Mystery Box Friday (Fantastic Reality)

Hey Game Fans, It’s friday so it’s time for us to dig into our Mystery Box and see what goodies fall out this time.  Today we’re going to take a look at the Asatania Campaign Setting from Fantastic Reality.  Make sure you check out their website at https://www.fantastic-reality.com/ for more details and to take a closer look at what they are brewing.  Today we’re going to look at two specific pieces of the Asatania Campaign Setting, the Player’s Guide to the Crashing Chaos Campaign and the Crashing Chaos Campaign Guide v.101.  There are a lot of additional materials, resources and adventures that are built to work with this setting, so we’re going to start here and may eventually sweep up some of the additional materials.  

 

Structured Gameplay for Edge of the Empire

Hey Game Fans, we’re going to continue our breakdown of Edge of the Empire from Fantasy Flight Games.  Today we’re going to examine how structured gameplay works and break down the basics of what you can do in this time structure, We might dig into Narrative time as well, but that may be an article for another day.  For now, we’re going to dig into Structured Gameplay, so strap in, we’re going to try and not to burn out the hyperdrive motivators.  

Backgrounds Part II (Acolyte and Charlatan)

Hey Game Fans, we’re back with the second part of our series on Backgrounds for Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition.  Today we’re going to take a hard look at the Acolyte and the Charlatan Backgrounds and how they affect your character’s background and possible development as you level up.  First up, we have the Acolyte, and then we’ll conclude with the Charlatan.  

Deities, Divinities and Truly Scary Things Pt. 23

Hey Game Fans, we’re taking a look at some world building ideas and concepts for the home setting i run.  If you’ve checked out my other world building articles, this is the setting that focuses on Lakeport and the larger world around it.  Today i’m going to  take a look at one of the fiercest gods for the setting, Face Biter, the Lord of Orcs. Before i get started on him, let me give you a little background for the gods of this world.

Plot Traps Volume 4

I’m changing some things up with the blog and looking at a variety of new and old ideas in gaming.  I’d like to spend part of today talking about some recurring tropes and ideas that crop up in fantasy storytelling and how they can be used (and abused) in an RPG to some sort of effect.  Today’s volume is going to feature The Hero’s Journey phenomenon.  There are a variety of ways this idea can be used to great effect in a fantasy rpg.  Let’s take a look at how that can work.

 

Mystery Box Friday (Greyed Out Productions)

Hey Game Fans, we’re back with another Mystery Box Friday Review for you.  Today we’re going to take a look at something that is near and dear to our hearts, dice bags.  Ever since we were wee little gamers using swiped Crown Royal bags all the way up to the modern leather bags and plastic cases we use today, we LOVE things to store dice in (it’s a neck and neck race to determine which we like more).  Today we’re going to show off a store we’re very interested in and some of the just astonishingly cool bags that they have.  Without any further ado, let’s take a hard look at Greyed Out Productions.  

 

Orcs for Lakeport (Race Write-Up)

Hey Game Fans, we’re back for another part of a feature on the Homebrew setting of Lakeport.  Today we’re going to look at the Orcs and the four variants, and we’re going to dig into the Half-Orcs as well.  These two groups have strong cultural ties with each other, and we’ll cover the statistical differences after we go over some of their cultural specifics. For a general history of these groups as well as goblins and some other groups, check out our article here.  Let’s dig a little deeper into the culture of the Orcs

 

Equipment for Edge of the Empire part V

Hey Game Fans, we’re back with the conclusion (hopefully) on our series about attachments and mods for Edge of the Empire from Fantasy Flight Games.  If you want some explanation of key terms and concepts, check out the first part of this article, which you can find here.  Let’s keep on and get through the rest of the weapon attachments and hopefully finish up the armor attachments.  Now these are all found in the Edge of the Empire corebook and you can find the start of this section on page 187.  Let’s dig in and see what sort of mischief we can get into.

 

Backgrounds for Dungeons and Dragons

Hey Game Fans, today we’re going to start/continue our discussion about the Backgrounds for character building in Dungeons and Dragons, 5th edition.  Basically, these are designed to cover the period of time between your character’s birth and when they started their career as an adventurer.  There are a lot of interesting options, but there’s also the option to build your own background out of combining the traits from other backgrounds together in an interesting casserole of deliciousness.

 

Orcs and Goblins for Lakeport

Hey Game Fans, we’re back with another look at our Lakeport setting.  Today we’re going to cover another major group of affiliated races that share a culture.  Our Feature for today are the Orcs and Goblins of Lakeport and the shared culture they have.  We’ll have companion pieces that look closely at the specific cultures of Orcs, Goblins, and the rest.  We’ll also have articles on their various gods as we move towards a complete picture of these denizens of Lakeport.  

