tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87361819858456488892024-03-19T08:39:17.473+01:00The World BeyondThe Role Playing Game <br>
Free, fast, elegant and yet "realistic" Paper & Pencil fantasy role gaming since 1989 - formerly known as Dark DungeonJaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.comBlogger366125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-59870868412796597332016-11-19T12:20:00.000+01:002016-11-19T12:20:11.869+01:00Pick #98: Wobbly arrows...For all those of you who ever wondered why a flying arrow from a longbow seems to wobble: it does! And if you're wondering why it hits target, this video by "smarter every day" explains beautifully. And there's a sheriff with longbow skill 10. <br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O7zewtuUM_0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O7zewtuUM_0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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I'm not sure whether this knowledge is much good for role playing games, but maybe describing the sight of a snaking arrow coming toward you is kind of scary and cool. <br />
<br />Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-31086814770002771842016-11-06T22:37:00.001+01:002016-11-11T20:04:25.038+01:00Santiago Joe Adventure RPG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3Ix7vrYXaSedSMVcBCJ7dpLp8NFiNromwQyrcKxJR23XV2FTnnUDn1o0jrzyfzU6QLQMf1zjUtDYdcBwIHIUF5OrWUukwMGNryL4RGsKj-ix7yUdf5bV0Z-zZg-0EZTF7lUsQRCTaMM/s1600/SantiagoJoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3Ix7vrYXaSedSMVcBCJ7dpLp8NFiNromwQyrcKxJR23XV2FTnnUDn1o0jrzyfzU6QLQMf1zjUtDYdcBwIHIUF5OrWUukwMGNryL4RGsKj-ix7yUdf5bV0Z-zZg-0EZTF7lUsQRCTaMM/s400/SantiagoJoe.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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For a limited time, the <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/197548/Santiago-Joe-Adventure-RPG">Santiago Joe Diceless Pulp Adventure game</a> is available again for Pay What You Want. Always wanted to watch and play your own B-Movies, and never have the time to play except during short breaks? This may just be the game for you.<br />
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I fashioned the game originally for a 24-hour challenge, because I often want to play a fast game even when I don't have dice ready. I also tried to build a mechanism where you quickly make up the premise and heroes of the adventure together as a group - somewhat like in Fiasco, but again without dice. As players (STARS) and game master (WRITER-DIRECTOR), you take turns adding elements to the title and credit lists of your own movie, and then start playing the acts. Idea is to play fast - and keep the action rolling while ad-libbing the story. Players and game master just describe what they do, building on what's already described. As long as the action is new and fresh, and fits the hero, it succeeds - but the game master can think up a new challenge. Conversely, each time a player (or the game master) falters and hesitates to make up how to win a challenge or solve a conflict, their hero (or the game master's villain) fails in their actions and the opponent wins.<br />
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Also, I added the ten commandments of the pulp story game, to keep the action going - and a secret eleventh one for the game master. In the back of the book there are lists of settings and ideas to get you going. <br />
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Donations appreciated, and with enough interest I'll do a kickstarter for an extended version with extra adventures, ideas, random lists, and enhanced artwork. Be sure to let me know, and just leave a comment to motivate me ;-)<br />
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<br />Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-15446187569261061662016-10-24T21:43:00.000+02:002016-11-08T12:10:34.736+01:00Eighteen Heroes and an Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ5u7pWjFbBmX44YEOCUVWR6bM55ISgfuOzDf8Zp9qlNkbx4-srjliw3FdKsjxPs9-dhHycbLaUg1dgYTSLH-CIgkzPp1sfj-VjJmp60NGQBmMdqZQgfhjuOCvbkxmWGrzScVtlmeSn0/s1600/eighteenheroes_cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ5u7pWjFbBmX44YEOCUVWR6bM55ISgfuOzDf8Zp9qlNkbx4-srjliw3FdKsjxPs9-dhHycbLaUg1dgYTSLH-CIgkzPp1sfj-VjJmp60NGQBmMdqZQgfhjuOCvbkxmWGrzScVtlmeSn0/s320/eighteenheroes_cover.png" width="238" /></a></div>
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My new supplement for The World Beyond <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/169266/Eighteen-Heroes" target="_blank">is now available in print</a>. The sleek booklet is full color, with 18 ready made heroes which you can play out of the box. Each hero has their own sheet, front and back. I loved doing the artwork on each of the characters, trying to give each of them something special. Hope you will enjoy them too.<br />
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After counting pages I figured I had a few pages left, so I added a short adventure. It features a murder mystery on Samaris with a rather... Lovecraftian twist. I playtested the adventure a few times at the Dutch Role Playing Guild, and we had a lot a fun - even with quite large parties.<br />
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Each of the heroes is featured with their own three special contacts in the city of Samaris, so they are instantly usable in the Samaris setting. If you don't have the Samaris hardcover (yet), you can use the short descriptions and the extra map I've also included, instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lDGhoi7F2e3XjEwr5bIscdmTOR9IRJ6cKeOUXpoTD35HHhGL914rE2XPcs1NU0nag5V1VxSbVwNa_Y7L6XTSTJvSZjPsXEqvKRr-yR0ov2b1TGtks5DARiLDZOlfvN2QcURYkAh2C-8/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-10-24+at+9.40.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lDGhoi7F2e3XjEwr5bIscdmTOR9IRJ6cKeOUXpoTD35HHhGL914rE2XPcs1NU0nag5V1VxSbVwNa_Y7L6XTSTJvSZjPsXEqvKRr-yR0ov2b1TGtks5DARiLDZOlfvN2QcURYkAh2C-8/s320/Screen+shot+2016-10-24+at+9.40.09+PM.png" width="235" /></a></div>
