May 2011
Next Three Months
05/28/2011 10:40
With May coming to an end, and the summer just around the corner, a lot of the projects James and I have been working on are coming to their conclusion. We’ve been busy, and just because we’ve been silent, does not mean, work is not preceding. So what do you have to look forward too? Here is the run down.
Colonial Gothic
- The Grimoire: This book covers magic in the work of Colonial Gothic. You will find spells, arts, and other goodies. This should be ready by the end of July.
- Flames of Freedom Part 2: This should be ready by the end of August early September. This has gone longer then I thought because of the research. In addition Graeme and I want to make sure that the adventure is ready. There is a lot of things going on in this adventure, and if you thought Boston Besieged was “easy” you are in for a surprise with this part. It is tough and complex.
- Project X: This is something I have been working on for close to six months. If all goes well, this will go into playtest at the end of summer. This project will not see release until next year, but it is big.
Thousand Suns
- Revised Rulebook: In layout and final tweaks. This one is worth the wait. Honest.
Shadow, Sword & Spell
- Threats: Final revision and it will go into editing.
- Under Pashuvanam's Lush: In final edits, should be ready by August.
- Guild War: A new SS&S adventure, this has been going slower than I like, but it is worth it.
Comments
Breaking News
05/24/2011 12:29
This will be short and sweet.
You can stop emailing, tweeting, and the like. If you want a GM Screen for our games, we will move it off the maybe list, and move it to the project list. Give me some time to get is thought out and laid out.
You can stop emailing, tweeting, and the like. If you want a GM Screen for our games, we will move it off the maybe list, and move it to the project list. Give me some time to get is thought out and laid out.
The Beggar
05/21/2011 10:05
As mentioned awhile ago, a new series is starting. Said series is known as In the Raw. Here is the first of what I hope to be a regular feature. This continues today with a new template for Shadow, Sword & Spell.
Found in all cities of the world, scattered along the street, filing the squares and hiding in the shadows of the alleys are those who’ve slipped through the cracks and eek out a living amongst civilizations scraps. Beggars, due to their living on the streets see and hear many things. They are skilled in scrounging, both for wealth as well as information.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Urban
Primary: Nimble
Skills: Acrobatics (Contortion), Bargain (Haggling) Dodge, Observe, Stealth (Shadowing), Streetwise (Scrounging) Subterfuge (Pick Pocket)
Gear: Staff, Clay Bowl
Beggar
Found in all cities of the world, scattered along the street, filing the squares and hiding in the shadows of the alleys are those who’ve slipped through the cracks and eek out a living amongst civilizations scraps. Beggars, due to their living on the streets see and hear many things. They are skilled in scrounging, both for wealth as well as information.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Urban
Primary: Nimble
Skills: Acrobatics (Contortion), Bargain (Haggling) Dodge, Observe, Stealth (Shadowing), Streetwise (Scrounging) Subterfuge (Pick Pocket)
Gear: Staff, Clay Bowl
The Bawd
05/16/2011 07:59
As mentioned in the a few days ago, a new series is starting. Said series is known as In the Raw. Here is the first of what I hope to be a regular feature. This continues today with a new template for Shadow, Sword & Spell.
Every city found throughout The World, has men and women selling their services as guides and escorts to the newly arrived. Bawds are those who know every nook and cranny of their chosen city, and are so tuned into it they are able to get a person what they need. In addition, bawds allow outsiders to gain access to areas or information they might not know.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Urban
Primary: Wits
Skills: Bargain (Bribery), Defend (Parry), Diplomacy (Negotiation), Gaming (Dice), Language (Trade plus one other), Lore (Specific City), Melee (Club), Observe, Streetwise (Criminal Contacts)
Bawd
Every city found throughout The World, has men and women selling their services as guides and escorts to the newly arrived. Bawds are those who know every nook and cranny of their chosen city, and are so tuned into it they are able to get a person what they need. In addition, bawds allow outsiders to gain access to areas or information they might not know.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Urban
Primary: Wits
Skills: Bargain (Bribery), Defend (Parry), Diplomacy (Negotiation), Gaming (Dice), Language (Trade plus one other), Lore (Specific City), Melee (Club), Observe, Streetwise (Criminal Contacts)
The Barber
05/12/2011 07:26
As mentioned in the a few days ago, a new series is starting. Said series is known as In the Raw. Here is the first of what I hope to be a regular feature. This continues today with a new template for Shadow, Sword & Spell.
