Is Gail Gygax Illegally Retaining / Selling Rob Kuntz's Physical Property?

I received the following from a personally known individual that wishes to remain anonymous. It was received last night. It went public a few hours ago on Facebook. Highlights are mine.

(unable to upload screenshots from the convention floor)

PUBLIC NOTICE
Posted October 30, 2019
Posted by Robert J. Kuntz, Responsible Party

This is a Public Notice to Private and Public RPG/Game Collectors, to all Game Companies, to RPG Historians, Film Industry Companies and all and Other.

That the Gygax Estate and their agents (past or present) have had repeated demands of them made by the Estate of Robert J. Kuntz to return Mr. Kuntz’s physical property held by the former. That to date the Gygax Estate refuses to comply with this request that was originated May 18, 2018.

That there is a substantiated rumor that the Gygax Estate has moved to sell all of its physical literary estate properties and that at least one major collector has been contacted regarding purchasing of same.

That the physical property of Robert J. Kuntz, a stolen property, may be part of this transaction and that Mr. Kuntz is now effectively and publicly warning those enumerated in paragraph one, above, of these circumstances.

That the matter of a prior pending civil lawsuit by Robert J. Kuntz against the Gygax Estate regarding the return of said properties is by his legal representatives:

Kravit ▪ Hovel & Krawczyk, s.c.
825 N. Jefferson, Milwaukee, WI 53202-3737

Has been transferred for review for actionable and prosecutable felonies to the Walworth County District Attorney, 1800 County Trunk NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121, this to pursue Class G Theft felony prosecution ( § 939.50(3)(g).)
against the Gygax Estate and all and others that may be implicated in the sale or receiving of Robert J. Kuntz’s property as enumerated below.

That Robert J. Kuntz is also pursuing through counsel additional felony theft and/or fraud charges associated with the Gygax Estate’s illegal duplication of his physical and literary IP and transfer of it by the Gygax Estate to Tom DeSanto in 2016 for the express purpose of developing it for monetary gain.

That, in due course, Tom DeSanto was made aware that this was not the Gygax Estate property (as well as other properties that were claimed by the Gygax Estate that were not theirs) which, in part, caused suit to be filed against the Gygax Estate by Tom DeSanto, in part and in case 1, for fraud (see above images). Agreements between Mr. DeSanto (as a victim of the Gygax Estate’s fraudulent activities) and Robert Kuntz have been reached and he is not involved, at all, in the pending criminal/civil/or other legal charges aforementioned and that are now being forwarded.

From: robert Kuntz <[E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE]
Date: May 18, 2018 7:19:13 PM GMT+02:00
To: Gina Ramirez [E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE], Gail Gygax [E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE] "Paul J. Stormberg"[E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE], Nathalie Hachet-Kuntz [E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE] Cc: robert Kuntz [E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE]

Subject: IP List and Return Request/Future Business Options

Dear Gail and Gina,

The following is a list of the 2nd Greyhawk Castle level maps and keys created by me and belonging solely to myself. I am requesting they be returned:

Core Level 3 Gem Room and Crypts Level
Core Level 6 Black Pudding Doorkeeper Level
West Level 7 Barracks Level
Core Level 11 Entrance to Oz Level
Core Level 12 Boreal Level
Core Level 12 Valhalla (which is a sub-level)
Core Level 13 Entrance to Asgard, Melnibone, and Dying Earth Level
Core Level 14 Orb, Scepter, and Crown Level
Core Level 5 Sealed Tomb Level
East Level 3 Garden & Giant's Pool Hall Level
East Level 8 Machine Level
South Level 9 Horsing Around (which was a split level)
Core Level 2 Invisible Maze Level
West Level 5 Gallery Level

Note that by their uneventful return I would grant duplication of the originals for replacement purposes, this so as to not "gut" the castle and thus diminish its perceived value for presentation/developmental purposes.

Thus this request does not preclude me contributing these levels and the IP they represent to any castle project should I become contractually involved in such. I am requesting their immediate return due to:

1) An offer for their purchase as I noted with Gina.
2) The concerning particulars of their transfer to a third party without my knowledge or consent; and the subsequent threat of a pending lawsuit between the former partners who were the sender (Gail) and receiver (Tom DeSanto) of my IP. [PUBLIC NOTICE INSET, see Figures #1 and #2, Tom DeSanto vs. Gygax Estate Lawsuit recitals re, FRAUD]
3) My numerous requests through Paul Stormberg for Gail to communicate with me upon this matter and to discuss my possible participation in such a project as is now being pursued, which have, to date, been unfruitful.

As I am, and have always been, interested in successfully furthering any project regarding the castle or original campaign materials I believe it would be enlightening to offer a quick synopsis of various related designs I was involved in:

Several other castle levels were worked on by both Gary and I, sometimes Gary doing the map and myself designing the keys, sometimes I redrew Gary's maps, and sometimes we worked on both, together. These are not included in the above list as they are distinctly shared designs.

Within the collection will be the four-page City of Greyhawk color map. Gary created the southeast section or "Old City" while the southwest, northwest, and northeast sections were created by Gary and I together. Along with the map there are two pages of color coding keys created by myself.

Gary detailed certain areas of the city, Odd Alley & Weird Way, and I detailed other areas, such as the Church of the Latter Day Old Ones, shops and the warehouses serving as the front for Fu-Manchu (aka Fu's Front), Green Dragon Inn, etc. I alone created the sewers and catacombs beneath the city and detailed them on a four-page map. This map in turn connects to another of my designs for the campaign--a temple to the Old Ones.

As Gary became increasingly involved in the day to day affairs of TSR I began detailing more and more parts of the campaign, such as the Outdoor region of the Wild Coast and numerous other adventure locales.

This can be referenced in a lengthy essay (2013) at my blog, "The First Living Campaign": http://lakegenevaoriginalrpg.blogspot.fr/…/the-first-living… This, near its end, includes an old (1998) World of Greyhawk marketing plan that I submitted to WotC with Gary's approval and of which Gail might be familiar with.

