OSR Christmas Day 4: "One of Everything" Bundle from New Big Dragon Games Unlimited

 

I *just* read yesterday's 12 Days of OSR Christmas post and thanks Erik....no pressure ("tomorrow is going to be, quite likely, the most amazing day of OSR Christmas gifting in ALL of the years I've hosted OSR Christmas").

You see, Erik gave me permission, back in June during NTRPG, to basically call dibs on one of the OSR Christmas Days here at the Tavern and let me basically "go nuts". Hmm.....what to do, what to do. Well for me the answer is/was easy: show some love to a publisher I know and like buy (pun intended) getting basically one of everything to give away.

Disclaimer: I consider Richard LeBlanc, Jr (New Big Dragon Games Unlimited) a good friend and he's my bi-weekly game GM. At the NTRPG con I was helping out at his booth and this idea came up, mostly because I enjoy project mash-up between friends.

.....anyway, the Tavern acquired "one of everything" that Richard/New Big Dragon Games Unlimited had and the pile has been sitting on my D&D display case for six months now waiting for today. I'm not sure how to organize the "goods", so I'll go alphabetically by Product ID. For those of you interested in these products but not fortunate enough to win them, I'll provide a link to how/where you can get your hands on them if you desire (and with the current price as of this posting, if available).

AX1 D30 DM Companion: The d30 DM Companion is an indispensable aid for any DM that wants to keep on top of his game and ahead of his players. Whether stocking a dungeon, looking to breathe new life into a campaign, or just struggling to keep up with players, this compilation of d30-based mechanics, charts, and tables will support and simplify the role of the DM/GM at the tabletop. Inside these 30-something pages you'll find a host of d30-based resources. Lulu $10.95

CC1 Creature Compendium: Collected herein are over 200 monsters from Abysmal to Zathoa, instilled with that same spirit, presented in a "dual-stat" format, and designed to be used with most early editions of the world's original role-playing game and comparable retro-clones.

I did a review of CC1 on my Frugal GM blog back when it came out in 2015.

Needless to say, I'm a fan. Lulu $10.95

CCS 1, CCS 2, CCS 3 Creature Compendium Special Editions 1, 2, & 3: Ok, the picture isn't quite accurate to the product as this was intended to be a four-volume set and only the first three volumes were printed in time for North Texas RPG Con 2021. The title page is marked on the bottom with "This pre-release edition has been specially printed for NTRPGCon 2021". There isn't a fourth mini volume, and there won't be as the final product is now an integrated single book. Not available for sale

Dragon Horde Volume II, Issue 1 Wherein Evil Lies: Part zine, part mini-splat book, Wherein Evil Lies includes a host of evil and undead resources for classic/BX editions... 3 new classes; 9 new spells; 6 new magic items; 7 new basic psionic abilities; 6 new monsters; optional rules for killing vampires; new petty god & minion; an adventure for 5-7 characters of 3rd-5th level; and 3 new d30 tables. Lulu $6.00

FX1 Fifty Fiends: Collected herein are 50 fiends from the darkest reaches of the outer planes, including the Abyss, Hell, Naraka, Pandemonium, Limbo, the Dreamlands, and the Beyond (a terrifyingly remote place of madness, aberration, entropy, and pure chaos. This book is designed for use with classic (BX/BECMI/LL) editions of the world’s original role-playing game and with Old School Adventures™ Accessory PX1: Basic Psionics Handbook. It additionally provides information on dual-axis alignment, the planes of existence, languages spoken throughout the planes, and descriptions for a number of planes- and fiend-related spells and magic items. Lulu $9.95

GM1 Game Masters Screen: The most comprehensive GM screen resource ever created for classic (BX) editions of the original RPG and comparable retro-clones. This has seven "pages" of content and five art panels, all full of good stuff, BUT.......pretty much out of print. More than likely this rather popular product will come back in reprint, but for now, the best you can do is a PDF product from DTRPG $10.

GM2 Basic Psionics GM Screen: This is another one of those rarer, good-luck finding it anywhere items. It isn't available on Lulu, DTRPG, or really even on the NBDGU Website.

PX1 Basic Psionics Handbook: Unleash the powers of the mind into your BX/LL campaign! Finally, after 40 years of waiting, there’s a psionics system for the classic editions of the world’s original fantasy role-playing game. It’s simple, intuitive, and provides a gameplay experience that feels at home alongside the original rules of the game. 

