Ravenpenny

GURPS101: The Fifth Attribute

I've talked about my rules for a "fifth attribute" before, but I've been saving them for Pyramid. I kind of realized that they're not really big enough - and while I could expand them (and I might), I figured others might get some mileage out of the bare bones right now. What exactly is the "fifth attribute?" It's a rules modification that ties ALL of a setting's paranormal abilities to a single stat.

Carpe Blogiem: When Is a Dungeon Fantasy Campaign No Longer A Dungeon Fantasy Campaign?, Part II

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/09/carpe-blogiem-when-is-dungeon-fantasy.html

Like the first installment, I continue to wax philosophic and think about the "good ole bad days" of AD&D.

Designer's Notes: The Hunter's Reliquary

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/08/designers-notes-hunters-reliquary.html

Some Designer's Notes on my latest Pyramid offering: The Hunter's Reliquary.

Sicatra - The Bloodied and the Banal - Game Session 5

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/08/sicatra-bloodied-and-banal-game-session.html

Another play report from the vault.

August 2015 Patreon Special #2

I've been holed up sick the last week - nearly visited the ER - but I'm okay now. I have some designer's notes for this week's Pyramid release and I'll be posting them as soon as I can. For now, Patrons get their standard dose and afterward I'm going to crawl back in bed.

GURPS101: Ritual Path Magic Sacrifices

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/08/gurps101-ritual-path-magic-sacrifices.html

A Price must be paid and a sacrifice made. Or some other such gibberish. After a flurry of forum posts on how to deal with sacrifices using Ritual Path magic I thought I'd finally weigh in on it on my blog.

Sicatra - The Bloodied and the Banal - Game Session 4

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/08/sicatra-bloodied-and-banal-game-session_13.html

A session recap from the vault. Playing deities can be exhausting (and fun!).

Carpe Blogiem: When Is a Dungeon Fantasy Campaign No Longer A Dungeon Fantasy Campaign?, Part I

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/08/carpe-blogiem-when-is-dungeon-fantasy.html

I muse a bit on the design philosophy of Dungeon Fantasy and when a Dungeon Fantasy campaign is no longer a Dungeon Fantasy campaign.

Sicatra - The Bloodied and the Banal - Game Session 3

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/08/sicatra-bloodied-and-banal-game-session_4.html

My players, being my players ignore the plot, forge another, and then we carry on. Because hey, this is GURPS and with the right traits you can do anything - including create a soul.

Patreon Special August 2015 #1

Today's blog post is a bit wordy, in fact, it's all about the words. Magic words. Words of Power. The very words that were spoken at the Beginning and will be spoke at the End. Some mages can harness these awesome powers and perform amazing feats of magic.

Triple Threat: Abattoirian

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/triple-threat-abattoirian.html

Been a while since I threw down a monster on my blog. So I figured I'd start with this nightmarish creature my players had to face during out last game session. Imagine a being composed of grave dirt, severed limbs, and other gore with the stench of a charnel house. The smell of rotting flesh and other unpleasant scen...

Gamemaster's Guidepost: Ritual Path Magic Mana Batteries

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/gamemasters-guidepost-ritual-path-magic.html

A couple of thoughts on how to create a "powerstone" for the popular Ritual Path Magic system.

Designer's Notes: Bottled Magic

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/designers-notes-bottled-magic_26.html

A couple of Designer's Notes from one of my more popular articles for Ritual Path Magic.

Gamemaster's Guidepost: Dungeon Fantasy Apprenticeships

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/gamemasters-guidepost-dungeon-fantasy.html

Some random musings on ye olde "0th level" character classes from Dungeons and Dragons and how I'd treat them in GURPS Dungeon Fantasy.

Carpe Blogiem: Schedule Changes

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/carpe-blogiem-schedule-changes.html

For those following along, I've got some news for my posting schedule.

Sicatra - The Hidden Library of Markantos - Game Session 1

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/sicatra-hidden-library-of-markantos.html

Busy, busy, busy - but here's a session recap from a game I ran earlier this month.

GURPS101: Dungeon Fantasy Multi-Profession Lens - Flying Blade

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/gurps101-dungeon-fantasy-multi.html

Today's entry takes an idea that Kromm wrote about (how to be awesome at throwing things in Dungeon Fantasy) and kicks it up a notch with a new type of lens (the multi-profession "Flying Blade" lens) and new power-ups to make your character a master of the throwing arts. (Sorry about the tardiness of my entry...

Designer's Notes: Pulp Hunters!

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/designers-notes-pulp-hunters.html

If you haven't noticed I decided I'm going to try to knock out my back log of Designer's Notes before the end of the year. Today's installment features new Monster Hunter inhuman options and a bit of history from one of my first ever Pyramid articles.

Sicatra - The Bloodied and the Banal - Game Session 2

So we're still gaming right now - here's a Session report from the vault. Enjoy.

Gamemaster's Guidepost: Apocalypse Features

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/gamemasters-guidepost-apocalypse.html

After marathoning the Walking Dead with my kid sister (who'd never seen it before) I got to thinking about the Zombie Apocalypse...and, well, that turned into a more general noodling on the Apocalypse in gener

Carpe Blogiem: The Bonecarvers of Sicatra - Part II

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/carpe-blogiem-bonecarvers-of-sicatra_7.html

The second part of my little ramble-on about an integral part of the my fantasy campaign.

Carpe Blogiem: The Bonecarvers of Sicatra - Part I

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/carpe-blogiem-bonecarvers-of-sicatra.html

I talk a bit about a unique organization in my fantasy campaign - Sicatra. These odd fellows are a blend of necromancers, psychopomps, undertakers, and sin eaters all in one. Born from a tradition handed down by the god of death himself, the bonecarvers can be found all over Sicatra laying angry s...

Gamemaster’s Guidepost: Wealth as an Attribute

Blargh. Sick so I 'll keep this short (vampires took too much blood yesterday at the hospital). What if Wealth was an attribute? What if cash on hand could be represented by another stat? Well...here's how I'd do it...

The Hurt Locker: Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/07/the-hurt-locker-drones-and-unmanned.html

Phil Reed posted (https://medium.com/@philipjreed/drones-in-2090-165ec10a81e4) some really neat stuff about cyberpunk drones in Gun Metal Games’ Interface Zero Roleplaying Game. Basically - it was ...

Designer's Notes: Expanded Psychokinesis

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/06/designers-notes-expanded-psychokinesis.html

Some more Designer's Notes - this one from my second ever Pyramid article. Plus a few "outtakes" (which were actually from a entire other book really).

GURPS101: It Ain't Heavy, It's my Shield

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/06/gurps101-it-aint-heavy-its-my-shield.html

Some random musings on why shields don't have a Minimum ST stat and how to add one should you so choose.

Carpe Blogiem: #SJGames Live with Sean and Steven

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/06/carpe-blogiem-sjgames-live-with-sean.html

Why aren't you watching this already?!

Designer's Notes: It's Pure Chemistry!

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/06/designers-notes-its-pure-chemistry.html

Some Designer's Notes for my first ever article. (Warning: More thoughtful than crunchy)

Triple Threat: Burrowing Scorpion

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/06/triple-threat-burrowing-scorpion.html

Something I didn't get to use in my game the other day...they're kind of dangerous. And they help you get stoned - just probably not in an enjoyable way. More like the you become pigeon furniture way. Create your own garden of PC statues and rock your players like a hurricane with today's Triple Threat: t...

The Hurt Locker: The Shroud of Turin

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/06/the-hurt-locker-shroud-of-turin.html

Today's Hurt Locker post is about the Shroud of Turin, it's origins, and how it might be used in your campaigns. Enjoy!