Humble Book Bundle: Super Nebula Author Showcase 2018

It's times like this I remember how much I used to read. A bundle like the  Humble Book Bundle: Super Nebula Author Showcase 2018 might have kept me occupied for a summer. Alright, maybe a tad more ;)

There are four "bundle levels" and instead of listing them, I'm going to show them to you:

Yep, that works out to a mere 10 cents a book.

This makes it a total of 24 books for 8 bucks. Shit, alright, this would probably have covered me for two seasons worth of reading material.

Right. 34 books for 15 bucks. Good thing I'm retired.

20 bucks. 42 books. At a book a week you have more than three seasons covered.

Multi-format means it will work with PDF readers, Amazon Kindles, the Nook and other e-readers. Damn it.

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/super-nebula-2018-books?partner=tenkar

Yep, that's an affiliate link above. Affiliate links help fund The Tavern and all we do. Help us do the do we do ;)

The Tavern Chat Podcast Launches - Duck and Cover!

Yes, I have done did it. The first episode of the Tavern Chat Podcast is live. It may take a day or so to make its way through iTunes and such but you can listen now on the Anchor.fm website and the Anchor app (iOS and Android).

It's less than 7 minutes in length so it won't steal much of your time if you decide its simply too much Tenkar ;)

https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/Wherein-your-Bartender-introduces-himself-e1g31v

A Month Later, Still No Gygax Games Website / Gygax Memorial Fund Page Still Offline

Remember the announcement from April 17th of this year, abut the Gygax Games / Fig partnership to use Gary's IP for computer games? Well, there still is no website for Gygax Games 30 days later.

At the same time, the Gygax Memorial Fund's webpage has been offline for at least as long.

I can chalk up the lack of a Gygax Games website to poor planning, but having the Gygax Memorial Fund's page offline is simple mismanagement. Being that Gail and Alex are the main folks behind both projects, this doesn't bode well for either at this point.

(I also checked the GMF's page on Facebook - no update since March and no explanation as to why the website is down)

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern

Ah, sweet Wednesday Night. When The Tavern opens its doors to lively discussion. Wait! That's tonight!

Yep, tonight is Tavern Chat, hosted over on The Tavern's Discord Server starting at 9 PM Eastern.

You can use the following link to find it:

https://discord.gg/fReGmuD

See you tonight :)

The Adventures of Conman Sven #5 - What is Best in Life!?!

Yep, I think I peaked early. Not sure I can hit this high again, at least not without some serious work. Damn you Sven!

Still, got stuff in the works cartoon strip-wise as well as the podcast.

A bartender's job is never done...

Tavern Chat Podcast - Putting the Idea to the The Tavern's Community

I like what Tim Shirt's did with the Gothridge Manor Podcast. I've also been seriously looking at doing some Youtube videos. Like, to the point of researching editing software.

Then I started looking at the podcast host that Tim was using - Anchor.fm. It more than a host, it's a full podcasting suite. Works well with phones using the Anchor app and makes bringing in others to the podcast a breeze.

I think I'm sold ;)

The question becomes, what kind of podcast does The Tavern's Community want from a podcast coming from your OSR Bartender?

- Short (5 to 15 minutes per episode) 4 to 7 times a week

- Longer (30 to 60 minutes per episode) 4 to 8 times a month

- A combination of the above - short episodes for news and gaming thoughts and blog recaps, longer episodes with guests

I'm thinking I'd talk about recent posts at The Tavern, interesting posts from other gaming blogs and forums, gaming news (not all of which is appropriate for the blog but the podcast could direct you on where to find current newsworthy stories not covered at The Tavern) and other assorted sundries.

Me, I'm leaning towards a combination of long and short episodes myself.

Give me your thoughts in the comments below and vote in the survey in the upper right corner of this page.

Podcast - Gothridge Manor - Tim Shorts Speaks

I'm annoyed I only came across this today (as it's been going since at least April 23rd). Damn you, Tim! Keep me in the loop next time, damn it!

Here's the link to the Gothridge Manor Podcast.

Episodes are, for the most part, 15 minutes or less, which is about my sweet point these days. Long episodes are ideal for driving, but for listening at home, 10 to 15 minutes is ideal.

Tim uses Anchor.fm, which is not just free but looks damn simple to use. I've been thinking about doing Vidcasts, but podcasting with Anchor seems ideal. More thoughts on that later today.

