because I stumbled across some of my older T&T stuff as I condense boxes and fill up gaming shelves for some late spring cleaning...

A Good and Ugly Kickstarter - The Storyteller's Thesaurus

The Storyteller's Thesaurus is both "good" and "ugly". First, I'll cover the ugly. Chenault & Gray is the parent company of Troll Lord Games, the publisher of Castles & Crusades. If C&C has gotten a knock over the years, it's due to typos and other mistakes in the printed copies.

Now, The Storyteller's Thesaurus isn't even released yet, so why am I mentioning typos? Simply because they couldn't spell their own company's name correctly on the Kickstarter page. Not the most auspicious sign.

At least the graphic for the book itself is correct, right?

There an apostrophe missing in the title above.

Enough of the bad, lets look at the good. This has the potential to be an excellent resource:

This is a reference book with over 100,000 interrelated words! It is specifically designed for writers, teachers, game designers, students and anyone who enjoys the creative output of fantasy, science fiction or horror tales! 

Words have their own entries, there is no need to hunt through pages of alphabetical listings! Words that are crucial in fantasy, history, and horror. No other thesaurus is like this: the Storyteller's Thesaurus names weapons, armor, magical items, mystical creatures, symbols, treasures, and descriptive terms essential for any genre. There are usage notes and writing tips to clarify and expand. The authors draw from decades of work to target areas of concern for beginning writers as well as experienced authors. 

The Storyteller's Thesaurus actualizes character design. The Storyteller's Thesaurus helps you contrive enduring settings and unleash the full power of any scene, great or small.Let this book inspire new characters and develop original settings and locales. You’ll be amazed at how quickly new ideas form as you browse. The Storyteller’s Thesaurus just might be the cure for writer’s block, dull prose, and stale ideas ~ pick up this book and let your world expand!

Over 500 pages.

Authors are James Ward and Anne K. Brown

I may kick in for the digital copy at 10 bucks. At least that way, if it suffers some annoying typos, there is always the hope that the file can get updated

15 Days Later - WotC Releases the 5e Starter Set Pregen PDF - Better Late than Never

The moment folks opened up their D&D Starter Sets social media was abuzz with "where's the pregens PDF?"

Well, it's finally here.

Probably the first misstep with the release of 5e, which isn't all that bad come to think of it...

As an aside, someone has uploaded the D&D 5e Basic Rules at Lulu for Print on Demand - $4.70 plus shipping - get it while you can...

Tenkar & The Badger OSR Podcast Announcement Promo

if video above doesnt work, use http://youtu.be/Qhu1K1iTAFE

The Tavern makes it's ENnies Picks - Part the Third

It's that time. Time for me to use my undue influence for EVIL! Or, failing that, at least point out the OSR picks and such for the ENnies.

- Best RPG Related Product - I got nothing

- Best Rules - I own 4 out of 5 of the finalists, and I'm going to go with Fate Core System

- Best Setting - Again, I own 4 out of 5 of the choices. I'm going with Razor Coast, as two of the choices are core books / settings anyhow, and I really enjoyed Razor Coast.

- Best Supplement - Fate System Toolkit - it is the Year of Fate.

- Best Software - while I really dig Cityographer, I use Roll20 at least once a week.

- Best Writing - I have a few of the finalists and I have no vote. Sorry.

- Best Website - The Escapist - I seem to find myself at The Escapist more than I ever intend to.

- Product of the Year - Razor Coast is an impressive book. Fate Core System and Numenera set new marks for gaming related Kickstarters. Those are my top three.

That's a wrap! Next ENnies post will highlight what I believe are some overlooked products.

Tenkar & The Badger - Episode Zero - In the Bag - Lets See What Survives

Earlier tonight +Jason Paul McCartan and I recorded "Episode Zero" of the Tenkar & The Badger Podcast.

It was expected to be an exercise to find our issues and problems - I'm surprised at how few there were. Some initial technical glitches were quickly fixed and I ordered some WD-40 for my squeaky chair.

