Creature Archipelago - Islands Map - First Attempt - SWL

I must say, the customer service from the folks behind Other World Mapper is top notch. My download link to update had expired. Sent an email to customer service and in 12 hours my new link was active. Woot! I do love this software.

So 13 islands plus one island engulfed by a larger one. The islands are what remains of a much larger island after the mysterious ancients caused their own destruction.

The lower middle island, the small roundish one, is relatively safe. At least, the town and harbor are fortified. That will be the initial home base of the PCs.

One of the islands will be given to +Michael Badolato and the Swords & Wizardry Legion to develop. Each island will be it own little sandbox.

For scale, I am thinking 30 miles across, give or take, for the island that holds the town and harbor. Subject to change.

Next for the map will be adding some visual highlights to the islands. But before that I think I need to detail Lizardmen and Goblins as PC races for Swords & Wizardry Light.

Someone put Supers! in Swords & Wizardry Light! Pow! Bamn!

I expected Swords & Wizardry Light to get hacked for other genres and its exciting to see it happening now.

What am I talking about? Linneman over at the Monstrous Matters blog has been releasing free SWL compatible PDFs  with new Supers! classes for his yet to be released Light City setting - The Brawler and The Elemental.

Grab them for free.

God, this is fun stuff :)

Last Day to Sign Up for the First Month of the Tenkar's Tavern OSR Crate

Yep, today is the last chance to sign up for the inaugural Tenkar's Tavern OSR Crate. If you sign up tomorrow you will be starting with the second crate and miss out on all of this month's goodies.

I've been asked what my curating philosophy is for the OSR Crate. Here's how I answer the question:

We have about 15 content creators looking to participate in the monthly crate at the moment with others interested but waiting on their new content. Personally, I want to explore some of the older products of the OSR - such as Blackmarsh, which is often overlooked and hardly ever grabbed in print. Or some of Matt Finch’s early work. I also want to explore some of the up and comers that are creating content, like Thom Wilson and Jason Hobbs. Then maybe surprise folks and throw in some Venger Santanis. 

The OSR isn’t limited to D&D clones either. There’s Traveller, RuneQuest, Tunnels & Trolls and other games that have been around 35 years or more. They are old school. Then there are games like Polyhedral Dungeon and Far Away Land, that aren’t cloning an old school game but have obvious old school roots.

So, there you have it.

edit: Links are on the right side of this very page

Hung With My Old Gaming Group Today and Look What We Found

As I've mentioned before, Tenkar was a henchman in one of my old campaigns that became moreso as time went on.

I never retained a copy of the character sheet of Tenkar, the Dwarven Fighter that was a henchman for Paul (who dropped out for the group for a bit and is the reason we gather each year, as Paul was lost on 9-11) before Tenkar moved on to Brian - who made this character sheet.

Tenkar later returned as my Dwarven Paladin in EverQuest shortly after launch and became my online name when I started blogging (to keep "the job" and "the blog" is separate worlds)

Anyhow, an excellent time with friends I've known for over 30 years. Gaming bonds are often life long bonds.

Just Over 2 Days Left on the OSR Extravaganza Sale at RPGNow

The OSR Extravaganza Sale is coming to close in a hair over 2 days - 10 AM Eastern Monday morning.

If you have a wish list or somehow have missed it, now is the time to grab what you want. If you haven't checked out the bundles, you really can't beat the deals.

Follow the following link for Tavern posts and picks for the sale:

Tenkar's Tavern OSR Sale 2017 Picks

Remember, 5% off all purchases made through The Tavern's affiliate links goes to support The Tavern. We thank you for your generous support over the years.

More Thoughts on a "Creature Archipelago" for Swords & Wizardry Light

Sidney Sime

So, the list has become something like this:

• Indigenous player races: lizardmen will be decedents of the long lost ancient race living in scattered tribes across the island - i'm thinking natural leather AC but no matter class, can't wear armor - +1 HP per level regardless of class - fighter, ranger, barbarian, thief, shaman (new class) - goblins - more recent settlers, they've staked out an island for themselves - fighter, thief, witch doctor (new class)
• Multiple Islands. It allows for diverse and localized settings.
• The Ancients had science / magic capabilities and are the original creators of the giant creatures on the island. Their artifacts are often sought and rarely found. Ruins, big and small, are scattered throughout the islands.
• One island is relatively safe. That will be the PCs home base / starting point. Might as well place a Tenkar's Tavern there. The home base will also have a smattering of lizard folks and goblins. Neither race is inherently evil. Oh, and of course its a port. Multiple nations and other power players have reps in town looking to hire adventurers to recover items and knowledge.
• I like the idea of a mostly blank PC map, to be filled in as they explore the islands. Isolated hex crawls to some extent.
• New creatures - large and giant sized "normal" creatures and magical hybrids. I'm figuring two dozen or so at least.
• Need to commission an artist to draw the islands - this is beyond my paltry mapping abilities :)

Right. So, I think I'll write the races first, then the two new classes. That should give me time to find an artist for the Archipelago.

Tomorrow - Assemble new grill before next week's heatwave, yearly gathering with old gaming group and follow up with a night of gaming with my current group.

