"Know, O Prince, that between the years when the Serpent fell and the oceans drank America and the gleaming cities, and the rise of the Sons of Space, there was an Age undreamed of, when nations guttered low and flared brilliant across the poisoned world like dying stars – California and Texas each claiming the flag of the West, France torn asunder and facing the desert, harsh Mexico, slumbering Brazil, Argentina where the seeds of Thule lay waiting, ancient lands of Persia and Arabia and Iraq between two empires, the coldly clutching Soviet Union whispering behind its Wall of Serpent, Japan whose warriors wore steel and silk and khaki. But the proudest kingdom of the world was Australia, the last green and pleasant land, ringed around by its dominions and bulwarked by the sea."
Doesn't that sound nice? A new Savage Worlds setting from Atomic Overmind written by Kenneth Hite. I've been itching for a post-apocalyptic game since FallOut 3 came out, and I was toying with the idea of converting that setting, but The Day After Ragnarok sounds too cool to pass up. Find out more at www.atomicovermind.com.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Trip to San Francisco?
Still thinking about it, still planning on it, but I need at least 2 other people to "commit," with a maximum of 3 other people (4 total with me). I'm thinking Friday August 28th through Monday, September 7th. Leave on that Friday, drive through to San Francisco by Monday, spend Monday through Friday in San Francisco, drive back on Friday and be back around Sunday September 6th. Monday September 7th is Labor Day, for reference.
So start thinking. Like the Boston trip this will be a budget vacation, staying at campgrounds and hitting the cheap but interesting sites around town. Gas will probably be the most expensive ticket, probably, but with four people it's much easier to bear.
So start thinking. Like the Boston trip this will be a budget vacation, staying at campgrounds and hitting the cheap but interesting sites around town. Gas will probably be the most expensive ticket, probably, but with four people it's much easier to bear.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Quarter Campaigns REVISITED
I think four campaigns strung one after another is a bit ... ambitious for us. For everyone, players and GMs included. So, while maintaining the concept of quarter campaigns, I'd like to propose the following general schedule:
January, February, March: Quarter Campaign
April: No campaign
May, June, July: Quarter Campaign
August: No campaign
September, October, November: Quarter Campaign
December: No campaign
This schedule allows for more flexibility while also avoiding potentially busy months. It also allows for more seasonal thematic campaigns to take place, such as the summer campaign or the fall campaign. December always tends to be pretty busy anyway, so picking things back up in January usually happens regardless.
If you haven't noticed, I like schedules and structures - it helps me know what to have prepared when and not not let things slip through the cracks.
Given the above schedule I'd like to propose the first Quarter Campaign - Pirates of the Spanish Main, a Savage Worlds game. Start in May, like Sunday May 3rd, and go on from there.
January, February, March: Quarter Campaign
April: No campaign
May, June, July: Quarter Campaign
August: No campaign
September, October, November: Quarter Campaign
December: No campaign
This schedule allows for more flexibility while also avoiding potentially busy months. It also allows for more seasonal thematic campaigns to take place, such as the summer campaign or the fall campaign. December always tends to be pretty busy anyway, so picking things back up in January usually happens regardless.
If you haven't noticed, I like schedules and structures - it helps me know what to have prepared when and not not let things slip through the cracks.
Given the above schedule I'd like to propose the first Quarter Campaign - Pirates of the Spanish Main, a Savage Worlds game. Start in May, like Sunday May 3rd, and go on from there.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Star*Drive On the Horizon ... Again!
So I've been wrestling with what system to convert the Star*Drive campaign to. I like the setting a whole bunch, and I've been on the fence on whether to move to GURPS or Savage Worlds. GURPS is a much more complex game with rules and math to handle every situation, while Savage Worlds is light and easy to run and understand. You sacrifice the technical aspects of a sci-fi game with Savage Worlds, but you sacrifice ease of play with GURPS.
This has plagued me for going on two years? A long time. And I was working on it again last night when I came to a startling revelation.
I think I'll just keep Alternity. I'll need to tweak the system to remove levels but ... maybe I'll just use that. More thoughts required, but it certainly would be easier.
This has plagued me for going on two years? A long time. And I was working on it again last night when I came to a startling revelation.
