NTRPG Con - Frog God Dinner Con Wrap Up

Oh my!

Pexx cuts out his tongue hopping to save himself from a bodysnatcher egg 

Yes Pexx, that is a body snatcher egg

Live from NTRPG Con, Mike and Erik are Talking Crit

Bad Mike and myself set ourselves up in the main convention room late last night for a live at NTRPG Convention Talking Crit for the Tavern ChatPodcast. We had a nice number of industry guests stop by :)

https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/E387---NTRPG-Con-Live-Talking-Crit-With-Bad-Mike--Special-Guests-and-a-Mini-Bar---Oh-My-e49eoi

NTRPG Con - Tegal Manor - Not a Safe Place

And down goes Rocky!

Ah, Tegal Manor. Come for the atmosphere. Stayed for dinner. Or be dinner...

I ran Tegal from 9 AM until 1230 PM or so. Pexx ran it from 1 PM until 430 PM or so.

The map is large a beautiful.

We do it all again tomorrow.

Good Omens - Rainbow Seen from NTRPG Con

I woke up this morning and Rach told me there was a rainbow outside our hotel window at the Westin. Lo and behold, there was. Not as big as I might have expected - I thought all things were bigger in Texas, but still a good omen overall.

Now to head downstairs for some breakfast and booth set up.

Now Appearing at the Dallas Westin and the NTRPG Con - Erik Tenkar!

For a little while, I was unsure I'd ever make it to NTRPG Con. Sre, the flight started fine. Heck, even the TSA was good to us. Then the flight landed at DFW 30 minutes early and it went downhill from there.

You see, it appears that the DFW airport had a brief but intense rainstorm shortly before we landed. Flights were delayed or canceled, which meant there no gates available for us to disembark at. We were a ship without a port for nearly 90 minutes.

But Rach and I are here now, for a 5-night engagement at the beautiful Westing Hotel - ignore the renovations behind the curtain ;)

Time for me to head downstairs and start putting up the Frog God Booth.

See ya at the con ;)

You Can Now Support All Things Tavern with Ko-Fi - Buy Your Bartender a Beer :)

For those that haven't noticed, I don't take direct ads from gaming companies and the like. The monies The Tavern receives are mostly from affiliate sales - DriveThruRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle. Anchor occasionally runs sponsorships (it's active now on the Tavern Chat Podcast) and it helps.

We also have a Patreon and I truly appreciate the backing of members of this community that put forward their hard earned cash on a monthly basis to support The Tavern. For those that don't like Patreon, we also offer a way to directly offer monthly support through Paypal.

One thing I've been asked (often enough that I've looked for a solution) is an easy method to offer this bartender a simple tip. I have found that method and it is Ko-Fi.

Ko-fi is a simple interface that allows you to tip creators you like using their interface and Paypal. They don't keep any part of the tip as a transaction fee (so more of your hard earned cash goes to the person you are looking to support), they make their profits from those that upgrade to Gold. Yes, I upgraded for the simple reason I could change "coffee" to "beer" ;)

How much does a "beer" cost? 3 bucks. Buy as many as you want (David Baity bought me 5 ;)

I appreciate the support this community has given me over the past 10 years. I expect to still be around and doing this and more over the next 10 years and beyond. I thank you in advance.

For those going to NTRPG Con this week, hope to see you there :)

Here's The Tavern's Ko-Fi link:  ko-fi.com/tenkar

FINALLY Back to Gaming - and its Not Even NTRPG Time!

Renovations and the recent holiday weekend killed my opportunity to get into my regular Monday Night Game run by Tim Shorts for over a month. Tonight, I finally get to make a triumphant return. Well, at least "a return."

Woot! Rathgar is now a second level cleric.

Of course, best-laid plans often kick you in the face. After the game, I have to drive my son's fiancee home as she has a killer migraine.

Still, it's amazing how much I missed this. The game, the bullshitting, the escape from the daily grind.

Fuck - we split the party!

Yearly Gathering of Fools in Memory of a Lost Gamer (9-11)

Paul is middle back row

My old gaming group has been gathering yearly in the Spring since 2002 in memory of a dear friend that we lost when the Towers came down on 9-11-01. They don't approve of me referring to us as a Gathering of Fools, but I do think it's appropriate.

