Deal of the Day - MCCLXV: Evesham (System Neutral 13th Century Setting)

I'm a massive fan of settings, as I enjoy stealing ideas from various sourcebooks and creating something different and unique. Some settings I simply want for the reading. I suspect MCCLXV: Evesham will fulfill both desires.

Today's Deal of the Day is MCCLXV: Evesham. Usually, 8 bucks in PDF, but until tomorrow morning, it is on sale for 2.78

Where do your loyalties lie? To the king, despite his shortcomings, or to the radical nobles seeking to subvert the crown? 

MCCLXV: Evesham is a detailed setting for historically-based role-playing in 13th-century England during the Second Barons’ War. The resource includes the mechanics for building and running a medieval manor, introduced in Medieval Manager, and an expansive background on medieval England, including the key historical figures of the time, such as Henry III, Eleanor of Provence, Edward Longshanks, and Simon de Montfort. It includes dozens of tables for facilitating play, character descriptions, plotlines and hooks, as well as diagrams for castles, manors, churches, maps of English towns and countryside, as well as maps of the decisive 1265 Battle of Evesham itself.

MCCLXV: Evesham is a 165-page resource for roleplaying in the desperate 1260’s of medieval England, adaptable for any game system.

Purchasing note: This book includes material previously published as Medieval Manager. If your interest is ONLY in a fantasy manor and you own Medieval Manager, you already own what you want. MCCLXV: Evesham updates the mechanics and events to make them more realistic for the historical setting of mid- to late- 13th-century England and provides a historically-based setting for playing a manor in 1260's England.

 

 The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

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DTRPG Setting Sale - ALIEN, Twilight: 2000 and More

This week has some interesting titles as part of the DTRPG Settings Sale. I figured I'd highlight a few of my favorites:

ALIEN RPG - I actually played in a short campaign using these rules earlier in the year and it was a blast. I must say, the rules do a very good job of being fairly intuitive, at least from the player's perspective. I own the Starter Box as a physical product, and it does an excellent job presenting the rules and the default setting. The full ALIEN RPG is normally 24.99, but on sale for 14.99. The ALIEN Starter Set is normally 19.99, currently on sale for 11.99. There is also a large collection of discounted support material for the Alien RPG.

Twilight: 2000 4th Edition Core Set - I played the first edition of Twilight 2000 back in the 80s. It was all about tracking down fuel and food and simple survival. It was a good time. This is the new edition from Free League Publishing. I'm very tempted to pick up the new edition just to see if I can get my old group to play another session. Normally 29.99, Twilight: 2000 4th Edition Core Set is on sale for 23.99.

Vaesen - Nordic Horror Roleplaying - "Welcome to the Mythic North – northern Europe of the nineteenth century, but not as we know it today. A land where the myths are real. A cold reach covered by vast forests, it's few cities lonely beacons of industry and enlightenment – a new civilization dawning. But in the countryside, the old ways still hold sway. There, people know what lurks in the dark. They know to fear it. Vaesen presents a dark Gothic setting steeped in Nordic folklore and the old myths of Scandinavia." Damn, with a pitch like this I REALLY want to play in this setting. Normally 24.99, Vaesen - Nordic Horror Roleplaying is on sale for 14.99

Don't forget to subscribe to the Tenkar's Tavern Youtube Channel to ensure you don't miss an episode. https://www.youtube.com/c/TenkarsTavern

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. 

DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

Deal of the Day - WARPLAND (Sci-Fantasy OSR Setting/OSR Rules)

Back to back OSR deals as Deal of the Day at DTRPG. What's going on? Not that I'm complaining ;)

This time the Deal of the Day is WARPLAND, and the deal being offered is a big one. Normally WARPLAND is 8.50 n PDF, but until tomorrow morning WARPLAND is on sale for 1.70 - 80% off!

Another future review...

An original dark sci-fantasy setting by Gavriel Quiroga, creator of the critically acclaimed Neurocity.

Enter the Land of the Warp at your own risk! A dark world where technology and science are anathema and dark magick is just being discovered!

This is the 1.1 corrected final version of the corebook. 150 pages of pure lysergic visuals! Almost 30 random tables for a sandbox approach! A fully inmersive setting 1500% funded through Kickstarter! A symmetric (8.5 x 8.5) beauty of an artbook!

 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are the affiliate programs that support 

The Tavern.  

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, 

or wherever you listen to your podcast collection.

Deal of the Day - Willow (S&W Micro Setting)

I prefer small settings to kick a campaign off. They are easier to digest and absorb without worrying about regions hundreds if not thousands of miles away. I guess you could say I like my sandboxes small but expandable.

Willow is a micro setting, a town, and an adventure all rolled into one. Normally 6 bucks in PDF, for the next 24 hours (more or less) Willow is on sale for 4.20.

Willow is a grim backwater micro setting made for the Swords and Wizardry rule system, but can easily be used with other old-school systems or even 5E.

Willow is a town that can be dropped into your campaign setting. Focused on game-able content and being easy to use at the table, It is graphic and art heavy. Structured as a mini hexcrawl, players will have to work together to investigate a mystery to move on from a damp backwater town to bigger, brighter places.