I think I'll just keep Alternity. I'll need to tweak the system to remove levels but ... maybe I'll just use that. More thoughts required, but it certainly would be easier.
May 1st- Party Down in Mankato
Hey, everyone, I'm almost done with my semester down here in Mankato, and I think a good way to celebrate would be to invite some people down here for some fun stuff. There are a couple of disc golf courses we could try in the Mankato area (weather permitting) and perhaps we could play my or David's recently published adventures, or just some Apples to Apples and board games. Anyway, expect food, drink, and entertainment. Well, I hope to see some people down on May 1st, then (sadly, I only have room for about seven- any more than that could get a bit cramped). See ya!
Harris
http://www.inkato.com/page/kato_frolf.html
Harris
http://www.inkato.com/page/kato_frolf.html
Monday, April 20, 2009
Quarter Campaigns?
I've got a lot of stuff I'd like to do when it comes to RPGs. Lots of settings I'd like to try out, lots of cool books to utilize, lots of stories to tell. So I would like to propose the following concept: Quarter Campaigns.
The concept follows the fact that we can divide a calendar year into four quarters - Jan/Feb/Mar, Apr/May/June, July/Aug/Sept, and Oct/Nov/Dec. Each quarter gets three months, or about 12 weeks, which I think is a good length for an RPG campaign from start to finish. At least a campaign people haven't played before and aren't quite sure how it would work for them.
At the end of quarter I'd like to have some sort of retrospective, probably over a meal at some moderately fancy restaurant. Sort of a "hey we just completed a campaign how did it go" kind of thing.
Since we're into Q2 of 2009 I'm going to propose we just keep plowing forward with Call of Cthulhu: Day of the Beast for this Quarter Campaign. We can DEFINITELY finish it up before the end of June if we keep up with regular sessions - Sundays or Fridays when there's no Star Wars seem to be the best. But maybe Saturdays.
For the Q3 2009 Campaign I'd like to go with a swashbuckling 7th Sea type game using the Savage Worlds rules. Not sure if I'd actually use the 7th Sea setting or just go with a more real-world type setting (with a healthy dose of unreality in there as well). Suggestions welcome.
The concept follows the fact that we can divide a calendar year into four quarters - Jan/Feb/Mar, Apr/May/June, July/Aug/Sept, and Oct/Nov/Dec. Each quarter gets three months, or about 12 weeks, which I think is a good length for an RPG campaign from start to finish. At least a campaign people haven't played before and aren't quite sure how it would work for them.
At the end of quarter I'd like to have some sort of retrospective, probably over a meal at some moderately fancy restaurant. Sort of a "hey we just completed a campaign how did it go" kind of thing.
Since we're into Q2 of 2009 I'm going to propose we just keep plowing forward with Call of Cthulhu: Day of the Beast for this Quarter Campaign. We can DEFINITELY finish it up before the end of June if we keep up with regular sessions - Sundays or Fridays when there's no Star Wars seem to be the best. But maybe Saturdays.
For the Q3 2009 Campaign I'd like to go with a swashbuckling 7th Sea type game using the Savage Worlds rules. Not sure if I'd actually use the 7th Sea setting or just go with a more real-world type setting (with a healthy dose of unreality in there as well). Suggestions welcome.
Friday, April 17, 2009
My Blog
Some of you (now that its been established that more than just me check out the blog) have expressed interest in viewing the project I've been working on recently. It is a record of my attempt to read the various religious texts of the world to get a better understanding of the world's faiths and beliefs. While I would greatly appreciate any interest or feedback, my writing is mainly for my own practice and is probably fairly boring for anyone but me. I make no pretenses to any great insights into the spiritual, or even good writing. Oh well!
http://spoonbridge.wordpress.com
http://spoonbridge.wordpress.com
The Journal of Theodore Wilson Burns, vol 2.
3/18/1928
Out of the blue, I received a call from George Carrington today! I knew that our link was too strong to be ignored. It seems that he needs my help, as strange phenomena not unlike that at those at Carrington’s home have befallen one of his friends. I eagerly told him I would do what I could to help and will meet him in a week at his office in New York. I cannot wait to see what awaits me next in my explorations! Why, he said he would even pay me for my troubles!