In the meantime, catch Tim's Gotheridge Manor Podcast.

Bundle of Holding - Campaign Cartographer (Mapping Software)

I've owned the Campaign Cartographer software for a number of years. In the right hands, the results are amazing. In my hands - eh, not so much. I wasn't able to get by the learning curve. Also, I've moved to Macs for most of my computer use (this is Windows only). For those that can get past the learning curve, the Campaign Cartographer Bundle is an awesome deal.

For 30 bucks you get the Campaign Cartographer 3+ software and the Tome of Ultimate Mapping.

ProFantasy's Core Collection includes the latest Windows version of Campaign Cartographer 3+ (retail price $40) plus the Tome of Ultimate Mapping (retail $20), a 710-page tutorial guide with more than 150MB of support files like example maps, symbol catalogs, tutorial files, and templates.

The Bonus Collection includes the following:

If you pay more than the threshold price of $64.41, you'll level up and also get serial numbers redeemable for ProFantasy's Bonus Collection with no less than fourteen more products worth an additional $136: the fabulous Dungeon Designer 3 plug-in (retail $40) for CC3+ and more than a dozen Style Packs, tool sets, and map collections originally released as part of ProFantasy's Cartographer's Annual series. The entire offer has a total retail value of $201, one of the richest in Bundle history.

Campaign Cartographer is an amazing tool in the right hands and this pricing is hard to beat.

The Adventures of Conman Sven #4 - Talk to Me

Yeah, I expect there may be some pushback with this piece of The Adventures of Conman Sven.

First, here's a link: https://concussionfoundation.org/CTE-resources/what-is-CTE

Second, here's the relevant quote (especially applicable to the time the claim by Sven was made):

HOW IS CTE DIAGNOSED? 

Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed after death through brain tissue analysis... In fact, until recently there were relatively few doctors who knew how to diagnose CTE.

Third, here's the background: When you self-diagnose yourself with a disease that can only be diagnosed after death, in an attempt to further yourself from your Kickstarter responsibilities, you deserve to be mocked. Maybe next time, Sven will pick a different random illness.

I really hate having to explain a joke, but if you haven't been following along from the beginning it may just be a bit obtuse.

Don't worry, tomorrow should cheer up all of the Conan Fans ;)

News - Bob Bledsaw III Removed from CSIO Kickstarter - Bob Bledsaw II now at Helm

I'll give the long story short - Bob Bledsaw III has been removed from the City State of the Invincible Overlord Kickstarter. Bob II says he "appointed the wrong manager" and the capital was "mismanaged". I think those are both HUGE understatements. The money is, however, gone and then some, so outside funds will be needed to bring this to completion. Oh, and Bob II needs to change the Kickstarter password like NOW. - Tenkar

Below is the update:

Update #97

May 14 2018

Slow but Sure Progress - Change of the Guard (link to original)

There has been a major change made in management of this project.
Until today, it was in the hands of Bob III (my son) and now I finally can take the helm and ultimate responsibility of this important task. In fact, this is my first time logging into the account, and seeing the backers list - all who pledged and what amounts are due. Anyone wishing to reach me can use jgww@comcast.net or facebook.

I cannot ask for time, you all have given that, and your support.

I can only offer candor and truth. The books ARE still in progress. I have already begun sending out the miniatures to those who paid for them. I go into this with none of the capital you pledged, as it was mismanaged. I have had no access to the pledged funds ... and have sunk over 6k of my own funds into the layout and maps (I am not a rich man, or this would have been fixed long ago) ... things WILL get done as I can afford to do them. All JG profits from the Goodman Games/ Judges Guild kickstarter went to this kickstarter layout and map costs.

I ask that you back (publicly if not financially) any other projects JG may do by way of other publishers, as those funds will come here to help resolve this floundering venture as well. I do understand your anger and disgust with all this. I agree with that sentiment; you have all waited far too long, and so have I.

My goal when this kickstarter was first proposed was simply to revamp and produce our original campaign maps... all else was added as an afterthought by the project manager. My short-term goal is to fulfill this kickstarter as soon as possible. My long-term goal is to see as many of JG's classic titles as possible available to the public.

I did not make the decisions that got us to this point, but I failed you all in appointing the wrong manager. I have always strove to make JG look good, and you cannot imagine how sorry I feel at this point. I know that our biggest backers were our dearest fans; those who have bought our products for decades and literally put food on my family's table. My work is ahead of me here, and I will try to get past this to everyone's satisfaction.