Now I've never used Psionics and I know a LOT of GMs tend to shy away from using Psionics for several reasons, primarily because the likelihood of having legitimate Psionic characters (one than qualifies and manages to become Psionic anyway) was practically impossible. I've had quite a few people tell me that this Psionic supplement fixes the original OSR Psionics and makes Psionics viable. I still haven't played it myself.....yet. Lulu $10.95

VA1 Valley of the Five Fires: This fantasy setting & adventure module is for characters level 4-9 and is a 3 Castles Award winner. This Mongol-inspired module is designed for use with 0e/1e/BX and compatible retro-clones in a single edition. It supports sandbox-style play but includes several traditionally detailed adventures. Lulu $10.95

PA1 Vault of the Faceless Giants: This OSR adventure is for levels 1-3 and is designed as an introductory psionics adventure using the Basic Psionics Handbook. (Note that on some places this might be listed as a levels 4-6 adventure, but I double-checked and it clearly says 1-3 inside) Centuries ago, a temple set in the side of a cliff a few miles northwest of the village of Phoumi Sramol acted as the center of worship for evil adherents to the demon lord Rahb. During this time, livestock died, villagers disappeared, and plagues befell the area. Suddenly, however, all of the evil and suspicious activity around the temple ceased. Now, hundreds of years later, an occurrence in the village has the locals questioning whether or not the evil is returning. A local woman, Kanya, claims her baby was snatched from her hands in the middle of the night by followers of Rahb. The chief dismisses the temple’s relationship to the missing child, suggesting the tale is a fabrication. If she is telling the truth, then there is much to be feared, and her story bears investigating—not just for the sake of the woman and the village, but for the sake of a world where this kind of evil can exist. Lulu $9.95

Comment below and Erik will do his thing and figure out who gets this package. I'm assuming he'll forward me the winner's deets so I can mail off the items. Now I can't add any rules to this giveaway, but if you have the ability to oblige me, comment your experience with New Big Dragon Games Unlimited, especially if you've used the psionics stuff 'cause I'm thinking I'd like to run a psionics PC sometime.

But of course, there is more! (this is Tenkar BTW)

Please note, the above is shipping to a US address only. I would need to return to employment to afford to ship such internationally.

We are also gifting the following:

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

        MCC "Seekers of the Un-K'Nown" PDF (anywhere in the world)

        DCC "Perils of the Sunken City" PDF (anywhere in the world)

        ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one none-US commenter.

You know the deal. Comment below before 10 PM Eastern Time, December 14th, 2022. We'll randomly pick gift receivers from the comments below.

Best of luck to all. I promised this would be an amazing day! ;)

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

OSR Christmas, Day 3 - The Giving of the Gifts (DON'T Miss Day 4 Tomorrow - It Will Blow You Away!)

As regular readers likely know, this week has been a fairly busy news week, both on the blog-side and on the cast-side of things. As such, I didn't get an OSR Christmas post up yesterday (a livestream and new episodes of The Expanse and Wheel of Time didn't help either ;)

In reality, it is probably for the best, because tomorrow is going to be, quite likely, the most amazing day of OSR Christmas gifting in ALL of the years I've hosted OSR Christmas. Really. Don't miss it.

In the meantime, we have gifts from OSR Christmas Day 3 to gift, as well as remind folks that gifts from OSR Christmas Day 1 & OSR Christmas Day 2 remain unclaimed. Use the links above and see if you've missed something. Free loot may be yours!

Now, on to OSR Christmas Day 3 Gifting!

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

                   dogrodeo

        MCC "Seekers of the Un-K'Nown" PDF (anywhere in the world)

                 Jason Jenson

        DCC "Perils of the Sunken City" PDF (anywhere in the world)

                  shadowcat1313

        ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one non-US commenter.

                  Mark Markham

Alright, those named above need to email me at tenkarsDOTtavernAT that Gmail thing with OSR Christmas Day 3 in the subject of the email. The rest of you need to click on the links for awarding the gifts for Days 1 and 2, because there is some Arduin and more waiting to be claimed.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

News - TSR Voluntarily Dismisses Legal Action Against WotC Without Prejudice

I'm just sharing this for newsworthiness. I don't have any inside information as to WHY the dismissal was filed.

Nite, "without prejudice" means TSR reserves the right to file again in the future.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Why is TSR3 Filing Suit over Trademarks it has Already Abandoned or Surrendered?

