Greetings from the deep: Merry X-Mas!!!!

We should have known...

Merry X-Mas To You All Anyway!

News #X: Another 24-hour RPG Competition!

 
I was slightly late to notice, but a little over a week ago, the people at 1KM1KT - including Rob Lang of the Free RPG blog - have opened a new 24 hour RPG competition. There's 30 pounds in Amazon vouchers to be won, and the deadline is the 1st of July this year.

If that doesn't make sense to you: the challenge is to write a Free Role Playing Game, with rules, artwork, setting, everything - by yourself, in the space of 24 hours. Once you start, you have to finish 24 hours later. There's no police to  watch you obey this rule, except for your own conscience, but that's it.
Think it's not possible? It is. It's incredible what you'll see yourself do in 24 hours, if you take the challenge - even if it might be heavy on your family or social life. Even if you do decide to sleep and waste 8 precious hours.

These two free games on this site were in fact done in its first form in another 24 hour competition.
And I'm quite proud of them!

Feeling lucky? Feeling brave? Feeling inspired? Just curious? I'm all of these. See if I can manage some free time space and join. You too?

A request... proofreader wanted

Dear fellow bloggers. I just finished a DD2 / OSR adventure kit for publication, and I'm looking for a native english speaking proofreader. And possibly playtester, if you like it. In exchange for your effort, you'll get my eternal gratitude, honorable mention and the module for free :-)

The module is a tribute to late Moldvay's classic adventure, but with all new artworks, background, storyline, and even some background and encounters for a local town.

Update: two people just offered their kind services! So the email address has been removed.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot?

The oddest thing just happened. I walked past the outside steps of an office building where I often work - to have lunch with best friend and fellow designer in his office. And outside the steps sits a redhaired, red bearded man with an oddly familiar look. Thumbing through the newest Iain Banks novel, he looks back at me. And before we know we're grinning and shaking hands.
He's an old friend and role player. He used to play in my Dark Dungeon group when it was a few hundred people strong, in the nineties. Alright, he played more GURPS and WFRP, but his regular group also played in my games - a lot. We kind of lost track of eachother almost ten years ago, and guess what? He's working in the same building as I and fellow DD2 designer, for the past three and a half years. And we never noticed that we were so close! Weird!

He still plays - every monday - with the same regulars as then. For twenty years now.
Unbelievable, I say.
I also still play - nearly every friday or saturday - with my own group of regulars. I see him grin. Unbelievable.

My fellow game designer at first doesn't recognize our fellow gamer.
But then he exclaims "wait a minute, you have a huge painting made by me!".
"That's right, it's on my son's wall, in plain view!"

Some things don't really change - even if they do. Even if we lose track of eachother.
That's good to know.

News #12: Swordplay

While indexing some Spanish language sites, I stumbled on this fencing video. You might want to have a look too, it's impressive, stylish, and neat.  And if you regularly think Ork, then this gives a whole different idea of what western style swordfighting could look like.



Thanks to Luiz Miguez of Feldkirch, a Spanish Fudge RPG.

News #11: More Maps

Thought that I showed you all magic mappers out there? Of course not. Here's another very good one needing some dough to stay in the air: Dave's Mapper. (Thanks, Thomas Denmark.)

And have a look at the Cartographers corner on the Labyrinth too. Not really a mapper tool, but very cool graphics. These guys are almost too awesome. The map on the left is theirs.

Now, don't you know I have work to do?

News #10: Happy GM's Day, and Come on Player's Day!

Happy Game Masters Day!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about. It's not because Gygax died, on this day a few years ago. He died after the idea of GM's day was coined. But he chose well, and died on no better day thinkable. Because this is the day that harried and misunderstood hard working, hard blogging, hard preparing, sleepless, underestimated, handsome or not so handsome, never-boring and ever-boring refereeing, storytelling, slightly-sadistic, mostly-fair-but-always-in-for-other-ways-to-take-away-your-magic-items, geeky, nerdy, lovable or not so lovable, domineering, bored, overworked, silly, ever-plotting, games-buying, book-shelving, dice-rolling, monster-creating, dungeon-building, adventure-minded, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera GAME MASTERS are supposed to get an extra thought of their players.

On the other hand, players try to bribe me with delectable food, eyewinks, cups of coffee, cuddles, phone calls, praise and long emails much of the time anyway. I guess I'm lucky... Keep it up lovable players!

Let's start thinking about a harried, hardworking, ever-lovable, ever-patient, creative, plot-and-riddle-solving, role-playing, wisecracking, doodling, never-admitting-how-bored-you-are, I-kill-it-with-my-axe, Oogah-oogah, I-rolled-a-twenty-no-really-I-did, oops-fumble, keep-your-fingers-off-my-holy-dice, that-was-coffee-on-my-character-sheet, oh-I-forgot-my-character-sheet, how-many-xp-is-that, etcetera etcetera etcetera PLAYERS DAY!
They deserve a special day just as much.

So how about 9/11. Or was that already taken?

News #8a: Aha...

I just stumbled on a post which gives some insight into why applications to the RPG Bloggers Network take a tad long.  And maybe why their board (of dedicated hobbyists, I well suppose) seems a bit frightened of allowing "off topic" content. And why they sort of hide in anonymity.

http://oldguyrpg.blogspot.com/2009/10/dear-rpg-bloggers-network.html

I wasn't actively around then, so I missed the episode where the whole board considered to resign over the issue of banning a blog. Actually I can relate to this sort of turmoil, and how bad that feels. With a few dedicated friends I also ran a gamer group of around a hundred members, and we had a similar problem: a few players who made life hard for the rest. We also were not transparent enough. Or not transparent enough about not intending to be transparent. Our group kind of fell apart because of it. Or more maybe of making a big thing out of things.

