The Eyeball Critter - It's a Critter With a Giant Eyeball For Tunnels & Trolls

Eyeball Criiter

Monster Rating: 100

Combat Dice: 11d6 + 50

Special Damage - 5 / Medusa - Save vs. Int or turn to stone

Eye See You! You Can't Hide From Me, Eye See You Where Ever You Go. Eye Think You'd Look Nice Over There In The Corner, With My Other Playthings. Eye Have a Nice Collection of Statues, Yes?

(Thanks to Craig Brasco for giving me permission to use the above art)

Do You Now or Have You Ever Suffered From "DM Stage Fright"?

I get the queasies every Saturday evening, sometime after dinner, when it's time to review my notes for the evening's upcoming AD&D game. Sometimes the feeling passes. Sometimes it stays until right up to the game. On rare occasions, my nerves get to the point I hope to get messages from players that they can't make the game, so I can call it off - but that has only happened once I think.

Just think, I've been DM'ing for the last 9 months, for the same group of friends. Heck, I started DM'ing way back in Junior High School. And I still get nervous.

Go figure ;)

It's a bit worse with the pick up games I occasionally run for folks via the G+ Hangouts app - because I'm not just one of a handful of strangers, I'm the stranger that has to be at the center.

Yet I come back, week after week. So do my players, so I must be doing something right. Besides, once the game starts the queasies are long forgotten ;)

So, do you get "DM Stage Fright"? How do you work through it if you do get it?

Wraiths - Bringing the Cold Touch of Death to Tunnels & Trolls

Wraith

Monster Rating: 130

Combat Dice: 16d6 + 65

Special Damage - 1/2 Each Natural 6 rolled causes 2 Spite Damage.

Special Resistance - Dice from non-magical or non-silvered weapons will not cause the Wraith harm.

It's always cold. Cold like dead fingers plucking a heart from its chest or a tomato from the vine. Bloody tomatoes. 

(Thanks to Craig Brasco for giving me permission to use the above art)

Dwimmermount Update From Tavis Allison (Autarch) 1/15/13

Tavis asked me to share the lastest update from the Dwimmermount Kickstarter with my readers. The update went up about an hour before this blog post. If you have questions for Tavis, he can be reached at tavis@autarch.co  He doesn't have much free time to read forums, but he will answer your emails as best he can.

Here's Tavis' latest update:


Having the entire project in draft form is definitely an achievement. Although much delayed, the essential goal of the Kickstarter - to realize James' vision of the mega-dungeon and share it with backers - has been met. However, James' absence from backer updates, from the weekly conference calls that are the keystone of my administrative guidance, and from email or phone contact warrants concern for the remaining steps.

One reason it makes sense for James to assume responsibility for the updates is that I can't speak to what's going on with him personally. Mainly this is due to lack of information, but my desire to respect his privacy is also a factor. The last email I have from him leaves enough questions unanswered that disclosing a personal communication doesn't seem justified by the limited amount of light it would shed on the situation. Although I do have some hearsay evidence that he is alive and well and not completely out of contact with the world, I can't explain why he hasn't written to say what's up. I am doing all I can to get more information to share with you.

The other reason to give way to James is that he controls both the copyright and the funds required to complete the project. Autarch LLC has a written, signed contract with James, which assigns all funds to him in exchange for his assumption of responsibility for development of the Product and delivery of the rewards. All IP related to the product are the exclusive property of James. Autarch is not the publisher of Dwimmermount and has no distribution rights. In exchange for our services, Autarch and James agreed to cooperate in good faith to promote each other's brand and business.

In other words, Autarch has none of the funds, none of the IP, and no rights except to mutual publicity. Going ahead and releasing the product (polished or unpolished) without James' permission would be a violation of his copyright for which he'd be able to sue us as individuals. We can't get that permission as long as he remains out of contact, and I have no way of knowing how long that will continue.

Random Tables - Inspiration or "As Rolled?"

I love random tables for my RPGs. Whether it's for character generation or adventure design, it's like being offered a huge greek diner menu and being allowed to choose from it's endless choices.

Wait, you can choose, right?

Those random tables might have numbers attached to the entries so someone can randomly determine some results, but that's just a guideline, and one that is easily over ruled.