I'll be short and simply include a bunch of links.

In less than 2 weeks, Star Frontiers will be an abandoned trademark, for failure to submit a Statement of Use:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90276506/STAR-FRONTIERS

The Wizard logo? Surrendered 9/7/2021:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90148334/mark

Dragon Medallion? Abandoned 7/28/21:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90148524/TSR

The Game Wizards? Cancelation Pending 12/07/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124839/TSR-THE-GAME-WIZARDS

Blackmoor? Abandoned 8/18/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90276510/BLACKMOOR

TSR as the OSR Logo many of us know? Surrendered 9/7/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124287/TSR

Classic Lizardman Logo? Registered, but not the Greg Bell version. This was redrawn by Jeff Dee

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124788/mark

Strangely enough, the actual letters "TSR" weren't filed until 8/19/21. Oversight or plain stupidity, I simply don't know.

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90884176/TSR

So, what's the angle TSR3 is working with this legal action? Are they hoping the court will give them the rights to trademarks they've already abandoned? Was this a preemptive action to prevent a filing by WotC? Is this simply a money grab?

Can a Trademark lawyer explain WTF is actually going on? Why defend trademarks you've already abandoned or surrendered?

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

OSR Christmas, Day 3 - All Good Things Come in Threes (or on the third day)

Ah, there is nothing quite so sweet as seeing a community gift others within the community. OSR Christmas is special, not just for the gifts given, but for all of the potential gift receivers.

Before we get to the gifts being given away for OSR Christmas Day 3, we have gifts to give away for OSR Christmas Day 2.

OSR Christmas Day 2 Gifts

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

Rob Gustafson 

Back to BasiX HardCover Compilation by Throwi Games (US Only)

Ngo Vin-Hoi 

TWO $10 DTRPG Gift Certificates to two non-US commenters (US Not eligible). 

Hyrieus 

IL

I need the above to email me at tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom. Put "OSR Christmas Day 2" in the Subject.

Now, on to OSR Christmas Day 3!

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

        MCC "Seekers of the Un-K'Nown" PDF (anywhere in the world)

        DCC "Perils of the Sunken City" PDF (anywhere in the world)

        ONE $10 DTRPG Gift Certificate to one none-US commenter.

You know the deal, comment below and indicate whether you are state-side or elsewhere in this wide world of ours. This post closes at 10 PM Eastern, 12/10/21. There will be a grand total of 13 days of gifting for OSR Christmas 2021, and if you want a chance to be gifted on each of those days, you need to comment on each OSR Christmas post.

We still have unclaimed gifts from Day 1...

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

TSR3 Files "Complaint for Declaratory of Judgement" Regarding Trademark and Copyright Disputes with WotC

TSR vs WotC

Exhibit A

Indiegogo

See links above for the filing and Exhibit A.

Note that this filing is about trademarks and copyrights. It has NOTHING to do with the infamous "WotC Legacy Disclaimer". It has nothing to do with slander or libel.

I'm going to share the rest of the screenshots of Exhibit A:

It appears that the announcement of the "new" Star Frontiers title, shared on Facebook with the cover of the original release from the "old" TSR was the catalyst for the letter from WotC's attorney (as it was sent six days after the Facebook post in question.)

This begs the question: how much did WotC actually care about the apparent graphical trademark usurpation by TSR3, before TSR3 committed an unforced foul in using the original Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn cover to announce their reboot? Is this an "in for a penny, in for a pound" situation, where if you don't assert ownership of all, you could lose ownership of all? Also, this email was sent, right around the TSR3 social media meltdown. Was that too much for WotC to ignore? Again, an unforced foul.

From the filing itself, we get some insight into Evil Hat's abandonment of the Star Frontiers TM:

Interesting times ;)

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Kickstarter - Batteries Low, Getting Dark - a Post-apocalyptic Adventure

A low- to mid-level adventure for your favorite post-apocalyptic setting.

I've always been a fan of Gamma World. It's the first RPG I bought after getting my AD&D 1e Core books back in the day. I was very confused about how Hit Points worked in Gamma World.

Now, I am NOT saying that the Batteries Low, Getting Dark - a Post-apocalyptic Adventure Kickstarter is written for Gamma World. What I AM saying, is that from all appearances, it should work with Gamma World 1e without a hitch. As always, YMMV ;)

This adventure was play-tested at the North Texas RPG Con in 2019 using the first edition of the Gamma World system. The stat blocks of Batteries Low, Getting Dark will be suitable for the play-tested system, or can easily be modified for other systems of similar genres. 