Worst though was that we stayed scared for this sort of issue for the next decade. Even if we did not admit it. And that's a shame. I think 99.9% of the hobbyists is bona fide. And just playing. No more. No less. Not worth staying in trauma for.

So, RPG Blogger Network board, keep your heads up, and keep up your good work. Don't hide.

News #8: Dark Dungeon Vaults launched

Still waiting for this very role playing blog to be approved by the RPG bloggers network, and becoming a teenie weenie bit frustrated, I decided to launch my own version.

THE DARK DUNGEON VAULTS

With less red tape, and just for the heck of it all. So I managed in a single day, while avoiding the work I should have done, to find some 275+ role playing blogs that seem to be at least mildly active. True, a few are in spanish or italian, but they are about gaming. Or at least most of the time. Wow, is our community prolific! That's a post every ten minutes or so.

You can now admire a stream of the most recent 25 posts (or their RSS feeds) in rpg gaming - or click view all and see almost threehundred. Enjoy the Dark Dungeon Vaults.

And quickly come back to this blog screaming.

News #7: Happy 2009!

Happy 2009! The year 2010 was a prosperous year for the citizens of Nirdday and Htrae, and we hope the same will be true for this year. Since the fortysecond black september of 2012, and the subprime Doomstone crisis that preceded it during 2015-2013, and the twin towers of Brugghes attacks by the Movement, our world has thankfully survived, and we are still at peace with Eurasia.

For those of characters and players among you who are from worlds where the calendars do not count down,

HAPPY 2011!

And now for a commercial break:

*static*
This is the year ***static***
You will not be saved by ***static***
In fact you will not be ***static***

*ZZZAP!* (change channel to something silly)

RPG News #6: Superstar closes in 7 days

Not sure if you're a Pathfinder fan, or an old style gamer with a wish to be published by Paizo. But maybe you'd like to see your name printed as the author of a brand new fantasy module. And possibly start your run of fame from there onward as a game designer or writer of game modules. You could, by entering the running RPG Superstar 2011 competition.

Since I bought something from the Paizo site, they keep on sending me updates, and I  guess they did at least something right for not ending up on my spam list. So have a look if you dare. Your first round challenge: design a wondrous item in 300 words or less, and send in your idea before the new year. Your entry will become sole property of Paizo of course. I wonder, would that mean they'd sue you if you publish your own idea elsewhere? Here for example? Would be weird.

Well, you have plenty ideas, don't you? One to pay for potential fame is a small price.

News #5: Free Traveller Starter Set

I have The Traveller Starter Set on my shelves. Reviewed it a few months ago. So I don't need the free pdf. But you might want it. It's really a great game. Still is. And DriveThru is giving it away for free. This december only.

So, go get Traveller Starter if you dare. It will cost you... your life? No.
It will cost you... your Soul? Maybe. But not likely.
It will cost you... lots of Credits? No, t will cost you nothing really.
Just your clicks and time.

News #4: JustLawfulChaotic Blog

My fellow blogger JLC (Just Lawful Chaotic, Jesus Loves C..., John Lawrence C.) has dared the lonely jump into internet space. His new blog can be found here. As may be expected with such a name, you may find it a completely confusing mix of English, Dutch and a smattering of Franglais, with subjects varying from insider campaign views to deep philosophy. Or you may love it for just the same reasons. Way to go, JLC!

News #3: Return of the Red Box... or?

I cannot believe my eyes. First, this is the third game shop in Utrecht along the same canal. And game shops are pretty thin in the Netherlands. Second, between all the gothic materials and styrofoam swords a red box stands out. It's the D&D starter set. With the late 1980's cover. And it's new, now, in 2010.

Can it be? Can it be actual old D&D? It says Wizards of the Coast. It says copyright 2010. But is this 4th edition, or is it a remake of the Menzer edition my best friend had? That would be cool... and strange.

The guy next to me isn't sure either. But like me he recognizes the cover. He thinks it's 4th though. His girl asks me if this was the first set I ever owned. I say no, that was at least one edition before. In 1981. She falls silent. I think I shocked her. That may have been before she was born.

So, what is it? It's a simplified version of 4th edition - released about a month ago. It has the same artwork as the 80-ies version on the cover, but it's all new inside. So if you're looking for the old one - you'll have to go to ebay instead. But if you actually like 4th edition, or if you want to entice new potential 8-year olds into the game, this may be worth a look, or even a buy.

Or have a look at the Chatty GM's review first. He threw his son and wife before the goblins to make sure.

News #2: RIP grandfather of BSG and Traveller

Just learned that Edwin Charles Tubb (1919-2010) died last week. You may not realize - I didn't - but his science fiction published through the 50-80ies has had a profound influence. He wrote the Dumarest saga, 33 parts, about space Traveller Dumarest who tries to find a legendary planet Earth.

Sounds familiar? Then one of his great antagonists in the series, the cyberlike Cyclan - who have a plan - might also sound like... Yes. Cylons like in the later Battlestar Galactica. The writers must have been inspired. And Traveller with two L's like in the role playing game? Yes. There are many more concepts in the Traveller role playing game borrowed or translated from Dumarest.

Once I find the time I should have a look at the novels. They inspired my currently favorite science fiction series, and favorite sci fi RPG. Inspirational writing indeed.

Thank you Edwin.


PS Hieronimus, Schwartzburg, Lito - care to write a review of Dumarest here? You as SciFi buffs surely read his books...

News #1: DD2 Review on Free RPG Blog

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Rob Lang on the free rpg blog somehow discovered Dark Dungeon on the googoogle-twisted highways of the internet, and gave it a very sweet and positive review Makes me kind of shy. But it also helps to rediscover my own old enthusiasm again. It seems positive feedback is unnervingly essential to carry on, even if you think you know what you're doing.

Thanx Rob!