category: RPGs

The theme for the first week is Ancient. I decided this would be a long barrow, as I was going to default to “temple” (which this still sort-of is). This uses the OSE entries for monsters (& treasure). ...

I want to run Luka Rejec’s Ultraviolent Grasslands setting, but I thought it would be a laugh to try The Black Hack, as I also wanted to try that engine. I don’t really have a good reason1, beyond having bought both. And liking both! I’m a sucker for a pointcrawl that one can wander around, ever since Elite. You had a little ship, a map, and off you go to make some money. Luka’s setting is on the ground, and more sciencefantasy, to borrow Troika!’s term. But it’s scratching that itch. The good old days The Black Hack is me experimenting with a game engine that is simpler than 5e, and more complex than Into The Odd or Stay Frosty. It’s also another beautiful book. The engine removes stat bonuses in favour of having players roll under their base stats. Enemy attacks are also rolled by players, as defensive rolls, rather than the GM doing it. The GM still chooses the actions of the enemy combatants, though. ...

Yes, I’m going to join in with Sean McCoy’s Dungeon23 concept. For those that missed it, a reminder: “Megadungeon for 2023. 12 levels. 365 rooms. One room a day. Keep it all in a journal.” Sean McCoy Unlike the people who have started in earnest a week ago, I’m going to spend the rest of December 2022 deciding how I’m going to do this. And I’ve still not worked it out yet. I’m very keen to pick something as easy as possible in the hope that I’ll actually finish it. I don’t want to take time away from my current UVG game or my attempts to learn to speak (and write) French though. ...

This continues a long-form campaign, Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance. Emmett, Joshua, and Zalephona are now cattle ranchers, all seeking a quiet change in career for various reasons. They’re driving buggalo from Emerald City to the Porcelain Citadel. Or at least, in general. Currently they’re amusing themselves in Potsherd Crater to see what is going on. Hazel has promised them an autogolem, so there’s no rush to leave. Time for some constructive pillaging! ...

Thinking of trying the #dungeon23 thing. So I bought some Micron pens and am giving some dungeon drawing tutorials a go. Concept This is a church that has rooms available via doors from its wings. One is open, the other is a secret but can be deduced. Lessons I followed this tutorial. I’m not sure I’d bother tracing over with ink twice. I’m also learning I need to sketch more in pencil - can’t just be the room outlines, any furniture needs to go in too....

This continues a long-form campaign, Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance. Emmett, Joshua, and Zalephona are now cattle ranchers, all seeking a quiet change in career for various reasons. They’re driving buggalo from Emerald City to the Porcelain Citadel. Having picked up Phonie in a grimy rest-stop on the Low Road and the High, the caravan proceeds to Potsherd Crater to deliver their mysterious cargo. Now with a baby buggalo called Junior and a steppe hound called Rufus. Spoilers: Junior gets petted. 🤫 ...

This continues a long-form campaign, Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance. Joshua and Emmett are now cattle ranchers, both seeking a quiet change in career for various reasons. They’re driving buggalo from Emerald City to the Porcelain Citadel. Or at least they were, now they’re heading away from the Citadel, with a mysterious box, on the promise of a favour from the Matriarch of the Pine clan. This week: a 🧙 joins the party. ...

Wood engraving in "Andersen's Fairy Tales", by Hans Tegner This continues a long-form campaign, Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance. Joshua and Emmett are now cattle ranchers, both seeking a quiet change in career for various reasons. They’re driving buggalo from Emerald City to the Porcelain Citadel. Now on the Lime Steppes, the Matriarch of the Pine clan is asking for a favour… Do ya like dogs? ...

This continues a long-form campaign, Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance. Joshua and Emmett are now cattle ranchers, both seeking a quiet change in career for various reasons. They’re driving buggalo from Emerald City to the Porcelain Citadel. Currently they’re in Violet City, hanging out with some Lime Nomad pilgrims, after irritating some lovable street-life. More drugs, some commeuppance. ...

Opening illustration to "The Cloud Kingdom", drawn by Charles Robinson I’m currently running a Ultraviolet Grasslands campaign, and like every other campaign I run, I’m really focussed on making the weather a big part of it. Just travelling should be a challenge — not the greatest challenge in the game — but not a literal walk in the park. I want the party hunting for dry firewood, or stuck at a swollen river, or so cold they can’t face breaking camp. Not every single day, obviously, but an “encounter” for me doesn’t have to be “kill a thing that’s appeared with suspicious regularity”. ...