OSR News From The Underdark Gazette – Saturday, June 26, 2010

New Releases

Fight On! #9 – Available in Print for $9.00 and in PDF format for $7.00. 116 pages.

Once again, Ignatius Ümlaut has provided us with an Old School Feast!

“When you're down to your last hit point, your last spell, the last charge on your laser pistol - what now? Fight On! Issue #9 is here, stampeding out of the gate with adventures big and small, a city-state, races, classes, monsters, spells, tricks, traps, tables, rules options, random encounters, NPCs, and a motherlode of mighty miscellaneous mysteries to give your game a boost! Dedicated to Paul Jaquays, this issue features contributions from Jeff Rients, Sang Lee, Tavis Allison, Kelvin Green, Geoffrey McKinney, Patrick Farley, Zak S., Erik Battle, James Quigley, Mark Allen, Jennifer Weigel, Gabor Lux, Peter Schmidt Jensen, Ed Heil, Paul Fini, Raven Daegmorgan, Eric Minton, Allen Varney, Baz Blatt, Geoffrey O. Dale, Jerry Stratton, Chris Robert, Calithena, Jeff Talanian, and many, many more! Don't get caught without the old school's newest resources - order your copy today!”

The whole Fight On! collection is on sale this month and the Hardcover Compendium’s will be available for the rest of June, as well. Fight On! is currently in first place, in the Lulu Sales contest, so now’s a really good time to support this outstanding magazine!

John Stater, from The Land Of Nod, has released Nod #2. In print for $9.00 and in PDF for $4.00. 88 pages.

“Explore the wicked city of Ophir - more than 60 encounters! This issue of NOD also contains a narrative naval combat system, new classes (thief, assassin, venturer, elan), fourteen magic candles, alternate treasures, books & scrolls and ideas on running urban and wilderness adventures. Plus - a serialization of George MacDonald's classic fantasy novel PHANTASTES.”

If you missed Nod #1, you can pick up the Print version at the author’s Lulu Store, or Download the PDF for Free!

The Magic Balance, by Thomas J. Scott & J. Allan Fawcett is available from RPGNOW. The 24 page PDF is designed for OSRIC and costs $4.50. Magique Productions, Ltd.

“An OSRIC compatible adventure module for 6 characters Levels 10 - 12 set in the Realms of Arkonus Fantasy Campaign Setting and is easily adaptable to any fantasy campaign setting.

It has often been said that magic is the life-blood of Arkonus. It is a source of great power; wisdom, healing, defense, and offense. Without it, many fear that life would hardly resemble what you know it to be. Once only a theory, now that theory is being put to the test. Seven days ago, suddenly and without warning, magic began to fail. Its use has become unpredictable and unstable.   The elder mage of Palmeeron fears that the planar experiments of an eccentric mage has upset a critical balance in the Realms of Arkonus. Can you find the cause and restore the balance?

The Magic Balance was an official tournament module used at Michicon '92. This version has been adapted to the Realms of Arkonus fantasy campaign setting and contains revisions that were not part of the original module.”

Oubliette #3, from Gold Piece Publications, may be had from RPGNOW for the princely sum of $2.00!

“OUBLIETTE - A magazine for old school fantasy roleplayers.

34 jam-packed pages including: a 12 page adventure, new rules, original fiction, reviews, artwork and more ...

Plus: Free stand-up, full-colour figures to supplement the adventure and 9 pre-generated character sheets.

Written for Labyrinth Lord, but also ideal for use with any Basic/Expert/Advanced original or clone, with little or no adjustment required.

Note: In the small preview below, some tables and artwork don't display at the reduced size. In the full-size PDF they are all displayed correctly.”

Mythmere’s Adventure Design Deskbook Vol. 2 – Monsters, is now available in PDF!

“This isn’t your grandpa’s old ‘how-to’ book on random monster creation.

