As I sit here on Saturday Night, December 23rd, I have finally caught up with emails through December 20th - Wednesday. So, if you emailed me on Wednesday or prior in regards to an OSR Christmas Gift - your info has been acted upon (info forwarded and such)
I'll try to act upon the 21st and 22nd tomorrow. In any case, everything should be caught up by Wednesday, the 28th.
Pete Spahn is adding the following to the mix:
WWII: Operation WhiteBox
-5 PDF copies (exchanged for any mission pack if already owned)
-2 black and white print copies + PDF
-1 color soft cover + PDF
The next two days are going to be huge :)
I really hope folks have been grabbing the Frog God Freebies. The past two days have been Lost Lands bundles with maps and players guide. Good stuff. Grab it. Reminder, OSR Christmas Gifts from Frog God Games will be taken care of after the New Year.
Then there are the recent releases I haven't gotten to. Next week. Physical CSIO maps, RPG books, PDFs and more.
From the Tenkar Household, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a Joyous New Year. May that which you find holy bless you in the year to come - Erik & Rach
RPGNow
Saturday, December 23, 2017
RPGNow Deal of the Day - Mortzengersturm, The Mad Manticore of the Prismatic Peak (5e)
Today's Deal of the Day is Mortzengersturm, The Mad Manticore of the Prismatic Peak by +trey causey . Normally $7.99 in PDF, until 11 AM tomorrow morning (Eastern Time) it is one sale for $2.65.
From the blurb:
After turning himself into a manticore, the self-style wizard-artiste, Mortzengersturm, moved to the crystalline peak of Mount Geegaw to practice his transformation magic without interference. You've been hired to snatch his most prized artifact, the Whim-Wham Stone--or at least some of its eldritch light. A menagerie of magic hybrids, a self-absorbed vampire, more than a few hippogriffs, and of course, the mad manticore himself await!
It's like a Rankin-Bass stop motion special--except it could end in a total party kill. Are you up to the challenge?
Mortzengersturm, The Mad Manticore of the Prismatic Peak is a 5e-compatible adventure for 5-6 players of 3-4th level set in the Land of Azurth. This digital edition contains exclusive extras: a map and brief gazetteer of Yanth Country (the locaiton of Mount Geegaw), and a short excerpt from an upcoming Land of Azurth adventure.
On the Tenth Day of OSR Christmas My God How Many Days? ;)
I have caught up with emails through Sunday. This afternoon will be emails as Rach wraps...
So, this year will be giving the previous day's gift giving with the announcement of the new gifts in the mix. Trying to keep the post spam to a minimum.
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
Now for today's gifts:
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
faoladh - Choice of one issue of RPG Pundit Presents - PDFDenis McCarthy - The Petal Hack - Print copy (note - I screwed up and offered this twice - Brett Slocum is generously covering the 2nd copy)Maurice Tousignant - The Hero's Journey - PDFEvan Lindsey - Wizardry Unearthed - PDFThe above need to email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that gmail thing with "I've been gifted!" in the subject - state your name / pseudonym and the gift you are receiving.
Now for today's gifts:
1 - Dice Roll Zine - PDF
1 - Dice Roll Zine - Print copy
1 - White Star Galaxy Edition - PDF
1 - Wizardry Unearthed - PDF
1 - $10 Gift Certificates to the Frog God Store
1 - Swords & Wizardry Continual Light
For the above, comment below with your Holiday Wishes before 11 AM Eastern, Sunday, December 24th 2017. Gift receivers will be randomly chosen from the comments placed in that time.
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busyweekend still busy but catching up- three birthday celebrations and mouse infestation cleanup in the Tenkar kitchen. Communication catch up commences tonight / tomorrow morning soon! I apologize for the email silence.
