State of The Tavern Update, August 2019

Just some quick notes and updates.

You probably don't realize it because I never missed a day posting or podcasting, but July was a rough month for me. Not bad, necessarily, but rough. Lots of time sinks, both physical and mental. Much that I wanted to get done, did not get done.

Well, as of this past Tuesday (August 6th) the last of my mental time sinks are completed. One of the more major time sinks was actually preparing for the New York State Notary Public Exam. Long story short, both Rach and I both passed and in about 2 months we should officially be Notaries Public. It should help Rach at her new job, and as for me, it was on my bucket list. No idea why. Seriously. Heh.

I've been neglecting the Tenkar's One Shot Roleplaying Facebook Community (trying to free up time) and I hope to run a playtest of next month's ShireCon adventure in a few weeks via the Facebook community. I'm getting there ;)

Yes, I'm behind on mapping, especially the rest of the adventure in question. Work commences tomorrow.

Gaming content for the blog - I've got a ton of shit sketched out and outlined, and now is the time to start finishing stuff off and posting it up. So, hopefully, I get a piece or two up this week.

New blog host / Tavern 2.0 - can keeps getting kicked down the road. It will happen. No longer predicting when. Soonish.

I will be attempting to put up a blog post in the AM hours. Possibly a second in the PM hours. Podcasts will release in the PM hours. Attempting a schedule. Time is always the enemy ;)

As always, thank you all for your support. It literally means the world to me :)

New PWYW - Boons for Swords & Wizardry Core Rules

Hmmm. This looks interesting. Let's read the pitch for Boons for Swords & Wizardry Core Rules:

This is a D60 table I created for my home game of core S&W but it will work with any OSR style game. The idea was to expand on the class system using a random table. Players roll on the table at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th levels. I found I wanted to jazz up the core rules a little without overcomplicating things and this table did just the trick. It adds depth to characters without the need for more complicated classes. This is exactly what I wanted. I love the simplicity and ease of play S&W offers but missed some of the elements in more complicated games. This table gave me the best of both worlds. Some of the boons can be stacked (GM’s option) if a player finds they have rolled the same boon twice.

Alright, I'm curious. Its PWYW, so you can peek for free. Let's peek (note - screenshot is for review purposes only)

Holy shit. I LIKE this. Even if only used at first level, this is pretty damn cool. It's not overpowering and adds flavor and uniqueness to PCs. I just went back and gave a buck.

Note, although it specifically calls out the S&W Core Rules, it should work fine with any flavor of S&W. Heck, pretty much any OSR ruleset too.

Yep, affiliate links keep The Tavern going strong and that's an affiliate link above. Help a tavern keeper out ;)

Deal of the Day - Swords of Kos Fantasy Campaign Setting

I've heard good things about the Swords of Kos Fantasy Campaign Setting. As a Deal of the Day special, I may just need to pick this up. Yes, I am a setting junkie.

Normally 19.98 in PDF, until 11 AM tomorrow morning Swords of Kos Fantasy Campaign Setting on sale for 7.99 - 60% off.

Welcome to the Swords of Kos Fantasy Campaign Setting, a swords-and-sorcery milieu set in a Dark Ages fantasy version of the Mediterranean and the lands surrounding it! It is set a century after a Great Cataclysm destroyed the old world, plunged it into chaos, and reawakened magic and all form of ancient races and monsters. Now, the agents of Gods and Titans struggle against each other on behalf of their masters, nations strive to survive or dominate one another, and adventurers descend into the ruins in search of wealth and lost technology.  

This universal campaign setting, which represents 14 years of development and has roots in the early 1980s, is ideal for adventures of the sorts inspired by the works of Fritz Leiber, Robert E. Howard, and Jack Vance. It has deliberately been designed to be system free and compatible with any set of role-playing game rules suitable for ancient, medieval, or fantasy venues. It is the "Bible" of its world and its contents can be used either as part of a cohesive milieu or individually to enhance other campaign settings or adventures, and both by game designers and writers interested in authoring fantasy fiction. In that this setting was used as the playtest backdrop for games using the OGL/d20, Pathfinder, “Basic” Dungeons & Dragons and Labyrinth Lord retroclone, and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules, it is an especially ideal setting for them.  

