Walkabout Thing

Walkabout Thing: Init +3; Atk bite +2 melee (1d5 plus enervation); AC 12; HD 2d8+2; MV 30’ or climb 20’ or swim 30’; Act 1d20; SP enervation (1d3 Strength damage, Fort DC 15 or 1 point is permanent), regeneration by enervation, stealthy; SV Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +3; AL C.

“That thing, I swear, it looked like a koala,” said John. “But no koala’s ever been that big, nor had eyes that looked so evil. The whole thing was drenched, like it had been down in the creek. And its jaws – they weren’t the jaws of nothing I’d ever seen before. More like a dingo or that marsupial wolf they had in Tasmania once.”

John shook, and I passed him my pint. I wasn’t sure I believed him till then. Strange things happen in the Outback, sure. Uncanny, more than like. I’d heard stories of ‘roos that chased men and ate flesh, come up from the Dreamtime. I’d heard of drop bears, then koala-like critters that waited in trees till some bloke walked under, thinking it was just one of them slow-moving eucalyptus feeders up there. Nothing to worry about, right? But they say the drop bear, he eats meat.

I’ve never seen any of them things. Australia’s got enough critters that can kill you without making up more. But when John cupped the beer with his hands, looked down at it, I felt a shiver down my spine. Because I knew – I knew – that this thing was real. More real to John than the untouched beer in front of him.

“We need to kill that thing,” he said. “Simon’s dead.”

The Walkabout Thing looks like a massive koala with dog-like jaws and a sinister attitude. When it bites, the victim takes 1d3 Strength damage and must succeed in a DC 15 Fort save or 1 point is permanent. It regenerates lost hit points equal to 1 per point of temporary Strength damage, and 5 per point of permanent Strength damage.

Despite being nearly as large as a man, the Walkabout Thing is a cunning predator, gaining a +5 bonus to any stealth check.

Happy Halloween!

DCC 4th Printing Kickstarter

.....is live.

Since its debut in 2012, Dungeon Crawl Classics Role Playing Game (DCC RPG) has sold through three printings and spawned a movement. This Kickstarter funds the fourth printing, with stretch goals that add a plethora of awesome new features to the physical product. Additional stretch goals fund reprints of some DCC RPG adventure modules that have sold through their first printings.

The physical product is a 480-page hardcover book. The cover and endsheets are color; the interior is B/W. The book is filled to the brim with art, in the classic TSR old-school style. The default binding is Smythe-sewn (“textbook” binding, very durable), although stretch goals may change that (see Kickstarter page).

Dalek Crawl Classics 1: The Hartnell Years (2of 3)

Virgile Beaudoin wrote “I would always be in for DCC Daleks but a couple of spells or a magic item would also be interesting Are you a fan of Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy? There could be a couple of fun things in there for DCC. My campaign starts again in a couple of weeks for its second year. 5-6 characters lvl 2 nearing 3. All players whish for magic items or political/cultural/power structures to climb. Anyway, just a couple of ideas. Can't wait to read what you come up with next. ^^”

This, of course, left me open to merging two of my favourite things: Doctor Who and Dungeon Crawl Classics.

By the time of The Chase, the Daleks have developed a form of time travel analogous to the Doctor’s own TARDIS – a time machine that can track other time machines, and is larger on the inside than on the outside. Not only can it track the TARDIS, but it gains on the Doctor and his companions ever so slightly throughout the story. As we will see, Daleks in later-era stories do not always achieve this level of time travelling sophistication.

In some ways, The Chase is a “sequel” (and “prequel”) to the Tom Baker-era story, Genesis of the Daleks. Obviously, Genesis of the Daleks didn’t exist yet in the program, but if we look from the outside, in Genesis the Doctor is sent back in time to the point where the Daleks are created in order to destroy them. In The Chase, the Daleks move back in time to stop the Doctor in his first incarnation. One might almost be considered a response to the other. In fact, this may be the first story where the Time War is foreshadowed. From the perspective of the Daleks, it may take place during the Time War.

The Daleks in this story are no longer dependent upon radiation (as were the ones in The Daleks) and have their own internal power supplies (a departure from The Dalek Invasion of the Earth). Their understanding of humanoids has also improved, allowing them to create a near-perfect duplicate of the Doctor.

It is also worth noting that, while no Dalek is seen levitating up stairs on-screen, the action in The Chase implies that these Daleks are capable of doing so. It is easiest to see this in the Marie Celeste sequence, where Daleks are able to reach areas of the ship only accessible by stairs.

These are still not the Daleks of the new series, however, and they lack several refinements later Daleks will use. If they are part of the Time War, as seems likely, they are part of a group which has significantly less technology available to it than several later Dalek groups. This may be due to changes in the timeline, splintering Dalek factions, or a simple lack of available resources. A lack of resources might place The Chase as post- Day of the Doctor from the Dalek’s perspective, or it might indicate that the Daleks have allocated greater resources elsewhere…such as an all-out attack on Gallifrey itself.

