The Official Magazine of www.rpgcrossing.com
explosive Issue 27 runes Winter 2019
1 Contents
Dungeon Task Master Letter from the Editor 3 Dirkoth Dungeon Crew Charity and Membership Drive, 2019 4 undeadrajib, wodine
Cover Art Behind the Outplay Screen 6 Player Agency 11
Interview with a Winner of Outplay 2019 15
Beatsticks: The Morningstar 17
Chronicles of a Pathfinder 21
Boardgame Review: Legends of Novus 24
Spice up Your Game 27
“A halfling snoozing after Tavern Games 30 holiday feasting.” The cover art for this issue is by JaydenLilith. Helping out at RPGX 35
Artwork Solutions to Tavern Games 38 All other art is Public Domain Images taken from various sources including KarensWhimsy.com, Explosive Runes is the official magazine of Role Playing Games Wikimedia Commons and Crossing (RPGX). It is a non-profit, irregularly published e-zine TheGraphicsFairy.com dedicated to the members and play-by-post gaming of RPGX. Material published herein covers a wide range of role-playing games and is free to the public. Opinions of the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of RPGX, Explosive Runes, or its staff, who are not liable for opinions expressed herein. All rights remain with the individual authors. Use of trademarked game material is used without permission and is not intended as a challenge to ownership status.
Guidelines: Explosive Runes publishes fantasy, horror, and science-fiction role-playing games, or anything related to play-by- post and Role Playing Games Crossing. The magazine also accepts some short stories and fiction, as well as artwork. Anyone is welcome to submit material. There is no word count, but shorter works under 5,000 words are preferred. No payment. All rights remain with the individual authors. PM Admin Dirkoth for more information.
2 Letter from The Editor
You hold on your screen Would you like to past issues) was a reader the latest issue of Explosive showcase your short stories? like you. They enjoyed the Runes. Or, maybe, you We accept them. What issue, and thought it was actually went old school, about your artwork? We will a great idea. Then, they and printed it out to read. be happy to showcase that took one more step... they Either way, this is our too. Want to review a new volunteered. And I am sure, community’s semi-annual game system, or give your if you asked any one of magazine just for you, our twenty cents on how to them (go ahead, PM them. gaming community at Role make X, Y or Z work better They’ll love it), they will tell Playing Games Crossing. in a game? We’ll take that you that they enjoyed the too. work they did, that it made Before you dive into the them feel more involved goodies we have for you This issue happens with the community here, this time, I want to take a because of people like you. and that it was FUN. moment to say that this And, in the future, it will magazine is a labor of love only happen because of you. And after all, we are all from a few, very hard- Either because as a reader, here for Games and FUN, working volunteers. It isn’t you enjoy it and give us right? Why not combine easy to get all this goodness feedback on what you like, both? packed into an issue, and and didn’t, or because you it takes a lot of hard work. take the ultimate step, and Enjoy this issue, and think Do you like what you see? volunteer to help. We need about taking the next step. You can thank the folks you, one way or another. I did. And look where it got who’s names you see in This magazine can’t exist me. I’m not just a reader, I these pages, because they without readers, feedback, am the editor! did that. Would you like to and the dedicated work see something different? of people who were once Speak up, and let us know. readers. Or better yet, JOIN US, and you can create and input the Every one of the gracious exact kind of content you’d people who worked behind like others to see and enjoy. the scenes of this issue (and Dirk
3 charity and membership drive, 2019 by BIRCHED
Starting December 1, and last year was our best RPG Crossing will run its year yet, with a total of $1915 eighth annual fundraiser raised. Can we repeat what for mental health research. we’ve done every year so As in previous years, we far, and make 2019 a new plan to support the Brain record? & Behavior Research Foundation, which is a If you purchase a CS charity “committed to membership as part of this alleviating the suffering drive (for yourself, or as a caused by mental illness gift for another user) you by awarding grants that are also supporting the will lead to advances and continued existence of this breakthroughs in scientific community, which depends research.” primarily on the income from these memberships to As in previous years, pay the bills. there will be rewards both for purchasing full year CS Why this charity? Mental memberships ($5 of each illness directly or indirectly will be donated by RPG affects every one of us both Crossing to the BBRF) and within and outside of the for making direct donations RPG Crossing community. to the charity through our By supporting this charity, team page. Over the past we are supporting better seven years, our community lives for people we care has donated over $6200, about, including the
4 people we game with at Foundation funds benefits page is up. If you’d like to rpgcrossing.com. A US- everyone, everywhere. In arrange donation mapping, based charity was chosen addition, BBR is a highly or you have prizes that because almost two-thirds transparent, accountable you’d like to donate to of our users hail from there; charity with a low participates, please send a it just makes sense to give administrative to donation pm to Birched. as many people as possible ratio (less than 10%). They tax breaks on their direct are a top rated charity Thank you to this great donations. A research-based through Charity Watchdog community! charity was chosen both and Charity Navigator, because we hope that better consistently receiving a For more information about understanding will translate score in the high 80 - 90 %. the Brain & Behavior Research into better lives for those Foundation: go here affected by mental illness Please consider To see last year’s campaign: (including caregivers), and purchasing a Community go here also because knowledge Supporter membership transcends boundaries. in December, or donating This may be a US-based directly to the Brain charity, but the learning the & Behavior Research Brain & Behavior Research Foundation once our team
nearly automatic game How can I purchase a approval, and the warm membership with no feeling of knowing that credit card or PayPal:? FAQ you’ve helped keep the Credit card purchases community going. For a can be made through PayPal more complete run down even without an account What is a Community and chart, please visit the (and if you don’t want an Supporter account? Community Supporter help account, don’t fall for their We are committed to page. attempt to get you to make providing an excellent one after you enter your community to all members, How can I purchase payment information), but Community Supporters a membership for but if that’s not an option, get some perks. Some someone else:? memberships can also be of these are: a mobile If you’d like to buy a CS purchased by cheque/check. style for easier reading membership for a friend, Please send a pm to Birched on smaller devices, more buy one on your account for details. private message space, a and send a pm to Birched larger avatar, extensive -- he will transfer the year Can I make a donation folder management in to the account of your to BBR Foundation games, the Community choosing. Please indicate through the site without Supporter badge, access to the exact username of the buying a membership:? the Community Supporter recipient, and whether Yes. Please donate forum and its games & wish you’d like the gift to be through our campaign with thread & private threads, anonymous. BBR Foundation at this link.
5 Behind the Outplay screen by Wynamoinen
Here on RPGX, we have our annually to the player who competitive badge triad: The best exemplifies, in that Hall of Fame, Iron GM, and year’s competition, all that Outplay. Each is a special we want to see in a player: little reward for excellence. a storyteller, a sage, a good The Hall of Fame rewards sport, a problem solver, the rare alchemy of player a friend, a mover and a shaker. and GM that creates a rich, long-lasting ever-memorable We have an annual role play experience. competition to find this Iron GM rewards that one person. I’m here to talk peculiar mix of madness, about what goes on behind obsession and system that the scenes of our annual we call a Game Master. competition. Maybe this can help to gain insight about Outplay is our what it takes to win, or competition that revels in what it takes to run a major the glorious chaos of the coordinated campaign. Player Character. Players Perhaps it can help you to strive to tell the story of think about what you want a single life in the face of to see in a good player and extraordinary events. The GM (which I hope means: Outplay badge is given you!).