Our main topic was tournament play (and convention one-shots to some extent) and we did a review of Advanced Adventures #21: The Obsidian Sands of Syncrates from Expeditious Retreat Press, as it is a tournament module (and is offered for sale at PWYW pricing, so there really is no excuse not to take a peek at it.)

Over the next few days we should have some clips to share and possibly a more or less full episode. We kick things off in a grand fashion in about two weeks when Episode One releases with our special guest +Matt Finch :)

Tenkar & The Badger, Episode Zero Goes Down Tonight - and there was Great Weeping

Due to some technical difficulties (not the least of which was my 3 y/o niece visiting her favorite uncle Tuesday evening) we had to push back the Tenkar & The Badger Episode Zero test recording until this evening.

Which works out pretty cool, as now we have some snazzy graphics.

I'm going to convince +Jason Paul McCartan to release some pieces of tonight's "not for public release" episode as soon as we get them cleaned up - what better way to tease a new podcast than releasing parts of an episode that's guaranteed to be fucked up?

We've set up a G+ Community for the show - Tavern Radio. Join us like a good lemming ;)

The Tavern makes it's ENnies Picks - Part the Second

It's that time. Time for me to use my undue influence for EVIL! Or, failing that, at least point out the OSR picks and such for the ENnies.


- Best Family Game - Wait, Fate Accelerated is a Family Game? Aside from Fate, I know nothing on this list

- Best Free Product - Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Quickstart - Chaosium Inc. - Would have been nice to see the City of Dolmvay make the list...

- Best Game - Fate Core System - Evil Hat Productions - I have 4 of the 5 choices, and even if I never play it, I think Fate is the better choice - Numenra is an eye sore to read.

- Best Miniatures Product - Whisper & Venom Collector's Set - Lesser Gnome - I never thought of my W&V box as a miniature product, but in retrospect, yes it is. A damn fine one too.

- Best Monster/Adversary - Creature Decks: Creature Information Cards; 54 Aberrations & Magical Beasts - Inkwell Ideas - I really need to find some time to review this. The art is simply amazing.

- Best Podcast - Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff - Ken Hite and Robin Laws - usually pretty decent. Surprised no Wild Games Productions podcasts are on the list

- Best Production Values - Whisper & Venom Collector's Set - Lesser Gnome - everything else is a distant second - at best

Thus ends part 2 of the the 2014 Lemming List ;)

Kickstarter in Hand - Adventures in the East Mark (Basic Clone)

Alright, so we got some whiteout from the computer monitor in the shot. Still, Adventures in the East Mark is an impressive game, and not just because it's a decent sized box.

Inside is a full color rulebook (I opted for color over B&W), and excellent GM's screen (strong enough not to bend easy), dice, a crayon to color in said dice and a pencil.

Of course, I have no time to read Adventures in the East Mark. Work, the podcast, the secret project and puppy prep have hold of my time for the moment. I am, however, on vacation at the end of the month - I need a day to devote to just reading and perusing my games...

WOSR Podcast: Tenkar & The Badger - First Guest Confirmed - Matt Finch

Yep, we have confirmed our first guest for the first ever episode of of the WOSR Podcast: Tenkar & The Badger - the one and only +Matt Finch .

If all goes as planned, the episode should get posted on August 1st.

Talk about setting a high water mark!

If you don't know who +Matt Finch is, you probably don't read this blog and the podcast wouldn't interest you anyway ;P

Our Episode Zero test recording has been pushed back to tomorrow. Hopefully +Jason Paul McCartan and I will have something for your amusement next week...

The Tavern makes it's ENnies Picks - Part the First

It's that time. Time for me to use my undue influence for EVIL! Or, failing that, at least point out the OSR picks and such for the ENnies.

So, where do we start?

