Deal of the Day - Tiny Dungeon 2e

I'm a huge fan of Tiny Dungeon and have been since the first edition of the rules. There is something very comforting about the rules, and they look like they play out with very few rules referrals during a session. Yes, I'm a huge fan of "lite" rules, in case you've forgotten ;)

Normally 17.99 in PDF, Tiny Dungeon 2e is on sale for 7.20 until tomorrow morning.

Tiny Dungeon: Second Edition is the newest iteration of the minimalist fantasy roleplaying game! 

Powered by the TinyD6 engine, with streamlined mechanics that utilize only one to three single six-sided dice on every action, characters that can be written on a 3x5 notecard, and easy to understand and teach rules, Tiny Dungeon 2e is great for all groups, ages, and experience levels!

Included are over a dozen lightly detailed settings, written by some of the best authors out there. These “micro-settings” are light-weight, open-ended and designed to be inspirational for your games and provide a fast, easy jumping point for your campaign! Covering a wide selection of fantasy genres and ideas, there's something for everyone in Tiny Dungeon 2e!

With micro-settings by: Tobie Abad, Marie Brennan, Shawn Carmen, Elizabeth Chaipraditkul, Steve Diamond, Miguel Espinoza, Dianna Gunn, John Kennedy, Melanie Meadors, Mari Murdock, Darren Pearce, jim pinto, Steve Radabaugh, Wendelyn Reischel, Ryan Schoon, Howard Tayler, Randy Tayler, Sandra Tayler, and Ben Woerner

So grab some dice, some pencils, some friends, and get ready for some minimalist, straight-forward, fantasy roleplaying!

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Press Release - Webbed Sphere, Inc. Acquires Long Time Game Publisher Flying Buffalo, Inc.

https://flyingbuffalo.com/pages/the-flying-buffalo-press-release

Corbin, Kentucky (August 4, 2021) - Webbed Sphere Inc. announced today that it finalized acquisition of pioneering, award-winning game publisher Flying Buffalo, Inc., best known for the Tunnels and Trolls role playing game and bestselling Nuclear War card game series.

The deal was finalized July 31 with the estate of Flying Buffalo founder Richard Loomis. Loomis created the play-by-mail game Nuclear Destruction in 1970, and founded Flying Buffalo with Steve MacGregor in 1972. The company initially focused on running play-by-mail games, and later became well known for publishing the second-ever role playing game Tunnels and Trolls, originally designed by Ken St. Andre, starting in 1975. The Scottsdale, Arizona company is currently the oldest active publisher of pen-and-paper role playing games in existence.

“Flying Buffalo and Rick Loomis hold an esteemed position in the history of gaming, and we are proud to now be a part of that legacy,” said John Ward, CE

legacy,” said John Ward, CEO of Webbed Sphere. “Flying Buffalo has thrilled generations of gamers over the past 50 years, and it will make a great compliment to our Toy Vault and Mchezo brand lines. I am excited about what the future holds.”

Since its founding, Flying Buffalo published many popular board games and roleplaying game titles including: Tunnels and Trolls, Nuclear War, Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes; Death Dice, Ace of Aces, Lost Worlds, Monsters! Monsters!, Imperialism, Origin’s award winning Citybooks and a series of  role playing supplements that included the famous Grimtooth’s Traps. The company was also groundbreaking in its release of the first solo role playing game modules using it’s Tunnels and Trolls system, starting with “Buffalo Castle,” written by Rick Loomis and published in 1976.

“It's always hard when your child finally grows up and leaves home, but I'm looking forward to a bigger, brighter future for Tunnels & Trolls under the organization of Webbed Sphere,” said Ken St. Andre, creator of Tunnels and Trolls. “May T&T spread even further to the greater world than it already has, and may Webbed Sphere make all their saving throws going forward!”

Douglas Malewicki, the inventor of the Nuclear War™ card game in 1965, said he’s excited about the opportunities the purchase of Flying Buffalo represents.

“I’m excited and really look forward to working with the new Flying Buffalo team,” Malewicki said. “I definitely want to help ensure that Nuclear War continues to improve, evolve and thrill new generations of gamers. The fun begins!”

Specific announcements about Flying Buffalo properties will be forthcoming in the near future. The company plans to work diligently with retailers and distributors to make sure products are in stock and available to the public.

Flying Buffalo also plans to be an exhibitor at Gen Con, to be held in Indianapolis Sept. 16-19, and will release more exciting news as the show approaches.