This book includes:

• * MAPS of Kos City, Kos Island, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean. 
• * WORLD OF KOS, overview of the world, the impact upon it of the Great Cataclysm, and a timeline; sections on Languages, Clothing, Wealth & Money, Entertainment, Military Organizations, and Adventurer Culture. 
• * KOS CITY, an overview of the community that will be the starting point for many adventures and 50 specific places adventurers might visit in it, to include taverns, training halls, and temples (and which was designed to parallel the general sorts of places described in Skirmisher's Gold-bestselling City Builder). 
• * KOS ISLAND, detailed descriptions of the island of Kos, what lies around it, of its 12 major towns and villages, and of 10 specific places located on the island or smaller islets in the waters surrounding it. 
• * LANDS BEYOND KOS, detailed descriptions of 16 different nations, brief entries on nine regions, and writeups on three specific places. 
• * ENCOUNTERS, 21 encounter tables — 14 nation-based and seven terrain-based — that storytellers can use for inspiration and game masters can use to determine what things characters might encounter in the course of their adventures.  
• * LIVES, 118 system-free biographies of personages who live on the island of Kos or the lands surrounding it and are mentioned or appear as characters in the related sourcebooks or stories about the campaign setting. 
• * RACES, 17 species of people native to the world of Kos, including Antaeans, Arachneans, Bull Centaurs, Cynocephalians, and Myrmidons (along with more familiar Humans, Centaurs, Dwarves, Elves, Gnolls, Gnomes, Goblinoids, Half-Elves, Halflings, Lizardfolk, Merfolk, and Orcs). 
• * MONSTERS, a section on creatures that dwell in the world of Kos and and their roles in it. 
• * DEITIES & RELIGION, a section on gods and godesses, their worship, and the ongoing war between the Olympian Gods and the primordial Titans. 
• * GLOSSARY of terms useful for storytellers and gamemasters using this book. 

Yep, there is an affiliate link above. Affiliate links keep the beer cold and the taps flowing here at The Tavern. 

Kickstarter - DESTINATION FANTASTIC - A Kickstarter Favorite

"Enjoy travel? Fantasy? Sci-Fi? Watch this preview of the world’s first fantasy-oriented travel show, hosted by top D&D game masters."

I must say in all honesty, Destination Fantastic has missed my radar until now, and that's a shame, as the trailer makes this something I'd certainly enjoy watching.

Stefan Pokorny & Satine Phoenix are entertaining personalities and know how to ham things up. It looks like they had fun filming the pilot episode and it shows. Seriously, watch the video ;)

There are many pledge levels (too many if you ask me) but 15 bucks seems to be the sweet spot to me. It doesn't look like it's going to fund more than the pilot episode right now, but that is certainly n episode I'd like to see.

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern

Ah, sweet Wednesday. Hump Day. Also known as Tavern Chat Day, although we actually have the chat at night, 9 PM Eastern.

One to two dozen of your fellow gamers, bloggers, podcasters and more dropping into our virtual "Speakeasy" to share tales of gaming and geekdom with each other. I look forward to it every week.

Use the following link to join the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server, head into the Speakeasy at 9PM tonight:

https://discord.gg/swrF8Aq

Hobbs & Friends Podcast Rereleases the Alexander Macris Interview Episode

On a personal note, I think this was one of the stronger interviews Jason did on the Hobbs & Friends Podcast. I'm glad to see Jason has released it again. The initial drama passed over a year ago and I think this is a good move and I applaud Jason. I'm quite sure he will get push back too, but such is the way of the world these days.

Here's the Hobb's & Friends Announcement:

Hello. After much soul searching I’ve decided it is time to re-release this episode. I’m certain this will cause some undue stress for some people and bring smiles to the faces of others. If it disappoints you, I’m sorry, but I think this deserves to be out there. I have not changed my stance on playing or purchasing ACKS. If I do, you’ll be the second to know. 

If you enjoy this trip into Mr Hobbs’ Gamerhood give us some feedback on what you think! Since the change to the new RSS we could use some review and subscriptions. Please spread the word again and let other folks know there are new episodes and where they can find them.