I retain my personal notes and designs from this period and could potentially bring them to any project regarding the greater scope of the original, ground level campaign (D&D's pre-publication, 1972-1974). In particular, I have the maps, keys, and designs for several other levels for the castle--Bottle City, Demonworld, The Stalk, and many others. Gary and I had never planned (pre-TSR) to stop developing castle levels and its offshoot materials, all of which tied into the various cities, regions and outer-plane areas. This made the Castle more than a castle, of course, which was our intent, but also an annex for further and expanding adventure locales.

I am requesting your acknowledgement within 10 days of your receipt of this communication of your good faith intent of returning my IP as requested; and another two weeks following that acknowledgment of completing its return, the latter which we will then communicate upon regarding how that can be executed.

Sincerely,

Rob Kuntz

From: Paul Stormberg [E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE]
Date: May 17, 2018 6:32:44 PM GMT+02:00
To: Robert Kuntz [E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE]
Subject: Disposition of Castle and Campaign Materials
Reply-To: [E-Mail Address REDACTED for PUBLIC NOTICE]

****************************************
copy of message
****************************************

Howdy Gail,

Just so you and Gina have a clearer picture of the levels and campaign materials done by Rob Kuntz, I have enumerated them below:

1) These are the levels done solely by Rob Kuntz that currently reside within the castle binder. These are the ones he is asking to be returned to him. Each has a map and a key:

Core 5 Gem Room and Crypts Level
Core 6 Black Pudding Doorkeeper Level
Core 7 Barracks Level
Core 11 Entrance to Oz Level
Core 12 Ice Level
Core 12 Asgard Level (Split)
Core 13 Fire Level
Core 14 Orb, Scepter, and Crown Level
East 6 Living Room Level
East 7 Garden & Giant's Pool Hall Level
East 8 Machine Level
West 3 Invisible Maze Level
West 5 Gallery Level
South 9 Horsing Around Level (Split)

2) There are also levels where Gary and Rob each did either the key or the map or vice versa but Rob is *not* asking for those:

Core 7 Multi-Layered Level (Rob did key)
Core 10 The Great Stone Enigma Level (Rob redrew map)
Core 16 Entrance to Bottle City Level (Rob & Gary did key together)
Core 18 Gargoyle (Rob did the key)
Core 20 Dragon Level (Rob & Gary did map together)
North 8 The Lake (Gary did map and key based on Rob's original design)

3) Additionally, there is one level that has a map drawn by a classmate of Ernie Gygax at Badger High. Rob and Gary labeled the map and created the key together but Rob is *not* asking for this:

South 8 Repeating Hex Rooms

4) Ultimately, there are a number of other examples of shared development of campaign materials between Rob and Gary. Rob is *not* asking for these but I shall mention them for your awareness:

The Four-Fold City Map & Keys (done both by Gary & Rob)
The Dyvers City Map & Keys (done both by Gary & Rob)
The Green Dragon Inn Map & Key (done by Rob)

5) Rob does retain a few of the original level maps and keys that he created in their entirety for the castle. These levels are well know to his and Gary's fans. If he was involved with any future project regarding the castle he would bring these levels with him:

The Greater Caverns Level
The Stalk Level
Demonworld Level
Clowning Around Level
Emerald City Level
Dying Earth Level
Bottle City Level

The numbers, if totaled, come down to 41 levels contributed by Gary, 21 by Rob, and 6 levels with shared creations.

6) Finally, in addition to all of the campaign and castle information Rob has in his head he still retains his own design notes and maps for the greater campaign. The contribution of these materials would be invaluable to the success of projects regarding either the campaign or castle.

Futures Bright,

Paul J. Stormberg
The Collector's Trove

*****

In 2016 Three Line StudioTLB Games released the El Raja Key Archive, ©1971-2016, Robert Kuntz containing 1,000 image scans of maps, keys, mss and other artifacts that he created and controls the IP thereof. As with past product releases (2002 to present) this established an absolute and unchallenged ownership by Mr. Kuntz. A great number of these scans and copies are exact duplicates of the original physical properties that the Gygax Estate holds and has repeatedly refused to return to Mr. Kuntz.

Any person having knowledge of the illegal offer to transfer, sell or duplicate Robert J. Kuntz’s properties, secretly or publicly, should be forewarned by the above-listed information. They should contact the Robert J. Kuntz Estate through enquiries@threelinestudio.com to inform him of such criminal attempts which will be forwarded to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.

GameHole Con - Day Zero - Setting Up the Booth

This year, the Frog God Games booth is, quite simply, more better. More better books, more better snaz, and soon, more better shirts!

Was that painful enough? heh!

Seriously, The Frogs are taking it to 11 this time, with a second booth up and running near Gamehole Registration for the first two days of the con.

I've already had a Snider sighting - didn't think I'd see Tim until NTRPG 2020.

Need to make sure I put Drinking Quest into my daily carry bag ;)

Working the booth from opening to closing tomorrow - 10-6 - hope to see some of you there :)

Kickstarter - City State of the Overlord by Judges Guild - Update from Bob II

The following is being shared without comment (original here):

Our current situation: All proceeds that have come in from the Frog God Tegel Manor ks, earlier this year has been spent on the Campaign Maps (which are not finished - 3 remaining) and City State artwork, as originally agreed to in 2014. We are still in the process of building funds for printing and shipping of the Books, which have been revised. As there is a totally new version for Pathfinder, and the CS version will need adjustments for that, I am open to suggestions (comments to jgww@comcast.net). I will try to answer all questions in a timely manner. Originally, I had placed a hold on all upcoming Guild products, pending this ks completion, but this seems to have hamstrung our efforts to build funds quite a lot, so I have permitted Aaron Bledsaw (my fourth son) to begin releasing those so that the funds will profit this project also. Another major project, which was to sweep away the problems here fell through (not of the Guild's fault) but just did not come to completion. These are projects that have been on hold since 2016, but unless I get more funds here, the wait will continue. Further, I have continued to ship the miniatures to the backers who ordered them as I can. To save money, I have not attended any cons this year, and have done much to cut expenses. Slow progress, yes, but I have not given up. Much has been added to the City State, using draft materials, and other unfinished works by Bob Sr., which I know will bring much joy. I wish this was over, and I hope you all know that I am doing what I can here. I close by thanking you all again for your support and loyalty to the Guild. If I can be of help in some other way, I would be glad to hear from you at the above email. -  Sincerely, Bob II

Kickstarter - Drinking Quest: Old Habits

"It's a Drinking Game and a Tabletop RPG... and this time it's a throwback to the golden age of 80's Role Playing Games!"

