Tenkar's Tavern

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Christmas in July Sale - New Doorbusters!

Yep, I almost missed this. The DTRPG Christmas in July Sale has a new assortment of deep discount titles. Here's the other assortment.

Warhammer FRP, Wraith the Oblivion, Shadowrun Sixth World, Dragon Age, Capers, and Alice is Missing are the current "door busters". Of course, I own the first four in print and/or PDF ;)

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

Friday, July 26, 2024

Kickstarter - D6 System: Second Edition

The classic West End Games ruleset returns in an updated and licensed new multi-genre rulebook!

Somewhere, packed away, is my WEG Star Wars rulebook. I don't think I ever ran it. Not because it was a bad system, but because my gaming group didn't have any major Star Wars fans, so the draw just wasn't there.

Fast forward a few decades and Open D6 hits the market (essentially the Star Wars RPG with the serial numbers scratched off and multi genre) , with the PDFs available for free and the print core books fairly inexpensive. I won them all, and have played a small amount of Open d6 at conventions, but I still haven't run the system.

The D6 System: Second Edition Kickstarter is 20 bucks in PDF and 50 bucks in Print plus PDF.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Kickstarter - Perilous Pamphlet Pack, a Box for RPG Brochure Adventures (Phil Reed)

Keep your tri-fold 8.5" x 11" RPG brochure adventures safe in this custom storage box! Also includes two new brochure adventures.

I'm a huge fan of Phil Reed. Phil understands the OSR better than many in the OSR do.

The Perilous Pamphlet Pack, a Box for RPG Brochure Adventures Kickstarter has multiple backer levels, but I'm backing it for 25 bucks plus shipping. So, the actual box and some print material.

Tri-fold brochure adventures are popular with the indie and OSR game scenes, and our new box is designed to hold those pamphlets! Designed for 8.5" x 11" tri-fold brochures, this box holds 20+ adventures. (The exact count depends on the weight of paper used for each.)
Roughly 20+ brochures (printed on cover stock) will fit neatly inside this custom storage box. It is designed specifically for tri-fold, 8.5" by 11" adventures. The exact count depends entirely on the paper weight of the brochures. (The exact count varies; you can pack more inside if they're printed on lighter papers than you can if they're printed on heavy cardstock.)
This is an easy way to organize your collection of brochure adventures. And it's rather fetching to look at (if we do say so ourselves).

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Kickstarter - Creature Feature Quarterly Vol. 13 -for use with- OSE+LotFP

16 monsters for use with Old School Essentials. Lots of lore+Adventure seeds. Paper minis. VTT tokens. #LotFP #OSE #OSR #B/XDnD

I'm a fan of zines in general and have always enjoyed JH Illos various works and illustrations. At some point, I failed to realize that Creature Feature Quarterly had reached Volume 13.

You can grab the Creature Feature Quarterly Volume 13 Kickstarter in PDF for 5 bucks, which is likely a steal, especially if you play or GM via one of the various VTTs. 30 bucks gives you all 13 volumes in PDF. I'll need to see which ones I'm missing, and if its cheaper to grab all 13 or grab single issues on DTRPG.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Kickstarter - Massacre Grounds (Weird Frontiers/DCC RPG)

I don't usually do a second post covering the same Kickstarter, but I think this is an important one to highlight as I'd like to see it fund on Kickstarter (and I believe it deserves to fund, as I've read it already thanks to the author and it presents the myths and legends and history with respect).

Massacre Grounds is a funnel and setting material for Weird Frontiers, the DCC RPG engine weird west RPG. Grab your EXTRA funky dice and dive into a setting based on real-world myths and legends of Arizona history.

You can snag the Massacre Grounds Kickstarter in PDF for 10 bucks, print plus PDF for 15 bucks (plus the actual cost of the POD, approximately 4 bucks).

