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Saturday, April 18, 2020

James Mishler Games 50% Off


I was introduced to James' work when he published a licensed, alternate version of the classic Judges Guild Wildlands that was better than the source material. To get James' current work at 50% off simply should not be missed.

James Misher Games

Yep, that's an affiliate link above. Affiliate links support The Tavern, and your bartender :)


Friday, April 17, 2020

Jason Hobbs has a GoFundMe


I've known Jason for years. He was a player in one of my earlier VTT campaigns. Hobbs and Friends is one of my favorite podcasts and his Anchor cast inspired my very own Tavern Chat.

Jason is looking to raise some cash to provide improved content, both podcast and video.
Hey everyone. I am Jason Hobbs, Host and Creator of the TTRPG podcast Hobbs & Friends. I've been podcasting for the RPG industry for a couple of years and have started streaming my tabletop role-playing games on Twitch. The stream and podcast are not living up to their potential because my equipment is garbage! My old laptop overheats and some of my streams have to be canceled in the middle of a show because of hardware issues. The sound quality of Hobbs & Friends is also not up to par and this new setup will help with that too! 
Here is what I have in mind: 
New PC Rig  
New audio interface, boom, and cords 
The sooner I get this equipment, the sooner the quality of the shows will improve. 
I feel a little uncomfortable about asking from help from you guys but I'm hoping I can make more content with higher quality with your assistance!  Instead of buying me a beer or coffee at a con, I'm asking if you could possibly help this way instead. Then, I'll buy you a beer or coffee at the next con!
Link to Jason's GoFundMe.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

State of The Tavern Keeper - Current Holding Pattern

I've been asked about the current status of the various projects that have been announced and I am heavily involved in. Long story short, my participation is on hold, which means many of the projects are on hold.

Long story long. I caught a viral upper respiratory infection when I was at Total Con. 2 1/2 weeks later, it had progressed to viral and bacterial pneumonia as well as sepsis. 5 weeks ago I spent 2 days in the ICU. A month later, I was diagnosed with the return of pneumonia. That was last Tuesday. I'm now finished with the new antibiotics and slowly on the road to recovery. I still run out of breath walking from one end of the house to the other.

All of this means the following projects are currently on hold, or at least my involvement is:

Torchlight - this was suffering before my URI, as I had been sick off and on pretty much from Christmas 2019 on. Its very dear to my heart. It will happen. No idea when.

Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day - I need the energy of a healthy person to organize this. Not there yet.

RFI Podcast - The return of this classic is currently on hold. I'd like to thank Vince for his patience. He's put no pressure on me and I appreciate it.

My As of Yet Unnamed Youtube - you guessed it, on hold. Daily blogs and podcasts are more than enough for now.

The Return of Fireside Chats on the Tavern Chat Podcast - when I can hold a conversation for 30 minutes or longer they will return.

If you have any questions ask away :)


Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Free Osprey eBooks - Week 4

Yes, they fixed the server :)

Tip of the hat to Thad.

Across the world, many people are staying at home to combat the spread of COVID-19. While self-isolation might be a bit daunting, it’s also a great opportunity to catch up on your reading. To help pass the time, we are giving customers five free eBooks each week for four weeks. Read through this week's options, add the eBook to your basket and use the code FREEBOOKS4 at checkout to get your free eBooks.

AEU 15: Jagdgeschwader 52 by John Weal
Artwork by John Weal


M1 Abrams vs T-72 Ural

Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) was the most successful and highest-scoring fighter unit, not just in Germany's World War 2 Luftwaffe, but in the entire annals of aviation history. No other fighter group has ever come close to matching its staggering total of around 9000 enemy aircraft shot down in combat. And yet, because much of that combat took place over the tractless wastes of the Russian front, very little has been written in English about the exploits of this charismatic unit. This book provides a full combat history of JG 52 and its members, including the three top-scoring aces of all time, who claimed a total of 900 victories between them.

CAM 200: Japan 1945 by Clayton K. S. Chun
Artwork by John White


Japan 1945

In this 200th Campaign series title, Clayton Chun examines the final stages of World War II as the Allies debated how to bring about the surrender of Japan. He details Operation Downfall (the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands).Chun explains why these plans were never implemented, before examining the horrific alternative to military invasion - the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons. With a series of illustrations, including detailed diagrams of the atomic bombs, a depiction of the different stages of the explosions and maps of the original invasion plans, this book provides a unique perspective of a key event in world history.

CBT 27: Viking Warrior vs Anglo-Saxon Warrior by Gareth Williams
Artwork by Peter Dennis


Viking Warrior vs Anglo-Saxon Warrior

In the two centuries before the Norman invasion of England, Anglo-Saxon and Viking forces clashed repeatedly in bloody battles across the country. Repeated Viking victories in the 9th century led to their settlement in the north of the country, but the tide of war ebbed and flowed until the final Anglo-Saxon victory before the Norman Conquest. Using stunning artwork, this book examines in detail three battles between the two deadly foes: Ashdown in 871 which involved the future Alfred the Great; Maldon in 991 where an Anglo-Saxon army sought to counter a renewed Viking threat; and Stamford Bridge in 1066, in which King Harold Godwinesson abandoned his preparations to repel the expected Norman invasion in order to fight off Harald Hard-Counsel of Norway.
Drawing upon historical accounts from both English and Scandinavian sources and from archaeological evidence, Gareth Williams presents a detailed comparison of the weaponry, tactics, strategies and underlying military organization of the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, and considers the developments which took place on both sides in the two centuries of Viking incursions into Anglo-Saxon England.