Holy fuck! I almost missed the latest Kickstarter from Jason Anarchy - Drinking Quest: Old Habits. I just pulled out the original Drinking Quest to pack for GameHole Con. Yes, I do plan to play some Drinking Quest at GH, just not while I'm working the Frog God Booth ;)

About 15 hours left to fund. If you've backed in the past you know why its a great game. If you haven't played it yet, trust me - its a blast!

The base pledge is about 21 bucks American. Trust me, the game is a blast to play even without drinking :)

Of course, I backed for the "Sexy Reward" ;)

Halloween Freebies at DriveThruRPG and Related Storefronts

I've copied the below from The Gaming Gang, which appears to be the most complete list of this year's Halloween Freebies at DriveThruRPG that I can find. Use the links from their page if you wish to put coin in their coffers - assuming you are making purchases along with your free loot ;)

Without further ado, the free loot (links below are affiliate links for The Tavern)

Note: There are RPG freebies hidden in the darnedest places...

DriveThruRPG

Frontpage -> Witch’s Hat – Castles & Crusades: Night of the Sprits

The Halloween Sale page -> Jack -o-Lantern – 5E Halloween Mini-Dungeon: The Horror of Ochre Grove

My Library -> Jack-o-Lantern – Seers & Roebuck: Dust Buster of Holding

Genre: Horror -> Jack-o-Lantern – The Measure of a Man (Master)

Account -> Change My Address -> Jack-o-Lantern – (5E) BASIC02: A Frightful Time

Account -> Change Newsletter Settings -> Witch’s Hat – Deep Magic: Chaos Magic for 5th Edition

About Us -> Jack-O-Lantern – Doomtown Reloaded: Print & Play Demo

Account -> Select how I wish to be contacted by publishers. ->Witch’s Hat – ETU: Brewhaha

Product Reviews (in the footer under Information) -> Pumpkin – Mothership: Player’s Survival Guide

DriveThruComics

Frontpage -> Witch’s Hat – Kids on Bikes – House on Poplar Court (RPG adventure)

Halloween sale page -> Ghost – Unstoppable Origins #1

Horror Genre Search -> Jack-o-Lantern – Charismagic: The Death Princess Volume 1 (Collected Edition)

My Library -> Jack-o-Lantern – God the Dyslexic Dog Volume 1

About Us -> Candy – Death Vigil #1

Account -> Change My Address-> Jack-o-Lantern – Tales from the Evil Inc Archive: Halloween (Oct. 2013)

Account -> Change Newsletter Settings -> Witch’s Hat – Cradlegrave

DriveThruFiction

Frontpage -> Witch’s Hat – The Weird Fiction Megapack: 25 Stories from Weird Tales

Halloween sale page -> Jack-o-Lantern – Outbreak: Undead 2nd Ed – Intro Manual (RPG Quickstart)

Horror Genre Search -> Jack-o-Lantern – Royden Poole’s Field Guide to the 25th Hour

My Library -> Jack-o-Lantern – Cabaret of the Grotesque

About Us -> Ghost – The Book of Apex: Volume 1 of Apex Magazine

Account-> Change My address -> Jack-o-Lantern – Star Trek Adventures: Remnants (RPG adventure)

Account-> Change Newsletter-> Candy – Monster Academy: I Will Not Eat People

Dungeon Masters Guild

Front Page-> Edition-> Basic/Expert-> Bat – Blood In The Woods: A Beginner Adventure

Halloween Sale Page -> Ghost – Songs of Aedragard

Theme-> Horror-> Jack-o-Lantern – The Little Astralnaut

My Library -> Jack-o-Lantern – Curse of the Gumdrop Ooze Revised & Expanded

Account-> My Wishlist -> Jack-o-Lantern – The Awakened One: An Otherworldly Patron for D&D 5th Edition

Account-> Products Awaiting Review -> Ghost – The Tuskcracker Threat: An Orc Wereboard Cult

Account-> Change My Address -> Jack-o-Lantern – Spooky, Scary Skeletons

Account-> Change Newsletter -> Witch’s Hat – College of Silence

About Us -> Ghost – Circle of the Feydark 5e

Our Latest Newsletter (in footer under "Information") -> Pumpkin – Dread Domain: A Cleric Archetype

Account -> Select "How I wish to be contacted by publishers" ->Witch’s Hat – Nightfall

Product Reviews (in footer under Information) -> Ghost – Secrets of the Blind Palace

Storytellers Vault

Werewolf The Forsaken Line -> Bat – When Will You Rage

Account-> My Wishlist -> Jack-o-Lantern – Hearts on Trial: Changeling the Lost Second Edition Jumpstart

Account-> Products Awaiting Review -> Ghost – Reap the Whirlwind Revised (VtR 2e)

About Us -> Ghost – Bygone Bestiary

Account -> Library Client and App Information -> Ghost – Vampire: The Eternal Struggle Player’s Guide

Account -> (show all orders) -> Bat – A Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition Jumpstart

Dark Eras Line -> Ghost – Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein

Kickstarter - Against the Darkmaster (Rolemaster Clone)

I was a fairly big fan of Rolemaster and MERP back in the early and mid-80s. There was just something about those critical tables that brough folks back to the table. With the Against the Darkmaster Kickstarter, what's old is new and Rolemaster gets cloned.

Heck, there is even a free Quickstart so you can check out the rules prior to backing. Against the Darkmaster Quickstart.