The story is a combination of local Arizona history and campfire stories from my own life experiences. In the cowboy way, I have added my own tall tales and a healthy amount of new content for the Weird Frontiers Core Rulebook. Players will interact with NPCs that are some of the colorful characters from my life and characters that are based on the history surrounding the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. PCs will also visit historical locations that surround the mountains.
The premise of the adventure starts with a group making the journey from Phoenix (on foot) to Fort Righteous, in the Arizona Desert. They are responding to an ad in the local paper advertising jobs and possible land opportunities. The PCs quickly learn that the desert is a dangerous place. Fort Righteous introduces the group to a whole community that follows the Righteous path. After the fort, the group is further introduced to the dangers of the Arizona Desert, as well as some of its beauty and wonder. The characters are given a chance to tame a wild part of Arizona history, a mustang.

As the story develops, they are introduced to many new personalities. The group will investigate the murder of two local miners and be exposed to the supernatural. The investigation will lead the group to the first run-in with the evil band called the Coyoteros, and the ensuing battle will lead the characters to their first interaction with the Yavapai Apaches and the new chpáya rider class. After interacting with the Apache warriors, the group will have an option for further interactions with the supernatural or to head to the Colossus Outpost. Once they arrive at the outpost, the characters are introduced to a local mining operation and several new personalities. The group is asked to join the Arizona Volunteers to fight against evil forces that are threatening the area. The story climaxes on their first mission and introduces the group to a new villain—a hermit who has been consumed by evil and controls the dead. The characters will have to confront and battle Roscoe the Recluse.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Kickstarter - Immortals White Box (OSR)

I'm a huge fan of OSR games as if you couldn't guess. Sure, the core mechanics are shared across the genre, but it is the implementation, presentation, and tweaks that make a ruleset stand out from the rest. I borrow and steal from various rulesets for my home games, but try to stick to a more or less by-the-book ruleset for convention gameplay.

The Immortals White Box Kickstarter looks to be a ruleset I could liberally lift from for my home game, and at 50 bucks for the boxed set (plus shipping) it certainly appears to offer bang for your buck (especially when you consider the boxed set consists of 3 digest-sized hardcover books).

The Immortals White Box contains 3 digest-sized hardcover books, 4 pre-generated character sheets, and a pad used for tracking initiative, combat rounds, and downtime.
Book 1 - This book contains general rules on how to play Immortals RPG, including: character creation, playable races, classes, paths, professions, weapons, armor, equipment, rules for combat, spell casting, and over 100 spells. In this tome you will find everything necessary to play Immortals RPG and bring characters to level to 10th level.
Book 2 - This book contains over 100 monsters to use with the Immortals RPG setting. This list will include classic monsters you know and love, along with new monsters and horrors to challenge players all the way to 10th level. The book also contains treasure tables, a guide for creating your own monsters, and immortal patrons.
Book 3 - This book contains an adventure taking characters from 1st to 2nd level. The adventure is designed to help people learn how to play Immortals RPG. It is also designed to be easily adapted to other game systems and to ensure that each play through is different and from the last.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Christmas in July - Top OSR Picks at 40% Discounts

The Christmas in July Sale is live on DTRPG. The other day I highlighted the best picks of the Christmas in July sale that are 80% off. Today I showcase some of the top OSR picks that are 40% off. Note, these are all PDFs.

Worlds Without Number - from Sine Nomine/Kevin Crawford. Perhaps the best

choice for purse sandbox play, Kevin hits a home run as always. Worlds Without Number isn't just a savage game of steel and sorcery. It's packed solid with system-neutral GM tools and worldbuilding support, with hundreds of pages of useful tools, tags, tables, and practical advice usable by any GM, regardless of their favorite setting or system. The well-loved sci-fi tools of Stars Without Number are reworked here to support fantasy gaming, whether in the provided setting of the Latter Earth or in your own carefully-crafted homebrew world. Even GMs who don't prefer the OSR-compatible game system of WWN will find more than half the book dedicated to tools they can use in the systems they like best. Normally 19.99, On Sale for 11.99