About Webbed Sphere

Webbed Sphere Inc. is a management and holding company for numerous ventures including online retailer Troll and Toad, home decor brands Darware, Decorae and AuldHome; game and toy publisher Toy Vault, and jigsaw puzzle manufacturer Mchezo. Its array of companies also specialize in property acquisition and development, business and consumer fulfillment services, liquidation outlets, and hobbyist gardening supplies.

About Flying Buffalo, Inc.

Flying Buffalo, Inc. is a publishing company best known for the second ever role playing game distributed to the mass market - Tunnels and Trolls. It was founded in 1972 by Rick Loomis and Steve MacGregor as a play-by-mail game company, but also published numerous popular role playing games, card games, and gaming supplements. It is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Kickstarter - FloofQuest - Hassle in the Quagmire - 5e, Swords & Wizardry

Hassle in the Quagmire: An introductory Swords & Wizardry and 5e adventure of wizard Floofy Familiars Trying to save their swamp!

Bad Mike and I just wrapped up tonight's Talking Crit LiveStream with Lloyd Metcalf as our special guest. Lloyd sprung a surprise on us when he told us he was going to go live with the FloofQuest: Hassle in the Quagmire Kickstarter during our LiveStream! He did and he funded at his base $500 goal in about 30 minutes.

Lloyd and his Kickstarters are consistently well done and one time. He really sets the bar that other Kickstarter creators should be striving to hit. I backed for 5 copies of FloofQuest, as I plan on hooking my niece Shannon up as well as some of her friends :)

FloofQuest: Hassle in the Quagmire is 5 bucks in PDF, 11 bucks (plus shipping) for the Print plus PDF.

Hassle in the Quagmire, an adventure in your own froggy floof home! FloofQuest is a simplified one-shot adventure for young or new players to RPGs. In FloofQuest you play one of many, and many-to-come, Floofy Familiars. A Floofy Familiar is an alternate critter summoned forth by the well-known spell, Find Familiar. These adventures are based in the froggy realm where these critters are summoned.

Just hop on in with pregenerated froggy characters. Everything you need to play is right in the short, easy to follow, introductory module. All the rules are based on simplified, basic 5E concepts or Swords & Wizardry Light (You choose in the survey).

A FloofQuest is a short, one-shot adventure that is played in a two-to-four-hour session with minimal rules and maximum storytelling fun.  We wanted to create a fun, new way to play our favorite RPG with minimal preparation that maximizes imagination. These cute froggy floofs need your help to save their home in the Floof Swamp!

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Deal of the Day - Over the Edge Third Edition

In the mid-90s I came across RPGs that allowed me to see RPGs differently. They touched on settings or situations that I had never encountered prior. There was one, Lost Souls, that showcased the recently deceased.

Then there was Over the Edge, which seemed a bit like a standard RPG meeting the X-Files while taking LSD. As you can rightly guess I never convinced my group to play it and for that, I am truly sorry.

Normally 19.99 in PDF, until tomorrow morning Over the Edge Third Edition is on sale for 9.99.

Over the Edge at a Glance

A fantastic cornucopia of fringe science, conspiracy, and hyper-reality. The island of Al Amarja is a rich sandbox to be filled with your craziest and most entertaining ideas.

Everything old is new again: New narrative rules improve storytelling. New character traits propel drama. Every conspiracy, character, and location is given a fresh twist.

Designed by Jonathan Tweet, lead designer of Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition, Ars Magica, Everway, and 13th Age.

Welcome to the Ultimate Democratic Republic of Al Amarja

During your stay with us, please remember that Liberty is Job One, Disarmament Means Peace, It's Polite to Speak English, and, of course, Paranormal Activity is perfectly legal.

Thank you for your consent.

The Edge is the weirdest city in the world. Get into trouble. Question your place in the crazed multiverse. Transcend mortal limits. Join a cult. Fight a baboon. Along the way, you might find out who really controls humanity. Unless, of course, you've been working for Them all along.

Over the Edge is the classic RPG of counter-culture conspiracy, weird science, and urban danger. For its third edition, the game comes roaring back in a completely reimagined relaunch by its original creator. Everything old gets a new take. Nothing is a retread. Every conspiracy, every neighborhood, every major gamemaster-character is portrayed with a new spin. It's not “25 years later.” Everything on the Island is reborn to surprise new and existing players alike.

At the heart of Over the Edge third edition are the nine districts of the Edge, each with a unique flavor, colorful characters, memorable locales, and a mélange of bizarrity ruled over by a patchwork of cabals openly tolerated or empowered by the all-powerful anarchic State. Behind this public face of the city, however, there is a secret world of conspiratorial factions, strange fringe abilities, cutting-edge technology, and cross-reality incursions.

