ragingswanpress

City Backdrop: Languard

Ah Languard, how I've been looking forward to releasing this book! As you probably know, I started work on Languard last year--live designing the city week by week over on my blog. This week's release presents the first look at Languard, capital city of Ashlar. I hope you enjoy it.

What's also rather cool is that a few weeks ago I was able to start a sporadic campaign in the city and its surrounds. I've enjoyed sharing Languard with my players and even better--I've been doing extra design base...

The Last Resort (and Trolls!)

This week, we've got a couple of excellent releases for you, including the first design contribution from Simon Butler. Simon has lurked in Raging Swan Press's background (in a shadowy and slightly sinister fashion) for some time working on our maps and print covers. This is his first foray into actually writing for Raging Swan Press. I hope you enjoy his first work: Monstrous Lair #2: Troll Cave.

...

2018-02-16 08:24:19 +0000 UTC View Post

Do You Want Some GM Love?

Are you a GM who wants some LOVE? Of course you are--everyone needs some love. 

In the past, I've not been shy about how much I appreciate your support. Raging Swan Press has grown leaps and bounds over the last few years and our patrons have been a huge part of our growth. While I'm dangerously English, and do so hate a scene, I can't imagine running Raging Swan Press without you. I am deeply grateful for your ongoing support. In short, I love it!

2018-02-14 10:01:29 +0000 UTC View Post

Masquerade and Owlbears (Oh My!)

What a set of goodies we've got for you this week! Not only do we have Richard Pett's first Village Backdrop for Raging Swan Press we've also got you the first in the Monstrous Lair line--which is an added extra free bonus for you.

Masquerade

A troupe of masked actors and comics crew the floating village-theatre of Masquerade. The village—really three rickety barges that visits bo...

Choices for May's Monstrous Lairs Instalments

As you may recall, last month I ran a poll to decide which monsters we should feature in upcoming Monstrous Lair instalments. 

The first six releases comprise:

• Monstrous Lair #1: Owlbear Lair (12 February--you get your's Friday)
• Monstrous Lair #2: Troll Cave (19 February)
• Monstrous Lair #3: Ogre Cave (12 March)
• Monstrous Lair #4: Goblin Raiding Camp (19 March)
• Monstrous Lair #5: Harpy's Nest (16 April)
• Monstrous Lair #6: Minotaur's ...
  2018-02-07 13:20:07 +0000 UTC View Post

Adventures in a Fallen Dwarven Hold!

There is probably no more classic adventure locale than a fallen dwarven hold (probably stuffed full of goblins, orcs or undead.) I've certainly spent many happy hours explore such dusty, bone-choked halls.

As you might be able to tell, I rather enjoying writing 20 Things #23: Fallen Dwarven Hold. I hope you get a tremendous amount of use out it and that the book makes your undergr...

Monstrous Poll Results

Last week, I posted up a poll to see what you wanted us to feature in our new Monstrous Lairs line. As you'll recall, the first four instalments are already in progress. The release schedule looks like this:

February

• Monstrous Lairs #1: Owlbear Den (complete)
• Monstrous Lair #2: Troll Cave (complete)

Hit either of the lin...

Campaign Backdrop: Seas & Oceans

We've got a big release this week--Campaign Backdrops: Seas & Oceans. Weighing in at over 130 pages it pulls together loads of resources specifically designed for sea-based adventuring. 

For me, part of the stress of GMing is not having appropriate resources to hand. The Campaign Backdrop...

Monstrous Lair Subjects

As you probably remember earlier this month I posted up some example versions of a new line--Monstrous Lairs--Raging Swan Press will be releasing this year. 

The first few instalments are either now complete or in their final edit. Currently we have lined up for you:

• Monstrous Lair #1: Owlbear Nest (complete)
• Monstrous Lair #2: Troll Cave (awaiting final edit)
• Monstrous Lair #3: Ogre Cave (awaiting final edit)
• Monstrous Lair #4: Giant Spider's Nest (...
  2018-01-23 15:40:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Places of Power: Khla'Akear

This week, Raging Swan Press releases Places of Power: Khla'Akear by John Bennett. John is--I think--the longest surviving freelancer in Raging Swan's sinister stable and he's done a cracking job bringing Khla'Akear to life. I hope it makes a great addition to your campaign! 

