All Castle OldSkull releases (except one) on Sale for 99 Cents Each through Halloween

I'm realizing now that I have gaps in my Castle OldSkull PDF collection. Time to fill the gaps!

Oldskull Adventure Generator - 700+ pages - normally $12.99 - now 99 cents - I actually have this and it is good. For 99 cents? Amazing

The Classic Dungeon Design Guide - almost 400 pages - normally 9.99 - now 99 cents - I don't have this one. Time to grab.

Oldskull Dungeon Generator - damnit! another I don't have - grabbing now

K - I think I need about half the collection.

The full collection can be found at the Castle OldSkull Page at RPGNow

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Some Sword & Wizardry Continual Light Updates and Upcoming Releases

Monday morning will make 2 weeks since Swords & Wizardry Continual Light went on sale at RPGNow (early Thursday morning of that week it went on sale in print at Amazon, so about a week and a half there)

So far just under 650 copies of SWCL have been sold via RPGNow / OBS (645 as I type this) A further 72 print copies have sold via Amazon with another 50 copies coming with me to Gamehole next Wednesday, to be sold at the Frog God booth. The 50 copies for Gamehole will be signed and numbered. Not sure of the pricing yet as I am not the one pricing ;)

+Glen Hallstrom and I are hoping to have Wards & Necromancers, an undead sourcebook for SWCL hopefully ready by the end of November. 13 new undead creatures, a fleshed out Necromancer class, a Death Knight class, new spells, new magic items and whatever else we decide to squeeze in there.

Print copies of SWCL should be available at RPGNow and Lulu in late November / early December.

The Elementalist class for SWCL (originally written for S&W Appreciation Day earlier this year ) will be released at PWYW pricing on RPGNow either just prior to or just after Gamehole.

RPGNow link for Swords and Wizardry Continual Light PDF - PWYW

Swords Wizardry Continual Light - Print  $7 - Prime Shipping

RPGNow Halloween Sale - OSR Picks - The Astonishingly Complete Silent Visceral Shadow Under The Forbidden Caverns

Yeah, normally I make these picks earlier in the sale, but October has been a fairly busy month. Still, we do have some picks for your OSR bookshelf. Prices are good through the 31st of the month.

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea (Second Edition) - I have the first edition and it is awesome - ASTONISHING SWORDSMEN & SORCERERS of HYPERBOREA™ is sword-and-sorcery role-playing at its pinnacle. Play an Amazon fighter, Atlantean magician, Esquimaux shaman, Hyperborean warlock, Ixian necromancer, Keltic barbarian, Kimmerian cataphract, Pictish thief, Viking berserker, or one of many other possibilities. The heroes of a HYPERBOREA campaign delve the mazes and labyrinths of vast dungeons filled with horrifying monsters, lethal traps, and bewildering puzzles. They explore savage frontiers, breach hostile borderlands, probe ancient ruins, and investigate cursed tombs. They plunder for treasure and magic in a decaying world inhabited by bloodthirsty beasts and weird, otherworldly beings. Now in its second edition, AS&SH™ has been expanded to include new classes, new spells, new monsters, new magic items, and more! It also includes a new, full colour map, an introductory town and adventure, as well as hundreds of new illustrations! This new edition is backwards-compatible with the original edition of the game. Explore endless challenges and infinite realms of imagination with this complete sword-and-sorcery role-playing game!  19.00  13.11

Barrowmaze Complete - there's a whole lotta adventure for your buck in here. you may even find a Tavern related Easter Egg ;)- Barrowmaze Complete (BMC) is a classic old school megadungeon for use with Labyrinth LordTM and other fantasy role-playing games. BMC includes everything in Barrowmaze I and II in the same book in addition to new material, art, layout, and cover art by Ex-TSR artist Erol Otus. Barrowmaze Complete will keep your players on their toes and your campaign going strong. BMC is brought to you by the Old School Renaissance (so don’t forget your 10’ pole). This edition includes art by the aforementioned TSR artists Erol Otus, as well as Tim Truman, Jim Holloway. New old-school artists include Peter Pagano, Cory Hamel, Stefan Poag, Zhu Bajie, Stephan Thompson, and others. 35.00  24.15

Dungeon Crawl Classics 2017 Halloween Module: Shadow Under Devil's Reef - A level 1 adventure for DCC RPG – specially themed for Halloween horror! The perfect October release! A raging storm has made the waters around Devil’s Reef impossible to navigate safely. The noble galleon, The Royal Dawn, has run aground and Princess Kaeko from faraway Fu-Lamia is now missing! Untold riches and glory await those who successfully find the princess and safely deliver her to Black Sand Port. As the greedy and ambitious adventurers set out to find the princess, their thoughts linger on the few Royal Dawn survivors that washed up on the beach with bodies that were corrupted by strange frog-like mutations. What kind of evil awaits the adventurers on that forbidden island?
6.99  4.82