Sunday - Uncle duties followed by interview. After which, we shall work on this ;)

I Just saw Kong: Skull Island Today - Totally Thinking a "Monster Island" setting for SWL would Rock!

Kong: Skull Island was simply a great ride. Not saying it was a classic, but my time was spent enjoying it.

Of course, as the title of this post shows, I was thinking pretty much from the moment they reached the island how cool a setting it was.

And it is.

Ancient ruins. Ancient people. Geography larger than life. Fauna that is larger than life. Add in some flora with medicinal purposes and have those ruins conceal ancient treasures and you have the recipe for some true excitement.

So I'm thinking - expand a bit on the ranger and barbarian classes in SWCL, add a tribal casting class (with some new spells), adjustments for small races fighting giant creatures, give elves some wilderness stealth, lots of new monsters and creatures, a map of said island, a scattering of ruins big and small (and some history for the now deceased ancient culture) and maybe an isolated port just off the island where adventurers can have a home base. PCs could be a mixture of classic "civilized" races and classes as well as ones native to the island.

The ruins can each be their own one-sheet. Wandering creature tables by general region. Not level appropriate for the PCs. A sandbox with lots of "Oh Shit! Run!"

Phew. Yeah, that's a full plate. Heh.

Anyone know of a stock art map that might fit the bill? Or do I simply use one of my mapping programs and stumble around to I get what I need?

I'll start my outline tonight and post pieces to the blog when stuff gets done. A full plate this weekend of family, fun and being the subject of a Sunday afternoon interview. Whee!

ConManKen - Catch me for Two Seconds on the Screen - Tupac Bioptic

Quick! Don't blink or you might miss #ConManKen!

So, what exactly is the going rate for a background extra that isn't allowed to speak in any of his appearances?

Is it enough to pay to fulfill his outstanding Kickstarters?

How about the lady in Georgia you bilked out of $50k?

Ah Ken, never the dream, always the nightmare.

Don't worry though - we love you like a cyst. A very infected, painful, oozing cyst on the gaming community. Own it Ken. Its all you.

The "Official" #ConManKen Countdown Clock!

I have complete faith in your ability to fail Ken. Seriously. You are a sure bet to lose. Go aead, prove me wrong. You can't. Continue living in Marcus' basement.

Love ya!  :)

Swords & Wizardry Light for the Vision Impaired - Coming Soon

NTRPG Con is such a relaxed atmosphere that discussions often turn to handshakes and deals and contracts. For Patrick Pilgrim, my wife Rach and myself it turned into the realization that most RPGs just aren't user friendly for the vision impaired.

This is an important issue for Rach and I. For those that don't know, Rach is legally blind. Most of the RPG rules I have are simply too small a font for her to read so her RPG knowledge is what she's learned directly from me. When we buy her dice we look for dice that have clear numbering and / or are larger than standard.

This came up in a discussion among the three of us, There was a person with a need - Rach, a person who wrote the rules - myself, and a person who could convert those rules into formats more accessible to those with vision impairment - or no vision at all.

Anyhow, the project has the Frog God green light. Swords & Wizardry Light will be the first project to be converted with Swords & Wizardry Continual Light a possible follow up. PDF and web app are definite goes. I'd like to see a limited print run once all is up and running.

I can't think of another RPG that has gone this route but I am sure they are out there. If you know of any please add a link in the comments below.

As always, thank you for the support.

What's in the Swords & Wizardry Light "Pipe" from The Tavern Master?

Time to just "Let Go!"

I've almost caught up from last week. I've sent contact info of publishers onto those that will be doing fulfillment on the Tenkar's Tavern Crate. I now need to reach out to all that expressed interest in being part of the Crate and let them know where we are at.

Phew. Tomorrow will be busy too I see. Who said retirement was easy? Shit! That was me at this time last year ;)

Today was an "Uncle Day" which was good. It forced me to step away from all things gaming related for most of the afternoon and a good chunk of the evening. Clearing the mind worked wonders.

So, Torchlight is about two months out, give or take. In the meantime I need to create content so I can:

A- Continue in the habit of making content

B - Learn and hone my InDesign skills

C - make millions from this hobby of ours!

Last one is a joke - obviously :)

Anyhow, here are some of the ideas I've currently outlined. Feedback is certainly appreciated.

1 - Continue with more Pocket Creatures releases. I enjoy them and they practically write themselves.

2 - Revisit Demi-Options - Classes specific tailored for the race in question. Have it in both Swords & Wizardry Light and Swords & Wizardry Complete flavors, preferably in the same package.

3 - Some unique magic items, compatible with both SWL and SWC. Another topic I've addressed in the past and enjoyed doing.

4 - Pocket Settings / Pocket Genres - Maybe a Western / Eastern mashup or some SciFi or Swords & Dinosaurs, etc. Two pages of classes and spells or powers, two pages of monsters and items and four pages of maps and settings. This is where I find out if SWL / SWCL is as easy to hack as I think it is. I've seen some hacking for Supers already and it has be all fired up.

5 - One Sheet Adventures, meant to be slipped into your SWL folder. Come on! How sweet is that!

Just think, if I write too much, just more content for Torchlight. For those asking, I'm thinking "Magic" for the first issue of Torchlight's main theme. New spells, new casting classes, new magic items and maybe even some magical traps - and of course all the other goodness that gets submitted.