This invaluable resource on monster creation includes eighty-six tables that deal with numerous attributes, traits and characteristics of new, soon to be thought-up creatures for use in your fantasy campaigns. It is designed to tap a deeper creative wellspring than a mere monster book that only lists chapter after chapter of familiar monsters and beasts of a more mundane nature. Rather, the tables contained in this volume are akin to a skeleton key which can be used to unlock the passageways of your imagination, helping you to unveil the strange and bizarre inhabitants of your PCs’ nightmares.

This second volume of the Mythmere’s Adventure Design Deskbook series turns your attention to one of the hobby’s most appealing aspects – the creation of new and unfamiliar monsters which may be used to challenge your players and their PCs as they pursue fortune and glory in the midst of your fantasy campaigns. This volume walks you through two entirely different alternate methods of creating a new monster using a host of detailed tables, one method focusing on the monster type, and the other focusing on the monster’s fighting characteristics.

Written by Matt Finch

Cover art by Kenneth Seward

Illustrated by Brian DeClercq and Matt Finch

64 pages, e-book version. $6.00 US”

From Black Blade Publishing. As reported last week, the Print Version is also available, for $14.00.

Congratulations to everyone!

Free Downloads

North Battlement Sector by Chris Robert, a Terminal Space module, is available for download.

Randall of RetroRoleplaying: The Blog, has put up Microlite 75 V .04.

Burtorz Bill from the Green Skeleton Gaming Guild blog, turned us on to this site, with some downloadable PDF’s – Herculoids: The AD&D FIles.

Alex Schroeder has a Character Generation background chart, which you can download on his wiki.

The free preview of D-Infinity, a multi-platform gaming magazine, is available on DriveThru RPG. The 16 page PDF is from Skirmisher Publishing. 

“This is a free preview of d∞ ("d-Infinity"), a new multi-platform gaming supplement that covers a wide variety of rules systems and includes content that can be universally applied to many different sorts of table-top, live-action, and role-playing games. It is jointly published by Armorcast, Dark Threads, Flying Buffalo Inc., Mindgame Productions, OffWorld Designs Inc., Skirmisher Publishing LLC, and the United States Interplanetary Marine Corps.

The most enjoyable gaming periodicals are not just devoted to single games or even the products of a single company, but also include content that makes a reader interested in other games, material that can be applied to all or many sorts of games, and items that are self-standing and which can be played on their own. For that reason, this publication includes many voices and exclusive material compatible with many rules systems and the products of many different companies.

Features of each issue will include a self-standing game; new rules, stats, and bonus content tying in with several different game systems new rules; free paper miniatures; tips on practical modeling; interviews with the luminaries of the gaming industry; and more! Rules systems supported include 4^th Edition D&D, Pathfinder, OGL v.3.5, "Basic" system, Labyrinth Lord, Mutant Future,Tunnels and Trolls, and Cthulhu Live.

Visit Skirmisher at Origins 2010 Booth 332 and Gen Con Booth 511 to get a print copy of this publication! And check out the first full-sized, 64-page copy of the publication, Volume #1: The Adventure Begins, at Gen Con.”

A big thanks to all you guys, for creating all this cool stuff!

Events & Happenings

An old adventuring companion returned to the blogosphere, this week. ChicagoWiz’s RPG Blog is back! If you’re interested in his upcoming GM Workshop, check this post, for details. Welcome back, sir!

In Other News

James Maliszewski of Grognardia fame, has written a review of Shane’s Advanced Labyrinth Lord Screen. While I’m on the subject, Shane put up a revision, so you can go and download version 1.03. Also, a fellow named Malcadon posted a link to his Mutant Future screen, while commenting on Mr. Maliszewski’s review.

A couple of old Judges Guild products, have been made available on RPGNOW.

Initial Guidelines Booklet K - $2.50. 12 page PDF.