Sincerely -
Bob Bledsaw II - Judges Guild
jgww@comcast.net

Deal of the Day - For Coin & Blood (OSR / S&W WB)

For Coin & Blood is today's RPGNow Deal of the Day.

Normally 10 bucks in PDF, until 11 AM tomorrow morning, For Coin & Blood is only 4 bucks.

FOR COIN & BLOOD is an old school fantasy roleplaying game with a twist... 

...a twist of the knife! 

Embracing the literary genre known as "grimdark", and inspired by stories of mercenaries, sellswords and blackguards, FOR COIN & BLOOD keeps you on your toes, as you tell stories about the terrible things that happen to people, when they head out in search of coin, passion, and revenge... 

FOR COIN & BLOOD uses a modified version of Swords & Wizardry: WhiteBox, but is a complete game.

That's an affiliate link above. Keep the lights on and the taps flowing at The Tavern using our affiliate links.

Note: The Summer Indie Game Expo Bundle (PDF) also includes For Blood & Coin in the bundle.

The Adventures of Conman Sven - Part 3 - Why Can't We Be Friends?

Figure I'd release the third part, then take a break for a day or two. Conman Sven is hot right now. Can't imagine why. ;)

I've got a handful more already done and waiting, but if you have ideas feel free to send them this way.

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No, really!

The Adventures of Conman Sven - Part 2 - Authentic Sven

I figured I'd put the second piece out there as the reception to the first was extremely strong.

I've already got more in the hopper.

Good ole' Conman Sven. He practically writes these himself ;)

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No, really!

The Adventures of Conman Sven - Part 1 - The Residuals

Made using the free ToonDo.com web tools.

This may very well be the first in a series. Be afraid. Be very afraid ;)

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No, really!

Coming in September - Dungeons & Dragons Endless Quest Books (pre-orders are open)

They're back! Well, soon to be back, that is. Endless Quest Books are making their return in September but you can pre-order now.

9 bucks for the softcover, 17 bucks for the hardcover on Amazon.

Four books, one for each of the core classes.

After failing in my uncle duties yesterday (my niece fractured her wrist under my watch) I think I'll be ordering all four in hardcover :(

Kickstarter - Town & Cityscapes : Fantasy Civilization Series for RPGs (Digital art and Image creation package)

I love maps. I love mapping software, even if I lack the skills to use most to their fullest. I'm in love with the results attainable from the Town & Cityscapes : Fantasy Civilization Series for RPGs Kickstarter, even if I know the results are not obtainable by me on any level.

What do I mean?

Town and Cityscapes (the first in the Fantasy Civilization Series) is a cohesive system-independent image package designed from the ground up to place creative power in the hands of the user. Create maps, illustrations, handouts, etc. of any classic fantasy settlement in your favorite image editing software affordably and without the need for any artistic skills. (emphasis mine)

I have never used imaging editing software beyond removing the occasional red-eye or cropping a photo. So, yeah, I suspect this is beyond my abilities. However, if this IS in your wheelhouse, the potential this Kickstarter holds for you is huge.

I'm looking forward to seeing the results of the backers even if I won't be one of them.

Just over 2 days to go on this one.

Goodman Games 3e Sale - $1 / $3 / $5 Tavern Picks

The Goodman Games 3e Sale is packed full of great picks no matter what edition you run (I've used many 3e Goodman releases with Swords &Wizardry, converting on the fly).

I know some are looking to stretch their gaming dollar and want to make sure they get some of the best releases for the least amount of cash. I'm going to throw some Goodman Games DCC 3e picks at you hoping for you to the get the best bang for your gaming buck.

Dungeon Crawl Classics #51: Castle Whiterock - I own the boxed set AND the PDF. It's a great megadungeon that covers levels 1 through 15. Over 750 pages. That is one hell of a lot of adventuring. Heck, if you get this, you might not need to grab anything else, as this may hold you over for a damn long time. Free preview of level 9 can be downloaded here.   $5 (If you can get only one $5 PDF, this should be it)

Dungeon Crawl Classics #35: Gazetteer of the Known Realms - This is the default Goodman Games setting. Another 5 buck pick and well worth it. Being a setting, it's really easy to use with the rules of your choice.  $5