6 making the same rolls, event of the site, and we Goals should be treated the same. need to be sure that it will Outplay is tons of work. The whim of a GM shouldn’t occur in good order. The GMs put in months of be a deciding factor in preparation. The top players determining who wins the We gather up a batch of literally exert many dozens competition. initial contributors around of hours of effort. Why? 4 months before the We want to be discerning. competition begins. We find Firstly, we’re playing Ultimately, a winner must be a super-secret location deep role playing games. We’re crowned. We need a system in the bowels of the site, playing. These are role in place to determine who away from peering eyes. We playing games. The goal, did the best, and who did conspire about what other first and foremost, is to have less-than-the-best. That souls we can ensnare to help fun! If it’s not fun, we need system should be fair. develop our devilish puzzles to re-evaluate what we’re and dilemmas. We swear our doing, and why we’re doing The competition should blood oaths and engrave our it. be self-contained. We ought sigils into our unspeakable Second, this is a to only evaluate players nether regions. And off we competition to encourage based on the competition go! and reward excellence. It’s itself. If we want to learn inspiring to see excellence, something about a player, Firstly, we need an and it’s an item of pride we need to test it in the overarching story. This to do excellent things. game. We oughtn’t bring in is the theme, the ‘skin’ of Competition can bring out outside baggage. the game. It doesn’t need some bad aspects of human to be world-shaking, but nature, but it also brings out often it is. High stakes are some of the best. interesting. We need to Tending the fix the schedule, decide Lastly, this is a which systems to include, community event. It’s easy Outplay and decide what character to get siloed off in our levels will be used. We games of four-to-seven Fields decide this anew every year. Outplay is usually run by players, seeing the same To test players’ skills in a the Reds – the moderators avatar-faces again and again. self-contained manner, the or Admins with red user RPGX is a community and scenarios must be new and names. There is nothing Outplay should help to unexpected. It might take necessary about this. We bring us together. It is an a month of drafting and need organizers who are event where you meet new commenting and editing rock-solid trustworthy friends, read new styles, to come to a consensus on workers. The organizers and maybe find some new these big picture details. can’t flake, and they recruits. Many are ideas are pitched, need to have reasonable but we need to pick one expectations that they can early on and stick to it. contribute consistently for 5-6 months. Creativity and Now, we need to fill in Values experience are good things the gaps. The competition The folk running Outplay among our organizers. must be packed with do their darndest to uphold Reliability and consistency challenges that must stand a few key principles, in over a long time period are on their own merits, while support of these goals. much more important yet. tying together to form the Those latter characteristics overarching story. The We want to be fair. are often in shorter supply point is to provide many Players that try the same than talent on a PbP opportunities for players to thing, in the same context, website. Outplay is a core show us what they’ve got.
7 Outplay is not a place for always ensue. The wild GMs to show off. We want Reaping the wonderful unpredictability hard challenges: challenges of role playing games all of that are not obvious, and Outplay a sudden blossoms there that can not be accidentally in front of the audience. or easily overcome. But we that we It’s fun and exciting for the also want flexible challenges: players, and it’s one of the challenges where many have sown big payoffs of the months approaches, interacting of organizer preparations. with many skill sets, can GMing is the most intense While later rounds often overcome them. It’s up to work of the competition. have bigger emotional and the players to tell a story, Outplay GMs have multiple narrative payoffs, those first using the character they’ve groups demanding their few days of posts usually built, about how they daily time. We need to work pack the biggest punch of achieve their goals. behind the scenes to ensure wonder and surprise and that we’re treating players entertainment. This challenge-design fairly. “Smash-smash just phase can easily take a cast a Fire Storm at the Rules debates are month or two. We’re writing base of Tower of Tinder. quite honestly the most an adventure! Outplay is I ruled that it was going to frustrating aspect of the almost always four weeks fall in two rounds.” “OK,” competition (I presume of active competition. In replies another GM. “Gob- from both sides of the table, that time span, there are gob just cast a fireball on but certainly from behind going to be at least 8-10 the third floor of the Tower the screen). Because this challenges, and depending in my thread. That’s higher is a competition, players on the structure of the path, up, and less damage, so I’ll understandably want “an there could be upwards rule they probably have advantage” and strive to of 25-30. This is one of my 4 rounds until the Tower apply the rules in their favor. favorite parts of the event collapses. Is everyone OK The GMs strive to be fair. (but notice: it’s only about with that?” The GMs have Rules interpretations that one-quarter of the total 6-8 other organizers looking would grant a player powers commitment!). I can pick over their shoulders, able well beyond those of fun monsters, create painful to monitor for consistency. comparable characters (of moral quandaries, set up PCs, of course, are similar levels, classes, ability dumb jokes, and so on. Each notoriously creative and scores etc) are generally of the proposed challenges unpredictable, so we can’t frowned upon and rejected. needs a story, mechanics plan for every possibility Rules interpretations that (like DCs for obstacles and ahead of time. But we can are clever and insightful stat blocks for monsters), make sure that big rulings given the resources and and contingencies for that effect multiple players settings available to player actions. They need are not made at the whim everyone in the game are to be double-checked for of one person – they are generally approved-of balance, clarity, coherence almost always a consensus. and rewarded. There is with other obstacles, fun, much controversy about fairness, and method of For my money, the most the “core rulebook plus evaluation. Some will need fun of Outplay is right in one” rule, especially in the battle maps or diagrams. round 1, post one. We’ve Pathfinder bracket. Simply got 20-plus well-thought- put, the more resources we At that point, after 3-4 out characters with all allow, the harder it is for months of on-and-off work, sorts of amazing powers, our GMs to do their jobs: the battle plan is set, and and then we cram them all to maintain consistency, we are ready to meet the together in an unexpected fairness, balance, and fun players. scenario and say “go!” for all, while living a life Wacky hijinks almost outside of RPGX. I am not
8 exaggerating when I say that objectives – are the majority champion. I personally put in five hours of points. of effort per day on the site We get lots of feedback, during the combat rounds of A common mistake is both during the competition 2019. I also have a full-time for applicants to construct and afterwards. All of this is job, and two children who power builds - characters valued – we understand that continue to demand daily designed with a primary everyone wants to make the feedings and basic human focus on maximizing competition better. As do interaction. More rules mechanical effectiveness we! If you have feedback, means more references (usually damage output). please send it my way, or means more time spent in While getting mechanics post it in the Feedback reading and checking and right is important, and thread in Outplay 2019 (a arguing and monitoring. having an effective folder in the Open Roleplay Which means more character helps you to earn section of the site). We organizer burn-out and a more ‘objective’ points, make mistakes, and we don’t worse-quality event. I am power builds are usually a like it. We want to improve, aware that many Pathfinder mistake in Outplay. Firstly, so that Outplay can be an partisans disagree, but I applications are selected even more fun and excellent flatly assert: our restrictions and rewarded by public part of this community in make for a better event. ballot - RPGX members the future. decide their vote by reading the application post, not by If you’ve ever worked Judging scouring the mechanics and with customers, or been a Judging is separate from cheering a cheer for your teacher (or tried to make GMing, and takes a ton of +14 to hit. Second, Outplay a simple statement of fact time. This year, every judge is designed to present a on the internet) you’ll have had the same number of variety of novel challenges. seen an essential facet of points to distribute, and Min-maxers will usually be humanity: there is never they judged all players in forced to use both their total agreement about a system. As a result, they maxed skills, and their anything ever. I teach, and applied the same standards min’d one. Our challenges for every bit of student to everybody, which will find the holes in your feedback that says I am the allowed for consistency competency, and hit you greatest teacher a student in judgement. Each judge where it hurts. Thirdly, has ever met, there is has their own preferences power builds are not another who accuses me about what makes a good decisive in the final victory. of eternally crushing the player, but these are By the later rounds, all the desire to learn out of their mostly a matter of degree remaining players will have very soul. For every person (“I value this the most, well-constructed effective accusing me of being a while you value this other characters who have raging communist, another thing most”). Each judge survived many challenges. says I am a reactionary does their best to be clear, At that point, it will be conservative. For every and communicate why we factors beyond mechanics person who says I am a true gave the points we did. (role-play, writing quality, genius, there is another who Judge points are ultimately entertainment and interest) says I am an insipid dolt. subjective, but so is the idea that drive a player to the of what is “best”. This is top. So goes Outplay why we have many judges, feedback. We may or may and why we have moved not use your suggestions. Outplay, over the last few Afterwards Whatever you recommend, years, to a system where Once the winner is I promise you that someone ‘objective’ points – points determined, Birched designs else is contradicting you. that come from achieving a new badge, and a few That doesn’t mean you’re well-specified in-game weeks later, it is given to the wrong. It just means
9 we need to read all the (even if their character may competitions. But even a comments, and decide not be). Second, Outplay is first grader can tell you that which are the most useful. hard work. That is true on the point of competition is It could be that we disagree both sides of the GM screen. not to win. It is to try our with a suggestion. It could Creating a good competition best, so that we can improve be that most other players that reflects our values ourselves, and hopefully disagree. It could mean that takes months of effort. have fun along the way. If your suggestion is amazing, Being a player of the kind I we can all focus on creating but it doesn’t quite fit with just described often doesn’t a competition that is more the framework that we come naturally; it is a fun for everyone involved, decided on for the coming discipline. We practice that we will all be better off for year. Many suggestions are discipline in the competition. it (and you, personally, will implemented. We read all be closer to winning the suggestions, we think about We all like to win our Outplay badge). them all, and we value them all. But we don’t use them all – we can’t.