The One Ring™ Core Rules - who doesn't love Lord of the Rings/Middle Earth? A

Mithral Best Seller at DTRPG, you can't go wrong. Enter the world of Middle-earth with The One Ring™, the official tabletop roleplaying game based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Designed specifically to evoke the atmosphere of The Hobbit™ and The Lord of the Rings™, the game contains rules for creating heroes and sending them off on adventures in a land threatened by the growing Shadow. This beautifully illustrated, full-colour hardcover manual presents Middle-earth as it was twenty years after Bilbo Baggins’ remarkable disappearance and unexpected return. The great events narrated in The Lord of the Rings™ are still fifty years away, leaving plenty of room to narrate stories worthy of an epic. Now in its second edition, The One Ring™ comes with updated and revised rules, a new visual style, and a focus on the land of Eriador — the lone-lands west of the Misty Mountains. Normally 24.99, On Sale for 14.99

Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook - I really enjoyed the first season of Fallout on demand, and placed the first version of the game back in 1997. Its an

awesome setting for post apoc play. This DIGITAL COPY of our 438-page rulebook contains rules and lore for roleplaying in the Fallout world, as well as concept art from the Fallout videogames. Utilizing Modiphius’ celebrated 2d20 cinematic role-playing system, the Fallout RPG will take players on an exciting journey into the post-apocalypse! Create your own survivors, super mutants, ghouls, and even Mister Handy robots. Immerse yourselves in the iconic post-nuclear apocalyptic world of Fallout, while gamemasters guide their group through unique stories and encounters. The 2d20 edition of Fallout is as close to the bottlecap bartering, wasteland wandering, Brotherhood battling excitement as you can get. Normally 20.00, On Sale for 12.00

The Halls of Arden Vul Complete - This must be the largest adventure ever

published, coming in at over 1100 pages. It is a thing of beauty. Arden Vul is the most ambitious megadungeon ever created, with over 1,100 Pages of Incredible Adventure. This First Edition compatible fully-bookmarked PDF product features: 2,162 Encounter Descriptions, 14 NPC Factions, 10 Massive Levels, 15 Extensive Sub-levels, 7 Dangerous Exterior locations, 149 New Monsters, 332 New Magic Items, 69 New Technological Items, 44 New Spells, 189 New Books through which PCs can gain a deep understanding of the dungeon, A full NPC appendix with 10 competing parties at 3 levels of power, Over 140 original pieces of art, including 28 full-page illustrations! Normally 109, On Sale for 65.40

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Humble Bundle - All About Gaming Book Bundle

This may or may not be your type of bundle. For those who don't have the two Jon Peterson books in the bundle, it may be a good deal. For those who are video game aficionados, the value of the All About Gaming Book Bundle goes up precipitously. I think you hit your apex if you are also a fan of the history of board games. Of course, fans of wargaming are covered too.

For a buck, you can get three boos - and no, none of the Jon Peterson books are covered. To get the Peterson books and the other 24 books in the bundle (for a grand total of 26 books) you need to spend 18 bucks.

Now, I have the Pereterson boos - one in print and one in Kindle. I should note, that all but one of these books is exclusively in ePUB format. Now that Kindle supports ePUB, that works for me. Here's a link to an article on how to get your ePUB books on your Kindle device or app: https://kindlepreneur.com/epub-to-kindle/

Friday, July 19, 2024

Christmas in July - 2024 Sale Doorbusters @ 80% Off

Over the next few days, I'll share some OSR Picks for the 2023 Christmas in July Sale over at DTRPG. In the meantime, there are some really deeply discounted picks on this page. The Witcher and Dragonbane are on my "must-buy list", although I DO own Dragonbane already ;)

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Bundle of Holding - The Gaia Complex (Cyberpunk)

I'm a fan of the Cyberpunk genre. I always have huge plans to run a cyberpunk campaign, going back to GURPS Cyberpunk and Cyberpunk 2020 from the 80s and 90s. Alas, it has yet to be.

The Gaia Complex is Cyberpunk tabletop roleplaying in New Europe, 2119, and is a bundle at Bundle of Holding. You can snag the complete collection for 14.95.