Hubris: A World of Visceral Adventure - 2017 Ennies Winner - Hubris is a weird fantasy setting that  uses the awesome Dungeon Crawl Classics rules!  In this book you will find 10 territories filled with tables and charts to generate interesting locations and encounters, new occupations, 4 new classes, 5 new playable races, 3 new spells, 4 new patrons, including 3 patrons spells for each, 11 new and terrible gods, 14 tables and charts for a GM to use to aid them in their game or create interesting/fun situations, two new adventures to kick off a campaign, and 51 new enemies (including enemies that are unique thanks to random generation).  Hubris is hackable!  Each territory can be used as the GM wills!  Need a desert, swamp, or frozen tundra for your game?  Use what's in Hubris!  14.99  10.34

Silent Legions - perfect for the season - Silent Legions is a game of modern-day Lovecraftian horror, one carefully designed to support sandbox adventures by hard-bitten investigators and fearless hunters of the dark. Its clean, lightweight old-school rules are compatible with the free Stars Without Number sci-fi game and give both GM and players a steady framework for plumbing the unspeakable secrets of the eldritch night. Now, after a successful Kickstarter with more than 1,100 backers, a Kickstarter completed a month early, this tome of dark secrets can be yours. Silent Legions isn't just about traditional Yog-Sothothery. Silent Legions is a creation kit, a toolbox in the Sine Nomine style for creating your own Mythos, with all-new deities, alien entities, foul magics, accursed artifacts, unaussprechlichen kulten, and diabolical dream-worlds to bedevil your players. These tools are system-neutral, so even fans of other Lovecraftian gaming systems can scoop them up to add a splash of fresh horror to their more familiar tentacular abominations. Not only that, but Silent Legions is built to help the GM create investigative adventures with minimal strain. Within these pages you'll find a modular set of templates and adventure guides that help you snap together an evening's intrepid investigation and fit it neatly into your campaign setting. Like the Mythos creation tools, these guides are system-neutral and can be exported for any occasion when you need something wicked to this way come. So seize now upon this opportunity! Plunder this vault of forgotten lore. Grasp these dark tools of creation and wield their power to fashion your own nightmarish reality. Perhaps none dare name the things that await your animating will, but soon enough the world will know them well…  19.99  13.79

The following technically NOT part of the Halloween Sale but IS on sale for the weekend:

The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia - Current #1 Seller at RPGNow -A new megadungeon from Barrowmaze author Dr. Greg Gillespie! The lost city of Archaia - an ancient ruin sunken into the earth - lies deep in the badlands. In recent years, caravans from Eastdale have come under attack from orcs, goblins, and worse. Some say these blood-thirsty warbands have made lairs in the deep caves and ruins. Sill others say the ancient halls are filled with magnificent treasures left by the Archaians. Are you brave (or foolish) enough to delve The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia? The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia (FCoA) is a 296-page classic old school megadungeon for use with Labyrinth LordTM and other fantasy role-playing games. The pages of Forbidden Caverns are crammed full with new material, maps, amazing art (including special surprizes by former TSR artists), as well as an amazing colour cover art by Ex-TSR artist Erol Otus that matches Barrowmaze Complete as a sister-book. The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia will keep your players on their toes and your campaign going strong for years. FCoA is brought to you by the Old School Renaissance (so don’t forget your 10’ pole).  35.00  29.00

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How I Handle Other Classes Using "Thief Skills" in OSR Games

Art copyright William McAusland, used with permission

This topic came up yesterday in the Swords & Wizardry Facebook Group. It was interesting enough to me that I decided to answer it here.

This is how I see thief skills - they allow for certain tasks to resolved by a simple die roll. Other classes don't have access to these "skills" - its really quite that simple. Its not that they can't attempt to duplicate the results, but they must use other methods.

Locked door? Kick it open. Batter it down. Destroy the lock with an iron spike and hammer. Only thieves can "pick the lock" but others can try other methods.

Locked chest? Bust the lock with a hammer or axe. Use acid on the lock.

Picking a pocket? Really hard for a non thief to attempt, because quite simply, the untrained will nearly always be caught. Getting your subject drunk might be your best option.

Climb walls? Grappling hoop and a rope. Mountain climbing gear. Fly spell. Levitation.