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Update: You can now order the 48p full color print from DriveThru or RPG Now!Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-6106003885403957162015-12-31T01:24:00.000+01:002016-11-12T23:50:47.224+01:00The World Beyond hardcovers published!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xjS6JoeS13HBlkzqphYK6xM4dCALD_Tu5wjOslgBPHivGj2vr3z6aBkaXACDFlhhShldr9q9oXxCdXIH00KW9Q1nsUQqh5Nfw77sJHy-YgNW8qITZ1d6g1RqMoRCA9pX6Hx6ppy-21o/s1600/aSAMARISTWB_screen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xjS6JoeS13HBlkzqphYK6xM4dCALD_Tu5wjOslgBPHivGj2vr3z6aBkaXACDFlhhShldr9q9oXxCdXIH00KW9Q1nsUQqh5Nfw77sJHy-YgNW8qITZ1d6g1RqMoRCA9pX6Hx6ppy-21o/s320/aSAMARISTWB_screen.png" width="236" /></a>Yes, just before the new year, both <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/151829/The-World-Beyond-RPG" target="_blank"><b>The World Beyond Basic Game</b></a> and <b><a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/151830/Samaris--Game-Companion-to-The-World-Beyond-RPG" target="_blank">Samaris Game Companion</a> </b>are now available in full color print and pdf from DriveThruRPG. <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/4340/Sangreal-Games" target="_blank">And at the same time you'll find three 48page full color softcovers</a> with additional material:<br />
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- Shadow of the Haunted Keep (a classic adventure),<br />
- Unpleasant Encounters (25 adventure capsules), and<br />
- Eighteen Heroes (full page illustrated prefab heroes for your games, with a full adventure and a Southport map).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBikwkEiLI5J5mrzQQ72ahABlWKudVHUzn4Ehc2CNiqn03UEkNO0Dz0MJ6PyYfy7stNvrRg5-jnB7iVi-ExGDTgYDiT720V0ET6bRVXp-W5a-TyX0ZYQ4l-RWpUwiaVZWjLVXmlp5wttM/s1600/TWB_sampler_cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBikwkEiLI5J5mrzQQ72ahABlWKudVHUzn4Ehc2CNiqn03UEkNO0Dz0MJ6PyYfy7stNvrRg5-jnB7iVi-ExGDTgYDiT720V0ET6bRVXp-W5a-TyX0ZYQ4l-RWpUwiaVZWjLVXmlp5wttM/s320/TWB_sampler_cover.png" width="226" /></a><br />
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If you're still doubting, you can get a <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/99833/The-World-Beyond-RPG-Sampler" target="_blank">full color 48 page sampler</a> - enough to build a hero with and taste the system - for a ridiculously low price. You can also get it in full color print for a bit more.<br />
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The forerunner of the World Beyond was Dark Dungeon 2nd edition. All older books have been updated with dozens and dozens of full color illustrations, layout and rules were revised, and for the basic game three short adventures were added. Even if you are a lucky owner of the older DD2 ruleset, you may love the new expanded full color versions and rules tweaks.<br />
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Moreover, you'll find three Sangreal Games card games for print on demand on DriveThru too! And that's including the classic <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/119103/WysaertZ--Ye-Magickally-Quicke-Card-Gaeme" target="_blank">WysaertZ card game</a> and its expansion Destrucktion Decke, fast, funny, silly, ande very addictive. Yes. Really.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-13860157037625298572015-05-09T20:06:00.002+02:002015-05-09T20:06:59.335+02:00Pick #97: four pilots from the makers of "The Gamers"?Would you like to be part of not just one, nor two, nor three but FOUR new pilots of new series to be made by the makers of "The Gamers"? Then have a look at <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zombieorpheus/pilot-season-four-new-shows-from-zombie-orpheus?ref=gamerati" target="_blank">this kickstarter</a> before the end of the month and decide whether you have some cash to spare.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHp7JEbfLyMhXqN8obw9aU6TW4rfQo9aD_AqcTc0mZVAppi42WCUd8RP_LYCWewQwjtBH47sxkhAeiEwbadLtMCkx3XnJyFywStFNzwO5nuF6GFpDURFRvKkl4GS8LZYSoobZNyzEQgE/s1600/photo-original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHp7JEbfLyMhXqN8obw9aU6TW4rfQo9aD_AqcTc0mZVAppi42WCUd8RP_LYCWewQwjtBH47sxkhAeiEwbadLtMCkx3XnJyFywStFNzwO5nuF6GFpDURFRvKkl4GS8LZYSoobZNyzEQgE/s400/photo-original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you can't remember <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvH4PskPZ4M" target="_blank">The Gamers</a>, you've been missing out - have a look at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DvlNV0riXw" target="_blank">the third Gamer movie </a>online here to see what I mean. Really!Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-25444546638475958192015-04-10T21:42:00.001+02:002016-11-22T11:21:04.566+01:00Map South of Holmeston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChxD2p2E8ghzeOOaeyH8Ytqo5JY2yTvw-KDSqUJatH05-L3gLCWvO0WCbP2S5jeU3UNPPLzWJqrQAsQe2XZXPNd-mmfuqelc8SS72rIekKUHgGXWt5cZz4QppRmkbqix0kDuE_MWCXyc/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-04-10+at+9.33.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChxD2p2E8ghzeOOaeyH8Ytqo5JY2yTvw-KDSqUJatH05-L3gLCWvO0WCbP2S5jeU3UNPPLzWJqrQAsQe2XZXPNd-mmfuqelc8SS72rIekKUHgGXWt5cZz4QppRmkbqix0kDuE_MWCXyc/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-04-10+at+9.33.18+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Update: This Holmeston map is featured in <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/147484/Unpleasant-Encounters?hot60=0&src=hnum">Unpleasant Encounters</a> - with 25+ adventurelets for OSR games, or for The World Beyond.<br />
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Original post: Finally, the new color print files have been approved by the printer - proofs are ordered and on the way. Looks like five The World Beyond books (formerly Dark Dungeon) will be available in full color soon!<br />
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If you were one of the buyers of a black & white version, you'll receive a free color pdf update. <br />
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Meanwhile have a look at the small map South of Holmeston - featured in Unpleasant Encounters. That's one of the books now available, with 48 color pages with 25 miniature adventures in an old school vein.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-89248500633646632752015-04-07T00:20:00.002+02:002015-04-07T00:20:25.063+02:00French Foreign Legion employs Dwarves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCl5PuW0Z8Hy3e3cL1TnTt3gV9yiSzmy51__FN90CMJjnZLg2C6CT0AROGp9kaZBclrU7sda8okCaqFlI-Kc0Hd6j94qYLvQ5ldRBDJLFJaz-GuITWvUrtwgHVhbQ3JYgF8qW02679Ac/s1600/220px-Pionnier-legion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCl5PuW0Z8Hy3e3cL1TnTt3gV9yiSzmy51__FN90CMJjnZLg2C6CT0AROGp9kaZBclrU7sda8okCaqFlI-Kc0Hd6j94qYLvQ5ldRBDJLFJaz-GuITWvUrtwgHVhbQ3JYgF8qW02679Ac/s1600/220px-Pionnier-legion.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Actually, just joking of course... but the resemblance of the ceremonial sapper uniform to that of a steretypical dwarf is striking in my humble opnion.<br />
