Just Came in the Mail Today

This Year's Mathom is Ready to Go!

In accordance with this post, I am sending out a free adventure tomorrow.

The requirements were (1) post a review, (2) link to that review in the comments, and (3) send me your email address so that I can send you the adventure. I posted back in January to give people plenty of time.

Three people managed to do that this year.

There are days that I wonder why I bother.

Pick It Up at GenCon

If you are going to GenCon this year, there is a lot of Dungeon Crawl Classics goodness to be had! 

I will be at home, celebrating the half-century mark, but I will be there in spirit. And there are a few products appearing for the first time this convention that I am proud to have had a hand in.

First off, DCC #72: Through the Dragonwall, puts your PCs through their paces. This is the second stand-alone DCC adventure I've had published through Goodman Games (The Dread God Al-Khazadar appeared earlier this year).

Harley Stroh's Journey to the Center of Aereth is also coming out, and Joseph Goodman asked a few of us to help put out a companion piece: The Lost City of Barako. Mostly, this is the work of others, but I managed to sneak in three monstrous denizens nonetheless. Both of these modules are must-haves. Journey is as good a work as Harley has ever produced, and you know that Harley Stroh consistently produces great work.

From the depths of the Aereth you can soar into the heavens, entering the Crawljammer universe of Tim Callahan's excellent zine. And then, I guess, you can plumb back into the depths....but this time the depths of Saturn. The Vault of Ash, sequel and second half of The Weird Worm-Ways of Saturn, gives you a chance to see how the other half dies.

Whereas Weird Worm-Ways gave you the chance to make Saturnian Ape-Man characters, Ash gives you Martian Skeleton Men.
















Moving along, the Goodman Games GenCon 2016 Program Guide features Death by Nexus, which I had a hand in crafting. That is not the best part of the Program Guide, though, because it also includes, among other things, a 36-page-long full-color illustrated interview with legendary TSR artist Erol Otus, a new 0-level funnel Not In Kansas Anymore, the Gen Con 2015 spell duel tournament Way of the Dagon, a generation method for 1970’s 0-level characters, and a new patron.




Finally, there is the new XCrawl adventure, Anaheim Crawl, which I did the DCC conversion for. The original module, by Goodman Games superstar Brendan LaSalle, is more than a little challenging, and the DCC version is no less.



My contributions to GenCon are meager in comparison to the plethora of good stuff Goodman Games has in store. Check out the Goodman Games site for more information. Or better yet, drop into their booth at GenCon. I'll be envying you from afar!

The Cat's Out of the Bag

The rumors are true.

David Fisher managed to obtain the rights to make an expanded print version of Angels, Daemons, and Beings Between. Backers of the original Indigogo project have been offered a print version at cost.

This is real. It is happening.

Mulferret, the Queen of Weasels, will finally be sending agents to slay your adherents of Radu, the Prince of Rabbits.

And, who knows? If it does well, there may be a Volume II!

Dungeon Crawl Classics - Gods & Supernatural Beings

This post will compile sources for deities and supernatural powers related to the Dungeon Crawl Classics cosmos. While some of these beings may be suitable for patrons, this post will not focus on patrons per se. Another post related to that topic will be forthcoming.

As should be obvious, this post is a work in progress.

Last Updated 15 July 2016.


Ahriman, God of Death and Disease (Chaotic), core rulebook, p. 32.

Amun Tor, God of Mysteries and Riddles (Neutral), core rulebook, p. 32.

Aristemis, the Insightful One, Demi-Goddess of True Seeing and Strategy (Lawful), core rulebook, p. 32.

Azi Dahaka, Demon Prince of Storms and Waste (Chaotic), core rulebook, p. 32. As a patron, core rulebook, pp. 330-335.

Bobugbubilz, Demon Lord of Evil Amphibians (Chaotic), core rulebook, p. 32. As a patron, core rulebook, pp. 322-329. See also Demons of Bobugbubilz, core rulebook, pp. 402-404.

Cadixtat, Chaos Titan (Chaotic), core rulebook, p. 32.

Choranus, the Seer Father, Lord of Creation (Lawful), core rulebook, p. 32.

Cthulhu, Priest of the Old Ones (Neutral), core rulebook, p. 32. See also Deep Ones, core rulebook, p. 400.

Daenthar, the Mountain Lord, Greater God of Earth and Industry (Lawful), core rulebook, p. 32.

Goat-Faced Being, core rulebook (1st to 3rd printing), p. 456.