Find Traps? Judicious use of a 10' pole. Searching. Much like secret doors, you probably need to explain where and how you are searching. Thieves just need to roll some dice.

Remove traps? Set them off from a safe distance. Block the mechanism. Of course, you need to find it first.

A thief simply gets a die roll. The rest actually have to puzzle it out and may need to roll some dice.

That's how I roll :)

Mideweek Monster Mayhem - Wicht (SWCL / OSR)

Wichts are related to Wights and Ghouls, with the worst traits of each, simply amplified. Pack hunters, their touch requires a saving throw, failure results in the paralyzation of the victim for 1d6 turns. Wichts stay focused on their paralyzed victims, biting for 1d6 damage automatically each round until their victim dies or the Wicht is destroyed. Damage inflicted by a Wicht's bite heals at the rate of 1 point per week of bedrest. Magical healing works, but only at half its normal effectiveness until all of the bite damage is healed.

Wicht
AC: 3[16]  5[14] when feeding  HD: 4   Attacks: Claw or Bite (1d6) Move: 12
Special: Paralysis

Art copyright Malcom McClinton

Midweek Monster Mayhem is brought to you by the generosity of The Tavern's Patreon Backers.

OGL

Kickstarter - Fantasy Stock Art & RPG Miniatures - Artist James Shields (Cover Artist SWCL)

I know I've already mentioned James' Fantasy Stock Art & RPG Miniatures Kickstarter. Its at least 50 new pieces of stock art / print at home RPG miniatures.

Buy in is as little as 10 bucks for the print at home minis, 25 bucks for half the stock art, 50 bucks for the full 50 plus pieces and more if you want a guaranteed pitch of you idea.

Seriously, James is good. Damn good.

This is James' cover art on Swords & Wizardry Continual Light:

In the words of my six year old niece - "This SELLS uncle! This SELLS!" Yes it does Pinky. Yes it does.

New Release - Wizardry Unearthed for Swords & Wizardry Continual Light

Wizardry Unearthed for Swords & Wizardry Continual Light is the first release supporting Swords & Wizardry Continual Light.

In these 10 pages you get new races, new optional classes, a new mechanics for resolving thief skills and new monsters.

Yep, there's a lot crammed into the 10 pages.

While I think some of the new races are a bit more powerful then the four core, limiting them to the core classes and treating their race as an optional class for advancement purposes would balance it just fine.

The new classes are fun and the new monsters are just asking to be used. I can never have enough monsters (and I owe one for this week here at The Tavern)

Wizardry Unearthed for Swords & Wizardry Continual Light is just $1.25 in PDF.

Grab a copy :)

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Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - The Continual Light Conversation - 9 PM Eastern

Tonight is a Wednesday Night and that means - you guessed it - Tavern Chat!

Its held on The Tavern's Discord Server. For those that haven't joined yet, here's the link:

https://discord.gg/fReGmuD

Open Bar is where the voice chat takes place.

Chat starts at 9 PM Eastern and lasts - well, last week it lasted until 3 AM. Ouch ;)

Folks aways want to know topics. Well, I'll be happy to talk about Swords & Wizardry Continual Light - PDF is PWYW on RPGNow and Print is 7 bucks with Prime shipping on Amazon.

Swords Wizardry Continual Light - Print

Its been a good week overall since the last chat :)

Back to Basix Issue #3 Preorders are Live

If you haven't grabbed and issue of Back to Basix - the zine covering the BX edition of D&D, here's your chance.

Issues #1 and #2 are 5 bucks each.

Issue #3 is a preorder and is also 5 bucks,

Order all three for $12.50. Shipping is included in all cases.

I grabbed a copy of BtB at NTRPG in June and it was excellent. I ordered the three-pack because I can always use an extra copy ;)

Here's the order link: http://throwigames.com/purchase_b2bx.html

As always, this issue will have a comic from Travis Hanson (part 3 of the Broken God of the Crimson Abbey), an interview with an industry legend, a product review, articles on new monsters and spell casting, and two adventures. It should be 16 pages but might creep into 20 - tbd.

Kickstarter - The Folio #16 & #17 Double 1E & 5E Adventure Set (1e & 5e)

You know what one of my favorite part of the various Folio releases is? The covers. Seriously, pretty much each one is something you'd like to see in a print suitable for framing.

The stuff behind the covers is pretty good too. Detached covers (hey, i guess i could frame them), maps on the inside of the covers like classic TSR era adventures (hmm, maybe I won't frame the covers), adventure and setting material (which I happily steal from to use in my own going campaigns), new monsters - seriously, the whole series os good.

The current Kickstarter is for Folio issues 16 and 17. What's inside?