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photo courtesy Wikipedia (sapper)Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-22251346150145753692015-03-28T21:57:00.001+01:002015-03-28T21:57:28.754+01:00More Art in ProgressHere's a few samples of the interior of Unpleasant Encounters - a
48-page story sandbox with 25 mini-adventures. Thought I'd do something
fun while waiting for more print proofs of the new color hardcovers of
the Samaris companion and the Basic Game. Enjoy!<br />
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Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-30207156466274920262015-03-27T22:12:00.000+01:002015-03-27T22:12:44.750+01:00Art in progress...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RAhqM8FDYPdEYrY-4EuhminYovksYh_EoewmgJG4Ed1UfffmzXNa7DZ6Eo7GoVC6xlQN0KzxuFHbb0Twdkk3tMPVTh8YVvVuMDo-6xqBIua-PqPb-cDdMydroM43XtwfEisc8RE5-ZA/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-03-27+at+9.27.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RAhqM8FDYPdEYrY-4EuhminYovksYh_EoewmgJG4Ed1UfffmzXNa7DZ6Eo7GoVC6xlQN0KzxuFHbb0Twdkk3tMPVTh8YVvVuMDo-6xqBIua-PqPb-cDdMydroM43XtwfEisc8RE5-ZA/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-03-27+at+9.27.12+PM.png" height="400" width="317" /></a></div>
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Been drawing and paintshopping a cover for a new supplement today. Now I have to do the lay out of the inside :-)Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-52287097772054199632015-03-24T20:17:00.001+01:002015-03-24T20:20:53.112+01:00Pick #96: Game Poems<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaROS7rxTYXjWaybRwurHCSydyDwxeMy8mVKIFP5v8QLFAorE70eGpaNlCltAsBhuW3NDBCvpaWWpTYNaHkpR7EiWzAa2HF3z5ZHCxJBv9ZA_ijnMMPELulljUls2DGTn70CLhqGRws4/s1600/pic1028686.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaROS7rxTYXjWaybRwurHCSydyDwxeMy8mVKIFP5v8QLFAorE70eGpaNlCltAsBhuW3NDBCvpaWWpTYNaHkpR7EiWzAa2HF3z5ZHCxJBv9ZA_ijnMMPELulljUls2DGTn70CLhqGRws4/s1600/pic1028686.png" /></a>Sometimes the world is just beautifully weird. Game Poems are almost Zen-like short games, often games akin to role play and story telling, which you can set up in no time and play in... like 15 minutes. Perhaps they are more for people who also like Fiasco than those who like D&D, but I guess they are worth checking out just for the mind-jarring effect the idea has. Be sure to try some links to get your head around them.<br />
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Marc Majger devoted a whole blog to them at <a href="http://gamepoems.gizmet.com/" target="_blank">Gizmet Game Poems</a>, and <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/marc-majcher/twenty-four-game-poems/paperback/product-12919742.html" target="_blank">made a book</a> too. This blog is a fine place to start.<br />
<br />
"[Game poems] generally address some
specific mood or emotion, or focus on one particular notion, but not all
of the games here strictly adhere to that definition. First and
foremost, a game poem is just there to be taken in and experienced with a
friend or group of friends for a few moments, and then those moments
are over – and hopefully, something small and wonderful will happen in
the process."<br />
<br />
You can find more about game poems on <a href="https://norwegianstyle.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/role-playing-poems/" target="_blank">the Norwegian Style Blog</a>, <a href="http://story-games.com/forums/discussion/20102/journeyman-wizard-a-game-poem" target="_blank">The Story Games</a> forum, or here <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/669846/puncture-rose-sea-mouth" target="_blank">at Board Game Geek</a>. The idea of <a href="http://forum.rpg.net/archive/index.php/t-396462.html" target="_blank">the roleplaying poem seems to be Norwegian in origin</a>, I figure. Be sure to check out the crazy <a href="http://www.story-games.com/forums/discussion/6491/children-monks-a-norwegian-style-role-playing-poem" target="_blank">Children Monks: role playing poem</a> by Bryan Hansel, too.<br />
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If you're in for a weird experience, or like things like theatre sports, this may certainly be for you.<br />
<br />Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-2480474791318159802015-03-23T18:29:00.004+01:002015-03-28T11:15:14.498+01:00Pick #95: PlaGMaDa archives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKU3CRyvXIyWHJZ2uSCRolKEPcFYrlxj4EcLRYBEHYmiIfJ58K9FC130FDwQfXhnhbj4_HmdEGdQwRykEIkdoy-dGZHsbsnEFowHqPaOpV4zwIfPgCqV0nZpPCwKf3NZbHlD1RnN6VmA/s1600/plagmada3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKU3CRyvXIyWHJZ2uSCRolKEPcFYrlxj4EcLRYBEHYmiIfJ58K9FC130FDwQfXhnhbj4_HmdEGdQwRykEIkdoy-dGZHsbsnEFowHqPaOpV4zwIfPgCqV0nZpPCwKf3NZbHlD1RnN6VmA/s1600/plagmada3.png" /></a></div>
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Have you ever wanted to get rid of your old gaming notes, scribbles, hand-drawn maps and doodles? Or are you instead intrigued by the scribblings and sheets of others? Do you want to see the real originals? The <a href="http://plagmada.org/Welcome.html" target="_blank">PlaGMaDa archives</a> may be something for you then.<br />
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PlaGMaDa stands for the Play Generated Map & Document archive, and it takes any kind of paper and digital donations, as long as they pertain to paper & pen role playing games. So there's lots of old character sheets and hand-drawn modules that belong there.<br />
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You can surf through scans of the archive freely, and there are plans to have real life exhibitions in the future. PlaGMaDa even published a few shirts and books, including one by Ken St. Andre, game designer of Tunnels & Trolls. As I write this <a href="http://plagmada.org/Shop.html" target="_blank">their shop</a> is down, but it should be up in a week or maybe two if all is well. They also have <a href="http://plagmada.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">a blog</a>, and you can help fund them if you like the initiative.<br />