- Best Adventure - Razor Coast: Heart of the Razor - Frog God Games - S&W and Pathfinder, ya gotta support the Frawgs

- Best Aid/Accessory  - Odyssey: The Complete Game Master's Guide to Campaign Management - Engine Publishing - it's a useful resource. Can you ask for much more? Sure, it's also well written.

- Best Art, Interior - Shadows of Esteren Book 2 - Travels - Agate Editions - all of the Shadows of Esteren releases are visually amazing

- Best Art, Cover - Razor Coast - Frog God Games - Achtung! Cthulhu - Keeper's Guide to the Secret War - Modiphius works well too

- Best Blog - Gnome Stew (The Other Side isn't a bad choice either) - no, The Tavern isn't on the list. Must be blacklisted because of all of the Lemmings

- Best Cartography - Razor Coast - Frog God Games - Map of the Flanaess - Anna B Meyer Fantasy Maps is a decent choice too

- Best Electronic Book - FT 0 - Faerie Tales from Unlit Shores: Prince Charming, Reanimator - Purple Duck Games - a DCC RPG adventure by +Daniel Bishop  - do you really need to know more - just vote

Thus ends part 1 of the the 2014 Lemming List ;)

You're All a Bunch of Lemmings! (or so I've been told and some choose to believe it)

but I know they're wrong, wait and see...

It seems to come up with annoying frequency these past few months.

Apparently, I exert too much influence in our corner of the hobby to be entitled to my own opinions, at least not the negative ones. Yes, it seems I've hit that point where my readers can't think for themselves.

Yep, you, my readers, are apparently a bunch of "Fucking Lemmings!" Which, needless to say, surprises the shit out of me as disagreeing with my posts seems to be a full time job for some of you folks - as well it should be. Nothing breeds discussion more than disagreement.

Now, I'm not one of those "everybody that plays should get a prize" type of people. That is not real life. That's not this blog. I can guarantee you that if The Tavern was that type of blog, the vast majority of you wouldn't be reading it. Shit, I probably wouldn't be bothered posting.

But there are folks that are of the mind set that negative opinions and observations shouldn't be made by those that exert undue influence - and under their definition, I am one that exerts undue influence.

So be it. If you are lemmings, you are some of the most opinionated, independent thinking lemmings I know. If I were to jump off a cliff, I expect you'd all tell me to fuck off as you went your separate ways.

I'd expect nothing less.

Long Live the Lemmings!


As an aside, all Kickstarter posts will now be labeled as either The Good, the Bad or the Ugly ;)

My Britches are Burning!

Yesterday I caused a small firestorm with one of my "Kickstarter" posts. Well, actually, the post was on Sunday but the fires were started yesterday. Pretty much consumed what little meal and personal time I had at work last night and I'm back at work this morning with minimal sleep and a pile awaiting me at my desk.

Sooo... I'm not going to even touch the relevant G+ threads until I get home this afternoon.

I will say this:

If you put your hand out for money to fund your crowdfunded project, you've opened yourself up to attention, good or bad. You want money based on a promise. Many times, those promises are poorly explained or barely explained at all.

As I've stated elsewhere, I do not have an obligation to reach out to Kickstarter project creators behind the scenes to give my opinion on how to better present their project. They put it out there on the interwebs with an open palm.

If someone asks me to took at their project prior to release, I consider that to be confidential. I've looked, given feedback, critique and /or encouragement many times in the past. Live projects are fair game for public critique.

Failed Basic Math Kickstarter - Warrior's Crusade (Board Game)

Yeah, I'm a Kickstarter ass. So I've been told. The fact that Kickstarter no longer vets new projects is becoming a huge issue.

Alright, I'm not going to mention the video. Watch it yourself.

Instead, I'm going to ask you to work out the math for Warrior's Crusade on your own. (note - there is only one pledge level)

Again - no projects backed.

Notice under Risks and Challenges it lists "funding for the production."

Since Kickstarter isn't doing due diligence on any level with this projects, I strongly suggest you do your own.