The result is a crazed sandbox setting which is infinitely receptive to whatever offbeat and outlandish ideas the players and gamemaster choose to pour into it. Over the Edge adds a final dash of madness with the “GM's Secret Bag of Tricks,” a dozen fringe concepts and a gaggle of colorful characters, each of which can completely transform your version of the Edge or serve as the nucleus around which your entire campaign will form.

Take the Leap: Gameplay Basics

Fast, dramatic character creation that's laser-focused on creating dynamic, active characters. Player-defined traits quickly establish what characters can do, and each PC's Trouble & Question force characters into personal crucibles that drive story.

A simple 2d6 resolution mechanic uses a lightning-fast comparison of level and difficulty to generate rerolls instead of managing modifiers through addition and subtraction.

Inject shocking, unexpected outcomes into the narrative through good twists, bad twists, and “twist ties.”

Three strikes and you're dead. But unless you're in danger of your third strike, you can safely take big risks, electrifying gameplay with dramatic, exciting moments.

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New PWYW - Terror in Flusshafen (OSR-ish Adventure)

It's been a while since I've poked at new Pay What You Want releases (PWYW), so when I saw Terror in Flusshafen at DTRPG listed under the OSR category, I figured I had to give it a peek.

Well, it may be OSR in attitude, but it seems like a mishmash of systems in reality. There's no AC, but there IS a DEF score. It uses Luck and Advantage/Disadvantage, and claims compatibility "with most OSR rule sets including Labirynth Lord, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, OSE, 5E Harcore Mode, and Five Torches Deep." It very well may be compatible, but you'll need to convert things on the fly for the system of your choice, and I'm not really sure what system the author is actually writing for. He claims all you need is OSR or 5e knowledge, but if you've never encountered 5e, you'll likely not have encountered Advantage/Disadvantage.

All in all, there are enough hooks and ideas to borrow liberally from Terror in Flusshafen to be worth the suggested one-dollar price tag, even if one were not to run the adventure as written (it is nominally written for low-level adventurers and includes pregens for the mystery system used). The NPCs are well fleshed out and likely worth the suggested price of admission.

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So Happy for the Back-to-School Season!

 

Ah.....August.

Now clearly my feelings aren't going to be shared by everyone, but I am rather thankful when August rolls around, from a gaming perspective.

While summer definitely brings some awesome gaming opportunities with the big gaming conventions taking part in this season, I'm so used to my home game kind of falling short in the the summer months. This is not a recent development by any means (I know some of my current gaming group reads this) and I recall this being a problem for at least the last decade or so.

As gamers age we do tend to pick up a great many non-gaming "accoutrements" that just, well......they just get in the way, namely spouses and children. I know most of us can't help ourselves......life just loves to get in the way of gaming, especially in the summer. Vacations, activities, hell....even the best movies come out in the summer! 

Even when my entire gaming group was made up of childless couples or single folk we still had summer problems when it came to slinging dice. Didn't help we were gaming at the local university's student union....

Anyway, August is a blessing 'cause it's back to school season! Getting the kiddies back to the Monday to Friday grind seems to do wonders for gaming, even though it's usually on the weekends....I'm not quite sure how all the math works out, but from my experience it just does.

Now getting back into the normal gaming routine is one thing, but I really like this whole back-to-school season for another reason: school supplies.

July usually brings the back-to-school supply sales and by the time school actually starts in August the leftovers are available for a song. I still have a metric but-load (that's an actual gamer unit of measure, I swear!) of cheap-assed notebooks that I use for my games. This is the time of year to pick up on pencils, pencil boxes, paper, notebooks......oh the notebooks!

This is the time I get to buy colored pencils for making maps, notebooks for everything, dry erase markers, and gawd-only knows what else. One year I got a bunch of cheap thumb drives that I was able to hand out stuff all year long instead of having to burn CDs.

...and did I mention notebooks?

Yes, I have a problem when it comes to notebooks. I hate using loose paper, even if it's in a binder. I'll use notebooks for PC character booklets, GM notes, when writing 1st drafts of "stuff", and most importantly to collect ideas.

Seriously though, next time you're at Walmart, Target, or the like, hit up that Back-to-School display and see what extra crap they still have, and are marking down, that you could use at the game table. Even if you discount notebooks (which you shouldn't) I bet there are some goodies to be had. 