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<br />Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-13634727907619078022015-03-16T11:52:00.001+01:002016-11-06T21:24:12.176+01:00We moved to The World BeyondThe Dark Dungeon 2nd Edition blog has moved to The World Beyond!<br />
Well... it's got a new name. And a new banner. :-)<br />
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And soon, I hope, comes more news.<br />
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<br />Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-60190496112757269312015-02-09T19:42:00.001+01:002015-03-23T18:52:13.685+01:00Pick #94: Yet Another Dark Dungeon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9B5kBUUUUWrKMgDRZAq0eM12GJ1HoEqlwlMhU9OFCBYZX5itZivYD82apMpRDU6IRfBsKvxDSHgqKD3Mua__Tr9p8i7eEoCYs5t60Q07ZWfT409rbPFBXmrFD4fyaVJImL9-03uOqiQs/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-02-09+at+7.38.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9B5kBUUUUWrKMgDRZAq0eM12GJ1HoEqlwlMhU9OFCBYZX5itZivYD82apMpRDU6IRfBsKvxDSHgqKD3Mua__Tr9p8i7eEoCYs5t60Q07ZWfT409rbPFBXmrFD4fyaVJImL9-03uOqiQs/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-02-09+at+7.38.42+PM.png" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Dark Dungeon is a wonderful name - so wonderful that there are various games bearing it - sometimes to my chagrin, as they are confused with my own <a href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/106835/Dark-Dungeon-2nd-Edition-Starter-Kit" target="_blank">Dark Dungeon</a>. Still, most are good games in their own right, and this site is dedicated to Dark Dungeon in many forms, so... here's another one!<br />
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This <a href="http://boyslife.org/games/online-games/31930/dark-dungeon/" target="_blank">Dark Dungeon</a> is a fairly recent Flash implementation of the game you might know as "Rogue" or "Hack!" which used to be played on Unix mainframes in the 1980's. Actually it's nice, and plays smoothly. Enjoy.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-52826221893975062862015-02-06T11:57:00.003+01:002015-02-09T19:47:56.520+01:00Change the Name of the Game?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzr2uWG3JyspbtfZ4afC6N3sET3iKbfAeeF_3JhSbzgfxpDMVwfWqBl6bbRqFMF5KPoL8zJBT-a_I3htZMRR_ak1z7-KogJ2-SzLPxfjqs7Ma3EMP1ra4LRZwPNjhiDfm6DKrWY7KVcww/s1600/WP_20141023_003_s_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzr2uWG3JyspbtfZ4afC6N3sET3iKbfAeeF_3JhSbzgfxpDMVwfWqBl6bbRqFMF5KPoL8zJBT-a_I3htZMRR_ak1z7-KogJ2-SzLPxfjqs7Ma3EMP1ra4LRZwPNjhiDfm6DKrWY7KVcww/s1600/WP_20141023_003_s_s.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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The full color print proofs of the new rulebooks are in, and look cool! Apart from the color illustrations on nearly every page, there's one other big difference with the black and white edition... the name of the game. It used to be "Dark Dungeon 2nd edition".<br />
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Now I'm rooting for Angels & Dragons. Why? Because there are at least three other games with nearly the same name, and at least one this game is quite often confused with. The other games are nice in their own right, but this one is very different and deserves it's own attention. Hence a new name: Angels & Dragons.<br />
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But I'd like to ask you too, before I release the revised full color version on DriveThru.<br />
What do you think? Is Angels & Dragons a good new brand name? Let me know!<br />
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And for all of you who bought the earlier edition, yes, you'll get a free pdf update in full color. Of course!Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-50286982459385399212014-03-04T16:43:00.000+01:002016-11-06T21:16:19.220+01:00New Rulebook in Color?Against my planning, I found myself redoing the whole <strike>Dark Dungeon</strike> The World Beyond rulebook in full color. Here are some samples. Would you think you'd like that?<br />
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Update: You can now <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151829/The-World-Beyond-RPG">buy The World Beyond in full color luxury hardcover & pdf </a>indeed! <br />
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<br />Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-78781151941598562972014-02-10T12:50:00.000+01:002014-02-12T23:50:57.480+01:00Pick #93: Star Wars meets Reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Suppose the soldiers, creatures and droids from Star Wars appeared in our own reality. What would that make for a picture? That's what the work of French photographer Cedric Delsaux is about in his <a href="http://www.cedricdelsaux.com/en/photos/dark-lens.html" target="_blank">Dark Lens</a> series.<br />
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If you don't know about it and you're a Star Wars fan, you might be jarred. If you like documentary photography, you may be jarred aswell. Enjoy in wonder, and join me in a nother thought: what would a Star Wars role playing game be like if we allowed it to mesh in with our reality? Naturally, Star Trek regularly went into its past, into our own time, but Star Trek has a different feel. What about Star Wars? Boba Fet in a parking lot, Imperial troops in Iraq and Shanghai, Darth Vader in Dubai. What intriguing stories can you spin from there?Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-9367300196335021472014-02-07T10:56:00.006+01:002014-02-07T11:01:19.911+01:00Pick #92: What does a real sword weigh?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever wondered what a real suit of plate weighs, and whether you can move around in it if you're not like Lou Ferigno? Or have you ever wondered whether two-handed swords were really as cumbersome and heavy as the older GM guide said in Dungeons & Dragons? Thirty pounds for a sword seems rather hefty to use - that's about the weight of a bicycle. Because, what's the use of a big weapon or powerful armour if it badly slows you down?<br />
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Well, here are a few writers who bust the myth. They just tried it on and did their historical research. Plate armour was really made to be easy to carry. Maybe it's not as comfortable as spandex tights for the X-men, but it's surely workable. And two-handers? The well-balanced ones were easy to wield, they say, if you know how to. The less balanced ones were probably never meant for fighting, and if these were used at all, they would only have been used at executions. And how much do they weigh? A few pounds.<br />
