Spes Magna Games

So, I was plussing with my Google, and I saw a link for this blogpost by Dyson Logos. I read it. I thought, “Win a Dyson Logos map, and all I gotta do is write about how awesome Dyson is. Nifty!”

Why Dyson Logos is Nifty: Reason the First

The maps. Duh.

I’ve talked about Dyson Logos’s excellent maps here before. Examples. I’ve used several of Dyson’s maps for games, sometimes impromptu-ly. You know how it is. The players’ characters go into an unmapped part of the adventure, and you’re faced with a choice: tell them they can’t go that way, make up a map as you go long, or use one of Dyson’s maps.

Heck, some of Dyson’s maps come with complete adventures. You could, for instance, accept the Challenge of the Frog Idol.

Why Dyson Logos is Nifty: Reason the Second

This is kind of a subdivision of Reason the First. A Dyson Logos map is one of the few things that makes me look better. Don’t think that’s possible? Check out that picture to the right. Cover up the map with your thumb or whatever. I look good. Uncover the map. I look better. Amazing!

Why Dyson Logos is Nifty: Reason the Third

Random tables. Lots of them, for use with “for D&D-style fantasy games” (to quote Dyson Logos). They’re some goodies here. I’m particularly fond of Dragon Breath and More Dragon Breaths. There are also a few random tables for use with non-D&D-style games.

Why Dyson Logos is Nifty: Reason the Fourth

Books! Available via Lulu and RPGNow, you can get your hands on both Dyson’s Delves (full of excellent maps) and Magical Theorems & Dark Pacts (full of OSR spellcasting goodness).

Why Dyson Logos is Nifty: Reason the Fifth

Geodesic Gnomes. No, seriously. This game rocks. Not only is the title a delicious pun, it’s also a wonderful example of rules-lite free RPGs. Download it today. Run it this weekend.

If you’ve never checked out Dyson Logos, you now have five reasons to. Click those links and be astonished.

Tags: Dyson Logos

Are your players unimpressed by goblins? Do they yawn and roll their eyes when these common monsters show up in your game? Then catch your players off guard with That’s a Goblin!?.

This Old School supplement presents 23 goblin mutations, 15 fey goblin abilities, 3 goblin subspecies, and 6 goblin tactical specialties. Mix and match to create scores of different goblins!

That’s a Goblin!? also includes Tributary of Terror, a mini-adventure taking place within Reyr’s Well, a detailed fantasy hamlet suitable for just about any campaign world.

Free stuff on Google docs! Huzzah!

The Accordian Files RPG (Playtest Version)
* The Accordian Files Player Book
* The Accordian Files Discord Master Book

For Risus: The Anything RPG
* It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Whimsy World Fantasy Setting

For Sci-Fi Gaming
* Random Elements for Sci-Fi Technobabble

For Fantasy Games
* That’s a Goblin!? (23 random goblin mutations for Old School fantasy)
* The Lure of the Jade Throne (1-Page Dungeon)
* The Elemental Mosaic (A magical trap room for Pathfinder)

Tags: free stuff

The Gaatji (gah’-ti-jee) dwell in the same watery environs as the Fombui, but unlike those strange, peaceful creatures, the Gaatj are fearsome worshippers of chaos. These monsters build crude villages out of rocks and coral, constructing their squat buildings so that they clump together, interconnected and maze-like. A Gaatj appears to be a bizarre sort of squid, but with two “feathered” tentacles and numerous lateral fins projecting from either side of its oblong body. Its bulbous eyes project from the skull on squat stalks. An adult Gaatj measures between 5-7 feet long from skull to tail with tentacles a foot or so shorter than overall body length.

A Gaatj attacks with its tentacles. After a tentacle hits, it automatically does 1d8 points of damage per round instead of the initial 1d4. Also, there is a 20% chance that the tentacle pinions one of the victim’s limbs (roll randomly for left/right arms and legs to see which is immobilized). Gaatji cast both Magic-User spells (3/1) and Cleric spells (2). They are also vulnerable to electricity-based attacks, suffering a -2 on their saving throws and taking +25% damage from such effects.

Swords & Wizardry

Hit Dice: 3+3
Armor Class: 6 [13]
Attacks: 2 tentacles (1d4) (see below)
Saving Throw: 14
Special: Constriction, spells, vulnerable to electricity
Move: 3/12 (swimming)
Alignment: Chaos
Challenge Level/XP: 6/400

Tags: monsters, Swords & Wizardry

Well, the Chance Family Vacation 2013 to Canyon Lake, Texas, has ended with no casualties. Huzzah! During the week, my son Christopher (a.k.a. Giant Boy) and I took a few hours to playtest Sine Nomine Publishing‘s Solo Heroes. Kevin Crawford has authored another winner. Here’s the short version: If you want to run old-school fantasy one-on-one, download these rules.

Here’s part 1 of the review, where we talk a bit about the PDF:

Here’s part 2 of the review, where we talk about how the rules worked during game play using the short adventure included in the PDF.

Tags: game play, Sine Nomine Publishing, Summer Vacation