The Setting

Deep in a vast wood, a town called Willow sits beside the Lake of Tears. The lake is framed by weeping willow trees, their vines pouring into the lake’s dark green shores. Willow is not what one would call an upbeat town. The rains here are relentless and the grey skies loom low like a giant cage. Travelers do not linger here long; one night in the Blue Brew Inn is enough to make most jump on the ferry and move on. But recently the ferries have stopped running as something terrible has taken up residence on the river. Meanwhile, the town folk will not talk about the noises echoing up from the staircase that descends below the lake, nor the broken stone circle on the hill at the edge of town. The town's leader, a witch named Morose Morgan, is a recluse and refuses to leave her island.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are the affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection.

 

Kickstarter - Wraith Recon - A Fantasy RPG of Covert Operations and War

You are a member of Wraith Recon - trained in covert operations to protect the people of Dardarrick against threats.

I'm partial to settings that are available in a "system neutral" format. Believe it or not, the less system crunch in my commercial settings, the better, as I own a plethora of RPG systems but pretty much only run OSR games. I don't need crunch to use a setting. What I need is engaging fluff.

Wraith Recon comes in a system neutral option. It also comes in Savage Worlds, 5e and FeralEngine flavors, but system neutral is where I hang my hat.

So what is the premise of Wraith Recon?

You play as legendary Wraith Recon teams, dedicated special forces trained and equipped to operate deep within hostile territory. Entrusted with the direst of missions, the Wraiths are capable of overcoming almost any obstacle. Armed with the latest in Dardarrick Magick, and kept informed by the mysterious SpellCom system, Wraith Recon units are tasked with assassinations, raids, reconnaissance, and hostage rescue missions, in the name of truth, liberty, and justice. 

As a member of Wraith Recon Four - a team of special covert operatives in a world beset by magic, wars, and mystery - you will soon be called to serve king and country. You will be sent to the four corners of Nuera to make Dandarrick safe for its people; risking your life under a blanket of secrecy to keep a population free and blissful in a world that does its damnedest to rob them of it at every turn.

Hmmm, seems like your party certainly has a reason to adventure, with set goals and such. Shouldn't be much trouble generating adventure seeds. Might even be a restraint on the usual "murder hoboing" ;)

33 bucks seem to be the sweet spot with PDF and at cost Print on Demand.

Now, if only I could find players that could actually play a campaign under such conditions...

Neither The Tavern nor myself receive compensation for Kickstarter coverage or Kickstarter posts. Some Kickstarters are brought to the attention of The Tavern by their creators. Such communication does not guarantee coverage here at The Tavern. I do not back every Kickstarter I highlight as my wallet's contents are not limitless but I do find all highlighted Kickstarters interesting for one or more reasons - Erik Tenkar

The Tavern Chat Podcast - E123 - How Important is it for U to Create a Homebrew World?

I really need to do a Midderlands episode. I'm just afraid I won't do the releases justice. In any case, tody's episode is again inspired by some questions on the current Dungeons & Dragons survey by WotC.

Another peek and reaction to a handful of questions from the Dungeons & Dragons Survey. I also talk a wee bit about the new MidderZine #1 release. 

Link to Episode 123 https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/E123---How-Important-is-it-for-U-to-Create-a-Homebrew-World-e281d2

https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4495590/ddsurvey

www.drivethrurpg.com/product/251643/Midderzine-Issue-1?affiliate_id=1446 (affiliate link)

monkeyblooddesign.co.uk/The-Midderlands/

The Tavern Chat Podcast - Episode 110 - How Much Fantasy Do You Like in Your Settings?

Ah, Endless Quest Books. I loved them back in the day. Time to see if my niece will love the new ones as I loved the old ;)

Looks like the new Endless Quest Books have released. More importantly, I talk about fantasy settings and how much fantasy is right for me - and would like to know how much is right for you. 

Link to Episode 110 -  https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/Episode-110---How-Much-Fantasy-Do-You-Like-in-Your-Settings-e252ar

Amazon link to the new Endless Quest Books: amzn.to/2wCP1DS (affiliate link)

Tenkar's Tavern Patreon: tenkars-tavern.games/patreon

The Tavern Chat Podcast - Episode 69 - 7/24/18 Kickstarter Roundup & 2 New 5e Settings

I know folks are disappointed that Greyhawk was not the setting released to the GM's Guild yesterday (I know I shared in the disappointment) but I'd prefer to see it in its original form anyway.

Yep, WotC has gone and done it. Eberron is the new setting up on the DM's Guild and the Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica releases in hardcover in the fall. 

As far as Kickstarters, we look at City of Brass, The Fantasy Trip, The GM's Tarot and All Weather Dice Tubes. Oh My!