Adventurer! This all-new Gaia Complex Bundle presents The Gaia Complex, the Hansor Publishing tabletop cyberpunk roleplaying game of flesh and wires. In a megacity of intense violence, secret corporate warfare, and vampiric uprisings, an overzealous AI called Gaia governs the city and protects (controls) its citizens. You're a Merc, uncovering secrets and using them to chase your next payout from the syndicates. But Gaia's secrets are many and unexpected. Whether you're a combat-ready Operator, Core Hacker, black marketeer, Data Dealer, or feral who mind-melds with animals, the concrete jungle of New Europe – of NeoMunich, Bruss, Morvan, The Hamm, Paris-Zone, The Dome, and the vampire-controlled Outer Fringe – can eat you alive (especially the vampires). For fans of Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed, Elysium, and Dredd, The Gaia Complex lets you create stories of conspiracy, discovery, hardship, and brutal violence.
This Gaia Complex Bundle presents the entire game line to date for an unbeatable bargain price. For just US$14.95 you get all four complete titles in our Gaia Complex Collection (retail value $78) as DRM-free ebooks, including the full-color, 291-page Gaia Complex core rulebook (plus the free 48-page QuickStart) and the recent supplements Evolution by Design and Hardware 2119, along with the GM Screen & Data Vault.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Deal of the Day - A Magical Society: Beast Builder

The complete "A Magical Society" series is top-notch, even if it is well over a decade old. Today's Deal of the Day is A Magical Society: Beast Builder. Normally A Magical Society: Beast Builder is 30 bucks in PDF, but until tomorrow morning at 11 AM Eastern it is marked down to $12.

A Monster Builder like nothing ever seen before…
A Magical Society: Beast Builder is 224 pages packed with information that helps you make your own monsters. In the tradition of A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe and A Magical Society: Ecology and Culture, A Magical Society: Beast Builder gives you the tools you need to make your own campaign specific monsters to challenge and excite your players while adding to the depth and realism of your campaign world.
Chapter One: Monster Concepts and Functions— Monster concepts and functions drive what a monster is and even more importantly, what it does. This chapter discusses common concepts such as creature hierarchies (juvenile, adult, elder etc.), additive abilities (like the vrock’s dance of ruin), mythological inspiration and other monster building aspects.
It gives advice on creating a good concept based upon the function of a creature. Every monster has a concept and a type (such as giant, vermin, etc.), but more than that every monster has a function; the part of the monster that answers the question “What does it do?” I outline the 20 most common functions such as grappler, caster, disabler, energy attacker and PC killer, and how such functions play out in the game. Under each function, you’ll also find a list of the creatures from the SRD as well as creatures from Monster Geographica: Underground that possess that function.
Chapter Two: Monsters and their Environment— Every monster has a place in your world and every place has its monsters. This chapter is simply stuffed with useful information about environment, ecology, biology, and behavior that will help you completely customize every creature to suit your needs. We all know that statistics alone don’t make a great monster. The best monsters are ones with a rich place within your world and this chapter will help you give your new creation a fitting background.
Chapter Three: Monster Statistics— Although a great background is a must for a great monster, statistical accuracy is just as important. This 19 page chapter discusses every bit of the monster stat block and gives you the information you need to insure your great fluff isn’t let down by poor crunch.
Chapter Four: Type and Subtype— Continuing the statistical break-down of creatures, type and subtype is analyzed in chapter four. I give advice about determining subtype (just what is an aberration anyway?) as well as breakdown on ability scores based upon the SRD monsters. You’ll find that although the rules say one thing, the execution often shows another when it comes to ability scores.
Chapter Five: Templates— Worthy of their own chapter, templates are great additions to any GMs bag of tricks. This chapter gives you information on the main 14 template (such as archetypal, greater, half, and planar-aligned) themes as well as seven main ways of acquiring a template. It finishes with a template-only version of chapters four and seven, giving you all existing information so you’ll have more options when designing your own templates.
Chapter Six: Bits and Pieces— Bits and pieces is a short chapter filled with campaign oriented monster parts. In a magical world filled with hostile monsters, holistic magic plays its role and the remains of fallen foes can often be used against those who lived. This chapter helps think of monsters from yet another perspective.
Chapter Seven: Special Attacks, Special Qualities, and Conditions— This huge chapter provides you with 600 special abilities taken from all the creatures in the SRD and all the creatures in Monster Geographica: Underground. Each of these abilities has been broken down to component parts to demonstrate useful guidelines when using them with any CR creature. For example the balor’s death throes SA/SQ is now tied to a creature’s HD, instead of being a straight 100 points of damage. Every SA/SQ has its source monsters (the monsters that possess that ability) listed as well. Once you jump into this chapter there’s no turning back; there’s simply so many cool things you could do when making your monsters you may not want to move onto the next chapter.
Appendix I: D20 Mechanic Table— A single table showing the d20 mechanic. You’ll be surprised how useful this is when deciding monster hit percentages and saving throw percentages. It’s much easier than just doing it in your head.
Appendix II: Editing Checklist— Every monster should face the checklist! A short outline-format editing checklist that covers the most common dangers/errors of d20 monster creation.
Appendix III: Random(ish) Monster Generator— And last but not least, a random(ish) monster generator is provided for when inspiration has simply gone dry. Don’t expect the most sensible results, but anything can happen! This is particularly useful if you want to make creatures for the hordes of chaos.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Bundle of Holding - Stars Without Number