It’s fun to speculate.

The Chase

Daleks have been a mainstay of the Doctor Who universe. They appeared in the second televised story, and have appeared more times than any other villain. Indeed, the Daleks are the only creatures that appear in at least one televised story for every Doctor.

They are a perfect villain species to appear in your Dungeon Crawl Classics game. They are even better suited to Mutant Crawl Classics, Crawling Under a Broken Moon, or Crawljammer games.

Chase-era Dalek: Init +0; Atk plunger arm +2 melee (1d3) or energy weapon +3 ranged (1d6+3); AC 17; HD 1d12; MV 30’ or levitate 5’; Act 1d20; SP long-range communications, specialty arms, levitation; SV Fort +12, Ref +0, Will +7; AL L.

The Daleks in The Chase do not seem to rely on long-range communications as frequently as the Daleks in the previous two stories, although they still retain the ability. They are capable of replacing the plunger arm with specialty arms, such as a long range motion detector. (Earlier Daleks could replace the plunger arm with a high-powered acetylene torch, so this is not a new development.) These Daleks can slowly levitate up stairs, or along a plane not greater than 45º angle.

Dalek Duplicate: Statistics as original; AL L.

Aridian: Init –2; Atk club +0 melee (1d4); AC 9; HD 1d3; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP low-light vision; SV Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +0; AL N.

A species of rather ineffective piscine humanoids encountered on the planet Aridius in The Chase, the Aridians lived in the underground remnants of their ancient cities. Over many generations, the oceans of the planet had slowly dried, leaving the Aridians and the Mire Beasts to contest for what remained of the desert world. Not particularly brave, the Aridians attempted to keep the Mire Beasts out by building walls around them. The Aridians also tried to sell out the Doctor and his companions to the Daleks, only to be foiled when the time travellers refused to cooperate. The Aridians would make a great creature for an adventure where you end up liking the people you have to oppose. They mean well, but they are easily frightened into bad choices.

Mire Beast: Init –4; Atk tentacle +3 melee (1d3) or bite -2 melee (1d5+1); AC 13; HD 4d6; MV 20’; Act 2d20; SP infravision 60’, stealthy, grab, constrict or bite, hardy; SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +3; AL C.

This is an octopus-like creature, adapted to survival in dark caves and tunnels. Mire Beasts are encountered on the surface of Aridius as well, although they are usually active only from twilight to dawn. During the day, they hide by burying themselves in the sand. They are somewhat stealthy, having a 1 in 6 chance to surprise in addition to whatever chance of surprise the judge typically uses.

If a Mire Beast tentacle hits, it grabs the target. The victim can make an opposed Strength check (vs. +4) to break free, cause 5 hp damage (which does not count against the creature’s total), or succeed on a Mighty Deed of 4+. A Mire Beast who grabs a target can either do automatic tentacle damage or make a free bite attack in the next round with a +6 bonus.

Mire Beasts are extremely hardy – even if reduced to 0 hp, they gain a DC 10 Fort save in 1d6 minutes to determine if they were slain or merely stunned. If the save succeeds, the Mire Beast is alive with 2d6 hp recovered.

Mire Beasts possess a cunning intelligence, and are capable of concerted plans and action.

Fungoid: Init +0; Atk grab +0 melee (0); AC 12; HD 2d6; MV 10’; Act 1d20; SP constrict and suffocate, sense prey, immune to mind-affecting; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +0; AL N.

These are tall, fungus-like beings encountered on the planet Mechanus. They make a distinctive “popping” sound, which may be a form of communication among themselves. If they are able to grab a creature with their “umbrella”, they can do 1d3 points of damage each round thereafter due to constriction and suffocation. Although the fungoids do not see in the same way animals do, they are capable of sensing potential prey within 60’ by a combination of sensing heat, motion, vibrations, and sound. They are completely immune to effects that target the mind.

Mechanoid: Init +1; Atk restraining arm +0 melee (restraint) or flame thrower; AC 18; HD 3d8; MV 20’; Act 1d20; SP restraint, flame thrower; SV Fort +10, Ref +1, Will +5; AL L.

Mechanoids are robots created for the colonization of other worlds. The 1^st Doctor and his companions encountered them on Mechanus. They are roughly spherical, with triangular plating. Each has two arms that fold into the Mechanoid. These can be used for skills, or can restrain an opponent they hit (opposed Strength to break free, the Mechanoid gaining +4 per arm restraining a creature, and multiple Mechanoids can restrain the same creature).

Each Mechanoid also has a built-in flame thrower, which can strike multiple targets in a 20’ cone with a 5’ base. Each target in the area takes 1d6 damage (Fort DC 15 for half) and must succeed on a DC 10 Reflex save or catch fire (1d6 damage each round until a save is successful).

