...One more day of update delay. Update Friday.
Lost another cat today. Fuck panleukopenia.
2018-08-10 00:19:07 +0000 UTC View Post
holdenshearer posts
Wednesday post delayed till tomorrow
After fighting at the vet for most of a week, my best little buddy passed away today. I don't have a post in me tonight. Update will be tomorrow.
Every single one of you gave me the support I needed to give him his best shot and I will always be grateful for that.
2018-08-09 00:41:24 +0000 UTC View PostNecromancy: The Ghoul
Thursday's almost over but this week's update is here. It's a new playbook preview for Necromancy (told you it was still on the way): The Ghoul.
The Ghoul died, but death isn't quite so sacrosanct as it used to be, and something called them back. Now they're tough, lean, with a darkness in the back of their eyes and a hunger howling in their belly. Are they just another monster in the night, or can they be something more?
The Ghoul is a fast, high-damage, lightning-attac...
2018-08-03 03:44:26 +0000 UTC View PostHappy August, everyone
If you're new here, welcome aboard, and we'd love to see you in the Discord if you feel like dropping by, hanging out, or just lurking.
The usual Wednesday update's going to be pushed back to tomorrow. We've had family medical emergencies today and I'm just done in right now. Sorry.
2018-08-01 23:19:45 +0000 UTC View PostThe Ironside Express: The Barony Suite
Wednesday is here, and so is another chapter of Ironside Express. As with previous updates, this PDF contains the entire story to date, so if you haven't read any of it yet, or you've missed some chapters, you don't need to go hunting back to old updates to get started. If you're up to date, then the new material begins on page 46.
2018-07-25 23:38:57 +0000 UTC View PostThe Renfield Diaries: Chapter Two
Every week I start to type "happy Wednesday" and then I remember it's 2018 and I end up typing "Wednesday update time" instead and please hurry up and open the black apocalypse sarcophagus already.
Speaking of ancient horrible dead things in foreboding coffins, today's update is Chapter Two of The Renfield Diaries, covering the core rules of the game for players.
2018-07-18 18:38:14 +0000 UTC View PostChannel Discord
Since the Patreon has picked up a number of new patrons lately (hello, shining exemplars of the finest humanity has to offer!), and it's been a while since I last tossed up the link, I just want to note that the channel discord is still up, very active, and if you can read this, we'd love you to join in.
2018-07-12 09:29:14 +0000 UTC View PostThe Renfield Diaries
Development of Necromancy is proceeding apace, but it's become pretty clear that getting all the campaign books and monsters finished is going to take a while, and I need something sellable during the fall; so I'm taking a couple of weeks to knock together a much shorter project before resuming the push to get Necromancy to the finish line.
The Renfield Diaries is a game where you play the blood-addicted but still-living servants of a vampire. You're the one w...
2018-07-12 00:30:19 +0000 UTC View PostThe Ironside Express: The Ironside Express (yes that's the chapter title)
So I pull up the old Patreon, thinking it's time for Wednesday's post, then glance at my computer's clock and realize it's Thursday. Apologies for the day-late update; I may be developing some kind of brain parasite.
New Ironside Express chapter this week. As with previous updates, this PDF contains the entire story to date, so if you haven't read any of it yet, or you've missed some chapters, you don't need to go hunting back to old updates to get started. If you're up to date, then ...
2018-07-05 21:06:54 +0000 UTC View PostPowered by the Dark: Vampire: the Dark Ages AND the Laibon
As part of an ongoing series of design experiments, I've put together a rules hacks to run Vampire: the Dark Ages on a PbtA rules framework. I've also put together a supplemental hack to support games centered around the Laibon—the vampires of Africa—which is compatible with both my Dark Ages and Masquerade hacks.
The World of Darkness is currently the property of Paradox Interactive.
The Apocalypse World engine belongs to D. Vincent Baker.
Credit shou...