Even if you decide not to listen to this episode, you should give Hobbs & Friends a try. Overall, it's one of the best OSR Podcasts on the interwebs.

New Release - Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit (Platinum in 5 days)

Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit is the latest release from R. Talsorian Games Inc. Released on August 1st, it has hit Platinum levels in 5 days. Normally 29.99, it is currently on sale for 15 bucks.

Now, here's the weird part. DTRPG is advertising a Cyberpunk Sale in conjunction with the release of the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit:

Notice how it says "Get 60% off Cyberpunk Classic Titles." Well, the sale page it leads you to has 44 items listed - but only 6 are 60% off. The rest are 25% off. It should read "Get UP TO 60% off Cyberpunk Classic Title." It is misleading at the moment.

The 4th Corporate War’s over and the big dogs have retreated to their corners to lick their wounds. That leaves everyone else to fend for themselves in a shattered world.
And that’s just fine. ‘cause you’ve got interface plugs in your wrists, metal in your limbs, and chips in your skull. You’re wired in, loaded with chrome, and ready to take it to the Edge. 

There’s a world full of opportunities out there. Maybe this time you can do more than save yourself. Maybe. 

The Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit is the perfect introduction to the newest edition of the classic Cyberpunk tabletop roleplaying game and includes:

• Two booklets, one containing world lore and adventures and the other the essential rules needed to play. 
• Six pregenerated characters.
• Maps and standees to help bring the world of Cyberpunk to life!

The above includes affiliate links. Keep the lights on and the beer cold at The Tavern by using affiliate links. 

So, Who Won at the ENnies This Year? (Highlighting the ones I have interest in)

I had a couple of people reach out to me asking if I'd covered the 2019 ENnies winners on the blogside, and I hadn't - although I did give it a quick rundown on the Tavern Chat Podcast.

I snagged the list from the ENnies website, but the comments are mine alone ;)

Best Adventure
GOLD: Masks of Nyarlathotep (Chaosium Inc.) (Call of Cthulhu did very well this year, as did Chaosium overall - did they take a page from the Raggi Rulebook?)
SILVER: Mothership: Dead Planet (Tuesday Knight Games)

Best Aid/Accessory – Digital
GOLD: World Anvil Grandmaster Tier Worldbuilding & Campaign Management Platform (Both World Anvil and DUNGEONFOG are amazing products)
SILVER: DUNGEONFOG—Online Map Maker & Authoring Tool (I'll be back to using this to making more maps for personal and public consumption soon)

Best Aid/Accessory – Non-Digital
GOLD: Masks of Nyarlathotep Gamer Prop Set (H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society) (what I saw looked awesome if pricey)
SILVER: Dwarven Forge’s Dungeon of Doom Modular Terrain (Dwarven Forge) (good but pricey)

Best Art, Cover
GOLD: Call of Cthulhu – Terror Australis 2E (Chaosium Inc.) (there is a trend forming...)
SILVER: KULT: Divinity Lost, 4th Edition (Helmgast AB)

Best Art, Interior
GOLD: RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha Slipcase (Chaosium Inc.) (I'm a longtime RQ lover)
SILVER: Symbaroum Monster Codex (Free League Publishing)

Best Cartography
GOLD: Forbidden Lands (Free League Publishing)
SILVER: A New Map of Hot Springs Island (Swordfish Islands) (OSR representing)

Best Electronic Book
GOLD: Sly Flourish’s Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master (Last Word Audio)
SILVER: Fear’s Sharp Little Needles (Stygian Fox Publishing)

Best Family Game / Product
GOLD: Kids on Bikes (Renegade Game Studios/Hunters Entertainment) (or is that "Kids on Pikes?)
SILVER: Dinosaur Princesses (Ardens Ludere)

Best Free Game / Product
GOLD: Ironsworn (Shawn Tomkin)
SILVER: The Ultraviolet Grasslands (Hydra Cooperative) (and available for download)

Best Game
GOLD: Mothership: Player’s Survival Guide (Tuesday Knight Games)
SILVER: Dialect: A Game about Language and How it Dies (Thorny Games)

Best Layout and Design
GOLD: Symbaroum Monster Codex (Free League Publishing)
SILVER: The Black Hack 2nd Edition (Squarehex) (I've never gotten into the Black Hack, but nice to see the OSR represent)