Three Nights in Portsmouth

Three Nights in Portsmouth is now available.


Anyone that has explored the seaside town of Portsmouth knows that it is a town filled with secrets. FT 2 - The Portsmouth Mermaid only scratched the surface of some of these secrets.

It is time to return to Portsmouth again with three new adventures that can be played in a two or three hour adventure slot. The adventures are:

• Blood for Cthulhu!
• Trail of the Rat
• The Open Tomb

A Dungeon Crawl Classics anthology for 4-8 level 2 characters by Daniel J. Bishop.

Dalek Crawl Classics 1: The Hartnell Years (1 of 3)

The Daleks

 Daleks have been a mainstay of the Doctor Who universe. They appeared in the second televised story, and have appeared more times than any other villain. Indeed, the Daleks are the only creatures that appear in at least one televised story for every Doctor.

They are a perfect villain species to appear in your Dungeon Crawl Classics game. They are even better suited to Mutant Crawl Classics, Crawling Under a Broken Moon, or Crawljammer games.

Original Dalek: Init +0; Atk plunger arm +2 melee (1d3) or energy weapon +3 ranged (1d6+3 or paralysis); AC 17; HD 1d12; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP paralysis, long-range communication, reliance on radiation, reliance on static; SV Fort +12, Ref +0, Will +7; AL L.

Original Daleks are able to partially paralyze those struck by their energy weapons (2d3 Agility damage, recovered at a rate of 1 point per hour, movement speed reduced by 5’ per 2 points remaining). A second paralysis blast while this temporary damage is in effect requires a DC 20 Fort save, or the new damage is permanent.

Original Daleks are reliant on radiation, taking 1d4 damage each turn their environment has insufficient radiation content. Their travel cases are powered through static electricity conducted through the floor of the Dalek city. If this connection is broken, the Dalek is helpless.

Original Daleks cannot climb stairs.

Original Dalek Creature: Init –4; Atk claw +0 melee (1d3); AC 7; HD 1d3; MV 5’; Act 1d12; SP reliance on radiation; SV Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +5; AL C.

The original Dalek creature, bereft of its cybernetic casing, is fairly defenseless. It has the same reliance on radiation that the original Daleks do. The difference in alignment between a Dalek in its casing and outside is based upon later lore. Daleks are quivering lumps of hate, but the Dalek casing actually programs much of the creature’s behaviour. As we will eventually see, uncased Daleks don’t like their cased brethren very much.

Original Thal: Init +2; Atk by weapon +0 melee or ranged (by weapon); AC 10; HD 1d4; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SV Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +0; AL L.

The original Thals were agrarian pacifists, who hoped to come to terms with the Daleks. Their attempt to bypass the Lake of Mutations on Skaro, and then find a way into the Dalek city through caves in the mountains, would make a great DCC funnel adventure.

The Dalek Invasion of Earth

Invasion Dalek: Init +1; Atk plunger arm +2 melee (1d3) or energy weapon +4 ranged (1d6+3); AC 17; HD 1d12; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP long-range communication, reliance on broadcast power; SV Fort +12, Ref +0, Will +7; AL L.

Black Dalek: Init +3; Atk plunger arm +3 melee (1d4) or energy weapon +6 ranged (1d7+4); AC 19; HD 4d12; MV 30’; Act 1d20; SP long-range communication, reliance on broadcast power; SV Fort +14, Ref +0, Will +9; AL L.

By the time the Daleks invaded the Earth, they had overcome their reliance on radiation and static electricity. These Daleks each had a receiver dish with which they could obtain broadcast power from several Dalek compounds or saucer ships. They no longer sought to paralyze enemies – enemies were to be exterminated

By the time the Daleks invaded the Earth, they had overcome their reliance on radiation and static electricity. These Daleks each had a receiver dish with which they could obtain broadcast power from several Dalek compounds or saucer ships. They no longer sought to paralyze enemies – enemies were to be exterminated.

In the serial, Earth’s magnetic core draws the Daleks to it, destroying them. A similar device could be used in a DCC or MCC Dalek adventure. Travelling across invaded Britain was a big part of the Doctor Who story, and could be used as a funnel adventure. Exploring a crashed Dalek saucer might also make for interesting game play…especially if some of the occupants are still active!

A Dalek can be disabled if its receiver disc is damaged (Mighty Deed 4+), but these Daleks are far more efficient in their long-range communications, and instantly know that the Dalek unit is disabled.

Slyther: Init +4; Atk claw +3 melee (1d3); AC 12; HD 4d6; hp 14; MV 40’; Act 4d20; SP enhanced senses, stealthy, fear attack; SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +3; AL C.