2018-06-30 17:20:22 +0000 UTC View PostPowered by the Dark: Mage the Ascension AND Sorcerers Crusade
As part of an ongoing series of design experiments, I've put together rules hacks to run Mage: the Ascension and also Mage: the Sorcerers Crusade on a PbtA rules framework.
These hacks include full support for the Traditions, Technocracy/Order of Reason, and Disparates (no playable Marauders, sorry; maybe later). Major features:
• These hacks retain Mage's signature flexible, build-your-own effect Sphere magic, but without the many weird hinky...
2018-06-27 19:42:22 +0000 UTC View PostThe Ironside Express: Words Over a Body
Mo Wednesday mo updates.
New Ironside Express chapter this week. As with previous updates, this PDF contains the entire story to date, so if you haven't read any of it yet, or you've missed some chapters, you don't need to go hunting back to old updates to get started. If you're up to date, then the new material begins on page 32.
There'll be another update today as well.
Powered by the Dark: PbtA hacks for the World of Darkness
As part of an ongoing exercise in game design practice and exploring the intricacies of the PbtA engine and how it intersects with traditional game design, I've been working on a series of hacks to run classic World of Darkness games using an Apocalypse World-style ruleset. This post exists to collect those hacks in one easy-to-reference location.
Currently supported games include: Vampire: the Masquerade, Vampire: the Dark Ages, Kindred of the East 2018-06-24 23:52:47 +0000 UTC View Post
Necromancy: The Assassin
Wednesday update! Except it's Thursday! New playbook: The Assassin.
The Assassin knows death more intimately than anyone else here at the end of the world, but finds less and less need for their expertise; the eternal night deals death aplenty and for free. But the same skills that can end a human life can, perhaps, also kill those things that prey on men. Perhaps this is an age that calls for flexibility on the job?
The assassin is a flexible, stealthy playbook capable ...
2018-06-21 19:15:18 +0000 UTC View PostCatching up
Got behind yesterday from dealing with my father's estate and for some reason thought it was Tuesday, and missed the usual Wednesday update. That update will go up later today instead-- apologies!
2018-06-21 12:54:26 +0000 UTC View PostPowered by the Dark: Kindred of the East
Linked at the bottom of this post is a hack to play Kindred of the East using the Powered by the Apocalypse engine. At present, it includes full support for the all Dharmas (orthodox and heretical), and pretty much the rest of the full game experience.
I've also previously done a similar hack for Vampire: the Masquerade.
KotE is currently the property of Parado...
2018-06-13 17:55:49 +0000 UTC View PostIronside Express: Setting Terms
Wednesday is upon us!
More Ironside Express this week. As with previous updates, this PDF contains the entire story to date, so if you haven't tried any of it yet, you don't need to go hunting back to old updates to get started. If you're up to date, then the new material begins on page 27.
Look for another update later today as well.
2018-06-13 13:35:49 +0000 UTC View PostPowered by the Dark: Vampire commentary (Part 2)
Bonus update! This is the second part of the developer commentary on the Vampire hack I uploaded last month, covering the hack's special systems and character creation-- the stuff I think of as the "meat" of the hack. This and all other dev commentary on the hack is exclusive content for patrons.
Look for a third part to be uploaded soon.
2018-06-12 17:19:39 +0000 UTC View PostIronside Express: Riding to Comumant
New Wednesday, new update, new Ironside Express chapter. As with previous updates, this PDF contains the entire story to date, so if you haven't tried any of it yet, you don't need to go hunting back to old updates to get started. If you're up to date, then the new material begins on page 23.
I'm going to try to have some extra updates this week as well!
Necromancy: The Thing
For this week's patron update, we've got another playbook: The Thing.
The Thing is angsty, angry, unnerving, and perhaps even undeserving of its lot. But since when has what we've deserved determined who we are?
The Thing is the game's premiere slugger: it dishes out a lot of damage, and it can tank its way through a lot of damage. You get to define its relationship with death, as well-- do you want to be functionally unkillable, or somewhat less eternal that than but be...
