A Role Playing Games Blog
Freebies
Victorian & Steampunk Name Generator
2I am terrible when it comes to coming up names for my characters. So whenever possible I make use of random name generators. As I mentioned several times before I am currently waiting for my copy of Airship Pirates to arrive. Alas I don’t know above the setting yet to make plans for a campaign, I already started looking for a tool to help me to create names for NPCs. Luckily I stumbled upon Spencer Rhodes’ Victorian & Steampunk Name Generator.
The web-based generator allows you to generate up to 15 randomly generated male or female names suited for a game set into the Victorian Age (or a Steampunk equivalent). You can choose between the various social classes. I am sure this random name generator will be invaluable for me in the future!
Freebies: Who Watches the Watch Fires (AGE System)
2September 1, 2011
I am truly amazed how much third-party support Green Ronin’s AGE system has been getting lately. There are of course numerous fan supplements, adventures and conversions on the ‘net, but a good portion of support has come from our good friends at Open Design LLC.
The upcoming Midgard Campaign setting will come with full support for that game system, Kobold Quarterly regularly has interesting articles for fans of the system and they recently released a Midgard Bestiary for AGE.
They latest release is “Who Watches the Watch Fires”, a complete free adventure for beginning characters written by Jonathan Roberts and converted to the AGE system by Josh Jarman.
From Weird West to Barbarians of the Future
3August 17, 2011
Today I want to share a couple of things I stumbled upon during the last days.
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Tomb of the Overfiend
Weird West is definitely one of coolest old-school games ever conceived. It’s extremely rules-light, but contains a lot of weird west goodness. Recently Stuart Robertson, creator of that fine game, released a free one-page adventure based on an excellent map by Matt Jackson. And even if you’re not into Weird West you can easily use it for other old-school games as well. - Ashen Stars Theme Music
James Semple who has done several soundtracks for Gumshoe games in the past, has composed a theme music for Robin D. Laws latest game, Ashen Stars. I really hope this is the first sign of a full Ashen Stars soundtrack to come. You can listen to the rather short theme tune here. -
Barbarians of the Future
You probably might already have heard about Barbarians of Lemuria, Simon Washbourne’s Sword & Sorcery RPG. While I haven’t tried the game yet, it’s among the games I have to give a try at least once. Some people actually call it one of the best RPGs of the genre. Obviously the system used in BoL can also be easily be used in other genres. There’s Jabberwocky Productions’ post-apocalyptic setting-expansion Barbarians of the Aftermath for example.
A while back rpg.net forum member Maxwell Luther created a free PDF supplement for BoA that allows players and the GM to experience adventures in the grim-dark future of the Warhammer 40,000 universe (with the serial numbers filed off). If you are interested in both BoA and the WH40K universe, you should definitely give it a look. You can download the 42-paged PDF here. -
Expedition RPG
Fellow RPG blogger Dennis N. Santana has recently released an early playtest edition of his Expedition RPG. I haven’t had time to give it a closer look, but according to Shaun Welch’s playtest reports (part one & part two), he and his players not only had fun with the fast character creation system that allows truly unique character concepts, but also very much enjoyed the combat rules. From what I’ve seen Expedition contains a lot of interesting ideas that set the game apart from the majority of fantasy games. If you’re looking for something new, why don’t you give it a try. It’s free and obviously pretty polished for a game still in its alpha stage.
Freebie: Stars Without Number Sheets
0August 11, 2011
We actually planned to bring you some belated GenCon coverage this week, but as it seems Sunglar has some serious computer problems right now. So I had to look for something cool and interesting to share with you instead. Totally unprepared I checked the feeds I subscribed in Google Reader and stumbled upon a post by John Harper on his blog “The Mighty Atom”. Yes, he’s the same guy who has written Lady Blackbird and a few other cool indie games.
Recently he has discovered Stars Without Number, and since he planned to run a game with it, he just had to create his own custom sheets.
The PDF he created contains not only class sheets for the Expert, Warrior and Psychic, a starship record sheet, planet sheet and faction files. If you’re interested in running that game, you should definitely check out John’s sheets. And while you’re at it, let him know if you like them!
What time is it? Jade Regent time!
0August 1, 2011
I just got an e-mail from Paizo promoting their upcoming Adventure Path, Jade Regent. Curiously I organized my RPGs today (part of the ongoing get the library back into a semblance of normalcy project) and I gave Pathfinder its own very own shelve; before it used to be grouped with all the other D&D editions. Looking over the Pathfinder Adventure Paths I noticed that I won the very first one, Rise of the Runelords (I got the first part at Gen Con when I went for the first time) and then a smattering of issues here and there, mostly when a topic they covered appealed to me.
I am NOT their market for adventure paths. I rarely, if ever, play pre-published adventures. I may read the occasional one for an idea, stealing a map here, a trap there, but let’s just say the last adventure I ran ALMOST straight from the book was an AD&D 2nd edition adventure. Still I find the format Paizo uses intriguing because each adventure installment is accompanied by other gaming material. I have also recently become more interested in Golarion. While I doubt I will ever run a game in that setting, it’s one of those worlds I love reading about for inspiration and just for the sheer fun of it.
One thing I love from all adventure paths is the free Players Guide! Who doesn’t like a freebie! This one is no different. This time around the traits are tied to some key NPCS. The NPCS are very nice and can be used for any campaign. The guide also has rules for caravans. Yes you read that right, caravans… Their statistics, events, job, combat, the idea seemed farfetched at first but for a campaign where the PC will be making the long journey overland to a distant land it seems like a good mechanic to add. I will need to read it better to see how I could put this to use. Interesting!
So if you like adventure paths and are interested in one out of the adventures of Marco Polo, and you want to visit the distant Asian themed lands of Golarion, this Adventure Path may just be up you alley. Me I’m sitting down to read the Player’s Guide. Enjoy…
PS- As I was re-reading this post for typos I noticed I had originally written Rise of the Rune Lords as RIDE of the Runelords… That adventure path would have been very different if the protagonists were a bunch of Harley ridding guys with big beer bellies. Just saying…
New Savage Worlds Test Drive… and more!
0July 22, 2011
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about just how excited I was about the new Savage Worlds Deluxe. When the book was available for pre-order I splurged and ordered the Print+PDF copy with the cards and arranged to pick it up at Gen Con. I downloaded the PFD and have been devouring it. I must say it is not a radical change, and I didn’t expect it to be. Is it perfect? No, but I think it’s an improvement. I really should write a proper review… But I digress.
I want to run a one-shot for my players, and maybe even dare run a game in Gen Con, so I was doing research online about resources available and was pleasantly surprised what I found this: The Wild Hunt
Michael mentioned it on his Free RPG Day post as Pinnacle’s freebie. I knew it was a sample adventure but I had totally missed it also included the latest Savage Worlds Test Drive. (Can you say clueless blogger?). The concept of the Test Drive was actually my first introduction to the Savage Worlds RPG. I was visiting Florida and while shopping at Sci-Fi City I was given one of the older versions of the Test Drive. It intrigued me and it led to my eventual acquisition of the game.
So This latest version of the Test Drive rules with an adventure, characters, standees, handouts, is a GREAT download if you want to learn more about the game, or to hand out to players who you think may be interested. I have been a fan of previous versions, this one is no different.
If you are undecided about the new Savage Worlds Deluxe rules Pinnacle has posted handouts on the Interludes and Chase rules that you can check out. Good times for Savage Worlds fans!
A Wanderer’s Romance now available
4June 30, 2011
SoogaGames and Stargazer Games are proud to announce that Christopher McDowall’s game “A Wanderer’s Romance” is finally available for free from DriveThruRPG. So what’s this game about?
The world began as nothing but ocean. The Origins raised up a million colourful islands, anything larger than a few dozen miles being swallowed by the envious deep. Some of these immaterial beings chose to take a physical form and live in the varied lands they had created, eventually settling into the forms of men and beasts. Our ancestors.
The Origins that did not take physical form paid a great cost. They were left unable to affect their world directly, relying upon influencing men with words and knowledge. Their teachings led to our understanding of elemental balance, the formation of the thousand Legendary Styles and the universal code of combat that define our world today.
You are a great man or woman. An errant trained in both the noble art of combat and in contests of body and mind. Drifting from one island to another, you have your own philosophy on life and the power to enforce it.
A Wanderer’s Romance is a game of martial art duels and tea-making contests set in a world of unnatural islands on an endless sea. It draws on its Wuxia influences but focuses on a character driven game with scope for incredible environments and a true sense of exploration.
Features of the game include:
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A fast, simple and easy to learn system for task resolution that spreads consistently across duels, contests, activities and group tests.
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Dozens of combat styles for characters to learn as well as countless other types of contest they can specialise in.
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A setting outline designed for maximum creative freedom. Every group’s world will be different but will share in similar themes.
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Multiple ways to support your allies from teaching them lessons in defeat and envigorating them through activities to training them in combat styles and preparing tea and food that will balance their elemental forces.
By the way, the beautiful artwork in the game was created by Pavel Elagin and was used with permission. Check out his portfolio for more examples of his art!
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