The Slyther was a “pet” of the Black Dalek, unleashed to control the human worker population, and allowed to eat anyone it could catch. It is likely that the Slyther is a Dalek mutant of some sort, larger than a man, and able to attack with multiple claws. It has enhanced sense, able to sense living beings within 100’ without needing to see them. It has a 1 in 3 chance of attacking by surprise, in addition to whatever normal chance the judge uses for other creatures. Finally, it induces fear in its prey – a creature targeted by the Slyther on its first round must succeed in a DC 10 Will save or lose its next action due to sheer terror.

Roboman: Init -2; Atk by weapon +0 melee (by weapon); AC 8; HD 2d6; MV 20’; Act 1d16; SP long-range communication, insanity; SV Fort +3, Ref –2, Will +0; AL L.

Robomen are normal humans, operated on and controlled by the Daleks. They are controlled by a headset reminiscent of the head cowling of a Cyberman; if this is damaged (Mighty Deed 3+), the Roboman is no longer controlled by the Daleks. The Daleks always know when a Roboman asset is lost, and usually investigate.

If the Daleks lose control of a Roboman, or on a 1 in 7 chance each time a Roboman is hit, it will go insane, seeking to destroy itself. Under normal circumstances, nothing can restore the humanity of a Roboman. With the strange powers available to Clerics, Wizards, and Mutants, the judge may allow a Roboman to remember who he once was. To this end, it is worth noting that the Daleks tend to choose only intelligent specimens for Robotization.

If these versions of the Daleks seem surprisingly easy to defeat, the author recommends that the reader view the original programs and makes any adjustments he or she sees fit to make. There are several stories, including the original (The Daleks), in which the Daleks are defeated by primitive weapons.

Fun (?) Doctor Who Party Game

My youngest turns 9 today, and has a Doctor Who themed birthday party this weekend. One of the entertainments is a sort of puzzle game that I wrote, which I hope won't prove too difficult for the kids to figure out. I reproduce it, without all of the fun graphics, below:

SETUP

The Third Intergalactic Peace Conference was held on Station Zed Alpha near the borders of Draconian space. The delegates were there to draft a treaty for mutual defence against the Daleks. The delegates included:

• Earth Adjudicator Kim Worthington
• Alpha Centauri
• Ice Lord Sarl from Mars
• The Draconian Ambassador
• Commander Storr of the 7^th Sontaran Fleet
• Bexes, a Tree from the Forest of Cheem
• Sister Manas from New Earth
• Administrator Horth, a Silurian from Earth
• Loboromo of the Judoon
• Navarino Ambassador Zor

In addition, there were, at various times during the proceedings, twelve surprising guests – each one an incarnation of the Doctor. At some point during the Conference, the signed Peace Treaty disappeared. It is feared that one of the delegates is an agent of the Daleks.

The Doctors have given testimony in message cubes. You can look at one message cube at a time. The delegates are also present for you to question, if you wish.

Your mission is to find the Peace Treaty, and figure out who, if anyone, is working for the Daleks.

TESTIMONY OF THE DELEGATES

Earth Adjudicator Kim Worthington

As Adjudicator for Earth, I supported the Peace Treaty. It was my idea to include the Judoon and the Sontarans. Both are warlike races, but both would benefit from a secure alliance. The Judoon would gain policing authority over the border areas where Daleks have been attacking out colonies. The Sontarans would gain allies against the Daleks, which would allow them to focus on their millennia-old war against the Rutans. They would also get to fight the Daleks, and the Sontarans have never turned down being included in any military force.

I don’t understand why Commander Storr acted the way he did. Before lunch, he wanted nothing to do with the Daleks. It was almost as though he were afraid of them, if that is possible. After lunch, he said he had only just arrived, and reversed his earlier position. Sontar almost declared war on the Alliance when we questioned his honesty.

Then the Peace Treaty disappeared. I hope that we can find it.

Alpha Centauri

My people are peaceful, and do not like all this talk of war. I agree with the other delegates – we must defend ourselves against the Daleks – but I do not like it. It was very nice seeing the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith again, though. I met them on Peladon, a primitive world, but a staunch ally of the Galactic Federation.

Ice Lord Sarl from Mars

My people care a great deal about war and honour. Once, we were enemies of the Earth. Now, we are ready to stand with our allies.

The Ice Warriors spend most of their lives in armour. We learn to recognize small differences. Commander Storr changed after lunch. This was not the same Sontaran who argued so forcefully against alliance before lunch. I do not know how he changed. I do know that he changed.

The Draconian Ambassador

We have a great deal of respect for the Doctor. We were glad to see him attend this Conference in so many of his forms. The Daleks have attempted to trick the Earth and Draconia in the past. The Doctor saved us from a grievous conflict that would have decimated both planets. They will not do so again.