Another Amazing Laminated Micro Adventure by Tim Shorts

Listen, I pity the fool that isn't backing +Tim Shorts 's Micro Adventures Patreon project page, as you are missing out on these cool laminated one-sheet adventures.

Don't be a fool, fool!  :)

OSR Superstar Final Round Entries - Due Date Pushed to July 20th

I literally don't know if I'm coming or going this week. If nothing else, it will be one hell of a ride. That being said, I won't be looking at much email this week (and I'll be blogging in those magical moment "in between") so I'm pushing the due date for the final round of entries to Sunday, July 20th at 12PM NYC time. At this point, I haven't been told I'm working the coming weekend - but this could be subject to change top.

Some recaps:

Your mission (assuming you are one of the 15 qualifiers from the Second Round of the OSR Superstar Competition) is to:

1 - Complete the map below. You may use the hexed version or the "clean" version.

2 - You must "stock" the dungeon level using the OSR ruleset as you see fit. I advise using a "clone", as all entries will be published in a free PDF under the OGL. You can use whatever "D&D Clone ruleset you desire, but you must identify the ruleset you are using.

3 - The magic item that you qualified with in the First Round must make an appearance in your adventure.

4 - The creature you qualified with in the Second Round must make an appearance.

5 - Entries must be submitted to the email OSRdotSUPERSTAR at that gmail thing no later than midnight, July 15th, 2014. If you are unable to scan or digitally prepare your map, contact me at the above email and we will make arrangements. There will be no extensions. You have 30 days from today, at which point the judges will be given the entries to judge.

List of the 15 that made the cut:

1 - Gavin Norman
2 - Shane Knysh
3 - Eric Branstad
4 - Gus L

5 - Diego Nogueria
6 - Jason Reilly
7 - Eric Tresure

8 - Erin Bisson
9 - John McCollun
10 - Tony Mullins
11 - Legion McRae
12 - David Brawley
13 - Jon Hiesfelter
14 - Joel Davis
15 - Nathan Irving

and those awesome +matt jackson maps:

A DCC RPG Kickstarter - Peril on the Purple Planet

Goodman Games appears to have embraced Kickstarter as the way to push new products. Can't say I blame them, as it certainly seems to be working for them and others - for now. At some point, the Kickstarter well will start to dry up due to over-saturation and limited backer funds for what is essentially a preorder. And make no mistake, these are most certainly preorders.

Now, the previous DCC RPG Kickstarter, The Chained Coffin, didn't start out as a boxed set. It morphed into a boxed set when numerous stretch goals were hit. The $30 entry point for the module with the stretch goals became an amazing value. I doubt Goodman Games lost money on these boxed sets, but I suspect they didn't make much off them either.

This time, the retail adventure of Peril on the Purple Planet for a $20 pledge (no box, no stretch goals) while the boxed set with all of the stretch goals is being offered at $50. A bit of a bump from the previous Kickstarter, but this one potentially included an amazing looking Judge's Screen. It's also a price point where Goodman Games should still make a few bucks off the boxes sets ;) The Kickstarter launched this weekend and has already hit it's first stretch goal.

The writer this time around is +Harley Stroh , so I knew I'd be backing this the moment it was announced, price points and details mostly unknown. Need I mention the +Doug Kovacs art? Simply amazing.

At this point I expect I'll be hacking this for Swords & Wizardry.

Summary of Kickstarter:

A Dungeon Crawl Classics adventure module of planetary scope – at level 4. The adventure flings your characters to adventures on a distant world dying slowly under a weirdling sun.

The basic pledge funds print+PDF copy of a boxed set containing Harley Stroh’s 32-page adventure module, plus a second 32-page campaign booklet – and possibly more depending on stretch goals.