Dungeon Crawl Classics #46: The Book of Treasure Maps - What is that? Six adventures (with handouts) for a buck? How can you go wrong? "Each of the adventures is stand-alone and world-neutral, and given the nature of the treasure map concept, they're easy to drop into any campaign." 112 pages.  $1

Judges Guild JG3: Dark Tower - "This special Silver Edition of the classic Judges Guild adventure module is converted to the 3.5 rules set, and includes all new art as well as new material to expand the beloved original!"  $1

Judges Guild JG2: Citadel of Fire - A 3e conversion of a Judges Guild classic. "Just outside the rough-hewn timber hamlet of Aztlan lies the ancient and mysterious Citadel of Fire: an embodiment of evil and destruction since its stones were first laid. Inside the town of Aztlan, itself a nest of intrigue and danger, there lies an evil temple dedicated to an ancient god to which the masters of the Citadel pay homage. Together the denizens of the Temple and Citadel have made plans to overthrow their rival powers and subjugate the innocents of the land. Meanwhile, just outside of town, sits a not-so-quiet graveyard with a sinister and deadly secret. Are you brave enough to explore the secrets of Aztlan and put an end to the evil that is The Citadel of Fire?"  $1


Judges Guild JG1: Thieves of Fortress Badabaskor - The first in the series of three Judges Guild conversions. "Do your heroes dare to enter Fortress Badabaskor? Deadly brigands, vicious cultists, and the dusty treasures of the Dragon Kings await those with muscle, wit, and luck. Defeat these challenges to uncover the dark secret of Badabaskor - a secret that will challenge even the most experienced of adventurers..."  $1

Dungeon Crawl Classics #9: Dungeon Geomorphs - "Unlike other Dungeon Crawl Classics, this volume does not present a completed adventure. Instead, it presents a set of DM tools that will make your job easier. This book of dungeon geomorphs gives you everything you need to map out exciting underground adventures. The geomorphs are modular map segments designed to be combined in a variety of ways. There are 124 map segments, encompassing mazes, dungeons, underdeep caverns, monstrous lairs, castles, ruins, halls, and many other intriguing places to explore. Together they combine to make thousands of possible maps!"  $1  (if you can get only one $1 pick, this should be it)


Dungeon Crawl Classics #14: Dungeon Interludes - "This module is a collection of six related adventures designed to be played nonconsecutively over the course of a campaign. Each adventure builds on the one before it but is complete and stand-alone. This allows the DM to weave an ongoing plotline into his larger campaign, which gets revealed bit by bit, one episode at a time."  $1

Dungeon Crawl Classics #29: The Adventure Begins - If you can only afford one purchase from this sale, this gem should be it. 20 adventures for beginning adventures (levels 1 to 3). Over 260 pages. 3 bucks. I've used a few already. "Let the adventure begin! This compilation of twenty all-new 1st-level adventures is specially designed to kick-start new campaigns. Written by experienced adventure authors, these stand-alone modules will challenge your heroes with war-worms, hang-gliding kobolds, a hundred-foot-tall colossus, giant bees, an ancient wizard's tower, trained monkeys, dangerous mushrooms, a gigantic white salamander -- and more!"  $3 (if you can get only one $3 pick, this should be it)

Dungeon Crawl Classics #48: The Adventure Continues - The companion to DCC #29, this features 20 4th to 6th level adventures. "The adventure continues! This compilation of all-new 4th-level adventures is specially designed to continue new campaigns. They’re perfect sequels to DCC #29: The Adventure Begins, or any other level 1-3 adventures. Written by experienced adventure authors, these stand-alone modules will challenge your heroes with feral elves, undead fiddlers, evil fey, dreamscape nightmares, ghostly Neanderthals -- and more!"  $3

There are a bunch of affiliate links above. Each buck you spend via The Tavern's affiliate links puts a nickel in The Tavern's coffers. Those nickles can add up and we appreciate every single one. Thank you for supporting The Tavern.

Tenkar's Tavern is #25 out of 85 on the Feedspot Top 100 RPG Blog List (remember this classic?)

Ah, remember this shakedown from December 2017?  I was being shaken down for a Feedspot subscription if I wanted to be added to the Top 100 RPG Blogs list.

Apparently, I am now "legitimately" on this fairly illegitimate list. I never agreed to the shakedown but nearly 5 months later I've made "the list".