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Check out what <a href="http://l-clausewitz.livejournal.com/390764.html?nojs=1" target="_blank">I Clausewitz</a> and <a href="http://www.thearma.org/essays/weights.htm" target="_blank">J. Clements at ARMA</a> have to say about it. You might also have a look at the extensive information by the <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aams/hd_aams.htm" target="_blank">Metropolitan Museum in NY</a> or laugh about the <a href="http://www.truefork.org/DragonPreservationSociety/Swordheavy.php" target="_blank">Dragon Preservation Society</a> take on this one. If you're not handling swords every day, they may give you a few eyeopeners. They did for me, when I first read them!<br />
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Drawing by Urs Graf, borrowed from Dragon Preservation Society, picturing what a true 30 pound sword would look like.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-38117247548181713332013-12-29T21:57:00.001+01:002014-01-08T20:53:52.293+01:00Role Playing 101 #15: Story Gaming in your Dungeon<style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
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Last issue I discussed how you can see
a Story game as a particular kind of Dungeon. Of course, you can also
see the dungeon as a particular kind of story. Even better, you can
combine the two different game types - sparking one of the other.
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You might already be doing this of
course, putting story elements in your dungeon, or perhaps little
dungeons in your story. Even if you do, doing this consciously can
make it much easier running your game.</div>
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<b>Quests: a Story in your Dungeon</b></div>
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If you are more comfortable with
dungeon, endless corridors with dangerous denizens, and fiendish
subterranean complexes, you'll probably want to start there. Your
party would explore a mythic under-earth place, perhaps with some
sort of overall goal in mind - perhaps not. Often, you'll just delve
toward the deepest level like in a game of "Dungeon Hack"
or its modern variant "Diablo".</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Stories typically enter such a setting
as little "quests". In a room you may chance upon a patron
asking your services, or on a dying creature with a treasure map, or
even an enemy demanding something special before you may pass. Each
of these encounters may spark off little stories, or puzzles,
depending on how you use them. These are quests.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Quests only become stories once you
also insert scenes. Computer games do this all the time, as "cut
scenes" between the action. But these are seldom giving any
choice to the heroes, or their players. What you want in a game is
some freedom of choice, and choices that matter.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Scenes are a kind of Encounter</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Your quests will be small stories, with
a beginning and an end, and some developments in between. Each
development is a scene - and each scene, is a kind of encounter
taking place somewhere. A story can take different paths, and you
might want to think up new scenes as you go along - but they can all
take place in your dungeon. You just need enough space to have your
story in.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Suppose your heroes encounter a band of
orcs, who have a prisoner. That's your opening scene for the quest -
a encounter with the orcs. Once the heroes freed the prisoner, and
either killed, captured or chased away the orcs, the prisoner is very
thankful and reveals he was searching a treasure here. He had a map,
but he had to hide it while the orcs were chasing him - that's scene
two. The heroes may now navigate to where the map may be or first do
other things. But once the heroes get to the point where the map is,
you can trigger scene three: it's now guarded by a horrible wandering
monster, or perhaps it has fallen down a treacherous chute. Once the
heroes have the map, they will be able to study it, and this might be
scene four. It could be for example, that the heroes now recognize
the area of the map, and realize it is a very dangerous area they
have run away from before. This may spark of an interesting
discussion of whether they want to go there at all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And so you could spin your little story
on further, while in between your scenes the heroes explore the
dungeon and have their regular encounters. You may find that your
players live up every time a new piece of the story appears, and that
it gives new direction to your adventures.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Scenes are Challenges</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Each new story element should pose some
sort of choice, or challenge. Perhaps the heroes find that the
prisoner they freed was part of a team he betrayed, and that that
team is also out looking for the treasure. Suppose they now encounter
that other team - whose side will they choose?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Also, each scene could end differently,
and the story could bend in many ways. The map could end up damaged,
or stolen, the prisoner wounded mortally, the orcs might return later
in greater force. You don't have to tie down the storyline beforehand
(better not!), and you don't have to be strict about where things
should take place either. You can also insert a new development of a
quest whenever you feel the game slows down, or the players need some
change of pace.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>An Overall Storyline</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Once you are comfortable with quests,
or perhaps before, you may want to have an overall storyline to your
dungeon too. This may be a main quest, that drew the heroes into your
dungeon in the first place. Perhaps they look for a long lost
treasure, a long lost race, or a prisoner that was taken in deep.