3/20/1928
Disappointment mingled with confusion today as I write on the train to the featureless interior of America. My trip to New York failed to bring Cecelia out of hiding (is there someone else?) and Carrington’s “assignment” for me seems frustratingly vague. I do not know what I should do. His college acquaintance has made his fortune through gold mining with New World Industries in the mineral rich regions of South Dakota but his operations have recently come under some mysterious hardships. A terrible disease has stricken some of the miners and a rash of inexplicable suicides have claimed the lives of others, as well as the breakdown of some of the mines’ equipment, demonstrated by the sudden end of our telephone conversation with him. I admit to being quite fearful of this journey as my constitution is naturally quite susceptible to illness and I am mystified as to what these problems of business have to do with my interest in the supernatural. However, I must keep to my word as a man of honor and student of the unknowable. Perhaps more will be explained upon our arrival in the town of Rapid City, South Dakota tomorrow. Accompanying me are that awful cad Graeme Smythe who weaseled his way into the investigation and Volker Sauer Mucke, who hopes to paint new visions of the South Dakotan badlands. I am sure he will find much inspiration.
3/21/1928
I am so tired I can barely summon up enough energy to write this account. However, sleep has been long in coming after the terrible things I have seen today. After arriving at Rapid City, a genial man by the name of Mr. Wallace, geologist by trade picked us up in his automobile to convey us to the site of the mining operations. Along the way he explained more about the current troubles, including the fact that they are digging in an area long believed sacred by the local Indians.
Upon our arrival, however, chaos had overtaken the area and distraught men ran everywhere. Wallace was quickly informed that Carrington’s friend had been the latest victim of the odd string of deaths surrounding the mine and we all were ushered to the mine’s administration office. Never will I forgot the scene of horror there! The man was struck through the head with a mining pick! Though I had never witnessed such a scene before, I believe I handled it like a true detective and impressed even the local sheriff, a man right out of the Western pulps. He blamed the murder upon the Indians, some whom resisted the sale of their lands to the company. Through his deductive skills, (of which I had never suspected) Mr. Smythe was able to determine the man died of self-inflicted wound. How horrific! How could a man do such a thing to himself? Also, there were some strange diagrams that seem to have no know symbolism to me. Finally, we visited the infirmary were this disease was taking a terrible toll on the miners; never have I seen such terrible symptoms and I hope and pray it is not contagious. The local doctor was at his wits end, knowing neither the cause nor the cure for the wasting malady. My only guess is that it has something to do with the mines as most were involved in a tragic accident several months before. Perhaps their guilt for surviving is causing their spirtual malaise to effect their bodies. That is my only conjecture. Tomorrow we explore the mine that was the site of the incident.
3/22/1928
What a terrible day! The weather is cold and windy here in the Black Hills, not at all conductive to my well-being. I slept terribly, wracked by horrid dreams I cannot recall. It must be the pall of sorrow over the mines. The food is vile and the miners are not at all men of whom conversation means much, which is understandable given the situation. And to make matters worse, I sprained my ankle while climbing into that damned, dank mine shaft! It hurts terribly, but not as bad as the headache that has plagued me all day as well. The only thing we found in the mine, site of the accident was another mysterious diagram, almost mathematical in its precision. The sciences have never been my area of expertise, and neither it would seem with Mr. Smyhe or Volker. We can make nothing of it. Time to go to sleep tonight, if I can sleep in this stiff, uncomfortable cot.
I have gone over the mine logs recently, though I am no businessman. Only one thing of note; they are mining a lot of some ore called “pitchblende” but they are not shipping it out. What is it used for, I wonder?
3/23/1928- morning
An even worse dream last night, and my headache has increased to a nearly unbearable pounding behind my temples. The dream was full of menace and I fear something bad is going to happen, dreams are very prophetic. This one was awful, I was in a pit filled with disgusting beetles and large buzzing insects said horrible things to me before I was buried in bugs. Truly unspeakable! I will think no more on it. Today I have suggested that we visit the local Indians, though the sheriff and miners contend that they are hostile and violent to all whites. This is their ancient land, so I feel that they may have important insights to impart upon us if we only but listen. Primitive peoples, have, I feel kept closer to the ancient ideals of the spirit then we scientific civilized men.