We're at #25, out of 85 blogs listed (it was 75 blogs in December of 2017) on a Top 100 list. Oh, and they aren't all blogs either. Forums, retail sites, Reddits, Youtube channels... you get the idea. Now, just Old School Blogs, The Tavern has a listing of 81 blogs - why you would anyone need to fill such a list with non-blogs AND still be unable to hit 100 blogs is beyond me.


Gee, Anuj asked for a link. I don't think this is the post he expected...

Deal of the Day - ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG - 3 Bucks

If you are one of the handful of people that have not yet grabbed a copy of the ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG, here's your chance to get it for three bucks.

For the next 12 hours, ZWEIHÄNDER is the Deal of the Day.

"ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG is a retro-clone spiritual successor to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay first and second editions, an unrepentant OSR heartbreaker released under Creative Commons License Share-Alike. It is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game, one where adventurers will:

• Live in a gritty, ‘realistic’ fantasy world
• Make morally grey decisions & enact vicious reprisals
• Uncover insidious plots & political intrigue
• Desperately fight in clandestine & open field combat
• Defend themselves from injuries, madness & mutations
• Take part in heart-pumping chase scenes
• Venture into the wilderness & survive its perils
• Encounter sanity-blasting creatures & their minions

This 692 page, all-in-one game includes most of what you need to play: a character creation guide, game mastery rules and a bestiary brimming with creatures both fair & foul. All that’s left to gather are a few friends, pencils and a handful of dice."

It sure seems like May is "sale month" at RPGNow. Yep, an affiliate link is above. Time to get back to more news, gaming content and #ConManKen ;)

Amazing $20 Bundle - $144 Value - Summer Indie Game Expo

That's right, $144 worth of gaming goodness for 20 bucks in the Summer Indie Game Expo Bundle (PDF). What titles are included in the bundle?

• WWII: Operation WhiteBox -  is an homage to these heroes, both living and fallen
• Midlands Low Magic Sandbox Setting - 365 pages of low magic, low prep, customisable sandbox, in a “points of light” medieval fantasy realm
• The Hero's Journey - James Spahn's classic OSR rules
• Polyhedral Dungeon - Play classic dungeon crawls with a flexible unified system that’s easy to learn
• Coin & Blood - old school fantasy roleplaying game with a twist... ...a twist of the knife
• Kaigaku Premium Edition - Kaigaku brings dramatic samurai action back to your tabletop
• 4Saken - Horror gaming that’s easy and exciting
• A Festival of Blades: A Cavaliers of Mars Jumpstart - Return now to dying Mars in its last age of glory
• Blood & Bile - Blood & Bile is a narrative, lightweight RPG of emergent storytelling
• CAPERS Preview Edition - A Super-Powered Game of 1920s Gangsters
• Murders & Acquisitions - puts you smack dab in the middle of a cut-throat corporation in an absurd, alternate version of our world where literally anything goes in terms of corporate advancement
• PERK Core Rulebook - a low-cost, rules-lite role playing system with in-depth strategy and a huge array of character options
• The Secret of Vinsen's Tomb: A Pugmire Jumpstart - A cat living in Pugmire disappears, but neither the police dogs nor the cats of the Cat Quarter know why
• vs. Ghosts - a roleplaying game in which players suit up to battle strange hauntings in their neighborhoods while dealing with the mundane non-believers that try to prevent you from doing your job
• Doodle Dice Monsters -a dice game in which players make doodles of monsters and then use dice to give those monsters abilities
• and more!

That's an affiliate link above. Keep the lights on and the taps flowing :)

The First Five Maps and Guidebook for the Wilderlands of High Fantasy is Available for Sale

Rob Conley, in association with Judges Guild, has just released the first five maps and guidebook for the Wilderlands of High Fantasy. If you backed the Kickstarter, check your email for a project update with backer links.

Now, this release is available in both PDF and Print on Demand.

The Wilderlands of High Fantasy, Revised Guidebook is $4.99 in PDF, $5.99 in Print plus PDF

The Wilderlands of High Fantasy, Color Maps is $9.99 in PDF, $14.99 in Print plus PDF (note: The PDF for the Wilderlands of High Fantasy Guidebook is included in this product. You only need to buy the separate guidebook if you want a print copy of the guidebook.)

There is a FREE Preview PDF that gives a sample map and some tables from the full releases. Download the Wilderlands of High Fantasy Preview PDF here. If you do nothing else, snag the preview. It is well worth your time to peruse. Heck, you basically get one of the 5 maps and all the charts to go with it.