Best Monster/Adversary
GOLD: Sandy Petersen’s Cthulhu Mythos for 5E (Petersen Games) (CoC again...)
SILVER: Creature Codex for 5th Edition (Kobold Press)

Best Online Content
GOLD: Seth Skorkowsky
SILVER: The Alexandrian

Best Organized Play
GOLD: Cypher Play Numenera Season 18-2: Building Amber (Monte Cook Games)
SILVER: Minsc and Boo’s Guide to Stuff and Things (Greg Marks)

Best Podcast
GOLD: Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff (ever notice this scripted podcast is always on this list? excellent production values, I think it's less the hosts and more the team behind them that makes the mark)
SILVER: Red Moon Roleplaying

Best Production Values
GOLD: Forbidden Lands (Free League Publishing)
SILVER: Invisible Sun Black Box (Monte Cook Games)

Best RPG Related Product
GOLD: Dark Adventure Radio Theatre: Masks of Nyarlathotep (H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society) (CoC...)
SILVER: Miskatonic University: Restricted Collection (Chaosium Inc.) (CoC and Chaosium)

Best Rules
GOLD: Call of Cthulhu Starter Set (Chaosium Inc.) (CoC and Chaosium. Excellent product too)
SILVER: Forbidden Lands (Free League Publishing)

Best Setting
GOLD: The Fall of DELTA GREEN (Pelgrane Press) (Oh my. Is this still CoC?)
SILVER: Call of Cthulhu – Terror Australis 2e (Chaosium Inc.) (I know this is CoC)

Best Supplement
GOLD: The Glorantha Sourcebook (Chaosium Inc.) (ah, RQ and Chaosium)
SILVER: The 7th Ed. Guide to Cthulhu Invictus (Golden Goblin Press) (ah, yes, CoC)

Best Writing
GOLD: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Core Rulebook (Cubicle Seven) (I still want to play this. I still need to fully read the rules)
SILVER: KULT: Divinity Lost, 4th Edition (Helmgast AB)

Product of the Year
GOLD: Masks of Nyarlathotep Gamer Prop Set (H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society) (CoC? Again?)
SILVER: Forbidden Lands (Free League Publishing)

Fan’s Choice, Best Publisher
Chaosium Inc. (Chaosium - who would have thunk? ;)

Judges’ Spotlight Award
The Stygian Library (Dying Stylishly Games)
Archives of the Sky (Aaron A. Reed)
Sigmata: This Signal Kills Fascists (Land of NOP LLC)
plot ARMOR (Mostly Harmless Games)
The Elephant & Macaw Banner: Player’s Guide (Porcupine Publishing)

Best of Those Left Off This List (as per The Tavern)

The Midderlands Expanded, MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing
  Cartographer: Glynn Seal

Creature Codex for 5th Edition, Kobold Press
  Authors: Wolfgang Baur, Dan Dillon, Richard Green, James Haeck, Jeremy Hochhalter, James Introcaso, Jon Sawatsky, Chris Harris

Questing Beast Podcast, Questing Beast

So, why do you think Chaosium / Call of Cthulhu did so well this year?

Raggi is Such a Shock Jock! I'm so Shocked!

Wait, that's right - all the radio shock jocks are either off the air or no longer shocking. This is simply bad taste, but that IS Raggi's schtick:

Jeans, striped shirts, ballcaps, modern bikes - he doesn't even try to make the effort to have it fit his default setting. Because why make the effort when you can be "shocking".

I long for the days when Raggi was putting out usable stuff, like The Grinding Gear.

Ah well, I'm guessing this was one of his many inspirations:

Tip of the hat to Taverner Thad :)

Magic Item - The Taverner's Ring of Spell Storing

Yesterday I participated in some drama in the community. While I certainly feel my response was justified and needed, it doesnt mean I don't have a price to pay. Damn that Joeski Tax. Wait, where's Joeski? ;)

0. Some artwork © 2018 Joseph Salvador III, used with permission. All rights reserved. 
   

The Taverner's Ring of Spell Storing

This silver ring of a serpent eating its own tail holds a maximum of two spells. One is clerical in nature, randomly determined from the levels 1 to 4 spell lists, the other is magic-user in nature, randomly determined from the level 1 to 6 spell lists. Once the spells are determined, they can not be changed.

