Thoughts on Hacking Swords & Wizardry Continual Light for Other Genres

Next Saturday, April 22 (Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day) should see the release of Swords & Wizardry Continual Light, moving the S&W Light rules to 7 levels (and about 16 pages) Now I find myself thinking ahead to future "hacks"

Why? Because the rules are lite enough to be hacked without risking being broken.

Sure, some sort of White Star Light has already crossed my mind, but so have a western hack (thinking Aces & Eights or Deadlands or Man with No Name) or some Light modern rules or Cthulhuian inspired or post apoc or...

There are so many directions to go in. Heck, the above barely scratches the surface of the ideas twittering around my head. Just need to keep them each at 20 pages or under, as if they get bigger, they really aren't "Light" anymore.

Might not have a game tonight, so after watching some TV with Rach I may just start outlining one or three of these.

Fun times.

Oh hey, before I forget, throw an entry into the Wand of Wonder post. You never know ;)

I've Got my Schedule for NTRPG Con 2017

My Registration is done for NTRPG 2017. The only thing Rach and I missed out on was getting into one of +Doug Kovacs DCC RPG sessions - we've been lucky three years running up to this. That being said, we've played pick up game with Doug in the past and may just have to again this year :)

I'm running two sessions of Swords & Wizardry Light this year. The Thursday afternoon session is full but the Friday afternoon session still has a few slots open.

Rappan Athak is being run by +Skeeter Green and Mythus Tower is being run by +Bill Webb . What a coincidence, Rach and I are playing in TWO Swords & Wizardry games. Sunday we're in Merle Rasmussen's Top Secret: New World Order game. Rach and I play tested it last year and Sunday should be a blast.

If we're not gaming, we'll either be by The Frogs' Table, the bar or making our rounds around the Con.

I do so love NTRPG Con.

As an aside, I'm not sure if I'm going to allow Rach by the pool this year. She gets into feisty discussions with gamers that have no clue who I am when she hands out by the pool...

Wayward Kickstarter - Its Tax Season, So Lets Look at Myth & Magic!

Ah, Myth & Magic. How I despise you. Tom Ryan, alleged liar and alleged tax attorney and proven asshole is still stringing folks along. Because so long as you do what? Yearly updates? Somehow you are fulfilling your obligations.

Tom, the man who posted my shipping info in the comments of the Myth & Magic Player's Guide Kickstarter. BTW, that isn't "allegedly", he did so. I had to reach out to Kickstarter to have it removed.

Because, you know, Tom claimed to have shipped ALL of the Player's Guides, but many backers are still waiting and those that ordered multiple copies got but a fraction of what they paid for. Again, facts, not allegations.

I expected my copy to arrive urine soaked. Fact, it arrived fine. Color me surprised.

So, what does Tom do? He updates the M&M Gamemaster's Guide KS. That's the one where no one has gotten shit. Again, fact, not allegation. First update in nearly 13 months. Backers only, so I can't read it but something tells me it says something to the effect: "Soon! I promise!"

Tom, in my personal opinion, you are a (alleged) thief, (alleged) liar and nearly 5 years late on getting the M&M Player's Guide in the hands of people that gave you good money.

Tom, today is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter. Are you joining Gareth and Ken at the Church of the Deception for services? Inquiring minds want to know...

NTRPG Con 2017 - I Will be Running Two Sessions of "Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern" for Swords & Wizardry Light

I'm running two sessions of Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern at NTRPG Con 2017 using the Swords & Wizardry Light rules. The sessions will be from 3 PM to 6 PM Thursday and Friday although they may run a little shorter. The scenario isn't a long one but it should be fun :)

Copies of the Swords & Wizardry Light rules will be provided to participants as well as those sweet SWL Class cards. Heck, I just got confirmation from Bad Mike that everyone that attends will get a Swords & Wizardry Legion folder. Woot!

Characters will be rolled at the table. No experience with the Swords & Wizardry rules is necessary (that's the whole point of the "Light rules", right? )

Registration for games opens tonight at 1 AM Eastern Time. There should be seven slots per session, although Rach may jump into one. Wow, I'll get to injure my wife...er, wife's character...and it will all be legal ;P

Although I've been running games over Roll20 for the last five years or so, this will be my first time running face to face games in over 20 years. Have mercy on this old man...

Crowdsourcing a Unique "Wand of Wonder" for Swords & Wizardry - Light thru Complete

I know I did this back when The Tavern was young, but I figure we now have time (and hopefully some new budding layout skills) on our side. I'm talking about crowdsourcing a Tenkar's Tavern Wand of Wonder, new and unique and fun as hell. Well, hopefully fun as hell.