Commander Storr of the 7^th Sontaran Fleet

I am Commander Storr, of clone batch 3 million 4 hundred and 27. My arrival was delayed by a Rutan aggressor, which was dispatched by the 7^th Sontaran Fleet 100 million kilometres away from our current position.  When I arrived, the Doctor and others claimed that I had already been here, and that I had argued against an alliance. This is not true! This alliance against the Daleks makes good strategic sense, giving Sontar the opportunity to consolidate its forces against the hated Rutans and offering glorious combat against a superior foe. Sontar-Ha!

The Judoon also claim that I was here. At first I suspected a Rutan trick – they can take the shape of other beings – but a DNA scan confirmed my identity when I came aboard…two hours before my actual arrival! The station log cannot be falsified, yet I know that I was not here!

My clone batch comprises 2 million individuals with the same DNA. I have contacted Sontaran High Command to ensure that all active members of the clone batch are accounted for.

Bexes, a Tree from the Forest of Cheem

My people came from the Earth, and our roots there go deep. We came when the Earth called for allies. It is true that we do not love things made of metal, and we do not love war, but we remember where we came from. Besides, the Daleks are the enemies of everyone.

Sister Manas from New Earth

I am here only as an observer. I represent the Sisters of Plenitude on New Earth, currently headquartered in New New New New New York. I must say that this Peace Conference has been unusual. Several strange people have come and gone, and there have been strange noises. Grinding, wheezing…I do not know how to describe them. Someone must be ill, for at least either different doctors have been present, some dressed quite bizarrely.  

Administrator Horth, a Silurian from Earth

Of course the Silurian Confederation stands with Earth. We are the original occupants of the Earth. Our species went into hibernation long ago. When we awoke, we found our world inhabited by the descendants of the small mammals that raided our fields. There was conflict, all too often, but now we have learned to live together in harmony.

I am here as the Administrator of the Pond-Copper Institute. We take apart captured Dalek pieces to try to find weaknesses. They are cyborg creatures, part machine, and part living being. Much of their behaviour is programmed into them by their travel machine casings. Someday, we may even find a way to live in harmony with the Daleks. We just need to find a way to stop the machine part from programming them to hate everything that isn’t a Dalek.

Loboromo of the Judoon

Lo go flo ro slo mow toe row. Blow mow flo go so hoe row mow. Doh so tro grow no. Bo joe hoe mow slow flow row grow plo lo moe lo so go.

Navarino Ambassador Zor

Navarinos are peaceful. We’re not fighters, but we love the Earth, especially the Classic Era Earth of the 50’s, the 60’s, and the 70’s. We are technologically oriented enough to provide means of defence against the Daleks. We do not create weapons. The Transformation Arch was installed for my use, so that I could take this form. You humanoids sometimes find my natural form…distressing.

Someone has tampered with the Arch. It is now set to transform whoever passes through it into a much smaller form. Some kind of insect, I believe.

MESSAGE CUBE DISPATCHES FROM THE DOCTOR

1^st Doctor

“Hmmm? Yes? Oh, enough of this bother. Yes, I was at the Conference with Susan and her two teachers, Barbara and Chesterfield. Chesterton. Humph. Yes, you could say I saw the Peace Treaty? Is that what this is all about, hmmm? It was all rolled up and wrinkled. A dreadful sight. Did you know those papers even had a dead fly stuck to them? No, I didn’t keep them. I gave them to a young man in a rather tasteless jumper. The whole thing had nothing to do with me. I was still trying to get those two young people home to Earth, and didn’t mean to be there at all.

“If I may make some observations, though? Did you consider the Transformation Arch? Hmmm? Perhaps someone there wasn’t exactly who they claimed to be?”

2^nd Doctor

“Oh dear, oh dear. Yes, I was at the Peace Conference. With Jamie and Zoe. Well, I’d helped to set it up when I was, well, the older me, and I just wanted to see how it turned out. Educational, too, for Zoe at any rate. I’m not sure how much Jamie was able to absorb. Well, I left when I head that Commander Storr arguing with…well, Storr called him Doctor. It’s a good idea to remember your past, but not always a good idea to see your future, if you follow me. I’m afraid, in my haste, I knocked over my drink. Oh my giddy aunt! I hope that didn’t cause a problem!”

3^rd Doctor

“Ah, yes, the Third Intergalactic Peace Conference. I helped set that up, you know, as a favour for the Emperor of Draconia. I took Sarah Jane for a brief visit, just to see how our old friend, Alpha Centauri, was getting along. A bit grey around the tentacles, but still the same old Alpha Centauri.  We just stopped for a quick drink and a sandwich. Well, you see, I promised Sarah Jane a trip to Florana, the famous planet of flowers, and we had to be getting on. No, we didn’t make it. The TARDIS got pulled a little off track. We ended up in Manchester. The planet Manchester. Not nearly as pleasant as you might imagine.”