Later
Unbelievable! I had no idea of the horrors that lurk under the Black Hills! The Sioux medicine man has explained all but it is up to us to stop this terrible infestation. The miners do not know what they have awoken; terrible evil spirits that science cannot account for!
We trekked out to the reservation where the local Indians live. None of us was skilled riders but horseback was the only way to get to the Sioux village and none of the more experienced outdoorsmen would risk the wrath of the Indians. As we were nearing our destination, a few of the younger men brandished rifles and threatened us. They must have thought us a sorry sight when all three of us tumbled off our horses at the first sign of trouble. I tried to calm them but they were enraged, shouting at us “company men” to get out of their land. Just as things started to look bad, another man appeared on horseback, the Indian sheriff and ordered the ruffians off. He had heard of our activities at the mine and wanted us to meet the local medicine man. I was intrigued, despite my pounding head and wanted to meet this wise man as soon as possible. I was sure he would have great spiritual insights, and I was proven correct in my assumptions.
He asked us to sit in a circle inside of his sweat lodge and told us the story of the evil spirits that dwelt beneath the hills (I shall have to record the full story in another account). The miners awoke them from their sleep and now they were active in the world of men once more. And then something happened that I can barely recall, let alone write. I shall do my best to record it. The medicine man began a chant and a dance unlike any I have seen before. Then, I do not know how to render it in words, my head exploded. It felt like that at least. When I came to, he was stomping on some horrible insect upon the floor of the hut. It was an evil spirit, called Shan that had dwelt inside my very mind, twisting me to its foul bidding. Mr. Smythe and Volker both looked physically ill at the scene. The holy man told us that many at the camp were host to such evil parasites and taught us the song to combat them.
We returned to the camp and set about trying to force any Shan from Mr. Wallace if he was infected by one. In an awkward scene we convinced him to let us show him what we learned, dancing and singing the song we had learned. Unfortunately, we did it incorrectly and had to do it again before Mr. Wallace could get away. The next time it was flawless and, to everyone’s shock a Shan spirit burst out of Wallace’s forehead (without leaving a mark) and the man fainted away. The creature was hideous, glowing a strange blue with many legs and eyes, it flew around at great speeds. Volker and Graeme were horrified and shot at the bug with their pistols, but it was too quick for them. Finally, someone managed to smash it with a broken chair leg. After the sound of gunfire and Mr. Wallace’s state of unconsciousness, many miners were suspicious of us. We tried to explain that there were snakes, but it seemed that many did not believe us. However, they did not question us further and we all retired to bed, which is where I am reading this now. I am exhausted, but almost too frightened to sleep. What if the shan come back and get in my head again.
3/25/1928
I am writing this on the train back east towards home. Graeme and Volker are both feeling quite ill, and I fear they may have been effected by the disease that had stricken many of the miners, and I only hope that they recover. However, I am sure that spiritually they feel much better, as I do, for we have put an end to the terrors of the Black Hills.
The night we drove the shan from Mr. Wallace, we heard some activity in the camp late at night. Investigating we found a group of miners secretly transporting supplies. Following them surreptitiously we discovered that they traveled to a hidden mine entrance about a mile from the camp. There they unloaded a lot of ore- must be that pitchblende. In the morning we explored the place and found that it went deep into the mountainside, a mile or more underground. There we found the home of the shan, a huge glowing pyramid structure. It filled me with terror and I suddenly realized the illness of the other miners; this place had emanations that were not healthy for humans and I insisted we leave that instant. As we were escaping we encountered several of the terrible shan spirits! They attacked us and one struck me with a ray of light in projected, incapacitating me with terrible pain, worse then any I have ever felt! Fortunately Volker and Graeme were able to avail themselves of the heavy shovels we brought with a crushed the evil insects. Escaping from the horrid pit, we collapsed the mine entrance with the ample dynamite left nearby. How convenient! Returning to camp, we spoke to Mr. Wallace who had recovered by that time and he informed us that, after the explosion several miners all collapsed (each part of the secret errand of the previous night) and some claimed they saw some kind of insect nearby. Our measures were enough to force the shan from their hosts, but I fear they are still out there. Thankfully we are on the way home now.