I mean, after your teenage years, did you ever roll up a random dungeon via the tables in the AD&D DMG and randomly populate it using the appropriate monster tables? That Huge Red Dragon in a 10 x 10 dungeon closet butting up against a room holding a half dozen Hill Giants isn't acceptable these days.

For me, random tables are the most awesome resources of inspiration and I will roll on them, but I'm no longer a slave to them. I pick and choose as often as I roll, and I ignore rolls as often as I keep them.

Still, I can't have enough tables of random goodness :)

How do you use random tables? As rolled, inspiration, a combination?

How Would You "Twist" OSR Monsters to Make Them "Unique"?

I've been going through a daily exercise of creating and posting monsters for Tunnels & Trolls and giving them a unique ability or perk, to keep them from just being sacks of damage taken and damage given. I've enjoyed it so far, because even though monsters in T&T can be played very simply, the extra tweak makes them more exciting to me. I look forward to using them as a GM in a T&T game session.

I'm pondering if the same could work with OSR / D&D Heritage monsters.

Something along the lines of:

"If the Orc's hit scores maximum damage, he pulls his target in for a bite on the face. If the target is not wearing a helm, roll against unarmored AC, inflicting 1d3 damage on a successful hit."

"If the Troll hit's with both claws, the Troll's bite automatically hits for maximum damage".

"If the Goblin hit with a natural 20, in addition to normal damage he wraps himself around the PC's leg. PC must save vs Paralyzation or trip and fall prone. If save is successful, next attack against the goblin holding on to the leg in question is at + 2, as he is fairly immobile."

Maybe I'm over thinking this stuff. It certainly wouldn't have to be done for every creature in the books, or even apply to every creature of the type it is written for.

In any case, if you were inclined to add a "twist" to your PCs run of the mill adversaries, what kinds of twists would you use

Skeletons - Clawing Delvers Since 1975

Skeleton

Monster Rating: 35

Combat Dice: 4d6+ 18 

Special * Blunt Weapons (Mace / Hammer / Staff / etc) do full damage. All others do 1/2 damage after dice roll and adds

Once I lived. Once I breathed. Once I loved. Now I seethe. I feel nothing but hate for what I was. Hate for what you are. I am dead that has died yet will not rest. I am Hate.


(Thanks to Craig Brasco for giving me permission to use the above art)

What's Your Favorite "Off the Shelf" Setting?

I've already asked about wether you prefer homebrew or off the shelf settings, but now I'm actually asking about those "off the shelf" or commercial RPG settings.

I want to know which one(s) are your favorites.

For me, there are a handful:

The World of Greyhawk folio - my first ever experience with an RPG setting, this is the one that has stuck with me through the years. Minimalist in nature but continent spanning, in many ways it's the bar I hold other setting up to it.

Blackmarsh from Bat in the Attic Games - an excellent, localized setting that is "hexcrawl" in nature. The price is also right, as it is free in PDF.

Wilderlands of High Fantasy - an amazingly huge hexcrawl setting that is a reworking of the classic Judges Guild line. I have the boxed set. Simply awesome but has the potential to overwhelm. It's also technically for 3e, but down converting is usually pretty painless

Keranak Kingdoms Fantasy Setting - Although technically written for use with Barebones Fantasy, it is actually systemless and would work with any fantasy RPG that uses the usual tropes. My current AD&D / OSRIC campaign is technically set in this setting, but my players are hacking through Rappan Athuk, so setting is fairly minor in importance at the moment. It has a town named Tenkar and a Tenkar's Tavern too ;)

So, what are your favorite settings and why?

10 Hours to Raise Over 100k - Can the Pathfinder MMO Kickstarter Fund Without Corporate Shenanigans?

Lets cut to the chase.

The Pathfinder MMO Kickstarter has over $100k to go with just 10 hours to get there.

That's $10k plus an hour.

I'd say it's safe to assume the vast majority of Pathfinder fanboys and fanatics have already donated more blood than their bodies can support to fund this project.

Not for the MMO.

No, they fund it for the attached loot. Many don't care about the MMO itself. In the off chance this funds, it still doesn't show that the MMO is a legitimate money maker down the line. It just means there are enough Pathfinder fanatics to follow their fellow lemmings off their own financial cliff.