Prior Release: City State of the Invincible Overlord, Color Map is $7.99 in PDF, $9.98 in Print plus PDF

In 1976, Bob Bledsaw and Bill Owen went into business as Judges Guild. Their initial offering was centered on a magnificent 34" by 44" map of the City State of Invincible Overlord. First appearing at Gen Con IX, it was sold literally out of the trunk of a car during the convention. 

This map launched Judges Guild which began working on even more ambitious project, the Wilderlands of High Fantasy. This became an ambitious project of 18 22" by 17" maps covering a total area 800 miles from west to east, and 1,000 miles from north to south. Each individual map was divided into 5 miles hexes covering an area of 260 miles west to east, and 170 miles from north to south. 

Now forty years later those maps have been redrawn in full color. These maps preserves the original detail and applies known errata and corrections. Each was drawn as part of single 6 foot by 8 foot map encompassing the entire Wilderlands then subdivided and cropped.
These maps are not a scanned images of the original but have been redrawn from scratch. The guidebook is also not a scanned image but has been relaid out from the original text with errata and corrections applied. 

The Wilderlands of High Fantasy Guidebook 

This product contains a 24 page Guidebook for the five maps of the Wilderlands of High Fantasy. The books has an introduction and commentary by Robert S. Conley who has used the Wilderlands as his main fantasy campaign for nearly forty years. Each map is detailed with the following listings: Villages, Castles & Citadels, Idyllic Isles, Ruins & Relics, and Lurid Lairs. 

This product contains: 

5 PDFs of the following 22" by 17" maps: City State of the Invincible Overlord Map One, Barbarian Altanis Map Two, Glow-Worm Steppes Map Three, Tarantis Map Four, and Valon Map Five. 

1 PDF of the Wilderlands of High Fantasy Guidebook. 

The print option adds the following: 

Ten overlapping full scale maps of each half of the maps. 

You can read Rob's post at Bat in the Attic here.

Those are definitely affiliate links above. If you wish to keep The Tavern going strong while doing what you already do, please use our affiliate links prior to shopping at RPGNow and the rest of the OneBookShelf sister sites. It really does mean a lot and I thank you.

Sale - Everything Dolmenwood (Print + PDF Bundle)

I saw this mentioned on the Gamers & Grognards blog and I thought I'd share it, as its rare to see print products at OneBookShelf get discounted.

The Everything Dolmenwood Bundle gives you The Weird That Befell Drigbolton and 8 issues of Wormskin, in print and PDF, for $53.91.

Now, although the bundle counts the PDFs as having extra value and claims a discount from a total value of $123.42, the PDFs are included in the price of print copies purchased individually.

What you ARE looking at is a discount of a little more than 25% (if my mental math is right) on the print + PDF price and that is a HUGE discount none the less.

If all you want from the Everything Dolemwood Bundle is the PDFs, the discount is 40%.

I've really enjoyed the handful of Wormskins I've gotten my hands on and this offer is damn tempting.

Aye, that's an affiliate link above. Keep the taps flowing and the lights on at The Tavern when you shop using The Tavern's affiliate links.

Your Humble Bartender was Interviewed by Vince Florio for his The Roots of Evil Youtube Series

What can I say - I look like a goof. But heh, most of my readers already knew that.

In any case, go watch the video and subscribe to Vince's Youtube channel.

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern

Whenever I think I know which way the discussion on Tavern Chat is going to trend, I tend to be wrong. This week, I literally have no clue ;)

Tavern Chat is tonight at 9 PM Eastern. Conveniently held on The Tavern's Discord server. The chat is mostly by voice although there is an associated text channel. Lurkers are always welcome :)

https://discord.gg/fReGmuD

Bundle of Holding - HackMaster 5e

To go along with yesterday's Bundle of Holding Post (KotDT) we now share with you the HackMaster 5e Bundle of Holding. HM 4e was the AD&D 2e riff that was a fun reimagining. (read the Wikipedia article for the history of how Hackmaster came to be) I dont have much experience with HackMaster 5e.

$12.95 gets you in the door. About $28 bucks gets you the rest of the collection. Somewhere I have a print copy of HM Basic (the first 5 levels of HM 5e) but again, I don't have experience with the system.

Bundle of Holding - Knights of the Dinner Table

At times like this, I remember about the large stack of unread copies of Knights of the Dinner Table I have waiting to be read. That being said, I love the early issues and the convenience of PDFs that can be read in bed on my tablet is certainly tempting me.

