Peter Frain has come up with the goods, here’s the Dandy, the upper-class adventurer from Beyond Dread Portals. See this previous post about what went into the art direction for this piece.
Beyond Dread Portals The Dandy
Reply
Beyond Dread Portals Art Preview
Its been a while since I’ve posted anything about Paul Mitchener’s Beyond Dread Portals.
We are currently gearing up for a Kickstarter, tentatively scheduled for April.
As part of the preview art for that Kickstarter, and the Preview Edition that backers of the From the Shroud KS are getting, I asked Peter Frain of 77 Studios (who did the art for Monkey, the cover for Hunters of Alexandria, and the art for 2nd Edition Barbarians of Lemuria) to do a picture of one of the iconic fashions of the Empire of Ys, the Dandy. Apart from my quick “think Lord Flasheart from Blackadder II” I gave him Paul’s text:
Dandies & High Culture Fashion
When outsiders consider Ysian fashions, the first thing which comes to mind is the Ysian Dandy, with his, or more recently her, brightly coloured trousers, shirt, and complimentary hat. Precisely which colours are “in” varies from season to season, and the truly fashion-conscious manage to subvert it. Others try and fail to go against the trends. One recent subversion is moving away from bright colours to dress entirely in black, which was deliciously shocking at first in fashion circles, but as it spreads is starting to be considered crass. In fact, the style of the dandy only belongs to the High Culture. More typically, both genders wear shirts and trousers. The shirts are still brightly coloured, though more typically just one colour rather than the gaudy combinations of the fashion-conscious. Rich women have another option to them on formal occasions, namely the ball gown, which can be a work of art- though even there, the dandyish fashions are replacing it. Jewellery, when worn, is usually simple, taking the form of brooches for both genders, and earrings for women.
And this is what he came up with (click on images for larger version)
Grogzilla
Missed ou
t on getting a copy of Grogzilla at Grogmeet 2019?
This 36 A5 page zine of D101 Mega Gaming Fun with skyscraper high three-headed firebreathing lizards is now available to preorder (with free pdf)
As well as articles for OpenQuest and Crypts and Things, it also has a sequel to the Road to Hell in the form of Wigan Pigs an adventure for OSR games. Also making their debut in Grogzilla are the Six Traveller culture for Mythras, which is a short taste of things to come in the new year.
Mythras Imperative Updated
Lawrence Whitaker, one half of the Design Mechanism, has just given notice that their introductory version of Mythras has now been updated to include example magic spells (20 or so that cover all the basics) and a selection of Super Hero powers.
Mythras Imperative is a free, introductory version of the full Mythras rules. It includes everything needed for play, including character creation, skills, combat, and, brand new to this release, Powers, covering simple magic and super powers. Taken together, Mythras Imperative offers a fully rounded game to suit many genres, and can be used easily with any of Design Mechanism’s adventures and campaign settings.
Available now from BRP Central’s Downloads, and in POD from DrivethruRPG, Lulu and Barnes & Noble.
Tales from the Sorcerer Under the Mountain now on Backerkit until Nov 1st
Missed the Tales from Sorcerer Under Mountain Kickstarter in August because you were on holiday or having just too much fun outside away from the computer?
Well until 1st November its all back (pledge rewards inc stretches, and add-ons) on Backerkit
As a small reminder, the kickstarter funded six stretch goals! These are availe to pre-order backers if you buy either Tales of the Sorcerer Under the Mountain (OSR Rulebook) or the 5th Edition adventure The Sorcerer Under the Mountain.
1. Character Portfolio. In pdf form 6 playable characters in both OSR and 5th Edition format.
2. Confessions of an OSR DM, a quick article about moving from OSR editions of the game to 5th Edition.
3. The Castle of Howls, a one on one adventure for 1st level chracters for both OSR and 5th edtion in pdf.
4. Fires from the Deep by Paul Mitchener a full adventure for 3rd level characters for both OSR and 5th Edition in pdf/print.
5. Curse of the Emerald Swan by Neil Shaw a full adventure for 2nd – 4th level characters for both OSR and 5th Edition in pdf/print.
6..The Jungles of Ruin by Guy Milner a full advenure .for 4th level characters
+ Monsters are People Too a pod/pdf of ten detailed npc monsters.in both 5th Edition/OSR versions
+ Sunday Dungeons Short one-page adventures, in both 5th Ed and OSR versions. Available as pdfs after the campaign ends to all backers who have backed the books.