The ring can be used by all classes, and the magic-user spell contained in the ring can be cast by a user wearing armor.

The spells cast by the ring are gone until recharged. The ring recharges a spell slot (randomly determined if both slots need to be recharged) when a member of the wearer's party dies. Note, the wearer need not cause the death. Henchmen, hirelings and allies do count for the purposes of recharging the ring.

Note, I'll add the OGL to this when I get back to NYC. In the meantime, enjoy ;)

Dyson Plays with Revisionist History - Can't Leave on your own if You Were Banned Prior

See the number of "bans" on the Tenkar's Tavern Discord server? Nearly 1k are bans of spambots. Just a handful are "for cause". See that Dyson was banned? Why was Dyson Logos banned? For private messaging EVERY Designer & Maker that was on the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server at that time. There were 41 or 42. Dyson was upset that Alex Macris was a Designer & Maker and had his own channel on the server.

I was hammered with complaints from those he messaged. They felt they were being harassed, and I agreed. (BTW, PMs are more personal than emails - these weren't emails) So, in response, I banned Dyson Logos from the Discord Server. It should be noted that Dyson had previously blocked me on Facebook after leaving me a really nasty PM (nearly a year prior). He sent his message and then he blocked me, so I couldn't respond. I'm not sure if that's how he handles every disagreement, but what I can tell is that he believes in some revisionist history. Heck, I'm still surprised that he participated in a few weekly chats after flaming out on me on Facebook.

See, here's the latest from Dyson Drama himself (BTW, the harassing and banning are over a year ago now). No idea why this is coming up now, a year later, but I'm guessing he is looking to rile up his circle to light some torches in August.

Let me address a few things I haven't addressed above. As far as I know, I've never referred to Dyson as a "known harasser". I name him when I talk about him and I certainly have referred to him as a harasser. I also haven't talked about Dyson in a long time so this is a bit out of left field. But hey, I've mentioned you now. I know it is what you want, to try and stay relevant you need to be talked about.

Yes, I've mentioned the "cattle drive" of 100 plus prostitutes in the late 90s in Hunts Point on the weekly chat in the past, but that is not why Dyson left the Discord Server. He was banned, by me, for the harassing of server members. He did not leave of his own choice month later, he'd already been banned.

Truth is damning at times. 

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern

This has been a whacky week for me. Monday was the Public Notary exam, nearly 4 hours in the DMV, picking up my eight-year-old niece for a sleepover and nearly missing my Monday Night B/X game because I had literally forgotten about it. Then Tuesday was my birthday and all of the sudden today is Wednesday and I nearly thought it was Thursday. Phew!

Tonight (July 31st) is Tavern Chat on The Tavern's Discord Server. We hang out in voice chat from 9 pm eastern until 11 pm and often beyond. It's always a fun time and you never know what topic(s) might pop up. Old school gaming, nerd and geek stuff, classic movies - its al good :)

Invite to The Tavern's Discord Server - https://discord.gg/swrF8Aq

There's a Giveaway over on The Tavern Chat Podcast - The City of Great Lunden (MonkeyBlood Design)

Yep, in celebration of my birthday (which was yesterday) I'm giving away a print copy of Glynn Seal's (MonkeyBlood Design) The City of Great London. All you need do is call into the Tavern Chat Podcast via the app or the google number and pitch a topic for an episode of the podcast. Entries must be in by noon, EST, August 5th, 2019. No more than one pitch per person per day. A random "pitcher" will be the gift receiver and will be chosen on August 5th. Yes, your pitches may be used in the podcast, that is the whole point ;)

Note, this is US only because shipping outside the states requires me to sacrifice my firstborn son, and as I have only one, it ain't happening ;) Those that drop a pitch and are outside the US are eligible to receive a $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate - that ship free :)

Here are some useful links and numbers:

Tavern Chat Podcast: https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/E439---Tavern-Chat-Birthday-Giveaway-e4pruo/a-ajtqa8 (limited to 1 minute)

Voicemail # ‪(347) 509-5168‬ (limit three minutes)

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Deal of the Day - Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition

Today's DTRPG Deal of the Day is Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition by Mr OSR Podcssting himself, Vince Florio.