What’s words: admin dirk the ER toon art: jaydenlilith point? What should the reader take away from all this? Firstly, that Outplay is NOT an exercise in power-gaming and cutthroat Machiavellian competition. We want to find the player that best exemplifies someone you want to invite to your gaming table. They should have interesting and effective characters (both mechanically and in terms of role- play), they should write well, they should be wise and informed, they should be clever and flexible, and they should be kind and generous
10 Player Agency Share the Story – Share the Burden by wodine
Hello loyal reader; yes so many great games and you, I assume there’s just memorable characters,’ the one. In the last issue and you’d be correct I discussed some of the beloved stranger; but that problems with player choice doesn’t make me infallible. and the sometimes near And failure happens, I’m a paralytic effect of over scientist, it is a part of my abundance of selection. It everyday life; what matters was a topic I’d seen occur is, can I learn from it, and again and again as Sandbox hopefully prevent it from after Sandbox falls to ruin happening again. through indecision and lack of management. Not to say And after discussing my they can’t succeed, they can, most recent Call of Cthulhu it is just a greater challenge tribulations with some of my than many prepare to PCs I went back and looked handle. Luckily, I’m not here at the older games which to reopen old wounds, but have long since crusted, like rather pick at another scab the taut skin of an ancient that has developed on my mummy whose hands clasp scarred, old, storyteller hide. an ankh dedicated to some long forgotten unimaginable While trying to establish hor… sorry, Lovecraft on a foot hold for Call of the brain. And I noticed Cthulhu on site; I have a recurring theme in my failed. Time and time again failures, and that’s what I’d I have swung the bat and like to write a bit about, a whiffed. Players leave, the failure analysis, if you will, story fails to captivate, the based around a concept time spent fails to focus on called Player Agency. the main mystery – and as a Keeper (or DM, or GM, What is Player Agency? or whatever your system Well simply put, it is the of choice happens to call amount of narrative control it) I take each failure as a you put in the hands of the personal affront to my own PCs versus the Gamemaster. abilities. And I know what Many of the most popular you’re thinking to yourself, games, both on and off site, ‘But Wodine, you’re such have a limited expectation an amazing story teller with of Player Agency. Both
11 Dungeons and Dragons and Player: I rolled a 22, Player: “I want Pathfinder follow the same and 19, and here’s two to cross the piles of shinies! dangerous chasm.” scripted approach to Player Agency in both linear and GM: Here’s what DM: “roll an open fashions. happens about atcrobatics check, the thing, you DC is 14.” Linear: dramatically effect the Player: I want to countryside of place, Player: “I got an do the thing. and you’ve altered the 18 – [describes what course of history by their own success GM: Roll for the thing. cajoling the whoseits. looks like].
Player: I scored a Luckily in the PbP format Which is good – that’s critical success! we tend to get a little more Player Agency – control descriptive and instead of GM: Here’s what of the narrative, but often happens about that’s as far as it goes in the Player: “I want the thing. fantasy hack’n’slash kind of to cross the games, which we all know dangerous chasm.” Open Ended: are the most prevalent and the most popular. Player: I do this DM: “roll an big grand thing acrobatics check.” with the stuff to But here’s the kicker, my support the cause. Player: “18” investigators and I weren’t playing a hack’n’slash GM:
12 they travel to strange and with a beginning, middle, especially in pbp nothing dangerous places, uncover and end and they lead the can grind a collaborative foul plots and stand against PCs through a mostly linear game to halt faster than the terrors of the night.’ story that ends with them stabbing another player in destroying the big bad. the back. So here in my game, I Even my homebrew, open have an expectation that ended pseudosandbox with But in a game of cosmic the players will make use Kingmaker elements, has horror, superhumans, of their agency to have this basic format of there or even cyberpunking narrative control, and are things to do and PCs Shadowrun – there are my players are expecting decide which of them are so many choices a PC something more akin to the most important and those can make that could outline above and then all are the things they decide dramatically change the of sudden, we’re at a gaming to do. And even before narrative – and especially standstill. the game begins there’s a for CoC; no matter what the certain amount of agency PCs decide to do – you lose. So how do you share PCs and GMs agree to A good end of a CoC game the gaming narrative, and remove. Most of the games I is when a couple of the PCs how much can you expect run have race, class, and/or manage to survive. The crux players to add when your alignment restrictions. This of Lovecraftian horror is the not sitting around a table eliminates a large amount crushing ennui of the world together able to give of player choice already; and the existential fatalism immediate feedback to combine that with the goals that pervades our very things that may or may of the story, and the setting existence. That worldview not work with the grander and suddenly there’s already is further exasperated by scheme of things around only a select few roads to the all-powerful outer them? go down. In general, most beings who toy with human gamers also agree upon, ‘No existence as they wait I’ll tell you. I don’t know. PVP.’ And with good reason, for dreaming Cthulhu to
But that’s why I like to write these columns. They help me figure my own things out, and I like to think it might just help you figure a few things out as well.
The first thing we need to sort out is, how much agency is the right amount?
Well that depends, and in part that’s where a lot of problems seem to come from. Most people are most familiar with the fantasy style canned adventure modules. Which can be great and a lot of fun, but here’s the thing. Those modules are written
13 awaken. In a game of cosmic The difficulties related horror or soaring through to player agency are that it So I think a serious the stars of the Alpha can throw the game off its conversation is required in a Quadrant you need to tracks if the game master game that doesn’t follow the be prepared to make the isn’t prepared to make standard scripted technique choices necessary to move a lot of adjustments and of a fantasy module, because the game forward – they that it takes a chunk of the if the GM and players don’t are inherently far more responsibility of story telling agree or understand the open ended than your and thrusts it on the players, amount of agency expected average fantasy game; and and they may not be used then you’re going to have a if the players don’t make to that. Especially if they hard time keeping the game choices to move things are only experienced in the running. forward the game stalls good ol’ hack and slash style out. Things continue to games then they may not be Now this may seem happen in the settings of used to taking the reigns of contradictory to my these games whether or their own destiny – in this opinions in my prior piece, not the PCs do anything, case, start small and work where I argue it is okay to and that should drive them with them to get to the take away player agency to action. Whether they point where you need them to advance the story spend all day at the library to be to advance the story. forward – and it is, as long or not the Cult of Dagon will We’re all int his together, as their actions can still continue their dark sorcery we all want good stories, be accounted for – and in or whether or not they and fun adventures and a true sandbox, around a recalibrate the sensors of sometimes that takes more table maybe it is alright to the USS Intrepid in six hours work than other times, but give players carte blanche, Caldarius Prime is going to it will be rewarding. but on a PBP site you can supernova – these are the spend weeks deciding which sorts of plotted MacGuffin’s Game on, door to open in a dungeon you can use as a storyteller – sometimes for the sake to force players into the roll Wodine of advancement, its best of decision maker instead of to make those choices for waiting for them to react to people. everything.