Deal of the Day - Death Dwarves Attack (Tunnels & Trolls Group Adventure)

I am a great fan of Tunnels & Trolls, which is strange because I couldn't stand it when I was introduced to it back in High School in the early 80s. A fantasy RPG that just used d6s, WTF was up with that?

Later on, I found some Tunnel & Trolls Solo Adventures, and then I saw the system truly shine. Still, it was damn near impossible to find any adventures written to run with a group.

Today's DTRPG Deal of the Day is Death Dwarves Attack, a starting adventure for a group of Tunnels & Trolls adventurers written by Ken St Andre himself. Although it is written for the Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls rules, it should be easy enough to use with T&T 5e - probably the most popular edition of T&T. Normally $5 in PDF, until tomorrow morning Death Dwarves Attack is on sale for $2.50

This is a beginning adventure for Deluxe Tunnels and Trolls.  It's designed to be fast to play and full of action.  It's also the first adventure scenario set in the dark times after the destruction of the Empire of the Goddess in 1313 A.K.--a barbaric time with similarities to colonial America.  It's swords and sorcery and guns.

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Humble Bundle - Starfinder (Paizo)

I don't own Starfinder, which is kinda strange. Because the setting seems like something I would be interested in, similar to DragonStar of the 3e era, but obviously different. Still, it's based on Pathfinder, and Pathfinder has always been 

too crunchy for me.

You can, however, buy-in for a level that includes a physical copy of the Starfinder Beginner Box, and if it's anything like the Pathfinder 1e and 2e Beginner Boxes, there just might be a lot for an old school gamer like me to find useful.

As always, purchases made with The Tavern's affiliate link at Humble Bundle help to support The Tavern. I thank you in advance.

Starfinder Humble Bundle affiliate link

Here's what you get at the $50 level (plus shipping as there are physical items included)

And here's what you get at the $5 level:

There are also $15 and $30 levels, but I suspect most folks will be in for $5 or $50.

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TSR3 Abandons Three Graphical Trademarks

I woke this morning to a PM linking me to the below link:

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

What makes this even more interesting, is that the above trademark was approved (as best as I can tell) on June 16th, 2021.

The following trademarks are also pending abandonment:

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

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

Here's what we have on "TEAS Express Abandonment":

https://tmep.uspto.gov/RDMS/TMEP/current#/current/TMEP-700d1e2811.html

You can follow all of the TSR-linked Trademarks at the following link. Note, it includes trademarks from other companies in different fields named TSR. Also note, that "TSR" itself is apparently NOT trademarked by TSR, just the graphical representations of such.

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-owner/TSR,%20LLC

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 - By This Axe I Hack! (Black Hack Hack)

I'm not a huge fan of the Black Hack, but I think I'll make an exception for today's Deal of the Day: By This Axe I Hack! I'm partial to swords & sorcery, and this may just be a good fit. Normally By This Axe I Hack! is 9.95 in PDF, but until tomorrow morning it's 4.98.

Before the dawn of recorded history, our world was a primeval landscape dotted with pockets of civilization; kingdoms, nations, and city-states surrounded by a vast and unforgiving wilderness teaming with danger and littered with the fallen ruins of an ancient empire of mighty sorcerer-lords and the remnants of older, darker civilizations.

Based on David Black’s game-changing The Black Hack, By This Axe I Hack takes its cues from Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian and Kull of Atlantis, Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor Smith’s Red Sonja, Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melnibone, and Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.

By This Axe I Hack includes 18 unique Character Classes (6 warriors, 6 rogues, and 6 magicians), a magic system that makes even low-lever Magicians exciting and fun to play, 120 spells tailored to the sword and sorcery genre, over 70 special features to customize your Characters, rules for modifying existing Character Classes or creating your own, a huge assortment of men and monsters to throw at your Players, a number of optional rules to help you fine tune the game to exactly your liking (including the ever-popular roll-high option for those who prefer games where higher rolls are always better), and a variety of random tables to help Gamemasters create their own Lost Age.

 

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 

Christmas in July Sale - Tavern Picks - Part III - The OSR & Beyond

Today I continue with further Christmas in July Sale Picks. As stated previously, everything that is on my pick list for the current Christmas in July Sale at DTRPG is something I own, either in print, PDF, or both.

My Christmas in July Picks Part I and Christmas in July Picks Part II posts can be found at these links.

Without further ado, lets dive in :)

Tome of Adventure Design - written and designed myMatt Finch, and likely nearly as influential as Swords & Wizardry and OSRIC to the OSR in general, I'm currently using ToAD to design the adventure I'll be running at ShireCon.

