End Game

End game.  It's one of the more difficult aspects of RPGs to get right.  A few possible reasons why:

1. Failure to Climax.  Most games don't reach the End Game.  They fizzle out along the way.  So GMs don't get a lot of practice ending a game. 
2. Lack of Planning.  How many times have you, as a GM, painstakingly planned the beginning of a campaign?  How many times have you planned the end game ahead of time?  Do you know what to plan for?  Probably not.  This is a often a problem with the sandbox game (see below).
3. Sandbox style almost works against an end game.  Because of the free world roam , do what you want style, its very difficult to plan far ahead.  But, sandbox does not mean there is shouldn't be a structure to the game and the events.  You may come up with a awesome conclusion and the players decide to go back to the tavern to stinky drunk and give all the wenches a bounce.  While not a bad way to end an evening maybe not the most exciting campaign exit.
4. Developing enemies over time.  When PCs encounter and enemy, they kill them.  Why release them so they can screw them over later?  You can build to a big boss, but there is something ultimately more satisfying having an enemy encounter through out the game before you drop the hammer on him.  
5. Campaign Scope is a rarely discussed topic and I think one that could help develop an End Game.  This is as easy as developing characters on a special mission that doesn't have to be of epic proportions.  Not every campaign has to be Lord of the Rings in epicness.  It's perfectly cool to have two slubs whose whole purpose is to infiltrate the enemy kingdom and steal away their secret weapon.  A finite series of events in time and space.  
6. Character Power gets to the point where the GM needs to throw ridiculous critters at them.  While the now 10th level party is constructing their Fortress of the Giant Cod Piece those bands of orcs and ogres and trolls are no threat.  Even the occasional dragon is a minor annoyance.  This is where a GM really needs to have his chops concerning politics and religion to make the game interesting.  But often times more effort is put into digging another level of a mega dungeon or stating out the beholder titan dragon god. 

Now are their more reasons?  Absolutely.  Are there ways to end a game with a party of 300th level characters in a sandbox style game with no arch enemy where the GM failed to plan it out?  I'm sure you can.  Everyone has their own style, strengths and weaknesses.  As a GM its important to have some sort of plan for your campaign.  Its important to have an overlying story going on that allows players the freedom, but are still effected by the events.  Without some sort of structure to the game the campaign soon degrades into a bunch of dudes looking at one another with pizza stained shirts and caffeine  headaches saying "What do you wanna do next?" 

Sleestak Father's Day

The sleestak don't care that's its Father's Day Marshal.  Stay in the light or your ass is theirs.    Happy Father's Day and here's your fricking tie.

So Free RPG Day was yesterday and I've seen a bunch of posts of who got what.  Now while I'm thankful for a local (some what local I have to drive 35 minutes) gaming store to participate they tend to find a way to screw it up.  At least this year there was no dickhead behind the counter.  Actually the guy was pretty cool and helpful.  He even looked for the 6d commemorative die, but he couldn't find any.

We are permitted to pick one item.  One.  Despite the fact each year they have a bunch of them left over.  Unless you are a member then you get to pick two.  Fair enough.  I can see allowing members a little extra.  While the guy behind the counter was a good guy he wasn't a gamer and wouldn't know an AD&D Player's Handbook from one of the eighteen 4th edition PHBs.

One of my goals after scoring a couple free items was to pick up the DDC core rulebook.  They didn't have any.  They had one copy for the day.  You're participating in Free RPG Day, but you don't carry the newest and most interesting things so people can buy them?  This is what irks me about the place.  It is more about the comic books there.  Which is cool.  I've been reading so much about comics lately I decided to pick up one of those fat books of comics.  But, its RPG Day, maybe order a few extra. 

Mulling over the big, fat comics I decided on the Fantastic Four.  They were my favorite comic when I was a kid and The Thing my favorite superhero.  Don't get me started on those crap movies they made.  They made Dr. Doom boring.  Anyway, I go the Marvel Masterworks version because it was in color.  The Essential was all in black and white.  If I'm reading a comic I want it in all its gaudy colors.

So when I got home from my trip I order DCC online.  As much as I would like to support the store and have tried to they make it very difficult for me.  And there are so many options online so and they have what I want so they get the money.  I also order the Peter Mullen box from Brave Halfling Publishing to store all the zines I've been collecting lately.  One of my brilliant readers suggested it.

As far as Free RPG Day I did get two items.  But I'm sending them out to unaware readers of mine who couldn't attend or they have no local store that participates.  Because sometimes its just cool to get random gifts.

Friday Question

Tomorrow is Free RPG Day.  What do you plan to get? 