Found in the City States of Doarn, as well as the League of Merchants, barbers are a group of people skilled in many areas dealing with the body. More that hair cutters, they are dentists, doctors as well as sources of information. Plying their trade in cities, those unable to afford the cost of a physician, often find themselves under a barber’s care.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Urban
Primary: Wits
Skills: Bargain (Charm), Brawl (Dirty Fighting), Heal, Melee (Knife), Observe, Physick (First Aid), Socialize (Carousing), Streetwise (Criminal Contacts), Subterfuge (Sleight of Hand), Throw (Knife)
Gear: Knife
Barber
Found in the City States of Doarn, as well as the League of Merchants, barbers are a group of people skilled in many areas dealing with the body. More that hair cutters, they are dentists, doctors as well as sources of information. Plying their trade in cities, those unable to afford the cost of a physician, often find themselves under a barber’s care.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Urban
Primary: Wits
Skills: Bargain (Charm), Brawl (Dirty Fighting), Heal, Melee (Knife), Observe, Physick (First Aid), Socialize (Carousing), Streetwise (Criminal Contacts), Subterfuge (Sleight of Hand), Throw (Knife)
Gear: Knife
The Assassian
05/07/2011 02:09
As mentioned in the last post, a new series is starting. Said series is known as In the Raw. Here is the first of what I hope to be a regular feature.
Character templates are designed to make character creation not only quicker, but easier. They supplement the cultures and modifiers given in Shadow, Sword & Spell: Basic and Expert by adding more detail according to a more specific character concept.
Players can use character templates for suggestions on spending points on abilities and skills, buying equipment, and creating Hooks for a Hero. GMs can use them as a quick way to create NPCs of a desired type.
Nothing in any character template is mandatory. Their purpose is to aid in character creation, not restrict it. However, when departing from a character template, it can be helpful to think about why this particular character is different from the norm; doing so will help flesh out the character’s background and personality.
Though there are those who sell their skills and offer to kill others, and rumors abound that the Veil of Caim hire their services out, there are those who train and enter the ranks of professional killers. Known as assassins, they organize themselves into small guilds and gangs, and ply their trade for a price. Found in all major cities, assassins are dispassionate killers.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Decadent
Primary: Toughness
Skills: Archery (Crossbow), Athletics (Climbing), Brawl (Punching), Defend (Parry), Herbalist (Poison Making), Intimidation (Torture), Melee (Knife, Sword), Observe, Stealth (Shadowing), Throw (Knife)
Gear: Short Sword, 3 Knives, …..
Hooks:
Character Templates
Character templates are designed to make character creation not only quicker, but easier. They supplement the cultures and modifiers given in Shadow, Sword & Spell: Basic and Expert by adding more detail according to a more specific character concept.
Players can use character templates for suggestions on spending points on abilities and skills, buying equipment, and creating Hooks for a Hero. GMs can use them as a quick way to create NPCs of a desired type.
Nothing in any character template is mandatory. Their purpose is to aid in character creation, not restrict it. However, when departing from a character template, it can be helpful to think about why this particular character is different from the norm; doing so will help flesh out the character’s background and personality.
Assassin
Though there are those who sell their skills and offer to kill others, and rumors abound that the Veil of Caim hire their services out, there are those who train and enter the ranks of professional killers. Known as assassins, they organize themselves into small guilds and gangs, and ply their trade for a price. Found in all major cities, assassins are dispassionate killers.
Culture: Civilized
Modifier: Decadent
Primary: Toughness
Skills: Archery (Crossbow), Athletics (Climbing), Brawl (Punching), Defend (Parry), Herbalist (Poison Making), Intimidation (Torture), Melee (Knife, Sword), Observe, Stealth (Shadowing), Throw (Knife)
Gear: Short Sword, 3 Knives, …..
Hooks:
- It is not personal it is only business.
- Your death will bring me great wealth.
- Let it not be said, I did not kill my target.
- No one weeps for your death.
- I have a message for you, it is a simple one: die.
In the Raw
05/07/2011 01:39
Things have been busy. Really busy.
Starting today, I plan on starting a series known as In the Raw. This series will be a peak into the notebooks I write in, and give you a taste of some of the things I am working on. The material that will put up will be in a ready to run format. Basically you can take these ideas and run with them as is. The material slated to show up will find its’ way into upcoming projects.
So what do you have to look forward to? Things for Shadow, Sword & Spell, Colonial Gothic, and Thousand Suns. This is material that needs a polish, but it is ready for you to pull apart.
Coming up first is going to be a preview of Shadow, Sword & Spell: Templates. Over the next few weeks, there will be a slew of templates coming your way.
Starting today, I plan on starting a series known as In the Raw. This series will be a peak into the notebooks I write in, and give you a taste of some of the things I am working on. The material that will put up will be in a ready to run format. Basically you can take these ideas and run with them as is. The material slated to show up will find its’ way into upcoming projects.
So what do you have to look forward to? Things for Shadow, Sword & Spell, Colonial Gothic, and Thousand Suns. This is material that needs a polish, but it is ready for you to pull apart.
Coming up first is going to be a preview of Shadow, Sword & Spell: Templates. Over the next few weeks, there will be a slew of templates coming your way.