Ravenpenny

Melee Academy: A Decisive Blow

Today is GURPSday and today I talk trading skill for damage with a new maneuver (or technique or perk).

GURPS101: RPM Spell Loadouts - Mistakes Kal Makes

A guest post by Kalzazz on choosing the best charms when running a ritual path magic user. There's some gold in there.

Carpe Blogiem: A New Chronicle Part II

As promised, the second part of the two part series detailing my new crossover campaign. Today's post is all about the players (of which I have 14 spanning three games - one face to face game and two online games). I fully plan on doing a series of one-shots when I have time and I'll likely be recruiting from my think-tank and current players, but I might send out a call.

Carpe Blogiem: A New Chronicle Part I

The first part of a two part series detailing my new crossover campaign. This time I do the sane thing and keep the number of games at three - the number I seem to be able to concentrate on the best. This first post talks about the campaign itself - what rules I'm using, what things I've houseruled, and what rules I made for the campaign itself.

A Freebie Bit of Fiction Just for You.

A friend of mine is dipping his toe into the pool of writing and has started out with his sci-fiction universe. Troy's been working on this thing as long as I've known him (about 20 years)and he has binders and binders of information on planets, species, events, people, etc. I'm really glad to see him using some of that information in a creative way. A small blurb from the author himself:

" What drives the monstrous Broogh in their vast Flow across the galaxy? Just what sort of salv...

Designer's Notes: Mad as Bones

The designer's notes for my latest Pyramid ARticle - Mad as Bones - are ready for your perusal. Careful you don't go mad reading them . . .

Carpe Blogiem: Aeon Campaign Arc 1, Post Mortem

Buckle up. This is a long one. I talk about my years long superhero campaign, what I wanted to achieve at its inception, what I did achieve when running it, and what I should have achieved, but didn't.

Warning: If you aren't interested in the guts of GMing a superheroes campaign feel free to ignore this completely.

May Surprise...or Lack thereof.

My dice hate me or something. Next month, I'm going to just release two past specials to the new guys. Optionally, I might just release one to everyone (non-patrons included). If y'all have thoughts on what should be released. Let me know.

May Patreon Special #2 - Boil and Bubble: Cold Ritual Path Magic Spells

Today is the first Saturday of the month and that means it's Patreon Day. The day where I say "Thank you!" to all those who support my blog and enable me to bring new GURPS material to the community.

Today's second special is all about that ice, bout that ice (no fireball). A half dozen new ice-themed ritual path magic spells for y'all to enjoy.

 This link disappears 6/1/2017 

May Patreon Special #1 - GURPS101: More Psychokinesis Powers for Psionic Powers

Today is the first Saturday of the month and that means it's Patreon Day. The day where I say "Thank you!" to all those who support my blog and enable me to bring new GURPS material to the community.

This special features a new psychokinesis power - of the kind often featured in comics and movies - that allows the psi to fling bolts of your psychokinetic force.

This link disappears 6/1/2017

Family Calls

My mother is exceedingly ill right now (summer flu + some existing conditions) and I doubt I'm going to be putting up any blog posts this week. I do already have the specials ready to go and they will appear Saturday as they always do. Thank you for your patience. I've got a lot of great ideas for posts and after things are settled a bit I'll be getting those up and moving.

Aeon D-Team S01E05 – Fun Guy

The final Aeon session report of the campaign and the last of the D-Team from the Vault.

GURPS101: Just Stopped Off for a Pint

The Blood is the life, but not Blud Lite - it tastes like crap. Today I talk a bit about the advantages one can use to represent a hunger for blood with a look at the game mechanics behind Dependency, Draining, and Restricted Diet along with a few new rules to buff them up and give them more concrete drawbacks.

Designer's Notes: Crafting Imbuements

A couple Designer's Notes for my latest Pyramid article "Crafting Imbuements."

Gamemaster's Guidepost: Save vs. Spectate

Oi vay. It's been one of those months. I didn't deliver on the goods last week and for that I apologize. Today I come out swinging. Ever wonder how Fright Checks affect your players (not their characters)? What ways you might be to include someone whose failed a Fright Check? I got a few ideas.

Gamemaster's Guidepost - Framing Your Preferences, Part III

Finishing up my three-part series on getting the players and GMs to sit down and figure out what sort of game they want to play.

Gamemaster's Guidepost - Framing Your Preferences, Part II

Today's post is a continuation of an earlier one and is all about framing the preferences the players have for the campaign world.

Patreon Surprise!

This month I rolled 5 for the surprise. So this is available to $1+ patrons...Since I created material that works well with a previous special, I've uploaded that for some of the new folks who've just joined. Welcome!

Boil and Bubble: Shinto Ritual Path Magic Spells

Today's second Patreon Special is all about that mage, bout that mage (no talismans). Specifically, a handful of spells for ritual path magic based on some Eastern concepts (with a little of the rule of cool) and a new creature you can summon.

 Note: This link expires on 5/1/17 

Melee Academy: Whip Fighting

WHIP IT! WHIP IT GOOD! INTO SHAPE! IT'S NOT TO LATE...TO WHIP IT. Okay, enough of that. Today's first Patreon Special is a new martial arts style using whips. 

Note: This link expires on 5/1/17

Gamemaster's Guidepost - Framing Your Preferences, Part I

My grandfather used to tell me war stories when I was a kid, from my great-great grandfather in the Civil War to my uncles and cousins who fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. I thought it was exciting and fascinating, but he mostly did it to occupy me (otherwise I'd get in a lot of trouble - I was a nosy and entirely too energetic child). 

One thing he used to tell me often was "We only have the weapons to fight the war we just fought once that war is over." Something he'd say ...

Aeon V-Team S01E04 - ...I'll Be the Mad Hatter

Another session report from the Vault for Aeon - the last one for V-Team as I wrap up the campaign.

Designer's Notes:Terry Toucan & the Puzzle Pals - The House of 10,000 Sock Monkeys!

Some designer's notes from the latest article that I co-wrote with J. Edward Tremlett.

Aeon V-Team S01E03 - You Can Be Alice...

Another Aeon session report from the Vault.

Aeon V-Team S01E02 - Down the Rabbit Hole

Another Aeon session report from the Vault.

Aeon V-Team S01E01 - Mall Madness

The first session report from Aeon's V-Team wherein I throw them against one of the nastiest villain in the campaign setting and they decide to not only thwart him, but capture him with some awesome teamwork.

Triple Threat: Skull Crab

Been a while since I wrote up some critters. This one is totally the fault of one of my Aeon players. May it haunt your nightmares as it has mine.

March 2017 Patreon Surprise

The surprise is here with rules for Dungeon Fantasy martial arts styles, psionic powers, and alternate rules for alternate forms.

 (Note: These specials have already been released at one point and are being put out for new subscribers to my Patreon) 

(This link disappears on April 9th 2017.)

March 2017 Patreon Special #2 - Boil and Bubble: Thaumaturgic Ritual Path Magic

Today's second Patreon Special are rules for a variation of Ritual Path Magic using various Judeo-Christian trappings.

 (This link disappears on April 9th 2017.) 

March 2017 Patreon Special #1 - The Hurt Locker: More Psi-Tech I

Today's first Patreon special is about new psi-tech options for clothing.

 (This link disappears on April 9th 2017.)