“Judges Guild's Initial Guidelines Booklet K, twelve pages scanned from the original 1977 release. Contains notes on Non-Played Character Cutups (NPC's), Civilizations, and Technological Levels, Population Densities, Baronies and Incomes. Introduces the Malevolent Character Module and Guidelines to Huberic of Haghill with the area map covering 2 pages, drawn by Bob Bledsaw.”

Then, there’s Judges Guild Journal (June-July 1977.) 8 Page PDF.

“The Judges Guild Journal (Installment M) as released in 1977. Eight pages of glorious game history. Jocular Judgements, Omniscient Opinions, Shrewd Slants from the Sagacious Sage, and contributions from the Makistakator, Demented Demography by Bob Bledsaw, the Quest of Klanker Wildfoot in Modron, and Tips from the Tower.”

Meatshields! The Classic Fantasy Hireling & Henchmen Generator, a free online tool is now open for business! This is really nifty! Be sure to check it out!

Marcelo Paschoalin of the Dark Fate blog has a review of Barbarians of Lemuria.

I Hit It With My Axe: Episode 15: Ambush at the River of Despair.

Reviews

Reviews: Advanced Adventures #13 – White Dragon Run by James C. Boney.

Art by Peter Mullen, John Bingham and Jason Walton. Expeditious Retreat Press. Available in Print for $12.00 and in PDF for $6.00. The PDF version reviewed here, runs 16 pages, plus the cover. Two of those pages are devoted to advertisement and licensing.

“White Dragon Run is An OSRIC(tm) module designed for 4-6 adventures of levels 2-4

The little village of White Dragon Run is at the edge of civilization - the place where monsters are a constant threat and adventurers thrive. It is here that reputations are made or broken, and deeds are performed only to be set in verse decades after the real story is long lost. On this thin line between country and chaos lies White Dragon Run. The last stop for the civilized before the well-trodden road becomes the weed-infested trail leading to creatures that would rather fight than herd, fish or farm. There's a fortune to be made for the up and coming adventurer with the strength, the wile, and the cunning to strike out against dangers both natural and unnatural. White Dragon Run is the final stop before meeting one's destiny behind the sword, stave, dagger, or holy symbol.”

I had been intending to pick up some of the Expeditious Retreat Press Advanced Adventures modules, for quite some time. While I had my eye on Mr. Finch’s The Pod Caverns of the Sinister Shroom, when White Dragon Run appeared on RPGNOW, the preview sold me! I bought the PDF and printed it out.

White Dragon Run is exactly the kind of module I prefer. It details a village on the edge of civilization, with its surrounding area, then provides a couple of small adventure sites, with more ideas for further expansion by the DM.

First, an overview of the area is given, along with a hexmap and several encounter tables. The hexmap takes up about half a page, with the map scale being 1 hex = 1 League. There’s also a table given, for generating the content of “empty” hexes.

The Village itself is then presented, with a keyed map, a description of the major NPC’s, location details and information on the rest of the population. A map and description of the local Inn/Tavern is part of this section. Some history, rumors, flavor and whatnot are given for the area and village, providing the DM with plenty of entertaining material to riff off of.

After the setting information, two small dungeons are provided. Both of these tie into the background of the area. The dungeons and their denizens are basic stuff, but well done. They’re solid low-level adventure sites and serve their purpose of helping the DM get things started. An appendix, being excerpts from a local book of lore, provides some more adventuring ideas and history for the region.

As always, Peter Mullen’s cover art is a welcome addition and looks quite nice printed out from the PDF. There are nine interior illustrations. The various maps are well done and serviceable, though the grid on the Village Map printed out too light on my laser printer.

My only real complaint, is that the Publisher formatted the front and back color covers as one page. I have plenty of printing resources at the moment, which has led me to purchase several PDF’s, when shopping for OSR items. I would much prefer to receive my PDF’s with separate pages for the front and back covers. Especially when we’re talking about covers with Peter Mullen art, which I’m certainly going to look forward to printing out! :) It’s kind of a hassle, to separate the cover pages for a traditional printout.

