Tenkar's Tavern: fantasy

Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Humble Bundle - Terry Pratchett's Discworld (Fiction)

I've been a huge Terry Pratchett fan for 30 years or more. I could devour a Terry Pratchett novel in a single sitting over a weekend but would try to stretch it out for a few more days.

It's been years since I've read these, and I lost most of my paperbacks in a basement flood. I think I'm all in for a reading marathon of Terry's work on my iPad, or even convert to my Kindle. (exploring this website for conversion https://www.epubor.com/transfer-kobo-books-to-kindle.html)

You can get 38 books from Terry Pratchett's Discworld Series at Humble Bundle for 15 bucks. Jump all in. You won't regret it :)

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Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Deal of the Day - Mithgarthr RPG Core Rulebook just 4 bucks (5e in an OSR friendly package)

I first looked at the Mithgarthr RPG nearly two years ago, and just like back then I like what I see. It's a streamlined 5e chassis which includes a setting in under 200 pages. Now THAT is more my speed ;)

Well, the Mithgarthr Core Rulebook is today's DriveThruRPG Deal of the Day and if you haven't looked at it yet, for 4 bucks (normally 20 - so that's 80% off) here's your opportunity. Its 5e in an OSR friendly package. Now, it might be the dark setting that makes Mithgarthr feel more OSR, but I Iike it :)

Introducing Mithgarthr: The Roleplaying Game! Enter a rich, original world inspired by Norse and Germanic culture. Explore the dark places where Gooblitts and Dýrverr roam. Battle against the treacherous forces of Chaos led by Orcus and The Thrir. Die horribly at the hands of greenskins while trying to get rich quick with your friends!

Mithgarthr takes its mechanics from the fifth edition of the world's most popular role playing game, but molds them against its grim setting. Characters start at zero level with just the skills they have from their mundane profession (of which there are nine to choose from) and a desire to make a better life for themselves. Players may choose from seven races including the murine Ratten and the winged, hawk-like Fjothr. Life is cheap and death comes often, but those adventurers who survive long enough to attain first level have eight iconic classes to choose from. Magic is cast using a point system, and is less common than usual. Monsters have their own magic system, drawing their power from Orcus.

Included in the core rulebook are everything you need to play the game! Character creation rules, combat, adventuring, equipment, magic, monsters, world setting information, and even a fully fleshed out town and surrounding wilderness to start.

Yep, that's an affiliate link above. Affiliate links keep the lights on and the beer cold at The Tavern.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Kickstarter - Apex Coasters: Fantasy/RPG Series

"Amazing ceramic coasters, cork backing, durable imprinted art. Perfect for the gaming table, computer desk, table art, or as a gift."

I have a sizeable collection of coasters. Sadly, they get little use these days.

Apex Coasters: Fantasy/RPG Series is actually cool. I do love the art.

I summon James Spahn!

Note. J.M. Ward is James Michael Ward and the creator of this project, not Jim Ward. Apparently, Jim is feeling a wee bit defensive and fears there may be some confusion.

4 coasters start at 28 bucks plus 9 for shipping in the US.

Friday, August 17, 2018

The Tavern Chat Podcast - Episode 93 - OSR Freebie Friday - August 17, 2018 - Fantasy

Yesterday, Pexx, my right hand over on the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server, brought to my attention some dead links on the blog side as well as some incomplete (or missing) lists of Free OSR content. I figured it was a good excuse to start a regular feature on the podcast - OSR Freebie Friday - and to kick it off by mentioning some of the free Fantasy titles we have linked for easy download.

With this episode, we are starting a new weekly feature highlighting various free OSR releases. Today we look at the Free Fantasy OSR Rulesets listing at Tenkar's Tavern.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

News - Netflix to Focus its Originals on Fantasy / SciFi

Here are the bullet points from Business Insider (full article at the link):

Science fiction and fantasy" became the most popular genre of Netflix original show among subscribers in Q1 of 2018, according to data compiled by the analytics firm Ampere Analysis.
Netflix has been able to "anticipate" an increase in demand for the genre by rapidly expanding its production of original sci-fi and fantasy shows and movies, according to Ampere.
More than one quarter (29%) of upcoming Netflix originals are in the sci-fi and fantasy category, higher than any other genre.

It's a good time to be a fan of Fantasy and SciFi :)

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Free OSR Rulesets - Fantasy - RetroQuest II (Chasoium RuneQuest 2 Clone)

Huge thanks to Michael Thomas for not only pointing me to RetroQuest II but for also writing / publishing it. Well done sir!

RetroQuest II - is a D100 SRD for creating your own rules and adventures in the vein of everyone’s favourite second-edition D100 roleplaying game. This System Reference Document uses the Open Game Licence and several existing System Reference Documents to re-create the mechanics and play of the first versions of the classic D100 system. See the OGL at the end of this document for more information.

Other Free OSR Rulesets - Fantasy

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Adding Three Entries to the Free OSR Rulesets Fantasy Page - The Flying Swordsmen Searched the Unknown to find a Torch & Sword

More free fantasy rulesets for your OSR pleasure :)

Flying Swordsmen - "Flying Swordsmen is a game of fantasy martial arts, where characters use swords, fists, spells, and more to battle other martial artists and monsters, and seek out new techniques or magic to improve their martial skill."

The Searchers of the Unknown - "Searchers of the Unknown is a one-page roleplaying game where player characters are entirely defined by a minimalist old school Dungeons & Dragons one line tat block (e.g. "AC 7, MV 9, HD 2, hp 9, #AT 1, D 1d8 mace") something like monster stat blocks in early editions of D&D. All actions are based on those stats."

Torch & Sword - "What are the design priorities of Torch & Sword? Minimalism and fidelity. By establishing a minimalistic framework, give referees a scaffoldaround which to build. It’s easier to add wanted complexity than remove unwanted complexity. The ambiguities and omissions in the original three booklets are important. What is unclear or unwritten is a feature of the rules. Those gaps give referees room to make their own creative rulings. As to fidelity, Torch & Sword hews as closely to the 1974 rules as necessary to make the play experience true to the original."

Why "Swords & Wizardry?"

Believe me when I say I have them all in dead tree format. I have OSRIC in full size, trade paperback and the Player's Guide. I have LL and the AEC (and somewhere OEC, but I can't find it at the moment). Obviously I have Basic Fantasy RPG. Actually, I have the whole available line in print. Way too much Castles & Crusades. We all know my love for the DCC RPG. I even have Dark Dungeons in print, the Delving Deeper boxed set, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep

I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls

So, out of all that, why Swords & Wizardry? Why, when I have been running a AD&D 1e / OSRIC campaign in Rappan Athuk am I using Swords & Wizardry and it's variant, Crypts & Things, for the second campaign? (Actually, now running a S&W Complete campaign, soon to be with multiple groups)

Because the shit works.

It's easy for lapsed gamers to pick up and feel like they haven't lost a step. I can house rule it and it doesn't break. It plays so close to the AD&D of my youth and college years (S&W Complete especially) that it continually surprises me. Just much less rules hopping than I remember. (my God but I can run it nearly without the book)

I grab and pick and steal from just about all OSR and Original resources. They seem to fit into S&W with little fuss. It may be the same with LL and the rest, but for me the ease of use fit's my expectations with S&W.

Even the single saving throw. That took me longer to adjust to, but even that seems like a natural to me now. Don't ask me why, it just does. Maybe it's the simplicity of it. At 45 52, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)

Swords & Wizardry Light - Forum

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