14 Interview with a winner of outplay 2019 squeak, in conversation with Quiksilv
Was this year’s tournament of this from a story telling different from what perspective since it would you were expecting? allow the player to come up Frankly I wasn’t sure with a character they are what to expect. Last year committed to and not just a the format for Outplay class. However I usually end was considerably different up building the other way than it has for the last few around. years I’ve been involved so I wasn’t sure if they were There are so many going to keep it the same or character options even just switch back to “normal”. in the site’s PRD that I’ll just browse through the lists of What were your thoughts classes and archetypes until when you built your I find a class or two that I’m character? Any advice for interested in trying and that newcomers on building prompts a character idea. their characters? For example, I read how I’ve heard that the best the Black Blade Archetype way to make characters is for Magus had an intelligent to come up with a concept item that could speak with and then add mechanics his owner and I asked later. I totally see the benefit
15 myself why did the sword that I won. I always play-to- certainly try to consider the and the character had to be win but if I’m honest I didn’t comments and apply their friends and if they weren’t really expect to actually get wisdom. Not to do so would what would be the reason there. be a waste of a valuable why. resource for improving and Character-wise I really getting better. What was your favorite enjoyed the post where part of the competition? I spent the whole time I know it is hard to I like playing along side inside Tobias’ head. My question when you had other people. So getting competition quit posting enough success to win the to play with people who in round 3 which left me competition, but was there were into the game and to myself. Then Tobias anything you did during the participating daily was really basically committed suicide tournament that you wish so my options for outside fun. Also this was my first you had done differently? interactions were basically playing this class so it was In the combat round I non-existent. So my nice to see what it could do. played it safe and followed competing personalities had the group even though I was a heart-to-heart and agreed What was the hardest fairly positive my character to work together more. It part of the competition? would do better in one of was fun and refreshing and, The hardest part for the other encounters. I had to me, really felt like the me is trying to find time to been worried I wouldn’t whole dynamic changed for make a quality post. I have have made it by myself but the final round. to wake up early for work when it was over I think it and my kids are the age still would have been better where they like to climb on There was obviously some for me to try, even if I failed, me at home so typing isn’t tough competition during than to piddle through that really an option till after the tournament. Were same encounter as the rest they go to bed and trying to there any times you found of my group. squeeze in a few hours after yourself impressed by the their bed time usually eats actions of your competitors? How has winning the into my own slumber. I could more easily list competition affected your times I wasn’t impressed but involvement in the site? Have Aside from that though that seems like it would be you made any connections just trying to make sure needlessly mean so i won’t. or joined any games as a my posts made sense, result of the competition? include a lot of detail In all seriousness though There hasn’t really been without being wordy or I thought it was amazing any change in those regards confusing, and constantly when Antipode cut down a but the forced daily posting working at keeping up with giant sized Kobold in one with a group reminded me the competition were the turn. Or how a few of the how much I miss having a hardest parts. Outplay takes others used some one-shot regular game so I did apply a lot out of me but I’d like items to good effect. Items to a new one. to think that rising to the I usually gloss over and challenge makes me a better don’t seriously consider like Do you have any advice for RP’er for it “tree token” or whatever it’s those considering entering called. Was there anything you Outplay next year? did, whether an action The judges, including Well obviously the or a post, that you were myself, critiqued you each answer is that they should exceptionally proud of? round. Did you make any do it. We need more players I was actually very proud changes to the way you to flesh out the roster to make it past round 2; were doing things based and keep things fresh and which I’ve never done on what the judges said interesting. before. I was flabbergasted and how they scored you?I
16 Beatsticks The Morningstar by DraconigenaArma
Every great myth, playing games take place in shrouded in mystery legend, and story is not occurs in a pseudo-medieval and confusion. Debates only based on a grain of setting where the default include details such as its truth but entrenched in level of technology tops out construction, use, size, and the material culture of the around early renaissance. even its very existence. storyteller. Every story In these articles, I will be Some of this debate is must use real and tangible visiting weapons, armor, legitimate. Blurred lines objects as the framework and material culture items exist when trying to discuss from which to build the and providing context for any weapon technology more fantastical elements. their historical uses, the developed over hundreds Through imagination, cultures, and timelines of of years to achieve a magic, and mystery anything fashionable use, the social variety of effects against can break the oppressive status involved in their use, ever-changing defenses shackles of what things and other topics. across multiple cultures can and should be able to and languages with shoddy do. What one should not The best kickoff for record-keeping. Weapons ignore are the seeds of truth this series of articles on and armor are a game of from which all imagination the history of weaponry is cat and mouse. As weapons grows. Though flavors one steeped in contention: developed to defeat armor, and themes may vary, the the humble morningstar the armor changed to basic "sword and sorcery" (other terms: morgenstern, protect against the new fantasy genre most role- morgensztern); ever threat, ad nauseam.
17 morningstar flail, the other morningstar can be a club So what a morningstar mace.) The with long nails or spikes material evidence for flails hammered through the end is it? as a military weapon is so they stick out in every In the same way a myriad an article in and of itself, direction. This form of of "swords" are all edged though the evidence is weapon exists, as displayed metal sticks meant to cut or thin. If you're ever in at the Foltermuseum in poke people, a Morningstar conversation with someone Freiburg im Breisgau, is one of the many subsets who believes a Morningstar Germany, though it may of bludgeoning implements only refers to a spiked be easier to describe this meant to cause concussive flail like weapon they are weapon and its ilk as a damage to the victim incorrect, but those who spiked club. Depictions through blunt force. For attribute the term to a in the art of the medieval this article, a morningstar wider variety of fixed and period is a wooden shaft is any hafted weapon with articulated weapons, while with a round metal head, a spiked percussive end. not flat out wrong, are the entire head of a single Some discussion indicates treading into a gray area of construction with the spikes the term "morningstar" has historic exploration. Most or studs manufactured in. a more broad definition, historical evidence supports A morningstar and mace applying to the round ball the term morningstar differ from a basic club with spikes itself. By this applying only to fixed haft by incorporating metal definition, both a spiked weapons, and the rest of the at the striking surface, ball on a chain connected article will conform to this increasing weight, density, to a haft and a solid handled definition. and hardness at the point stick ending in a spiked ball of impact. A mace and a are morningstars (one a At its most basic the morningstar are unique from
18 each other in the shape and protrusions of the head itself. A morningstar uses spikes instead of flanges. Depictions of morningstars include ones of various sizes and lengths, some visual references indicating ones as long as some smaller polearms, though the rule appears to be morningstars are a one-handed weapon.