The first softcover book is the adventure module Peril on the Purple Planet, which has two built-in special features. First, the cover art is oversized, and spreads across front and back cover in addition to wrapping around to front and back flaps. The flaps also double as player handouts when folded out to face the table. Second, the adventure map is a three-page-wide hex crawl, which folds out of the module center as a three-panel gatefold. Additionally, the adventure includes a number of B/W interior handouts to show the players what they face on the Purple Planet.

The second softcover book is a campaign booklet to expand your journey on the Purple Planet. At the basic pledge level, before any stretch goals, it includes three chapters: Lost Tombs of the Ancients, Bestiary of the Purple Planet, and Lost Tech of the Purple Planet, with contributions from Daniel J. Bishop, Tim Callahan, Edgar Johnson, and Terry Olson.

You can support this Kickstarter by adding on other adventure modules from the Dungeon Crawl Classics line, most of which are on sale for 25% off as part of this Kickstarter. You can also add on Purple Planet Player Guides at $5 each.

Stretch goals for this project will put even more items into the boxed set! These include the possibility of an ecology book, additional encounters, a book of handouts, a book of magic, a custom GM screen, and a guide to the Purple Underplanet!

The basic adventure module is complete and ready to print. All writing, art, and layout is complete. The additional writing for the campaign booklet is also complete. Art and layout for the campaign booklet will begin when this Kickstarter funds.

We expect PDF copy of the module to be available shortly before Gen Con, and print copy to be available at Gen Con or shipped soon after (depending on backer preference). If we have extra copies remaining at Gen Con after all Kickstarter pickups, they will be offered to the general public.

One Guarantee For the Upcoming WOSR Podcast - We Won't be Pleasing Everyone

As +Jason Paul McCartan mentioned on the G+ side earlier today, we have locked down (I supplied the cuffs) 4 of our first 8 guests. Actually, we have a nice amount more that have agreed to come on the podcast, we just need to find times that are mutually acceptable. I must say, I am impressed and humbled. I'll try not to be too star struck.

Now, as I stated in the title of this post, the one thing we can guarantee is that we won't be pleasing everyone. To attempt to do so would be self defeating. And bland. And most probably boring. Wait, we can guarantee TWO things - we won't be boring. You may hate us, but we won't bore you ;)

Oh, I've had numerous requests to NOT belch in the mike like some other podcast is known to do quite often. Shouldn't be a problem, as my wife can attest, belching has never been my issue. Silent but destructive? Yes. If you hear yelling in the background of the podcast you can draw your own conclusions...

2 days to "Zero Episode" recording. 15 days to the recording of the 1st episode with our special guest "To Be Named Shortly". First episode should release to the wilds on August 1st.

Another Dungeons & Dragons Documentary is being Kickstartered - The Great Kingdom - Do We Need Two?

Just to refresh everyone, the original D&D documentary kickstarter was Dungeons & Dragons: A Documentary, which funded back in fall of 2012. It's supposedly due to release sometime this year, which may hit some bumps, as 2/3 of the folks behind the original project left it to produce The Great Kingdom, which is Kickstarting now (and is about 60% short of goal with a week left to fund.)

Yep, there's a lawsuit involved. Can't have a documentary (documentaries?) without a lawsuit. Well, you could, but then there would be no drama.

Anyhow, "personalities" is what led folks from the first project to leave to form a second project. We all know how evil personalities can be.

Do we need two D&D documentaries? Damned if I know. I didn't support the first one and I'm into stuff like this. Would I buy a copy of either upon release? Probably.

Examiner.com has a bit more on the legal issues involved between the two competing documentaries.

Another WTF Kickstarter - FanAdv- A new d20 RPG

Really, shouldn't this map speak volumes for the project?
A picture is worth a thousand words...

Actually, let me present the author of FanAdv in his own words:

So, what makes this different than every other OGL system? Who knows, he doesn't say. He just says he can do better than the core rules that are presented in the 3.5 SRD. Based on his amazing map work, I think it's a safe bet that he can't.

Wayward Kickstarter - Robotech® RPG Tactics™ - Shall we Sell at Gen Con?