There is some interesting history behind the original Mazes & Perils, Vince & myself. Long story short, I would probably never have started podcasting if it weren't for Vince and his friendship. Yep, I call Vince a friend, but that doesn't mean that Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition isn't one of the best OSR rulesets on the market. It quite simply is, and if you haven't checked it out yet, now is your opportunity at a very fair price.

The Mazes & Perils Role-playing Game (MnP) takes a page from the first wave of the Old School Renaissance (OSR) when it wasn’t OLD at all… Inspired by the 1977 “Holmes” edition of the world’s most popular role-playing game, it shuns pages and pages of rules for a simpler time when House rules were the order of the day. 

First released in 2012, MnP drew a line on the map of OSR retroclones as something easy to pick up and play where your heroes weren’t superheroes. There are no superpowers here. Fighters have swords and armor. Clerics have their faith. Thieves skulk in the shadows seeking better items to steal. And Magic-Users sling magics at their foes until they run out of spells. This style of gaming is about grit and wit – and if you die, it must be time to roll up a new character. 

The original book was awarded a Gold Ennie Award in 2013 for "Best Free RPG" and now we've updated it with even more great content! 

Now in 2016, a new version of MnP – with some new classes, new spells, new optional rules, and a new look! Mazes & Perils Deluxe offers everything you liked about the original with a new coat of paint and a few new tools in the toolbox! New bits include: 

• New Class – The Enchanter – along with 20+ new spells in his arsenal
• New Class – The Shaman – along with nearly 20 new spells of his own
• Rules for Variable Damage for Weapons and Variable Hit Dice
• New layout, more art, and plenty of editing

Come check out a blast from the past and see why OSR is alive and well!

Originally $7.99 in PDF and recently reduced to 4 bucks, for 24 hours only Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition is on sale for $2.40. Probably the biggest bargain in OSR gaming this week, if it isn't in your virtual rules collection, it should be.

As I said above, Vince is a friend of mine. That being said, Mazes & Perils stands on it own, it simply is damn good. Yes, that is an affiliate link above. Affiliate sales help keep the beer cold and the lights on at The Tavern. I thank you in advance.

Wayward Kickstarter - The Tower *BreakKickstarter)

"A tabletop roleplaying game for #BreakKickstarter where you don't get to play the game until the creator is dead."

So apparently "Break Kickstarter" is a thing. I don't think this is what was expected, but it certainly breaks Kickstarter expectations.

A password-protected PDF, where the password won't be released until the creator dies. Damn, surprised Gareth didn't think of this scam.

Content Warning: While I cannot tell you what the game is about, it is my responsibility to let you know The Tower deals with mature subject matter involving deadly violence and its consequences both physical and emotional. Anyone who might not find this to their liking might not want to back this campaign.  

Some ideas are a hard sell. They may have an important message you want to share with the world but there's something about the idea that's controversial or risky. Particularly when it comes to making a game about a terrible event that will spiral out of control in ways we never imagined until it becomes a part of modern life. You know you may never be able to share it but it never truly goes away. Until you see a sign and the opportunity suddenly presents itself.  

The Tower is a mature tabletop roleplaying game about a terrifying moment that changes the lives of the people involved. And you won't be able to play it until I'm dead. In the spirit of Break Kickstarter, this campaign will provide you with a password-protected PDF of the finished game by the promised delivery date. The password will only be provided by me in the event of my death by natural or accidental causes. 

Yeah, I think not. It will complete but your reward will not be usable. Sure, it breaks Kickstarter but its also useless.

Leave it to a Canadian ;)

Kickstarter - Bio-Dice: Harnessed Energy RPG Dice sets in Test Tubes

I'm sorry, I read this graphic as BIO=DICK and the test tubes filled with dice as phallic like items. I may need a beer. Or maybe I've had too many.

Test tubes filled with dice that look like the dice I can buy in bulk on Amazon for about 3 bucks a set. But with test tube and sticker, it's 10 bucks plus shipping for a set.