A note on spikes: except for maces and morningstars which incorporate a long thin spike topping the weapon parallel with the haft, the spikes on a morningstar are not meant to be primary piercing devices. Most morningstars, extant as well as in artwork, do not have spikes with length or thinness which could penetrate the defenses of the medieval era to any effective depth. A finger thick spike an inch or so long will not pierce organs or accurately strike arteries through skin, much less plate, chain, and or padded gambeson we would understand a caused weapons to deflect in the configurations dagger or spear stabs. and made it difficult for worn in battle. The long them to find a perpendicular top spike found on some Two problems with surface to transfer the of the weapons would a solid sphere on a stick energy of the swing into function as a thrusting as a weapon regarding the target. Most medieval alternative causing deep overcoming medieval impact weapons developed mortal wounds. The spikes defenses are the malleability methods to counteract on morningstars, much of mail and the compound these defenses by adding like the flanges on maces, curves of plate. Though you features allowing the surface developed to increase "grip" can beat anyone to death of the weapon to impact and concentrate the force with any blunt object when plate, catch and break of the blow to a smaller they're wearing no defenses, rings of mail, or ensnarl spot and increase their flexible defenses like mail the fibers of cloth to make efficacy as bludgeoning and gamboised (quilted) the weapon "hold on" to weapons. The spikes served fabric work to decelerate the surface when striking. the impact purposes of the and distribute the impact of Multiple weapon systems morningstar's basic design. a blunt object. Helmets and developed unique methods They did not make the plate defenses constructed to achieve this: hammers morningstar a club which with large compound curves developed multiple points or stabs on impact in the way avoided flat surfaces which the "meat tenderizer" look,
19 maces developed flanges, time went on, it is clear Manuscripts indicate and morningstars developed from their use in artwork morningstar like weapons spikes. morningstars were not a existed in the Middle East. "peasant only" weapon as In Europe, it was not a well outfitted and armored ubiquitous weapon used by When was men-at-arms and knights rank and file soldiers in large use them. A late period groups like pikes, spears, it used? 16th-century morningstar and other polearms. In your Generic "sword and (labeled as a mace) held game sprinkle morningstars sorcery" fantasy has no in the Wallace Collection, in amongst the troops of definitive time-period or London, unlikely to have the enemy to add variety culture except for pseudo- intended uses in war, has as the choice of bringing a medieval pan-Europe. The ornate decoration with morningstar to war appears equipment lists of Dungeons russeting, etching, and to have been a personal- and Dragons or Pathfinder gold gilding. This weapon weapon choice. In your further confuse the issue was likely used as a status game, if you have a country as they include in one list symbol or art piece rather who is contemporaneous weapons from either end of than a weapon of war but in technology to another centuries of technological shows what we would nation, but want to signal development, as well as recognize today as a it lags in craftsmanship or mixing weapons from a morningstar made both out research giving their units wide range of countries and of solid metal construction more morningstars than cultures (plus fictional and down the handle, and a flanged maces could add fantasy weapons.) However, weapon purchased or contrast between the two a DM or player can use commissioned for someone cultures. Since the design their equipment choices with considerable wealth of the spikes is to make as subconscious shorthand and status. the weapon more useful for a character or enemy's against armors such as culture and time-period. mail and plate monsters First visual references in How to use who encounter other manuscripts for weapons armored opponents would fitting the understood them in my use them over easier to description of a morningstar make bludgeons. Wild, date back to the 12th game... tribal humanoids who century. The weapon The morningstar is a encounter unarmored or appears in manuscripts into weapon serving the same under armored opponents the 15th century. purpose as a flanged may opt for a club or a mace, though it may have smooth mace over a flanged been less popular or less mace or morningstar. The Who used it? effective considering morningstar is a useful A myth around the how underrepresented addition to characters of the morningstar centers on in the artwork it appears. 12th to 15th centuries in feel. its perceived use only as It appears in a variety Use of a morningstar will a peasant weapon. Much of Western European give a character or NPC a of this stems from the cultures to include distinct western continental notion it was nothing more England, Germany, Italy, feel and is acceptable as than a wooden stick with Spain, Flanders (modern- a weapon for a character a larger end which had day Belgium and the from a culture resembling nails hammered through Netherlands), and Poland. the City-States of Germany, it. Though a morningstar Outside my area of the Papal States of Italy, was almost always wooden expertise, a similar weapon and the Low Countries of hafted, whereas maces may have developed in the Flanders and Normandy. tended to become solid cultures of Eastern Europe, metal in construction as Asia, or the Mediterranean.
20 Chronicles of a Pathfinder
A serial story by wodine 21 Journal of the Ogre filled mountains of Varisia turns out to be worthwhile, either financially or Sylrune Shadowkeep otherwise. - Draft, Do Not Distribute - 17th of Pharast, during the 12th of Pharast, during the Age of Lost Omens 4706 Age of Lost Omens 4706 After collecting our band in the city of If I ever set foot onto another boat again Rodric’s Cove we set out following the river it will be too soon. For the love of Yuelral, upstream then cut into the Curchain Hills. that journey was nearly the end of me. The hills are actually fairly easy to traverse, Three days. It was only three days, but it and the grassy uplands are bordered on felt like an eternity. I assure you I would either side by the Stony Mountains and the have rather walked naked through the Iron Peaks. We’re making for Ravenmoor streets of Egorian with honey smeared on before heading to the Stoval Stairs so we my nether regions than ever attempt the can make our way deep into the Iron Peaks coast of Varisia by schooner again. Forced – home to the greats (or rather worst) tribe into that stinking, sweltering hold, the frigid of Ogres, the Kreegs. But I’m getting ahead squalls driving me down into that cabin of myself; for now we travel with a wagon filled with swarthy, vile sons-of-goats that caravan. The leader is unpleasant, even as Captain Alverro calls a crew, all the while far as dwarfs go, with a thick grey beard and eating the maggot riddled hardtack that I an eye patch over his left eye. The guards wouldn’t normally serve to a rat. call him ‘Patch.’
The best part, of course, was my We got to see a heard of wile aurochs stomachs reaction to the trip. The poor in the distance, but they were too far out thing has been tormented by the rolling sea of the way to divert the wagons and Patch for the last fortnight – at least when I had was adamant we not engage then as a single been above decks the salty air helped settle one of the large bovine could overturn a it, but below decks there was nothing to wagon. I suppose there is some wisdom aid my stomach, only worsen it with smells in giving them a wide berth. I have heard and sights unbecoming. Eriden my traveling that these grassy hills are home to the companion faired far better than I. He peaceful Shoanti Clan of the Hawk as well assures me it has to do with his low center as the Wind Clan. I should like to meet of gravity but I think that the Halfling race them I think, but when I mentioned this is far hardier than they would have the rest offhandedly, one of the guards laughed and of us believe, particularly when it comes to said we’d be better off riding one of the wild matters of the stomach. aurochs than dealing with the Cutting Wind.