Perhaps they want to defeat an ancient evil that hides on a deep
level, and now sends out it's minions to terrorize the world above -
this is naturally the classic dungeon theme.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
An overall storyline would have at
least one opening scene - but you might have one for each new session
you start, just to remind your players why they are there. An opening
could be an encounter with the minions of the evil mastermind - an
assault, a surprise attack, or even a negotiator, or a victim.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
During the game, you would have
developments. The heroes might beat an important minion, or lose a
good friend. They might find a special weapon to fight their enemy,
or discover a map proving a new route to his lair. They might
befriend new allies in their quest, or free prisoners with new
information. Each of such scenes will not only add spice to your
dungeon, it will give direction to your game and your players. Most
importantly it will enrich your game and make it more fun.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-9887387901009234132013-11-02T21:34:00.001+01:002013-12-29T21:59:31.115+01:00Pick #91: 24-Hour RPG Competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIpJYvjJlGe-51VGp6r8q0MZ7AnT25tHvHHPmUiof5Gf0L6q-mbYEUQs0E4NMIuP8vFd-Y1uTOCWRvRO289BzaP_a3W8o6v5GsO6YO_ViWh9cEJEbjZMNmNls4BessCE4Ej7DXnAIBt4/s1600/480x640granitehard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIpJYvjJlGe-51VGp6r8q0MZ7AnT25tHvHHPmUiof5Gf0L6q-mbYEUQs0E4NMIuP8vFd-Y1uTOCWRvRO289BzaP_a3W8o6v5GsO6YO_ViWh9cEJEbjZMNmNls4BessCE4Ej7DXnAIBt4/s320/480x640granitehard.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Have you ever contemplated writing your own role playing game? Chances are, if you've stumbled upon this blog, that you have. Have you ever considered writing one within 24 hours?<br />
<br />
With some regularity, the guys at <a href="http://www.1km1kt.net/" target="_blank">1kM1kT</a> have a competition to do just that. In fact, <a href="http://www.thefreerpgblog.com/2013/10/harder-than-granite-24-hour-rpg.html" target="_blank">there is one now, as I write this during November 2013</a>. You can win 30 sterling in vouchers to meet "your gaming habit needs", and all you have to do is lock yourself up for 24 hours somewhere and write that game.<br />
<br />
If you think it's not possible - you may be surprised - I participated four times, and I was both proud and surprised of what I could do in such a span of time. It's quite a boost to see what concentration and time-limits can do for your creative brain. Later versions even became full fledged commercial games of which I'm proud - like the cooperative card RPG <a href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/118035/Ringworld-Zombie-SE" target="_blank">Ringworld Zombie</a>.<br />
<br />
Even when you don't feel like participating, or if you have no time to do so - you might want to <a href="http://www.1km1kt.net/" target="_blank">look at the results of others' efforts</a>, and be amazed with at least some of them.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-8251430323522739082013-10-09T22:47:00.000+02:002013-10-09T22:52:51.404+02:00Role Play 101 #14: Story Telling for Dungeon Builders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnJLmOCnm1B7lMbpw2dHIDmns8ap7w-68lXR8B6sAaVQ1Gq50yH7dXW0jbCAtccd9aJYW6bhRu_ikhTilruREwFqaV1J3tsKWlA4UHqDyE3NJmHWpKYIoA80au7ZThRIR6VwB6H35vGo/s1600/IMG_0698-540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnJLmOCnm1B7lMbpw2dHIDmns8ap7w-68lXR8B6sAaVQ1Gq50yH7dXW0jbCAtccd9aJYW6bhRu_ikhTilruREwFqaV1J3tsKWlA4UHqDyE3NJmHWpKYIoA80au7ZThRIR6VwB6H35vGo/s320/IMG_0698-540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
At times it may seem there are two kinds of role players, the dungeon-type gamers, and the story-gamers. Two styles of play that are worlds apart. Dungeoneers may feel lost in a story type game, story gamers feel underestimated in a dungeon. But the styles may have more in common than it may seem, and in fact you could write a story as if it were a "dungeon".<br />
<br />
<b>The Difference: Story vs Dungeon</b><br />
<br />
Dungeon gamers generally love Dungeons & Dragons in one form or another, Story gamers often don't - and instead prefer more "open" games where character and story are more important. The first group likes to just get into the action, and let any stories unfold as they do, if at all. The second group likes to get into their roles, and want to feel their heroes lives unfold in a story resembling an exciting movie or book - something with a plot, or at least something with some real depth and if possible a beginning and an end. <br />
<br />
Often there is no dungeon whatsoever in a story game, just like there may be no story in a dungeon game. So what do these game have in common? Well, they're both games - role playing games. They just have different frames of reference. One has rooms for building blocks, the other uses scenes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Similarity: Scenes are a kind of Room</b><br />
<br />
When you frame your game either as a dungeon or as a story, you are very much deciding how your game world is delineated. Are you moving from room to room, or moving from scene to scene? Rooms or scenes are your borders, your frame of reference in which you can move around. Sure, you can break down walls and make new rooms in a dungeon, but basically each new room is a new game situation. In a way, each new room is a special sort of scene.<br />
<br />
In the same way, scenes are building blocks of a story. Sure again, one scene may flow over into another, but each scene is a separate, limited game situation. And just like every room has walls, exits, and stuff or even creatures or people in it, so every scene takes place somewhere, with someone, at sometime, with some central action and theme. You can almost think of a scene as an "encounter" with someone, or something. A scene is a sort of challenge, in a way. It can be a fight, a chase, a briefing, sneaking past the guard, breaking into a house, and so on.<br />
<br />
A scene is limited - almost like a room. And like a room has exits, a scene has different "story exits", or leads, to other possible scenes in the story.<br />
<b><br />Connecting Scene "Rooms" into a Story</b><br />
<br />
A role playing story is formed during play, and not during preparation. The choices of the players are just as important in how a story develops as what the game master may have thought up beforehand. <br />
<br />