There was a whole lotta shit flying around when this project went live last year. I never backed it myself - I just wasn't a big enough Robotech fan to justify it.

So now, it's late. Sure, it took in over $1.4 million - but I'm sure that just fucked up delivery time due to the sheer scale of the project.

Today's update is about how shipping will soon begin. And how Kevin plans to bring copies of the game to Gen Con to sell before backers get their copies. BUT WAIT! You can vote NO in the comments section, and if the majority of the backers vote no, they won't sell copies at Gen Con (note - failure to vote by the 21st will count as a YES vote).

It's a huge update - really. Here's just two pieces:(link for full update text)

Gen Con Indy is on the horizon. It is the largest gaming convention for this hobby in the country. I announced we are planning to bring some Robotech® RPG Tactics™ product to sell. A few hundred of six items: the main box game, four of the expansion packs (Tomahawk/Defender Destroids, Regult Battlepods, Artillery Battlepods, and Glaug Command) and the rule book. That would mean a few hundred people will get these items before most of the 5,200+ Kickstarter backers, and around the same time as the first backers are receiving theirs in the mail.

That was a tough decision for me to make. Here is how and why I made it:

● We will begin shipping Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to Kickstarter backers before we leave for Gen Con Indy.

● We will have people continuing to prep, package and ship Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to Kickstarter backers while the rest of us are at Gen Con.

● Bringing or not bringing Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to sell at Gen Con will NOT make any difference to shipping to Kickstarter backers. If we were to leave that product at our warehouse instead of taking it to Gen Con, not one single Kickstarter backer would get his or her rewards any sooner.

● Shipping to our Kickstarter backers will take what we estimate to be 3-4 weeks, maybe longer. We are NOT Amazon.com. We can’t ship what we estimate will be 7,000-9,000 packages (those add-ons and exclusives add up) in a few days, even with the upgrades we are making to our shipping system.

● Palladium is NOT shipping to distributors or to retail stores until after all the Wave One Kickstarter backer rewards have left our warehouse.

● We are not selling any Kickstarter exclusives, just the basic items listed above. Only a few hundred people will be able to buy them, as quantities will be limited.

● We have been promising for months that we would have Robotech® RPG Tactics™ product to sell at Gen Con. People have made travel plans, hotel reservations, bought tickets to Gen Con, etc., counting on it being available at Gen Con. We thought we’d have plenty of time to ship to backers before Gen Con, but the product is coming months later than we thought it would. If we could push back Gen Con, we would, but obviously we can’t.

● Gen Con Indy is critical to a successful product launch in the Fall. Having a major game like Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to show, demo and sell is HUGE. It creates buzz, attracts media attention, and is vital to the upcoming big, full scale retail push this Fall. We NEED to do this for the good of the product line. And there is so much more we want to release: more mecha, aircraft and combat vehicles, additional eras of Robotech® and their mecha, and so much more. Isn't this what we all want?

Though I feared making product available to even just a few hundred gamers at Gen Con, I believe the vast majority of you, our backers, will understand why this is a necessity and be okay with it.

and then there is "The Vote":

You are important to us.

We do respect and appreciate you.

So we are asking for YOUR permission.

We humbly ask, may we please sell some Robotech® RPG Tactics™ at Gen Con Indy? It’s only a few hundred of six items: the main box game, four of the expansion packs (Tomahawk/Defender Destroids, Regult Battlepods, Artillery Battlepods, and Glaug Command) and the rule book.

Post your “Yes” or “No” in the comments on this Update by Monday, July 21st. Please try to restrict your comments on this Update to “yes” or “no” votes, so that we can count them more accurately. There are plenty of other places to discuss your opinions about this voting process, the lateness of the rewards, or anything else.

If the majority of you say “no,” we will NOT bring Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to Gen Con Indy, except for the purpose of display and demos.

I implore you to say “yes.” Please give us your permission. We believe it would be disastrous not to have the small selection of items I've listed available for sale. Not having them will hurt the launch of Robotech® RPG Tactics™ and Palladium Books.