When we finally reached the shore, I 19th of Pharast, during the quite literally kissed the land for it was the Age of Lost Omens 4706 loveliest I think I have ever seen. Though the ugliness of the Rodric’s Cove stretched I greatly regret my earlier comment. out before me, it didn’t matter, I was just Members of the Wind Clan rode down on so excited to be on land, even if my legs the caravan with great ferocity, and it was did feel as if they would buckle beneath only through the… diplomatic might of me. This has already been a daunting task, myself and of Egorian that we avoided any and I can only hope that our excursion into bloodshed. Patch was prepared to fire upon
22 them at a distance, but after assuring them 21st of Pharast, during the that we had no intention of stealing their Age of Lost Omens 4706 aurochs or invading their encampment they let us go as long as we made for Ravenmoor Patch assures me that Ravenmoor is the with all haste. They didn’t need to tell us best place to stock up on supplies, I can’t twice. Luckily the outskirts of Ravenmoor, wait to leave this festering place behind. and I was excited to be in the safety of The town stinks, a combination of old blood civilization before heading into the heart of and drying bird feces, and the birds never ogre country. The guards just laughed. cease their noise making. The citizens have trained the raven’s well; they are fed like 20th of Pharast, during the any other raised animal and don’t seem to Age of Lost Omens 4706 have interest in stealing from the citizenry (if such a term can even be applied to the Ravenmoor is without a doubt the wretches who call this place home). foulest sewer of a rotting excuse for a town I have ever stepped into in all my years as The Clan of the Hawk came to town this a Pathfinder and Chronicler of journeys. afternoon, which sent most of the town The whole place is overrun with Ravens into a tizzy collecting all the items they who caw incessantly and have stained wished to sell or trade with the much more much of the stonework with their foul peaceful brethren of the Wind. I stayed emissions. The town is tiny, maybe twenty to the outskirts while the farmers and buildings in all, and while the people seem tribesmen looked over each other’s good friendly on the surface I must object to their and services trading coin, berry, ore, and domestication of stirges. The tiny insectoid pig each one making out with items they creatures have two pairs of bat wings, needed but could not collect themselves. a tangle of thin legs, and a needle-sharp The towns folk even put some events in proboscis. They feed the foul creatures a honor of the Hawk clan’s arrival. They combination of pig and ox blood and then served more of the wretched suasages they pluck the engorged creatures from their were so proud of and put on some event host and pinch off their abdomens. These called, ‘pig-jousting.’ In retrospect I regret casings are stuffed with spices and rye not attending, as Patch and his men were berries and then boiled; the blood, grains, greatly entertained by the event, but I found and spices congeal, forming a briny sausage the calm on the other side of the village that the citizens of this tiny macabre hamlet far too tantalizing to pass up. We leave this insist is disturbingly delicious. I myself, stinking town tomorrow. I hope Patch and passed the upsetting delicacy, but Egorian, his men don’t drink to much at the ‘feast.’ ever the halfling, gave it a try and found it far more delicious than their other main Continued in the next issue… protein source, smoked giant tick legs.
23 Legends of Novus A boardgame review by chocoladevla
Maybe it is known and games (called 'Filler'- Legends of Novus is maybe it is not but I am games) like 'Azul', 'Reef' a 1-5 players boardgame really into boardgames and the 'Century'-series. (Yes, you can play it solo) as well. In the morning I This time I want to discuss taking roughly about 60 ~ write DM-posts and NPSG a game that I playtested, 90 minutes of your time. updates but in the afternoon a Dungeons and Dragons It is an adventure Fantasy and evenings I love to play themed boardgame that got game placing you in control boardgames, the modern funded and will be arriving of a heroic character who ones. Yeah I do play a Risk at the backer's doorsteps is embarking on a journey and Monopoly on occasions in April 2020. (also will be across the mythical world but I am more into heavier available through shops, of Novus in an effort to boardgames like 'Scythe', not sure when or where help rid the world of 'Terraforming Mars', 'Gaia though) powerful creatures who are Project' or the less difficult terrorizing the lands. The
24 Boris Turano) and had put our standees on the map and were ready for adventuring after having set up the table with the Map, Adventure-deck, Reward- deck and Encounter deck, dice and Questcreature tiles. Locations book closeby and both of us getting 10GP, one Adventure-card and one Reward-card. Our action cube on the XP tracker and the other one at our Health level, getting the game started. game has a combination of description but having a physical character sheet actually played it I can The mechanics aren't and card-based equipment provide a different view ;-) that difficult (and you get attached to it. The variety a player aid helping you of initial characters, and When my 13-year old remember what to do in classes they can advance to daughter and me were a turn) and every turn make the game re-playable playing this game she had you Prepare (play any with a different gameplay chosen to roleplay Davra, Reward-card, play one experience each time. The Wizard of Assa and I wanted Adventure event card, world story, and the ability to play Kain the Knight of purchase one Adventure to navigate the world with Exire; Fighter (we were card OR one Reward card a free-roam aspect (and really feeling cool here). for 25GP. (Trust me, that no dice rolling controlling We had our character maps is expensive), Travel or how far or where you can (really beautiful themed! Explore followed by the travel to), gives the players All art was done by Italian Recovery phase. It is too a strong sense of control artists Andrea Butera and much to get into the game over their fate. The multiple paths to gaining XP also give the players a chance to explore different character strengths and game strategies in their goal to become a Legend of Novus.
This was the designer's
25 between gathering XP to be able to defeat them or simply go ahead and try anyway. You win (become a Legend of Novus) when having gained 25XP and have defeated one big baddie or dealth with two Quest cards succesfully) and well yeah, next time I will try a different character ;-). (one of the Kickstarter upgrades was an mechanics right now so feel like you are an actual added character card and I will leave it for you to hero on the board. Ofcourse standee: Yotun the Half-Orc explore. I lost but that was because Barbarian, guess what I will my daughter was really fast be playig when the actual Why play a Roleplay advancing her class by a game is delivered ;-) boardgame you may card that made her study wonder? Well, I am active rewarded by a pre-10XP Anyway, if you want and online at the Crossing, level. She even had some to feel D&D and love we play D&D with our wicked spell cards and even boardgames have a look at family every two weeks so though I managed to steal 'Legends of Novus'. It adds why adding more? Simply some of her stuff I did not a different perspective and because this game makes get the time to reach the depth to what we all love, you FEEL the adventure. 25XP quicker than she did. roleplaying a character in You have a standee and We loved the text on the an adventure. This game opportunities to travel and cards as well, informative offers so much gameplay battle and you can really with humor added and and choices, replay value is SEE your character become exploring the map with the big because of the different more experienced. You locations was just beautiful. characters, the advanced can move around a visual At the edges of Novus on classes, the places to go on map of Novus and you can the map there are the big the map and the so many upgrade and advance your bad guys (again, awesome Adventures, Quests and class within two hours of art) but you feel the tension Rewards. I can recommend game play and it makes you to find the perfect balance it!
26 spice up your game by dirkoth
“You are sitting in a adventures start (or finish) and then fermented by tavern, minding your own in taverns, I thought that we yeast. business, when suddenly, might take a look at some the door burst open, and...” of the common things you Ale is a kind of beer. can find in a tavern, and Ale is beer made with a A lot of classic Dungeons expand your vocabulary a “top-fermenting” yeast (as and Dragons games start in bit. That way, the next time opposed to lagers, which a tavern somewhere. So do your PC’s enter a bar, they use a “bottom-fermenting” a lot of modern, and even can eat off something other yeast). It is typically lighter sci-fi games (Star Wars has than a trencher, and drink in taste and color than a pretty famous cantina, something other than ale. beer. Types of Ale include: after all). Barleywine, Cask ale, Porter (dark beer made from While your PC’s are The drink brown malt) and Stout in that tavern, they are Porter. probably drinking an ale, or menu: maybe a grog, and eating a Beer is what you get Lager is another type of trencher of stew, perhaps when starch is broken down beer, this one made with mutton. Since so many to sugars by malted grains bottom-fermenting yeast.
27 Many of us are pretty familiar with beef, whether it’s a roast or in a stew, our adventurers have dined on many a piece of meat. And, the sight of a roasting pig is pretty familiar, either served up on a platter in the king’s great hall, or pulled It is typically heavier and spices/citrus you use. from a pit darker, usually more bitter. at an island luau. And lastly, Lagers include Bock and Cider (hard cider) chicken is a popular dish, Pilsener styles, as well as the is fermented apple juice although only in the last famous Schwarzbier (dark (typically), although other century or so, as a soup with lager). juices can be fermented to noodles for cold and flu. make cider. Pears can be Stout is a kind of ale made into a hard cider. But what about other that typically uses roasted possibilities? For thousands malts or roasted grains. It Sake is made from of years, we relied on a often has a strong coffee/ fermented rice. variety of local wild, and chocolate flavor, and it’s semi-wild game, and every usually got higher alcohol Kvass is made from culture has domesticated content. fermented rye. local animals for a meat source. Let’s sprinkle some Mead is fermented Chicha/tesguino is made different offerings here and honey. It might also contain from fermented corn. there, to make our tavern fruit, spices, or other a bit more enticing to our adventures from all realms. additives. Taste ranges a Pulque is made from lot, from “dry meads” (more fermened agave plants. tangy than sugary) to “sweet At our tavern, people can also dine on Turkey, meads” (more sugary than Kefir and Kumis are as well as lamb (young tangy). made from fermented milk. sheep) and mutton (older Grog is a hot drink with sheep). Venison may be rum and water, and usually What about served, if we got lucky on spices and/or citrus. Grog’s our local hunting trip, or taste depends largely on the the meals? perhaps duck (either wild
28 chicken pot pie, but made with delicious pork.
