Kickstarter - Maximum HP #4 - Undead for 5e

I've been a reader of Maximum HP since the first issue. Initially written for OSRIC and other OSR systems, Issue #4 delves into 5e. Maybe going forward Lloyd can look at the releases from Art of the Genre and do a hybrid OSR/5e format. Literally the best of all worlds.

Maximum HP #4 is an issue centered on the Undead, a timely topic for the month of October. I've got a soft spot for the undead, and I and Glen Halstrom have talked about doing a Swords & Wizardry monster book for over a year. Any lack of progress on the said theoretical project is my responsibility alone.

You can back the Maximum HP #4 Kickstarter for as little as 5 bucks for the PDF. Print copies are 10 bucks plus shipping.

Full disclosure. I've known Lloyd for years. The first time his work came to my attention was with the Whisper & Venom boxed set Kickstarter where he was the lead artist. His work was great then and he's only gotten better with age ;)

Welcome to issue #004 of MaximumHP - Undead! This project is creating the fourth Maximum HP RPG 'zine with the theme of the Undead. Within its pages you will find adventure, magic, monsters, and more for your 5E game! this is our premiere edition with content for the Fifth Edition of the world's favorite roleplaying game!

 Creatures not living, but not aloud to expire. Haunt, torment, laugh, and cry the souls of the night and the stuff of dreams and night mares arise. Not only in the darkness of the night, but the darkness of our mind do the undead reside.

In this issue we journey into the unsettling world of unnatural things. Don't let your player explore just another crypt with tiresome skeletons and zombies. Bring the unexpected, bring MAXIMUM HP!

Kickstarter - MaximumHP - RPG Zine #003

Tabletop RPG Zine Issue #003 "The Wilderness" A zine for 1E / 2E / OSRIC gamers.

Gotta love any magazine that shows love for AD&D :) Maximum HP is the Kickstarter you are looking for...

At Fail Squad Games, we offer rousing content for your classic tabletop roleplaying games. What follows in this and upcoming issues of Maximum HP are articles, notes, tips, tricks, traps, and treasures for your 1E / OSRIC gaming table. To keep the zines fresh and exciting, we have liberated ourselves from a production deadline to allow us to channel maximum creativity into each issue. 

Our intent is to share the Fail Squad Games style with other old school gamers to enrich their gaming experience. The zine format presents small, easy to digest articles firmly rooted in the spirit of the older edition games and magazines. Although the content may be informal, we want the physical product and presentation to be the best we can deliver for the cost.

Welcome to issue #003 – The Wilderness issue of Maximum HP, The old school zine for a new school world. In this issue we delve into the wild forests of the world. The deep green places oft forgotten on the way to the dungeon. Here there are fey, wild creatures, and hidden secrets kept by nature and the unknown. The game might have the word dungeons in it, but it doesn't end there!

30% Off Frog God, Troll Lord, Kobold Press and More - For Just a Buck!

Earlier this evening, a friend reached out to me about how to get a Frog God Games title, in Print at a discount. Because as you all know, that is the kind of "influence" I have ;) Then it hit me, the current Humble RPG Book Bundle: 5TH Edition Beast of a Bundle includes just that - a 30% discount at Frog God Games AND Kobold Press, Troll Lord Games, Nord Games, Nerdarchy, Fail Squad Games and TPK Games for as little as a buck. Oh, and a bunch of cool PDFs too.

Just over 3 1/2 days left in this sale. Get your coupons before the clock runs out on this one! :)

And yes, that is an affiliate link above. A portion of the monies you spend via that link will go to support The Tavern. I thank you in advance.

Kickstarter - Maximum HP - RPG Zine Issue 001 (OSR / 1e)

I do love zines. They bring me back to my college days, when one could go to game stores like The Complete Strategist and find a score or more different RPG magazine, professional and self-published, on the magazine rack. Of course, I never had enough cash to buy . all the ones that I wanted, but they gave an amazing bang for the buck in any case.

Maximum HP is a zine I would have purchased back in the day and I am backing it today.

Seriously. A 1e zine and the first issue is dwarven themed? How can I not? heh

In our inaugural issue, we explore the dwarven community of Dwarfhome mountain in Artera. We chose to focus on dwarves this issue because there are so many possible directions to go with them rather than presenting them as just dour short people with Scottish accents. Though we focus on Dwarfhome, the information and quest provided can be inserted into any dwarven society to bring life to your old school campaigns.
From here we catalyze your creativity with our world of imagination, ideas, and quests. 

So, grab your dice good adventurer, grab your books good GMs, and get ready for Maximum HP!! 

Welcome to Artera, welcome to Fail Squad Games! 

Each issue is 5.5″ x 8.5″ (Booklet size) paperback with a card stock gloss color cover and Black & White interior. We are at 31-32 pages of content before ads this issue. Expect the contents to be gritty for your Advanced RPG game but the zine to be polished for smooth play. 