There is an Article on ENWorld About the Need for More Gaming Conventions (but that's not the part I'll be talking about)

Aren't all conventions like this?
NTRPG Con 2016
Midnite Auction

I know. An ENWorld article being referenced at The Tavern. Before you bite my head off and stuff it in a NTRPG Con swag bag realize that the premise really isn't wrong. There IS a need for more RPG focused gaming conventions, especially ones that are actually focused on gaming (in other words, not Gen Con)

(you can read the article here)

Here is the part that sticks out to me:

However, that doesn't mean that a local or regional convention couldn't grow up into these facilities to be something equivalent to Origins Game Fair. According to their Wikipedia page, Origins had an attendance of 15,938 in 2015. Honestly, that isn't that high of a bar for attendance for a convention to reach, with a few years of hard work and good conventions. It surprises me that, for such a fun convention, Origins has such relatively low attendance numbers. 

This is why I think that strengthening the regional gaming convention scene is easier than people would think. Do I think that it is feasible for a gaming convention to have an attendance of 15K out of the gate? No, and I don't think that most people starting a convention can really handle those sorts of numbers right off the bat. I do think that a first year convention with an attendance of 500-1000 people is feasible to shoot for.

Actually, it is a huge bar to hit, especially for a first year con because you would need an experienced convention staff to organize and run it.  And you know what? Many folks prefer the smaller, more intimate cons like NTRPG Con and Gary Con.

So, what do you do if you are in an area that doesn't have a regional con (the NYC area has a dearth of cons, not counting two in New Jersey and they aren't Old School in nature) Barring an experienced convention management team, you grow it organically. Much like NTRPG and Gary Con. And you build the con's reputation organically. Bite off more than you can handle the first year and you might have no second year.

Of course, there is no discussion of the number of days to run that first con, because if you do more than a single day, you need a hotel to host - or have one nearby. Then there's the logistics of special guests and the cost associated with such.

Can you tell such discussions have been on my mind recently? No, I'm not organizing a local con. Even retirement has its limits ;)

Reminders - Tavern Chat Tonight 9 PM Eastern - Tenkar's Tavern OSR Crate Sign Ups for July Delivery Close June 12th

Its a two-fer Wednesday!

Its Wednesday, so that means Tavern Chat at 9 PM Eastern. I know I missed last week due to NTRPG Con (the Con of Cons if you are OSR in your leanings) I'll be here tonight. I will discuss stuff that although not "secret" is certainly not on the radar. Does it involve Swords & Wizardry Light? Most certainly :)

How do you log into tonight's chat? The chat box on the right side of this very page. Use the social media log in of your choice.

Tenkar's Tavern OSR Crate is also on the right side of this page. Get in early - meaning the first month (July) and we have something special for you. How special? Well, I'm going to do something and then professionals are going to come up behind me and make it "professional". Certainly Tavern related.

As a side note, the interest of publishers, big and small, to be involved in the Tenkar's Tavern OSR Crate has been gratifying. I've contacted those that handle fulfillment with your contact information earlier today and I'll be personally reaching out to y'all today and tomorrow.

ConManKen - Four Hours of "Uhmmms" and "Uhhhs" for Your Entertainment

Four fucking hours of #ConManKen. Recorded live. If you break the one hour mark you'll wish for death.

Give it a listen for the first 20 minutes. Count the "Uhmmms" and "Uhhhs". Post your total. Or just fucking guess. I'll award a random commenter a prize from The Tavern's prize closet. Not sure what yet. Mostly depends on how horrid the experience is.

Here's the Link

Really should make it a drinking game, but it might kill some folks...

ConManKen Records Yet Another Commercial - Can You Say "Uhm" Multiple Times in a Minute?

Hold the presses. World famous scam artist / bit actor #ConManKen is in yet another commercial that tries to parlay his background role in The Walking Dead into something relevant. Sadly the sale he is advertising is from last Tuesday. Ah well, he is still a classic.

Link to the video is at THIS Facebook page.

So Ken, when is the "drop dead" date of your promised Kickstarters? That's right - August 2018 2017 (keep forgetting what year this is ;) I have total faith in your inability to deliver on any of them - even the ass simple Pencil Dice.

For Those Waiting on Swords & Wizardry Continual Light and Torchlight, My Best Guesses for Release

NTRPG Con is the "Con of Cons" for OSR gamers, and although I talked with a huge amount of people over many topics, one thing came up repeatedly:

Swords & Wizardry Light

I believe both Frog God Games and the Bad Mike ran out of the 4 page rules folders. I do know that the Swords & Wizardry Legion Folders were gone by sometime on Saturday. They were popular. Heck, so popular that I talked with none other than Dr. Dennis Sustare (Bunnies & Burrows / Swordbearer until 4 am Friday Night / Saturday Morning about none other than - Swords & Wizardry Light and Continual Light.

So, what about Swords & Wizardry Continual Light, the 16 to 20 page ruleset that the Frogs are going to offer free in both PDF and Print, written by one other than Three Castles Award 2017 and Origins 2017 Nominee +James Spahn (with some input by me, but the words are all James and the results are amazing)

SWCL is right behind The Blight in Frog God Games projects being worked on, and The Blight is all hands on deck. I'm going to put the following dates out for SWCL (not written in stone - these are my best guesses and I lack true insider knowledge)- summer for the PDF and fall for the free print release.