Link to Episode 69 - https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/Episode-69---72418-Kickstarter-Roundup--2-New-5e-Settings-e1s2qj

Links to 5e settings mentioned:

Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron (5e) - http://www.rpgnow.com/product/247882/Wayfinders-Guide-to-Eberron-5e?src=hottest&affiliate_id=1446

Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica - https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/23/17603740/dungeons-dragons-magic-the-gathering-crossover-book-ravnica-dnd-mtg

Links to Kickstarters mentioned -

THE FANTASY TRIP – Old-School Roleplaying! - http://tenkars-tavern.games/TheFantasyTrip

The GMs Tarot - Story Telling Made Easy - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/778845804/the-gms-tarot-story-telling-made-easy?ref=user_menu

City of Brass: Epic Adventure for 5e and Swords and Wizardry -https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/froggodgames/city-of-brass-epic-adventure-for-5e-and-swords-and

Dice Tube - All Weather - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1871496317/all-weather-dice-tube

Yep, there is an affiliate link up above. Keep the lights on and the beers cold at The Tavern by using our affiliate links ;)

Kickstarter - The Midderlands Expanded (OSR Setting)

Just a quick reminder for folks that are interested in The Midderlands Expanded Kickstarter - you have three days left to back it if you haven't yet.

I have the original Midderlands and its probably one of the, if not "the", best setting books I've come across in nearly 40 years of gaming. +MonkeyBlood Design (Glynn Seal) and team did some amazing work and I'm expecting more of the same from The Midderlands Expanded.

Don't believe me? How about believing +Matt Finch :

“[The Midderlands] as a small area campaign supplement is the best I’ve ever seen, displacing Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor First Fantasy Campaign area, which up until now -- and that’s decades -- has been my favorite one.” - Matt Finch (Creator of Swords & Wizardry).

What is going to be in the new 'The Midderlands Expanded' book?

• 50+ pages of content previously released in The Midderlands Additions, and The Midderlands Additions II, but as part of a glorious, high specification, hardback format.
• Approx. 170 pages of new, previously unseen content.
• More awesome artwork.
• More locations.
• More items.
• More spells.
• More flora and fauna.
• More monsters.
• More classes.
• More adventure hooks.
• More adventure.
• More discovery.
• More green-hued, dark-fantasy weirdness.

'Nuff said ;)

OSR Picks for the RPGNow September Setting Sale - 33% off select PDFs - Part V (Stoneheart Liberation of Perilous Pantries)

RPGNow is running a September Setting Sale with thousands of titles in the mix. That's a lot to sort through. I'm going to try to pick out some of my personal favorites that are OSR or system neutral over a small series of posts (although one or two may creep in from outside those parameters) Part 1 is here.  Part II is here. Part III is here. Part IV is here.

The Lost Lands: Stoneheart Valley Swords and Wizardry Edition - Very tempted to bring this into play in my FLGS SWL campaign - hard to beat as a starting series of adventures - "Finally, welcome to the World of Necromancer Games! From Bill Webb and Clark Peterson's home campaign comes the old-school setting of The Lost Lands: Stoneheart Valley. For over a decade, fans of Necromancer Games and Frog God Games have been asking to see the world behind the adventures. And at long last, here is where it all began, in the Stoneheart Valley near the town of Fairhill. This mini-campaign was originally presented to the fans of Necromancer Games in three separate modules: "The Wizard's Amulet", "The Crucible of Freya", and "The Tomb of Abysthor". Weighing in at 144 pages for the Swords & Wizardry Complete rules this product is the first offering in The Lost Lands setting, coming from Frog God Games. Expanded, enhanced, and providing hours and hours of adventure, this book is intended for characters of levels 1-8 (and beyond), including dungeon, wilderness and city encounters."  12.99  8.70

Starter Adventures - perfect adventures to start out new players with, made for one player and one GM - "Starter Adventures is where you learn to fight, steal, cast spells and heal.  You'll have to use your wits to figure out puzzles.  Use a sword to murderize goblins.  And crumble the undead beneath the power of your god. It's time to grab a weapon, memorize a spell and strap on some armor.  This is going to be fun. Starter Adventures is targeted toward introducing a new player into RPGs.  Inside are four short adventures for each of the four main classes, a tavern to hangout in, and a full-fledged adventure when they've got enough blood encrusted on their blades."  7.99  5.35

Nebin Pendlebrook's Perilous Pantry (DCC) - "The tiny village of Bitterweed Barrow is unaccustomed to mysterious tunnels, missing halflings, or the need for brave adventurers, but now it has all three! Can a band of gong-farmers and shoe-cobblers muster the courage to descend into the darkness and confront the terror that waits beyond Nebin Pendlebrook’s unexpectedly perilous pantry? Designed to be completed in a single furious session, this Instant Action 0-Level Dungeon Crawl Classics adventure drops your players into peril straight away. Dangerous foes, wicked traps, and ancient secrets await! Features: 42 pages of classic 6'x9' digest-format old-school b/w dungeon fun! Designed to be completed in a single 4 hour session, perfect for convention or demo play, but with enough hooks to become a centerpiece for your beginning campaign. 37 page appendix contains paper miniatures of every combatant, initiative cards, battlemaps of the entire dungeon, and printable pics of every image in the adventure. "  4.49  3.01

Crawling Under A Broken Moon fanzine issue #1 (DCC) - The whole series is on sale - "Welcome to the first issue of Crawling Under A Broken Moon, a fanzine dedicated to bringing gonzo post apocalyptic content for the Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG from Goodman Games. In this issue you will discover the following articles: Welcome to Umerica, Crawling in a Gonzo Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy World, The Technologist, A class dedicated to the accumulation of scientific knowledge and power, Weapons of the Wastelands, Guns, Guns, and more Guns, Twisted Menagerie, The Sharkhana, Debris Elemental, and Sentrybot, An Interesting Place to Die and Blooms Fashions: a store with clothes to die for.  1.99  1.33



