Ravenpenny

The Hurt Locker: The Golden Monk

It's a MacGuffin with an eastern bent. A golden statue with a mummy inside...but why? What's the point? Will it unlock some secret inner strength or give wisdom? Does it lead to some place lost to the annuals of time? Is it all of the above? Recently reported in the news, I've decided to give it a bit of a RPG spin for your campaigns. In today's Hurt Locker, I look at what a mummified monk bound in gold might be to your game... 2015-04-10 00:42:08 +0000 UTC View Post

Triple Threat: Aurumvorax

"A is for aurumvorax and that's good enough for me!" Aurumvorax (plural aurumvorai? aurumvoraxes? aurumvorae? aurumvorax?) are nasty critters that snack on metal like a junkie on smack. Isn't that fun? Hell yes it is. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/04/triple-threat-aurumvorax.html#.VSRdL_nF_Cs

Sicatra - The Twisted Vault - Game Session 2

Another session report from the backlog about my Dungeon Fantasy campaign. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/04/sicatra-twisted-vault-game-session-2.html#.VSGL5vnF_Cs

Patreon Special - April 2015 #1

Today’s Triple Threat is something from the Nightmare File (the place where I note all the scary critters I dream about) combined with a thought I had while people-watching (a favorite pastime). “Why do crowds suddenly become silent?” It was just an idle thought at the time, but I had a dream that night that woke me up screaming. I’ve never been so happy in my life to be able to scream as when I woke up during that night. Because sometimes you can’t scream. Sometimes the monsters get y...

Melee Academy: Speed Kills

Today is GURPS-day and with it comes a new Melee Academy. Speed kills - we all know that - but how does that relate to more attacks? I got a few ideas. (Sorry, this is short, I am going in for some emergency outpatient surgery so I have to head to before soon or I won't get any sleep. Enjoy the post - I'll see you wonder people on Sunday). http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/04/melee-academy...

Gamemaster's Guidepost: I Put a Spell on You

I put a spell on you 'cause you're mine, You better stop the trying to take the Cursed the disad like you do I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin' Great. Your player wants to take the Cursed disadvantage. Is he trying to pull a fast one or does he have a reason in his backstory for it? You as a GM can just say "No" and move on...but wouldn't be more fun if you let them take it? You'll need to enforce it properly and that can be hard when the disadvantage basically says "Screw them over all the time!...

Carpe Blogiem: My Gamemaster's Kit

A GM has certain needs. Needs we don't discuss in polite company - or do we? While this may not be 50 Shades of Gamemastering, some things a GM needs to run a game at its most bare bones and other things make his life easier. I could probalby make due with some dice, napkins, and some way of measuring - but I wouldn't like it. While I hesitate to call them "luxuries" that is kind of what they are. So here's my kit in all it's glory. What do you bring to the table when you run a game? 2015-03-29 20:36:09 +0000 UTC View Post

Assembly Required: Outlining Step Six - Bestiary, Rogues Gallery, & Campaign Information Whew! It's taken me forever, but we finally got through another phase of Assembly Required. This one's all about wrapping up and finalizing some stuff you probably already figured out. But as gamers, we know there is a different between what is in our head and what is written down. Note: I'm not sure when I'll be starting this column up again, the campaign it's based on is on hiatus right now and we're...

GURPS 101: Magical Styles - Demonology

Sometimes you gotta deal with a devil in a blue dress and then who you gonna call? The Ghostbusters? Maybe. What you need is either a exorcist or a demonologist - preferable both. Today I put out a new Ritual Path Magic Style - the Demonologist along with a couple of new spells and a fully stated style. Not every one can be a spookhunter, but those that can are some hard men and women. 2015-03-26 22:38:58 +0000 UTC View Post

Guys, Heads up, Patreon's web site keeps partially reverting to old goals. I've fixed it again, but I have no idea if it'll happen again. I've sent a note to the techs to check into it. Thanks again for your continuing support. I look forward to my ongoing commitment to you. :-) With Regards, Christopher R. Rice

Carpe Blogiem: You Must Construct Additional Pylons

I've been doing some digital housekeeping...read on if you're interested in exactly what that is. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/carpe-blogiem-you-must-construct.html#.VREAWfnF_Cs

Gamemaster's Guidepost: The Art of Creating Critters

So I've talked about NPC creation before and here are a few of my thoughts for creating critters. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/gamemasters-guidepost-art-of-creating.html#.VQ9eZfnF_Ct

Patreon Special - March 2015 #2

So Mad as Bones still had some more things to shake out and after Celti so obligingly pointed them out to me (and let me cheat off his test), I've added some more options including rules for cultural/linguistic shock, shell shock/PTSD, new prebuilt sanity sapping attacks, and much much more.

Designer's Notes: It's a Threat!

My latest Pyramid offering is out there and here are some designer's notes and a bonus critter for your Dungeon Fantasy games: the rust reaver. Enjoy http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/designers-notes-its-threat.html#.VQsUMY7F_Cs

Triple Threat: Cu Sidhe

Today's St. Patty's Day and I thought a special Celtic triple threat might be in order. So today you can frustrate your players tracking attempts with the Cu Sidhe - the fairy hound. Or set the hounds on them and if they are bound for Faerie for whatever reason (geasa, tiend, etc.) they can never escape the hounds pursuit... Either way, have a happy St. Patty's Day! http://www.ravensnpennies.co...