Against the Darkmaster is a traditional tabletop Epic Fantasy roleplaying game, inspired by great classic fantasy sagas and designed to bring heroic action and heavy metal combat to your table. 

If you put together works like The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time, sprinkled them with a bit of Labyrinth and Dragonslayer, and put everything in a blender together with a healthy dose of classic Heavy Metal, you’ll get a typical Against the Darkmaster game session.

The game is built around a single simple underlying mechanics: you roll a d100, add your bonus, and confront the result on a table to see the outcome of your character’s actions. This makes the game quick and easy to master even for new players, without having to sacrifice detail. 

With 12 different Kins, 13 Cultures, 6 Vocations, and dozens of different Background Options, Against the Darkmaster doesn’t just let you make the character you want; it also helps you create a hero that will feel as if it sprang straight out of the pages of an Epic Fantasy Saga! 

19 bucks for the PDF. 55 for the Print plus PDF

Wayward Kickstarter - Far West - Where Art Thou, Gareth Shirker?

Well, the answer to the question possed above is fairly obvious: he's on Twitter tilting windmills. He certainly isn't doing much work on Far West. The last update on the Far West Kickstarter was from July 15th, 2019, where Gareth told us: "All official updates will now appear on the Far West website.  We have a forum there where I can be reached for questions.  The Kickstarter page will be used purely for the delivery of texts, PDFs, etc. to backers.  Now, the home stretch.  Talk to you soon."

So, in violation of Kickstarter's own rules, all updates will now be on a forum that Gareth controls. Which means Gareth gets to control who comments. You would assume there would be some kind of updates on the forum, let alone some comments from Gareth's loyal fans, right?

So, with the exception of a comment in the Far West Music section from September 13th of this year, we have to go back to December of 2018 for the last comment on Far West over on the Forum Side.

But he's alive and well on Twitter. If only Far West were political, he could write it 280 characters at a time.

Then there was this Twitter post from this January:

Actually, its $49,324 of other people's money that you spent already with NOTHING to show for it after nearly 8 years (inferred from the inability to refund backers monies when requested) that upsets folks like me.

Thus ends the obligatory Far West Fiasco update for October 26th, 2019.

News - Fantasy Grounds College Presents: Spooktober (This Weekend - Online Con)

I'm really getting close to playing around with Fantasy Grounds again. I loved it as a player, loved it less as a DM (too much work to set things up). But with the new version of Fantasy Grounds coming out soon and Frog God Games having releases for Fantasy Grounds in the pipes, I may just have to return.

Fantasy Grounds College is having a Spooktober this weekend, which is why I'm thinking Fantasy Grounds at the moment. They will be hosting spooky games all weekend. I'd jump in but I've got to prep and pack for Gamehole Con next week.

What is Spooktober? 

The weekend of October 25, 26 and 27th, or “Spooktober” is an event where we will have our GMs run games for everyone to play. What kind of games? Spooky games, of course! Anything horror related, or even spooky fun games, or Halloween-type topics.
So check out our schedule and sign up for a game. As of Friday, October 18, we have 29 games that need players. 

You will need to be a member of the FGC Discord in order to participate, as that is where we will be running our audio for our games. 

FGC Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Ew6nYyw 

You will also need to register for an account on our website in order to book a seat at a table. Please use your Discord name and sign up at: 

FGC Website Registration: https://fantasygroundscollege.net/new-user-registration/ 

After those two things are met, you can search our Events Calendar for games. I’ve added links to games on specific days during the Spooktober event so if you are only available on specific days, you can narrow your search. Please keep in mind that all our events are scheduled in UTC 0. You will need to add or subtract your UTC offset to find out when the game starts in your personal time zone.
https://fantasygroundscollege.net/events/2019-10-24/ October 24th Events
https://fantasygroundscollege.net/events/2019-10-25/ October 25th Events
https://fantasygroundscollege.net/events/2019-10-26/ October 26th Events
https://fantasygroundscollege.net/events/2019-10-27/ October 27th Events
https://fantasygroundscollege.net/events/2019-10-28/ October 28th Events

Humble Bundle - Warhammer 40k Roleplay - Rogue Trader

My return to active roleplaying was Warhammer 40k - Dark Heresy. That was probably 2007 or so, using Fantasy Grounds. I'd been away from active RPG playing for about 10 years at the time, and Warhammer 40k and the Fantasy Grounds VTT were my first steps back. I have very fond memories of the time.

As for Warhammer 40k - Rogue Trader, I always felt of the various flavors of the 40k mythos to roleplay in, it would have the most flexibility.

Looks like I'm picking up another Humble Bundle RPG bundle ;)

Here are your options with the Warhammer 40k Roleplay - Rogue Trader Humble Bundle:

There is an affiliate link above. Affiliate links keep the taps flowing and the lights on at The Tavern. Thank you in advance :)

Kickstarter - City of Jordoba: 3D Printable Terrain by Otus and Lovecraft (and Matt Finch)

I think I've gotten to the point where I need a 3d printer because of Kickstarters like this. Yes, Fat Dragon has had some amazing 3d printable terrain Kickstarters, but the City of Jordoba: 3D Printable Terrain Kickstarter is pushing me over the edge. Damn you Matt Finch and Company. Damn You!

This is not your ordinary "fantasy city" -- it's built on sword & sorcery fiction, not on "high fantasy." Sword & sorcery fiction - the heart of D&D - isn't really set in the worlds of Tudor and Gothic architecture. For example, Conan strides through realms that are mostly akin to the Fertile Crescent and Africa -- nothing like Merry Olde England. Fafyrd and the Grey Mouser swagger around in cities based on Alexandria, Tyre, and Seville. This is the realm of the Black Company, not the the Fellowship. Not only is sword & sorcery fiction "based" outside of Western Europe, it takes imaginary versions of these places and adds the strange, the weird, and the alien. 

Who better to portray the strange, the weird, and the alien than famed D&D artist Erol Otus? For our fantasy city we've teamed up Erol Otus as a concept artist, Iain Lovecraft as the sculptor and designer, and Matt Finch as concept artist and designer. Our objective -- to offer a swords & sorcery city that's different from anything else out there. 