Dungeoneers often complain that they feel railroaded in a story game, much the same way all gamers would feel railroaded if they were in a dungeon with just one route to take - and no going back. Nobody would like that - and yet that's what many earlier modules looked like - and may still look like.<br />
<br />
So the trick in any story game is to provide enough choices. Somewhat like a dungeon with many routes. Every scene should have several "story exits" to choose from, each leading to another scene. Thus you could have a map, or a flow chart of scenes - much like an abstract sort of "dungeon". But you can also just have a list of potential scenes, on a sheet or index cards maybe, and think of possible links on the spot, while you're game mastering.<br />
<br />
Thinking in such scene exits may sound a bit more difficult than just drawing a new corridor or door on your map, but it doesn't need to be.<br />
<br />
<b>Scene Exits</b><br />
<br />
So, what would a scene "exit" look like? Some typical exits could be:<br />
<br />
- follow the villain - tracking him down, or chasing him, <br />
- follow a clue or lead to a new location or contact (typical for mysteries), <br />
- run away from danger, <br />
- travel to a new location on route to a quest goal, <br />
- rest and prepare for the next day or scene, <br />
- follow an invitation from a patron or friend, <br />
- get captured by enemies or the guard, <br />
- go and shop for necessary supplies or special gear, <br />
- go do research about the adventure goal, or about the antagonist, <br />
- go get help from friends or authorities,<br />
- and so on...<br />
<br />
Whenever you are in a scene, it makes sense to think ahead to which new scenes the players may want to move. If there are no obvious choices, you should provide some. If they didn't find the clues you wanted them to find? Make a new scene exit for them, and throw in some new clues pointing in a useful direction. Are your players going another way than you expected? Either go with the flow, or throw in a "random" encounter that becomes a new scene with new choice exits. Are your players bogged down, and not sure which way to go? Throw in a new friend, enemy or patron to give them new options. Also don't be afraid to just skip time, and say: "ok, you spend about three days in town, and then the next thing happens…".<br />
<b><br />Story Entrance and Climax Chamber </b><br />
<br />
No innuendo intended. Just like a dungeon has some sort of main entrance - or multiple entrances - so your story should have a starting scene, with enough options to continue. Opening with a raid by the villains minions is classic, and so is a dying man's delivery of an important message. But there are many other options - you could even start with the "ending" of a never played adventure, much like the openings of Indiana Jones movies.<br />
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The ending of the story or session should also be special. As a dungeon may have a special treasure room, or the master bedroom of the villain, a story also needs climaxes. One often used in video games is the "boss level", but you need not make it so corny. A major confrontation with the villain would make a good end scene, as would a major rescue, or a break neck escape from danger.<br />
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As you may see, dungeons and stories have more in common than it looks at first glance. Perhaps, if you are a hard core dungeon gamer, thinking of a story as just "a sort of dungeon", will make playing a story game sound more attractive. And the other way around too - both styles can show new worlds to each other.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-63385578393652162522013-09-19T16:31:00.000+02:002016-11-06T21:23:17.567+01:00Sneak Preview: WysaertZ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilmaHVMHFRdxETKpMya5rmBbj6iXxbeqGnyki9wilQyTNyMrcZkItn2mGufvepxRGYIVSJhEFtvpu-u5NLOeCfHeNSE8uj_x5N5q6NxYhmvoz_hh5VPua524t4Dgg1QJE8s7QU4hge3Y/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-09-13+at+11.07.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilmaHVMHFRdxETKpMya5rmBbj6iXxbeqGnyki9wilQyTNyMrcZkItn2mGufvepxRGYIVSJhEFtvpu-u5NLOeCfHeNSE8uj_x5N5q6NxYhmvoz_hh5VPua524t4Dgg1QJE8s7QU4hge3Y/s400/Screen+shot+2013-09-13+at+11.07.26+PM.png" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />
For those who also enjoy (my) card games, <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/119103/WysaertZ--Ye-Magickally-Quicke-Card-Gaeme">WysaertZ is the return of a golden oldie </a>once in extremely limited supply. The game predated a certain trading card game which swooped the market in the nineties - with a similar idea. You can imagine how shocked I was when their company bought TSR!<br />
<br />
Except that my game is not a trading card game, and it plays much faster, with much more humour.<br />
<br />
<strike>Soon </strike><a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/119103/WysaertZ--Ye-Magickally-Quicke-Card-Gaeme">Now on DriveThruCards - WysaertZ print-on-demand! </a><br />
<br />
80 cards of magick mayhem, rules included, playing time 10-20mins, 1-6 players, age 9 and up.<br />
<br />
Also available now: <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/134866/WysaertZ-Ultimaete-Destrucktion-Decke--SG009">the 80 card Ultimaete Destrucktion Decke expansion!</a><br />
<br />
<br />
So, and now for some posts on regular roleplaying...Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-77216404659985848052013-09-19T12:59:00.002+02:002016-11-06T21:23:34.008+01:00Samaris Hardcover on DriveThru!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi4d9UoAkxJSlfsUvxCLwt7ZnvGFWea7Q38ZER56uBhx39VB_G0zGX3VYWTupOQGcfe-4pxDTfkISLsl3OPKmvVReZPQL_SkpSbnoCAujy000j7TG4B4SWaM3Gk3NPQ4khuqukiZdadY/s1600/aSAMARISTWB_screen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi4d9UoAkxJSlfsUvxCLwt7ZnvGFWea7Q38ZER56uBhx39VB_G0zGX3VYWTupOQGcfe-4pxDTfkISLsl3OPKmvVReZPQL_SkpSbnoCAujy000j7TG4B4SWaM3Gk3NPQ4khuqukiZdadY/s320/aSAMARISTWB_screen.png" width="236" /></a></div>
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Update: You can now buy <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151830/Samaris--Game-Companion-to-The-World-Beyond-RPG">The World Beyond's Samaris Game Companion</a> in full color print (also inside) from DriveThru. It's a full city setting for more narrative role playing, with over a hundred contacts, as many locations, creatures, adventure ideas and artifacts. It was written for <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151829/The-World-Beyond-RPG">The World Beyond RPG</a>, but you could use it with minimal tweaking in any favorite fantasy game system, be it O5R or something else.<br />