The Tome of Adventure Design is organized as a series of "books," each one providing resources at every step of the way. The vast majority of the content of each book is made up of random generation tables that we created over a quarter of a century (sigh) for our own use. It should be said up front that these are tables for deep design - in other words, most of them are too long, and contain too many unusual or contradictory entries, for use on the spot at the gaming table. There are already many excellent books of tables for use on the fly; the tables in these books are different. They work best as a tool for preparation beforehand, providing relatively vast creative resources for browsing and gathering, rather than quick-use tables designed to provide broad, fast brushstrokes. Our shorter tables tend to deliver cryptic results designed to shock the reader's creativity into filling in the gaps, whereas the longer tables are unusably vast for easy random generation, being designed to shock the reader's creativity into operation by presenting a sea of possibilities. 21.99  16.49

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy: Rules Tome - Can you make B/X D&D better than the Labyrinth Lord interpretation? Apparently, the answer is yes.

A Complete Game All in One Book

This book contains everything a referee needs:  the complete game rules, full guidelines for creating and running adventures, 7 fantastic character classes, full equipment lists, over 100 classic spells, over 200 fearsome monsters, and over 150 wondrous magic items. Simple rules let imagination and fast-paced action take the spotlight. Clear, modern presentation makes the game easy to learn and quick to reference. Compatible with decades of classic adventures and supplements.

20.00  15.00

Low Fantasy Gaming Deluxe Edition - Can you take an OSR chassis, throw in some modern rules, and still keep and OSR feel? Yep.

Low Fantasy Gaming is a tabletop RPG built for gritty adventures in low or moderate magic settings. It has simple rules, dangerous combat, flexible PC customisation, and mysterious, unpredictable magic. Designed for short, episodic adventures in sandbox worlds, LFG provides the mechanics and tables needed for easy GM improvisation. It’s a heady mix of the best old school, modern, and new game design, wrapped around a familiar d20 core.

20.00  15.00

Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG - I haven't run it in years, reading the DCC rues for the first time was similar to reading the AD&D DMG for the first time - magical.

You’re no hero.

You’re an adventurer: a reaver, a cutpurse, a heathen-slayer, a tight-lipped warlock guarding long-dead secrets. You seek gold and glory, winning it with sword and spell, caked in the blood and filth of the weak, the dark, the demons, and the vanquished. There are treasures to be won deep underneath, and you shall have them. 

Return to the glory days of fantasy with the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role-Playing Game. Adventure as 1974 intended, with modern rules grounded in the origins of sword & sorcery. Fast play, cryptic secrets, and a mysterious past await you: turn the page…

DCC RPG is a fast-paced, open-feeling rules set allowing for epic game experiences without unnecessary tethers. It uses modern game-play while paying homage to the origins of role-playing and the fun that it inspired.  24.99  18.74

Torchlight Issue #1 - Not only am I very proud of this release, as I type this it is sitting at #88 on the Christmas in July Sales Ranking. Woot!

This is the First, full-sized issue of the Torchlight Zine for Swords & Wizardry Complete, Swords & Wizardry Light, and Swords & Wizardry Continual Light. Inside the virtual covers you will find: Magical Potions for SWL, Social Combat Rules, Torchbearers for Swords & Wizardry, Keep on the Wildlands (a first-level adventure by James Spahn), More Monsters for SWL, Alternate Thief Abilities, and Summon Familiar Spell & Critters for SWL/SWCL.  3.00  2.55

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 

We Have Lost a Stalwart of the Community - Brian Fitzpatrick (Moebius Adventures) Has Passed at 51 Years of Age

I was notified earlier this afternoon that Brian Fitzpatrick had passed away Saturday afternoon, July 24th, after a rafting accident. Brian was 51.

One dead after raft flips on Arkansas River in Chaffee County

One man was found dead Saturday after his commercial raft flipped on a 'rocky and steep' section of the Arkansas River, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 

It is believed that 51-year-old Brian Fitzpatrick was attempting to raft through the Numbers Recreation Site, north of Buena Vista, which is known for technical and challenging rafting when his raft flipped, officials said in a news release. 

Employees for a commercial rafting company downstream of the accident reportedly pulled Fitzpatrick from the water and began CPR, according to parks and wildlife. 

Chaffee County EMS officials along with parks and wildlife staff responded to a 911 call regarding the incident. After arrival, further lifesaving efforts were made, but they were unable to revive him. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy to establish an official cause of death is scheduled Monday, according to the Chaffee County Coroner's office. 