"Our labs have combined the raw energy of nature and the sizzling power of man and installed it into dice. Our dice are named from these harnessed powers, placed in a test tube, and delivered straight to you. Enhance your game play with BIO-Dice, powerful energy in a tube."

Bio-Dice, for the gamer looking to roll with a biohazard.

Roll20 -The Orr Group Industry Report: Q2 2019 - No More "Apple to Apples"

Its been over a year since Roll20 has released an Orr Group Report, or a percentage breakdown of what players are playing on Roll20 for the 2nd quarter of 2019. Now, I knew that Pathfinder numbers were on a downward trend, but the report is striking in how much so. Be aware that they are now crunching numbers with a new method, but let's take a peek, shall we?

Notice how you no longer get pure numbers of campaigns or players. We don't even get a sample size. Wonder why that is?

There's a new category of "Uncharacterized". I'm guessing if you don't flag the system your game uses, you fit here.

D&D 5e, down to nearly 52% from 61%, but Pathfinder is down from nearly 10% to about a 6.5% share. So, if D&D lost 20% of its share, Pathfinder lost about 35%. But these numbers are "shares", and for all we know, there might be 50% more campaigns being run on Roll20 and both numbers in pure percentages rose.

Or to put it another way, if there were 6x the number of 5e games than Pathfinder games in 1st quarter 2018, there are now about 7.5 times the number of 5e games to Pathfinder. That's apples to apples, as best I can.

I'll dig a bit deeper into this over the next day or so.

Kickstarter - Cities of Hârn

"Cities of Hârn is part of the Hârnworld medieval RPG setting. Come to Hârn, where the fantasy is real."

Harn. The final frontier. A low fantasy setting for gamemasters seeking detail, not fluff. This is the 36-year publishing history of The World of Hârn...

Heh. Sorry about that ;) Harn was the second fantasy setting I found in my early gaming days, the first being the Greyhawk Folio. Harn was detailed, but for me, lacked a certain spark. But man, was it detailed.

The City of Hârn Kickstarter is going to bring that level of detail to the masses. Why is that? Back the Kickstarter for a buck and you get a 34-page city supplement in PDF within 48 hours of backing. If you like it, up your pledge to 19 bucks and you a second city and all the stretch goals (HarnWorld is the first stretch goal and is achieved -  This 58-page Hârn article is a general overview of Hârnic cultures, governments, economics, history, and more. It also includes campaign aids for such tasks as generating weather conditions and character backgrounds.) The stretch goals are where the magic is. If you want access to a detailed, low fantasy setting, 19 bucks is a bargain.

All rewards are in PDF.

Christmas in July Sale - WotC / TSR Picks

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of classic TSR Era releases that are now available in PDF and often POD via DTRPG. All of the TSR Era PDFs are on sale for the Christmas in July Sale, and I'm going to pick out a few favs and notable ones.

Gamma World (1e) - My first (and only - in my heart of hearts) version of Gamma World, this holds a very special place in my gaming collection as the first RPG I owned after getting my core AD&D 1e books. Never like Constitution for Hit Dice though - This is the setting for a GAMMA WORLD™ campaign, with players taking on the persona of an individual character somewhere in this forbidding locale. In a quest for survival and in search of a better future, the players adventure across the land, enduring hardships and encountering dangerous obstacles and mysterious foes - never knowing quite what to expect. The result is a game which can go in many directions, but which will be challenging and fascinating no matter what the outcome. 9.99  7.49

Boot Hill Wild West Role-Playing Game (2nd Edition) - Another of my early RPG purchases, I learned about Boot Hill from the AD&D 1e DMG. Sadly, my group didn't express much interest in playing it - You step from the cool shade of the Long Branch Saloon into the midday heat of Promise City. Loosening your Colt in its holster, you look down Main Street and spot the leather and denim-clad stranger who called you out. Citizens of the town scramble for cover as they sense the forthcoming battle. The outlaw doesn't look fast enough to match your draw, but ... wait! Your keen eyes catch the unmistakable glint of the sun against gun metal from the roof of the dance hall—the yellow coward has a buddy who's going to shoot you in the back! What will you do? Think fast. or you'll be the next resident of ... BOOT HILL! 4.99  3.74