Attack of the Zines

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 A week or so ago I received a couple of very cool zines in the mail  First off is Wizards, Mutants, and Lazer Pistols.  I will admit at first I was a bit suspect.  I'm one of those who dislikes sci-fi in my fantasy.  But perfectly fine if there is fantasy in sci-fi.  But after a little time I knew I was going to get it because with a title like that and cover art that I love.

When it came in the mail I was surprised it was a full sized magazine.  I was expect the half fold thing.  Nope.  Big and brave with neon yellow cover.  Stapled at the edge.  Two column layout, easy to read with style.

The first article is a class, The Animator.  I think it can be easily adapted into a campaign.  An artist who can animate things, please, needs to be in your campaign and yours.  The Beneath the Ruin is a good adventure that also can be adapted in a campaign.  When I read these adventures that's what I'm looking for.  Can I squeeze this into that forest over yonder since I haven't full developed it.  You can with this.  The third section is the Web Walker and good addition to throw at players.  I think it has a good creep effect.  And lastly, an unexpected bit of fun, Module Mania.  A fill in the blank/crossword puzzle that tests your knowledge of the old modules of long ago.

If you get a chance, plop down some spending cash to pick this one up.  I liked it a lot and I think it fits perfect in the OSR zine scene.

http://crawlfanzine.blogspot.com/

Crawl was the second zine I got.  This one is dedicated to Goodman Games, Dungeon Crawl Classics.  First off, this zine is what got me to go to the store this weekend and purchase the core rules for DDC.  I really like the excitement it brings to the game.  While there is a lot in there I may not get the gist of because I don't have the core rules I plan on rereading it once I do.

The one con about the zine for me is the spacing of the sentences is crammed and dark.  Maybe its my old eyes, but the font and spacing were hard to read at some points.  The content was great.  It has to be to get me to get the rules.

The set up is like a typical zine, half fold staple in the middle, single column format.  Great old school pencil drawn art.  I like the rough sketches they capture the feel of the game and the zine.

Over all both these zines are useful and fun to read and I plan on getting future issues.

Strategy for Free RPG Day

Free RPG Day is nearly upon us.  While it may not stack up against free comic book day, it's the one that counts for me.  And about four years ago, was a large factor in my return to gaming.  Hold your boos until the end of the post.

So after mapping the gaming the store, checking the weather then selecting the proper footwear and clothing it time to get your people.  Yes, people.  Hopefully, non-gamers.  Why?  This answer is two-fold.  One, if they aren't gamers then you can tell them which free stuff you want.  Maybe get a little something extra you weren't expecting.  At the gaming shop I go to you can select one item.  If you are a member you get to select two.  I'm not a member because the gamer guy up there is a dick.  The second fold in this answer is, if they aren't a gamer maybe they will be after checking out all the different stuff offered and there are enough quick starts to get someone interested.

I plan on taking Ivy.  That way I can get two items.  While I love getting the commemorative d6, the store keeps them and hands them out to the special customers.  Which I can understand, but I'll still try to get one.  Plus they are only getting four per box.  I think in years past they got 6.

My choices will be to get Goodman Games Quickstart for DCC.  And while I'm at the store I plan on picking up the big fat rulebook.  Then I'll either get the Harn map or one of the several Pathfinder adventures.  While I've never played Pathfinder I like reading their stuff.

So plan your Free RPG Day accordingly.  Plan ahead.  You're less likely to pull a muscle or come way with a nasty scratch from the dice display.  So let's be careful out there.

GM Games Blog Open

Yeah, it finally happened.  I did a second blog.  I thought it was getting a little crowded here so I put all the goodies over on GM Games.  I've got the subscription button up for The Manor.  You'll get updates of the different things I'm working on and when they are for sale, you can go there and shop away.

Like all things, I plan on just having a good time with it.  Those who join the GM Games I plan on doing a couple giveaways and just fun and goofy stuff.  Who knows.  

Gothridge Manor will remain my blog for general yapping about RPGs, superheroes, movies, campaigns, occasionally music and when Ivy hijacks my blog, probably food, couponing or some sort of bodily function.

GM Games, join and you'll have a better day because of it.

New Computer or Where the Hell Are All My Product Codes?

I got my new computer on Friday.  It's got an I7 processor, 10 gig of RAM, 1.5 terabyte harddrive, Blu-Ray Player, and a 1 gig Vid Card.  But the best thing about it is its quiet.  The recent computers I've had sound like one of those Everglade fan boats.  Loud.  This one I can't even tell that its running.  Now Ivy wants one.