Here are the rules:

1 - We are going for 120 entries (1d6 x 1d20)

2 - All effects must use a d6 and /or a d20 if a dice roll is needed (1d3 and 1d10 also work, as they are half the parent die). Any sub-tables must be 1d3, 1d6 or at most 1d10 - and d10 is pushing it.

3 - By making a comment below, you agree to add your writing to be released under the OGL. Copyright entry for the Tenkar's Tavern Wand of Wonder will be made under Erik Tenkar Stiene (see Ken, the name is out there, if only you could read...)

4 - One random entry will get a $10 RPGNow Gift Certificate. Three random entries will get $5 Gift Certificates. One final $5 Gift Certificate to the one that makes me laugh the most.

5 - A compiled version of the wand will be posted here at The Tavern on April 22, 2017 for Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day and released under the OGL. Each entry will be credited on both the blog post and the PDF version under whatever name you post under. If you want a different name used, mention it in the comment. The final PDF will be released at RPGNow as PWYW

6 - Entries must be made by midnight, April 20th. You have a week from now.

7 - Silly trumps useful. Silly and useful trumps all ;)

Free Akados Region Map in Digital Format for Swords & Wizardry Legion Members

The Frogs are offering free downloads of the Akados Region Map to Swords & Wizardry Legion members. Details are in the Swords & Wizardry Legion Community.

Yes, before one asks, it is currently a Facebook only community. Don't like Facebook? Use a throw away email and a fake name. Use it only for the Legion community. Seriously. I've gotten a sneak peek at the offers that Frog God Games is going to offer on Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day to Legion members and the prices are ridiculous.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Swords & Wizardry love in the air ;)

Kickstarter - Aces & Eights: Reloaded, a Wild West role playing game

Let me start this by saying "I don't own the original Aces & Eights RPG." Its not that I wasn't interested in it. I was. I just never got around to grabbing myself a copy.

+Jolly Blackburn was kind enough to give me an early peek a the KS page for Aces & Eights Reloaded and I must say I was impressed. Its a good looking project that is nearly completely written and its from KenzerCo - I've never seen Kenzer produce less than an excellent product.

I do like the idea of a Shot Clock transparency to see where your shot actually lands. Pretty damn cool. And yes, the Shot Clocks (regular and shotgun) are included with physical copies of the book, It isn't clear but its already been asked and answered in the comments section (although it might need to be added to the FAQ or the main text - it WILL come up again and again and those comments and answers are going to fall off the page at some point)

Basic print buy in for a softcover is $50, $60 to add in a PDF copy and stretch goals. Personally, I think the sweet spot is $90 and here's why:

Extra Shot Clocks for the table and poker decks. Not enough players to play an RPG? Fleece your fellow players in a game of poker ;)

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern - Whatever Shall We Chat About?

Yep. Its a Wednesday, which means tonight is Tavern Chat.

Where? Here - using the Chatwing App on the right side of this page.

When? Tonight - 9 PM Eastern to 11ish.

What are we going to be talking about? Probably more SWL and SWCL, I'll vaguebook a project I am currently awaiting a contract and non disclosure for, S&W Appreciation Day, other projects from the fine folks in the community and good stuff like that :)

Another Video Review - This Time of the Swords & Wizardry Continual Light Playtest Rules

Yep, we have another Swords & Wizardry Light video review, although this time it is actually for the Continual Light "Alpha" or playtest rules.

Its a short video (about three and a half minutes) and you know you want to watch it :)

Seriously, huge thanks to Skinner Games for taking the time to check out the rules and make this video.

Pre-Order - Against the Giants Walkthrough Maps - In Print - Today - G3 - Hall of the Fire Giant King

Jason Thompson, he of the amazing walkthrough maps of various classic modules from the AD&D 1e era, is taking preorders for movie poster sized prints of G1 through G3 at his online store ($60 for the trilogy) and he was kind enough to share with me some of the amazing artwork. Tonight, I share with you, G3 - Hall of the Fire Giant King (with close ups)

New Video Review / Overview of Swords & Wizardry Light, Wth Legion Folder Goodies :)

Damn. I do believe this is the first video review / overview of Swords & Wizardry Light and the Swords & Wizardry Legion package.

Brandon Goeringer, The SavageGM got his hands on a S&W Legion folder that were being handed out at Gary Con and he does an excellent review of said package.

I must say, my signature sucks. I gotta work on that ;)

Watch the video below. It clocks in at less that 7 minutes and does an excellent job of highlighting what comes in the Legion Folder.