<br />
The black and white version (older Dark Dungeon rules) is no longer available. That is, unless you want one of the few remaining ones I have left. Leave a message if you're interested. <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151830/Samaris--Game-Companion-to-The-World-Beyond-RPG">The Samaris color print and pdf is right here.</a><br />
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<br />
Have a look at the positive <a href="http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_reviews.php?products_id=114880&term=samaris" target="_blank">reviews of the first (B&W) edition of Samaris here</a>. The new version is even better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZwfz5C-3vQG4uMKBLO3FT733ykw90PlHkNJ_xKJj7LT60UdRi1g4M4keV96xLjrceUw4S80u6GLbsZN1qQX839hMvHV6NR_sQWo0NNvaH5JR-RgACTHJgxXN_2NHelYyhxWLVgXfoUw/s1600/samarislayout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZwfz5C-3vQG4uMKBLO3FT733ykw90PlHkNJ_xKJj7LT60UdRi1g4M4keV96xLjrceUw4S80u6GLbsZN1qQX839hMvHV6NR_sQWo0NNvaH5JR-RgACTHJgxXN_2NHelYyhxWLVgXfoUw/s400/samarislayout.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is a picture of that first edition's b&w print. I had some issues with the printer at first, with big black spots appearing instead of transparency. I was so proud when I finally got it right :-)Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-50965635995152378262013-09-19T11:35:00.001+02:002016-11-06T20:36:01.338+01:00Ringworld Zombie Cards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL6HafdtZYHgc7coKY3mUUYuIyhbQK-vRdHChvfKyLw-6SZVsgCLXevit-0xpVTFI631MNMO-lQSNS1drydIOGiLsKCyhHaeTfrRUwYjxqyFc5r04pFqcDxQlszTKb00YuhBh6r8ltF8/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-09-19+at+11.17.51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL6HafdtZYHgc7coKY3mUUYuIyhbQK-vRdHChvfKyLw-6SZVsgCLXevit-0xpVTFI631MNMO-lQSNS1drydIOGiLsKCyhHaeTfrRUwYjxqyFc5r04pFqcDxQlszTKb00YuhBh6r8ltF8/s400/Screen+shot+2013-09-19+at+11.17.51+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Update: Ringworld Zombie is a fast Zombie card game where you try to escape from the zombies in a derelict space prison. I first did it as a 24 hour game design challenge, and now made it into a professional game with all new artwork.<br />
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Here's some of the <a href="http://www.drivethrucards.com/product/118035/Ringworld-Zombie-SE" target="_blank">Ringworld Zombie cards... which you can find on DriveThru</a> as print-on-demand, fine quality playing cards. My daughters love the game - except that they're kind of scared that the next zombie card may eat their hero - so we have to take over their heroes while they watch us getting eaten...<br />
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Believe it or not, yes, it is also a role playing game - also fit for zombie hunters with short attention spans.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-63340259156882335892013-09-09T23:51:00.002+02:002016-11-06T21:12:14.319+01:00Ringworld Zombie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vDXACNyUizY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Coming to your galaxy... right now. <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/118035/Ringworld-Zombie-SE">Ringworld Zombie card game</a>. Try at your own peril.Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8736181985845648889.post-17039868327595760842013-08-01T10:43:00.000+02:002016-11-06T21:12:34.554+01:00Samaris for Sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzoEEVp_NEwA_Ku5t5Z6C8_E9veyVEagEUFIoB3nw1IFOApj8dBkvxiSG8paeWR6X7XJUgXDpzzBubv7Dopvd5lHYNgS6NG3_ycJX0tbG-Ju5ULhJw4PRx3vG_oizDVJ1ydqRdZIw75k/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-31+at+11.18.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzoEEVp_NEwA_Ku5t5Z6C8_E9veyVEagEUFIoB3nw1IFOApj8dBkvxiSG8paeWR6X7XJUgXDpzzBubv7Dopvd5lHYNgS6NG3_ycJX0tbG-Ju5ULhJw4PRx3vG_oizDVJ1ydqRdZIw75k/s320/Screen+shot+2013-01-31+at+11.18.35+PM.png" width="225" /></a></div>
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Ever wished for a <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151830/Samaris--Game-Companion-to-The-World-Beyond-RPG">Fantasy City Guide you can leave on your table while playing</a>? Ever wished you could page through the book and just TELL your Game Master you want to GO there? Join in imagination, and meet exciting people, visit mysterious places, investigate strange rumours, and fight monstrous creatures with bad tempers?<br />
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Then Samaris may be the book for you. It's a guide for Players AND Game Masters, to use together during play. With innovative new game mechanics players can influence the story by calling on their contacts; and game masters can truly engage the heroes, by using their personal rivals, patrons and hangouts.<br />
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Samaris is also a companion book to <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151829/The-World-Beyond-RPG">The World Beyond</a>, the elegant and lean role playing system: Samaris features sixteen new hero templates, dozens of new skills, new magick, gunpowder weapons, and many new treasures and creatures.<br />
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And even if your favorite game system is not The World Beyond (why not?), it's easy to adapt and use in any fantasy role playing game. You can find some pointers on that in the extensive Game Master section, where you'll also find loads of adventure seeds and a full adventure module. <br />
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Over a hundred locations; over a hundred contacts for your heroes to meet, befriend, and hate; hundreds of rumours. 320+ pages, full of illustrations, full of inspiration. The Samaris PDF is out, <strike>so is the Lulu print,</strike> and the Lightningsource hardcover is available in full color now <strike>will soon follow</strike>!<br />
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Update: Samaris is now updated for the World Beyond RPG (formerly Dark Dungeon 2nd Ed) - and available in full color hardcover and pdf. Visit here for the <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151830/Samaris--Game-Companion-to-The-World-Beyond-RPG" target="_blank">Samaris Game Companion for the World Beyond.</a><br />
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<br />Jaap de Goedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08554247766752846375noreply@blogger.com0