4^th Doctor

“Of course I was there! Of course! They needed someone practical, and intelligent, and…well, intelligent, to help them sort things out. Besides, there was that Sontaran, Storr. Never trust a Sontaran, I say. Don’t I say that, Romana? Never trust a Sontaran. Caught him trying to steal the Peace Treaty from the vent by the Transformation Arch. Sontarans aren’t usually that sneaky. Usually they’re all shouting and zapping people, but they can be tricky. They once tried to invade Gallifrey, you know.  Also, someone nicked my TARDIS. Oh, I know. Romana said the same thing. Just forgot where I parked the old girl. But I’m telling you, someone took my TARDIS and landed it behind those potted ferns…Hmmm…Would you care for a jelly baby? The orange ones are my favourites.”

5^th Doctor

“I see. I did go to Zed Alpha to set up a Transformation Arch, because the Time Lords asked me to. No, I didn’t attend the conference. I had already been there four times, and it didn’t seem like a good idea. The Transformation Arch? That’s a technology to change from one species to another on a cellular level. The delegates wanted it for the convenience of the Navarino delegate. In their native form, they look a bit like large purple starfish. They aren’t easy to communicate with in their native form, you know. They do seem to like playing at being other species; I know of at least one tour group that takes Navarino tourists to Disney World.”

6^th Doctor

“If you must know, I did dignify the Conference with my sartorial splendour. Was it bad? Bad? Bad? Bad? Why they bothered to invite the Sontarans is entirely beyond me. Their Commander Storr tried to ruin the entire conference. And then, after lunch, he had the gall to call me a liar and pretend that he had just arrived. If it wasn’t for my inherent abhorrence for violence I don’t know what I would have done. Challenge him to a duel, most likely. Sontarans actually like that kind of thing. Anyhow, before lunch, Commander Storr did everything he could to push against an alliance, and after lunch Commander Storr did everything he could do to push for an alliance. But, by then, the Peace Treaty had disappeared! No, I don’t know where. I’m as confused as the rest of you.”

7^th Doctor

“Strange, don’t you think? The way time’s ripples catch us up. I took Ace to the Peace Conference on Zed Alpha. I’d been there before. You have to be careful, or time’s ripples will catch you up, and then who knows what will happen? I think it was because of the Sontarans that we went. I had never heard of Sontarans engaged in making peace. The Sontarans are a clone species, with batches that number in the millions. That makes them a bit like Time Lords you see, each clone being almost like a different incarnation of the same being. I had hopes for Commander Storr. He had a clone, Battle Leader Svarr, who was court martialled for cowardice when fighting the Daleks on Exxilon 5. I had hoped it wasn’t cowardice. Maybe he just wanted peace. But Storr turned out to be a typical Sontaran after all. A pity.”

8^th Doctor

“I did go to the Third Galactic Peace Conference. I meant to go to the Fifth. Just to help out Ambassador Kelvin with the tricky problem of Durable Solids. Not important to the Third conference at all, and I’ll get there eventually, if the TARDIS lets me. So, let’s see. I got there just in time to see my second incarnation leaving with Jamie and Zoe in tow towards the wrong TARDIS. We eventually got that sorted out, too. I’d spilled my drink, that is, the early me had spilled the earlier me’s drink, right onto the Peace Treaty. So I scooped it up, and set it near a vent to dry, no one the wiser. No, I left it in plain sight. Then I nipped away – in the right TARDIS – and managed to sort out the other Doctor’s TARDISes, too, without anyone being any the wiser.”

9^th Doctor

“Yeah, I was there, not long after the bit with the Slitheen crashing into Big Ben. Rose was with me, so that was all right, yeah? Ran into myself, oh, half a dozen times, without the earlier versions of me knowing it. No, I didn’t tell Rose. She’s still getting used to the whole 900 year old alien thing. I even saw the original. Handed myself some papers. I hadn’t even remembered doing that, but I must have done. They were all rolled up and creased, so I put them in the library to straighten out. Zed Alpha has a huge library. I stuck them in the big Atlas of Peladon. I like Peladon. Lovely planet, lots of mountains. I wonder if old Aggedor would still recognize me? I’ve changed a lot since the last time I was there.”

10^th Doctor

“You know what I like about a good piece of ventilation? No flies. I mean, who lets flies get into a space station? There I am, at the Peace Conference, ready to tuck into a good little bit of lunch, and there’s a fly buzzing around. Luckily, there was some paper lying on the floor, so I rolled it up. Took three tries, but I got him. Even with that guy in the fez who kept getting in the way…What? I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t know.”

11^th Doctor

“No no no no no no no no! It wasn’t my fault. I mean, it was my fault, but it wasn’t my fault. I mean, I was younger when everything really bad happened. First off, I was all teeth and curls and a really cool scarf when I fiddled with the Transformation Arch. I don’t even know why I did that. It just seemed interesting at the time. And cool. I didn’t know I had actually done anything.  And then I was arguing about that Sontaran who found the Peace Treaty drying on the vent by the Arch, because I hadn’t put it there yet. Then Rory tripped over my scarf…I mean the early me’s scarf, and knocked the Sontaran through the Transformation Arch. And he turned into a small insect. I think he turned into a fly. And then skinnier early me with the sand shoes…squished him. Just a little. But it must have turned out all right, because he was back at the table after lunch.”