Gallant Knight Games has made an announcement:

Brian Fitzpatrick & Moebius Adventures

On Saturday July 24th, Gallant Knight Games was notified that Brian Fitzpatrick of Moebius Adventures passed away unexpectedly in an accident.

The loss of our friend, colleague and publishing partner is heart wrenching, and we can only imagine the pain his family is going through. Brian was a vital part of our day to day lives, both in the industry and outside of it, and his loss is deeply felt.

While the family takes the time they need, we again extend our heartfelt sorrow at this unexpected loss and everyone to respect the family’s privacy.

Alan & Erin Bahr, Gallant Knight Games.

Short Bio of Brian Fitzpatrick and Moebius Games (PRLOG)

RPG Geeks Page for Brian Fitzpatrick

From Brian's Wife, posted to Brian's Facebook account:

My husband was the one who wrote eloquently, so for me, this is extremely difficult.

For those of you that do not know, the world became a lesser place 48 hours ago. Our girls and I are heartbroken, confused and upset with the universe.  Our family went on a rafting trip on Saturday, our raft flipped, we were all thrown into the water, and Brian did not survive the accident.

Brian was the center of our world.  He was the one who kept us grounded.  He was the one who made sense of everything.  And this makes no sense.  

At this time, our family wanted to inform those close to Brian of his funeral services:  

Services will be held at:

THE SPRINGS FUNERAL -North

6575 Oakwood Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80923

Saturday July 31st, from 5-8pm --Viewing.  For family and friends that need the closure to see Brian one last time.  

Sunday August 1st starting at 2:30pm-   Celebration of Life.  Anyone that would like to speak, it will be open for everyone to speak about him, what he meant to you, tell a story, whatever you like. IF you are not comfortable with speaking but want to write something and have it shared with family or those there, please bring it to be shared.

Brian HATED formal events, so we ask that for all services please dress casual.  Brian loved quirky t-shirts, we ask if you have a t-shirt that reminds you of him, wear that shirt. But please know t-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes are requested.  IF you show up in all black formal dress or attire, you will be judged 😀.

In lieu of flowers or any more food, our family has requested if you would like to honor Brian, any contributions go to the following:

IF you are a gamer, Brian's passion and proudest achievement was his published game books, buy one of his books, read his work that he loved so dearly : moebiusadventures.com/shop

IF not a gamer, Brian was an amazing supporter of my non-profit Street Petz, he loved that we helped pets and the homeless community in the Colorado Springs.  Donations can be made at Streetpetz.org

IF you would like to make a contribution to support my girls, please send me a FB message and I can get a Venmo address to you.  

Many of you know that Brian was an introvert, and with many social events, he reached a point of "critical mass" and excused himself.  With that in mind, and respect for our family, we will not be having a gathering after the Celebration of Life. 

We will be looking at a later date, possibly organizing a memorial Gaming Day in honor of Brian at one or several of his favorite local gaming locations for all of his gaming family.

We will be reaching out to our Crossfit family to do a family WOD in his honor as well

I offer prayers and condolences to Brian's family, friends, and business partners. When and if there is further information to share regarding services and such, I will update this page. Tenkar

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen

Dissing the Call of Cthulu Quick Start Rules.....for a Purpose

 

Today the podcast I helped with dropped, and while I'm not above self-promotion, the reason for mentioning it is the fact that I was clearly NOT a fan of the Call of Cthulu Quick-Start rules....

.....like holy fuck I would NOT want to play the game after reading these rules.

"Gee Chris, what's your beef with the game*?"

*(Asshole) is clearly inferred.....

Now I did take copious notes while I was reading, and re-reading the Quick-Start rules. While I have the notes, I'm not even going to glance at them. Since it's been a week now I'd like to *just* go off of my memory because some, well maybe some, of the small nit-picky stuff would be forgotten and the problems that remained with me a week later might be something that could be addressed....

......not that I expect Chaosium to read the Tavern, much less take my advice (but if they do my standard consulting fee is $50/hr with a 2 hour minimum), BUT.....I know sometimes uber fans try (and in my opinion fail) to put together their own "Quick-Start" rules. If anyone can learn from my observations/pain, than great....this post will be worthwhile.

First off, I really think ANYONE trying to put together any sort of RPG guide needs to sit-down and literally (as in write it out) determine what their focus/audience is. Making a guide for experienced RPG players vs. completely new players is fricken huge! This Call of Cthulu Quick-Start (CoCQS) said it was for total RPG newbs, but it clearly was not. There were references to advanced rules not even mentioned in the guide....and by not mentioned I don't even mean in passing. If I wasn't already a gamer I might not even have noticed that the references were to "advanced" rules.