Liberation of the Demon Slayer - an extremely solid adventure and a bargain at the price - The stars are falling - which can only mean one thing. Your town is about to be invaded by demons! Unfortunately, the famed demon-slaying sword Kalthalax lies in the caves below, and all manner of dark and deadly fiends reside in those eldritch-haunted Nether Realms. Liberation of the Demon Slayer is an old school, multi-level dungeon complimented by optional rules and campaign guide, usable with practically every paper and pencil, tabletop fantasy roleplaying game!
5.00  3.35


Purchases made via The Tavern's affiliate links help to support The Tavern. Additionally, if we generate $300 or more via OBS affiliate referral monies, I've promised to release a short adventure in the month of October for free on The Tavern. Well, we just did! Woot! If we surpass $300, I'll look to invest at least half of the extra monies into art or cartography for the adventure. I'd love to pony up for original pieces of art, but that will require significant monies in the pot ;)

OSR Picks for the RPGNow September Setting Sale - 33% off select PDFs - Part IV (Classic TSR Settings - Oh my!)

RPGNow is running a September Setting Sale with thousands of titles in the mix. That's a lot to sort through. I'm going to try to pick out some of my personal favorites that are OSR or system neutral over a small series of posts (although one or two may creep in from outside those parameters) Part 1 is here.  Part II is here. Part III is here.

The Great Pendragon Campaign - I've owned every edition since the original boxed set :) "For 1500 years King Arthur’s story has been told around campfires, in noble courts, in taverns, books, movies and now, with the prize-winning King Arthur Pendragon roleplaying game, at your game table. The Great Pendragon Campaign begins during the reign of Arthur’s father King Uther, when player knights can participate in the events of Arthur’s conception. The long and brutal Interregnum of Saxon wars is forever altered when Arthur draws the Sword from the Stone to start his great and glorious reign. The Boy King leads his knights through periods of consolidation and expansion until the entire Western world is brought under his sway. Then, to High Adventure! Knights gain Glory and lands in the periods of Romance and Tournaments, and at last engage in the greatest adventure of all, The Quest for the Holy Grail. Then, amidst tragedy and broken dreams, the Twilight Period draws the epic to a close. Eighty years of campaign detailed year-by-year provide the background, on-going events and adventures that define structure of King Arthur’s glorious reign.The Magic is in The Details, and The Details are in This Book."  24.99  16.74

Dark Sun Boxed Set (2e) - this is the classic dark setting from the 2e era of AD&D - aside from Greyhawk and the Forgotten Realms it is the setting I ran the most - "Amid the barren wastelands of Athas lie the scattered city-states, each in the grip of its own, tyrannical sorcerer-king. Protecting their own positions with dark magic, they demand absolute obedience. The restless mobs are placated with bread and circuses --the arenas overflow with spectators seeking release from their harsh lives. The land outside the cities belong to no one. Savage elves race across the deserts while insectoid Thri-Kreen satisfy their taste for blood. Dwarves labor at projects beyond the scope of men, and feral halflings lie in ambush.  Athas is a land of deadly magic and powerful psionics that offers promise of glory or even of survival. Those who do not have the cunning to face life on Athas will surely perish - leaving nothing but bones bleached white under the blistering rays of the DARK SUN."  9.99  6.69

Planescape Campaign Setting (2e) - probably the setting I wish I had run more in the 2e days - so many awesome settings - "Discover the multiverse! Enter infinite universes of infinite variety, worlds beyond the prime-material settings of the AD&D game. Explore Sigil, the City of Doors, filled with portals to every layer of every plane. All you need is the right key, including. . . A Player's Guide to the Planes: A 32-page primer that introduces DMs and players alike to the grand design of the multiverse. A DM's Guide to the Planes: A 64-page book of valuable information solely for the Dungeon Master. Sigil and Beyond: A 96-page gazetteer that introduces Sigil and its surrounding plane as the starting point for planar adventures. From Sigil all the Outer Planes may be sampled by novice and veteran explorers alike. Monstrous Supplement: a 32-page, full-color Monstrous Compendium booklet. Four poster-size maps depicting the planes. A four-panel DM screen designed especially for planar campaigns. Until now, only the most powerful wizards could peek into the magnificent multiverse, but no longer! Gone are the unimaginable distances and the insurmountable obstacles that only the ultrapowerful could hope to overcome. Now even the greenest adventurer can enter the planes, though surviving long is another matter . . . Have at it, berk! Powers, proxies, planars, petitioners, and wondrous monsters await just beyond the portal. Step through and partake of the infinite excitement of Planescape."  9.99  6.69

World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1e) - the setting I quite simply ran all my campaigns in during the 1e era starting with the folio and then with this boxed set as well as much of the 2e era - I can't say enough about it - "Enter the WORLD OF GREYHAWK ...A world where bandit kings raid from their remote stronghold; ...A world where noble elves fight savage invaders and where bold knights wage war on the terror of Iuz; ...A world scarred by a vast Sea of Dust, across which drift lost memories from the awful forgotten past. Enter a World of Wonder & Intrigue... Fantasy Game Setting for a panoramic view of this fantastic place. More than a collection of maps and names, it is an active world filled with decaying empires and dark forests. Game elements include the gods of Greyhawk, the clash of political factions, and encounters in this wild land." 9.99  6.69