The Bonus Collection is currently priced at just under 21 bucks. Decisions decisions...

"Hoody-hoo! This all-new Knights of the Dinner Bundle brings you PDF e-comics featuring the longest-running and most successful comic strip in tabletop roleplaying game history, Knights of the Dinner Table by Jolly Blackburn. This bargain-priced offer from Kenzer and Company gives you literally thousands of pages from KoDT's entire 28-year-run. In every issue, the players in B. A. Felton's HackMaster campaign find so many devious new ways to torment their Gamemaster, you'll say "They're just like my players!" 

For just US$9.95 you get all nine comics collections in this offer's Starter Collection (retail value $86) as DRM-free .PDF comics, including the first five KoDT Bundle of Trouble compilations (reprinting KoDT issues #1-15), all three Tales from the Vault collections of scarce early strips, and the first volume of The CattlePunk Chronicles, Outlaw Trail. 

And if you pay more than this offer's threshold price of $20.85, you'll level up and also get this offer's entire Bonus Collection with eight more titles worth an additional $85, including KoDT Bundle of Trouble Volumes 6 through 10 (collecting KoDT issues #16-30); the second CattlePunk Chronicles collection, Four Herdsmen of the Apocalypse; and two standalone books, Men That Hack and The Java Joint."

RPGNow May D&D Sale - The Picks - Post #2 - Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, Rules and Adventures

Time to start sharing some picks for RPGNow's May D&D Sale. For the second round of picks, we going to look at some Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea releases from North Wind Adventures.

Note: All of the adventures listed below are "designed for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea™ (AS&SH™), a role-playing game descended from the original 1974 fantasy wargame and miniatures campaign rules as conceived by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Therefore, AS&SH is compatible with most traditional fantasy role-playing games (c. 1974 to 1999) and their modern simulacra, such as OSRIC™ and Swords & Wizardry™.

Quick confession - I own them all and they are good :)

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea (Second Edition) - (core rules) "ASTONISHING SWORDSMEN & SORCERERS of    HYPERBOREA™ is sword-and-sorcery role-playing at its pinnacle. Play an Amazon fighter, Atlantean magician, Esquimaux shaman, Hyperborean warlock, Ixian necromancer, Keltic barbarian, Kimmerian cataphract, Pictish thief, Viking berserker, or one of many other possibilities. The heroes of a HYPERBOREA campaign delve the mazes and labyrinths of vast dungeons filled with horrifying monsters, lethal traps, and bewildering puzzles. They explore savage frontiers, breach hostile borderlands, probe ancient ruins, and investigate cursed tombs. They plunder for treasure and magic in a decaying world inhabited by bloodthirsty beasts and weird, otherworldly beings." 19.00  15.20

Ghost Ship of the Desert Dunes - "An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 2nd through 4th level. Somewhere in the depths of Diamond Desert lie the skeletal remains of Ymir’s Serpent, a legendary Viking longship. In days of yore, Sigtrygg Forkbeard led his company upriver, piercing the desert’s hostile heart. There the Vikings unearthed a lost mine brimming with green diamonds, but the River Æolus desiccated as the Serpent prepared for launch, and the ship was swallowed by the dunes. Forkbeard and his company were never seen again, but tales of a shimmering Viking ghost ship gliding over the dunes persist to this day. Ghost Ship of the Desert Dunes takes players into an action-packed realm of adventure: the mythical world of Hyperborea, a sword-and-sorcery campaign setting inspired by the fantastic fiction of Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and others. "  10.00  8.00

Forgotten Fane of the Coiled Goddess - "An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 5th through 7th level. More than a month ago, your party found itself in Port Zangerios, where you heard of an Esquimaux thief selling a treasure map. Low on wealth but high in courage, you sought him out. The man turned out to be a fearful ex-slave who had “acquired” the map from his Ixian master. The map is incomplete but shews the Isle of the Serpent in far-off Lemuria, where rests a fabulous treasure called the Feathered Crown of Nanasa (or so thought the Ixian). Pooling your money to purchase the unfinished map, you bought passage on an Amazonian trade ship. After passing through tempests and torrential rains that shimmered with auroral light, you have come to the great city of Jhaman Ket. Now you must seek out the location of the Isle of the Serpent."  10.00  8.00