2018-05-30 22:17:22 +0000 UTC View PostApologies
This week's Wednesday update is going to go up later in the week. I don't have it prepped yet on account of a death in the family.
2018-05-23 17:26:16 +0000 UTC View PostPowered by the Dark: Vampire commentary (Part 1)
As promised, here's the first part of the developer commentary on the Vampire hack I uploaded. This and all other dev commentary on the hack is exclusive content for patrons. Enjoy!
Also, as a reminder, anyone who can read this message is welcome to join the Patreon discord. It's pretty lively and we'd love to see you there.
Powered by the Dark: Vampire the Masquerade
Linked at the bottom of this post is a hack to play Vampire: the Masquerade using the Powered by the Apocalypse engine. At present, it includes full support for the 13 clans, Caitiff, and the modern bloodlines of V20.
V:tM is currently the property of Paradox Interactive.
The Apocalypse World engine belongs to D. Vincent Baker.
Credit should also be given to Avery Alder, Adam Koebel, Sage LaTorra, Chris Clouser, Tanner Yea, and pretty much everyone working wi...
2018-05-17 12:35:00 +0000 UTC View PostNecromancy: The Surgeon
Wednesday has come again, and it has brought with it a new playbook for Necromancy: The Surgeon.
The Surgeon is a champion of life. All human life, without discrimination. Life at any cost. Life in any state. Where life persists, after all, there is hope, and where would any of us be without that?
The Surgeon is the only "healer" archetype within Necromancy, although it's a very long way from the cleric or white mage you might see in other games. Most clerics aren't insp...
2018-05-16 12:55:27 +0000 UTC View PostPowered by the Dark
So I'm working on a system conversion in my spare time: Vampire: the Masquerade 20th anniversary edition -> Powered by the Apocalypse, because I am nothing if not a man who has no idea how to use his time wisely.
The big complaint about V20—and Vampire: the Masquerade in general—is that the Storyteller system is old, clunky, outdated, cumbersome, and unbalanced. This hack aims first and foremost to address those problems by providing a conversion document to one of the simplest, cleanes...
2018-05-13 21:00:45 +0000 UTC View PostNecromancy: The Paladin
Happy Wednesday everyone! For this mid-week update, I've got a new playbook ready for your perusal.
The Paladin is a unique and singular being: not only the sole example of its kind in your play group, but the only one of its kind in the world. The Paladin is the premiere, top-shelf front line tank of the game, able to protect its allies, shrug off incredible amounts of damage, and literally immortal to boot.
The Paladin is in many ways an odd, "off-theme" inclusion for ...
2018-05-09 20:17:28 +0000 UTC View PostIronside Express: The Night Road
This Wednesday's update is another Ironside chapter. As with previous updates, this PDF contains the entire story to date, so if you haven't tried any of it yet, you don't need to go hunting back to old updates to get started. If you're up to date, then the new material begins on page 19.
2018-05-02 23:32:43 +0000 UTC View PostNecromancy: the Infected
I'd say "happy Wednesday" but today's preview's a bit more somber for that. Today we've got another playbook for Necromancy: The Infected. The Infected doesn't get a happy ending, not personally, but that doesn't mean they can't change a lot of other lives before their doom arrives. If you like your characters to burn hard and bright, this playbook might be for you. If you like cool monster-like powers, it also might be for you, but mind the price tag attached.
2018-04-25 20:38:02 +0000 UTC View PostIronside Express: A New Job
There'll be another update this week as I get caught up [update: "another update this week" got canceled in favor of "food poisoning" for the week's extracurricular activity. Don't eat undercooked chicken, folks.]. But for this Wednesday's content update, no Necromancy. Instead it's a new chapter of The Ironside Express. If you missed the first Ironside update, that material's in this week's PDF. If you read the first update, the new stuff starts on page 16. En...
2018-04-19 01:35:25 +0000 UTC View PostWednesday pre-update
Got a bit behind on things. There will be an update today, but not until later this evening.
2018-04-18 17:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post