Santa's Bag
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busy
Santa's Bag
Tony T (1) White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game - Print - US Only (original receiver is outside the US and will be receiving PayPal funds to purchase SWCL)
Paul Baldowski
Hog Town Games (2)
Monkeyblood Designs (4)
(4)
Brett Slocum (1) The Petal Hack - Print
Grim & Perilous
(1) Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG - GM screen PDF
and possibly Arcane and Divine Magick cards PDF
Barrel Rider Games (3)
(1)
@Padre's
Edwin Nagy
Frog God Games: (1) Copy of The Blight - for Swords & Wizardry - Hardcover / Print
(1)
(1)
Silver Bulette (1)
(1)
Gaming Ballistic (2) Copies Dungeon Grappling in Print - (6) Copies of DG in PDF (note - handled
(2) Copies Lost Hall of Tyr in Print - (6) Copies of LHoT in PDF (at (www.Gamingblastic.com)
Precis Intermedia(
(Brett Bernstein) (1) Supergame: Super-Powered RPG (Classic Reprint) in PDF
Crossplanes (4)
The Tavern (3)
The Tavern
Monkeyblood Design
As a side note, don't expect print copies to ship prior to Christmas. Frog God Gifts will be sorted after the New Year.
Frog God Games - Holiday Freebies - Day 10 - Tour de Northlands PDF Bundle - Another Must Have!
The Tour de Northlands PDF Bundle ($14 value) is the latest Frog God Holiday freebie.
What's included?
- the Northlands Map
- the Players Guide to the Northlands.
- Tales of the Lost Lands: Northland Short Stories
Now, if you also grabbed yesterday's Tour de Sinnar Coast Bundle (still available as I type this and a $25 value)) you would have 5 Lost Lands Player's Guides, 2 regional maps and some Lost Lands fiction.
You could treat this as a free introduction to the Lost Lands setting. I know that's how I see it :)
Friday, December 22, 2017
Frog God Games - Holiday Freebies - Day 9 - Tour De Sinnar Coast PDF Bundle - Must Have!
Alright, I don't say this much but here it is - The Tour De Sinnar Coast PDF Bundle is a MUST HAVE. No excuses, grab it.
It is in many ways pieces of the puzzle of what is the Lost Lands.
It is also systemless, so no matter what system you prefer this bundle fits your needs.
Did I mention its free?
You get the Sinnar Coast map and Players Guides for:
Cults of the Sundered Kingdoms
Rappan Athuk
Lost City of Barakus
Borderlands Provinces
On the Ninth Day of OSR Christmas, My Gaming Community Gave to Me....
I have caught up with emails through Sunday. The work continues ;)
So, this year will be giving the previous day's gift giving with the announcement of the new gifts in the mix. Trying to keep the post spam to a minimum.
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
Now for today's gifts:Michael Gross - White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game - Print - US Only (original receiver is outside the US and will be receiving PayPal funds to purchase SWCL / whatever they wish)Drew - Orb of Undying Discord (PDF) and 1 Copy of Silver Bulette's next release (PDF)Ryan Hixson - The Blight - Frog God - Print - US Only
1 - Choice of one issue of RPG Pundit Presents - PDF
1 - The Petal Hack - Print copy
1 - The Hero's Journey - PDF
1 - Wizardry Unearthed - PDF
For the above, comment below with your Holiday Wishes before 11 AM Eastern, Saturday, December 23rd, 2017. Gift receivers will be randomly chosen from the comments placed in that time.
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busy weekend still busy but catching up- three birthday celebrations and mouse infestation cleanup in the Tenkar kitchen. Communication catch up commencestonight / tomorrow morning soon! I apologize for the email silence.
Santa's Bag
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busy weekend still busy but catching up- three birthday celebrations and mouse infestation cleanup in the Tenkar kitchen. Communication catch up commences
Santa's Bag
Tony T (1) White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game - Print - US Only (original receiver is outside the US and will be receiving PayPal funds to purchase SWCL)
Paul Baldowski
Hog Town Games (2)
Monkeyblood Designs (4)
(4)
Brett Slocum (1) The Petal Hack - Print
Grim & Perilous
(1) Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG - GM screen PDF
and possibly Arcane and Divine Magick cards PDF
Barrel Rider Games (3)
(2) The Hero's Journey PDFs
@Padre's
Edwin Nagy
Frog God Games: (1) Copy of The Blight - for Swords & Wizardry - Hardcover / Print
(1)
(1)
Silver Bulette (1)
(1)
Gaming Ballistic (2) Copies Dungeon Grappling in Print - (6) Copies of DG in PDF (note - handled
(2) Copies Lost Hall of Tyr in Print - (6) Copies of LHoT in PDF (at (www.Gamingblastic.com)
Precis Intermedia(1) Choice of one issue of RPG Pundit Presents in PDF
(Brett Bernstein) (1) Supergame: Super-Powered RPG (Classic Reprint) in PDF
Crossplanes (5)
The Tavern (3)
The Tavern
Monkeyblood Design
As a side note, don't expect print copies to ship prior to Christmas. Frog God Gifts will be sorted after the New Year.