We formed our friendships during the early-80s in High School and kept gaming at least once a week until early 1997. A few years later we migrated to MMOs.

Brian hosted as usual, and he inherited Paul's gaming collection when he passed.

Paul, we miss you. Rest well.

More Down to Earth Pricing for the Enemy Within Campaign Pre-orders (less than $30 a book) (WFRP 4e)

Thanks to Thaddeus on the Tenkar's Tavern Discord Server, we have some easier on the wallet options to preorder the initial books in the Enemy Within Campaign for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4e.

Note: Links take you to GameNerdz

WARHAMMER FANTASY RPG 4TH EDITION: ENEMY IN SHADOWS - THE ENEMY WITHIN CAMPAIGN PART 1 (PREORDER) $39.99 $27.97

WARHAMMER FANTASY RPG 4TH EDITION: ENEMY IN SHADOWS COMPANION (PREORDER) $34.99 $24.47

WARHAMMER FANTASY RPG 4TH EDITION: ENEMY IN SHADOWS COLLECTOR'S LIMITED EDITION (PREORDER) $149.99 $104.97

If only you also got the PDFs with preorders from other than Cubicle 7 - I know from the originals there is a huge amount of handouts, and I won't cut up my RPG books ever again ;)

Tenkar's Tavern is 10 Years Old Today - Huge Thanks to All & Some Thoughts on The Tavern's Success

Here's the first true Tavern Post:

Yeah, I didn't quite know what direction The Tavern was going to take 10 years ago. I certainly never dreamed it would still be around 10 years later, and no longer just a blog either.

The Tavern wouldn't be what it is without all of you.

I've been asked over the years to share the secret to The Tavern's success. Sadly, I can't bottle the secret and sell it, but there are some things that I believe are certainly part of that success's foundation.

1 - Just do it. Seriously, if you want a successful blog, podcast, whatever you actually need to start that blog or podcast. Talking about it doesn't do anything. Find the time and do it.

2 - Be yourself. Sure, some popular and/or controversial personalities in our community are acts, but over time folks will appreciate knowing the real you. Besides, it much easier being you than somebody else.

3 - Be passionate. Don't blog or podcast about a subject because you think it with have a built-in audience. It might at first, but without that passion, you won't retain them. As if you couldn't guess, I'm passionate about tabletop gaming ;)

4 - Be persistent. Keep at it. Even if the early parts are rough, practice and persistence will allow you to hone your craft.

5 - Be patient. I've been blogging for over 10 years, involved in podcasting for over 5 years and have had my solo podcast for over a year. Success did not come quick or easy, and in truth, I can't pick out a moment where I realized that The Tavern was "a success", but I think its hit that spot.

6 - Listen. To both praise and criticism. An echo chamber is NOT to your benefit.

7 - You can't please everyone. This is a hard one to come to terms with. Some folks don't like change (the podcast) and others may feel intimidated or worse by any success you may achieve. Don't ignore that they have concerns, but understand that not all of their concerns are your's to correct.

8 - Remember your community. Successful blogs, podcasts, Facebook groups, Discord servers and the like often have communities that form around them. Any influence you might have is because THEY grant it to you. It is a responsibility and an honor to be granted such. Do not abuse it.

9 - Invest. Time is probably the biggest investment, but there is also money, emotion and so much more. Success requires some sacrifice. You must be willing to do so.

10 - Have fun. If at some point it no longer is fun for you, it's probably time to take a break. I'm blessed that I enjoy it all and I have an amazingly supportive community. I'll warn you all if I need a break ;P

Again, 10 years. Holy Shit. No longer just a blog, The Tavern is a thriving Facebook Group (with just under 2400 members), an active Discord Server (with exactly 2000 members), the Tavern Chat Podcast (379 episodes and more each day) and of course, the Tenkar's Tavern Blog.

There are some huge plans for the blog-side and hopefully, I'll be able to get some of it in place this summer. New host, additional bloggers and more. No exact timeframe as I'm juggling multiple balls at the moment but I hope you'll enjoy the ride ;)

WFRP The Enemy Within Collector’s Edition - 10 Books - 750 Bucks

I really shouldn't be tempted by the WFRP The Enemy Within Collector’s Edition. Certainly, the $750 price point should have me turn away quickly and. I mean, who the FUCK puts down 750 bucks for an RPG campaign?

But it IS Warhammer, and not the abomination that was WFRP 3e.

Oh, and it is the Enemy Within Campaign, one of the best - if not the best - fantasy campaign for ANY system.

You can also buy it piecemeal, and each of the five adventure books is matched with a companion book. 10 books. Damn.

Each set of two books is $150, so there is no savings in preordering the set, but then you don't get:

Developer Diaries 

If you buy the complete Enemy Within Collector’s Edition, we will send you regular Developer Diaries. These are emailed updates from WFRP Producer Andy Law detailing the progress of the new version of the campaign, including exclusive art previews, developer and artist interviews, production commentaries, amusing asides, and so much more. The Developer Diaries provide you with a unique insight into exactly what is included in the Director’s Cut of The Enemy Within, and why. 

So, do you want to know how Bögenhafen is being updated? Or what maps will be included? Or what new Chaos cults are included? Or what happens in the two new additions to the campaign, The Horned Rat and Empire in Ruins? If so, then the Developer Diaries are for you.

Sigh...

I need to run a GoFundMe ;)

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight & Renovations are Complete

Today is a Wednesday, which means tonight is Tavern Chat. Hang out with gamers and creators from the OSR and beyond from all around the world at 9 PM Eastern.

Voice chat (but if you don't want to talk, all you need do is listen) Its been likened to a live podcast that isn't recorded, so if you miss it - you really missed it ;)

Use the following link to join:  https://discord.gg/4sHwScH

Kickstarter - Apex Coasters: Fantasy/RPG Series

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

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

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

I summon James Spahn!

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

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

State of The Tavern - I May Have Imbibed Too Much :)

So, I had an excellent weekend in the Poconos Mountains. Away from the hustle and bustle. 12 pack of a local brew for 6.99. Severe lower back pain. Maybe no perfectly excellent, but memory can be selective.

Tomorrow I hit Pexx with my immediate schedule of free time, so as to enable us to get in some more Fireside Chats.

Also, more work on the Shire Con adventure.

Further thoughts on a possible 4-page monthly zine.

More thoughts on updating / changing hosts for this blog.

Did I mention updating the Tenkar's Tavern One-Shot Community?

It commences tomorrow...

I need to sleep off 8 pints and a shot.

Warhammer Fantasy Role-play 4e - First Look

This past Friday I was at the Complete Strategist on 33rd Street in Manhattan with JoeTheLawyer and my wife Rach. On a shelf near the Pathfinder books I saw a lone copy of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4e, the new edition from Cubicle 7.

I've heard good things about the latest edition, and it wasn't long before i grabbed it in my greasy paws. 60 bucks (plus tax) later and it was mine. I must say, I am impressed.

Physically, it is a beauty to behold. The art simply screams Warhammer, and although it steps away from the black and white art that I've always felt was iconic of WFRP 1e, the color art does a fine job on its own.

Character generation detail is superb. What I really like is that 4e encourages "roll in order" and "take what is rolled" by offering bonus XP for doing so, but still allowing players that are unhappy with what is rolled some further choice.

Ambitions are personal and / or party goals that can be minor or major. Accomplishing such offers bonus XP.

Player Character races are well detailed and have some nice details about the races opinions of each other.

Just started reading the classes. I really want to run this.

WFRP 4e is available on Amazon for 47.44 (ships Prime) - and yes, this is an affiliate link.

More as I dig further...

Kickstarter - RPG Achievement Stickers

"Achievement stickers for your favorite tabletop roleplaying game!"

What do you get the tabletop RPG gamer that has everything? Stickers, just like they were getting in the early years of grade school. RPG Achievement Stickers that is!

Oh, my bad. Like they get in video games. Actually, I'm not sure which is worse in my opinion for the adult gamer. For my 8-year-old niece, I'm sure they'd work for a bit before becoming old hat and put to the side.

2 1/2 days left to fund as I type this. Short just less than 20% of its funding goal.

10 bucks for one sheet, 20 bucks for all four. I guess if are willing to pay for one sheet, four is a no brainer.

Best Dungeons & Dragons Movie - In Less then Two Minutes & In Portuguese

Yep, its the car commercial from Brazil that uses the iconic characters from the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon. Enjoy!

Wayward Kickstarter - Erotic Adventures - Apparently it Has Performance Anxiety

Ah yes, this winner of a Kickstarter, Erotic Adventures. I backed for a buck just for the drama ;P

The Erotic Adventures book, compatible with 5th edition, will feature the sexual attraction system, fetish rules, new spells, new items, new feats, new races, new monsters, new gods, and new specialties. Play a barbarian maenad and use sex to recharge your rage. Play a rogue paramour and manipulate others using seduction. Cast a spell to enlarge your breasts, or gain an additional penis. Fight a gender bending semen ooze. And much, much more...  

The goal is 1000 dollars, but, for each additional 100 dollars I raise, I will add a picture to the book. If we reach 2000 dollars, I will make an android app based on the book and put it for sale on SlideMe.  

So back this project, and be one of the first to bring sex into the world of 5e! 

PDF was due in December of 2017. Print book in December of 2018. (It funded October 5th, 2017)

Here's the update from earlier today. At least it's an honest one.

How many Kickstarter Creators suffer from depression? I ask because it crops up A LOT, certainly more than it appears in the general population.

I guess there's still no sex in 5e...

Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern - I'll be There - Renovations Willing

Renovations continue yet at La Casa de Tenkar. Last night my contractor wrapped up AFTER 10 pm. Tonight? Your guess is as good as mine. It's that last 2% that takes up 50% of the time.

In any case, the weekly Tavern Chat hangout is at 9PM Eastern tonight and every Wednesday night in the Tavern's Discord Server. Voice, text, pics and more.

Use the following link:

https://discord.gg/fReGmuD

Looking forward to hearing from you tonight...

Rot Grubs - I've Always Hated Them - As a Player and a DM

I've never really seen a Rot Grubs that I've ever liked. Wait, that's a joke, son.

JoeTheLawyer left me a voicemail over on the Tavern Chat podcast (and I'll be putting that episode up later tonight) about, specifically out Tim (Gothridge Manor) using rot grubs to cut down on Joe digging through every piece of garbage in a session looking for loot. And therein lies my issue with rot grubs. They aren't really an adversary. Much like Green Slime, they are more trap or poison than predator.

Here's their description:

Rot grubs are occasionally found in heaps of offal or dung. They are rarely
found in ceilings, walls, or floors. These small creatures will viciously burrow
into any living flesh which touches them, for they greatly enjoy such fare to
dine upon. The victim must immediately apply flame to the wound (1-6 hit
points damage per application) or have a cure disease spell cast upon him.
Otherwise, the rot grubs will burrow to the heart and kill their host in
1-3 turns.

Yep the cure can kill you. I've changed my mind. They are worse than poison...

There is an All Editions D&D Sale Going On - OSR Included (DriveThruRPG)

May is the month for a Massive D&D sale over at DriveThruRPG - and I only just started looking at it tonight. Seriously, I do apologize. There simply has been lots of balls in the air outside of Tavern related activities (renovations at the Casa de Tenkar are continuing. The last bits seem to be the most tedious and time-consuming. So close ;)

Later on tonight and tomorrow I'm going to go through the sale collection and will highlight some OSR friendly choices.

In the meantime, some publishers to check out (in no particular order):

Goodman Games DCC RPG and more

Fat Goblin Games Includes stock art

Autarch ACKS

Frog God Games - Swords & Wizardry adventures

Cubicle 7 - Adventures in Middle Earth

Swords & Wizardry - technically a category ;)

There are affiliate links above. Keep The Tavern's beer cold and the doors open by using The Tavern's affiliate links.

So, What'd the Latest with Far West and Gareth Shirker?

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/shirker

What the latest on Far West and our favorite Shirker?

Absolutely fucking nothing. The last update is STILL from December 22 of last year. But hey, why update your backers nearly five months after your last bullshit update (just sharing the relevant promises)

I'd intended to get all of this done before year's end -- I'll be blunt:  This is unlikely, though possible.  The reason it's unlikely is because I am headed out to spend Christmas with my extended family for the first time in 15 years, and naturally want to be as present as possible -- although I suspect that I'll still find time here and there to get some stuff done (and we'll be back home before year-end).  In all likelihood, though, this will get its final touches once I'm back in the office on Monday, January 7th. 

So we're almost there.  Layout has begun, so the full PDF will follow soon after the final chapter deliveries, and then to the printer.  Thank you all so much for your continued support and patience, which has been far more than anyone could hope for.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.
"Gor blezzus, errywon."
--
Gareth-Michael Skirker
Lawrence, Kansas
22 December 2018

Hey, gonna threaten to punch me in the throat again, Mr Shirker?

I'll be in Dallas at NTRPG Con June 5th through June 10th. Sorry, I'm not making a trip to Kansas, but I'm sure you'll be welcomed in Texas. Or come to NYC anytime. I'll even buy you a drink, so long as you are okay with waiting 7 1/2 years.

http://www.tenkarstavern.com/2019/01/gareth-skarka-of-far-west-shame.html

Hey publishers? Would you be okay if someone you hired to produce a gaming product was 7 1/2 years late and STILL was no closer to delivery? What about threatening physical violence? How the fuck does Mr Shirker continue to get work in the industry?

Demonic Dungeon of the Bone Dreamer - Part the Second

None other than Matt Jackson offered me access to his map collection for this project. It is HUGE!

I like the above myself for the Demonic Dungeon of the Bone Dreamer. A bit more manageable in size for a single session than my prior pick.

I've got ideas bouncing around my head with this map.

Does the Bone Dreamer dream its own dreams or those of the bones it consumes? What do the dreams mean? What effect(s) can the dreams have on the party? What effect(s) are the dreams having on the local population?

You can find Matt's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/msjackson/posts

Kickstarter - Dark Trails RPG (Weird West DCC RPG Hack)

Oh my f'n God. It is finally here!

David Baity's Dark Trails RPG is funded on Kickstarter in 3 hours. Yep, the 12k goal has been surpassed and then some. Now it's stretch goals time.

I've been waiting for this for a long time. Shit, my beer koozie gets constant work ;)

So, what is the Dark Trails RPG about?

The Dark Trails RPG is a game which pays homage to the popular weird West genre.  It can be used as a standalone game or as the perfect complement to a growing line of products that all utilize the rules found in the Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) RPG. As a player, you’ll find a wealth of material that allows you to assume the role of one of 11 unique classes, with descriptive names like: the Calavera, the Bedlamite, and the Sin-Eater. As a Judge, you’ll find over 400 pages of material giving you a wealth of resources for designing and running fantastic adventures set against the haunted landscapes of an unforgiving weird West.  

You may be wondering about the above mentioned game that Dark Trails is tethered to. Dungeon Crawl Classics is a Fantasy RPG written by Joseph Goodman of Goodman Games. Since debuting in 2012, the book has gone through seven (7) printings and spawned a wonderful community of passionate gamers both new and old. DCC continues to grow by leaps and bounds by way of exciting adventures penned by some of the best writers in the industry, including third-party publishers using the system to fuel their own creative fires. 

Fortunately, the Dark Master (Joseph Goodman) has granted permission to include a modified version of the DCC ruleset within the pages of Dark Trails to make it the first 3rd party published work to include the necessary rules for play. You don’t need anything other than the Dark Trails RPG to play the game aside from some dice, paper, and pencils.  

Some of the DCC rules were purposefully left out when weighed against their place in a weird West setting, but these omitted rules can easily be added to Dark Trails should you own a copy of DCC and wish to include them.

Stand-alone hack of the DCC RPG rules? Weird West setting? Years of playtesting and development? My kinda game :)

Dark Trails begins near the end of the American Civil War. The mass casualties and tragedy that accompany the war are being used to fuel a series of rituals with the intent of awakening a pantheon of sleeping gods, who were banished as a result of losing a war against mankind and their Celestial allies during a time before recorded history.  

Only one of these Elder Gods would escape the eternal slumber and exile exacted upon his kin through magical rites. Nyarlathotep was wise to the coming war with the Celestials, knowing the primal chaos that is stitched into every cell of an Elder God would prevent them from forming a united front in time to beat back their human slaves and their meddling allies. Rather than fight a losing war, Nyarlathotep escaped to the safety of the Dreamlands with a powerful artifact in tow—the Necronomicon—an ancient grimoire that might one day provide the means to awaken and free his kin from exile. 

Several centuries after the departure of the Celestials, Nyarlathotep re-emerged to walk amongst countless generations of mankind, waiting for times of great strife to gift the ancient tome to those foolish enough to attempt the rituals within. Famines, plagues, and wars all served up the required strife to fuel the rituals of unbinding found within the Necronomicon, but with each attempt a secret order, well-versed in esoteric history, disrupted the rites and put the cultists down in their tracks—burning the Necronomicon to a pile of tainted ashes. 

Not to be deterred, each failed attempt ended with Nyarlathotep collecting the ashes of the ancient grimoire, taking it to the safety of the Dreamlands to tend, while the nigh-indestructible tome slowly reforms over several years...

20 bucks in PDF. Hardcover shipped directly to you plus PDF is $65. Limited edition HC with PDF is 85. Decision decisions...

When things calm down a bit with this on-fire Kickstarter I'll try and steal David for a Fireside Chat :)

Dark Trails RPG by David Baity - accept no imitations! 

Tavern Chat - Tonight's Episode was 365 is 365 Days!

I figured I should share this over on the blog side (Tenkar's Tavern has a huge milestone later this month but I digress) Tonight was the 365th episode of the Tavern Chat Podcast. 365 episodes in 365 days. I never would have guessed when I recorded the first episode that not only would Tavern Chat be around a year later, but it would have such a large and loyal following.

Truly I am blessed.

Additionally, today Anchor (my podcast host / service) added a new feature - Voicemails for All. Prior to today if you wanted to leave a voicemail you needed to use the Anchor app on your cellphone or tablet.

Now, all you need do is go here: https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/message

Pretty damn cool. I look forward to hearing from you all calling in ;)

Kickstarter - Sea King's Malice: a 5E Adventure in the Deadly Depths (and S&W too)

"A lavishly-illustrated hardcover book, with maps from Beadle & Grimm's, a host of additional resources, and much more!"

For those that don't know, Alex Kammer is the main man behind GameHole Con, held in Madison, Wisconsin each fall. He's also written a number of well-received adventures for 5e. Well, Frog God Games' latest Kickstarter is a hardcover adventure from none other than Alex Kammer himself called Sea King's Malice.

Sea King’s Malice is a full color and lavishly illustrated 5e adventure for the world’s most popular role-playing game that takes characters on a sweeping adventure across the ocean, to previously uncharted lands, and finally down under the waves to the very depths of the sea. It is also available for the 0E Swords & Wizardry system for those preferring old-school rulesets.

Only the most stalwart and bravest of heroes will have any chance of surviving the hazards of the open sea and the perils of other strange and yet unknown lands, both above and below the waves, as they search for clues surrounding the disappearance of the missing ship.  For in the sea-green depths a brooding menace awaits them, filled with  inhuman hatred of all things of the surface world. The adventurers’ journey will end, one way or the other, in the Court of the terrifying Sea King. This edge-of-your seat 5e adventure takes characters to level 10, and is also available for Swords & Wizardry (0e) The Swords & Wizardry version will begin at a higher level and cover fewer level advancements.

And then there are the maps from Beadle & Grimm:

Frog God Games is very proud to announce our partnership with Beadle & Grimm’s Pandemonium Warehouse. They are the premier creator of high-end tools for tabletop game masters and players worldwide. The Map Vault: Sea King's Malice is the first of a planned series of limited edition maps for gamers everywhere.

Dear friends, 

As grizzled veterans of the original AD&D, Alex’s tale of the Sea King really spoke to us here at Beadle & Grimm’s. The rules may be 5th Edition, but the vibe is old school in the best possible way – it strikes the perfect balance between heady role-playing, tense dungeon-crawling  and visceral, gory combat. We’ve been looking for an opportunity to try something new, so we’re very grateful to Alex and Frog God for inviting us to create a special enhancement for the Sea King’s Malice adventure – our first-ever selection from the B&G Map Vault.
 

The Sea King’s Edition of the Map Vault focuses on one of the most exciting and unique elements of Alex’s story – the sailing ships. Three different ships are presented here, each on its own two-sided 24x30 map with art created exclusively for Beadle & Grimm’s. One side has the full-color detail of a ship from the adventure, while the other has blank interiors and a dry erase surface so that you, the Dungeon Master, can use it to create future adventures from your own imagination. All six battle maps are scaled and gridded for your minis, and they come rolled in a custom cartographer’s tube to keep them protected for years of future use.

Pretty cool shit!

Already funded and knocking down stretch goals as I write this with 28 days to go...

As most of you know, I am affiliated with Frog God Games. It doesn't make this Kickstarter any less awesome (Alex has that knack). - Erik Tenkar

Demonic Dungeon of the Bone Dreamer - Part the First

So, Thom Wilson reminded me earlier that I need to submit my adventure for ShireCon II / 2019 coming up in September. As many of you know, I've recently been juggling multiple balls (as an aside, the flooring for Casa de Tenkar comes in the morning and installation commences on Friday - Huzzah!) and this is one that had escaped my grasp - until now.

If you plan on playing in my session at ShireCon this September, you may not want to follow up too closely with the later posts in this series, as it may give away some secrets to the adventure. Then again, if you've played in any of my sessions at the various gaming conventions, you probably know I'm big on improv. Players beware ;)

In any case, I broke out the Tome of Adventure Design by Matt Finch for some adventure inspiration and I ended up with Demonic Dungeon of the Bone Dreamer for the adventure title. I love it. It speaks to me. I see demons and undead and a new, unique creature for the BBG. As I will be using Swords & Wizardry Light, it will need to be written so as to challenge a first level party while still being beatable. Not a small challenge but one I look forward to.

At the moment, I'm looking at using the following Dyson map for the adventure, but that may change if I am inspired to create my own. We'll see. It might be too large for a single session.

More importantly, I need to decide what the Bone Dreamer actually is. A new creature, perhaps.

As always, the creative process will play out on the blog side and if all goes well, the finished product may make its way up to DriveThruRPG.

Time for more brainstorming...

There are affiliate links above. Help keep the kegs cold and the fires warm by using The Tavern's affiliate links.

Limited - Amazing Adventures - Core Books at 10 bucks a pop in Print (Troll Lord Games)

From the Troll Lord Games email:

Amazing Adventures Month Kicks Into High Gear 

As we continue to celebrate A-May-Zing Adventures month, we've decided to pull out all the stops. For a very limited time. And frankly for a very limited amount as we are almost out of the core book for Amazing Adventures. We have about 80 or so left in the warehouse, with some probably strewn about at distributors and what not. But basically this is your best chance to try this wonderful game at a ridiculous price. 

$10 for the Amazing Adventures Core
$10 for the Manual of Monsters
$10 for the Companion

Or you can go for the bundle that includes and adventure for only $33 bucks total for all four!

Here's the link: https://www.trolllord.com/tlgstore/#!/Amazing-Adventures/c/11639154/offset=0&sort=normal

/Reminder - Tavern Chat Tonight - 9 PM Eastern - Lets Burns Some SWL! ;P

Yes, the title of this post is a callback to yesterday's post. I expect I might also call out a small handful of people that have made public statements of blocking me on social media and yet still participate in online communities I own / manage. I guess they failed to see the hypocrisy.

Eh, that's just bitter me with lack of sleep and a few adult beverages over lunch. What will probably happen is we'll all talk stuff geek, nerd, and RPG related ;)

Remember, 9 PM eastern using the following link:  https://discord.gg/fReGmuD