I'm a huge fan of Kevin Crawford. With every Kickstarter he's done, he's given value back to the gaming community as a whole. Stars Without Number is an awesome system - probably my top two in OSR sci-fi RPGs, standing right next to White Star. I've backed every KS Kevin has run without hesitation. His work is simply that good.

Stars Without Number is currently available over at Bundle of Holding. If you don't have a copy yet, do yourself a favor and snag it.

Adventurer! We've resurrected (for a second time!) our March 2019 Stars Without Number Bundle featuring the 2017 Stars Without Number Revised science-fiction tabletop roleplaying game from Sine Nomine Publishing. SWN sets the standard for "sandbox" roleplaying. Forget pre-packaged, pre-digested plotlines that put the players on railroad tracks. In a sandbox game the setting is wide open for adventure in all directions. The Gamemaster presents situations, not storylines – problems, not plots. The player characters go where they will, do as they wish, forging their own career. And one of the best games for sandbox-style spacefaring is Stars Without Number.
For just US$7.95 you get all three titles in this revived offer's Starter Collection (retail value $32) as DRM-free ebooks, including the complete Deluxe Stars Without Number Revised rulebook; Sixteen Stars (popular sf scene backdrops); and the SWN Revised GM Screen.
Polychrome supplement for Stars Without NumberAnd if you pay more than the threshold price of $20.41, you'll level up and also get this revival's entire Bonus Collection with five more SWN supplements worth an additional $48, including Dead Names: Lost Races and Forgotten Ruins and four system-neutral campaign sourcebooks: Starvation Cheap (ground warfare and mercenary campaigns); Skyward Steel (the Stellar Navy); Suns of Gold (merchants and traders); and Polychrome (cyberpunk).

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Backerkit - Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure 5E+DCC

By popular demand, new add-ons are available! 5E edition of "Beneath the Isle of the Serpents," DCC edition of "Sacrificial Pyre of Thracia," and a slipcase! Crowdfunding backers get the exclusive stretch goal booklet packed with stretch goal material! Plus great deals on bundle pledges, free PDF with print purchase, the exclusive art folio, and special crowdfunding covers!

I almost missed this, as Goodman Games went straight to Backerkit (and skipped Kickstarter) for this project. And what project is that? Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure for 5E+DCC. Yep, that's a mouthful. Yet with 10 days left in its funding, Caverns of Tracia has already raised over $475K. That's huge!

Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure 5E+DCC is based on Jennell Jaquays' classic, originally published by Judges Guild for use with Dungeons & Dragons.