Microlite74 Ultimate Edition - Hanging Strong as a Best Seller at RPGNow

Its always nice to see games with the Old School vibe hang tough in the RPGNow sales rankings (currently sitting at #5 overall) Right now, that would be Microlite74 Ultimate Edition (PDF and EPUB versions) Now, Microlite74 and its various versions are an interesting experiment in sticking close to the 3x SRD while trying to stay true to the feel of the original rules. How well it does that is a matter of personal opinion. Suffice to say, Microlite74 Basic was one of my inspirations when I put together Swords & Wizardry Light - its not easy taking the 3x SRD down to 20 pages, which ML74 Basic did.

Needless to say, I'm surprised that Microlite74 Ultimate Edition goes far in the other direction - 384 pages. Holy shit.

Microlite74 comes in three other flavors - Basic, Standard and Extended. All are PWTW, so you can peek before plunking 10 bucks down for the Ultimate Edition.

From the Extended Rules blurb:

The Microlite74 Extended rules are based on the 1974 0e edition of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game with its supplements and material from 0e magazine articles, some 0e third party material, some of the house rules the author used in the 1970s, and selected ideas from other roleplaying games. These rules are not intended to be a clone of the 0e rules, but rather a conversion of them to a rules-lite D20-based system that encourages old-school play without strictly old-school rules.

Swords & Wizardry Light Character Cards - Now Available as a Free PDF

Ain't they purty?

+Zach Glazar released the Swords & Wizardry Light Character Cards in PDF last night. Well, technically, Frog God released them.

They really are awesome. These are PDFs of the cards your get in print when you join the Swords & Wizardry Legion.

In the meantime, you can grab the PDF at the Frog God Games storefront or from the Dropbox folder that we put the SWL goodies into ;)

Enjoy!

Tome of Horrors - Light? Upcoming Swords & Wizardry Light Release for the Swords & Wizardry Legion

For a light ruleset, Swords & Wizardry Light is getting a ton of support. In the works from Frog God Games - The Tome of Horrors: Light. This will be free and included in future Swords & Wizardry Legion packets.

What is the Swords & Wizardry Legion? An awesome way to get free Swords & Wizardry loot.

Really.

Join the Swords & Wizardry Legion on Facebook and get what is yours! :)

Podcast - Sanctum Secorum - Episode 23 - DCC RPG Lankhmar - With Free Bonus Support Material

I know I've mentioned this before, but I find that I'm listening to less podcasts now that I'm retired. Lack of a daily commute appears to be the main culprit. Ah well, I'll try to rectify that in the near future - not the retirement and lack of commute part, I mean I'm going to carve out some more time devoted to podcast listening.

Literally, as I type this, I'm listening to Sanctum Secorum episode #23, the DCC RPG Lankhmar episode. In addition to the regular hosts (Bob, Jen and Mark) and special guest Michael Curtis, the main author of the DCC RPG Lankhmar Kickstarter. Maybe its just me, but Mike always makes a great guest on podcasts. He knows his subject and can speak of it in an entertaining manner.

That's not all. In addition to the podcast, the Sanctum Secorum folks released support material for Lankhmar in conjunction with this episode. You can download the free PDF detailing an entire neighborhood of Lankhmar here.

Alright, time to move the portable podcast to the car as I pick Rach up from yoga. Too short for a "commute" but I'll be playing catch up soon ;)

RPGNow Deal of the Day - Castles & Crusades: Beneath the Dome (Adventure)

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Castles & Crusades adventures convert to the rest of the OSR with minimal fuss and Beneath the Dome should be no exception.

So, what do you get for your $9.99 $8.00  $1.60?

This book brings together the 4 parts that were first featured as a serial adventure.  It's been retooled and brought together in one cohesive 36 page adventure! 

Riding the winds of an Eldritch sorcery they came, bearing only a lust for chaos and evil and for power over the kindgdoms of men.  They built a fortress deep in the mountains, buried beneath a dome of rock. Though their power was great, their numbers were few and so they cast about for minions. 

They captured a lone hunter, dragging him into the deeps of their temple.  There they broke him and as life left him they bound his corpse to them.  But he was only the first, more followed, farmers, their families, villages too.  But it was not just men and their people, but animals too, dogs and beasts of burden. 

Thus the Kingdom has been afflicted.  And the MageKing who rules calls for aid, seeking the brave and the bold to find out what madness afflicts the realm and his people.  For in his heart he fears that what has unfolded is only the beginning. 

Beneath the Dome houses a wild ride of adventures that begins with a low level adventure fighting the green wizard-priest amdromodons, but ends in the swirling death of the ebony amdromodons.

Remember, a portion of the monies your spend at RPGNow go to support The Tavern. Tip your barman ;)