 

If you’re coming to Lakeport from a more traditional fantasy world where Orcs and goblins are default bad guys, then you are going to want to read this.  Neither one of those nor are any of the other races we discuss in this section default bad guys.  Each culture has it’s high and low points, and each culture has things to contribute to society as a whole.  Turn off your expectations and see what each one of those groups adds to the setting.

Plot Traps Volume 3

I’m changing some things up with the blog and looking at a variety of new and old ideas in gaming.  I’d like to spend part of today talking about some recurring tropes and ideas that crop up in fantasy storytelling and how they can be used (and abused) in an RPG to some sort of effect.  Today’s volume is going to feature the Sacred Maguffin of Power phenomenon.  There are a variety of ways this idea can be used to great effect in a fantasy rpg.  Let’s take a look at how that can work.

Mystery Box Friday

Hey Game Fans, we’re back to take a look at another interesting addition to the gaming accessories marketplace.  Today we’re going to take a brief look at the wonderful workshop at Cognitive Merchants.  Based out of Manchester, England Cognitive Merchant is a bespoke shop that caters to all things gamer.  We’re going to talk about some of the services they provide and some examples of their work.  Let’s dig in.

 

Personality for Dungeons and Dragons

Hey Game Fans, we’re back to take another look at the character creation process for Dungeons and Dragons. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the more role-playing heavy aspects of the game.  We’ll be discussing alignment and and go over some of the basic personality characteristics.  (we’re in Chapter 4 of the PHB if you’re following along at home). First up, Alignment.

 

Equipment for Edge of the Empire part IV

Hey Game Fans, we’ve covered the basic types of equipment and common items you’ll find in Edge of the Empire. Today we’re going to take a quick look at the customization rules and the processes that let you take a common blaster pistol and make it your very own.  These rules apply to just about every piece of equipment in the game, from blasters to armor to starships and other crazy ideas.  Buckle up, grab your tool kit, and let’s take a closer look at modifications.  

 

The Kobolds of Lakeport

So this is another expansion of the work i have been doing on my lakeport setting.  Today i’m going to talk about the Dragonborn of this world, and some of the roles they play in it.  There are  companion pieces about the three Dragon deities, and the dragons themselves.  There will also be an article about Kobolds (since they are playable) and eventually we’ll put together a Monster Manual article on the Drakkenghul.  This group of articles should do a fairly solid job of putting these together and give you a wealth of information on who they are and what they do.  Today we’re going to finish up with kobolds.

The Dragonborn of Lakeport

So this is another expansion of the work i have been doing on my lakeport setting.  Today i’m going to talk about the Dragonborn of this world, and some of the roles they play in it.  There are  companion pieces about the three Dragon deities, and the dragons themselves.  There will also be an article about Kobolds (since they are playable) and eventually we’ll put together a Monster Manual article on the Drakkenghul.  This group of articles should do a fairly solid job of putting these together and give you a wealth of information on who they are and what they do.  Let’s dig into the Dragonborn.

Plot Traps Volume 2

I’m changing some things up with the blog and looking at a variety of new and old ideas in gaming.  I’d like to spend part of today talking about some recurring tropes and ideas that crop up in fantasy storytelling and how they can be used (and abused) in an RPG to some sort of effect.  Today’s volume is going to feature the Evil Mastermind phenomenon.  There are a variety of ways this idea can be used to great effect in a fantasy rpg.  Let’s take a look at how that can work.

Deities, Divinities and Truly Scary Things Pt. 22

Hey Game Fans, we’re taking a look at some world building ideas and concepts for the home setting i run.  If you’ve checked out my other world building articles, this is the setting that focuses on Lakeport and the larger world around it.  Today i’m going to  take a look at one of the oldest gods for the setting, The Abyssal Wyrm. Before i get started on him, let me give you a little background for the gods of this world.

 

Deities, Divinities and Truly Scary Things Pt. 21

Hey Game Fans, we’re taking a look at some world building ideas and concepts for the home setting i run.  If you’ve checked out my other world building articles, this is the setting that focuses on Lakeport and the larger world around it.  Today i’m going to  take a look at one of the oldest gods for the setting, The Celestial Wyrm. Before i get started on her, let me give you a little background for the gods of this world.

Deities, Divinities and Truly Scary Things Pt. 20

Hey Game Fans, we’re taking a look at some world building ideas and concepts for the home setting i run.  If you’ve checked out my other world building articles, this is the setting that focuses on Lakeport and the larger world around it.  Today i’m going to  take a look at one of the oldest gods for the setting, Haderack. Before i get started on him, let me give you a little background for the gods of this world.

 

Mystery Box Friday (It's Back)

Hey Game Fans, we’re finally back with our Mystery Box Friday feature.  Today we’ve got three (Three!) products to take a look at.  First we’re going to take a look at  two sets of charts from our friends over at Dwarves in a Trenchcoat, and then we’re going to take a look at a sourcebook by Sean McGovern over at Power Score RPG.  Let’s take a look at all of these and see what sort of mischief we can come up with.  