The World of Greyhawk (1e) - This was all the setting we needed back in the early 80s. Heck, my original maps still have stains from the grease pencils we used to mark the territory my gaming group was conquering in the Wild Coast ;) - So the players have been complaining that the campaign is too dull, eh? Not enough detail? Why is this country at war with its neighbors? How can trade routes exist with all those wandering monsters? Most importantly, why do all of those unsacked, unlooted dungeons and ruins stand so close to the one big city all of the adventurers in the world hail from? Rejoice, Dungeon Masters, and relax! All of these questions can be answered by following the example of the volume in your hands. The World of Greyhawk is here, and is suitable for use as the backdrop of a new campaign without changes; or, as an alternative, city, country or geographical descriptions can be used to fill in details for existing campaigns. The World of Greyhawk is in the form of a gazetteer written by a historian native to the region, and as such includes the calendar systems used by the peoples of Oerth, a history of the major nations over the last thousand years, a discussion of climate in the different regions of the world, and even an appendix listing many runes and symbols (and their meanings) which are found in ancient and magical writings. 4.99  3.74


Fiend Folio (1e) - Before I owned a copy of the Monster Manual, I snagged a copy of the Fiend Folio. It was here that I learned that HDstood for Hit Dice, and WAS NOT synonymous with HP. Damn, my group was disappointed when the monsters started having more than 1 HP per HD :)  A Guidebook of Creatures Malevolent and Benign. This tome contains alphabetical listings of monsters designed for use with the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game system. Each creature is described and most are illustrated for easy identification. Using the new encounter tables contained herein, this work is sure to add new excitement to any AD&D game. 9.99  7.49

T1-4 Temple of Elemental Evil (1e) - I've heard it claimed that ToEE is not a megadungeon, and I would have to disagree. I ran it was a campaign at least three times in my high school and college years, and any dungeon that can keep a group running for months is mega in my eyes - A sinister force, long thought destroyed, stirs from the black hole that spawned it. Like an ebony darkness it prowls the land and safety is but an illusion, for it watches from every shadow and ponders possibilities. What began years ago, with the introduction of the players to the quiet village of Hommlet and the amazing lands of Greyhawk, at last is complete. Here is the long-awaited campaign adventure, featuring the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil, where a great evil broods and grows beneath its blasted stones. This is your chance to drive it back and scatter its force again. This product includes the village of Hommlet, the filthy shire of Nulb, and reveals the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil and the labyrinths that lie beneath, a warren of darkness. And beyond these ruins, even more, is revealed. For the first time, this product provides a complete campaign adventure, which will take beginning characters from 1st all the way to 8th level and possibly beyond! Hours of adventuring await you! 9.99  7.49

D&D Basic Set Rulebook - Moldvay Basic. This was the Basic Set of rules as I knew them and of course, teenage me was not impressed with anything named "Basic" as we played "Advanced". I'll admit it now, I was a fool - This is the 1981 edition of the D&D Basic Rulebook, which was sold as part of the boxed D&D Basic Set and also on its own. It was the first true standalone edition of what became "Basic D&D" as previous editions had instead been based on OD&D play. 4.99  3.74

You can also snag the D&D Expert Set Rulebook for 3.74

B2 The Keep on the Borderlands - Although I refused to play or run Basic D&D "back in the day" I had no problem running The Keep on the Borderlands with the AD&D rules. An adventure as well as a sandbox setting (and home base), it has been a go-to for me for many years -This module includes a cover folder with maps and a complete description booklet to form a ready-made scenario for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® Basic Set. It has been specially designed for use by beginning Dungeon Masters so that they may begin play with a minimum of preparations. Within are many features to aid novice players and Dungeon Masters: legends, history and background information, a list of adventuring characters, tips on how to be an effective Dungeon Master, plus an interesting area for characters to base themselves in (the Keep) before setting out to explore the Caves of Chaos. 4.99  3.74

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Tavern Chat - Tonight - 9 PM Eastern - Come Hang Out in the Weekly OSR Voice Chat Hangout

Hey, it's a Wednesday, and that means tonight at 9 PM we'll be hosting the weekly Tavern Chat Hangout on The Tavern's Discord server.

Here's the link if you don't already have it:

https://discord.gg/fReGmuD