Behold, Khla-Akear:

Once the home of a violent clan of rakshasas, the holy stupa of Khla’Akear is now the...

Village Backdrop: Lady Cross

This week, we've got the first Village Backdrop of the year ready for YOUR campaign. Behold--the ghost-infested village of Lady Cross:

On what was once the lonely crossroads of two rarely used roads sits the village of Lady Cross, a tight community of stone houses surrounded by a high stone wall. Now a popular rest stop for travellers and merchants alike, Lady Cross is known for the heady spirits dis...

20 Things #22: Ocean Voyage

Welcome to the first Raging Swan Press book of 2018--20 Things #22: Ocean Voyage. This release is free to you as a thank you for your ongoing support. I hope you find it useful, when your PCs next go on a voyage!

Thank you also for your feedback on our Monstrous Lair poll which we posted up earlier this week. I found it very useful and based on your feedback I've already contracted the first i...

Monstrous Lairs Poll

With the festivities now over, I've been thinking about shaking up Raging Swan's product lines a bit. 

One of the short releases I've been plotting (for some time) is the Monstrous Lairs line. A bit like the 20 Things releases these short two-page products provide the GM with several tables to breathe life into a certain locale. 

The example, I've posted up below is by Mike Welham and presents dressing for an owlbear lair. (It's had a quick edit, but it is not as polished as a ...

Places of Power: Tibol-Korrin

Blimey. We've reached the end--our last release of 2017! This year, we've released in the region of 50 different products (more if you count the multiple editions of the Village Backdrop and Places of Power lines). That's a hell of an achievement and we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you.

I've been plotting some changes to our release schedule for next year. While we'll stick to the same number of releases, we'll be mixing up the content a bit. I've seen several requests in recent we...

The Plan Going Forward

As you know by now, Patreon has changed the way they collect their fees.

In the past, it was the creators who paid the fees. Now, the patrons pay. There’s a lot of anger about the change among creators and patrons. As an example, Raging Swan Press has lost 3% of our patrons in the last 24 hours as a direct result of the change. Behold:

While the change might be better for...

A Herd of Villages!

I'm not sure what a herd of villages looks like, but we are all about to find out! This week, Raging Swan Press has nine Village Backdrops for you. Given it is the end of the year, we've taken the opportunity to update some of our earliest villages for 5e and System Neutral games. 

All three villages--Bossin, Hosford and Oakhurst--are set on the Lonely Coast (our free mini-campaign setting). For your gaming pleasure, I've also attached a copy of the Lonely Coast to this p...

Wilderness Camping and a Compendium

This week, we've got two books for you. I hope you find them useful and that they enhance your game.

Most GMs handle wilderness camping overnight in one of two ways: either nothing happens or something attacks the camp. That's fine as far as it goes, but sometimes minor things of interest occur that don't result in combat. 

Of course, busy GMs don't have time to generate these kind of details; that's where 2017-12-01 13:31:59 +0000 UTC View Post

The Raging Swan Press Megabundles are Back!

It must be Christmas! From now until December 14, Raging Swan Press has an epic, mega deal for you!

Actually, we have two mega deals for you. If you fancy a 90% discount on your gaming goodness, read on…

Last December, Raging Swan Press released the cleverly titled Christmas Megabundle 2016. This year, I’ve gone wild and created the Chri...

Be Awesome at Dungeon Design

A year ago or so, Raging Swan Press released a free product entitled Be Awesome at Dungeon Design. Some of you likely have it. The book basically presents several of my design essays about how to craft better, more awesome dungeons. 

Be Awesome at Dungeon Design (Augmented Edition) does that and so much more!  This 200-page book is a compendium of all my dungeon design blog...

Places of Power: Dead Man's Run

In most campaigns, the PCs spend a fair amount of time in the wilderness. During their journeys, they'll probably have to cross more than one river. That sucks, unless there is a ford, bridge or ferry service. And what's better than a ferry service? A reputedly haunted ferry, that's what!

Behold: 

Dead Man's Run

The glint of gold coin and flash of pale bone peek out from the dark timbers of sunken buildings as a sad ferryman slowly pulls his boat across the clear water. This...