Cult following? Yeah, pretty close. Erol's work on early D&D art includes the cover of the Basic Set and the famous Cthulhu Mythos section of Deities and Demigods that TSR removed from the book in later printings. He has, let's say, a reputation for weird, phantasmagorical imagery, which made him perfect for what we wanted to do with this Kickstarter. We got Erol to do a lot of the concept art upon which this Kickstarter is based, with contributions from Matt Finch. Iain Lovecraft's well-known work as a 3D sculptor/designer is, of course, present throughout. 

Amazing and FREE One-Page Dungeon Generator

There is an amazing One-Page random dungeon generator at: https://watabou.itch.io/one-page-dungeon. Even more amazing, I saw it shared on Twitter ;)

Seriously, pictures speak louder (and better) than any words I may put to this page. Just remember to screenshot any maps you like before refreshing the page.

Announcement - Wee Warriors Comes to Precis Intermedia

You can read the press release directly here. - Tenkar

Precis Intermedia is pleased to announce that it has acquired the intellectual property rights to Wee Warriors and its products. Founded in 1975, Wee Warriors produced not only what is believed to be the first character sheet for Dungeons & Dragons, but also the first stand-alone adventure. Wee Warriors later went on to produce two more adventures, game accessories, and a number of small tabletop games, including The Embattled Trek and Labyrinthine.

Classic reprints of most of the product line are expected in both PDF and print formats, as are further development and new editions in the future. More information on Wee Warriors products can be found at the Precis Intermedia web site (http://www.pigames.net).

A classic reprint of The Vanquished Foe, a mini-boardgame, is now available in PDF and printed formats. With a low price tag, you no longer need to spend a fortune to find a rare original of this early dungeon-style game.

"As a vintage game collector, I am delighted to be able to bring back these largely-forgotten gems," says Brett M. Bernstein of Precis Intermedia. "These games and modules were created in a time devoid of today’s plethora of advanced software and print services. It is a testament to the creative spirit."

Incorporating one of the first electronic publishers of roleplaying games, Precis Intermedia is known for its diverse line-up, clear and concise games, and the return of vintage titles. Current lines include Shatterzone, Bloodshadows, Supergame, Two-Fisted Tales, Lords of Olympus, Man, Myth & Magic, Mean Streets, Warcosm, the Amazing 8in1 Die, Disposable Heroes Paper Minis, and much more.

Death Notice - Lucas Puryear / Sketchbook LP in the Tenkar's Tavern Discord, Has Passed.

Lucas Puryear / Sketchbook LP has passed. Lucas was an active member of the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server and will be missed.

Lucas's family is attempting to raise some funds via GoFundMe to help with funeral and related expenses.

I'd like to express our sympathies to Lucas's family and friends on behalf of the Tenkar's Tavern Community. We will all be lessened by his absence.

Memorial details are below:

Please join us in remembering Lucas Puryear.

We will be having a short memorial at 2, followed by eating. There will be pizza there, but feel free to bring anything else.

We welcome anyone who would like to share memories.

Please dress casually. Clothes relating to comic books, animals, or dinosaurs are highly encouraged.

Please come celebrate Lucas' life.

If you plan to send flowers, please send them to Becky Puryear at 2706 61st street Lubbock, Tx 79413

Wish I could be there - Tenkar

Deal of the Day - The GameMaster's Apprentice: Base Deck

Today's Deal of the Day at DriveThruRPG is The GameMaster's Apprentice: Base Deck. I'll have to admit I'd not come across this prior, but having looked at the offering, I'm in for the printed deck plus PDF.

Deal of the Day pricing for The GameMaster's Apprentice: Base Deck in PDF is 3 bucks. Print plus PDF is 8.99.

The GameMaster's Apprentice is a genre-and-system-neutral deck of cards that can be used as either a supplement for traditional tabletop RPGs or as a complete game engine for GM-free solo or group RPGs.  

You can view the cards' complete instructions for free by clicking the preview link beneath the thumbnail above, or view the Quickstart Guide and a set of quick-reference PnP/PoD Instruction Cards here on DriveThru if you prefer (if you wish to purchase the Print on Demand instruction cards to keep with your deck, be sure to combine the order with the deck itself! They are only six cards, and DriveThru will not print orders that small). You can also scroll down to view the card overview image and watch a video of the cards in use!  

On each card is a set of fourteen individual randomizers; with 60 double-sided cards, you can generate literally millions of possible adventures, all without having to hunt through a book or PDF for a single table! 

With these cards, you can: 

Instantly generate NPCs with randomized names, motivations, and backgrounds.
Create random events or story seeds.
Provide sensory details or random loot for characters searching or stealing.
Run games without a human GameMaster!

And more--they even work brilliantly as creative writing prompt generators, and have been playtested by 9th-12th grade students of both English and Game Design.

Those are affiliate links above. When you use The Tavern's affiliate links, you help to support all things Tavern. I thank you in advance :) 

Halloween Sale at DriveThruRPG

Yep, there's a Halloween Sale over at DriveThruRPG with a large number of titles at 25% off. If you want to go to a specifically OSR listing of for-sale products, you can go to this link: OSR Halloween.

Don't forget to click on all the Jack-o-lanterns, as they lead to free stuff. There is one on the main sale page.