What happens if it looks like the funding is going to be $25k short?

Does Lisa or Ryan pony up the extra to push the project over?

Would anything be more foul or dishonest in the world of Kickstarters?

Well, yeah - this wouldn't be the worst sin committed, but it certainly would be sleazy. I had never thought of Paizo as "sleazy" before this project...

Adding Life to Monsters in Tunnels & Trolls

If you haven't noticed, I've recently gotten into a "Tunnels & Trolls Monster Creation Kick" on this blog over the past week or so. Sure, you can blame it on the Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls Kickstarter that recently "kicked off" (and is doing amazingly well), but that's only part of the reason. In truth, I do it because it's fun and because monsters are pretty sparse in 5 / 5.5e T&T (which just happens to be the baseline T&T that I tend to gravitate to).

How sparse? The sample short list of monsters takes up one page in the Corgi Edition of the T&T 5e rules. That's sparse. It's also simple, as the one number, MR or Monster Rating tells you all you need to know - hits to kill, combat dice and combat adds. Everything but flavor.

T&T 5.5e adds in Spite Damage. Spite Damage is cause with every natural 6 rolled, and it ignores armor and can even be suffered by the side that wins the combat. With T&T 7 / 7.5e, Spite Damage can also be used to indicate when Special Damage is caused, such as a spell effect, or extra damage beyond the simple Spite Damage. Special damage allows for each creature to have a unique power and ability. It also keeps the party on their toes.

I've also taken to giving my daily monster creations a short paragraph description. Over the last few days, I've taken to writing that description from the point of view of the monster itself. In most cases, I think this is more effective, especially when it comes to the GM using it in gameplay.

Here's an example from today's Succubus posting:

Like what you see? Stay with me forever. Forever less a day. I don't bite - much. There is nothing to fear. Your soul will join the others in endless service. What could be better than an eternity with me? Ignore the shrieks you hear in your head. They are nothing but memories and regrets...

 And here's the Mind Melter from earlier this week:

The tentacle mouthed Mind Melter. They have a different name for themselves, and the unwary Delver may hear the name in his mind when encountering one, but he'll never be able to pronounce it. Highly intelligent, Mind Melters have been known to communicate with Delvers via mental images, requesting certain items in return for safe passage - sticks, gold, a perfect diamond, a lump of coal and more have been asked for. Those that pay may pass. Those that don't may not, or they may try and possibly die. 

They are Delvers. What actions do you expect them to take?

Personally, I think the first example is a little stronger (not to mention shorter).

In any case, I'm interested in seeing where Ken takes monster creation / description / listing / etc in dT&T. Because without the monsters, the tunnels are kinda empty...

(more than willing to give my conversion to the cause Ken. Can't speak for the artists tho ;)

Is There a MMORPG That Effectively Mimics a True RPG Experience? Because the Pathfinder MMO Certainly Isn't It

Is there a MMORPG that is currently out or currently being worked on that replicates the actual experience of tabletop roleplaying?

I can't think of any.

The Pathfinder MMO won't even be replicating the the Pathfinder RPG rules, as the OGL won't allow it. So, it's Pathfinder in name (and possibly setting) only.

Heck, I'll lower the bar. Is the are multiplayer computer RPG that effectively simulates tabletop play?

Inquiring minds want to know ;)

Rappan Athuk - Modified Lineup - Unmodified Results

Nope, the party hasn't come across this - yet...

Last night was the weekly AD&D / OSRIC session that is delving into the depths of Rappan Athuk. We were down one of out usual six, so +Gus L joined the party for the night.

Last week I remarked about how the party actually parlayed with the bandits that surrendered, and even let them leave Rappan Athuk with their daggers. Alive I may add.