Is that significantly later than my initial hope - April 15th? Sure, but the final result is going to be so much better and how do you beat free print copies?

Where does that put Torchlight, the magazine to support all flavors of Swords & Wizardry? About 30 to 45 days behind the release of the PDF. Work on it has slowed as putting the cart before the horse rarely works. I am proud of what has been submitted thus far. It really is an amazing community.

In the meantime, I get to practice InDesign and get some more PWYW releases into the wild :)

Far West - When a Podcast Interview is Slanted at a Right Angle, They Must be Interviewing Gareth

Wow. What shit. What slant. What purposeful ignoring of facts. Surprisingly, I'm not even talking about Gareth (as always though, still full of excuses).

What am I talking about? Minion Minute interviewed Gareth at Chupacabracon IV (May 12th through the 14th of this year - the timeframe where Gareth has been maintaining radio silence since May 2 - "serious family matters" prevent work on Far West but not, apparently, going to a Convention)

So, what crap does "Aaron", the interviewer, say?

At 3:25 - "I know things have been rocky. Don't give a fuck about that. The internet has a long memory... it will stay around forever - it doesn't matter."

So yes, the most famous thing Gareth is known for, Far West, it not going to be a topic, at east according to the interviewer. Because it "doesn't matter."

But at 13:20, Gareth brings up Far West. Its the elephant in the room, and I give Gareth credit for addressing it. Ah, but what does Aaron have to say?

"So people who don't know what Far West is beyond ridiculous blogskreets and horseshit." Hey, a call out to The Tavern. Heck, Gareth even recommends an internet search to read the posts. Well played, Gareth. Well played.

The worst offense by the interviewer in my opinion comes around 17:30 into the interview. Gareth decides to try and explain why Far West is so fucking late and Aaron tries a little misdirection:

"Mike Nystul is out there. Mike Nystul is trying to raise money. Fuck that guy!"

Holy shit! Bringing up Nystul. Might as well bring up #ConManKen too while you are at it. Heck, of the three, Nystul is the ONLY one that fell on the swords, said he was an incompetent businessman and left the fucking hobby! Aaron, you thought you were helping but all you did was make things worse.

Overall, not a bad interview on Gareth's end. He speaks well and knows how to weave a story. Aaron sounds like someone that still has a stash of Stacker 2 with ephedra while full of hero worship with blinders on. The total interview is about 38 minutes - I stopped at about 27 minutes in. For all I know there might be further gems, but really, giving up more than 30 minutes of my life to listen to Gareth and his excuses, valid or not, that I've heard for the last five years just isn't going to happen.

NTRPG Con - There and Back Again - and Better than EVER!

Rach and i arrived home earlier today. Unlike the flights that were canceled last night for others, our noon flight to LGA was delayed all but 10 minutes and still arrived on time. I am glad to be home but I'm already making plans for next year's NTRPG Con.

If for some reason you have not attended NTRPG Con, all I can say is "WTF dude (or dudette)!?!"

Seriously.

I was nervous that the new hotel (DFW Airport Westin) wouldn't be able to stand up to the Marriott (old venue) - I needn't have worried.  Where as the old venue had reached its physical limits, the new venue has space to grow AND maintain room for open gaming. The halls are nice and wide and allow for folks to stop for conversations without blocking others. I never knew how important this was until now. Holy shit but this is important.

I saw a lot of new faces at the con and many repeat offenders. I was happy to chat with all. Hell, if you stopped to chat with me you probably found me hard to shut up. I apologize after the fact ;)

I talked with Bad Mike on some ideas for improvement but most were already in the works for next year. Did I mention they've already signed for next year?

I really enjoyed myself at Gary Con and I'm looking forward to Gamehole Con, but if you really want an opportunity to talk with, not just shake a hand and move on, the old guard or the up and coming new guard of the OSR community, NTRPG Con is the place to be.

This was the fourth year in a row for Rach and I. By Friday afternoon of our first NTRPG, Rach was telling Mike we WERE coming back next year. My amazing wife is not a gamer by her usual nature, but ask anyone that has run a session with Rach - she becomes a bloodthirsty gaming demon when you give her dice at NTRPG Con. There literally can be no stronger endorsement :)

NTRPG Con - Silent Auction - Deities & Demigods - Signed with Cthulhu & Melnibonean

I nearly missed the silent auction. I didn't find it until about 130 in the morning. Then I found the above. It didn't even mention it was signed.

95 bucks won the bid.

I'm a happy puppy :)

And yes, it is beat to hell, but that's fine. Its been loved...

NTRPG - The Frog God is a Kind and Benevolent God. No! Really!

The Frog God is a kind and benevolent god. Do NOT believe the rumors as they are from the unbelievers and their word can not be trusted.

Seriously. 22 characters in the party and only one PC death - and that was rectified by a Deck of Dirty Tricks card. A deck designed by the Frog God himself.

Heck, we even defeated a Balrog.

Truly his is a benevolent god ;)

Rach and I played in +Bill Webb 's Swords & Wizardry / Mythus Tower game and it was a blast. Not only did we survive to reach second level but Rach left with a Dwarven Pick of Massive Excavation.