Village Backdrop: Echo Harbour

This week, we've got a treat for you! I've had some requests to include some more inclusive, non-typical villages in Raging Swan Press's lineup. I'm a bit of an old fart when it comes to gaming and so my go-to products tend to be more traditional in their outlook--dwarves, elves, goblins and so on. 

Luckily around the time I had the requests, Amber Underwood pitched Echo Harbour. I think you'll agree it's a pretty atypical village hosting as it does humans, orcs and menfolk in harmony! As...

20 Things #20: Fort on the Borderland

I'm an old fart. I've been gaming for over thirty years and the first adventure I ever owned was B2 Keep on the Borderlands. Given all that, it should be pretty obvious where I got the idea for this month's 20 Things release!

I have a huge soft spot for the keep and it's attendant caves. In my idle moments, I fantasise about designing my own homage to the adventure, but I haven't y...

How Long Are Your Campaigns?

A thought occurred to me yesterday while I was chatting with some chums. I've recently taken a break from my Shattered Star campaign which has run for two and a half years. Before that my Borderland of Adventure campaign which spawned the Shattered Star ran for two years. 

Such long games are not my normal bag--normally they tend to run for a year (if that). I was wondering, then, how long your campaigns tend to run (as in how long you have actual game play as opposed to breaks and hiatus...

Old-School Village Maps III

As we speak, I'm lurking in a secret woodland lair, watching a pair of deranged of semi-feral halfings enjoy themselves. (Well, that's the plan--it's probably raining and/or I've broken another ankle!)

In any event, as some/many of you might remember I've actually already released this product (by accident). However, I wanted to make sure  everyone who has joined the Patreon since I accidentally released this map collection a month early also gets their free copy.

Thus--behold (agai...

Village Backdrop Galore!

This week--whatever the system you run--we've got a slew of Village Backdrops for you! And--rather marvellously--all three books are available in PDF and soft cover formats. 

This has been a particularly busy release week for us--I'm trying to sync up the schedules for the GM’s Miscellany: Village Backdrops for next year (and the years beyond). That's why the 5e and System Neutral Edition books have one extra Village Backdrop. Next year, the contents of both books should essentially be ...

Places of Power: Forgotten Athenaeum

Hello everyone!

It might be dark and drizzly outside and the tail end of a hurricane might be on the way, but it's not all doom and gloom here at global HQ! This week, we've got Richard Green's latest work--Places of Power: Forgotten Athenaeum for your gaming pleasure. Available in Pathfinder, 5e and System Neutral editions the Forgotten Athenaeum is the perfect place to go when you need to find scraps of esoteric, forgotten lore--something PCs seem to need to do on a surprisingly reg...

Village Backdrop: Farrav'n

This week, we've got a desert village for you from Mike Welham. Being Mike Welham--of course--this is a (gnoll) village with a difference!

Farrav’n and its oasis of crystal-clear water provides a haven of rest and relaxation in the cruel Luminous Desert. 

To the s...

20 Things #19: Kobold Warren

My apologises. Last week, in all the excitement of hitting our most recent milestone and starting to hurl myself into the Master Your Campaign podcast, I announced one free product and then promptly released another one! 

(I'm meant to release Old-School Village Maps III at the end of October but clearly looked at the wrong month's release schedule in my podcast-based excitement).

I'm sorry for this confusion; the mistake is completely mine. 

2017-09-30 08:10:42 +0000 UTC View Post

Old-School Village Maps III

What an epic week it has been! Not only have we finally reached our podcasting goal (THANK YOU!) but we've also had a veritable herd of new patrons sign up (also THANK YOU!) Welcome to Mario de Gortari, Leroy Brooks, Tim Kay, Jonny Merilatt, Mutant41, George M, Jason Dickerson, Stephan Hassam, Florian, Dan Newman, Rafael Balbi, Warren Creighton, Jaren Rencher. Michael Brown, Michael Charbonneau, Dustin James Facteau, Curtis Falgiani, Matt Jackson and Dalton Andrade. 

And a special hello t...

Master Your Campaign

Earlier this week, something epic happened, and you helped make it a reality: we hit our next milestone which means the Raging Swan Press podcast will soon be a reality!

This is epic, exciting and a bit daunting. I've got lots to do.

At the moment, I'm shooting for an early November release of the first episodes, but in the meantime if you have any suggestions about content...