Mr. Boney has done a damn fine job, with his 14 pages. Today’s time-harried, Old School DM will find White Dragon Run to be a solid basis for a new campaign. The whole design comes together very well and I enjoyed the overall atmosphere of the location. With, for example, the addition of a self-designed mega-dungeon, or one of the commercial or freely available ones, you’ll find yourself all set to go!

New DM’s will find White Dragon Run to be quite accessible as well. In providing the bottom part, for a bottom-to-top designed milieu, the modules contents will serve as a firm support for the neophyte DM, as he goes about the business of building upon the setting and learning his chosen craft.

If you enjoy modules that are non-linear, mini-settings, then you’ll probably find White Dragon Run to be quite appealing. If the idea of taking this type of set-up and Running With It, strikes your fancy, then White Dragon Run is exactly what you’re looking for. 

Blog Spotlight

The Land of Nod

While Mr. John Stater has begun his publishing Empire, with the excellent Nod periodical, that doesn’t mean he’s been neglecting work on his blog, The Land of Nod. Recent gems include his series on The Gods of Nabu, based upon the Egyptian Neteru. I’m using this pantheon in my own game and while, thanks to years of studying many a quaint and curious volumes of forgotten lore, I’m fairly familiar with Egyptian Mythology, Mr. Stater’s solid work in this area will serve as quite a useful reference.

You may find his version of the Cleric and Druid Classes, to be of interest. As well as his collection of Druid spells. There are also hexmaps and mapkeys. I love hexmaps. They’re like porn for DM’s.

John also serves fare, like Pinball Machines and inspirational posts.

As mentioned earlier, if you haven’t seen issue # 1 of Nod, head on over to John’s blog and look to the right, for his download link. And be sure to check out the rest of the site, while you’re there.

What I’m Pimping This Week

Fight On! # 2. Available at a discount, this month: $8.50 in print and $6.00 in PDF.

“The premier fanzine for the old-school renaissance rolls on, jam-packed with 88 pages of fantastic content. Features an interview with Dave Arneson, co-creator of the original Dungeons & Dragons game, as well as articles from Steve Marsh, Vincent Baker, Patrick Farley, Geoffrey O. Dale, Gabor Lux, Kesher, Calithena, Jeff Rients, James Maliszewski, Victor Raymond, Andrew Reyes, Kevin Mayle, James Raggi, and many, many more! This issue features four full adventures - including a long one for the original Empire of the Petal Throne game - new fantasy worlds, monsters, magic, rules, character options, NPCs, maps, tables, and many other things you crave to bring your fantasy adventures to life on the tabletop. Come unlock your imagination, and keep Fighting On!”

While I would be hard pressed to name my favorite issue of Fight On!, number two would definitely be in the running. With The Outdoor Map by James Maliszewski, The First Dungeon Adventure by Greg Svenson, The Darkness Beneath Level 1: The Upper Caves by Hackman, with Calithena and David Bowman and many more awesome articles, it’s jam packed with gaming goodness!

Fight On! #2 – What I’m Pimping This Week!

About The News

Unless otherwise noted, all links to products and files are to the individual authors sites, pertinent posts, or sales pages. I don’t link directly to files, unless that is the only link available. The OSR News is produced as a service to the community and is entirely a non-commercial endeavor on my part. I have received no remuneration for advertising, reviewing or reporting on any of the items appearing herein. (In the interest of full disclosure, I have an article in Fight On! #9, reported in this week’s news and received a contributor’s copy of the issue.) Please feel free to send me information on any new releases, events, or other items of interest, which you would like to see mentioned.

As always, the What I’m Pimping This Week section of the OSR News and its accompanying blog widget, feature products which I have purchased (or items which are available for free download) and wish to support. No one has asked me to spotlight their material in this section and I have received no payment of any kind for doing so.