Time to make a few Tavern Picks :)

The Stygian Library - The Stygian Library is a creepily genteel dungeon set in an infinite extradimensional library. Each expodition generates its route as it explores, resulting in new locations being iscovered with every visit. Included within: Systems for generating locations within the library, including Entrance Foyers, Map Galleries, Tea Rooms,  Planetariums, Calculation Engines, Phantom Databanks, Paper Beehives, Phantom Pumps, Jarred Brains and the Sheol Computer. 40 monsters tailored to the Library, including Lantern Bearers, Skeleton Crew, Origami Golems, Guardian Shades, Lost Souls, Ink Elementals, Animate Spells, Archivist-Liches, Infernal Merchants, Escaped Fictions, Educated Rodents, Conceptual Wells and the orders of Librarians themselves. A system for searching for specific knowledge within the library's depths, as well as 30 unusual books and the secret knowledge they contain.Tables for generating treasure, dreams, rumors, and various other useful details. A unique class of Mummified Sages, post-human academics who've dwelled in the Library for decades or more. It's a big spooky library full of dangerous knowledge, spiritual automata, and ghost-fueled computers.  5.00  3.75

Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing - Aeons before man arose from the primordial mire, ancient creatures descended from the stars or stepped through dimensional passages to inhabit the Earth. Whilst many of these Old Ones have since passed into inactivity, the secrets they carried with them have been shared with man and now terrible cults haunt the fringes of modern society. These ancient terrors thus still menace mankind and, if the prophecies are to be believed, the Old Ones shall return to reign again over the Earth! Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing in an OSR rule set with its roots in the Original version of the world's favorite RPG, but instead of exploring musty dungeons, characters in Eldritch Tales investigate Mythos horrors in the 1920s! The setting and background are based on the cosmic horror tales of Howard Phillips Lovecraft and other members of his writing circle. Within the pages of Eldritch Tales you will find four character classes representing many classic pulp archetypes, occupations, rules for insanity, spells, monsters, esoteric tomes, artifacts, a starting scenario, and setting material, as well as advice on using Eldritch Tales with other White Box games. This game is compatible with Swords & Wizardry White Box and other OSR games. To accommodate all devices, the PDF purchase includes versions in both high resolution and low resolution. PDF has a bookmarked Table of Contents, as well as linked terms throughout the book.  6.99  5.24

DARK PLACES & DEMOGORGONS - Survive This!! - Core Rule Book - Following in the tradition of SURVIVE THIS!! Zombies! comes SURVIVE THIS!! Dark Places & Demogorgons, a tabletop roleplaying game that uses the Original 1970s Fantasy Roleplaying game rules but mutates it into this retro nightmare. It’s sleek, slender and creepy as Hell. In Dark Places & Demogorgons, you play as high school students during the early 1980s. The town you live in has had a rash of disappearances and strange happenings. The adults seem lost as what to do, the police are as clueless as ever and aren’t helping and Reverend Phillips is on another witch-hunt. It’s up to you and your friends to figure out what’s going on and stop it from happening again!  4.99  3.74

SURVIVE THIS!! Zombies! 2nd Edition - Core Rule Book -STZ-2E is an OSR RPG with modern sensibilities, utilizing the time tested rules of the old-school and fusing them seamlessly with modern mechanics and game design principals to give you a fast, fun and dangerous, thrill ride-like gaming experience. “They’re coming to get you Barbara . . .”That’s the line that started it all. Sure, there were other zombies in movies and literature prior to the delivery of that iconic quote but George A. Romero’s Night of The Living Dead kicked off the modern zombie craze. From Day of the Dead to Return of the Living Dead to Dawn of the Dead to Shaun of the Dead to The Walking Dead, people can’t get enough of The Dead! Zombies can be found in abundance in film, TV, comic books, literature, video games, board games, card games, dice games and yes, of course, roleplaying games. That is where we come in. SURVIVE THIS!! – Zombies! was the first in the line of SURVIVE THIS!! Roleplaying Games to be released by indy publisher, Bloat Games. Dark Places & Demogorgons, the second game released under the SURVIVE THIS!! banner, brought about several updates and additions to the game rules and mechanics, which brings us now to the reason for the 2nd Edition of SURVIVE THIS!! Zombies!  We wanted to not only bring STZ up to date with the changes found in Dark Places & Demogorgons but also saw an opportunity to include the additions of Backgrounds, Skills, 6 New Classes, updated Savings Throws, Out of Action Table, Usage Die, Random Encounter Table, Adventure Hooks table as well as all the additional Zombies and Classes from the PDF only Supplement: SURVIVE THIS!! Zombies! Welcome to Zombie Land.  4.99  3.74

Dungeon Crawl Classics Horror #5: Creep, Skrag, Creep! - A level 0 funnel adventure for DCC RPG – specially themed for horror! The ship is adrift and a crew is dead. When the passengers of the Star of Nostro awaken, drugged and bound, and discover the crew is missing, a desperate race for survival begins. The vessel was meant to transport your group of humble villagers to a brighter future. It is now a coffin ship filled with mysterious deaths, dark plots, and a stalking horror that will not stop until it has feasted on every last soul.  Will your characters’ ingenuity be quick enough to find a means to survive, or will you too fall victim to what creeps in the shadows?  6.99  5.24


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Kickstarter - Advanced Fantasy Role-playing (oh boy!)

The Advanced Fantasy Role-playing Kickstarter is a fine example - of what NOT to do if you want your Kickstarter to be a success.

Seriously, let us count the ways:

1 - Sometimes no video is better than BAD video. The angle of the camera with the paneling close behind gives one the impression that the creator is laying on his back. And WTF is up with the neck cleavage? It's not like the top of the shirt is buttoned anyway.  And yes, the video is boring.

2 - No cover art. No banner. No nothing. The only images we get are the ones you screencap from the video.

3 - No art at all. Hasn't been commissioned yet. Now THAT is confidence in one's project. ;)

4 - No sample of the rules. Because of its Copywrite. We might just steal the ideas.

5 - No PDF. Mobi instead. Because one needs to protect their intellectual property.

6 - First created. Zero backed. It shows.

7 - Argue with backers in the comments section, tell them their feedback is trolling:

Who do you think you're trying to convince? Because the end effect is to discourage those who might be willing to contribute based on what is presented. So in that, you're no benefactor dispensing wisdom, you're a troll lobbing grenades from the safe anonymity of a computer screen.

As you see, in reaction to your negative comments, several backers have rescinded. I want to thank you so much for your untiring efforts to tank my Kickstarter project. I hope it gives you satisfaction that you were able to kill someone's dream. Well done. Sleep well tonight.