This first introductory issue will be perfect bound and printed on high quality paper with a full color card stock cover. It hardly qualifies as a 'zine, but we want our milestone issues to be special. 

PDF is 3 bucks. Print is 6 bucks. Print plus PDF is 9 bucks. 4 bucks for shipping in the US.

I'm in for 30 myself - taking out a quarter page ad ;)

Kickstarter - The Ruins of Mistemere (a 5E adventure from Fail Squad Games)

Fail Squad Games has an excellent Kickstarter record. Strong adventures, excellent art, and Lloyd is one of the few that knows how to handle solid physical add ons to his projects.

So, what is The Ruins of Mistemere?

This adventure is inspired by, and is a revisit of, the first “Group Adventure” in a certain Red Box set of the world’s favorite basic roleplaying game. The original version of this adventure was likely the very first quest many players embarked upon in the days of 1983. It was also likely the first adventure run by many budding GMs at the same time.

Why reboot it?  

• For the sake of nostalgia. 
• To make a fresh version available to the next generation of adventurers and GMs.
• To add the Fail Squad Games flavor.
• Because it’s fun, and we can.

This adventure is written to be fully compatible with the 5E ruleset and written in such a way as to keep the author(s) from goblin jail time at the hands of certain wizards who live near a popular coast.  

Some names seem to have changed as planes of existence were traversed. Borgle is well known in many original adventures and legends; many report that his name was spelled with an “a” in place of the “o”. It is also told in ancient tales from different cultures that the spellings of Mistemere and Alena can be slightly altered from the records of the coastal wizards. 

I spoke with Lloyd at TotalCon last week. He was very excited about The Ruins of Mistemere. Lloyd feels it converts easily to the various OSR rulesets and I don't doubt him.

About The Ruins of Mistemere 

The Ruins of Mistemere is written as an introductory adventure for a group of 3-5 5E players of levels 1-2. The ideal match for the adventure is 4 players at level 1. 

While the beginning of the adventure relies heavily on the original story and layout of the "First Group Adventure" it has been changed significantly after the initial first few encounters. What follows is the Fail Squad Games' version of how the adventure progresses in our world (Artera). 

Over-all this is a short page count adventure (20-24 pages), but can carry a group for four sessions and into level 2 or 3 before completion.  

We've gone above and beyond to improve playability and tested this adventure at a number of conventions and tables before releasing our final version.

Full-color Print or B&W Print plus PDF are each 16 bucks. Not a bad deal at all.

Kickstarter - Falls Keep - 5E & S&W Adventure (PDF Only - 3 Measly Bucks)

I really like the ideas behind the Falls Keep Kickstarter. A short, one week long funding period. An inexpensive buy in at 3 bucks for the PDF. No print version. Swords & Wizardry as well as 5e.

KISS (keep it simple, stupid) for the win ;)

Falls Keep is a fun adventure, with some unique monsters ready to roll when your campaign is in one direction, but the players go in the other direction.  

It is intended for 4-5 adventurers at level 3. 

Rumors flow through town and along the road of Lord Venwexal and his descent into madness. No one knows what really happened when the locals gathered a revolt and hunted him down. All that remains is a mysterious pair of towers at the head of a waterfall. 

Perhaps a visit to Wheatwey Farm will provide some answers, and a hot meal on the road.... good luck with that. 

Risks and challenges 

The risks are EXTREMELY minimal on this Kickstarter. We are not printing or shipping, only delivering digital PDFs. 

The writing is complete, illustration nearly complete, layout already underway and conversions in process (All before we launch).  

We only need funds to clear and a few layout details to arrange.

Kickstarter - Brindlemarsh, a 1E & 5E adventure of Dragons and Dungeons

The Brindlemarsh Kickstarter by Fail Squad Games in one on a series of adventures that Lloyd Metcalf has successfully produced via crowdfunding.

Things to know about Lloyd:

• an amazing artist
• a skilled adventure writer
• a highly competent Kickstarter creator
• 11 prior Kickstarters all on time or early
• all around nice guy ;)

Nagareth the Poisoned returned to his lair more powerful than ever, but found his mate gone and his brood missing. The wicked dragon will get his revenge on the Dwarves who caused his misery! If he can add the Kobold Kivuli to his terrible vengeance, all the better.  

A secret gate and some mysterious runes are the only clues found in the mines. Can the heroes save Brindle? will they be able to save themselves? 

This is the continuation of the Brindle Series adventures for 1E / OSRIC and Fifth Edition of the world's favorite RPG involving Dragons and Dungeons. 

This adventure explores Kivuli's pet, the missing Dwarves who created the mines, and presents our heroes with some tough adventures, unusual allies, and challenging adventures. 

New Adventure, New Challenges, New Magic 

Written by Lloyd Metcalf and Ric Martens, this adventure covers multiple sessions and challenges with new unique magical items.