Gleyres of Ayrenn: Egg whites. cooked till firm, and served. Who knew people were watching their cholesterol in the middle ages?
Chawdon: a dish made of organ meats (offal), so you get two new words in one dish.
And every culture has their own version of “hobo stew”, a dish where you toss in all the parts and pieces of local food, and spice to taste. Whether you call it goulash, jambalaya, paella, calderata, Feijoada, tagine, stamppot, bigos, pad thai, or Irish Stew, all are delicious and can fill your plates and bowls.
And lastly, let’s stop serving things in plates and bowls.
Instead, let’s remember trenchers, chargers, and platters work just as well. And we can wash it all down with a drink from our goblets, demitasse, or chalice. or domesticated). Wild tavern is near to a river, boar may be a specialty, if lake, stream or sea, then fish the hunters were especially will abound on the menu brave, if not, then just too. pork to fill that pot may be used. Depending upon the What can you make location, bison might be with all these options? Let’s served, and certainly, goose explore some delicious and rabbit are often used to dishes to entice your fill pots around the kitchens. adventures to fill their And remember, pheasant palate, while they wait for is not just a wild bird in the the adventure to start. prairies of the United States, it is a popular bird in Asia as Flaumpens: Flaumpens well. And, of course, if your are pork pies. Think of a
29 tavern games
30 ER Crossword
31 Across: Down: 1. A high-pitched sound, or squeak. 1. A slender tree used for formal 5. Arbitrageur for short. punishment. 9. It comes with exp. 2. Minor Roman magistrate. 12. Picturesque scene. 3. Red Jaguarundi. 13. Phoenix born actress in Dark Phoenix 4. A coach’s strategy guide. 15. American language with much 5. Of a pale grayish color. gesticulation. 6. R for Aristotle. 16. Irish pub or Irish army 7. GP in Ethiopia. 17. Scary genre. 8. Hang glider safety device, or dirty slang. 19. Global pro-reading group. 9. Banshee noise. 20. Like some golems. 10. Water-locked destination for 22. The reason most of us are on this site. Conquistadors. 24. Masculine pronoun. 11. the dragon. 25. Exist. 14. Spell with a multitude of uses. 26. Places for trainers. 18. Furnish with new hirelings. 27. Privateer’s olive. 21. Always and forever, according to the 31. Sci-fi movie or organizational structure. bard. 35. New York City neighborhood. 23. Time zone that quietly gets your 38. Word origin, not to be confused with a attention. digital ape. 28. Svirfneblin. 40. Wahoo! This fish is good to eat. 29. Information technology service 41. Journey on foot or through the stars. management practices. 42. German pronoun or fashionista Roberta. 30. Skeptical fault finding critic. 43. Tenderloins member for short. 32. Equal parts flour and butter. 44. Total Hit Dice plus Level Adjustment. 33. Ornamental box worn on the waist. 45. Unconventional alphabet soup? 34. A villian in a Pathfinder or Marvel game? 46. Part of a neuron. 35. A state of anxiety or a simple meal. 47. Walking through water 36. Large aquatic killer. 49. Mercenary bivalve? 37. Wearing manacles and stuffed in a bag of 51. Long periods of time. holding. 53. A second note. 43. Dwarves drive drink. 54. Famous Anne from Pokémon. 45. How wizards use the Force. 56. Players primary publication. 48. Molotov Cocktail, for one. 60. A boat or small ship. 50. Member of a standard marauding horde. 62. Commotion over nothing. 52. Truth, so they say. 63. Urbane as a bald bard. 54. Indian instrument. 65. Prefix for an evil paladin. 55. Strong unpleasant smell. 66. Swindle or deception. 56. and slash. 67. Potion to restore mana. 57. South-Korean indie band, obviously. 68. Reversible flatbread. 58. Amount of exotic weapons in the 5e core 69. Archaic plural of cow. books. 70. Group of languages or indigenous people 59. Dark sulfurous cosmetic. from China. 60. Indian honorific or sanitation group. 71. Daring dungeoneer or diminutive dagger. 61. A sloth, or a Spanish football manager. 64. A Nutri-Matic machine can provided a liquid almost, but not quite, entirely unlike it.
32 word sEARCH Words are hidden diagonally, horizontally and vertically; forward and backward; and through, across and consecutive with each other. Some words share more than one letter.
33 er logic puzzle
Wodine is hosting a game for several of sheets but the players must have had a of the other moderators. He has a grand Squeak moment - everyone forgot to put adventure planned for them but they need their names on their sheets. Wodine needs to make their characters. They want to have to know who is playing which character but a diverse party with no two races, classes, all they have to go on is the notes sprawled or backgrounds overlapping. Wodine is very on the sides of the sheets. Which player pleased when they receive the character made which one of the characters?
What Wodine Knows:
1. Of MoonZar's character and the character that's a halfling, one is a wizard and the other a rogue. 2. The Character who is human is played by a Hall of Fame DM. 3. The character with the outcast background is either the dwarf or the cleric. 4. Of the dwarf and the wizard, one is the outcast and the other is Squeak's. 5. MoonZar's character is a scholar. 6. The wizard is not the mercenary.
34 Helping out at RPGX
We all came to this site So, how can you help? Or if judging others isn't to play games. In addition, your thing, be an assistant. many of us have made new It depends on what you Help wrangle, help organize. friends and become part want to do! And, of course, of a community. But did what you like to do. I, for Love to code? We need you know that there are one, would LOVE to draw coding help. others, people who give of artwork for Explosive their time and resources, Runes. However, I can Got a great idea to make to make this place better barely draw a potato. I tried the place better? Be a every day? RPGX doesn't drawing Squeak once, since volunteer. function without volunteers. the two have roughly the Everything you love about same shape and texture, Some opportunities have RPGX comes from the but Squeak has more eyes time commitments that labors of love that our than a potato, so... it didn't have to be met: Iron DM volunteers provide. work. But if you'd like to runs on a tight schedule, volunteer, why not look for example, and we need Artists and Coders, over the areas that might some strong volunteers Judges and Writers, tickle your fancy, and give to make it happen. Others Greeters and Helpers of all them some thought. have a bit more flexibility, kinds... Would you like to and some have almost no be one? Maybe you'd like Maybe you can draw, or time pressure at all: you can to do a little something for maybe you can write. come in, do your bit, and the community, maybe give not worry if you can't make back a little to the sandbox Maybe you want to it back for a couple weeks. that welcomed you. Maybe say "Hi" to new people, you want to pay it forward, and welcome them to the just like someone did a while community. Trust me... it feels good to back. Maybe you just want give back, to pay it forward, some good Karma built up, Do you like reading good and to help make this site or you need to get off that game posts? Do you enjoy the best gaming site on Naughty list that Santa is the games and contests we the web. Come, be part of keeping. We'd love to have run throughout the year? Be something really cool. you volunteer. a judge!
