A Pre-Adventure, Adventure

Picture by LuigiL

I continue to shape the campaign world I'm working on.  I plan on running my first adventure in January sometime.  A playtest of sorts.  I'll have the guys start with 0-level guys, kinda of like DCC style, they will have items that reflect their background and of course be incredibly susceptible to the world around them.  Creating a couple of characters would be a good idea.

I "plan" on running a coming of age adventure.  The theme will focus on these very young adventurers coming together as they go through a rite to adulthood by completing the Trutoro Pilgrimage.  So it will be a pre-adventure, adventure.  It will give the players a little background, an introduction of the people they will be dealing with and the world in general.  I guess you could compare it to Harry Potter going off to Hogwarts, except I don't get a billion dollars.

I've got ideas for the pilgrimage.  Some I've gotten from historical references, culture rites of passage and a good portion is my own made up stuff.  I like the idea of having adventures before the players become adventurers.  In the past I ran a session or two with each player individually to give their character a sense of history, an identity beyond the group.  It also helped to establish contacts, friends and develop enemies or at least competitors. 

Off to work.  It's a weird Friday since very few will be there.  I've loaded up my iPod and plan to zone out to some tunes and catch up on paperwork.  That's the plan.  But like most plans, I imagine it will be blown to shit within 15 minutes.

Art in My Mailbox

Right before Christmas I stopped by the post office, which was surprisingly empty, and got my mail.  There was a little yellow slip inside which means I got a package.  A yellow slip is a good thing.  It means books or packages of fun stuff and maybe presents.  I had no idea what this yellow slip was for.  The only thing I could think of was one of the card kickstarters I backed finally delivered...ah, no. 

It was better.

It was a slim cardboard envelope from Ireland.  Jay Penn, art guy who drew the cool picture for the cover of issue 5 of the Manor, sent me something?  I got into my car and opened it up and saw this.

No way! 

Way!  How cool is that.  Jay sent me the original piece.  What a cool and surprising gift for the holiday.  I need to get some frames for all the work Jay has sent.  And I need to clear off some wall space to get them hung.  Thank you Jay for your work and generosity.   It's going on the wall.

Santa is Just Another Red Shirt On Any Other Day

Taking Over My Husband's Blog

You know what I love about not being at work?  Means I get to stay home, hack into my husband's blog and give it a little makeover.  Some lights.  A few falling Santas.  Really brightens the place up.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make a big pile of almond pizzelles for Tim. I'm going to use them as leverage to get him to help me clean out the fridge, tomorrow.   If that doesn't work I'll just take my top off.  That ALWAYS works.

 

Frink'n Santas on My Blog

I'm at work and eating mash potatoes.  I click on my blog to check out what everyone is writing and a see a Santa fall.  Then another.  Frick'n Santas all over my blog. 

IVY!

Sleestak Sunday

Hey, a little sleestak from Angela Oster.  She's got lots o little skinny drawings on her site. 

Xerography Debt Reviews The Manor

In issue #34 of Xerography Debt Joel Biel reviewed the first three issues of The Manor. I thought it was an interesting review being it was from someone that I don't believe is associated with the OSR or even know what it is.  Here's the review.

This is a zine of homemade role-playing game adventures and rules supplements.  Very cool.  These have been pouring into my life lately.  The feeling of the adventures here is very small town and reminds me of the sort of made-for-TV horror movies of the 1980s or HP Lovecraft in the fact that a single creature like a Ghoul or Troglodyte is the ringleader terrorizing people unfamiliar with encountering monsters, rather than dozens of goblins or a dragon or a Lich.  It's encouraging, like it elevates the characters and role-playing rather than building to one campaign-defining combat sequence where the characters expect to win.  He writes elaborate personalities for the people who work at the potion shop and defines the economy around it and the public's various reactions, creating interactions around what, in my experience, is normally treated as the most mundane part of role-playing: shopping.  Smuggler's Inn is given a similar treatment along with an adventure that may result from your stay.  #3 include "Mine of Rot & Disease," another adventure whose title should likely not be revealed to your players!  Again, it's conceptually creative, redeeming a few cliched themes to catch your players off guard.  Lastly, we are treated to Pog Nog, a goblin street vender who specializes in things you just can't seem to find anywhere else...and numerous role-playing possibilities how things could go wrong with dealing with him!

There is probably close to a hundred reviews in Xerography Debt.  As first I couldn't find the review.  Luckily it has an index in the back.  I'm going to dig around in it and see what other zines look interesting.

Little Laminated Project Maps

I've been drawing maps on 4" x 6" note cards.  Then recently I released Execution Corner as a quick location based on one of the maps.  I liked how it worked.  I was messing with the write up and wondered if I could fit it on the back of the note card.  Map on front info on the back.