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Jon Peterson Tracks Down Gary Gygax Interview from "Tomorrow" with Tom Snyder (1979) - Audio
When Jon Peterson strikes gold, the man strikes it by the pound.
Yesterday Jon shared the sound file of a TV interview from "Tomorrow" with Tom Snyder from back in 1979 in which Snyder interviews Gary Gygax. It is simply an amazing piece of history that probably hasnt been heard in 38 years.
While you can grab the file directly from Soundcloud I strongly recommend you go to Jon's site - Playing at the World - where he has published a full transcript of the interview.
Good stuff!
Tip of the hat to +Zach H for bringing this to my attention.
Yesterday Jon shared the sound file of a TV interview from "Tomorrow" with Tom Snyder from back in 1979 in which Snyder interviews Gary Gygax. It is simply an amazing piece of history that probably hasnt been heard in 38 years.
While you can grab the file directly from Soundcloud I strongly recommend you go to Jon's site - Playing at the World - where he has published a full transcript of the interview.
Good stuff!
Tip of the hat to +Zach H for bringing this to my attention.
Frog God Games - Holiday Freebies - Days 7 & 8 - Swords & Wizardry and Pathfinder
I can't keep up with all the holiday goodness going on in the OSR and beyond.
Frog God Games has added two more PDF Freebies to their Holiday Gift Basket.
The Northlands Saga 1 and Cyclopean Deeps Chapters 1 & 2 are the latest adds.
You can find all of the Frog God Freebies here.
Grab them while you can.
On the Eight Day of OSR Christmas, My Gaming Group Gave to Me....
I have caught up with emails through Sunday. The work continues ;)
So, this year will be giving the previous day's gift giving with the announcement of the new gifts in the mix. Trying to keep the post spam to a minimum.
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
Now for today's gifts:Joseph Bloch - The Midderlands in PDF each with The Midderlands Additions in PDFdogrodeo - The Demon Stones (Swords & Wizardry version) in PDFJan Egil Bjune - $10 Gift Certificates to the Frog God StoreSarah Gilman - Swords & Wizardry Continual Light in Print (US Only - others will receive $7 US via Paypal)
1 - White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game - Print - US Only (original receiver is outside the US and will be receiving PayPal funds to purchase SWCL / whatever they wish)
1 - Orb of Undying Discord (PDF) and 1 Copy of Silver Bulette's next release (PDF)
1 - The Blight - Frog God - Print - US Only
For the above, comment below with your Holiday Wishes before 11 AM Eastern, Friday, December 22nd, 2017. Gift receivers will be randomly chosen from the comments placed in that time.
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busy weekend still busy but catching up- three birthday celebrations and mouse infestation cleanup in the Tenkar kitchen. Communication catch up commencestonight / tomorrow morning soon! I apologize for the email silence.
Santa's Bag
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busy weekend still busy but catching up- three birthday celebrations and mouse infestation cleanup in the Tenkar kitchen. Communication catch up commences
Santa's Bag
Tony T (1) White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game - Print - US Only (original receiver is outside the US and will be receiving PayPal funds to purchase SWCL)
Paul Baldowski
Hog Town Games (2)
Monkeyblood Designs (4)
(4)
Brett Slocum (1) The Petal Hack - Print
Grim & Perilous
(1) Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG - GM screen PDF
and possibly Arcane and Divine Magick cards PDF
Barrel Rider Games (3)
(2) The Hero's Journey PDFs
@Padre's
Edwin Nagy
Frog God Games: (1) Copy of The Blight - for Swords & Wizardry - Hardcover / Print
(1)
(1)
Silver Bulette (2) Copies Orb of Undying Discord (PDF)
(2) Copies of their next release (PDF)
Gaming Ballistic (2) Copies Dungeon Grappling in Print - (6) Copies of DG in PDF (note - handled
(2) Copies Lost Hall of Tyr in Print - (6) Copies of LHoT in PDF (at (www.Gamingblastic.com)
Precis Intermedia(1) Choice of one issue of RPG Pundit Presents in PDF
(Brett Bernstein) (1) Supergame: Super-Powered RPG (Classic Reprint) in PDF
Crossplanes (5)
The Tavern (3)
The Tavern
Monkeyblood Design
As a side note, don't expect print copies to ship prior to Christmas ;)
Wherein I Receive a Surprisingly Honest Answer From Anuj (re: Top 100 RPG Blog List)
"Not everyone is paid. We compiled the list organically."