Sweet points are 6 bucks for the PDF and 10 bucks for the print copy.

New Release - Hell Hath No Furry - Fail Squad Games (BECMI / LL)

Fail Squad Games has launched its own online storefront and the latest release is Hell Hath No Furry for BECMI / LL. This 6 page, full-color PDF is priced at 3 bucks BUT if you sign up to be a Fail Squad Games Guild Member (its free to sign up and the information is on the same page as the adventure is) you get it at half off - $1.50. Not too shabby at all.

Lloyd does great work and I've backed every Kickstarter he's run (at levels that have included original art, because as skilled as he is at adventure writing he surpasses even that as an artist.)

Here's the write up from the page:

A BECMI / Labyrinth Lord adventure for 4-6 level 3 characters 

(6 pages – full color) 

Who let the dogs out? Some hellhounds have escaped their domain in the Lands of Lunacy (or a small island on the Elemental Plane of Fire). One of Brimfire’s (a fire giant) hounds discovered a jewel that opens a portal to the Prime Material Plane, and the hounds are wreaking havoc hunting and terrorizing the mortals.

Note - this adventure is a mini-hex crawl with an outdoor hex map (100 yards per hex) - as well as a dungeon crawl. Two great tastes, one candy bar. Er, wait... you know what I mean ;)

Kickstarter - Those Dam Goblins (LL & 5e)

If you've been following my Kickstarter posts, you would know that +Lloyd Metcalf / Fail Squad Games is always on time if not early AND backing Lloyd's KSs doesn't break the bank. They are old school friendly while still being a perfect fit for 5e. In other words, they are Win / Win and I expect more of the same from Those Dam Goblins.

Several years ago human settlers discovered a marsh covered valley which they knew would provide fertile crop land if only the marsh could be drained. The settlers dammed the river and may have damned themselves! The diverted river has awoken the cliffs themselves. Strange rumblings in the earth and smoke from the cliff tops are sure signs of trouble. The residents of Fertile Valley need some heroes, can you save Fertile Valley before it’s too late? 

This adventure is written for the Labyrinth Lord (LL) game system compatible with BECMI or B/X with Fifth Edition rules of the world’s most popular tabletop RPG included.

Written by Chris Clark with additional work and art by Lloyd himself, Those Dam Goblin's is the latest release from Fail Squad Games.

Buy in is 7 bucks in PDF, 15 in Print at 23 in Print / PDF. (The print plus PDF includes Crypt on Keeper Hill - a 5e Interlude)

Kickstarter - Marathon of Heroes - A 5E Adventure (Fail Squad Games)

I don't cover much in the way of D&D 5e. I probably should if I want to increase The Tavern's readership (and 5e is not a bad system at all) but I write about that which interests and excited me.

Well, here's a 5e project that interests and excites me.

Marathon of Heroes - A 5E Adventure is a Kickstarter project from Fail Squad Games / +Lloyd Metcalf . Lloyd is, quite simply, one of those people who know how to run Kickstarter projects. He ships on time (if not early), doesn't get caught up in the dangerous world of Kickstarter physical stretch goals and has the project written already when the Kickstarter goes live.

Simply put, Lloyd's mark on a Kickstarter is the Gold Standard.

Marathon of Heroes is a 36-38 page adventure module for the Fifth Edition of the world's favorite roleplaying game for 4-6 Level 5 characters based in the Lands of Lunacy setting from Fail Squad Games. It can be played in any setting with minimal adjustment. Marathon of Heroes is intended to be played over multiple sessions (Typically 4) but may run longer if used with "interlude" side quests.

As for Lloyd's record:

This is Fail Squad Games TENTH Kickstarter of its' kind. That's right TEN successful Kickstarters to print adventure modules.   

We have found reliable printers, reliable shipping methods, we have PROVEN that we can handle budgets for projects of this type. The writing is done, 98% of the illustration is complete. We need your help to take this adventure to print.

PDF is $7. Print is $13

You know you want to ;)

Kickstarter - Fosc Anansi - RPG Adventure Module - 1E & 5E

Fail Squad Games / +Lloyd Metcalf is back with another project. This time it is Fosc Anansi, an adventure that will be published with 1e & 5e stats in the same booklet.

So, what exactly is Fosc Anansi?

Help us bring the next Fail Squad Games adventure module to print! This is a REVISED edition of the copy produced for RPG Crate in January 2017. 

It will be published including: 

1E/OSRIC AND 5E rule sets in the same book
52 Pages
Unique monsters and challenges
1E and 5E character sheets
Gnomes? 

The writing, illustration, layout and editing is FINISHED! We just need your support to take this project to print.

If you haven't checked out Lloyd's work yet, you really should. Top notch art and excellent ideas and execution. He's hit the mark with every project too - on time or early.

Softcover is $15, hardcover is $20. Signed and numbered hardcover is $35 - just a few left.