 

The Dragons of Lakeport

So this is another expansion of the work i have been doing on my lakeport setting.  Today i’m going to talk about the Dragons of this world, and how they helped shape it into what it is.  There’s a companion article (really three companion articles) that detail the Dragon Gods, and then a companion piece about Dragonborn and Kobolds.  This group of articles should do a fairly solid job of putting these races together and give you a wealth of information on who they are and what they do.  Let’s start with the Dragons themselves (and then we’ll talk a little bit about them and how they experience the world)  We’ll also have a brief description of a new monster to the setting the Drakkenghul.  

Equipment for Edge of the Empire part III

Hey Game Fans, we’re back to take a look at the equipment you’re going to probably utilize at some point during your games of Edge of the Empire from Fantasy Flight Games.  Star Wars has a rich history of cool gadgets and gizmos that crop up during important scenes during various movies, games and books.  They are an essential part of life on the fringes of society and can do a lot of things.  We’re not going to talk about Droids today (mostly because they are much better as a species discussion) nor are we going to talk about vehicles and starships (those belong in their own article).  We’re going to cover the other pieces of technology that make life a much easier proposition in the Star Wars RPG.  Now there are a lot of different kind of equipment, and we’re going to try cover as much ground as we can.  Let’s take a deeper look at Equipment.

Adventurer's League Season 3 part 9 (High Level Track)

All right Game Fans, we’re continuing with our look at the 3rd season of the Adventurer’s League for Dungeons and Dragons, 5th edition.  Like last season, we’re not going to take these adventures in numeric order, but we’ve split them up into three different tracks based off of their suggested character level.  Today we’re looking at the only adventure for the high level track, DDEX 3-4 It’s all in the Blood.  Let’s dive in, and take a closer look at the next part of Season 3.

Plot Traps Volume 1

I’m changing some things up with the blog and looking at a variety of new and old ideas in gaming.  I’d like to spend part of today talking about some recurring tropes and ideas that crop up in fantasy storytelling and how they can be used (and abused) in an RPG to some sort of effect.  Today’s volume is going to feature the Evil Twin phenomenon.  There are a variety of ways this idea can be used to great effect in a fantasy rpg.  Let’s take a look at how that can work.

Tales from the Yawning Portals (The End)

Hey Game Fans, we’re going to wrap up our coverage of the Tales from the Yawning Portal Hardcover book today by taking a look at the Appendices and talking a little bit about what this book can mean for future anthologies and ideas for Wizards of the Coast.  We’re going to start with the handful of new magic items, then some monsters, and then some deep thoughts.  Let’s dig into it, Game Fans.  

Putting Together an Adventure (Some Key Terms)

Hey Game Fans, we’re back with another one of these articles about the processes and the ideas that make up the structure of Role-Playing Games.  If you’re familiar with these terms, wonderful, you’ve got a good foundation for building your own games and putting together your sessions, but if these are new, then buckle in and we’ll try to give you some words to work with, and hopefully a process to help you put together your own adventures, encounters, and campaigns.  Let’s dive in.

 

So we’ve got some key terms to look at.  If you’ve seen these before but weren’t quite sure what they meant, we’ve got your back.  Let’s take a look at Encounter, Adventure, Campaign and Session.

 

The Promise of Battletech

It’s Friday, so I’m going to hop in the Rambletron for a minute and wander through my history with the Battletech Universe across its many media platforms.  There are some things that i like very much and other things that i wasn’t as keen on, but today i’m going to talk about the many different times i’ve seen this universe expressed in video and computer games. 

Adventurer's League Season 3 part 8 (Mid Level Track Part 4)

All right Game Fans, we’re continuing with our look at the 3rd season of the Adventurer’s League for Dungeons and Dragons, 5th edition.  Like last season, we’re not going to take these adventures in numeric order, but we’ve split them up into two different tracks based off of their suggested character level.  Today we’re looking at these two adventures. the first is the last adventure on the mid level track, DDEX 3-15 Szith Morcane Unbound and the last adventure in the high level track (miscoded in both it's description and its cover page) is DDEX 3-16 Assault on Maerimydra.  Let’s dive in, and take a closer look at the next part of Season 3.

Equipment for Edge of the Empire part II

Hey Game Fans, we’re back to take a look at the equipment you’re going to probably utilize at some point during your games of Edge of the Empire from Fantasy Flight Games.  Star Wars has a rich history of cool gadgets and gizmos that crop up during important scenes during various movies, games and books.  They are an essential part of life on the fringes of society and can do a lot of things.  We’re not going to talk about Droids today (mostly because they are much better as a species discussion) nor are we going to talk about vehicles and starships (those belong in their own article).  We’re going to cover the other pieces of technology that make life a much easier proposition in the Star Wars RPG.  Now there are a lot of different kind of equipment, and we’re going to try cover as much ground as we can.  Let’s take a deeper look at Equipment.