I apologize if it's not enough detail for you, but I will go forward with NO funding long before I expose our proprietary systems, methods, and rules before release. That's simply a non-starter.

I suspect he will go forward with no funding.

What is so wrong about wanting details of a project you are interested in backing? I'm guessing little is written at this point, therefore there is nothing to show potential backers.

Again, Kickstarter is not a magical money printing machine. If you put bullshit in, don't be surprised when you get shit in return,

The Tenkar's Tavern Facebook Community has Surpassed 2,500 Members! Huzzah!

As of this morning, the Tenkar's Tavern Facebook Community has over 2,500 members. I am truly amazed and humbled.

Thank you all :)

Not a member, join us!

Indiegogo - Devil of the Murder Cliffs (S&W, PF1e and 5e)

Let's see, why should one back Devil of the Murder Cliffs?

Casey Christopherson is the author. Casy does AMAZING work and has done so for years. He is also awesome on a personal level. Fins him at a convention and share some drinks with him ;) Realy should need no other reason, but here, I'll give you more:

The Devil of Murder Cliffs pays homage to silver age pulp fantasy authors of the 1960’s and 70’s and has many plot twists and turns to keep the characters on their toes. It is written by RPG adventure design stalwart Casey W. Christofferson, author of City of Brass, Bard’s Gate and dozens of other products for various publishers over the last 18 years in the gaming industry. 

Within its cover you will find:

• New creatures and magic items
• A challenging man-hunt through bandit infested mountains
• Supernatural foes
• NPCs who may be allies or antagonists
• Full-Color Map by Robert Altbaur
• Interior art by Casey Christofferson, Josh Stewart, and Lloyd Metcalf
• Brilliant cover art by newcomer phenomenon Adrian Landeros

The Devil of Murder Cliffs uses the same formula introduced in previous Indiegogo releases. These focused enhancements (stretch goals), improve the product as total funding increases with new art, extra written encounters, and digital play enhancing extra such as player handouts, NPC profiles, and interviews with creators.

Kickstarter - Adventure Design Booklets (SquareHex)

"A 16-page booklet printed on heavy paper with a mix of lined, hex, and grided pages for writing mini-modules for RPGs."

I really like the Adventure Design Booklets from SquareHex / Peter Regan. This is perfect for writing out adventures on the go or while killing time at the doctor's office. The price is pretty good too - 24 booklets for 15 bucks. There is a catch though - shipping to the States was another 19 bucks - but 1.50 per booklet seems a fair price overall, so in for 24 :)

Truth to tell, I love all of SquareHex's mapping material.

Free Phone PDFs At DriveThruRPG - Pugmire & Zweihander

I mentioned this on the Tavern Chat podcast last night, but I figured it was a big enough deal to repeat here. DriveThruRPG is offering a limited selection of PDFs specially formatted for use on smartphones and two of those Phone formatted PDFs are available for free (or at least PWYW).

The Pugmire Core Rulebook Phone PDF is free.

Dogs have inherited the world, building the kingdom of Pugmire untold centuries after the Ages of Man are over. These dogs have been uplifted to use tools and language, and they seek to rediscover the ruins of the Old Ones. Some have learned to use the leftover technology of humanity, but they believe it to be magic handed to them by their lost gods. Others seek to create an ideal civilization, using a Code of Man compiled from ancient, fragmentary lore left behind by humanity. The world is dangerous and mysterious, but good dogs will persevere. 

Some highlights of Pugmire include:

• An evocative and mysterious setting that’s both family friendly and deep enough to create compelling stories.
• A traditional fantasy rules system redesigned for streamlined play and easy creation of heroic dogs, with an emphasis on cooperation and action over competition and violence.
• A variety of callings and breeds that give access to several fun and interesting tricks.
• Rival species to interact with, like cats and badgers, along with terrifying and dangerous monsters that roam the landscape.

Will you be a good dog?

The ZWEIHANDER Grim & Perilous RPG: Revised Core Rulebook (Phone PDF + Digital PDF) is available at PWYW pricing:

WELCOME TO GRIM & PERILOUS GAMING Winner of the ENnie gold Best Game and Product of the Year at Gen Con 2018, featured on Forbes, ranked one of the best-selling fantasy tabletop role-playing games at DriveThruRPG and having moved over 90,000 copies worldwide, ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG is a bloodier, grimmer and grittier version of classical tabletop role-playing games. This revised PDF edition is published in celebration with Andrews McMeel Publishing, and features a refreshed layout, new artwork, rules clarifications, color plates by Dejan Mandic and errata. ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG is a game where your characters will:

• Live in a gritty, ‘realistic’ fantasy world
• Make morally grey decisions & enact vicious reprisals
• Uncover insidious plots & political intrigue
• Take part in heart-pumping chase scenes
• Venture into the wilderness & survive its perils
• Desperately fight in clandestine & open field combat
• Defend themselves from injuries, madness & mutations
• Encounter sanity-blasting creatures & their minions

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Sale - Oldskull, Hawk & Moor and more Kent David Kelly releases 75% off

Kent David Kelly has a solid line of old school releases, even if it is quite prolific. Heck, Hawk & Moor (the history of Gary and Dave) is just 25 cents!

Here's the link to the complete Kent David Kelly collection.

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Free - Limited Time (Hours?) - Tales from the Loop RPG: Rulebook in PDF

The Tales from the Loop RPG: Rulebook is free in PDF for a very limited time only. ENWorld is stating today only - so it may be there are only hours left to pick up the Platinum Bestseller.

Winner of five ENnies in 2017 including Best Game, Best Setting, Best Writing and Product of the Year!

“RPG Tales from the Loop lets you channel Stranger Things and E.T.”
The Verge

"Tales from the Loop RPG Will Make You Feel Like a Kid Again."
IO9

“Tales from the Loop is both exciting and emotional, fantastical and realistic, and is unlike any other game on my shelf."
Geek & Sundry

The landscape was full of machines and scrap metal connected to the facility in one way or another. Always present on the horizon were the colossal cooling towers, with their green obstruction lights. If you put your ear to the ground, you could hear the heartbeat of the Loop – the purring of the Gravitron, the central piece of engineering magic that was the focus of the Loop’s experiments. The facility was the largest of its kind in the world, and it was said that its forces could bend space-time itself.