Note - Greyhawk Adventures (1e/2e) (this is the book, not the folio or the box) is also 6.69

Ravenloft Campaign Setting, Revised, Boxed Set (2e) - I never ran a Ravenloft campaign but I ran a bunch of ons-shots where my regular party would find themselves in a demi-plane - "This new edition of the RAVENLOFT game combines the original Realm of Terror boxed set with elements of Forbidden Lore and updated rules from other accessories. Domains destroyed in the infamous Grand Conjunction have been deleted, new domains added, and key personalities detailed.  This boxed set includes: Realm of Terror - a 160-page book of rules concerning the reshaping of character classes; fear, horror, madness, and powers checks; curses; spells and magical items,both new and old; psionics; techniques of terror; and more. Domains and Denizens - a 128-page book describing the dark lands of the Core, the islands of terror, and many nefarious personages. Two maps depicting the reshaped Core domains and the islands of terror. A poster featuring a painting by artist Robh Ruppel. A tarokka deck of beautifully illustrated cards for role-playing fortunetelling. A DM screen specifically designed to be used with a RAVENLOFT campaign." 9.99  6.69

Purchases made via The Tavern's affiliate links help to support The Tavern. Additionally, if we generate $300 or more via OBS affiliate referral monies, I've promised to release a short adventure in the month of October for free on The Tavern. Just under 47 bucks to go. If we surpass $300, I'll look to invest the extra monies into original art or cartography for the adventure.

OSR Picks for the RPGNow September Setting Sale - 33% off select PDFs - Part III

RPGNow is running a September Setting Sale with thousands of titles in the mix. That's a lot to sort through. I'm going to try to pick out some of my personal favorites that are OSR or system neutral over a small series of posts (although one or two may creep in from outside those parameters) Part 1 is here.  Part II is here.

Dungeon Crawl Classics #35: Gazetteer of the Known Realms - I have the boxed set and it is a beast. You literally have a full campaign in this box and then some - note: written for 3x - "Certain adventures only come around once. Like when the grizzled old warrior decides to go after the dragon, and asks who’s coming with him. Or when the dark-eyed sorceress slowly surveys the crowd of peasants, waiting for one to step forward and pull the sword from the stone. This boxed sets contains those adventures. Dungeon Crawl Classics #35: Gazetteer of the Known Realms brings together the Dungeon Crawl Classics modules into one comprehensive world. This magnificent set includes: Gazetteer of the Known Realms, a 120-page book describing the archetypal fantasy world of Áereth. Three 24"x36" poster-sized full-color maps of Áereth ready to host your adventures. GM’s Guide to the Known Realms, a 136-page sourcebook describing deities, equipment, creatures, and NPCs, plus rules for starting campaigns with 0-level characters and adventure paths that you can build from existing DCC modules.  Halls of the Minotaur, a 32-page adventure module for 0-level characters perfectly suited to starting off your campaign in Áereth. The Thief Lord’s Vault, a 32-page adventure module for levels 4-6 that sends the heroes into the legendary treasure vault of Cazül the Chaotic." 29.99  20.99

Wormskin Issue 5 - Note: The entire series in on sale - "Wormskin explores the mythic forest called Dolmenwood, a weird folklore setting for use with B/X or similar tabletop adventure games. Each issue uncovers various elements of this eldritch realm situated on the leafy verges of Fairy, where austere Drunes rub elbows with weird elf-lords and talking beasts, where witches wander skyclad and armed with sinister magicks to bind the spirits of hapless adventurers. Be wary. " 3.99  2.67

Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding - "Roleplaying games and fantasy fiction are filled with rich and fascinating worlds: the Forgotten Realms, Glorantha, Narnia, R'lyeh, Middle-Earth, Barsoom, and so many more. It took startling leaps of imagination as well as careful thought and planning to create places like these: places that readers and players want to come back to again and again. Now, eleven of adventure gaming’s top designers come together to share their insights into building worlds that gamers will never forget. Learn the secrets of designing a pantheon, creating a setting that provokes conflict, determining which historical details are necessary, and so much more. Even take that creative leap—and create dazzling worlds of your own! Essays by Wolfgang Baur, Keith Baker, Monte Cook, David "Zeb" Cook, Jeff Grubb, Scott Hungerford, Chris Pramas, Jonathan Roberts, Michael A. Stackpole, Steve Winter, with an introduction by Ken Scholes."  14.99  10.04

Cthulhu by Gaslight - Halloween is sneaking up on us. What better way to celebrate the holiday than some CoC? - "IN THE 1890s, Cthulhu and his minions share the globe with the mighty British Empire. But they owe allegiance to an empire of their own — a dark and cruel design on ownership of the world and on the dreams of humanity. Even among the green fields of rural England, only thoughtful and energetic intervention keeps the shadows at bay. CTHULHU BY GASLIGHT offers a thoroughly developed Victorian England setting for use with Call of Cthulhu. Character creation has been enhanced with new wrinkles. There are articles on the Victorian world, crime, politics, personalities, and so forth. There are extensive sections on the Cthulhu Mythos in Britain — creatures, cults, and books — and a précis of Ramsey Campbell’s Severn River Valley. Also included are tips on running various types of Gaslight-era campaigns, a gazetteer of intriguing British myths and legends, a selection of friends and foes from Victorian fiction, and a lengthy bibliography /filmography of suggested reading and viewing. Rounding out this edition are a pair of Victorian-era scenarios — one an urban adventure set in London, the other set in rural Dartmoor. Includes a two-color, fold-out map of the City of London."  15.92  10.67