What’s Changed Since the Start of the Campaign?
Its nearly the begining of the end of the Tales of the Sorcerer Under the Mountain Kickstarter campaign, which enters its last 48 hours in a couple of hours, so its time take stock and see what has funded.
As well as the basic goal, five stretch goals have been funded, including two new adventure modules (Fires from the Deep & The Curse of the Emerald Swan). Finally, we are currently funding The Jungles of Ruin by Guy Milner, which will very likely fund in the last days of the campaign.
+ Community Extras have been added as we gained backers, which give in total an extra 40-45 pages of content to each backer.
- 4 Sunday Dungeons (one-page adventures) in pdf form.
- 9 Monsters are People pdfs. We will likely reach the 10th pdf at 240 backers, at which point it will the individual pdfs will be collected into a single pdf which will be available in POD.
+ Two new Rewards.
- Shield Bearer Pledge Levels for those people who want me to send them the OSR Rulebook and/or 5th Edition adventure to them directly.
- Sorcerer Under the Mountain Pledge Level. A high tier backer reward for people who want signed copies of everything the campaign produces in print, signed by the author and sent to them directly (4 of 5 remaining).
Oh and Jon Hodgson did this cover for Fires from the Deep
Five Questions about the Curse of the Emerald Swan
The next stretch goal that we are funding on the Tales From the Sorcerer Under the Mountain is Neil Shaw’s The Curse of the Emerald Swan adventure for both 5th Edition and OSR rulesets.
This is Neil’s basic description:
A mysterious mist shroud gallon has come into port at night and is blocking vessels leaving the narrow harbour. Brave fishermen have tried to approach and those who did flee from the mournful wailing they heard as they approached, never returned. Now the mayor is worried that if his fishing fleet cannot sail his town is wither and die.
Your group of brave adventures have been hired to board the cursed ship, brave its sinister inhabitants and finally discover the ships purpose and reason for being here.
So like Paul Mitchener before him, I asked him five questions about his adventure:
Q1. What influences are you drawing on for this adventure?
For me I tend to work off one set piece or idea and use that a skeleton and work out from there. In this case oddly the core idea came from Terry Pratchett’s Sorcery which to the best of my recollection doesn’t contain any boats, haunted or otherwise. Beyond that I tend to expand outwards from there until I have a story. When it comes to naval things in general I tend to fall back on Master and Commander as it gives me a good understanding of life on an old navy vessel and I find it a highly enjoyable film, always worth another watch.
Q2. Which flavour of FRP do you favour, Old School or New School?
I enjoy new school more as some of the creative minds out there are taking the rules light history they came from and adds to them without adding too much or making the game a quagmire of optional books that in reality are essential. I find that D&D5e captures the feel and spirit of old school D&D while addressing its short comings very well.
Q3. Your description gives the adventure an air of mystery. Is this a mystery adventure, with an investigation at its heart. Or is there more to it than that?
There is a mystery as to why the Emerald Swan has come to roost in this small harbour and how it came to be the creepy mist shrouded terror it has become. For those willing to piece the clues together it is possible to answer these questions and more. However don’t expect a run of the mill haunted boat, this is something more.
Q4. What sort of foes will the adventurers meet?
Without spoiling too much there’s ghoulish bilge rats, an undead cook, and some giants, that last one may seem out of place but that is part of the mystery.
Q5. Maximum Game Fun or Logical Fantastic Realism?
I see it on a sliding scale with the baseline being a simple down to earth medieval setting. I want players to be able to visit a town, city or village and feel like it makes sense, at least initially. This grounding is essential for the outlandish and crazy things a group of adventures will encounter when they go into that part of the map that is blank or says “here be dragons”. Once the adventure is in full swing I want the players to expect the rug to be pulled out from under them and have a great time. At no point should an adventurer see a beholder floating towards them and think “well this is normal”.
If that sounds fun to you, go back the Tales From the Sorcerer Under the Mountain Kickstarter, where its available as one of the funded stretch goals 🙂
Five Questions about Fires From the Deep
Fires From the Deep cover by Jon Hodgson
Fires from the Deep is a standalone adventure for both OSR and 5th Edition rulesets, by long time D101 contributor Paul Mitchener (OpenQuest/Cruicible of Dragons/Hunters of Alexandria). Its one of three adventures which are up for grabs as part of the Tales from the Sorcerer Under the Mountain Kickstarter, and has already funded. Here’s Paul’s pitch for it.