DUE 18: M1 Abrams vs T-72 Ural by Steven J. Zaloga
Artwork by Jim Laurier


M1 Abrams vs T-72 Ural

The Gulf War bore witness to a number of deadly encounters between these two great adversaries. Heavily armoured, highly mobile and capable of killing at over 2500m the M1 Abrams is, to this day, a veritable fighting machine. Superior to both Iraq's Soviet era T-55 and T-62 tanks, nearly all sources claim that no Abrams tank has ever been destroyed by enemy fire. Despite entering service in 1980, the M1 Abrams remained untested in combat until the Gulf War in 1991, where it was to be confronted by its archenemy the Iraqi-assembled Soviet-designed T-72. Entering production in 1971, the T-72 arguably outstripped its contemporaries in a balance of mobility, protection and firepower. By the time of Operation Desert Storm, however, the tables had turned and the tank suffered due to low quality ammunition and poorly trained crews. In this fascinating study, Steven Zaloga pits these two great fighting machines against one another, plotting the development of the Cold War until both tanks met in combat in the deserts of Iraq and Kuwait.

CMD 17: Bill Slim by Robert Lyman
Artwork by Peter Denni


Bill Slim

Bill' Slim was one of the greatest British generals of World War II. In a career that stretched from 1914 until 1958, Bill Slim's greatest triumphs came in India and Burma in the long war against the Japanese. Thrust into a desperate situation, he orchestrated the longest retreat in British Army history in the withdrawal from Burma. He then turned on the Japanese in India, shattered their army, and pursued them to destruction. Apart from his great military victories, Slim also left a legacy of training and morale building that endures in the British Army to this day. This book examines both Bill Slim's military career and his place in military history by examining some of his greatest battles and the strategy and tactics that set him apart from his contemporaries.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Indiegogo -Lost Menagerie (Mike Mearls)


This is the perfect tie for small, inexpensive crowdfunding projects. Lost Menagerie is from Necromancer Games - 8 bucks in PDF, 22 bucks in print plus PDF. Available in 5e, Pathfinder and Swords & Wizardry versions.

Lost Menagerie is a challenging adventure for characters of 7th to 9th level*, written by Mike Mearls, one of the two Lead Designers of Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons.

In the distant past, the great wizard Arfaleo the Seeker claimed favors from four mighty elemental lords to create a self-contained world. The wizard populated his microcosm with strange creatures, to monitor what changes might occur to them over time, even bringing a small settlement of humans into the interplanar cavern. Eventually, though, the wizard’s interest in his experiment waned and he moved on, leaving behind the bizarre anomaly he had created.

Since this time, the microcosm has changed in many ways, for it did not remain isolated from other planes of existence. New creatures have made their way into the wizard’s carefully-maintained experiment, and — there is no other way to say it — things have gone very wrong.

This adventure module is available for 5th edition, Pathfinder first edition, and Swords & Wizardry (OD&D).

*For Swords & Wizardry, the module is for characters level 6-8.

What's inside? Adventure!

  • A lost plane of existence, abandoned for centuries by its creator
  • Another sun, shining upon a strange, jungle oasis.
  • The realm of a bizarre lich, and his twisted zoo, filled with mutated creatures
  •  A sandbox adventure where terrible creatures dwell, and the tribes of the deep wander free
  • Designed to fit into any fantasy setting
  • Contains three adventure locations (all mapped), a small village under threat, and many challenges to overcome.


COVID-19 Effect: The printing for this adventure is done by a family-owned shop in Arizona, where a shelter-in-place order is in effect, making us one of their largest customers. Sales like this also allow us to keep a stream of income moving to our freelance artists, authors, layout artists, and editors during the shut-downs. Frog God will come out of this crisis intact, so this isn't a "keep the doors open" plea, but we want to let you know that your purchase is one that you can feel comfortable about. It directly affects small businesses and households. We hope that all of you remain safe and well for the duration!

Monday, April 13, 2020

Kickstarter - Dungeon Escape (Do NOT launch your KS like this)



Its been a while since I pointed out a Kickstarter that hit multiple "don't use this Kickstarter as an example of what to do with your Kickstarter" points. Ah, Dungeon Escape Kickstarter, let me count the ways...

1 - The sample art used for this Kickstarter is NOT what you want to use.

2 - Zero backed. If you can't spend a few dollars to learn how Kickstarter works, you don't deserve my money.

3 - First project, $30k goal. Does Not Compute.

4 - THIS is the sample game board!?!


5 - The game is aimed at parents to play with young childer. Again, look above.

6 This is what a marketing and PR professional offers?

The pandemic isn't causing this one to fail. It's doing fine on its own.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Happy Easter! Time to Give Thanks

Yew, we are in the midst of a pandemic, and yes - I am fighting my second bout with pneumonia in a month, but there is much to be thankful for.

First, I'm still kicking ;)

Second, I'm part of an amazing community.

Third, I expect the rest of 2020 can only be better.

Happy Easter and a Blessed Passover to all.
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lights on and the taps flowing. Your Humble Bartender, Tenkar

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