Alpha Blue - "Warning: Alpha Blue contains potentially offensive material in regards to sexual content, adult situations, vulgar language, mature themes, etc. This book is not only a rules light sci-fi RPG (d6 dice pools similar to both Crimson Dragon Slayer and The Outer Presence), but a campaign setting full of tables and scenario seeds.  And what is that setting?  Well, Alpha Blue is one of the most notorious space station brothels in the universe.  I know I'm biased, being the creator and all, but I really love this game!  I've run it many times during the playtest phase, for my home group after its release, at conventions, virtually on Roll20.  It's literally the most fun to GM of all the hundreds of RPGs I own.  Here's a little secret to running Alpha Blue - just borrow bits and pieces from vintage scifi movies and TV shows, add in a bit of sleaze, and sprinkle some funny stuff on top.  Voila! And what makes this different than similar offerings?  Three things!  The first is humor. I've made this a fun read with hilarious, gonzo shenanigans around every corner.  The second is sex appeal.  Plenty of folks won't buy this book.  Hell, they won't even read a free PDF if it was shoved in their face.  Why?  Because some of it is raunchy, disgusting, perverted, and just plain gross.  Your welcome, skeezoids!  Third, I love old school sci-fi.  So much, in fact, that the future is seen through a 1970s and 80s perspective.  Don't forget tables, tables, and more tables!  Mutations, alien quirks, funky fashion, just the right retro color palette, what's inside that asteroid, what are the scanners picking up, did you assassinate your victim, how does your therapy-bot help you cope with life among the stars, is the space station's central computer in a favorable mood, sexual fetish, weird space cocktails, etc.  A third of this book is fricken random tables!" $10.00  $6.70

Purchases made via The Tavern's affiliate links help to support The Tavern. Additionally, if we generate $300 or more via OBS affiliate referral monies, I've promised to release a short adventure for free on The Tavern. Just under 65 bucks to go :)

OSR Picks for the RPGNow September Setting Sale - 33% off select PDFs - Part II

RPGNow is running a September Setting Sale with thousands of titles in the mix. That's a lot to sort through. I'm going to try to pick out some of my personal favorites that are OSR or system neutral over a small series of posts (although one or two may creep in from outside those parameters) Part 1 is here.

KOBOLD Guide to Plots & Campaigns - "Whether you’re a new gamemaster or a seasoned vet looking for a new angle to shake up your game, these 19 essays by expert gamemasters help construct your campaign from the ground up—and keep your players engaged until the dramatic conclusion. Kobold Guide to Plots & Campaigns shows how to begin a new campaign, use published adventures or loot them for the best ideas, build toward cliffhangers, and design a game that can enthrall your players for month or even years. Want to run an evil campaign, or hurl the characters into unusual otherworldly settings? Want to ensure that you’re creating memorable and effective NPCs and villains? We’ve got you covered. Complete with discussions on plotting, tone, branching storytelling, pacing, and crafting action scenes, you’ll find all the tips and advice you need to take on the best role in roleplaying—and become an expert gamemaster, too! Featuring essays by Wolfgang Baur, Jeff Grubb, David “Zeb” Cook, Margaret Weis, Robert J. Schwalb, Steve Winter, and other game professionals." 9.99  6.69

The Adventurers Almanac - "Written in the similar vein of The Dungeon Alphabet, The Adventurers’ Almanac is not a hard and fast “this is how things should be done” gaming supplement, but a spring-board for your own creativity. With a little mental elbow grease, it’s possible to turn the hundreds of adventure ideas waiting inside its pages into full-blown, epic campaigns that will keep your players entertained and waiting to see what happens next. Suitable for any fantasy roleplaying game, The Adventurers’ Almanac is the perfect resource for any game master lacking in that most precious of commodities—Time, itself. So make you sure your dues are paid to the “Order of Adventurers, Explorers, and Treasure-Seekers,” stop by your local chapterhouse for your copy of The Adventurers’ Almanac, and get ready for a year of unforgettable adventure!" 12.99  8.70

Hubris: A World of Visceral Adventure -HUBRIS WON 2017 ENNIE FOR BEST ELECTRONIC BOOK! "Hubris is a weird fantasy setting that  uses the awesome Dungeon Crawl Classics rules!  In this book you will find 10 territories filled with tables and charts to generate interesting locations and encounters, new occupations, 4 new classes, 5 new playable races, 3 new spells, 4 new patrons, including 3 patrons spells for each, 11 new and terrible gods, 14 tables and charts for a GM to use to aid them in their game or create interesting/fun situations, two new adventures to kick off a campaign, and 51 new enemies (including enemies that are unique thanks to random generation).  Hubris is hackable!  Each territory can be used as the GM wills!  Need a desert, swamp, or frozen tundra for your game?  Use what's in Hubris!  14.99  10.04