Scifi artist Simon Stålenhag’s paintings of Swedish 1980s suburbia, populated by fantastic machines and strange beasts, have won global acclaim. Now, you can step into the amazing world of the Loop.
In this roleplaying game in the vein of E.T. and Stranger Things, you'll play teenagers solving mysteries connected to the Loop. The game rules are based on Mutant: Year Zero, which was awarded with a Silver ENnie for Best Rules at Gencon 2015.

Key features:

• Create your unique player character – including skills, items, prides, problems, and relationships – in mere minutes.
• Explore the secrets of the Loop in two main game settings – one based on the Swedish Mälaren Islands, the other on Boulder City, Nevada.
• Investigate mysteries and overcome trouble using fast and effective rules, based on the Mutant: Year Zero game engine.
• Play the four complete scenarios included, tied together in the campaign named Four Seasons of Mad Science.

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Kickstarter - Wolves of God: Adventures in Dark Ages England

"Experience savage adventures and grim perils in Dark Ages England in this historical fantasy RPG."

When Kevin Crawford releases a new Kickstarter, people pay attention. Kevin never fails to deliver amazing projects. I'd love to see him interviewed on a podcast (hint ;)

The Wolves of God: Adventures in Dark Ages England Kickstarter is Kevin's latest release, and yes, it looks damn good. Dark Ages England is an excellent choice of setting and I'm looking forward to having this project in hand.

Embrace the savage darkness of post-Roman Britain with Wolves of God, a semi-historical tabletop RPG from the creator of Stars Without Number, Godbound, Scarlet Heroes, and other best-selling role-playing games. 

It is the year 710 of our Lord as brother Bede reckons it. The barbaric English have long since swept over Britain, their passage shrouded by the smoke of burning cities. For six generations they have been masters of the best part of the island, driving the native Britons before them with bloody iron or taking them as thralls and subjects, until the wretched heirs of the Roman kings can have refuge only in the western mountains or the cold northern lands. The magnificent Roman cities of old have been thrown down, the roads have grown wild and perilous, and even the kings of the English must live in thatched wooden halls and ride from one royal villa to the next merely to feed their companions. It is an age of darkness, poverty, and unsleeping war. 

Four generations ago the English turned Christian under the ministrations of Roman missionaries and Irish monks. Scattered across their untamed lands are the minsters of these clergy, strongholds of learning and Roman civilization against the hard ways of the English tribes. Only in the minsters can stone buildings be found, with windows of glass and artisan-monks fashioning wonders to adorn their altars and reward the generosity of great lords. Brave abbots and wise abbesses rule these strongholds, always seeking to lift their kinsmen from their cruel ways and iniquities, and always in need of strong heroes to help them in their work. 

Yet there are worse things in the dark than raiding warbands and embittered pagan remnants. The Roman sorcerers, the Artifexes of old, carved cysts into the world where they and their slaves could hide from the fury of the English. These Arxes were sealed until help could come, but help never did; now they canker and rot, old magic gone sour and strange, and those that dwell within them have been terribly changed. The Arxes burst open within the fallen Roman cities, monstrous beasts and twisted men going forth to scourge the innocent and take revenge for the crime of their conquest. The minsters stand fast against their diabolic power, but the abbots and lords need brave heroes to venture into the cities and purge these Arxes of evil before they can swell greater still. 

You are one such hero. Whether a spear-wise gesith, a young ceorl of broad back and stout heart, a wild-eyed waelcyrige-maiden of battle, a charm-muttering galdorman, or even a blessed and pious saint, your ambition is to earn a deathless name of glory and an honored place among your people. Whether offering your aid to warring lords, plundering the riches of fallen Roman cities, delving the dark halls of a festering Arx, or acting as agents of some cunning abbot, you will dare great deeds with your brave warband of companions and win yourself a place in the songs of kings… or a nameless grave in some blighted earth.

20 bucks for the PDF. 60 for POD Print plus PDF. 80 for offset Print plus PDF.

I'm probably going in for 60 bucks.

Kickstarter - A Dozen Sinister Rumors, for use with Fantasy RPGs

I've enjoyed all of Phil Reed's Kickstarters. They are inexpensive and overflowing with ideas I can use in my RPG sessions. The fact that he keeps everything systemless is damn near priceless in my opinion. The A Dozen Sinister Rumors, for use with Fantasy RPGs Kickstarter, looks to be of the same high quality, and you can back it - with stretch goals - for a mere buck. How the hell do you beat that?

Each rumor is designed to fit on a single page (with artwork), so that you may print only the page that you need for your next game session. A Dozen Sinister Rumors comes in at 14 pages and includes -- as you may have guessed from the title -- twelve different rumors + a cover page and a page outlining the anatomy of a rumor (as well as tips on using the rumors in your game). 

The content is systemless and for use with any fantasy roleplaying game. 

What are the stretch goals?

A Dozen Sinister Rumors is currently sitting at $1200 with 9 days to go.

Reminder - Old School Fantasy Roleplaying Bundle - Two Days Left

Yep, this is a repost. There are two days left in the Old School Fantasy Roleplaying Bundle over on Humble Bundle. If you missed the earlier post, know about the bundle but haven't pulled the trigger yet or simply forgot, the time to wait is over. Heck, even a buck gets you some amazing books :)

This is probably the best and greatest Old School bundle anywhere - forget Bundle of Holding - the Humble Bundle - Old School Fantasy Roleplaying Bundle is what you want to grab!

Why? Well, if a picture says a thousand words, I've got a couple of thousand words for you ;)

Let's look at the One Dollar level. You get all the following for a buck:

All the above plus the following for Eight Bucks:

All the above and the following for 18 bucks:

I dare you to find more old school gaming value for your gaming dollar.

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