Gorhan, the Helmed Vengeance, God of Valor and Chivalry (Lawful), core rulebook, p. 32.

Hidden Lord, God of Secrets (Chaotic), core rulebook, p. 32.

Ildavir, Goddess of Nature (Neutral), core rulebook, p. 32.

Ithha, Prince of Elemental Wind, core rulebook, p. 356.

Justicia, Goddess of Justice and Mercy, core rulebook, p. 32.

King. of Elfland, core rulebook, pp. 342-347

Klazath, God of War (Lawful), core rulebook, p. 32.

Malotoch, the Carrion Crow God (Chaotic), core rulebook, p. 32.

Mycetes-Thrax, the Sleeping Growth that lurks beneath the soil, core rulebook, p. 248.

Nimlurun, the Unclean One, Lord of Filth and Polution (Chaotic), core rulebook, p. 32.

Obitu-Que, core rulebook, p. 355.

Pelagia, Goddess of the Sea (Neutral), core rulebook, p. 32.

Satan, core rulebook, p. 434.

Sezrekan, core rulebook, pp. 336-341. See also The Infernal Crucible of Sezrekan the Mad, core rulebook, pp. 457-460.

Shul, God of the Moon (Lawful), core rulebook, p. 32.

Three Fates, core rulebook, pp. 348-353.

Ulesh, God of Peace (Lawful), core rulebook, p. 32.

Yddggl, the World Root, core rulebook, pp. 354-355.

Safe Spaces and X-Cards

This post is actually a request for comments, as I am putting together table rules for Toronto Crawl Classics. As such, I hope, whether you intend to participate in the Toronto game or not, you will supply your thoughts.

I recently heard about an individual’s negative experiences related to gaming, including rape jokes, doxixng, unwanted touching, being followed home, and the like. Of course, as I step towards doing a long-term open-table campaign, I would like to make sure that my table offers a safe space. That is, I don’t want anyone to ever feel abused at a game I have anything to do with.

When I was told about X-Cards, I thought “What a great, and obvious, idea!” The more I have been thinking about them, though, the more I am doubting that my initial reaction was the right one. And that is what this post is, really: Asking the community for their thoughts. Anyone who would like to comment should feel free to do so. Anyone who wants to comment anonymously may do so at ravencrowking at hotmail dot com.

Here are my areas of specific concern:

(1) I have a tendency to believe that rpgs should push comfort zones, and there are definitely horror elements involved in Dungeon Crawl Classics. I have some concerns that the X-Card system would remove uncomfortable decisions and experiences from the game. And, in Dungeon Crawl Classics, that might be a lot of the game. Consider:

• Your PC fumbles and something bad happens. Can you tap the X-Card to undo the fumble?
• The same, but a critical hit against your PC. Does the X-Card make the crit go up or down on the chart?
• The same, but clerical disapproval.
• The same, but mercurial magic.
• The same, but corruption.
• Etc., etc.

Worse, I imagine that running almost any published adventure for Dungeon Crawl Classics, and certainly any adventure I have penned, will bring on a host of tapping the X-Card simply to deal with events that go against the characters. Or having to deal with any of the creepy monsters, situations, or choices that exist within the better adventures.

Can you imagine running Bone Hoard of the Dancing Horror where the players can veto, without cost, the appearance of any creature or any event within the scenario? I am concerned that the game itself would swiftly lose its point. Which brings us to (2):

(2) Elements in a well-crafted scenario are there for a reason.

One of the X-Card examples I was given is that a player dislikes spiders, so taps the card, and the GM changes the encounter to giant rats.

That is fine in a scenario where the placement of monsters has no specific purpose, but let us take again the aforementioned Bone Hoard of the Dancing Horror. The titular monster collects bones, so the creatures encountered in the scenario have none. The creatures encountered are part of the “footprint” of the main encounter, and it is not so simple to change them. Especially not on the fly.

For another example, what if a player objects to the superior hearing of the Pallas Troth in The Black Goat? The scenario falls apart. You can take almost any well-written scenario, and see where aspects can be removed or changed which will damage (or destroy) the whole.

(3) I have been a strong proponent of the view that the GM runs what he wishes, and the players either decide to play that game or not. The idea that the players can veto anything flies in the face of this position. Does the game adapt to the player, or does the player adapt to the game? I have always been a strong advocate that the player adapts to the game, and alters the game to adapt to herself through the agency of her characters.