The Ruins of Undermountain (2e) - "UNDERMOUNTAIN is a dungeon setting for AD&D 2nd Edition campaign play: the oldest, largest, and deadliest dungeon-crawl in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. It is the place where intrepid adventurers endeavor to become veterans, to win a place among the rich and famous - if they survive its depths. Enter an endless maze where waiting death bears a thousand faces and treasures lie hidden in a thousand places. It's just the setting for long running, memorable, great AD&D game play, the perfect locale you'll never forget. So please, come in. Mind your step among the skulls. Oh, yes - good luck - you'll be needing it. The Ruins of Undermountain campaign set includes: A 128-page book describing Undermountain, its history, its horrors, and details of the first three levels of the dungeon; a 32-page adventure book for use exclusively with Undermountain and Waterdeep; Four full-color maps of the vast and dangerous dungeon and; Eight new monsters."  7.99  5.35

Night Below: An Underdark Campaign (2e) - Night Below, the first epic campaign adventure for the AD&D game, is designed to take the player characters from 1st level to 10th level and beyond. The PCs start as beginning adventures on a routine courier mission who soon become drawn into combating a sinister plot that menaces the pleasant land of Haranshire.  By the end of Book I, The Evils of Haranshire, the player characters should have worked their way up to 5th level. Book II, Perils of the Underdark, shifts the scene underground as the characters search the seemingly endless realm of the underdark to discover the fate of the kidnappers' victims. By the time they reach the dark cavern of The Sunless Sea in Book III, they should each be 10th level or above, ready at last to confront the ultimate evil behind the far-reaching conspiracy. Inside are Three 64-page books compromising a single grand-scale adventure, which can be placed in any AD&D world. 16 Player Handout sheets featuring art, maps, charts, and letters. 8 two-sided DUNGEON MASTER Reference Cards providing cutouts, monster rosters, and two new evil deities. An eight-page booklet of new MONSTROUS COMPENDIUM entries, detailing three new races and two new monsters. 6 full-color poster maps detailing all the important locations in the entire campaign setting.

Purchases made via The Tavern's affiliate links help to support The Tavern. Additionally, if we generate $300 or more via OBS affiliate referral monies, I've promised to release a short adventure for free on The Tavern. Just under 80 bucks to go :)

Reminder -Three Days Left to Fund The Midderlands - An OSR Mini-Setting & Bestiary Kickstarter

Sample Town

There's about 3 days left to support The Midderlands - An OSR Mini-Setting & Bestiary. It still needs about $3,700 to succeed. If you haven't yet peeked at this Old School setting and monster book, time is running short. It will only fund with your help. You, not him! Sheesh! ;)

Seriously, if Dyson Logos and Matt Jackson are the premiere OSR dungeon cartographers, Glynn Seal is one of the top two setting cartographers and certainly one of the most prolific. This is a setting book that Glynn is Writing (Setting & some Bestiary), doing Artwork (Setting & Bestiary), Cartography, Layout, and is the Project Manager. Sure, there are others on the team (Edwin Nagy and +Jim Magnusson are friends of mine) but this is Glynn's vision and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes from his (slightly) warped mind.

Did I mention that the default ruleset referenced is Swords & Wizardry Complete?

"Situated in the middle of Havenland is an area known by the ancestors as the Middle Havenlands. They don’t use that name much any more, preferring to talk lazily, and skip letters. 

In strange accents, often misheard and little understood by those outside of the central region - they call it “The Midderlands”, and themselves “Midfolk” or “Midderlanders”. 

There are many peculiar folk that call these Midderlands home. Generally mistrusting of outsiders, they suspiciously eye strangers, close doors, bar windows and scurry in opposite directions. Maybe the area has had a troubled history and that is why the folk behave the way they do. 

All that aside, there are good folk too. These folk just want to subsist peacefully and not have interference or “goings on” in their lives. Nothing is ever that simple. 

As well as the people of the area, there are the places. The towns and hamlets, the woods and hills, the lakes and the rivers. Amongst all these places are stranger locales too; circles of stones, strange towers, castles and burial grounds. 

Everywhere, the Midderlands is tainted by a green-hued menace that rises from the deep and affects nature and order, sometimes subtly and sometimes catastrophically. It rises from the mysterious subterranean realm known as Middergloom. Often described as hell bathed in green fire and flames. Green-tinged slime, noxious vapours, and miasmas creep upwards, amongst them viridian-coloured demons, lime-green tentacles and other malachite horrors claw their way to the surface to wreak havoc. The Lords of the land are always working to keep things at bay. The realm of Middergloom is deliberately nebulous and mysterious, and left for you to develop as needed to suit your campaign. 

The vileness that lurks below taints the skies above the land too, known as The Drab. The atmosphere is a hint of green rather than blue. The colour can shift between turquoise and sickly yellow-green in a short space of time. When night comes and the Drab clears, the midfolk can see the constellations surrounded by wispy green nebulae, strange wandering stars and comets, and a single many-cratered moon. 

There are many things to keep the inquisitive minds of treasure seekers amused. There are also many things to keep the treasures where they are. 