Last night? The party encountered a group of gnolls, and when the encounter went quickly south, the two surviving gnolls threw down their weapons and surrendered. +gus l 's character apparently doesn't take well to prisoners, and quickly gutted the injured gnoll with his trident and cleaved the other prisoner. The party's response "we tend to do that AFTER we interrogate". Gus also advocated poring oil under a doorway where Giant Ants were waiting on the players. He kills prisoners and advocates killing prisoners - he fits well with the group and has an open invite on Saturday Nights ;)

The other highlight? +Joe D 's return and the party leading him back to the "Slot Room". The party came close to leaving him behind as he put his pennies into the "magical slot machine". End result? 700 XP won on the slots and about 200+ gp burned off. Not a bad trade off ;)

You Walk Into a Room and See Nine Were-rats Playing Poker...

This is a scene I can see so perfectly in my head.

My players walk into the back room of a seedy, underland (you know - the lands "under the earth" - where the drow and the duegar play) tavern. In the room they see nine were-rats playing poker with copper coins stacked in front of each player, and a pile of copper coins in the middle.

Without looking up from the game, the dealer says:

"If you want in for the next hand, the buy in is 20 gold worth of coppers."

At which point my players would probably attack, kill the were-rats rats and steal each rat's 2000 coppers.

Ah well, one can always hope they'll talk first AND then kill ;)

The Succubus - Stealing One Soul at a Time in Tunnels & Trolls

Succubus

Monster Rating: 300

Combat Dice:  31D6 + 150 + Special

Special Damage: 1 / Each natural 6 causes 2 Spite Damage on target and heals 2 points damage on the Succubus. 13 / Yassa Massa (SR vs INT or be in thrall of the Succubus. Target does NOT need to be subdued first

Like what you see? Stay with me forever. Forever less a day. I don't bite - much. There is nothing to fear. Your soul will join the others in endless service. What could be better than an eternity with me? Ignore the shrieks you hear in your head. They are nothing but memories and regrets...


(Thanks to Craig Brasco for giving me permission to use the above art)

Contest Map Preview Over at Mithril & Mages

The above is just one of the maps +Mark Hassman is previewing over at Mithril & Mages.

Remember, the contest will kick off early in the coming week and last approximately a month.

Imagine if you could win an original Dyson map like the one above ;)

At What Level(s) Does a Megadungeon Work Best?

We've touched on themes. We are still talking about which systems work best with the megadungeon format (surprisingly it's a very varied grouping of systems).

What I'd like to talk about now is "what levels work best for a megadungeon?"

Does the format work best with lower levels, middling levels, high levels?

Does it work equally well across the board, or do you need to make certain adjustments at one extreme or the other?

Does it work better or worse with a system that is level-less (generally sill based), such as GURPS, RQ/Legend, Savage Worlds, etc?

Is it feasible to have one megadungeon go from level 1 to 20, or should there be a grouping of smaller megadungeons that are linked thematically / by story / regionally / etc and are broken down by level ranges?

Can a megadungeon actually be a campaign setting? Can it be a sandbox styled setting?

You've all given me much to think about over the last few days. I suspect you've given each other a lot to think about to. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Imps - Treating Delvers Like Piñatas in Tunnels & Trolls

Imp

Monster Rating: 50

Combat Dice: 6D6 + 25 + Special

Special Damage: 1 / Each natural 6 adds + 1D6 Fire Damage from the Imp's sword. (sword only flames for Imps) Imps can leap 30' in any direction

Gold and silver and gems are what we likes. Yes, fine treasures they are. Look! Here comes our walking treasure chests! Come to us. See how polite these "Delvers" are. Let's open them up and find all the gold! Then we will burn their remains, incase we missed anything on their insides...

(David Fisher's Deviant Art page can be found here)

Butt Kicking For Goodness! - Passing the Torch or Just Passing it Off?

When it comes to "Backer Only" posts, I usually don't mention the Kickstarter in question - but that seems pointless as folks start responding to the actual Kickstarter post in question - thereby ruining my efforts to obscure.

So, new policy - "Backer Only" posts will get summaries, but will be ID'ed. This shit isn't national security, and nothing is "Top Secret".

On that note, let's look at the latest "late ones", shall we?

Dwimmermount - ( No update yet this week) Update's have been weekly for quite a bit as Tavis had taken over the reigns of communication. Weekly Friday updates with charts and shit. Last week, backers got a survey that included the following as an answer choice: (paraphrasing) "June for the PDF and August for the physical goodsis as late as I will wait after the current delays". Now, the latest delivery estimate had been to the following effect: "PDF will be complete on 3/1/13, the books and the rest of the physical rewards reaching backers on 4/26/13" but we've been told now there is no current estimate. It appears based the the survey) that's being pushed back a MINIMUM of 3 to 4 months, which would coincide with the project being AT LEAST a year late. I understand now why Tavis has passed the reigns of communications over to James Mal.