100% of the adventure is written. All maps and art have been completed. At the time of project launch, the work is midway through editing. My hope is that before the project ends, the book will be in or through layout.

The B&W, digest-sized, perfect bound book will be between 32 and 40 pages in length. The adventure features 40 plus encounter areas in total.

Unlike other adventures written by ThrowiGames for this genre, the book's layout will be built around the custom artwork of several artists. Each piece is at least half a page in size, and has been created exclusively for this adventure. 

Count me in. Heck, I backed this yesterday :) 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

OSR Christmas - Day 2 - As the Good Books Says, More Gifts is More Better

Ah, there is nothing quite so sweet as seeing a community gift others within the community. OSR Christmas is special, not just for the gifts given, but for all of the potential gift receivers.

Before we get to the gifts being given away for OSR Christmas Day 2, we have gifts to give away for OSR Christmas Day 1.

OSR Christmas Day 1 Gifts

Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print (US Only) 

        gnupate 

TWO $10 DTRPG Gift Certificates to two non-US commenters (US Not eligible)

        Jason Jensen

        IL 

 OSR patch (or two) and a sticker (anywhere)

        imredave 

I need the above to email me at tenkarsDOTtavernATgmailDOTcom. Put "OSR Christmas Day 1" in the Subject.

Now, on to OSR Christmas Day 2!

Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package)

Back to BasiX HardCover Compilation by Throwi Games (US Only)

TWO $10 DTRPG Gift Certificates to two non-US commenters (US Not eligible). 

You know the deal, comment below and indicate whether you are state-side or elsewhere in this wide world of ours. This post closes at 10 PM Eastern, 12/8/21. There will be a grand total of 13 days of gifting for OSR Christmas 2021, and if you want a chance to be gifted on each of those days, you need to comment on each OSR Christmas post.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Getting into the Sweet-Spot for BX PC Gaming

I'm far luckier than expected in that I was able to participate in my group's bi-weekly OSR game. Well that AND my Magic User earned enough XP to become an Enchanter (5th Level).

Now I clearly cannot speak for everyone, but my favorite levels are usually 5th to 7th level. Thing is, while I have played 5th level BX PCs before I don't think I've ever leveled up a PC to 5th level before. Those other PC's were higher level for one-off games and that is a different animal than "growing your own" straight-up from 7 x 3d6 down the line.

Now for an Enchanter that means I get to finally cast a 3rd level spell and get to cast a total of five (count 'em.....FIVE!) spells a day. My Enchanter (I should totally rename his sorry ass to "Tim") conceivably could cast Lightning of Fireball, assuming he knew those spell. Instead he knows Water Breathing.

Water Breathing.......sounds kind of crappy, but after reading the spell it is pretty bad-ass, just a little limited in usefulness. I'm more excited by the fact he's got a captured spellbook with Dispel Magic, which might be far more useful.

Now I expect that most here get the nuances, but there is probably at least one person here that isn't familiar with the slower rate of level progression in an OSR/BX game. I think I've been playing this PC regularly for at least a year and a half. Now as a low-level support PC I'm not often in the thick of things, although I have had to step up a few times and save the day (usually through a fair bit of luck!). Thing is, and this is for the new guy, a 5th level BX Magic User is a lot more on par with a 1st level BX Magic User, much, much closer than the differences in pretty much any other edition of D&D.

My guy is still running the same to-hit charts and saving throws. The difference between 4th & 5th levels? 1d4 hitpoints (well, 1d4+1 for me) and a single spell, albeit a 3rd level spell. The jump to 6th level, only another 20,000 XP from now, gets my guy the 1st increase in saves and to-hit matrix, not that I really want to be making saves or engaging in more direct combat.

Yes, progression is much slower in an OSR game, BUT...and this is a major draw for me, that sweet-spot of mid-level gaming is a lot longer than in other games. Now that my PC has access to 3rd level spells, even just one (up to three if my GM's custom Bracers of Spell Storing can hold third level spells....but I suspect they are limited to 1st & 2nd level spells) can change the dynamic considerably....."can" being the operative word.