Things stir in this viridian-hued landscape. Evil eyes blink and watch. Teeth and claws scratch and sharpen. Gaping maws slobber and drool.
All is not content in the Midderlands."

RPGNow Deal of the Day - The Wreckers of Windward Isle From Roan Studio

Today's RPGNow Deal of the Day is The Wreckers of Windward Isle. So, what actually is The Wreckers of Windward Isle, as the boilerplate doesn't say much:

Sitting at the entrance to the Bay of Spirits is an imposing rocky island that has been a hazard to ships and seafarers since the early years of exploration in the region. The weather, rough seas, pirates and the damnable Wreckers make ocean voyage in the area perilous at best. The land itself can be just as dangerous with adventure and intrigue around every corner. 

Yeah, doesn't really tell squat. Good news is that I ponied up my $1.79 (as it is 40% off of the usual $2.99) so I can tell you what it is. It is an OSR setting with adventure hooks and such. Maybe it is more accurately a micro-setting as it covers all of about 1.75 square miles.

I'm actually less interested in that than the locations and personalities within the setting, as they are generally the easiest to port to your own campaign, and stuff looks highly portable. Well laid out with pleasing art, this is well worth your 3 bucks, let alone a buck seventy nine. If I have a complaint, and its a fairly common one, the NPCs have too much magic. But that's my perspective and it may not be yours.

OSR non denominational, it should fit the ruleset of your choice with relative ease.

Normally $2.99, The Wreckers of Windward Isle is on sale until tomorrow morning for $1.79.

Remember, The Tavern gets paid a small amount from every purchase that uses affiliate links like the ones above. Please remember to tip your barman.

Swords & Wizardry: Light - Sandbox Setting Map - Tweaked and Finalized

Click on the map to see a larger version

So, the idea is that this map will be a 2 page spread in the middle of a 4 page release. It will be released without a grid (but with a distance indicator) with a gridded version of the map available for download. It looks much cleaner without the grid in my humble opinion and if someone wants to use a grid it's easy enough to print.

I tweaked some stuff with the latest revisions to make the labels easier to read. As the overwhelming response was to go "Print" or "Script" (and I agree, it is much easier to read) I did so.

There are three unnamed hamlets and one unnamed tower on the map. I don't expect to name them or describe them at this point. Yep, leaving more stuff in the hands of the GMs. Heh.

There is a ruined city on the coast, a ruined tower over at Far Point, a haunted battlefield, a mad hermit, a wizard's tower, a diseased forest, two indicated dungeon locations in the mountains, five noted population centers, a keep, ruins of an ancient city beyond the mountains and a huge city to the north. And probably about 2 pages to describe it all. The aim will be "hooks" over "details".

I'm figuring the first adventure will take place in the Town of New Velgare. Centrally located and a good starting location for the PCs.

Alright, I need to get back to the Tavern Cards. Many more to fill out and mail out.

The Poll Has Spoken - The White Star Pocket Settings will be (mostly) Unconnected

The poll on the Pocket Settings closed last night, and the vote (with nearly 50 votes counted) was 2 to 1 in favor of independent settings. Which it will be, mostly. There may be times where I have an idea that fits well with a previously posted setting and I won't avoid that, but I'll try to make the linked setting pretty stand alone at the same time.

I've been brainstorming ideas, and some are pretty much sci-fantasy in nature. With the straight up compatibility of White Star and S&W White Box, that shouldn't be a huge surprise. Consider yourself warned in advance.

If all goes well I'll have some "elevator pitches" ready to be posted in the next few days.

How Detailed do You Like You Campaign Setting?

On the one side, you have settings like The Forgotten Realms, Harn and the like. On the other side, you have Blackmarsh and similar sandbox style settings.

Detailed to the level of knowing the privy cleaner in the tavern or a light touch, where it's up to the DM to determine whether or not there is a tavern in the village or not.

I'm on the Blackmarsh side of the discussion, with maybe a desire for just a wee bit more detail. I don't need more detail, but I'd probably like it.

Where do you stand?

The Southern Reaches of the Wilderlands of High Adventure

I forgot about this map (only 1/4 is pictured above). This was commissioned by James Mishler's Adventure Games Publishing, and the cartographer was Peter Bradley (he works almost exclusively for Troll Lord Games).

It is an amazing map. Regretfully, I don't believe the companion booklet was ever published for this, tho bits and pieces of the setting was released by AGP and is available from the Judges Guild Page over at OneBookShelf, as is the above map.

Hmmm, I wonder if we could crowd-source a community driven detailing of the setting? It would allow this amazing map to actually live.

There are over 1300 hexes if I did my math right (at 5 miles per hex). Detailing 25% of the hexes at one per day would make this a year long project for one person. Would be interesting either way. Damn the lack of free time...

When it Comes to Pre-published Settings, Do You Prefer Detailed or Simple?

This kinda cropped up in an email conversation earlier today, and I thought it was worth asking
my readers - do you prefer detailed or simple commercial RPG settings?

See, for me, my preferred setting is something like Blackmarsh - enough to include some possible story hooks yet not so detailed that I feel like I need to memorize a 4" think tome before I can even run it.

I would take the Greyhawk Folio over whatever shelves of books the Forgotten Realms occupies these days.

So, what is your preference? Detailed or simple or something else entirely?