Which means, the top of the list is just that - and the rest of the list is paid for.
So, yes - ENWorld, The Pundit, Dieheart and others made the list legitimately - but sadly, the list itself is illegitimate.
You can't have a legit Top 100 of Anything list when part of the list is paid for. It should have stopped at top 20 or top 25.
What surprises me the most is that a site would give itself props for making a list without actually looking at the list. When a Top 100 List for RPG Blogs tops out at 75, when the bottom of the list has little if any actual web traffic, you think you might ask questions before patting yourself on the back.
The sad thing is, the top sites don't need the extra traffic, the bottom sites don't deserve it and the middle sites SHOULD be highlighted - but not this way.
Props to Anuj for being honest when asked. Shame he isn't as honest with the list itself.
Prior posts here and here.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern - Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
This will be the last Tavern Chat before Christmas. Yes, Santa Tenkar is STILL catching up on OSR Christmas Emails, so if I seem to lose my attention span tonight on occasions, I'm probably working on the emails.
Tavern Chat takes place on The Tavern's Discord Server at 9 PM Eastern and generally lasts until 11 PM and beyond.
Here's the invite if you need it: https://discord.gg/fReGmuD
When you log into the server, you want to go to tavern-chat-wed for the text chat room.
Voice chat is held in the Open Bar.
You can and probably should be in both text and voice chat, as the text chat often gets relevant links and images from the voice chat.
You don't need to speak in the voice chat if you don't want to. Many do lurk as listeners and that is fine.
Hopefully we'll "see you" tonight ;)
Follow Up to the Feedspot 100 Top RPG Blog List - New Email and ENWorld Denial
So, it looks like someone really wants my 3 bucks a month. This is from earlier today:
If you subscribe to Feedspot Gold, we will feature you in our Top 100 RPG Blogs post - which doesnt have 100 blogs / Reddits / Youtube Channels - whatever. Its sitting at 75.
Now, Morrus over on ENWorld says you don't have to pay to make the list, and in his case, he might be right - but I've had confirmation from others that paying is what got them on the list. ENworld may have made the list legitimately but much (most? all?) of that list is paid for.
Alright, email sent. I'll share the answers I get.
and yes, a damn typo. doh!
edit: lets see the Alexa rankings of some of these top sites.
at #45
at #50
at #60
at #62
Now, Morrus over on ENWorld says you don't have to pay to make the list, and in his case, he might be right - but I've had confirmation from others that paying is what got them on the list. ENworld may have made the list legitimately but much (most? all?) of that list is paid for.
Alright, email sent. I'll share the answers I get.
edit: lets see the Alexa rankings of some of these top sites.
at #45
at #50
at #60
at #62
at #63
#64
Now, here's an unlisted number that hasn't paid:
I'm not saying every site on the list has paid, but this fairly random sampling shows some obvious ones that did.
On the Sixth & Seventh Days of OSR Christmas my DM Gave to Meeeeeee....
I took yesterday off in the hopes of catching up on OSR Christmas emails - needless to say, I'm still catching up and today will be a busy day as well. You are not forgotten. I'll probably be working on emails during tonight's Tavern Chat ;)
So, this year will be giving the previous day's gift giving with the announcement of the new gifts in the mix. Trying to keep the post spam to a minimum.
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
Now for today's gifts:
Those being gifted from yesterdays post are:
Jay Murphy - The Petal Hack - Print- US Only
Michael Gross - The Midderlands in PDF with The Midderlands Additions in PDF
seaofstarsrpg - Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG - core book PDF with Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG - GM screen PDF and Arcane and Divine Magick cards PDF
The above need to email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that gmail thing with "I've been gifted!" in the subject - state your name / pseudonym and the gift you are receiving.
Now for today's gifts:
1 - The Midderlands in PDF each with The Midderlands Additions in PDF
1 - The Demon Stones (Swords & Wizardry version) in PDF
1 - $10 Gift Certificates to the Frog God Store
1 - Swords & Wizardry Continual Light in Print (US Only - others will receive $7 US via Paypal)
For the above, comment below with your Holiday Wishes before 11 AM Eastern, Thursday, December 21st, 2017. Gift receivers will be randomly chosen from the comments placed in that time.