12^th Doctor

“Of course I went to the Peace Conference. I’d been there eleven times already, and I think I remember seeing myself at least once. I mean, I didn’t know it was me at the time, but if I didn’t go, that would be a paradox, and the universe hates paradoxes. Besides, it was fun. I spent the entire time playing attack eyebrows with a Sontaran. You know what’s fun about arguing with a Sontaran? No eyebrows to speak of. Really, how can a Sontaran argue with these eyebrows, when he’s got none of his own? Sontar HA! Never trust a Sontaran.”

FINAL CHANCE: Dispatch from Sontar

All active members of clone batch 3,000,427 accounted for. Inactive members include 454,302 who have died in battle for the greater glory of the Sontaran Empire. Sontar-Ha! Remaining inactive member of clone batch 3,000,427 is Former Battle Leader Svarr, court martialled for cowardice: Refusal to fight against Daleks in the Battle of Exxilon 5. Strategic calculations indicate high probability of Traitor Svarr operative in area of Station Zed Alpha. Imperative that Traitor Svarr be located and apprehended.

Sontar Out.

Get This Issue!

If you are playing Dungeon Crawl Classics, and your campaign takes place anywhere near water, Crawl! Fanzine #11 is essential reading. If you are playing any OSR-type game, and want to add a naval element, this issue is probably useful.

Naval Warfare for Ocean Crawlers, by Bob Brinkman, is an extremely simple and fast system for conducting any naval battle, from the simplest to the most complex, using any level of technology. Mr. Brinkman's companion article, Nautical Might Deeds, makes it easy for the judge to move battles from ship scale to personal scale, as your PCs do their best to outshine the heroes of Appendix N fiction.

If Mr. Brinkman's work was the only thing in this issue, that would make it worth the price all by itself. And then some. But, of course, there is more.

Fantastic Forms of Sea Ship Propulsion and Their Congenital Complications, by Rev. Dak J. Ultimak, provides some unusual ways to make ships move around in your campaign world. These can be used wholesale to make all of your ships strange, or they can be sprinkled in to add a dash of weirdness to your world - roll 1d8! I did note a nod to Jack Vance, which I very much appreciated. Also, there is a new monster that can be used whether or not they are moving a ship around the sea.

The Deep Elders is something I wrote, which ties into The Portsmouth Mermaid (Purple Duck Games), but which can easily be used without the FT Series of modules. I am gratified to note that it reads better than I remembered from the submissions process, and it is accompanied by evocative art. Really, the art in this issue (by Mario T.) shines.

Life Aboard, by Sean Ellis, provides a simplified method for adjudicating trips by sea, which nonetheless allows for all of the complications one might expect. The judge can use his best discretion to determine what each event means if he has a map of the region, and thus allow the PCs to discover an uncharted island, an oceanic lair, or the like. Again, this stuff is extremely useful, both in terms of a working system for fast game play, and as an idea generator.

Rev Dak has managed to put together some really good material in Crawl! over the course of eleven issues. This issue is right up there with #2 (Loot! - including extra equipment, a list we use all the time) and #8 (Firearms!) as issues that will get a lot of table play if you have them. Not that any issue of Crawl! isn't great....but these three issues have an extremely high reuse value.

(Issues #3 and #5 - Magic! and Monsters! respectively - may also have a high reuse value, depending upon your table. Magic! includes a really useful idea for using OSR-rules spells in DCC without conversion, so that you can run something like Barrowmaze without rewriting every odd necromancer or cleric of Nergal the PCs might encounter. Monsters! contains an easy reference for creating level-appropriate DCC creatures, if you want extra help with conversions or statting out your own fell creations.)

You can pick up issues of Crawl! here.

Blackscreen Error

Not posted from my own computer.

My writing computer is a Toshiba laptop, which has developed a boot error. All I can get is a black screen and a white arrow. Regular backups mean all is not lost, but I need to resolve issues so that I can get back to work.

My understanding is that this is likely to be a BIOS error. I have tried several methods for clearing it suggested on the Internet, but if any of you are computer gurus who have an idea how I can proceed, I would be happy for the advice.

How It Gets Done: A Guide to Productivity

Noah Stevens writes:

What's your standard work flow for an idea, from conception to out-the-door? For a while it seemed like your output was pretty prodigious - it may still be but I amn't paying attention like I usually do.

It seemed to me I was thinking "How does he keep up this pace?"