The Sharpies bled through the note cards.  Printing on the back would look bad and unreadable.  So I printed the descriptions on a second note card.  It's an 8 font, tiny, but I still think readable.  I couldn't figure out how to combine the two.  Then my better half suggest I laminate them together.  Fricking brilliant.  I don't have a lamination machine...but work does.

I scored the lamination machine at work. 

There is a hand drawn map on front and description on back.  This particular on is a two set map.  Outside the mine entrance and the second is a map of the inside.  I placed the two note cards back to back and put them through the machine and wa la, I have a single, sturdy little adventure.  Can spill water on it, mark it and erase.  I think it's pretty cool.

I'm sending out a few out to random folks.  I don't have many maps and each one is unique.  No copies are made.  There will only be one of what I send out.

I don't think much will come of this, but its a cool exercise.  Playing with the presentation of an adventure and I learned how to use the lamination machine.  Might just have to add that to office equipment I need. 

Lulu 40%, Help Me!

Okay, Lulu's got a 40% off coupon.  I need suggestions.  I have already bought a ton of stuff from there, but looking for something I may have missed or fell off my radar.  Help me choose!

Game Night: The Demonic Squid

Last night was game night, and our party fresh with a purpose set off.  A secret door was found.  A large underground lake.  Then a demonic, giant squid appeared.  That fresh purpose was quickly forgotten by Adzeer, who relished the idea of sending this monstrosity back from whence it came.  Only it looked more like this...

Adzeer was nearly a snack.  The others, more intelligently, stayed back and assisted with spells and missile attacks.  Never fear though, Adzeer survived to battle another day, but the demonic squid did also.

We managed to stumble upon a small stash of treasure.  Some very good items there.  A talking sword that will provide lots of entertainment in the hands of our little dim witted thief.

When the session ended the party was 20' from where we started. 

Matt Jackson Maps

There's this interesting site called Patreon, I hadn't heard of it until recently.  It's where people present what they do and if you like it you can become a patron of their art and donate money to the person for the work they do.  It's kinda like piece work though.  You pledge (I'll use Matt as the example) any where from .25 cents on up.  I think the pledges would vary depending on what the person was doing.  Say I pledge a buck, so for every map that Matt completes that month he gets a buck from me.  But the patron can put a cap on how much he or she pledges.

+matt jackson recently threw his maps into the Patreon ring.  You can find it here.  I've recently become a member and surfing around the site trying to get an understanding of the site.  But I like it so far.  If you are a fan of Matt's maps, head on over to his page and become a patron of the arts.

Some other old schoolers taking advantage of this site is +Dyson Logos.  Another incredible map make.  His Patreon site is here.


And yet another map maker, +Shane Knysh is also offering his maps.  While the above two work in mainly black and white, Shane uses vivid colors.

You can't go wrong back any or all of these guys.  here are probably more who have projects going on, but I'm not sure how to search for them yet.  If you have a project on Patreon please feel free to post the link in the comment section.

Execution Corner on RPGNow

Execution Corner is now available on RPGNow.  I put it under the PWYW category.  It's a small location you can drop into your campaign.  A crossroads area where 96 criminals have met their end.  You'll find the No Tomorrow Tavern serving the thirsty crowd on hanging day.  A pair of peddlers selling until the rope goes taut.  And an executioner who is very particular about what rope he uses. 
What you'll find inside:

• A hand drawn, colored map of the area.
• Descriptions of the people and area.
• Extras that include superstitions and a few game mechanic additions.

The map and idea came from the post I did yesterday.   But then I started fleshing it out more and thought it was a cool locale.  If your interest you can grab a copy for free or if you feel like tossing a quarter into the tip jar it would be much appreciated. 

Mini Map Time!

I messing with maps again.  On the left is your typical 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper and on the right I've started making mini maps on 4" x 6" blank index cards.  My map style remains the same, just smaller and a lot less area to color in.

Here's a close up of what this one looks like.  A crossroads area.  To the north you have the gallows where they hang the most vicious criminals.  The smaller house is where the hangman lives.  He's responsible for the upkeep of the gallows, making sure the ropes are in good condition and that no one cuts down the bodies until the proper time has passed.  The larger building is a tavern, the No Tomorrow tavern.  Four tables, a standing bar, two types of ale and no food.  It gets business from travelers passing through the crossroads, but its primary income is during the hanging days.  Crowds show up to watch and bring coin to drink the house specialty, the Execution's Ale.  Nothing special about it except the name.  One wall on the outside is dedicated to the people hung here and a list of their crimes.  The patrons piss all over the wall as a tribute.  

Friday Question

Like all heroes and villains in the movies they have theme music.

What would your theme song be for your current character?  Or if you prefer, what would the theme song be when you DM?