In all seriousness, this is hands down the most fun I've had at s convention yet and I've loved the three previous NTRPG's that Rach and I attended. Sadly it raps up tomorrow.

Still, before tomorrow there is tonight's Midnight Auction. I expect many items of questionable value but numerous legacy will be up for grabs. Wish me luck...

NTRPG Con - Upcoming Kickstarters

It has been said that NTRPG Con is the place where deals are made and handshakes are exchanged. This year is no different - or maybe it is - I think that more handshakes have happened this year then the two years prior. Maybe I'm just better positioned to listen this year. In any case, I won't be leaking anything that isn't confirmed.

What is confirmed is that Merle Rasmussen's new Top Secret game is Kickstarting in about two weeks. Rach and I playtested it last year and this year we get to play with the finalized rules. I loved me some Top Secret back in High School and this is one to look for. I'll see if I can corner Merle for a short interview ;)

How about this one? +Frank Mentzer will be Kickstarting a fantasy setting this summer. It looks to be a boxed set with maps by Darlene. Think Greyhawk with the overwhelming wargaming background. More politics but just as dangerous, Frank has been playing with this setting since the early days of TSR.

Then there is... not yet ready to be announced but damn, I wish I could. Sworn to secrecy. Sometimes the price of knowing is not telling...

NTRPG Con - We Followed a Skeeter into Rappan Athuk

Last night, after running my second session of Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern for Swords & Wizardry Light (went very well and as before had an extra player show up) it was time to venture into Rappan Athuk using Swords & Wizardry Complete with Skeeter Green as out DM.

There was some sort of side bet going on with Edwin Nagy who was running the same at the same time for 5e - who could kill more PCs in less time than the other. Skeeter won hands down ;)

My halflng thief survived much longer than I had expected with only 1 HP (we rolled 1st level characters with max HP, b ut I took damage early on and our party of 10 or so had not a single cleric. Actually, we had only one caster but a plethora of thieves. Go figure. Heh.)

What was really cool was the 3d presentation of a level of Rappan Athuk. My understanding is that the 3d printer files will be available in a forthcoming Kickstarter. I'm beginning to feel I need a 3d printer :)

Afterwards, meaning - after the vast majority of the party was killed - Rach and I chatted up one of the "Peripheral Frogs" (a position similar to what I hold ;) and we brainstormed some really cool ideas for SWL to present to the head honcho himself.

Afterwards, Rach and I headed to the hotel bar where we met with a  couple of NYC gamers. We just may have put in motion a very exciting project for the fall of 2018. Damn but I really love NTRPG Con. It really is "where the deals get made in the OSR."

After the bar kicked us out, it was time to hang out on comfy chairs and finish out beers, which allowed us to end the night with Dennis Sustare. Before we knew it 4 am was knocking at the door (5 am back in NYC)

It was a very good day - and night.

NTRPG Con - Basix Bells Shattered the Norns

A few of today's con acquisitions:

I run my next game in 30 minutes. A second group shall soon explore Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern!

BTW, I'm doing something very Frog God-ish. I'm allowing my players to bring their characters to other cons that I run Swords & Wizardry Light at. Yes, survivors could potentially level up :)

NTRPG Con - What Light at Yonder Table Be? Swords & Wizardry I See

Where the Swords & Wizardry Complete magic happened. Oh, and my knee...

Yesterday I ran a session of Swords & Wizardry Light. We played Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern and it was a blast.

We had the full seven that signed up and one standby that we added. Explaining the rules, generating characters, answering some rules questions and the like took about 15 minutes - then we were "in game".

They were a very focused group with good tactics and excellent "out of the box" thinking. All together the session lasted about 2 1/2 hours out of the 3 hours it was scheduled for.

It was also my first face to face session that I've run in a tad over 20 years (I run my games on Roll20 / Hangouts these days) and I learned one thing right away - I need to stand when I GM at a table. Don't ask me wy but it just seems to free my imagination and keep me focused.

Last night Rach and I were in a pick up game of Swords & Wizardry Complete run by Edwin Nagy. Holy shit but it was a blast being a part of a party of cannibal adventurers seeking the book How to Serve Man. Well done sir! Well done!

Today I run a second session of Beneath the Battered Dwarf Tavern then on to +Skeeter Green 's Rappan Athuk session. It will be a good day. A VERY good day.

Oh, there should be a very large Swords & Wizardry announcement this weekend. It will break here at The Tavern

Great Tenkar's Crate Jimmy! We have Nearly a Dozen Publishers Interested in Jumping in The Crate

Yesterday was a day that went by in a whirl. By the time we got back to the hotel room I barely had the energy to put up a late night post. I was excited, as a couple of my friends in the industry were at the con early and expressed interest in having their products in the monthly Tenkar's Tavern Crate (of OSR Goodness)

Then I opened my tenkarsDOTtavern email, and saw the inquiries from other publishers. If the current OSR Extravaganza Sale at RPGNow is any indication of the potential strength of the OSR market, the emails I read have shown me this monthly box of OSR goodies will be filled with some of the best products an old school gamer would want to get their hands on.

If you emailed me about participating in Tenkar's Tavern Crate I have read your email. I'll try to respond later today and will forward your information on to those that do the real work behind the scenes.