+Greg Gillespie didn't have a problem getting Barrowmaze II out on time, so I know it's not a Canadian thing ;)

Swords & Wizardry: The Actual 1st Edition Roleplaying Rules - (Direct Quote From Update 1/11/13) "The good news is the rule books are here! And look great. Matt has already signed the inside sheets so we are ready to start packing these up and sending them out.

The bad news is, the introductory modules that came with have the right covers but unfortunately the wrong interior text. They have Bill's module inside Matt's module. We have already asked the printer to fix and re-ship.

We will go ahead and start packing the 100+ orders that do not contain the Intro Book or Monster Book. We should have the replacement intro books in a few weeks and can send out those order. We have not received the date from the printers on the Monster Books yet, but will keep everyone updated." (I'm in for a Monster Book - Gonna be a long fucking wait it seems)

Ogre Designer's Edition - Ogre Parking Causes Delay
(Direct Quote - Edited for Space 1/11/13)

• The maps, counters, dice and play references (rulebook, scenario book and reference sheet) were sent to print in November.

• More counter test sheets and color proofs have arrived, surpassing our expectations for vibrancy and die accuracy. We won’t know for sure that everything is 100% until all the tests come in, but don’t anticipate these causing delays.

• Sam, our production manager, is working hard on getting the counter trays for over twelve hundred pieces right with the factory. It’s like solving a gigantic 3-D puzzle, where Sam sets the parameters!

The trays from the first test came back a little wonky, despite Sam sending a carefully calibrated CAD file. (The sample is reground plastic, while the final game uses a higher quality plastic.)

Unfortunately, the extra back-and-forth getting the trays right means that the soonest the game will arrive at our warehouse is late May – if everything goes smoothly. This is partly due to the upcoming Year of the Water Snake – the extended Lunar New Year holiday season in Asia in February, when everything grinds to a halt. We might get a second test in before the factory closes. If so, that will help our schedule.

Ogre is now very close to the finish line, and we’re proceeding with all possible dispatch. We know that you’ve been very, very patient with us over the delays. We could over rush it – and have a sucky tray forever – or beg a little bit more patience, and have it right for you when it arrives.

(I guess we'll get this for "Christmas in July" ;)

Does System Matter in the World of Megadungeons?

Map by by Tim Hartin

Does the system used to play through a Megadungeon matter? I'm not talking about converting from one system to another.

What I mean to say is this: "Are some RPG systems a better match for the Megadungeon format than others?"

I suspect that less heavy systems fair better in a Megadungeon environment.

So, OD&D through AD&D and their assorted clones would be a good match. D&D 3.5 / Pathfinder less so, as combats get more intricate and drawn out. D&D 4x would be a horror from a time investment alone.

Dungeon World would probably fair very well, as would Tunnels & Trolls.

Rolemaster / HARP I think would crumble under the lethality (and long term crippling potential) of the combat system without some major houseruling.

GURPS Fantasy would probably make a poor fit for the above reasons.

I don't have enough experience with Savage Worlds to definitively say one way or another, but I suspect not.

Am I wrong? Would 4e work in a Megadungeon?

I'm sure I missed some systems, so let me know what you think? Which ones would work and which ones wouldn't.

Heck, could you make a Megadungeon that plays to the strengths of the systems that wouldn't otherwise be a good fit?

A True "Spider-man" - Spinning Webs in Tunnels & Trolls

Spider-Men

Monster Rating: 250

Combat Dice: 26+125

Special Damage: 6/ Glue You(Single Target - Save Vs INT or only act on every other round due to webs.)   11/ Summon One Additional Spider-Man

We are Legion. We have no fear. What we once were we can never be again. Come, play with us. Feed us. Perhaps, if you are cursed, be one of us. We are The Men of the Spider and the only rest we seek is death - your death...

(David Fisher's Deviant Art page can be found here)