What’s in the adventure? All original content built in the Art of the Genre world of the Nameless Realms. Incorporating tidbits from previous Folios such as Roslof Keep, the Taux Trilogy, and of course The Isle of Jade (setting for Folio #14 & #15) these new adventures will allow players to start at mid-level as they encounter a half sunken ship that leads them to Distant Turtle City.  This Asian inspired port has fallen to the power of the dark sorcerer Molo of the Thirteen Wives, and only the players can free it while continuing on their quest to help save the world from Molo's ultimate plan. 

Here's the 2nd cover:

Come on! You know you want to ;)

PDF only of the two issues is 10 bucks. Print plus PDF of the two issues is 30 bucks.

Weekend Wonders - Kite Shield of the Damned Lords (SWCL/ OSR)

The Kite Shield of the Damned Lords is one of three surviving magic items associated with the Lords of The Crestfalls. Two brothers and a sister of the noble house of Avinier were sent on a quest to retrieve a piece of ancient knowledge. None of the three siblings returned, but their ghosts have been spotted roaming the streets of Town of Crestfallen, writhing in eternal pain.

The Kite Shield of the Damned Lords is a well worn shield, pitted and dented but still a solid piece of smithy work. Its enchantment comes into play when what would be a killing blow is struck. At such a time, the shield heals its wielder for 1d6+1 Hit Points. Otherwise it is treated as a + 1 magic shield. This effect may be invoked once per day.

Note: No natural healing from rest will be enjoyed by the wielder after its enchantment is invoked. Ex: Healed for 3 HP, for the next 3 days no natural healing will occur.

OGL

artwork copyright William McAusland, used with permission

Thanks to The Tavern's supporters at both The Tavern's Patreon and directly through Paypal, we have a monthly backing of over $150. This means 4 to 5 monsters for Swords & Wizardry Light / OSR per month, 4 to 5 Swords & Wizardry Light / OSR magic / wondrous items per month AND backers at $1.50 a month or higher via Patreon will get a collected PDF of the prior month's releases emailed to them. Paypal backers will need to email me in the middle of October to receive theirs. This is the fourth release for the month of October.

Layout for September's postings has commenced. Swords & Wizardry Continual Light has released on RPGNow in PDF Amazon for POD.

Gamer in Need - Stacy Dellorfano Cancer Fight Fund

Let me start this by saying my opinion of Stacy hasn't changed. I still hold a huge grudge against Stacy for her dismissive and belittling comments she made against my wife, Rachel. So, consider this a big step for me.

You see, I'm a cancer survivor. Cancer is the great equalizer. Rich, poor, black, white, whatever your gender, simply "whatever" - it doesn't care. Its probably the scariest thing that can happen to someone, as its a possible death sentence that you have a damn long time to think about every day.

I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Stacy is being hit with all the expenses that go along with a long term illness that health insurance does not cover. Thats a heavy burden when you are fighting for your life.

Link to Stacy's Cancer Fund - link removed at Stacey's request

I'm pledging two days of Swords & Wizardry Continual Light royalties to Stacy's Cancer Fund, today's and tomorrow's sales both on RPGNow and Amazon. If it comes to less than 50 bucks, I'll send her 50 on Wednesday.

You don't need to like everyone in your community to care about everyone in your community.

edit - 10.24.17  1150 AM

The response has been excellent. When I posted this last night, $420 had been raised since Monday morning. It's now over $2,500 and halfway to goal.

14 shares on G plus alone. This community certainly rocks!

Just some further background on me. In my career in law enforcement, fundraisers for cops or their immediately family members for medical expenses beyond health insurance coverage was part of the culture. You gave what you could. Didn't matter if they were your best friend or the asshat you refused to work a single tour in a radio car with. In the end, it was a cop or a cop's family in need and that's all that mattered. Because one day, you too might be in need.

Its probably why I make announcements such as this at The Tavern when I find out about them. Most are folks I don't know personally. Some I didn't know of at all prior to their need.

We are all gamers. This is OUR community. We take care of our own.

Thank you.

edit 10.24.17 306 PM 

Apparently my assistance is not wanted. I will not be donating 50 or more dollars to Stacy's cancer fund AT HER REQUEST. The link to the fund has been removed AT HER REQUEST.

I'm sure it can be found with a simple Google search and I still encourage you to give. Cancer is a horror I wish on no one.

God bless.

Swords & Wizardry Continual Light - One Week Later - Still Holding #1 Hottest Small Press at RPGNow

I can hardly believe that Swords & Wizardry Continual Light released a week ago today in PDF at RPGNow.

SWCL has held the Number 1 spot in the Hottest Small Press category at RPGNow steadily since last Tuesday (and is currently at 14 in Bestselling Titles) It also secured a "Copper Pick" rating at RPGNow.

Print sales of Swords & Wizardry Continual Light currently happen over on Amazon. There, SWCL sits at the 72nd spot in Books - Science Fiction & Fantasy - Gaming

Swords Wizardry Continual Light - Print

There's a bunch planned going forward for Swords & Wizardry Continual Light, both from third parties and myself. Good times ahead.

State of The Tavern - October 23, 2017 - Ups, Downs and All Arounds

Its been a hell of a week.

One the plus side, Swords & Wizardry Continual Light released a week ago. With over 550 sales to date in PDF (and over 50 copies in print) I'd call it a rousing success. I've got plans going forward which I suspect those of you that have grabbed a copy will like. The PDF is PWYW, so really, you should grab it.

On the negative side, I've received two threats of legal action in the past week. Yes, they are both groundless and no lawyers would actually act on them (let alone any court) but the stress remains. How many of you can claim to have the same shit hanging over you let alone twice in a week?

Which brings me to the bullshit side - I've seen comments on G+, Facebook and elsewhere that "Tenkar is taking a dive on the current controversy! What an ass! Why isnt he..." and all that other shit.

To those that are saying such (most of you already dislike me or worse already, so this is just a handy excuse for y'all to bitch) kindly go fuck yourself. You aren't being hit with threats of legal action. You haven't gone through the stress. If I decide a topic or subject is one that I don't plan on addressing, accept it. I have my reasons. God forbid I actually had to raise money for a legal defense, you are the same fucktards that would scream "don't give him money! he deserves what he gets!"

There, that feels much better.

And no, I'm not revealing the contents of the first threat of legal action. Many have already drawn their own conclusions as to who made the threat in question. While I will neither conform nor deny any theories, I would have been proud to have had many of you in my squad of detectives when I was still actively employed. You do good work ;)

Edit: I mistakenly left this open to comments, which wasn't my intent, as I specifically went out of my way NOT to name a specific person. Live and learn.

For those voicing support, thanks.

For Jason - I told a selection of folks to "kindly go fuck themselves." "Fucktard" would apply if I needed to raise legal funds and the same selection of folks lobbied against it. You can't claim the title yet and hopefully you aren't put in a position to do so.

As for your second issue, there is a response that was posted in the relevant RPG.net thread last night. I am not a partner in any company aside my own little publishing corner. I don't get consulted on issues that you refer to and it wasn't on my radar until a third party brought it to my attention early yesterday. I am not omniscient but I am flattered that you think I am.

Deal of the Day - How to Write Adventure Modules That Don't Suck (Goodman Games)

How to Write Adventure Modules That Don't Suck is today's Deal of the Day at RPGNow. I backed the Kickstarter and have the dead tree of this and I must say, its and enjoyable read with lots of advice you can pick and choose from.

Normal price is $6.99, but for the next 23 hours you can grab the PDF of How to Write Adventure Modules that Don't Suck for $2.10

Over the last 15 years, Goodman Games has established a reputation for publishing some of the best adventure modules in the industry. Now we present our advice on how you can write great adventures! This compilation of articles is authored by two dozen of the industry’s best-known adventure writers. Each article gives a different perspective on how to write adventure modules that don’t suck, written by authors with decades of experience and prominent published credits. By the time you’re done reading this book, you’ll be on the path to designing great adventure modules on your own. 

Whether you’re an experienced writer or an aspiring novice, you’ll find something of value in this book! 

New expanded edition! This PDF is now updated to include the 160-page edition published in 2017. It also includes the shorter 32-page edition originally published at Gen Con 2007.

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ConManKen Would Like YOU to Replace his Image with Something More Appropriate

Sunday's are a magical day. Second day of the weekend. Birds are chirping. The dog licks your face. There's an email from #ConManKen requesting the removal of all of his images from The Tavern:

So, there you have it. A challenge. #ConManKen would like his images removed so lets get some replacements / photoshops / penisheads crowdsourced by the community. Don't worry about the videos, those are all links to hosting sites.

We want some top notch work as it needs to be worthy of the Great Kenny Whit Whitman!

You can use http://www.tenkarstavern.com/search/label/conmanken to find the more recent posts about Ken. BTW, he does not own ANY of his Walking Dead pics - that's AMC. I'm sure he has a great working relationship with them at this point. Come to think of it, does Ken own the rights to his own Facebook avatar?

Oh, and he commented on the previous #ConManKen post. Damn it Kenny, you are sooooo funny!

edit - here's an example already submitted: