OSR Christmas 2023 - Getting the Ducks in Line

Yep, it's that most, wonderous time of the year. No, I'm not talking about Turkey Day. No, I'm talking about OSR Christmas.

The first OSR Christmas was in 2013, so this will make the 11th year that The Tavern has hosted the annual event.

When does OSR Christmas kick off? Early December. Current plans are to run it on the Blog Side (right here) AND on The Tavern's YouTube channel, on our livestreams. Current expectations are six days on the blog, four days on the Wednesday Night livestreams, and two days on the Friday Night livestreams.

The Tavern will be putting a minimum of $250 in DTRPG gift certificates over the various days, as well as - hopefully - some physical prizes from The Tavern's Duplicates Closet.

Every year, we see the generosity of publishers, big and small, as they donate gifts for OSR Christmas, and I expect no less this year. If you are a publisher - or simply a generous fan, email me at TENKARSdotTAVERN at that Gmail thing with OSR Christmas 2023 in the subject, and let me know if you have gifts to donate. Physical gifts are always enjoyed, but PDFs can travel the world and cost ZERO shipping.

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

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

Bundle of Holding - Sine Nomine Rulebooks

Let me start this by saying I own ALL of Sine Nomine's core rulebooks in Print and PDF. They literally are that good. If you are an improv-style GM, Kevin's rulebooks are the ones you want. Tools for a long and strong campaign? These right here, there are no better. Fantasy, sci-fi, cyberpunk, post-apoc, Lovecraftian horror, quasi-historical - Kevin has them all. 

Stars Without Number Revised Deluxe, Other Dust, Spears of the Dawn, and Cities Without Number: Free Edition are all in the Starter package for 12.95. The Bonus Collection adds Worlds Without Number Deluxe, Wolves of God, Scarlet Heroes, and Silent Legions and comes to about $26 as I type this.

Seriously, you can't go wrong with Sine Nomine's rulesets.

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

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

What I Look for in a Game Store

This weekend I got the opportunity to head into "the city" to do some shopping, which I did....BUT I've been at a loss to find a good, local game store. I've checked out a few locations, but nothing was better than what I have in my small town (technically it's towards the top 10 as far as city sizes in my state, but shopping & entertainment doesn't mesh will with the population size/base). Now I do have another spot to check out when I'm in the city, but fat lot of good that does me today....

I'm assuming that different Tavern patrons here have different requirements of what makes a good game store, much less a Favorite Local Game Store (FLGS).

For some dumb reason I tend to pick up way more board games than I get to play (so....most of them) and any store that wants to contend for my FLGS title has to have a decent spread of board games. If I can't find a good half-dozen Spiel des Jahres (German Game of the Year), then they're right out. If 75% plus of the business is Collectible Card Games, which is usually immediately evident, again....right out.

A good game store, has some used games available, and if they have some games (really, ANY games) available to demo......they get on my short list. I think one of the most important services a FLGS offers is serving as a connection spot for gamers. They don't really need a ton of gaming space, but a table or two for demos or a friendly game is a HUGE plus. Some kind of bulletin board for groups seeking players or players seeking groups really helps.

As far as stock goes, yes....I'd love to be able to find used products so I can try or have a place to offload some games I know I'm not going to ever get to play. That's a minor thing.....what is major for me is being able to find new games and expansions that I didn't even know about. Being able to grab some minis or paint supplies is just about required. I don't need to see a large supply of minis, but a mix of PCs, monsters, and terrain is a must if there's going to be any.

Since I travel...a lot, I've seen more than my fair share of stores. Most aren't worth mentioning and some don't seem that great on a quick view, but spend a few minutes checking things out reveal a FLGS in the making. I've noticed many game stores service the local nerd community with more than just games.....a lot have comics as well. A few more might have food and a rare few have a bar! I've seen game stores with a small arcade and one Hastur Games (SLC area) has/had (haven't been there in at least half a decade) had a row of computers for local LAN games or online play.

So...what do you require in a game store, much less a FLGS?

Kickstarter - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness

Ah, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The first Palladium RPG for many of my friends, but not me. I was never a huge TMNT fan. Still, the TMNT RPG brings back many gamer memories from the 90s, as the rules were often brought to our table for inspiration in our Rifts Campaign. Yeah, You're better off not asking ;)

Palladium has managed to renew its license for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and is bringing the RPG back via Kickstarter, which is kinda ballsie after the Robotech Tactics fiasco. Simply google it. It isn't a good look.

Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprising, as the RPG community has some serious memory gaps, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness RPG has blown away its funding goal on Kickstarter, currently sitting at over $834k with 10 days left in funding. Yes, it's going to be another Million Dollar RPG Kickstarter before the end of funding.

No, I won't be backing this one. Still, it should be an interesting one to follow, and I'm sure it will be a hit with the TMNT crowd. Thankfully, that fandom passed me by ;)

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

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

A Look at RPGMarket.com

When looking for a specific piece for your RPG Collection, one often goes to Noble Knight or eBay. Neither is especially cheap, and you'll often find current POD offerings at collectible prices.

I was recently introduced to RPGMarket.com. Although it's doubtful you'll go there looking for something specific (but still check it out as you may get lucky), if you like to browse, the prices are, with few exceptions (and likely more collectible offerings) much easier on the wallet than a comparable piece at Noble Knight.

Noble Knight

RPG Market

Noble Knight

RPG Market

(with dice)

If nothing else, RPGMarket.com offers an alternative storefront one can check when looking for something in particular, or simply browsing. I started browsing the Gamebooks section, and that might be a rabbit hole best avoided because there's much that I might want. :)

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

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

Deal of the Day - Trollpak (RuneQuest II)

I'm a huge fan of classic RuneQuest II, from Chaosium (before licensing RuneQuest to Avalon Hill). So, when material for Classic RuneQuest gets discounted, and I don't already have it in PDF, I grab it quickly. This is one of those days.

Today's Deal of the Day is Trollpak for classic RuneQuest II. Normally 14.99 in PDF, but until tomorrow morning Trollpak is on sale for 3 bucks. Yes, I already snagged my copy earlier tonight.

Partial Topic Contents of this Box: troll mythos, genealogy of Darkness deities, troll language, the Exodus, troll migrations during the Storm Age, eleven troll battles, troll eating habits, trolls in the First, Second, and Third Ages, troll dentition, Genertela at the Dawn, troll philosophy, the Gbaji wars, twins, trollkin life statistics, the curse of kin, Kyger Litor wrestles with Gbaji, measurement of time and distance, six troll types examined, troll senses, trollkin ownership, clothing, troll noises, the Holy Country, troll gestation and lifespan, Blue Moon plateau, funeral rites, posture and body language, the Shadowlands, snow trolls, Pamaltela, Shadow's Dance, Dagori Inkarth, Mistress Race life statistics, elders, Sporewood, Redstone Caverns [sample clan habitat with 9 quarters], troll anatomy and digestion, troll skulls and evolution, the Sazdorf clan [sample history of a troll clan with genealogy and extensive organizational analysis], troll ecology, troll insects, troll tactics, generating troll characters, troll professions, new skills, troll living arrangements, young trolls and family life, hospitality, the cult of Areanea, the cult of Argan Argar, the cult of Gorakiki, the cult of Hunter of Foundchild, updated cult of Kyger Litor, cult of Xiola Umbar, modified cult of Zorak Zoran, industrial insects with statistics, variant troll statistics, introduction to the scenarios, 10 standard troll types, troll caravan, moth riders, locust nomads, Skyfall Lake, the Grog Shoppe, Crabtown, Grubfarm, the flying trollkin, the Sazdorf clan [a large scenario including more than 70 rooms and extensive discussion of troll procedures and defenses], trollball rules, the Sazdorf Whackers & Tacklers, Munchroom caverns A and B, player handouts, a map of Dagori Inkarth and environs, troll drinks, magic mushrooms, 29 completely new Rune spells, nearly 300 individual statistics, 25 types of giant insects, and a trollball field.

The book also includes designer's notes and a detailed index. The PDF is fully bookmarked, with a fully hyperlinked Table of Contents and Index.

 

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

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

Deal of the Day - Dying Earth RPG

Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" is often referred to as a strong influence on Gary Gygax and his design of Dungeons & Dragons (and later AD&D 1e).

Today's Deal of the Day is the Dying Earth RPG from Pelgrane Press. I will admit to owning this in print, but I haven't done more than skim it. Normally 19.95 in PDF, it is on sale for 3.99 until tomorrow morning.

Enter this vivid world in this roleplaying game authorized by master fantasist Jack Vance. Here, the importance of a flashing sword is matched by nimble wits, persuasive words, and a fine sense of fashion. Create an adventurer for any of three different kinds of stories:

• a typical mortal, such as Cugel the Clever, surviving by wits and cunning;
• an ambitious magician searching for lost lore, like Turjan of Miir;
•  a supreme mage to rank with Rhialto the Marvellous, commanding the omnipotent but quarrelsome sandestins

Created by Robin D. Laws and John Snead, The Dying Earth RPG features easy, fast-playing rules that encourage creativity and interaction. This core rulebook contains everything you need to play a one-shot or campaign set in this evocative world.

No knowledge of Jack Vance's work is needed for play, but fans of the stories will enjoy the badinage, as well as the comprehensive summary of the world's places, creatures, and known spells.

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

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

Deal of the Day - Expedition to Castle Ravenloft (3e)

I always really enjoyed the original Ravenloft by the Hickmans. It was different than the standard AD&D adventures of the time. BBEG had real motivation and history. I never owned Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, as I never ran 3e.

Expedition to Castle Ravenloft is today's Deal of the Day. Normally 14.99 in PDF, until tomorrow morning, it is on sale for 3.60

Based on the classic adventure by Tracy and Laura Hickman, the Expedition to Castle Ravenloft campaign adventure updates the original 1st Edition "Ravenloft" module, retaining the Gothic flavor and familiar elements while expanding and reimagining some of the locations to create a deeper, richer adventure experience. This adventure is designed for characters of levels 6-10 and features a new, easy-to-use combat encounter format. This book also presents new magic items, feats, and prestige classes for player characters. 

 

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

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

Humble Bundle - The Cartographer's Vault: A Treasury of Expertly Crafted Maps (Campaign Cartographer 3)

Campaign Cartographer 3, in skilled hands, makes some beautiful maps for fantasy RPGs and beyond. The Cartographer's Vault: A Treasury of Expertly Crafted Maps Bundle is a collection of maps created with CC3, and you can also snag your own copy of CC3.

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

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

Stuck at Home Working on Some Stuff (Totally My Fault!)

So this weekend was/is Long Con and you know who isn't attending? Yep, this guy. It's really frustrating because this convention is only about a 5 hour drive away...totally doable, if only I'd....I don't know....actually referenced a fricken calendar. I completely failed to realize that Veterans' Day (observed) was this Friday so I had a three day weekend!

The only way it could have been worse was if Long Con was held at a Marriott, since I could've stayed for free if I wanted (it'd cost, but no out-of-pocket cash).

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to stay at home and cook some BBQ. It's a small consolation for not having fun all weekend....but I was home to receive my Christmas gifts (bought/made) for my gaming group. I mean the packages would still be there when I got home later this afternoon, but clearly I had to be here to avoid porch pirates.....yeah, that's the reason I stayed home. Thanksgiving is next week, so it'll be the Christmas rush/season before you know it!

Well I am taking some of the unexpected free time to work on a thing or two for next year's NTRPG, allegedly clean my house (better luck next week!), and get my new "other" gaming toys (computer) prepped. After my trip to Alaska I had enough money saved up to pick up a new computer that is more portable for travelling and tableside use, but a bank canvas, er computer, needs a lot of work before it'll be ready to use.

Speaking of using a computer at the gaming table.....I'm looking for suggestions of needed software. I've been playing with Dungeon Alchemist for some map making. I'm also using a few table generator programs and another for playing sound effects/music, but I'm not sure if I want to stick with MapTools anymore. I don't need much more than pushing a map to a portable screen, but I also don't know what I don't know so......any suggestions for a tabletop computer program that makes GMing easier or the game a bit more immersive.....

.....send 'em my way.

Humble Bundle - RPG Book Bundle - 5th Edition MegaBundle: Gygax, Kobold, Friends & More

While I am not a huge fan of D&D 5e, I find it to be extremely simple to convert a 5e adventure to the OSR system of my choice. So if you offer me quality 5e adventures at a dirt cheap price, I'm all in.

With the 5th Edition MegaBundle: Gygax, Kobold, Friends & More RPG Bundle, I'm all in.

I have a few of these in OSR releases, but 25 bucks for nearly endless adventuring material is difficult to pass up :)

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

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

A WTF? Kickstarter - Rose Whip Dice II: Unique Metal Polyhedral RPG Dice Set

A distinctive Rose Whip-inspired collection, meticulously crafted to enhance your role-playing with a flourish of elegance

Sometimes, things sound good but aren't feasible in real life. Such is the case with Rose Whip Dice II (there was a first?) If you can't read the numbers on the dice, it's worthless. The Rose and Blue dice pictured above and below? Totally worthless. Unless you are looking to cheat in your RPGs - in which case, totally worth it ;)

Why make, let alone sell, dice that aren't readable without holding it up to your eyes?

Thankfully, it isn't going to fund, and these dice can be relegated to the circular file.

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

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

Deal of the Day - FlexTale Hexcrawl Toolkit (multisystem: Pathfinder, P2E, 5E, OSR, DCC)

Hexcrawls are an often misunderstood method of running a campaign. This makes the FlexTale Hexcrawl Toolkit a very interesting deal of the day. Normally priced at 14.99, until tomorrow morning FlexTale Hexcrawl Toolkit is on sale for 4.50 in PDF.

The Hexcrawl Toolkit contains dozens of topics, organized into the following sections:

• Introduction, QuickStart, & Checklists
• Planning
• Movement, Speed, & Visibility
• Navigation & Long Journies
• Points of Interest
• Encounters & Combat
• Survival
• Mapping & Cartography
• Appendix: Utility Tables, Visual Reference, & Blank Hex Grids

 

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

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

Humble Bundle - The IGN Editor's Choice: 9 & Above Club (Computer Games)

When I check in at Humble Bundle, to see the latest deals, I give the computer games a quick glance, but as a Mac OSX user, I am generally left disappointed. Not this time. Four of the seven games offered run natively on a Mac, and all four interested me (the others may work with Crossover, but I didn't check.

So, what are the games you get in The IGN Editor's Choice: 9 & Above Club Bundle? 

• Disco Elysium - The Final Cut - Mac/Windows
• Wildermyth - Mac/Windows/Linux
• Chivalry 2 - Windows
• Spiritfarer - Mac/Windows/Linus
• The Forgotten City - Windows
• GRIME
• Paradise Killer

 

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

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

Humble Bundle - Rick & Morty Comic Collection

It's rare that I find the One Dollar level of a Humble Bundle offers something of real value, but for a single buck, you can get the first 5 issues of the Rick & Morty Comic Collection. Sure, you can grab SIXTY issues for 18 bucks, for for a single buck, this is a great way to check out digital comic books.

Join the universe’s most notorious superscientist Rick Sanchez and his hapless grandson Morty on adventures across time and space—and beyond all reason—in this bundle of Rick and Morty comics from Oni Press! Based on the hit [adult swim] animated series, this collection features 60 issues from the acclaimed original run, taking readers from dimension C-132 to C-137 and a host of alternate realities in between. Lose yourself in the Rick & Morty comics multiverse, and help support BINC and The Hero Initiative with your purchase!

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

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

Kickstarter - Reaper Miniatures - Dungeon Dwellers Roleplaying Game

A classic fantasy RPG with daring heroes, fabulous wealth, and untold danger. Designed for new and experienced roleplayers.

There is no current shortage of OSR rulesets, and there seems to be no end to them. One of the latest rulesets to be Kickstarted is Dungeon Dwellers Roleplaying Game from Reaper Miniatures. Yes, that Reaper's Miniatures.

I remember Reaper Miniatures from my early days in the hobby but truly appreciated them when the various Bones Kickstarters hit the crowdfunding market. Amazing values and high quality are hallmarks of Reaper in my experience.

So, for the Dungeon Dwellers RPG Kickstarter, I am looking at the Collector's Box-level pledge. Three core books (in print plus PDF), a set of RPG dice (we all need more dice), fortune tokens, 17 minis (with more possible with further stretch goals), 2 PDF adventures, a sourcebook, and the box for 99 bucks. I do think that is the sweet spot.

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

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

Wishing We Had A Cool Content Creation Push for the OSR

So it's the first weekend in November....which means we survived another Halloween and we have Turkey Day and the inevitable onslaught that is the Christmas season....

Just saying now, get your gaming group's gifts (you do get your fellow gamers shit, right?) figured out now because the next thing you know it'll be January, you haven't had a game in three weeks, and "where did the time fly?"

This PSA is just a bonus thing, hope it helps.

I think most of us could agree that we're going to be ramping up with the family, friends, and coworkers increasing demands for social interactions. For some of us there isn't enough time, energy/motivation to go around as it is, but some folks are also just gluttons for punishment and frankly I'm a little jelly.

Odds are if you're here reading this you're some flavor of nerd/dork/geek/dweeb/whatever and November is a big time for another flavor of nerd/dork/geek...you get it.....writers, or maybe just wannabe writers. November is when NaNoWriMo takes place. If you aren't familiar, follow the link or I can TL;DR it for you:

Wannabe writers of all varieties challenge themselves to pen 50,000 words during the month of November and there is a formal association of like-minded individuals that provide motivation and tools to assist.

My ex-wife was afflicted in this manner and I could write off her having free time come November. That 1,666+ daily word count was a PITA. Of course, NaNoWriMo doesn't care if your writing is any good, just that it's lengthy. I used to joke that I wanted to spend November coding a random adventure log table and have it spit out a year's worth of 1st party recollection of...well an adventuring party. Make sub tables that get called allowing party members to die, get resurrected or replaced, battles, licking wounds, etc. Get the tables working and then on November 30th have it spit out 50,000 words worth of log.

All kidding aside, I like how this is a shared goal that really only matters to participants. Those writers are supportive of each other and the only person you let down if you fall short is you. It's really an exercise in getting work done when you might not be motivated. Plugging away at a bigger goal that could become something later, but for now you just need to get that grunt work in, develop good habits that might pay off later.

I'm jelly 'cause I wish we had something like this in the OSR. A bunch of GMs or even players have a specific writing goal of contributing to creating OSR content. We don't have to have a specific format (so not the One Page Dungeon contest), nobody externally is looking for you to write stuff they can profit off of, but here's some tools to help out and if you end up sharing this with others, cool. If you want to keep it to yourself, hopefully you can learn and grow as a player..... 

Unfortunately we don't, or at least we don't as far as I know. Sure, we could take part in the actual NaNoWriMo, but at this point you are 8,333 words behind. For the record, that's like 1/15th of the length of this post up until this point.

So 2nd PSA is be nice to your writing friends this month....?