Beneath the Comet - "An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 6th through 9th level. For weeks the Comet has blazed in the sky above Hyperborea, inspiring widespread superstitious dread and fear of some star-borne contagion. Under the light of this harbinger from the Black Gulf, the PCs have come to Bogrest, following a magical treasure map that reveals great wealth buried in the Lonely Heath north of the village. Finding that treasure will be no simple matter, however, for Hyperborea is a weirder and deadlier place than ever beneath the Comet."  10.00  8.00

The Mystery at Port Greely - An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 4th through 6th level. Until about three years ago, the peculiar town of Port Greely was renowned as a prolific exporter of crustaceans. Then the Greely lobstermen severed all ties with outside partners. Subsequent attempts at renegotiation were shunned. More recently, a small group of Fishmongers’ Guild representatives from the City-State of Khromarium has gone missing in Port Greely, and answers have been less than forthcoming. At present, the Guild seeks answers. It wants to know what became of its representatives, and it wishes to re-establish its lucrative partnership with the Port Greely lobstermen. Your party has been contracted to help resolve The Mystery at Port Greely.  10.00  8.00

Those are affiliate links above. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop at RPGNow using The Tavern's affiliate links. I thank you :)

News - The World Health Organization plans to classify Video Game Addiction as a Disease

I received an email today linking me to the following article: 

https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/kids-health/the-world-health-organization-plans-to-classify-video-game-addiction-as-a-disease/

So, what's the main takeaway?

The WHO has said it will include "gaming disorder" in a June update to its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), defining it as a pattern of behavior "characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences." 

A CAMH study released in 2016 estimated 13 percent of Ontario students-or almost 123,000 kids-have experienced symptoms of a "video gaming problem," which was up from nine percent in 2007. About one in five boys reported having "problematic symptoms" linked to their video gaming.

I wonder when table-top roleplaying games come into play?

Bundle - Mordenkainen's Marvelous Bundle (Multiple D&D Editions Included)

Mordenkainen's Marvelous Bundle is really hit or miss in my opinion, and I was on the fence about whether or not to mention it.

For some folks, the fact that it has releases from multiple editions of Dungeons & Dragons is a selling point. For me? Eh, 4e kinda stinks it up;)

Anyhow, it includes appearances of Mordenkainen in the various editions. Here they are:

• Epic Level Handbook (3e)
• Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk (3.5)
• Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium (4e)
• The City of Greyhawk (2e)
• WG5: Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1e)

Yep, affiliate links keep The Tavern's lights on and that's an affiliate link above. Thank you - Your Humble Barkeep

Kickstarter - ORC STABR - One Page RPG For Orc Stabbers To Tell Legends Of Stabbin'

Wow. I hate to say it, but if you are going to run a successful Kickstarter that is a joke (mostly?), Orc Stabber! has hit gold.

$20 goal. $1115 raised thus far with over three weeks left to fund.

A video that is entertaining to watch.

A game that only gives you half the rules for backing (or at least only half the rules in print:

Yes, you get it in print for these prices, but as the rules are only a page long...

Not totally true. Full PDF will
be posted when KS fulfills

I love the risks and challenges:

Hi Folks, Liam Ginty and Gabriel Komisar here. We're the designers behind Orc Stabber and will be working to deliver this project to you all. 

There's a handful of small risks and challenges and we thought it best to address these out of character, as Limm Ghomizar can get a bit excited. 

First of all, we wanted to communicate that you do indeed only get half of a rules page with this project. We'll be preparing each page separately, personalizing them with drawings, doodles, notes special unique rules, and tearing them all separately. We think this might be a fun way to get people sharing what they have with their friends and on social media to make the full rules available. We plan on releasing the full PDF shortly after the project wraps so everyone will have the full rules. 

The only other challenge is no one on the team has ever mailed out 100+ letters all at once, but we're consulting with other successful Kickstarter runners to make sure those important deliverables are in your hands quickly!

Screw it! For two bucks, I'm in!

Kickstarter - Augmented Reality & Dragons (AR&D)

Let me just say, the above gif from the Augmented Reality & Dragons Kickstarter is inspiring. It makes me WANT to play like this at my table. But I don't think it does.

What I mean is, for this to work, you'll need to be viewing your physical table via your iOS or Android device. That's more distracting than anything else.

Exciting concept. I don't think the current implementation is feasible.

22% funded (with a goal of $250k) with just over 2 weeks to go)

You can look at more videos here: https://imgur.com/gallery/TbHjpUC