Damn. I want to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming :)

Jump Down, Spin Around, Shake Another Hand - Jump Down, Spin Around, Meet Another Friend...

There is Goodness here in Texas

To say that Wednesday Night, the NTRPG Precon Night, has been a bit overwhelming is an understatement.

So far, I have met with, in no particular order: Kevin, Chuck, Glenn, Denis, Steve, Chris, Thom, Stephen, Guppy, Chrissy,James, James, Jeff, Doug, Mike, Skeeter, Doug, David, Melissa, Rich, David, Paul, Jon, Jason, Zach, and too many others whose names escape me at this advanced time of night.

Holy shit! The con hasn't even officially started.

Tomorrow I think I will need drink...

We Have Arrived - Time to Run Naked Through the Halls!

Wait! That's been done already. Ah Well.

This is our room. Those are Rach's feet.

This is our view. That cloud hides and adventure.

Alright, time to explore the new hotel :)

Off To NTRPG Con We Go!

Rach and I have a noon flight to Dallas today. NTRPG Con here we come!

In case you missed it, last night we announced the launch of Tenkar's Tavern Crate, a monthly mailing of OSR goodness. I've already have publishers asking to be involved in the project and I'll be talking with others at NTRPG Con. I just realized, that makes this year's Con something that might actually involve work ;)

If you are at NTRPG this weekend, please, don't hesitate to introduce yourself. I don't bite and I am a tad more fun than a rock (inside joke there ;) Be warned, get me talking and I may be hard to shut up - heh.

I'll announce Tavern Chat's status for tonight after I settle in to NT/

Announcing the Tenkar's Tavern Monthly Crate of OSR Goodness - I Kid You Not!

Here's the official press release announcing the Tenkar's Tavern OSR Crate (I told you there was something special coming on the 8th Anniversary of The Tavern) 

Illusionist Investment Group Partners with Tenkar’s Tavern 

Erik Tenkar, the populist old school roleplaying (OSR) commentator and blogger, has granted theexclusive monthly subscription box license to the Illusionist Investment Group entertainment collective. 

Houston, TX, May 30, 2017 (www.illusioni.st) - Monthly subscription services are key to the growth of the Illusionist Investment Group (IIG). IIG brings scale, corporate business support, capital, technology resources, marketing specialists, and strategic relationships to key celebrities and creative studios within the tabletop game industry. 

“Tenkar’s Tavern brings a bold and edgy commentary to the adventure trade with blogs, social media, convention appearances, and brand licensing across many verticals,” said Jared Nielsen, Principal Investor of IIG. “We believe that with additional investment the Tenkar’s Tavern brand and IIG can mutually grow together.” 

When asked what appealed to him about bring involved with a monthly crate, Erik Tenkar responded: “To be honest, I love getting monthly surprises in the mail, especially those related to RPGs. An offer to help curate a monthly crate of OSR goodies was something I just couldn't pass on." 

About Illusionist Investment Group LLC 

The Illusionist Investment Group is a woman-owned, Houston-based company focused on developing entertainment properties within the tabletop game industry that includes board games, card games, roleplaying games, miniatures, web games, mobile apps and augmented reality games. 

About Tenkar’s Tavern 

Tenkar’s Tavern is a cutting edge network of blogs, events, social media and convention
appearances led by its namesake, Erik Tenkar. Over time Erik has become the voice of the old school roleplaying market with his edgy humor and incisive wit. An avid gamer, Erik not only comments on the games he reviews, but he creates his own content and inspires and assists other small press publishers using his podium as a megaphone. He is respected by old school grognards and newbies alike for his fairness and transparency with industry reporting and game information. 

About Tenkar’s Tavern Crate 

The Tenkar’s Tavern crate is a monthly subscription box filled with a mystery selection of OSR gaming products. Products range from RPG books, scenarios, adventure modules, dice, tabletop game accessories, miniatures and much more. With a changing selection each month this crate aims to satisfy collectors in the old school roleplaying market segment.

Media Contacts:
Trina Burns
Illusionist Investment Group
(832) 664-7993
trina@illusioni.st
www.illusioni.st 

So, what does this mean for you?

Well, if you are a gamer I hope to present you with a deep selection of OSR goodness. You've been loyal readers for years, some of your for the full eight years, and this is part of me paying you back. Seriously, I love getting my Loot Crate and Mythoard every month, but the idea of a monthly shipment of OSR picks landing on my doorstep is simply awesome. If you've been following the current OSR Extravaganza Sale at RPGNow, you know the waters of the OSR are deep and full of life. Its time to take a swim in those waters.

If you are a publisher of OSR or System Neutral products, rulebooks, adventures, accessories, settings, etc and you would like to be part of the Tenkar's Tavern Crate I need to talk with you. Email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that gmail thing. Put "Tenkar's Crate" in the email heading. We'll talk gaming and TPKs before getting down to the nitty gritty.

If you are a publisher and will be at NTRPG Con this week, we WILL talk. Trust me on this :)

As if you can't tell, I'm extremely excited to be a part of this. I've been dying to talk about this for weeks!