Again, for the not-quite-familiar, the flexibility, adaptability, survivability....hell, just playability of BX (OSR) Player Characters aren't so much related to the numbers gained through regular level progression, but through the "smart" actions of the players at the table, and of course a fair bit of luck. Now I'd LOVE to be able to take all the credit for "making it" to 5th level, but I have a whole party of players that are responsible, along with their PCs.

I know, I know.....for 90% of the readers here this is old hat and you've probably not even made it this far. Earlier this week I was reading about *ahem* another edition and my eyes glazed over at the prospect of making and leveling up a PC. Since it's a matter of public record that I like HackMaster and believe me that game has a complicated build/leveling process, but that shit is enjoyable and a completely different thing, so aside from this throwaway comment, I'm not going there. 

I remember playing 3.5 and rolling up a PC, or leveling one, seemed to take hours. It took so damned long because if you did not optimize your build you were screwing your PC over and possibly your group as well. Now this was my experience and others might have different ones, but the simpler/easier choices of OSR PC creation & leveling up > complicated, "have to get it right" please read all the RPG books of the month-club to optimize later edition creation/level ups.

Now I'll probably loose my PC in the next couple of games....these things happen, but I'll just grab my 3d6 and be back in the swing of things soon enough.

OSR Christmas - Day 1 - And So It Was That Six Volumes of Arduin Appeared

Yep, it's time to kick off OSR Christmas. Its become an annual tradition here at The Tavern, and although the gifts might change on a yearly basis, the joy of being part of this amazing community simply gets greater each year for me.

For Day One of OSR Christmas, I thought it should be something special. Emperors Choice Games and Miniatures is giving away Volumes IV through IX of Arduin (six books!), in print, to one lucky gift receiver (US ONLY for this package) that comments on this post before 9 PM EST, Monday. 12/06/2021. Let us know what country you are commenting from. Seriously, that is all you have to do to potentially be gifted. Not to leave our non-US readers out of the celebrations, but The Tavern will be gifting TWO $10 DTRPG Gift Certificates to two non-US commenters (US Not eligible). I will also randomly pick one worldwide commenter to receive a gift of an OSR patch (or two) and a sticker. 

On Monday evening I will randomly pick a US commenter and the fine folks at Emperors Choice will handle the gifting. I will also pick two non-US commenters and I handle that part of the gifting and pick one worldwide commenter and forward their info on.

Not only do we have more gifts coming up for all 12 days (including a copy of Torchlight #1 in Print from The Tavern, patches, books, and more) but Emperors Choice will be gifting 11 more packages of Arduin IV -IX, one for each day of OSR Christmas. Then there will be a special gift package for OSR Christmas Day 13. Yep, more on that later ;)

For those that want to add gifts to OSR Santa's Bag, you can email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that Gmail thing. It should take just over a month for OSR Christmas to run its course, with the 13th day being somewhere around Three Kings Day if we are lucky.

The next day of OSR Christmas will be December 6th. Check back to see if you are receiving a gift. Oh, and comment again to get a new chance to be gifted!

If you want to help The Tavern during this holiday season, subscribe to the Tenkar's Tavern Youtube Channel and use The Tavern's affiliate links (listed below) when you shop. 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Has Wonderfilled Taken up Trolling TSR3 for the Holidays?

You know it must be the time of giving, as Steve Dineheart, AKA Wonderfilled, is trying to sell some TSR-themed URLs. You see, Wonderfilled wants YOU to give them big bucks for some useless TSR URLs. Hmmm... is this like paying for coal in your stockings?

I'm guessing these are URLs that Dineheart snagged back when Wonderfilled and TSR were united as one, and then when it was time for irreconcilable differences, Wonderfilled ran off with these.

They are useless to anyone unless you intend to do some fairly expensive trolling of TSR3 (both currently redirect to Wonderfilled Games' Homepage).

Oh, and I hate to break it to y'all, but if you were hoping to snag a copy of the Giantlands pre-order, you can't. As of 22 minutes ago, as I type this, preorders closed. You'll have to find another way to cosplay with masks and plastic ponchos during the Christmas Holiday.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Kickstarter - Traveller RPG: The Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society II

The Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society is back, with more volumes of new material in a collector's slipcase.

I've been a fan of The Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society since I first found the Traveller Starter Set in the 80s. There was always something special about the articles one would find within. When I found the reprint volumes at the Complete Strategist a few years ago, I bought a set.