35 we could help make a DnD Sourcebook project, opportunities cartoonist out of you! where great ideas are born, and crafted for playability. New Player Solo Games: If you have a creative side Artists Needed We also have need of an and would like to help, artist to help with our New see Nimlos or JJ Wolven, Are you an artist? We Player Solo Games. Adding and head over to the love artists, and we could art to the game posts Sourcebook. use your talents. There are make for a more exciting a lot of places where you experience for our new Writers/Editors/ could shine at RPGX. players, and we would love Explosive Runes to have you design some Explosive Runes: Our new Interior Art for the We need writers, editors, twice yearly magazine game. and helpers to put together always needs artists. We Explosive Runes, our love to feature one of our If you'd like to feature your twice yearly magazine for own on the Cover Art, and work in the Explosive Runes, RPGX. Got stories, articles, we always need smaller reviews, or ideas that we work for inside art of almost please PM Admin Dirk. can use? Or maybe you any kind. We also like to don't, but you want to help have original art to go with If you'd like to feature your out? We need wranglers and our short stories. If you can work in the New Player Solo editors, and people to poke work on a shorter deadline, Games, please PM Zevonian. and prod others, and gather maybe that's for you. In information for us. Contact addition, we have some truly RPGX Sourcebook Admin Dirk to get started! horrible jokes that are just waiting for a talented artist Love to develop player to come along and bring classes, races, spells or Judging them to life. So if you would magic? You might be Want to help out your like to try a collaboration, interested in joining the
36 favorite contest by judging? and welcoming them in their that can do Site Coding We ALWAYS need more intro posts is an important with Vbulletin, or can code judges. part of establishing our Player Character Sheets. friendly culture. It's fun and All you need to do is See Post of the Month: easy, and you make a huge Birched. See Admin Dirk impression on people! Just head over to New Member Holiday Hero Iron DM: See hvg3akaek Introduction: and remember: Be happy and proud of Got some great ideas Outplay: Contact Admin RPGX, no copy/pasting your for Holiday Themed fun greeting over and over (be Ronarscorruption and games? Have you original and authentic) and come up with Special Site- or Bhelogan no recruiting for Tug of wide Holiday themed fun War. activity, like a Christmas General Helper Bee Card exchange? April
New Player Solo Fools ideas? New Years Explosive Runes: see Game GMs Resolutions? Memorial Day Admin Dirk. You can't PC memorials? Halloween publish a magazine without Want to do more than Pumpkin decorating? You a lot of help behind the just say Hi? Help the new pick a holiday, and work on scenes (or in front of the folks get their feet wet in a ideas with the staff to create scenes, if you want!). New Player Solo Game. Be a special event. The sky is a NPSG DM, and really help the limit, but remember, Iron DM: Our annual our newcomers get set up things move slowly on contest doesn't happen for success at the site. Go RPGX sometimes, so plan by itself. We need a lot of the DM Recruitment thread ahead. Contact any of the helpers! See hvg3akaek for the rules, and contact RED staff with your idea Zevonian or Wynamoinen and plan, to express your Outplay: It takes a village for more information. interest. to raise a winner, and the Outplay contest is Coding Podcasts no different. Come be Are you a coding Whiz? Like doing Podcasts? See part of the village! See We have openings for folks Birched. Admin Ronarscorruption or Bhelogan
Players Seeking Games Concierge: Contact Zevonian or Aethera about how you can help folks seeking games!
Games Seeking Players Concierge: Contact Aethera for opportunities to help around the GMs advertising games, and looking for players.
Welcome Wagon
We love our newbies,
37 SOLUTIONs to tavern games ER Crossword
Across: Down:
1. Beep 1. Birch 5. Arbs 2. Edile 9. WIS (Wisdom abbreviated) 3. Eyra 12. Idyl 4. Playbook 13. Shipp 5. Ashy 15. ASL (American Sign Language) 6. Rho ( ρ/ρ ) 16. Rí Rá 7. Birr 17. Horror 8. Sprog 19. ILA (International Literacy Association) 9. Wail 20. Clayey 10. Isla 22. Roleplay 11. Slay 24. He 14. Polymorph 25. Be 18. Reman 26. Gyms 21. E’er 27. Ordic 23. Pst 31. Matrix 28. Deep Gnome Svirfneblin 35. Soho 29. Itil 38. Etymon 30. Cynic 40. Ono 32. Roux 41. Trek 33. Inro 42. Einer 34. Xorn 43. Murr 35. Stew 44. ECL (Effective Character Level) 36. Orca 45. Split P 37. Held 46. Axon 43. Me To 47. Wading 45. Mage Hand 49. Cohog 48. IED (Improvised Explosive Device) 51. Eons 50. Orc 53. Re 52. Sooth 54. SS 54. Sitar 56. Handbook 55. Stink 60. Schuit 56. Hack 62. Ado 57. ADOY 63. Smooth 58. None 65. Anti 59. Kohl 66. Con 60. Shri 67. Ether 61. Unai 68. Naan 64. Tea 69. Kye 70. Hlai 71. Dirk
38 Word Search
Word List: ELDRAZI JASPER PRINCESS AARAKOCRA ENTERPRISE JUBILEX QUARTZ ALCHEMIST ERIS KAMI ROMULAN ANGEL FLAME KLINGON SLADD BAHAMUT FLANK LICH SLEEP BEER GAUNTLET LYCANTHROPE SLYTHERIN BHAERYNDEN GILGAMESH MAGUS SWASHBUCKLER CHOCOBO GITHYANKI MERFOLK TIEFLING CLAIRVOYANCE GOBLIN MISTY TRIBBLE DARKVISION GOODBERRY NALFESHNEE UNICORN DEMIPLANE GOWNS NYARLATHOTEP VOLDEMORT DEVA RON I A N GYARADOS OBSIDIAN WARRIOR DIRK HIPPOGRIFF OGRE X VA RT DJINNI HOBBIT OWLBEAR YEENOGHU DRAGONBORN HUFFLEPUFF PEGASUS ZOMBIE DUMBLEDORE ILLITHID PRESTIDIGITATION ZORN Words in green appear thrice.
39 er logic puzzle
40 new book alert!
From the Back Cover: Has his past finally caught up with Magnus?
All he wanted was to spend the remainder of his time on this earth in a nice safe job, like being a bouncer for a Goth and Heavy Metal bar in Austin, Texas.
But that proves difficult once police start investigating a ritualistic looking murder behind the bar. Can Magnus clear his boss of any connection to the crime, while avoiding the attention of Police, overly curious government agents, and the wife and bandmates of the victim. That doesn’t even count his psychotic ex-girlfriend with potent mystical powers and an immortal and vengeful ex-employer.
Even with the help of his wealthy, powerful, or conniving friends, his own “alt- natural” abilities, and the dubious help of his pets, can Magnus maintain his freedom and remain hidden? Can he stay unentangled with the handful of exciting and alluring women around the case? And can someone please explain how the Raven is learning to speak Norse?
About the Author: Steve Curry (or OgamOdyna on real world history along with a soupcon RPGX since 2008!)is a fledgling author just of Jim Butcher’s humor, and a few pinches beginning to use a spread of experiences of Robert Parker’s character building and careers. His current forays into writing traits to see how he’ll entertain you. He are Urban Fantasy infused with Culinary currently resides in West Texas under the tidbits from a decade as a Le Cordon Bleu management of a yellow hound dog with chef. Military weapons and protocols plus claims on most of a large bed. Others in realistic medical and physical descriptions the hierarchy are an imperial princess and abound from his work with Uncle Sam’s rainbow unicorn riding granddaughter, Army NBC branch and time as a Licensed his wife, the imperial queen and mistress Respiratory Therapist in ICUs across the of eyerolls, and an uncountable horde of nation. Toss in lots of mythology, new invading mongrel cats. age religion, supernatural goodness and
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