4/10/1928
I have received word from the New York hospital that both Volker and Mr. Smythe have recovered from their inexplicable illnesses, though it seems that both have temporarily lost all of their hair. Radiation poisoning they called it. Very rare, very mysterious!
Out of the blue, I received a call from George Carrington today! I knew that our link was too strong to be ignored. It seems that he needs my help, as strange phenomena not unlike that at those at Carrington’s home have befallen one of his friends. I eagerly told him I would do what I could to help and will meet him in a week at his office in New York. I cannot wait to see what awaits me next in my explorations! Why, he said he would even pay me for my troubles!
3/20/1928
Disappointment mingled with confusion today as I write on the train to the featureless interior of America. My trip to New York failed to bring Cecelia out of hiding (is there someone else?) and Carrington’s “assignment” for me seems frustratingly vague. I do not know what I should do. His college acquaintance has made his fortune through gold mining with New World Industries in the mineral rich regions of South Dakota but his operations have recently come under some mysterious hardships. A terrible disease has stricken some of the miners and a rash of inexplicable suicides have claimed the lives of others, as well as the breakdown of some of the mines’ equipment, demonstrated by the sudden end of our telephone conversation with him. I admit to being quite fearful of this journey as my constitution is naturally quite susceptible to illness and I am mystified as to what these problems of business have to do with my interest in the supernatural. However, I must keep to my word as a man of honor and student of the unknowable. Perhaps more will be explained upon our arrival in the town of Rapid City, South Dakota tomorrow. Accompanying me are that awful cad Graeme Smythe who weaseled his way into the investigation and Volker Sauer Mucke, who hopes to paint new visions of the South Dakotan badlands. I am sure he will find much inspiration.
3/21/1928
I am so tired I can barely summon up enough energy to write this account. However, sleep has been long in coming after the terrible things I have seen today. After arriving at Rapid City, a genial man by the name of Mr. Wallace, geologist by trade picked us up in his automobile to convey us to the site of the mining operations. Along the way he explained more about the current troubles, including the fact that they are digging in an area long believed sacred by the local Indians.
Upon our arrival, however, chaos had overtaken the area and distraught men ran everywhere. Wallace was quickly informed that Carrington’s friend had been the latest victim of the odd string of deaths surrounding the mine and we all were ushered to the mine’s administration office. Never will I forgot the scene of horror there! The man was struck through the head with a mining pick! Though I had never witnessed such a scene before, I believe I handled it like a true detective and impressed even the local sheriff, a man right out of the Western pulps. He blamed the murder upon the Indians, some whom resisted the sale of their lands to the company. Through his deductive skills, (of which I had never suspected) Mr. Smythe was able to determine the man died of self-inflicted wound. How horrific! How could a man do such a thing to himself? Also, there were some strange diagrams that seem to have no know symbolism to me. Finally, we visited the infirmary were this disease was taking a terrible toll on the miners; never have I seen such terrible symptoms and I hope and pray it is not contagious. The local doctor was at his wits end, knowing neither the cause nor the cure for the wasting malady. My only guess is that it has something to do with the mines as most were involved in a tragic accident several months before. Perhaps their guilt for surviving is causing their spirtual malaise to effect their bodies. That is my only conjecture. Tomorrow we explore the mine that was the site of the incident.
3/22/1928
What a terrible day! The weather is cold and windy here in the Black Hills, not at all conductive to my well-being. I slept terribly, wracked by horrid dreams I cannot recall. It must be the pall of sorrow over the mines. The food is vile and the miners are not at all men of whom conversation means much, which is understandable given the situation. And to make matters worse, I sprained my ankle while climbing into that damned, dank mine shaft! It hurts terribly, but not as bad as the headache that has plagued me all day as well. The only thing we found in the mine, site of the accident was another mysterious diagram, almost mathematical in its precision. The sciences have never been my area of expertise, and neither it would seem with Mr. Smyhe or Volker. We can make nothing of it. Time to go to sleep tonight, if I can sleep in this stiff, uncomfortable cot.
I have gone over the mine logs recently, though I am no businessman. Only one thing of note; they are mining a lot of some ore called “pitchblende” but they are not shipping it out. What is it used for, I wonder?
3/23/1928- morning
An even worse dream last night, and my headache has increased to a nearly unbearable pounding behind my temples. The dream was full of menace and I fear something bad is going to happen, dreams are very prophetic. This one was awful, I was in a pit filled with disgusting beetles and large buzzing insects said horrible things to me before I was buried in bugs. Truly unspeakable! I will think no more on it. Today I have suggested that we visit the local Indians, though the sheriff and miners contend that they are hostile and violent to all whites. This is their ancient land, so I feel that they may have important insights to impart upon us if we only but listen. Primitive peoples, have, I feel kept closer to the ancient ideals of the spirit then we scientific civilized men.
Later
Unbelievable! I had no idea of the horrors that lurk under the Black Hills! The Sioux medicine man has explained all but it is up to us to stop this terrible infestation. The miners do not know what they have awoken; terrible evil spirits that science cannot account for!
We trekked out to the reservation where the local Indians live. None of us was skilled riders but horseback was the only way to get to the Sioux village and none of the more experienced outdoorsmen would risk the wrath of the Indians. As we were nearing our destination, a few of the younger men brandished rifles and threatened us. They must have thought us a sorry sight when all three of us tumbled off our horses at the first sign of trouble. I tried to calm them but they were enraged, shouting at us “company men” to get out of their land. Just as things started to look bad, another man appeared on horseback, the Indian sheriff and ordered the ruffians off. He had heard of our activities at the mine and wanted us to meet the local medicine man. I was intrigued, despite my pounding head and wanted to meet this wise man as soon as possible. I was sure he would have great spiritual insights, and I was proven correct in my assumptions.
He asked us to sit in a circle inside of his sweat lodge and told us the story of the evil spirits that dwelt beneath the hills (I shall have to record the full story in another account). The miners awoke them from their sleep and now they were active in the world of men once more. And then something happened that I can barely recall, let alone write. I shall do my best to record it. The medicine man began a chant and a dance unlike any I have seen before. Then, I do not know how to render it in words, my head exploded. It felt like that at least. When I came to, he was stomping on some horrible insect upon the floor of the hut. It was an evil spirit, called Shan that had dwelt inside my very mind, twisting me to its foul bidding. Mr. Smythe and Volker both looked physically ill at the scene. The holy man told us that many at the camp were host to such evil parasites and taught us the song to combat them.
We returned to the camp and set about trying to force any Shan from Mr. Wallace if he was infected by one. In an awkward scene we convinced him to let us show him what we learned, dancing and singing the song we had learned. Unfortunately, we did it incorrectly and had to do it again before Mr. Wallace could get away. The next time it was flawless and, to everyone’s shock a Shan spirit burst out of Wallace’s forehead (without leaving a mark) and the man fainted away. The creature was hideous, glowing a strange blue with many legs and eyes, it flew around at great speeds. Volker and Graeme were horrified and shot at the bug with their pistols, but it was too quick for them. Finally, someone managed to smash it with a broken chair leg. After the sound of gunfire and Mr. Wallace’s state of unconsciousness, many miners were suspicious of us. We tried to explain that there were snakes, but it seemed that many did not believe us. However, they did not question us further and we all retired to bed, which is where I am reading this now. I am exhausted, but almost too frightened to sleep. What if the shan come back and get in my head again.
3/25/1928
I am writing this on the train back east towards home. Graeme and Volker are both feeling quite ill, and I fear they may have been effected by the disease that had stricken many of the miners, and I only hope that they recover. However, I am sure that spiritually they feel much better, as I do, for we have put an end to the terrors of the Black Hills.
The night we drove the shan from Mr. Wallace, we heard some activity in the camp late at night. Investigating we found a group of miners secretly transporting supplies. Following them surreptitiously we discovered that they traveled to a hidden mine entrance about a mile from the camp. There they unloaded a lot of ore- must be that pitchblende. In the morning we explored the place and found that it went deep into the mountainside, a mile or more underground. There we found the home of the shan, a huge glowing pyramid structure. It filled me with terror and I suddenly realized the illness of the other miners; this place had emanations that were not healthy for humans and I insisted we leave that instant. As we were escaping we encountered several of the terrible shan spirits! They attacked us and one struck me with a ray of light in projected, incapacitating me with terrible pain, worse then any I have ever felt! Fortunately Volker and Graeme were able to avail themselves of the heavy shovels we brought with a crushed the evil insects. Escaping from the horrid pit, we collapsed the mine entrance with the ample dynamite left nearby. How convenient! Returning to camp, we spoke to Mr. Wallace who had recovered by that time and he informed us that, after the explosion several miners all collapsed (each part of the secret errand of the previous night) and some claimed they saw some kind of insect nearby. Our measures were enough to force the shan from their hosts, but I fear they are still out there. Thankfully we are on the way home now.
4/10/1928
I have received word from the New York hospital that both Volker and Mr. Smythe have recovered from their inexplicable illnesses, though it seems that both have temporarily lost all of their hair. Radiation poisoning they called it. Very rare, very mysterious!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
New Class: The Lord
Been thinking a lot about the Lord class, which is the new Charisma-based class I've been tinkering. It's going to have a medium base attack bonus, which relates to a d8 HD. Not a slouch in combat, but not its primary focus.
Instead the primary focus would be on practices. Practices are associated with spheres, and spheres are tied to one of the Charisma-based skills. Diplomacy, Intimidate, Perform, and the others (which for some reason I can't think of right now). I'm thinking the lord will have access to a certain number of practices based on level, and utilizing the practice will require a skill check of the appropriate sphere skill.
I'm thinking most of the practices will be support level, very similar to the bard abilities, but there should be focused attacks in there as well. With a sphere for the Perform skill I'm really thinking the lord will ENTIRELY replace the specific and focused bard base class. The bard would then become a prestige class, which has always felt more appropriate to me.
Just musings at this point, but I'm starting to come up with concrete details in a document. A good start, I think.
Instead the primary focus would be on practices. Practices are associated with spheres, and spheres are tied to one of the Charisma-based skills. Diplomacy, Intimidate, Perform, and the others (which for some reason I can't think of right now). I'm thinking the lord will have access to a certain number of practices based on level, and utilizing the practice will require a skill check of the appropriate sphere skill.
I'm thinking most of the practices will be support level, very similar to the bard abilities, but there should be focused attacks in there as well. With a sphere for the Perform skill I'm really thinking the lord will ENTIRELY replace the specific and focused bard base class. The bard would then become a prestige class, which has always felt more appropriate to me.
Just musings at this point, but I'm starting to come up with concrete details in a document. A good start, I think.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Working on New/Tweaked Classes
I'm going to start earnest work on developing the new classes that I see fulfill system niches in Pathfinder RPG. These include the filch, priest, lord, knight, shaper, and warlock. At the same time the following classes will need to be tweaked: cleric, wizard, sorcerer, and bard. The largest piece of this update is the brand new class based on Charisma - lord. I'm thinking its abilities will be based on the Star Wars noble but more useful, and based around spheres. Each sphere would be associated with a Charisma-based skill, giving each lord a focus.
Here are the specific tweaks to the existing classes I'm thinking about right now:
* The paladin goes away and the cleric steps up to replace it more or less. The cleric would have the good base attack bonus progression and higher hit dice, and fewer spells. I'm thinking a progression of every three levels instead of every other level. So 1st level spells from 1st through 3rd level, 2nd level spells from 4th to 6th, etc. This caps out at 7th level spells at 19th level. Also looking at the domains and building special abilities based off of those - Pathfinder RPG already started down this path.
* The wizard will be tweaked to include the overcast ability we played around with in the Age of Worms campaign along with the abilities from Pathfinder RPG. Not too much change, actually.
* The sorcerer is almost a new class. It'll be a wizard/fighter combo class, sort of, but I'll look at the other variants already presented in existing splatbooks - duskblade comes to mind out of the PHB2, but I know there were others (spellsword out of Complete Warrior?). Something along those lines.
* I'm thinking the bard loses arcane spellcasting abilities, and instead gains something similar to the lord's sphere focus. Not sure at this point, I think the details will fall out from the work done on the lord class.
Some of the new classes already exist in one form or another and I'll just be tweaking them to work with the Pathfinder RPG. This includes the knight, which appears in PHB2 - that might be a straight conversion to be honest. I'll need to give the class an overview to check.
Warlock is going to be pretty different from what's presented in Complete Arcane, and will be based more on the 4E warlock. Someone who trafficks in otherwordly powers, and gains their powers from pacts. Emphasis on summoning? Probably, maybe.
The shaper is going to be an interesting class, and will be more or less a flexi-class based on the polymorph spell and the psionic powers contained within the biokinesis discipline. More details to follow.
Here are the specific tweaks to the existing classes I'm thinking about right now:
* The paladin goes away and the cleric steps up to replace it more or less. The cleric would have the good base attack bonus progression and higher hit dice, and fewer spells. I'm thinking a progression of every three levels instead of every other level. So 1st level spells from 1st through 3rd level, 2nd level spells from 4th to 6th, etc. This caps out at 7th level spells at 19th level. Also looking at the domains and building special abilities based off of those - Pathfinder RPG already started down this path.
* The wizard will be tweaked to include the overcast ability we played around with in the Age of Worms campaign along with the abilities from Pathfinder RPG. Not too much change, actually.
* The sorcerer is almost a new class. It'll be a wizard/fighter combo class, sort of, but I'll look at the other variants already presented in existing splatbooks - duskblade comes to mind out of the PHB2, but I know there were others (spellsword out of Complete Warrior?). Something along those lines.
* I'm thinking the bard loses arcane spellcasting abilities, and instead gains something similar to the lord's sphere focus. Not sure at this point, I think the details will fall out from the work done on the lord class.
Some of the new classes already exist in one form or another and I'll just be tweaking them to work with the Pathfinder RPG. This includes the knight, which appears in PHB2 - that might be a straight conversion to be honest. I'll need to give the class an overview to check.
Warlock is going to be pretty different from what's presented in Complete Arcane, and will be based more on the 4E warlock. Someone who trafficks in otherwordly powers, and gains their powers from pacts. Emphasis on summoning? Probably, maybe.
The shaper is going to be an interesting class, and will be more or less a flexi-class based on the polymorph spell and the psionic powers contained within the biokinesis discipline. More details to follow.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
D&D? Done? I Think Not!
I love D&D, and I've got a lot of books on my shelf to prove it. I don't want to stop playing D&D just because the new edition is crap and the number of players have dwindled to smaller number. I say thee nay!
Although the title of this post is misleading. Instead of D&D 3.5 I'd like to go with Pathfinder RPG, which is also known as D&D 3.75. With the Age of Worms campaign I used a few of the ideas presented in Pathfinder, including the skill system which didn't really work, but for the new "thing" I'm going with Pathfinder completely. And not just with the system - the setting as well.
More details at www.paizo.com, but in essence I'm going to run a home game of the Pathfinder Society mega-campaign. This is similar to the RPGA, but it's organized by Paizo with fewer restrictions. There are still a few things I'd change, including using the Pathfinder RPG rules rather than the D&D 3.5 rules, but the changes aren't that major.
I'm going to pick up the Pathfinder Campaign Setting, which has more details in it on the world of Golarion, and sometime soon I'm going to start up a more or less free-for-all campaign. Probably on Mondays, maybe Sunday evenings ... ? The hook for the campaign will be the Pathfinder Society.
Gotta go. Bacon popcorn calls.
Although the title of this post is misleading. Instead of D&D 3.5 I'd like to go with Pathfinder RPG, which is also known as D&D 3.75. With the Age of Worms campaign I used a few of the ideas presented in Pathfinder, including the skill system which didn't really work, but for the new "thing" I'm going with Pathfinder completely. And not just with the system - the setting as well.
More details at www.paizo.com, but in essence I'm going to run a home game of the Pathfinder Society mega-campaign. This is similar to the RPGA, but it's organized by Paizo with fewer restrictions. There are still a few things I'd change, including using the Pathfinder RPG rules rather than the D&D 3.5 rules, but the changes aren't that major.
I'm going to pick up the Pathfinder Campaign Setting, which has more details in it on the world of Golarion, and sometime soon I'm going to start up a more or less free-for-all campaign. Probably on Mondays, maybe Sunday evenings ... ? The hook for the campaign will be the Pathfinder Society.
Gotta go. Bacon popcorn calls.
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