With a new computer comes a little game I like to play called, Where the hell are all my product codes.  Absolutely love this game.  In the past the main reason I got a new computer because my old one took a dirt nap.  And guess where all those codes are at?  At least this time I was able to get some of the codes from the old computer, but the rest I had to scramble to websites I forgot about and passwords I had no chance of remembering.  But I got skype running, Fantasy Grounds going (but not completely up dated), my Xara program, GURPS character assist, and iTunes.  There is still a lot of work to be done, but I happy with the results so far.

With my new computer I plopped down a few c-notes for MS Professional Office to get Publisher.  I thought about waiting for the new version release later this fall, but that's later this fall and I need it now.  I think it will be a huge help with the projects I've got boiling in the stew.

Because of this computer switch I fell behind a little on a couple of things I promised for other people.  I apologize and plan on hitting your projects next.  I hope I didn't inconvenience anyone. 

Meanwhile, I am gearing up for Free RPG Day this Saturday.  I hope it will go better than last year.  Ivy has the day off so that means I'll get a second item.  I'm planning on picking up a new copy of DCC.  I've heard so much about it, playtested it and bought the fan zine so Goodman Games has hit from every side.  Might as well and get it. 

Off to search my other computer for a few more files.

Sleestak Sunday

When peace finally came to the Lost Land, they got together and formed a band.

Fantastic picture by Anthony Owsley.

Wind Map

This has got to be one of the cooler maps I've seen in a long time. You can put your cursor over any part of the map and it will tell you the wind speed of that exact location. And it just looks very cool. Enjoy.
Wind Map

This is a static picture of the Wind Map.

Okay, I'm In Again

My first backed project was Dwimmermount.

A few days ago I backed Barrowmaze 2.

And tonight I threw $30 bucks into the Appendix N Adventure Toolkit. And I don't even have the rulebook for DCC. Guess I need to remedy that soon. Thanks James Mal for sucking me in. If Ivy gets mad at me I'm blaming you.

Subscriptions to The Manor

I've been working on issue #2 of The Manor and assisting in some editing other zines while contemplating where to go with it.  I plan on offering a 6 issue subscription to all print buyers.  I'm trying to think of a way to do it for PDFs and have a few possibilities.  Anyone who has a brilliantly simple idea on how to do this please let me know. 

I say 6 issue subscription because I can't commit to a monthly schedule, but a 6 issue schedule is very doable.  So you may get one 7 weeks apart and the next one 3 weeks. 

The price for subscribing would be you would buy 5 get the 6th free.  Ivy would like that, it's almost a coupon. 

So US scripts would be $17.50.  Canada scripts would be $20.  And other worldly scripts would com in at $22.50.  If I do a script for PDF it would be $12.50.  Those who I ask to contribute automatically get a freebie and wouldn't count against their total.  Of course.  Duh. 

I'll be developing the subscription page over the weekend.  And should have another update about issue #2 then.  Have a great night.

Kicking Campaigns into the Next Stage

Both games I am in, one I GM AD&D and the other I play in is Weird Adventures.  Both have hit shifts in the game.  With the Weird Adventures games our group has solved the first mystery and will be moving on to the next.  We've established our characters and we've learned about the system and setting so I think our next mystery will have us working together in a whole other level. 


The AD&D game has taken a strange turn.  The players have fallen into a 'pit'.  Where they all find themselves in a different realm.  This game has been one where the realm they are in shifts the focus of the game.  Where most of the time its the level of the characters that shift it from dungeon delving to establishing an stronghold or kingdom. 

This is act 3 for my players.  While I had the beginning realm fairly well mapped out and set up and the second part fairly setup, this third part was totally unexpected and it's got my juices flowing of what I present to them.  A change of scenery can be a good thing.  Especially for a GM. 

I'm Now a 7th Level Dead Guy

Cast of Characters
Boog - once a half-orc, now a full orc once a 7th level fighter, now a 6th level paladin - Rob
Grim - halfling 7th level thief - Brian
Corum - human 6th level cleric - Ken
Tavi - human 5th level bard - Josh (who played intermittently over the cell phone)
GM - me

The players proceeded deeper into the Catacombs of the Death God, Homikas.  With nearly a million in silver in their bag of holding they head south.  South, because the newly created champion of the dead, Boog, feels that is the was out.

The session picked up as three heavily  skeleton warriors rushed the party.  Boog set his halberd and tore off a large section of the first charging undead.  Twisting it around and sending it into a pit that divided the hallway.  The second and third skeletal warriors moved fast.  They cleared the pit with ease crashing their heavy mace into and already wounded Tavi and Boog. 