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busy weekend still busy but catching up- three birthday celebrations and mouse infestation cleanup in the Tenkar kitchen. Communication catch up commencestonight / tomorrow morning soon! I apologize for the email silence.
Santa's Bag
Remember, Gaming Ballistic is hosting their own daily OSR Christmas Giveaway. So, leave your daily comments at Gaming Ballistic and get in the mix!
Note - I'm receiving your emails but this has been a busy weekend still busy but catching up- three birthday celebrations and mouse infestation cleanup in the Tenkar kitchen. Communication catch up commences
Santa's Bag
Tony T (1) White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game - Print - US Only
Paul Baldowski
Hog Town Games (2)
Monkeyblood Designs (5)
(5)
Brett Slocum (1) The Petal Hack - Print
Grim & Perilous (1) Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG - core book PDF
(1) Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG - GM screen PDF
and possibly Arcane and Divine Magick cards PDF
Barrel Rider Games (3)
(2) The Hero's Journey PDFs
@Padre's
Edwin Nagy
Frog God Games: (1) Copy of The Blight - for Swords & Wizardry - Hardcover / Print
(1)
(2)
Silver Bulette (2) Copies Orb of Undying Discord (PDF)
(2) Copies of their next release (PDF)
Gaming Ballistic (2) Copies Dungeon Grappling in Print - (6) Copies of DG in PDF (note - handled
(2) Copies Lost Hall of Tyr in Print - (6) Copies of LHoT in PDF (at (www.Gamingblastic.com)
Precis Intermedia(1) Choice of one issue of RPG Pundit Presents in PDF
(Brett Bernstein) (1) Supergame: Super-Powered RPG (Classic Reprint) in PDF
Crossplanes (5)
The Tavern (4)
The Tavern
Monkeyblood Design
As a side note, don't expect print copies to ship prior to Christmas ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Blogs of Inspiration & Erudition
-
-
OSR Module Campaign Commentary - D1-2: Descent into the Depths of the Earth using Adventurer Conqueror King System II (ACKS II) Combined With ACKS II rpg - Running Gary Gygax’s classic megadungeon modules D1-2: Descent into the Depths of the Earth using Adventurer Conqueror King System II (ACKS II) transforms...5 hours ago
-
I kept Tenkar's cursed sword - Just saying. I'm one of the people who kept the cursed sword Tenkar is talking about in this video. Mirado the Black couldn't get enough of Woundlicker.6 hours ago
-
Vigilante City - Part IV - MegaHuman Classes - It's time to look at the super powered options for Vigilante City, the MegaHuman Classes. I'm going to start by saying as much as I love Vigilante City, I ...9 hours ago
-
Doors (B/X + Old School minimalist) - Another brief pause in our series, because I think this deserves a post of its own. Moldvay's rules about doors are so terse that they are almost cryptic...10 hours ago
-
The SHIVER Files - The Mass Incursion Anomaly changed everything. It cracked the fabric of reality in such a way that dimensional incursions were reported around the world. ...12 hours ago
-
Hannover CL-III - I've been digitally replicating another old Airfix kit that I built about a hundred years ago, this time the Hannover CL-III, as usual in 1:144 scale. ...16 hours ago
-
Ataxes Must Die! - By NikolineSelf PublishedB/XLevels 1-4 Kurhan is wounded at its heart. The Akros, tower of its long-gone kings, stands crippled, torn in two by tyrant-mage...17 hours ago
-
Against the Starmaster news - *Against the Darkmaster* (VsD) is one of my favourite role-playing games of the 21st Century (matched only by *Mythras*). I’m currently running a long-term...1 day ago
-
Oh Satan, Is There Anything You Can't Do? - Drunk on power this afternoon, I commanded my demonic robot slave Claude to make some hexmaps. And I was impressed with what it came out with. I told it ...1 day ago
-
Urban Fantasy Fridays: Witch Girls Adventures 2nd Edition - [image: Witch Girls Adventures, 2nd Editon] A special Urban Fantasy Fridays today. This would have been great for October, but I didn't get it in time to s...1 day ago
-
New Monster: Poison Waste Drakes - *Beyond the mountains that contain the Doom-Gate, the plains and forests were long considered uninhabitable, awash with poison and radiation, but life, a...1 day ago
-