Now Mongoose is Kickstarting The Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society II. Its hit a number of stretch goals, so Volumes 7-12 are included. It should be a ton of inspirational material for scifi gamers in general, and Traveller campaigns in particular.

This is what we currently have planned for Volume Seven (subject to tweaks and ever better ideas as we continue to work on the Journals):

•  A Week in Jump: A whole range of events to spice up your week-long jumps between stars
•  Acis - The Devil You Know: Portrait of the Acis system in the Trojan Reach
•  Advanced Lasers: Laser turrets not big enough for you? Consider a range of barbette and bay laser weapons
•  Deepnight Revelation Traveller Creation: New considerations when creating Travellers for the epic Deepnight Revelation campaign
•  Doctor Izikai Nafir: A roguish doctor to complicate the lives of your Travellers
•  Golden Dawn Yacht: A new yacht for nobles - as only the Sindalian Empire could do it
•  Initial 24 Arms 'Go' Cases: A complete rapid reaction suite of weapons, armour and other necessities, in a selection of handy-sized packages
•  The Ithklur: A playable alien species from the Hive Federation
•  Kar'wyikh and Lord Afle Urelad: An Aslan lord of the Trojan Reach to be used as both patron and foil for your Travellers
•  Krungha Processing Ark: Used by an exiled K'kree clan from the Two Thousand Worlds, this is a truly massive ship that prowls space dominated by carnivores
•  Misadventures at Blinderby Manor: Set on a backwater world, this is a multi-branched encounter for Travellers that can easily lead to a full-blown adventure
•  Ramona Raskin: Looking to convert and operate a laboratory ship for trade missions, Ramona is a Spacer of the Vanguard Reaches looking for helpful Travellers
•  Uraz Gnoezdanu: Set in The Beyond, the Travellers are asked to break into a defence systems manufacturer’s computers to determine shipping information
•  Stellar Cartography: A truly deep dive into stellar cartography and a look into why (and how) 3D space is represented in two dimensions on sector maps
•  The Spacers' Union: Use the collective power of spacers to curb the worst excesses of Solomani governments

Volumes Eight and Nine have oodles more articles, including more aliens and animals, more adventures and characters, a travelling tavern built out of an old Mercenary Cruiser, a revisiting of two classic Double Adventures (The Argon Gambit and Divine Intervention), and much, much more - we will be showcasing the contents of each volume during the Kickstarter process and courting your opinion on the articles!

 The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar  

Deal of the Day - Midnight Boulevard: 2D6 Adventure in the World of Film Noir (Cepheus Engine)

I know this may not be a Deal of the Day that is up everyone's alley, or back alley. I just happen to like "film noir", and packaging noir with Cepheus Engine (Traveller) is simply too interesting for me to pass on. Midnight Boulevard: 2D6 Adventure in the World of Film Noir is normally 3.99, but until tomorrow morning its on sale for 1.50 in PDF.

Film noir (“black film”; plural films noir) is a type of stylized crime movie made from the early 1940s to the late 1950s and known for dark and cynical worldviews, usually illustrated by innovative — and often disturbing — directing and lighting techniques. Films noir highlighted social post-war angst and insecurity and featured such tropes as corrupt authority, deeply flawed protagonists, dark urban settings, dangerous women (the “femme fatale”, often contrasted with the “good girl”), an obsession with the characters’ pasts, unflinching looks at human turpitude, and helplessness against one’s fate.

Awright, that’s enough squawkin’ about the pictures! You birds already knew all that — now you wanna know what’s in it for you! Hang out your ear and I’ll tell you. Midnight Boulevard is the 2D6 treatment for getting along in a film noir world, savvy? It’s based on Cepheus Engine and the Original Science Fiction Roleplaying Game, so you already know kinda what you’re getting with a lifepath mechanic and plenty of past careers. But there’s other swag in here too; here, I’ll let the wisehead tell you:

• A Scar table to determine the character’s inner turmoil and flawed past that affects present actions
• Rules for drinking — and being affected by — alcohol, a staple of films noir
• A table for determining the types of organized crime entities the heroes interact with
• A selection of equipment, weapons, and vehicles
• Suggestions for running characters through a film noir setting
• A selection of slang terms used during the period

Okay, that’s enough, pally; beat it, already! The rest of you mugs, what are you waiting for? Grab Midnight Boulevard and your rod and get in on the action before some torpedo beats you to it.

 

 The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern. 

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar