Spes Magna Games

If you’ve still not checked out Dyson Logos’s excellent maps, you owe it to yourself to do so. For example, check this one out.

Doesn’t that just scream awesome? Doesn’t it make you want to use it for a game? The answer to both questions is, “Yes. Yes, it does.”

In keeping with the second affirmative, I cobbled together a short, one-page Swords & Wizardry adventure based on Dyson’s Smith chart map. You can download it as a PDF by clicking on the picture that accompanies these words. Perhaps “adventure” is too big a word for what I’ve done, but it could at least be a part of a larger adventure.

By the way, if you dig Dyson’s work, check out his goodies over at Lulu and RPGNow.

Tags: dungeon crawls, Dyson Logos, One-Page Dungeon, Swords & Wizardry

The holidays are often a time that mess with my gaming schedule, which kind of bugs me. Back when I didn’t have a wife, children, a mortgage, et cetera, the holidays were a time when there was more rather than less gaming. To help remedy this situation, I’m hosting two games in the next couple of weeks, more or less open to whomever RSVPs before I end up with a group larger than will fit in my house.

On November 29, we’re going to play 3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars, which is published by Box Ninja Games. Here’s the exciting hook text for “Stormbringer Coming!”:

“Lissen up, troopers! We’re headin’ from the fryin’ pan into the biggest, hottest [expletive deleted] fire you’ve ever seen. The bugs got us by the [expletive deleted], but, [expletive deleted] it, we’ve got one chance to pull our [expletive deleted] out of the grinder. Squad Alpha, you’re going to steal a shuttle, ride it up to Stormbringer, and then nuke the bugs from orbit. The rest of us are going to run interference. We’re all dead anyways, but we’re sure as [expletive deleted] gonna take these [expletive deleted] down with us! Hoo-ah!”

About a week later, on December 7, we’re going to play Barbarians of Lemuria, which is published by Beyond Belief Games. Here’s the exciting hook text for “Battle Axis”:

You’ve faced the horrific hordes of evil before, but never like this. Thunder sticks? Rolling golems? Metal wagons hauling away women and children? You might not understand much about what’s going on, but it’s time to cleave some skulls and send some of these “Not Zees” screaming into the pits of hell!

So, how does your gaming play out over the holidays?

P.S. Speaking of holidays and gaming, did you know that you can get my A Medieval Holiday for $0.75 with this special discount code (which expires after December 15)?

Tags: 3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars, Barbarians of Lemuria, Holidays

Ever had one those game days where not enough people show up to play? Heck, sometimes even missing one player is missing enough to make continuing your current campaign difficult. Other days, maybe people are just kind of tired of the same game with the same characters, or perhaps you just kept putting off session prep until it’s too late.

Enter Metro Gnomes! It’s different, and it’s great for a one-shot, beer-and-pretzels sort of experience. All you need to play is this adventure, a copy of the free Geodesic Gnomes roleplaying game by Dyson Logos, and an assortment of d8s. Toss in a couple of pencils, some beverages, and some munchies, and you’re good to go for some gaming glory.

But what is Metro Gnomes? Read on:

You are a filthy, disease-ridden gnome trying to eke out the most meager of existences in the polluted crawlspaces of the city. You are all members of the same clan, living off the grid in St. Louis, one of the dome-covered cities that was constructed after the ecological collapse of the biosphere in the 23rd century. This adventure tells one of your family’s stories. Maybe the last of your family’s stories. It all starts after after a pleasant cook-out is interrupted by rude neighbors and a nuclear disaster.

Get your copy today for a mere $0.75 with this special discount code.

Tags: Dyson Logos, Geodesic Gnomes

When Andrej Cherno married outcast harridan Vilma, the newlyweds dedicated themselves to Seskoe*, the goddess of winter, witches, and creation. Andrej and Vilma have three daughters: Mária, the eldest; Anastázia, the middle girl; and Dorota, the toddler. All members of the Cherno family thrive on murder and terror. Andrej and Vilma plan atrocities as creative undertakings designed to both honor Seskoe and encourage the twisted development of their wicked daughters.

In order to protect their identities, the Chernos wear bizarre disguises when on their family outings. These outings include such foul deeds as arson, murder, abductions, and acts of terrorism. Andrej and Vilma are careful to ensure that their daughters all have a chance to contribute to the family’s activities.

Seskoe has granted special powers to the Chernos as rewards for their service:

• Andrej’s melee attacks are vampiric, inflicting an additional 1d4 points of damage. Andrej gains one-half of this additional damage as hit points, healing his injuries and even permitting him to increase his hit points beyond their normal amount (up to a maximum of 44 hit points). Andrej’s bonus hit points fade at a rate of 1d4 points every turn.

• Vilma can use Charm Person, Darkness 15-Foot Radius, Invisibility, Polymorph Self, Sleep, and Suggestion once per day each. Also once per day, she can summon an 8-HD ice elemental.

Ice Elemental: HD 8; AC 3 [16]; Atk 1 strike (2d8 plus Slow); Move 9; Save 8; AL N; CL/XP 9/1100; Special: immune to cold and non-magic weapons.

• Mária can transform herself into a cloud of chilly mist. In this form, she can fly, albeit slowly (speed 3), as well as flow through small spaces.

• Anastázia’s gaze paralyzes those who meet it. Her own family members are immune to Anastázia’s gaze.

• Dorota can backstab for double damage like a thief. She hides in shadows and move silently with a 75% chance of success.

*Seskoe turns water to ice, rain to snow, and sorrow to callousness. She is served by witches who seek to swallow life’s warmth. At the same time, Seskoe represents creation, but devoid of the light of inspiration. She creates without originality or love for her creations.

For Swords & Wizardry:

Andrej
Hit Dice: 5+4 (26 hit points)
Armor Class: 4 [15]
Attacks: 1 weapon (1d6 plus 1d4 vampirism)
Saving Throw: 12
Special: Vampirism
Move: 12
Alignment: Chaos
Challenge Level/XP: 6/400

Vilma
Hit Dice: 5+4 (22 hit points)
Armor Class: 4 [15]
Attacks: 1 weapon (1d8)
Saving Throw: 12
Special: Magic use, regenerate 1 hp/round
Move: 12
Alignment: Chaos
Challenge Level/XP: 7/600

Mária
Hit Dice: 4+3 (20 hit points)
Armor Class: 5 [14]
Attacks: 1 weapon (1d6)
Saving Throw: 13
Special: Gaseous form
Move: 12
Alignment: Chaos
Challenge Level/XP: 5/240

Anastázia
Hit Dice: 3+2 (16 hit points)
Armor Class: 6 [13]
Attacks: 1 weapon (1d6)
Saving Throw: 14
Special: Freezing gaze
Move: 12
Alignment: Chaos
Challenge Level/XP: 4/120

Dorota
Hit Dice: 2+1 (10 hit points)
Armor Class: 7 [12]
Attacks: 1 weapon (1d4)
Saving Throw: 16
Special: Backstab x2, stealth
Move: 12
Alignment: Chaos
Challenge Level/XP: 3/60

Tags: horror, monsters, Swords & Wizardry

When I started Spes Magna Games back in 2009, I also started Quid Novi?, a twice-monthly e-mail newsletter of gaming goodness that eventually became a monthly PDF of gaming goodness which has now fallen by the wayside. The Quid Novi? Collection includes the 10 individual PDFs as originally published.

About 80% of the content in the Quid Novi? Collection is for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. You get two short adventures, and curses, diseases, magic items, haunts, monsters, giant lilypads, spells, and a Psionics domain for clerics. The other 20% of the collection was written for Old School gaming, and includes two short adventures as well as curses, magic items, prismatic mists, monsters, deadly mushrooms, and spells

Caveat emptor: If you were a Quid Novi? subscriber, you’ve got no reason to buy this collection. You already received all of these PDFs for free. The zipped file for sale includes 10 separate, bookmarked PDFs.

With this special discount code for DriveThruRPG, you can get The Quid Novi? Collection for $1.50, half off its regular price.

Tags: Old School gaming, Pathfinder RPG