The Many Levels of Castle Greyhawk Part 3 - Gygax Original Castle Greyhawk Manuscript at Auction - A Quick Preface I've posted about the history of Castle Greyhawk and its levels in Parts One and Two in this series, and more-recently in analyzing the new ...2 days ago
-
II II: II (Impairing Impairing 2: Intergalactic Impairing) - I've written about *Impairing* in Mythic Bastionland, but what's the plan with this tricky little mechanic in Intergalactic? Well first let's go back to ...3 days ago
-
Minute Might: A Wargame Review... - Roleplaying has wargaming blood. This goes without saying. It doesn't tell the whole story given Wesely's non-wargaming contributions to the hobby, but B...4 days ago
-
Free Resource: The Secret of Weepstone Demo - [image: Free Resource: The Secret of Weepstone Demo] I downloaded this game a couple of weeks ago and finally got to checking it out when I had some free ...5 days ago
-
Recent Stuff - *AI Search Engine Drama Club*Hi everybody - this first part is about a problem in blogging and search engines dealing ...1 week ago
-
Dread and Halloween Games - *Dread *is useful as a highly improvised one-shot party or pickup game. I prefer *Fiasco *if people are clear-headed and RPG-minded, but for Halloween an...1 week ago
-
Fletchwind Kickstarter - My friend Hilander is publishing a zine. It is called Fletchwind. It is a city supplement for Cairn. You can click the link to read more about the cont...2 weeks ago
-
[SUPPLEMENT] Gamemaster’s Guidelines Beyond Fomalhaut (NOW AVAILABLE!) - *A Tome of Mastery“Heavy is the head that wears the crown! In role-playing games, the position of the gamemaster carries the most responsibility, as it is...3 weeks ago
-
Money in Mutants & Wizards - Money and wealth is always an issue in Post-apoc gaming. Mutants & Wizards uses precious metals with the expectation of bartering occurring where that's ...4 weeks ago
-
Geeky SKAturday: The Family Business Ltd. - Life is wild. Sometimes I'll have a stretch of time where I feel like I'm truly in a groove accomplishing the things I was presumably put upon this planet...5 weeks ago
-
Why is the Ogre there? - Joe's post on the Quantum Ogre raises an old question about sandbox play: when does moving an encounter around interfere with players' freedom to decide...1 month ago
-
Dragonne #2 now available - The second issue of Dragonne is now available! BRW Games’ occasional journal of old-school gaming is back with two new features; To subscribe for free, and...1 month ago
-
-
Vanishing Blogs From The Old Days - There are so many RPG related blogs on every genre and category of RPG. Periodically I discover that another blog is no more when an app on my blog reports...2 months ago
-
Murder mystery - The local adventurers guild named "fernleaf and associates" is basically a sleuthing agency. The patron is an older elf named Flynn fernleaf. He pays wel...3 months ago
-
The Common Store of Monsters - I am slowly grinding my way through the re-writes for Veins of the Earth. As part of the re-write I have re-organised the ‘Pariahs of the Earth’ monsters ...3 months ago
-
The Old School (Hyperborean) Renaissance - Are these poorly-masked adventure hooks? Yes, yes they are. For the last century a peculiar fever has gripped the learned societies of Marlinko, Kezmaro...4 months ago
-
Micro-Adventure - #114 RATS! - Dungeon tropes are a thing to embrace, not to dismiss. It's simple to handwave the storm the orc infested tower to save the princess, evil wizard in a t...5 months ago
-
Moldvay Basic D&D now Available in Print - Just a quick note that (finally) Moldvay Basic D&D is available in POD from DTRPG – previously, only the Cook/Marsh … Continue reading →6 months ago
-
Abstraction in My Liege, - I think the aspect of *My Liege,* that could potentially put off the most people is its lack of accounting granularity. It does not track Court wealth in...6 months ago
-
Consolidated AD&D Weapon Characteristics List - Having spent the last few days down a research rabbit hole, I ended up compiling a chart of AD&D weapon characteristics, adding some "missing" entries an...7 months ago
-
Referee Sabotage - It is an old saw that players are bad at executing their plans. Imagine this common scene: the party have some big job that requires planning; perhaps robb...7 months ago
-