Doh! Sign up is on the right side of this page! DO spread the word! The more folks that sign up for the crate the better the crates are for everyone. Now to put my Tenkar's Tavern Crate Wishlist together...

OSR Extravaganza Sale - The Picks - The Witch Queen's Lair was in the Lost City of the Dwarves beneath the Frozen Fortress of the Winter Lord

The OSR Extravaganza Sale is in full swing. Its time for The Tavern to make some picks and the occasional "deep track" ;)

Saga of the Witch Queen - Lets look back to the Summer of 2007, when Goodman Games released Saga of the Witch Queen at Gen Con. A 1e adventure for AD&D 1e, it is one of +Harley Stroh 's earlier works. Conversion by +Jon Hershberger - "Drawn into a series of adventures spanning the north, the heroes take up arms against the sinister machinations of Kyleth, the Witch Queen. Beginning in the miserable bog known as the Great Swamp, the heroes are called to thwart Kyleth’s plot to create sinister artifacts of unholy blight. But the Witch Queen is a tenacious foe, protected by wicked dweomers and ancient rites. Running their prey to ground, the heroes must navigate the perilous halls and torturous caverns of the Lost Passage of the Drow. Their epic quest comes to a head in a battle that stretches across the icy reaches of the Northlands and to the stygian demesne of Baba Yazoth herself!"  $9.99  $8.49

Frozen Fortress of the Winter Warlord - This time we only are going back to 2014. Amazing cover +James Spahn -  "Cold Be Hand and Heart and Bone!and written by none other than our very own Frozen Fortress of the Winter Warlord is an adventure module for 4 - 6 characters of 9th - 12th level for Labyrinth Lord and other old school fantasy role-playing games. Utilizing rules in both the Labyrinth Lord core rules and the Advanced Edition Companion, this huge adventure pits the characters against foes of undead and ice!"

In addition to the adventure Frozen Fortress of the Winter Warlord includes...

-A complete dossier on the village of Winterhome, an adventuring location that can easily be inserted into any fantasy campaign - including NPCs and a rumor table!
-Seven new magic items
-Ten original monsters for use in any old school fantasy role-playing game
-Optional rules for frigid temperatures and how to survive them

This adventure is suitable for several weeks of gaming, with over 100 unique locations!  $4.95  $4.21

Lost City of the Dwarves Part 1:Discovery - They had me with Dwarves. Really. Slam dunk - "The first book in the Path of Legends gaming book series which allows you to choose the path of your adventure while using a dice-rolling combat system. The refined OSRIC-compatible adventure system (old school d20 RPG) has a minimal learning time but covers the most used aspects of old school gaming. In no time you’ll be hunting for enchanted items, battling goblins, rat-men and other creatures, enhancing your combat with a variety of potions and solving puzzles with deadly traps. Best of all, the character that you create, level up and spend time building in this adventure can be used continually in all of the Path of Legends books as you travel the path to becoming a living legend."  $5.99  $5.09

For the complete Tenkar's Tavern series of posts highlighting the notable picks of the OSR Extravaganza Sale, follow this link. New posts added daily.

Remember, your use of The Tavern's affiliate links helps keep the candles burning and the taps flowing at The Tavern. As always, we thank you.

The Tavern - Eight Years and Still Open Every Day - Thanks to You!

Ashley knows something the party doesn't...

Eight years ago today Tenkar's Tavern hit the blogoshpere. Actually, the blog was created a year before, but with the exception of a single test post it wasn't really alive.

Now, eight years later, here we are. The prolific posting has slowed down slightly but we've only missed a day of posting once in over five years. Conventions, sickness, holidays, vacations, a 29 1/2 hour work day, family drama, whatever - we've been posting.

Notice I said "we". I'm not alone here. Others do post and share at The Tavern and guest posters are always welcome. It is your community after all, I am merely the bartender. I keep the taps flowing, enable the conversation and throw out the occasionally unruly customer (we have few of those)

I can't thank you all enough for joining me on this wild ride. It has been and continues to be, a blast :)

So, where do we go from here?

Well, after I get back from NTRPG Con next week I plan on immersing myself in InDesign and getting some more creatures, magic items and even adventures up on RPGNow. PWYW or low prices, it will all be meant to be used.

Once I know how close Swords & Wizardry Continual Light is to release I'll turn the fire back on with the Torchlight contributors. Can't put the cart before the horse.

There's another project that may get announced later today or may not. Sometimes things fall into place as hoped, sometimes the process takes longer than planned. Its all good and will be worth the wait if it comes to that.

Last, but far from least, I'd like to thank you all for your support. Whether with words, donations, affiliate links (my God but judging from my numbers over the last week, the OSR has been neglected in the past by RPGNow - y'all are on fire!), evangelizing SWL, participating in The Tavern's Facebook Community or simply reading The Tavern - your actions are why I continue doing what I do and enjoy doing it so much.

Here's to another eight years and then some!

Ashley is a cruel DM.

OSR Extravaganza Sale - The Picks - Operation White Box has an Urban Encounter Beyond the Wall

The OSR Extravaganza Sale is in full swing. Its time for The Tavern to make some picks and the occasional "deep track" ;)

Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures - probably the Old School game I want to borrow from more than any other. On my list of "things to reread for inspiration - "Lots of times, we want to play a roleplaying game but just don’t have the time for all the prep work involved. No more. Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures is a kit to make a gang of childhood friends and send them off on their first big adventure, just like in the novels we loved growing up. Now we have this simple fantasy roleplaying game that gives a group of players all the tools they need to play an exciting adventure in a single evening, no homework, no fuss. Anyone with a background in OSR games will already be comfortable with the core rules of Beyond the Wall."