(4) It was exampled that a player may use the X-Card for something minor, such as a name, to demonstrate that it is okay to do so at the table. This suggests that players should not hesitate to demand alterations of things that they find only somewhat uncomfortable. It also suggests that not having to deal with any minor discomfort is more important than the value of a coherent scenario to the other players at the table.

(5) While I certainly would not find sexual harassment acceptable, this seems to go far beyond preventing abuse and into some other territory. In fact, the use of X-Cards may rob agency from the GM in terms of creating and presenting scenarios, and the other players, both in terms of (a) reacting to those scenarios, and (b) even experiencing those scenarios.

For these reasons, I am concerned that using X-Cards may make game play anaemic. Because I always want to run the best game I can, I am soliciting the input of you, the reader. What do you think? Should I use X-Cards? Should I not use X-Cards? Should I use them in some limited form? And, if so, what should the limitations be?

Remember Step Three, for the love of fun!

Remember, if you fail to send me your email, I can't send you a mathom.

Free RPG Day 2016

As previously announced, I ran Black Feather Blade at Dueling Grounds in Toronto, Ontario for Free RPG Day 2016. Joining me were Heather Bishop and Morgan Clayton, who were part of the original playtest group, to run the NPC groups of Duani and Seldon Esh respectively. If you are running this game at a convention (or otherwise) and can take the opportunity to allow players to run the NPCs, the adventure will be all the better for it.

Black Feather Blade was designed with two Robert E. Howard stories in mind – The Black Stranger (aka The Treasure of Tranicos) and Hills of the Dead. If you are fortunate enough to read both before running the adventure, it will be to your benefit. In The Black Stranger, Conan has to deal with other groups who are after the same treasure as he is. Because each group is roughly balanced, politicking and exploiting events becomes the order of the day. The likely culminating events of Black Feather Blade is an homage to Hills of the Dead.

We only had three other players, but two of them were author Marzio Muscedere (Steel and Fury) and author/artist Elias Scorsone (Wrath of the Frost Queen and Dungeon of the Dragon Master). Marzio also has a new adventure in the works with Purple Duck, Death Slaves of Eternity – look for it this July!

Six PCs entered. Two PCs survived. Spoilers follow. Select text to read.

• The first PC death was due to the giant dire mole. The mole managed to survive the adventure, much injured, having retreated into its tunnels.

• For the first time running this adventure, I have seen players explore all six burial mounds.

• A certain curiously carved silver whistle was found, but the players had the good sense not to blow it.

• Great use was made of the “sacrifice chain” mechanic. We actually got to the “lover or family member” option because, when his wizard died, Elias decides that he and his elf PC had been lovers. When his elf fell to a swarm of corpse parts, I let him use the accumulated Luck to modify the “roll over” check to see if the elf survived, but sadly Malotoch’s favor was not enough!

• Once the titular Black Feather Blade was found, there was a three-way combat in the final tomb, with a swarm of corpse parts attacking everyone involved. What fun!

Free RPG Day swag included the Goodman Games preview of DCC Lankhmar and Mutant Crawl Classics, as well as Slügs! for Lamentations of the Flame Princess. Without going into spoilers, both scenarios from the Goodman Games release are excellent, and if you did not pick this up you should try to get the pdf when it appears on RPG Now.  I am a fan of Lamentations of the Flame Princess, and found Slügs! an amusing read, but I don’t think I would use it much at the table.  It’s a sort of mini-bestiary, containing a bit more goofiness than grit. But then, who knows? Some of the slügs described are potential denizens of ruined Toronto once I get Toronto Crawl Classics up and running….!

Nexus Game Fair

I should have posted this a while back, but things have been busy. Sometimes better late than never.

I had the good fortune to attend the Nexus Game Fair in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from May 27th to 30th. 

I had the opportunity to play in several games run by the talented Brendan LaSalle (creator of XCrawl and all-around Goodman Games luminary), as well as Scott Swift of Lesser Gnome Games. In the late hours of Sunday night, I even managed to run a bit of The Arwich Grinder.

It is probably pretty clear from these pictures that photography is not my strong suit. 

In any event, there was some great gaming, a lovely room party with much interesting conversation to be had, and great people to meet, game with, and hang about with. If I am able, I will return again next year.

It should be noted that Brendan LaSalle deserves extra XP for confounding the powerful sonic attack of a walrus-demon with merely his wits, his goodwill, and a pair of earplugs supplied by the hotel. Thanks for putting up with me!