Please make your voices heard. If you are totally opposed to us selling Robotech® RPG Tactics™ at Gen Con, tell us. Do NOT sit back and be silent. Spread the word that we want every backer to make their voices heard.

Anyone who does NOT respond by July 21st, we will consider to be a “yes.”

Some may say that it is not fair to count non-responses as “yes” votes. After all, it may well be that more than half of the 5,000+ Kickstarter backers won’t respond at all. But that would say something, too: That the majority of backers aren't that worried or upset about this. If you are, please let us know. We need to know. All the more reason you need to spread the word and make sure every backer reads this Update and makes their opinion known.

But we sincerely want your clear permission, so if it is okay with you, please vote “yes.”

More Palladium drama.

But, 854 comments on today's post already.

Some of the "No Vote" are quite - vocal.

Yes will will, but No is more entertaining by far...

I'm GURPing Again - It must be gas ;)

I'm trying to reacquaint myself with GURPs to enable myself to properly review a product for said system.

Back in the olden days, when we played just about everything, GURPs was the universal system we always tried to shoehorn right back to a fantasy setting - which to my eyes 20 years later makes it seem like we were doing the system a disservice. GURPS can do fantasy, but I think it does other genres better, especially without the baggage of D&D making for comparisons and expectations that are neither needed nor helpful, but I digress.

I never realized how many editions of GURPs the game has evolved through until now. I came into GURPs with Man to Man and then an early boxed set. Over the years I have accumulated various editions and supplements - next to D&D and it's various clones GURPS and Tunnels & Trolls are neck and neck for 2nd place in the amount of closet and storage space they take up.

The thing is, there are 4 editions of GURPs, and I couldn't tell you the difference between any of them. I suspect it involves point cost changes, but it could be something bigger. No idea.

Shit, I want to play GURPs Discworld now...

Tomb of the Sea Kings - In Print and PDF From Lulu

For those that were asking (after my mini review) "where can I get a copy of Tomb of the Sea Kings?" OSRToday found the answer. It is apparently available on Lulu. I don't believe that was an option when I wrote the review last week, but it certainly is now.

So, why wait to next year's NTRPG Con? Grab your copy of Tomb of the Sea Kings today... or tomorrow.

Just for looking, here's the current Lulu.com coupon code, good for 15% off - FWD15

A Kickstarter That Makes me go "Urh?" RPG LED Dice Keychain

Listen, the RPG LED Dice Keychain Kickstarter has funded and still has over a day left. Sure, it was a low goal of $500, but look at the above pic. Does something seem "not right?"

It looks like the LED light is inserted into the die on an angle. Not much in the way of quality control if you ask me, but at least the "patent pending" is there, so don't steal the idea - but if you do, at least do it right.

He does of 8 prior Kickstarters (one of which funded) and they are mostly reboots of the same thing.

I'm not sure what else to say but "why?" Oh wait, here's why, right from the Kickstarter page:

12 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PLEDGE?

1. You can say you were the first to contribute to the First ever made and mass produced RPG LED Dice Keychains in the history of the world.

2. RPG LED Dice Keychains is the next coolest thing after RPG Dice Knobs.

 3. It will help me on my next projects. I got 2 board games in the making.

 4. RPG LED Dice Keychains make a great surprising gift idea.

 5. Can be used for keychains, backpack zippers, as flashlights, and who knows.

 6. Quality durable material.

 7. Inexpensive.

8. Goes to show that even the smallest things can go a very long way.

9. You'll be the coolest person at a rave, or hardstyle event.

10. Use them for display if you have a hobby store and you sell dice.

11. You can remove the batteries and store something in it, so when its off, it's full. And when it's empty its on.

12. Have you ever dropped your keys in the dark? This will help you find them.

I'd sooner drop my money on a LED keychain flashlight without the sloppy die attached to it...