On the flip side though, to advanced rules, is to realize what rules you're going to include and actually use them! After reading the CoCQS and then the included adventure it seemed apparent there was some sort of base-line for essentially untrained skills....but there wasn't a single mention that skills had a base level, just if you "got" the skills then you used  certain numbers as a base you added a percentage to. For what seemed like a skills-heavy game, not actually expressing how your skills work is a cardinal sin.

So we had rules included/referenced that shouldn't be, and basic skills missing......we also had basic aspects of the game that technically were represented in the adventure, but easily skipped. I think it would have been difficult to go through the adventure and not use the Sanity mechanic, but Luck.....Luck could easily have been missed when playing through the included adventure.

When you started out the adventure the players are given an either/or direction for where to proceed, when it is really obvious to an experienced player that there were more than the two options.....not terrible in and of itself, but since the CoCQS was aimed at not only inexperienced players, but a brand new Keeper (GM).......not cool.

...also not cool were including things that had no value to the game. There was a spell mentioned and even a handout that were straight-up throw-aways as they were never shown or mentioned again. Now after talking to the other guest hosts evidently there are some follow-on adventures that can utilize these elements. Nothing wrong with that per se, BUT even a simple included statement letting this new Keeper know that these elements tie into a larger thing would be useful.

Speaking of useful, or really not useful in this case, were the included handouts for the adventure. Ugh, talk about a missed opportunity. These handouts were basically just a typed up summation of "boxed text" the Keeper would have read out. No added value......which leads me into a larger point.

The whole idea of the CoCQS is to give a taste of the game rules with a short adventure. Hopefully this would entice people to I don't know.....actually want to play the game! It was clear that the product I downloaded from the Chaosium website was an actually printed product....and printed product costs money, BUT download product....not so much. Simply dumping what was a full-color (even if the color was black & white) press product into a PDF and calling it good was a missed opportunity. They could've easily reformatted the contents to look nicer for at-home B&W or even color printing and those handouts.....they could have made "real" handouts. If a handout was a newspaper clipping, then make a freakin handout that looks like a newspaper clipping! Chaosium could have, relatively cheaply, made a full CoCQS "packet" that would have had a ton of impact and really drew in some new players.

As it stands the CoCQS was a confusing mess of rules and an adventure that did not accurately reflect the rules trying to be taught.

Thing is, and this might seem painfully obvious, a metric shit-ton of potential difficulty could be involved by simply involving people that are your desired audience. If you wish to market your Quick-Start to complete RPG newbs, get some RPG newbs involved in at least the editing and playtesting elements. Some of the problems I noted were most likely created because the writer was overly familiar with the rules to begin with. 

Christmas in July Sale - Tavern Picks - Part II - Classic TSR Era Settings and Rules

Today I continue with further Christmas in July Sale Picks. As stated previously, everything that is on my pick list for the current Christmas in July Sale at DTRPG is something I own, either in print, PDF, or both.

My Christmas in July Picks Part I post can be found at this link.

Now, on to today's Classic TSR Era Christmas in July Picks:

Planescape Campaign Setting (2e) - Sigil - The City of Doors. There is so much I liked about this setting. My players, however, preferred Dark Sun. 

Discover the multiverse! Enter infinite universes of infinite variety, worlds beyond the prime-material settings of the AD&D game. Explore Sigil, the City of Doors, filled with portals to every layer of every plane. All you need is the right key, including. . .

• A Player's Guide to the Planes: A 32-page primer that introduces DMs and players alike to the grand design of the multiverse.
• A DM's Guide to the Planes: A 64-page book of valuable information solely for the Dungeon Master.
• Sigil and Beyond: A 96-page gazetteer that introduces Sigil and its surrounding plane as the starting point for planar adventures. From Sigil all the Outer Planes may be sampled by novice and veteran explorers alike.
• Monstrous Supplement: a 32-page, full-color Monstrous Compendium booklet.
• Four poster-size maps depicting the planes.
• A four-panel DM screen designed especially for planar campaigns.

Normally 14.99, on sale in PDF for 11.24

Gamma World (1e) - The first RPG I bought for myself, the whole "Constitution Score equals the number of Hit Dice" caused a lot of head-scratching back in the day.

In a quest for survival and in search of a better future, the players adventure across the land, enduring hardships and encountering dangerous obstacles and mysterious foes - never knowing quite what to expect. The result is a game that can go in many directions, but which will be challenging and fascinating no matter what the outcome.

The GAMMA WORLD™ Set includes all the basics needed to set up your own "world": game booklet (packed with terrible mutants, as well as guidelines for creating additional ones of your own), a large campaign map (designed to be easily modified by individual gamemasters), and a full set of polyhedra dice. The only other things necessary are a good imagination and a spirit of adventure!

Normally 9.99, on sale in PDF for 7.49

Spelljammer: Adventures in Space (2e) - Forget the City of Doors. Give me a ship that sails the skies and I'm good as rain!

Multitudes of worlds wheel through Wildspace. The crystal shells that encase them bob and drift in a turbulent, rainbow ocean which fills all the cosmos. Sturdy merchants, bold pirates, and daring explorers venture into the great, unknown vastness of the universe, seeking wealth and adventure.

The SPELLJAMMER Game puts you in command of a fantastic ship capable of spanning the tremendous distances between planets. Graceful elven flitters, stately illithid galleys, deadly beholder tyrants, and the awesome Spelljammer itself carry trade, emissaries, and heroic action throughout all the worlds of the AD&D game.

Normally 9.99, on sale in PDF for 7.49

D&D Rules Cyclopedia (Basic) - Often referred to by many as the single, best rulebook of the era, I remember houseruleing my AD&D campaign with rules taken in whole from the Rules Cyclopedia.

Whether you're a player or a Dungeon Master, the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia is now the comprehensive sourcebook you need for the original fantasy roleplaying game! For ages 12 and up, the Cyclopedia contains the compete game system and hundreds of features, including the following:

• All the rules from the D&D boxed set series, including Basic, Expert, Companion, and Masters
• Guidelines to develop and play characters from levels 1-36
• Comprehensive lists of weaponry and equipment
• Expansion rules including optional skills and talents
• An overview of the Known World and the HOLLOW WORLD game setting, the official D&D campaign world; and Rules to convert D&D games and characters into AD&D 2nd edition game statistics and back again

Normally 9.99, on sale in PDF for 7.49

Star Frontiers: Alpha Dawn - I bought this game for my sister to play, so in the end it became mine ;) 

Alpha Dawn... stage one of the Star FrontiersTM science fiction game system.

A great way to enter the world of science fiction role playing.

These Basic Rules teach you how to create characters, move and fight on the game map, and how to create adventures of your own. The included adventure, Crash on Volturnus, is simple enough for both beginning players and referees.

Stage two... expanded rules and much more!

Picture the world-famous Dungeons & Dragons game. Now imagine this same excitement in a science fiction setting. You'll find our Expanded Rules add that kind of challenge, detail, and opportunity for victory. 

Everything you need: This set includes the Basic Rule Book, the Expanded Rule Book, the Crash on Volturnus Adventure Module, printable full-color map, printable counters.

Normally 9.99, on sale in PDF for 7.49

Dark Sun Boxed Set (2e) - A great dark setting for D&D. I don't think WotC could do it justice in today's environment.

Amid the barren wastelands of Athas lie the scattered city-states, each in the grip of its own, tyrannical sorcerer-king. Protecting their own positions with dark magic, they demand absolute obedience. The restless mobs are placated with bread and circuses --the arenas overflow with spectators seeking release from their harsh lives.

The land outside the cities belong to no one. Savage elves race across the deserts while insectoid Thri-Kreen satisfy their taste for blood. Dwarves labor at projects beyond the scope of men, and feral halflings lie in ambush.

Athas is a land of deadly magic and powerful psionics that offers promise of glory or even of survival. Those who do not have the cunning to face life on Athas will surely perish - leaving nothing but bones bleached white under the blistering rays of the DARK SUN

On the sands of Athas you'll face:

• Three new PC races!
• Muls - half-dwarf, half-human; specially bred for combat!
• Thri-Kreen - the savage mantis-warriors of the Barrens!
• Half-giants - bred for tremendous size and strength
• Three new PC classes!
• Gladiators - heroes of the arenas, the ultimate warriors!
• Templars - Wicked priests who serve the sorcerer-kings!
• Defilers - wizards whose powers drain the life around them!
• More powerful PC's
• All Dark Sun game characters begin at 3rd level!
• Ability scores that can go as high as 24!
• All PC's have one or more psionic powers!
• The new character tree allows players to advance many characters at once!

Normally 9.99, on sale in PDF for 7.49

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