The battle continued with Boog thrashing off balance, his wounds had taken their toll as he tried to fend off the much faster opponent.  Tavi fell under the barrage of massive blows.  It was the skill of the thief that whittle away at one of the skeletal warriors and a mighty blow from Corum that shattered another.  Corum's strike so true and powerful left his arm weak and unusable afterwards.

Despite their many wounds the party moved on.  Corum did what healing he could.  South.  The came scross a door that lead south and found a room full of corpses stripped of flesh laying in four inches of water.  Corum spoke to one of the bodies and it kept screaming about the water before it collapsed lifeless again.  They decided not to go this way.

They searched a room, Grim having a sense for all things hidden, found a secret door.  He crawled through to find a large golem cover in magical runes.  They planned on how to approach the battle, but Boog being Boog rushed the golem and sliced through its metal hide cause several of the runes illumination to fade.  But the golem proven too strong for Boog and it pounded him close to death.  If it had not been for the Shield of Sacrifice he wore Boog's demise would have been premature. 

Grim with his quickness and smallness weaved through the hallway and managed to use a healing ointment on Boog to revive him and head through the door to the south.  As they entered the room they came across a mirror and Boog was immediately entranced by it.  He walked toward the mirror seeking something.  The urge that what he'd been looking for was just within his grasp.

Grim attempted to break the mirror drawing his magic sword, but the usually fleet of foot halfling stumbled upon the raised dais and fell headlong into the mirror knocking himself out.  In this time, Boog stepped in front of the mirror to fall within an pit.

Corum managed to get by the golem, but as he entered the room he to was entranced by the magic of the mirror.  But Tavi used his song to neutralize the mirror's effect.  It also kept the golem pacified as he also slipped into the room.  Tavi though, upon entering was bewitched by the mirror and he plunged into the pit.  With no healing, no companions, no exits out of the room as the golem waited by the door, Corum jumped into the pit.

After an indeterminate amount of time.  The player awoke in a dark, featureless land.  Ground fog swirled around them as they stood.  Grim asked, "Boog, do you still feel your god's presence?"

Boog stiffened.  "Ah oh.  He a lot closer than Boog like."

Session end.

The adventure I've been running the players through the past few session is Barrowmaze with many enhancements.  

Sleestak Sunday: A Revelation Purge

On Saturday, June 3rd, 2012 the image of the holy father Salshess appeared on the curbside wall on South Main Street in the middle of downtown Folksburg, PA.  At first, no one noticed.  South Main Street is the heart of the other side of the tracks.  It wasn't until one of the initiates, a Henry William, doing his weekly pilgrimage to hand out fliers to those stuck in the poverty of mind and body, found the amazing image.  He fell to his knees and wept. 

No long after a balding red haired man known around town as Gummy, attempted to rob Henry thinking him another drunk.  Gummy stumbled closer and squinted his eyes.  The meth haze still had its tendrils around his senses.  He blinked and reached down to Henry's back pocket hoping to find at least five bucks.  He yanked the wallet out with a wet coughing laugh.  He couldn't see the numbers, but there were three paper monies within.  He thought of what to buy.  Maybe even Samantha would let him in if he had money.  Then he caught a glimpse of a flash or a glint of something.  His blurry eyes caught the image of Salshess and his lungs refused to take air.

Gummy grabbed a street sign to balance himself as he struggled to breath.  Pressure built in his stomach.  The pain was almost unbearable.  He wanted to scream, but no air would leave or enter.  His body trembled violently as the pain rose from his stomach into his chest.  His father died of a heart attack in front of him when he was eight years old.  The scene flashed in front of him sixteen times.  Each time his mind's eye got closer to his father's bulging eyes and red face.

When the pain rose to his throat Gummy was on the verge of passing out.  Then the release erupted from his mouth.  Foul green toxins sprayed onto the sidewalk.  Tumors, blacken bits of tissue and hardened pustuals floated in the foul pool.

When Gummy finally took a breath and opened his eyes, he could see.  He could hear.  And he could feel his mind work like it had never had before.  His entire memory became assessable to him.  That first breath was cool and welcoming.  The stress his body felt a moment before left him.  And there on the wall, miraculously upon the stone, was Salshess.

When Henry rose and saw the red haired man standing there staring at the image he offered the man a steady hand.  "What is your name brother?" 

Gummy blinked and shook his head.  The words came to him clear and without obstacle.  His name had been lost for years behind different nicknames.  He never cared what he was called as long as there was a rock, bag, line or bottle with it.  Now it seemed a pleasure to say it.  A pleasure to be recognized for himself.  "Keith."  He smiled. "Keith.  My father named me after his father."