Something came from the underworld in a jet of hellfire. Something unique and valuable. More than one group seeks to retrieve it. Naturally, the player characters are one such group. A dangerous wilderness trek with an uncertain goal, and all sorts of room for complications, but hey, the job pays well.
Currous to know a bit more beyond the basic descriptoin of the adventure? Me too, so I asked Paul five quick questions about it.
Q1. What influences are you drawing on for this adventure?
What I think of as “classic D&D” along with a splashing of Fritz Leiber, a dash of Michael Moorcock, and a touch of Tanith Lee. That should give you the tone.
Q2. Which flavour of FRP do you favour, Old School or New School?
I think I’m a hippy, though less so since my haircut. I don’t see the two as opposed; peace and love. I want characters to be important, but I don’t give two hoots about things like character optimisation. I want decisions to matter, and not just tactical decisions. I want exploration and playfulness. I want story to be what comes after the session rather than something pre-planned. When it comes down to it, I guess that’s sounding pretty old school.
Q3. Your description hints at something more, than the quest for the implied magic item that has come from below. Can you throw any light on this?
The “magic item” is not just an McGuffin- it’s the soul of the adventure. And not just in a “ooh, what a cool gizmo, and everyone wants it” way. Though everyone *does* as it happens, want it, without really knowing what it is.
Q4. What twists and turns does the adventure throw at the players ?
Spoilers! Seriously though, the characters won’t be alone in their pursuit of what came from below, and might have to fight even to get the job. As well as expected and unexpected dangers, there’s a moral dilemma at the heart of the adventure, and an open conclusion depending on what the player characters decide to do, not just whether or not they win.
Q5. Maximum Game Fun or Logical Fantastic Realism?
I don’t think the two are exclusive. Actions have consequences, and that’s an important part of my fun. I want adventures about people, not just situations. After all, even in a “standard” dungeon delve, for me things are all about the player characters, and how they react to danger, strangeness, and rewards. Not to mention solving problems creatively. That sounds like Maximum Game Fun to me!
If that sounds fun to you, go back the Tales From the Sorcerer Under the Mountain Kickstarter, where its available as one of the funded stretch goals 🙂
There will be Fires from Below!
Things are hotting up on the Tales from the Sorcerer Under Mountain Kickstarter, since Paul Mitchener’s adventure for OSR/5th Edition has now funded.
Something came from the underworld in a jet of hellfire. Something unique and valuable. More than one group seeks to retrieve it. Naturally, the player characters are one such group. A dangerous wilderness trek with an uncertain goal, and all sorts of room for complications, but hey, the job pays well.
Its available to all backers at no extra cost, and is the first of three adventures currently funding on the campaign.
Jon Hodgson is doing the covers for the adventures and has just sent me the final gorgeous wrap round cover for Fires From Below, of which this is a detail.
Tales from the Sorcerer Under the Mountain the Halfway Mark
We are halfway through the Tales from the Sorcerer Under the Mountain campaign.The base goals of the campaign are already funded. Two books, a concise version of Swords and Wizardry (A5 230+ pages) which contains the adventure of the title amongst other new content from me, and a standalone version of the adventure for 5th Edition. Both these books funded on the first day and will be available to backers as soon as the campaign ends at the beginning of September.
We’ve funded an additional three stretch goals; a portfolio of pre-generated characters, an article about moving from the OSR to 5th as a DM, and a one on one adventure for 1st level characters for both S&W and 5th Edition.
Now we are boldly funding three additional exciting adventure books, by British authors Guy Milner, Paul Mitchener, and Neil Shaw. At time of writing the first of these is but £50 pounds away from its funding goal.
Backers will also get access to community extras, which are funding as we get extra backers. Monsters are People Too, which is a series of fully-formed monster NPCs, and Sunday Dungeons, which are one-page dungeons.
If you’ve looked at the campaign before but were put off by the fact that the books are being delivered by via drivethrurpg.com as at cost POD coupons, I’ve now added a series of pledge levels that mean you can get the books sent directly from me (just look for the Shield Bearer rewards).
Finally, you can use the campaign’s add-ons as a chance to get hold of a large part of D101’s back catalogue very cheaply at Summer Sale prices.