It really depends upon the product. The fact is that I have more things languishing in the black hole of “On Hold For Now” than I care to admit. It takes more than a good idea to make a worthwhile product; it takes a sort of “idea-plus-vision”. What I mean is that the idea itself is a kernel around which a vision takes form, and that vision must be sufficiently different from the original idea to make the whole stand out. I find that if something doesn’t stand out, it is very hard to write about.

For example, Mermaids from Yuggoth, in the Mystic Bull product In the Prison of the Squid Sorcerer, started with an illustration of the titular creature and nothing else. That is the base idea – here is this aquatic-looking creature…it sort of looks like it is levitating on land. The vision that made it work was not only adding the Lovecraftian Yuggoth elements, but adding a temporal element both to the main “story arc” of the situation, and to how the situation played out in game. Until I had that, it was just this thing floating around in my head, looking for a place to go.

Another example: Prince Charming, Reanimator started with a pretty simple idea: What if you mixed fairy tales and Appendix N stories? The title of the series, Faerie Tales from Unlit Shores actually predated any specific adventure idea. The specific idea of casting Prince Charming as Lovecraft’s Herbert West gave me enough of a grip on the idea to get writing.

With Bone Hoard of the Dancing Horror I was given a map, and asked to populate it. The way the cartographer drew the chasms on the map made me speculate about what was filling them. It was the idea of the creature that could remove bones, though, that allowed me to see the adventure as a whole – for one thing, any other monsters encountered there could not have bones. That’s why monsters are either possess exoskeletons, are constructs, or already have their skeletons removed. Similarly, the seed for Stars in the Darkness was based on the way the chasms were drawn on the maps, but I needed the larger vision of the devolved elvish star-herders to see where the adventure should go.

My actual writing tends to be in fits and starts. I’ll keep a notepad, and keep ideas in my head, until they have gelled into a vision where I can “see” the overall structure of an adventure. I may have to make up details as I go, but those details fit into a vision that I already know. Some adventures take a number of sessions to finish…generally because I find myself dissatisfied with the overall vision I have, and I have to search for a new element to add to the mix. Others are written in a single sitting (The Arwich Grinder, for instance, was written in a single go, and is probably the darkest thing I have ever written).

I write quickly when I am writing, but (and I imagine most writers are similar), I have periods where I find it difficult, and these come without warning. Sometimes they are based on external pressures, or disappointments. The last two years have been relatively low-productivity for me. There are a lot of factors involved, including family tragedy, child behavioral issues, and relationship tensions, but where I started to slow down was when The Tribe of Ogg and the Gift of Suss (now a freebie from Mystic Bull) was not approved by Goodman Games.

That may sound stupid. In reality, I started to second guess whether or not the time invested in any of the things I was writing was going to pan out, or turn out to be wasted. Please note that I do not blame Goodman Games for the decision, but I had a hard time letting it go. I hope that seeing it out in the wild, even without an official stamp of approval, will do a great deal towards increasing my output. So far, so good.

From start to finish, my process looks something like this:

• An idea is proposed, either by someone else or it pops into my head from the ether.

• I start to think about this idea. I might adjust my reading list to generate more thoughts about this idea. For instance, when working on The Weird Worm-Ways of Saturn, I read a lot of Clark Ashton Smith. This may, or may not, be apparent to the reader.

• I am probably working on several other things while the new idea germinates.

• Eventually, I gain some form of overarching vision that can guide me in creating details.

• I sit down and write. And write. And write. Basically, I write until I run out of creative juice, my partner demands that I stop, or I need to spend time with my kids. I have found that home environment – how you interact with your partner and/or your children – is as rejuvenating as anything else could possibly be, as far as creativity goes. Getting out into the woods is also good.

• At some point, the writing is done. My partner is not a gamer, but she reads a lot of what I write, and may offer suggestions, which I may or may not agree with. Usually I do agree. Some of the work that I like best, however, is not the work she likes best.

• I do whatever revisions I am going to. Honestly, I don’t do much revising. Most of the stuff you have read that I have written is first draft plus the publisher’s editor. Comparing final text to submitted text, most publishers haven’t seen much need for tons of editing.

• By this time, hopefully, some other idea(s) have flourished into full-blown visions, and I get writing again.

The banes of writing? Computer chess and spider solitaire. Facebook. Self-doubt.

Every review (good or bad) and every playtest report helps with self-doubt. But, yes, as confidently as I project myself on the InterWebs, I am prey to wondering whether or not the last thing submitted to the Great Void is good or shite. That’s one of the reasons why I am so vocally supportive of others’ efforts. Writing is a lonely gig, and feedback is essential.

Also, I really hate letting people down. There are people who have asked me to do projects with/for them, who are still waiting for output, and I feel the weight of it. I really do. Sometimes that’s a help in getting things done, and sometimes it seems to make things harder. Six of one, half dozen of the other. You know who you are. I am sorry. I will get to it.

That’s about it. I’ll be happy to field questions raised in the Comments, below.

Hopefully, this autumn and 2016 will be more productive.