I'm going to be revising this page and my blog in the coming month and I wanted everyone to know that. I'm not going to be making drastic changes, but a face lift and some more realistic goals (see below). I'm seriously considering a revision on who gets the Patreon Specials. As it stands, anyone who throws in gets access to all the previous material which creates a perverse incentive. I'm considering adopting a model where the first special of each month is accessible to all patrons and the sec...

Designer's Notes: A Familiar Path

In my attempt to write designer's notes for all of my articles to date, I add the recent "A Familiar Path" onto the fire as a burnt offering. Because most of this one was actually an outtake from another article, I had very few cuts that are even remotely useful. Still, there are a couple. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/designers-notes-familiar-path.html#.VQUp8Y7F_Cs

Book Review: GURPS Power-Ups 8: Limitations

A quick review of Power-Ups 8 - TL;DR it's good, go buy it. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/book-review-gurps-power-ups-8.html#.VQEcz_nF_Cs

Sicatra - The Twisted Vault - Game Session 1

I'm still recovering from con crud (it's almost gone! Nothing but sniffles now) and catching up on work, so here is another session report from the vault. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/sicatra-twisted-vault-game-session-1.html#.VP6SBvnF_Cs

Patreon Special - March 2015 #1

Crap! I'm late by a day for my Patreon Special! Quick, Doctor, tell me where are we going this time? Was I just in the 50's or did we party like it's 1999? All I wanted to do was blog and write, but if you want take me away, I don't mind, as long as you get me back in time. I blame my exultation of feeling SO MUCH better and then hopping onto my "to-do list" like a were-honey badger on Pooh Bear. So today's Patreon-only post is a 6-page lens for the Scholar template from Dungeon Fantasy 4: Sages...

Assembly Required: Outlining Step Five - Powers

It's been a while since I put out a Assembly Required post - that's mostly because I've been busy to a ghastly degree. Also, I've been sick (stupid Con Crud!), but I'm getting better. So here is step 5 of Outlining and it's a heckva choice the GM is going to have to make: what powers are in his setting? More than anything else, powers can define what a setting is and what genre it might be. It's a important step so think carefully about all the implications! 2015-03-06 12:45:53 +0000 UTC View Post

Sicatra - The Caravan Job - Game Session 1

Blargh. I'm sick. Another session report from the vault. Hopefully I'll feel better soon(ish). Till then, read on. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/sicatra-caravan-job-game-session-1.html#.VPgsjfnF_Cs

Gamemaster's Guidepost: Safer than Houses

Today's post is about a few odds and ends on my "Safe as Houses" article from Pyramid #3/58: Urban Fantasy II that I wish I'd thought of when I was writing it. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/gamemasters-guidepost-safer-than-houses.html#.VPZb8PnF_Cs

Carpe Blogiem: ROFCON 2015 Report

I went to a Con over the weekend and ran GURPS - basically, it was awesome. But read on if you want my thoughts on the whole thing. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/03/carpe-blogiem-rofcon-2015-report.html#.VPP7g_nF_Cs

The Hurt Locker: Deck of Wonders

"Hey, kid, I got this magical deck of cards that can make all your dreams come true. Want a hit?" "Sure! How many can I draw?" "How many you want?" Oh, Glob, how I'ever whispered those words (or some such) to newbie players as I pulled out my deck of cards with a evil twinkle in my eyes. Now, I actually created an entire deck's worth of results rather than just the few that the old DMG had, but it's buried with the other antiquities of my gaming past. I decided it might be fun if I made a "knoc...

Sicatra - The Lost Lad - Game Session 1

A short recap from the vault today. It's SNOWING outside and the world is in chaos down here in the good ole American South. Also, I'm cold. http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/02/sicatra-lost-lad-game-session-1.html#.VO0li_nF_Cs

Triple Threat: Slender Man

Urban Legends, myths, tall tales, and stories where something I hunted in my youth as I tried to discover who I was. Like a hound on a trail, I followed the stories. There is a certainty in looking for your self by looking for something else. I was (and in some ways remain) like that. The stories we tell ourselves are one of the methods in which we cope, how we pass down lessons learned, and how we hope to save someone the pain of walking a difficult path. Some stories are told to entertain. Som...

Patreon Special - February 2015 #2

Today is Patreon day, the day where I say, "thank you!" to all of my patrons who make my blog possible. Today's post features a new inhuman race for GURPS Monster Hunters and a way to create new dangers by "tainting" monsters, more specifically, cultists.

Designer's Notes: Hidden Knowledge

Today's Pyramid release (go here: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/pyramid-number-3-slash-76-dungeon-fantasy-iv) includes one of my articles that's been a bit long-simmering (over a year). It's no big secret that I like ritual path magic (and it's my system of choice), but I like the basic magic system just fine too. Despite its warts (or maybe because of them), it's the ...

GURPS101: Cultures in Dungeon Fantasy

Player: "I was raised by elves. Does that mean I can do elf-y things?" GM: "Errr, ummm...which ones. You trying to munchkinize this character?" *squints eyes* It's a common fantasy trope, so how to model it? Well, I got a idea... http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2015/02/gurps101-cultures-in-dungeon-fantasy.html#.VOPL4_nF_Cs