Mapping the pre D&D Dungeon Adventure From May 25 1972, Part 1 - Earlier (Here) we looked at the oldest dungeon dive preserved in Arneson's write up as found in *Blackmoor Foundations*. Turning now to the second dunge...8 months ago
-
On a Happy New Year - We are about to experience the most social upheaval since industrialization. What will that look like in sixty years? Sinless is starting it's third yea...10 months ago
-
-
-
Rob Kuntz at Lucca Comics & Games 2025 - If you are planning a trip to Europe (like right now) and wish to catch up with me in person, make sure to book a detour via *Lucca Comics & Games*, ...1 year ago
-
How do you do piracy… in SPACE!? - Interstellar space travel in Iridium Moons was always going to be a form of hyperspace jump like in Star Wars or Traveller. Simply because it’s the one for...1 year ago
-
A long overdue hobby update! - Welcome back to the Vault everyone! 2025 is going by in a blur; I last posted in February, almost started a post in March and now it's the end of May. W...1 year ago
-
Playing at the World 2E V2 Arrives - With the release of its second volume, the second edition of *Playing at the World *is finally complete. The two books combined total well over 1,000 ...1 year ago
-
Lexicon of Klarkash-Ton, Hierophant of Atlantis: Lupanar - This time, we follow the good High Priest to the far future, to the final continent of Earth, Zothique, for a a tale of ennui and love: Morthylla. Witho...1 year ago
-
Writing playlists for all occasions - Hello again! Going off the idea of inspiration elaborated on by the prior post, I also have music playing while I write my various games and fiction pieces...1 year ago
-
The Tarot of Pips - Somewhere in your dice collection is a die like this one, the humblest of dice. Although you don't know it, this small white die carries with it a secr...1 year ago
-
Pirates and Necromancers, a Play Report - Over the Thanksgiving weekend we did a lot of gaming ranging from “off-table” domain level stuff to some solo adventures to spell and magic item rese...1 year ago
-
*'s in SpaaaaaAaaaace - A lot of SF (including a certain 2D6 RPG grandaddy) deal with ancient aliens taking humans from Earth and dropping them, fleas and all, on one or more w...2 years ago
-
Last move - to self-hosting! - As my vote regarding Substack in the “marketplace of ideas”, I’m moving to self-hosting. I’m now at (and hopefully staying for a long time at) Blog: ht...2 years ago
-
Osamu Tezuka (1928 - 1989) - [image: Osamu Tezuka - Shonen Magazine Cover, 1970]Shonen Magazine Cover, 1970 [image: Osamu Tezuka - Shonen Magazine Cover Illustration 1970]Shonen Maga...4 years ago
-
Clean Your Room - Looking back at my little blog here. That last post… wow, I was having fun playing WOW Classic! That was August of 1999 and I was having a blast… it was ...4 years ago
-
The Worm Ouroboros - The Worm Ouroboros is a proto-fantasy (the in the genre sense) novel by E. R. Eddison, originally published in 1922. It is an amalgam of mythological tradi...5 years ago
-
-
Steve Jackson Interview - James Maliszewski recently did an interview with Steve Jackson over on his Grognardia blog. Steve chats about the beginnings of The Fantasy Trip and upcomi...6 years ago
-
The Hero’s Journey 2nd Edition, Campbellian roleplaying at its best! - (this review done using the reviewers own purchased copy) I have been a James Michael Spahn fan since he wrote his Swords & Wizardry Companion. His writing...6 years ago
-
ToAD Monster of the Week: Crocoman - Now that I'm back doing the blog thing I thought I would use Tome of Adventure Design to create monsters for The Black Hack. Using the monster tables in th...6 years ago
-
OCHRE SAND - Init +0 Ranged Atk • fire burst +3 (1d14+1, 20') AC 17 HD 3d6 MV 60 Act 1d24 SP 'breath' weapon, sideslip, perfect silence, morphing Fort +5 Ref +8 Will...6 years ago
-
Strange, Dangerous, and Inhuman: The Fey and Fairie - When I was a boy I loved fairy tales. Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots, Rumpelstiltskin - I devoured all of it. My fascination that there was a strang...6 years ago
-
The Faithful - An Optional Archetype for Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells Revised Edition - Work on the revised edition of Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells is moving along. This will be a hefty tome, with a LOT of tools and new options to customiz...7 years ago