• Inspired by the works of Ursula K. LeGuin, Susan Cooper, and Lloyd Alexander.
• Character Playbooks and Scenario Packs for play in a single evening with no prep.
• Player driven village design for fleshing out the characters’ home.
• Six Character Playbooks, including the Village Hero and the Witch’s Prentice.
• Two Scenario Packs: the Angered Fae and the Hidden Cult.  $7.99  $6.79

WWII: Operation WhiteBox - If you are at all interested in military roleplaying, this is your go to game. The fact that it is powered by the Swords & Wizardry White Box rules is simply a small bonus - "In WWII: Operation WhiteBox, the player characters (PCs) play the role of WWII special forces operatives. They may be formally trained and part of an officially designated special forces unit such as the SAS or U.S. Army Airborne, or they may simply be guerilla fighters dedicated to making life hard for the German Army. They may also be covert agents working for organizations such as the SOE or OSS. Whatever their affiliation, their job is to complete missions behind enemy lines, paving the way for the next Allied advance. WWII: Operation WhiteBox is a standalone game that uses the Swords & Wizardry WhiteBox rules as its base."  $7.99  $6.79


The Book of Lairs: Urban Encounters - I simply love releases like this. Twenty-five lairs - or twenty -five potential adventures - for less than five bucks. Huzzah! - "The Book of Lairs: Urban Encounters is a collection of 25 lairs in an urban environment, with full-colour maps, map details and monster statistics. It uses the Adventurer, Conqueror, King System (ACKS) for its mechanics, but is easily adapted to other games. Most of the content is system-neutral.

It uses monsters from ACKS, Teratic Tome, Monstrosities, and The Tome of Horror Complete. Also included are two new monsters, both brilliantly illustrated by Gennifer Bone.  $4.80  $4.52

For the complete Tenkar's Tavern series of posts highlighting the notable picks of the OSR Extravaganza Sale, follow this link. New posts added daily.

Remember, your use of The Tavern's affiliate links helps keep the candles burning and the taps flowing at The Tavern. As always, we thank you.

Kickstarter - Blood & Bones: Tabletop/PC Role-playing Game (Uhm - yeah...)

Boy, is this awkward. The creator emailed me in the hopes that I'd cover his Blood & Bones Kickstarter, and I am - but I don't think its the coverage that he desired.

First, the good stuff. The Kickstarter page is pretty much free of grammatical and spelling mistakes. Pledge levels can fund the Kickstarter. Sometimes I think both are uncommon these days. The email inquiry was polite enough. Shit. This isn't easy.

Okay, here are the issues I see:

#1 - $50k goal from an unknown creator. Not just First Created but it appears, Zero Backed. No resume of prior projects or sample of prior work. Again, asking 50k.

#2 - Its a project many years in the making. Yes, we are talking classic Heartbreaker.

#3 - Monies are going towards living expenses (paying himself for the work) While I do understand time is money, there is no break down as to where the money is going .

#4 - Novels are also involved. To advertise the game. Need I say more?

#5 - No discussion of the rules on the KS page aside from a need for an app to play. Watch the video and you'll see the NEED for an app

#6 - Pledge levels included different levels for each of the three core rulebooks. No mention of add ons.

#7 - Mentions electronic versions of the rules in the video. No PDF level to back. Unless the backer levels are for PDFs. Doesn't say physical products.

#8 - Video mentions hiring folks to work on the project.

#9 - Money is needed to playtest. Shouldn't playtest of some sort have happened BEFORE asking for 50k?

#10 - Risks & Challenges - Apparently, Number One is "making a lot of money from this game" - Need I say more?

Yeah, I know. Harsh.

Kickstarter is not some sore of virtual cash machine where you put up a project and $50k spits out. It doesn't work that way. Especially not now with burned and angry backers lurking on every KS page.

Do you need 50k to bring this project to life? You certainly haven't spelled out the expenses to justify it. How are books shipping? Not POD obviously, as they are binders. Have you taken into account the cost of shipping? How about international shipping, which may be more than you've actually charged for the book? Are you handling fulfillment? An outside company? What about art expenses? Why are we expected to pay your bills when you have no proven record, either in the hobby or on Kickstarter.

My advice?

Rework your funding numbers. Lower you goal by AT LEAST 90%. Have some sample art. Show some sample writing from the rulebooks. Figure out your potential shipping costs! I can't stress shipping enough. Its the most common way for Kickstarter success to lead to Kickstarter distress.

Fat Goblin Games has some One Dollar Stock Art Selections - Limited Time

Fat Goblin Games has a limited selection of stock art for a buck, limited time only.

Follow THIS LINK and you will see a selection of One Dollar stock art collections.

Note - Not everything is on sale at a buck, but that which os is well worth the price of admission.

Remember, your use of The Tavern's affiliate links helps keep the candles burning and the taps flowing at The Tavern. As always, we thank you.