The end of one empire sees the birth of a new one deep within the earth. Born in the forgotten chambers and caverns of age-lost Thracia rises a formidable foe: the Minotaur King, along with his host of dog brothers, gnolls, lizardmen, and others. Some say that even Death itself lingers in the Caverns of Thracia, ready to claim any who stumble upon its unholy chapel. The secrets of Thracia are manifold, its treasures thrice that. Do you have the mettle to survive… the Caverns of Thracia?
The Caverns of Thracia is a complete mega-dungeon setting that supports a full-year campaign!
Takes characters from levels 1-10 (5E) or 1-5 (DCC)
6 vast dungeon levels
250+ encounter areas
125+ new monsters
40+ new magic items, spells, and curses
Stretch goals expand the ruins and an overland archipelago
Combat, exploration, and social interaction

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Deal of the Day - When Sea Is Calling: A Guide for Nautical Adventures (OSR)

Today's Deal of the Day is When Sea Is Calling: A Guide for Nautical Adventures. Normally 8 bucks in PDF, but until tomorrow morning When Sea Is Calling: A Guide for Nautical Adventures is on sale for 4.80.

In truth, I've always avoided waterborne adventures as a GM, as I never felt comfortable with a nautical setting. This may be a useful resource for those willing to take the plunge ;)

When Sea Is Calling is a system-neutral OSR-oriented guide for (non-historical) nautical adventures. It is intended for both DMs and solo players. With it, explore the surface and the dark depths of the sea, meet its strange inhabitants, lift terrible curses and get your hands on fabulous treasures!
The purpose of this book is not to generate a sea map. Instead, it is meant to be used with a pre-existing one (and is compatible with Sandbox Generator). The aim of this supplement is rather to generate encounters during sea voyages.

Friday, July 12, 2024

New Release - ShadowRim (ShadowDark Setting)

ShadowRim is a new release from Chubby Funster Games for ShadowDark. Already Copper at DTRPG 10 days after release, ShadowRim is currently on sale for 9 bucks in PDF.

Enter the frozen northern province of an Empire in turmoil, inspired by the greatest CRPG of all time.
Create an enduring ShadowDark campaign as you traverse a massive map with over 200 keyed locations and 450 encounters.
Play as Catfolk, Dark Elf, High Elf, Imperial, Lizardfolk, Nord, Orc, or Wood Elf.
Choose one of the Nine Divine Signs to guide you; the Blade, Coin, Dragon, Eye, Falcon, Horn, Fist, Ring, or Skull.
Build alchemical knowledge through play using ingredients with up to 4 different interacting effects that change every time you play.
Enchant your own magic items using the captured souls of your enemies.
Fight classic monsters that you know and love, such as Dwarven automatons, tyrannical High Elven Dominionists, Sabretooths, Spriggans, and more.
Choose to support the Empire, one of two different rebel factions, or your own goals as the province slides towards Civil War.

Why "Swords & Wizardry?"

Believe me when I say I have them all in dead tree format. I have OSRIC in full size, trade paperback and the Player's Guide. I have LL and the AEC (and somewhere OEC, but I can't find it at the moment). Obviously I have Basic Fantasy RPG. Actually, I have the whole available line in print. Way too much Castles & Crusades. We all know my love for the DCC RPG. I even have Dark Dungeons in print, the Delving Deeper boxed set, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep

I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls

So, out of all that, why Swords & Wizardry? Why, when I have been running a AD&D 1e / OSRIC campaign in Rappan Athuk am I using Swords & Wizardry and it's variant, Crypts & Things, for the second campaign? (Actually, now running a S&W Complete campaign, soon to be with multiple groups)

Because the shit works.

It's easy for lapsed gamers to pick up and feel like they haven't lost a step. I can house rule it and it doesn't break. It plays so close to the AD&D of my youth and college years (S&W Complete especially) that it continually surprises me. Just much less rules hopping than I remember. (my God but I can run it nearly without the book)

I grab and pick and steal from just about all OSR and Original resources. They seem to fit into S&W with little fuss. It may be the same with LL and the rest, but for me the ease of use fit's my expectations with S&W.

Even the single saving throw. That took me longer to adjust to, but even that seems like a natural to me now. Don't ask me why, it just does. Maybe it's the simplicity of it. At 45 52, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)

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