-
Dungeons & Dragonmead Fall Schedule - *As you know, I run public classic Dungeons & Dragons games at **The Loaded Die**/Metro Detroit Game Night's Board Game Nigh at **Dragonmead**, in Warren...7 years ago
-
Fiction in Airhde - On a whim this weekend, I picked up some fiction off the TLG store. *A Houseless God & Other Tales* and *The Mirrored Soul & Other Tales*, both by the T...7 years ago
-
-
Ravensburg Reboot: Streamlined City Map - I mentioned in my last post how I was tweaking and reworking parts of my Ravensburg setting. Today I streamlined the city map. The old map had lots of redu...7 years ago
-
The Withered Crag available now - I just enabled the sale of the PDF version of The Withered Crag at DriveThruRPG a few minutes ago, and the custom print version will be available startin...7 years ago
-
Annihilation Rising Goes live - The latest in Fail Squad Games’ Quick Kick projects has gone live and needs your support!! This project is only running 11 days and ends on 5/28/2019! ...7 years ago
-
James's Celebration of Life - We could not have asked for a prettier day for James's service. It was a bit chilly and windy but gorgeous. A heartfelt thank you to all that joined us tod...7 years ago
-
Trap Tuesday: A step back - I will get back to Tomb of Horrors soon. I found a topic that was interesting enough to take a break. While interacting in a 5E group on Facebook I talked ...7 years ago
-
Let's Talk About Pacing! - The idea, I think, is that the RPG is ultimately about the long game. Even rolling back to the early days of Basic & Expert, the goal of the player was...7 years ago
-
Profane and Profound Prep Part 2 - This is part 2 of my work to edit my magic items for a DMsGuild release, along with adding cursed items along the way. Here is part 1. Bone of a Saint 8000...7 years ago
-
MIDDLE DUNGEONS LEVEL FIVE 158 STAIRS. - 158 STAIRS. These stairs descend thirty feet to Area 79 on Level 6.7 years ago
-
Please, I don't do paid advertisements - don't ask. - A little note since people have asked me about this. My video channel's *not* an advertising platform, so I'm not available for hire if you want to promote...7 years ago
-
New website! - Slowly but surely, all the content here will make its way — in updated form! — to my new website: timbannock.com. For fairly obvious reasons, that site wil...7 years ago
-
Please Update Your Link! - If you're seeing this, it means your link to the Greyhawk Grognard blog is out of date. Please update your link to www.greyhawkgrognard.com (RSS feed is h...8 years ago
-
Total Sales for WB:FMAG - Hi Folks, It's been a long time since I provided an update for the sales of White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game. *LULU* Print: 396 PDF: 433 *OBS*...8 years ago
-
How can We Destroy this Campaign World? - d12 1. You must trick a bard into strumming the *Chords of Fate* on the *Lute of Annihilation* 2. Legends tell of thermonuclear weapons beneath megadunge...8 years ago
-
Mord Mar - Session 5 - We had another successful delve into the dungeon yesterday. The delvers: Moira, the Magic-User Radovan - Human Cleric (of Odin?) Khazgar Stonehand - Dwarf ...8 years ago
-
Yodeling For Yokels or The Further Misa(d&)dventures - This is the one of those posts that points out the lack of current posts. Over the last week or three, there has been postponed Labyrinth Lord (twice, one...8 years ago
-
Bundle of Fantasy Age - Bundle of Holding: Dragon Age/Fantasy Age: Available until March 12. PA Presents: Fantasy AGE Freeport live play Green Ronin in 2018 The Fantasy Age RPG ma...8 years ago
-
New Free PDF Module: The Hyqueous Vaults - A new dungeon module—written in celebration of OSRIC's 10th Birthday—by Rebecca Dettmann, Allan T. Grohe, Jr., Jimm Johnson, Matthew Riedel, Alex Zisch, a...8 years ago
-
Session XCIII: One Pissed Off Dragon! - Our ongoing Swords and Wizardry sandbox campaign... *Current Player Characters:* *Thenus* (Ranger) *Wang Du* (Monk) *Wolfheir* (Viking) *Arg* (Half-orc) ...9 years ago
-
Swords & Wizardry Light: Session # 6 - Two months after our last session (thanks to things like 8th grade finals, a 4 year-old's birthday and party, Father's Day, etc.), we finally had our next ...9 years ago
