NEW RELEASE: The UFOlogists Field Manual – a Quickstart for MAJESTIC

Step into the shadowy world of conspiracy, cover-ups, and cosmic intrigue with the Ufologists Field Manual, the Quickstart for the upcoming tabletop RPG, MAJESTIC. This essential manual invites players with pre-generated characters to unravel the enigma of UFO phenomena, blending investigative rigour with the suspense of extraterrestrial encounters.

Face off against the labyrinth of government secrecy, alien abductions, and unexplained occurrences armed with practical tools for fieldwork and a gripping ruleset designed for intense roleplay.

Immerse yourself in high-stakes investigations involving mysterious artifacts, grotesque experiments, and life-or-death choices. Designed for newcomers and veterans alike, the manual provides pre-generated characters and a streamlined system emphasizing fast-paced storytelling and tactical depth.

Will you uncover humanity’s place in the cosmos or will the truth remain buried? The answers lie within this manual, but beware: chasing the unknown might change you forever. Prepare to enter the frontlines of the ultimate mystery. The truth is out there, waiting.

Contents include an introduction to the world, detailed rules, a sample scenario outline and pre-generated characters.

Take this book for free or fire us a few dollars for art!

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/510091/the-ufologists-field-manual-quickstart-for-majestic

New Release: Short Tales of Distant Lands

Short Tales of Distant Lands

Step into a world where magic whispers through ancient forests, shadows hold forgotten secrets, and ordinary lives are touched by the extraordinary. Short Tales of Distant Lands is a spellbinding collection of stories set in the richly imagined universe of Talking to Dragons.

The Short Tales of Distant Lands are a companion to Talking to Dragons, Book 1 of Tales of Distant Lands and the Tales of Distant Lands tabletop roleplaying game. These stories are intended to enrich and expand the world first introduced in the novel, delving into its history, its mysteries, and its people. The lands of this world are vast and varied, shaped by forces both magical and mundane, and within them lie countless stories waiting to be uncovered.

Where Talking to Dragons follows the journey of a central narrative, the Short Tales offer glimpses into other corners of this world, highlighting moments and characters that might otherwise remain in the shadows. These tales stand alone, each a complete story in its own right, but together they weave a tapestry that deepens our understanding of the setting and its intricacies.

From wizards grappling with the cost of power to rebels fighting for freedom on the high seas, each tale unveils a corner of this vast and enchanting world. Journey to the bustling harbors of Thee, the shadowed depths of Saaland’s forests, and the rolling hills of Erea, where subtle magic lingers in the air. Meet characters who face their fears, uncover ancient truths, and learn that the greatest magic lies in patience and discovery.

Whether you are a returning traveler or a first-time visitor to these distant lands, this collection offers something for every reader: high adventure, heartfelt lessons, and the quiet wonder of worlds waiting to be explored. Perfect for fans of fantasy who love rich settings, unforgettable characters, and stories brimming with magic and mystery.

Enter a land where every shadow hides a story and every whispered secret holds a spark of wonder. Short Tales of Distant Lands will captivate your imagination and leave you yearning for more.

New Year Game: Star Trek Adventures in the 2270s

The premise for this game is the post Star Trek the Motion Picture era, but before 2278 when the new red uniforms arrived. Starfleet and the Federation are mid-transition to the militaristic 2280s and resumption of the hot war which results in the conflicts around Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

The basis for the game is the new 2nd Edition of Star Trek Adventures which has simplified and streamlined a lot.

The game will be run face-to-face at the WARS club in Floriana, Malta. I’ve got a couple of Trekkers already interested, which is cool, though how they will react to the era is interesting. It’s set after Discovery and Strange New Worlds, after the Original Series and in the aftermath of the Motion Picture.

In this timeline, V’GER continues on it’s evolution through the galaxy but returns many of the beings it “stored” before departing. The space station, Epsilon IX, is returned to it’s previous location but there are unforeseen changes. Commander Branch will be recalled to Starfleet and a new command crew will be sent out. These will be the PCs.

Much later in the timeline, Epsilon IX is the location of a secret science project in 2369.

Into Darkness, TALKING TO DRAGONS, book 1 of TALES OF DISTANT LANDS

After their meal, they continued their journey, the forest growing darker and more foreboding as the rain intensified. The compass remained steady, its needle pointing unwaveringly ahead. It was late afternoon when they reached a clearing, the sudden openness startling after hours of navigating the dense woods.

At the clearing’s centre stood a monolith, its surface slick with rain. The stone was ancient, its surface weathered but still imposing. As they approached, they noticed the carvings: intricate patterns of vines and flowers on the front, and on the back, a massive face, its features exaggerated and grotesque. The mouth, carved open, led into a dark cave.

Newt stopped in his tracks, his expression a mix of awe and fear. “This isn’t on the route,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We avoid this place.”

Joy frowned, stepping closer to the monolith. “Why? What is it?”

“It’s old,” Newt replied, his voice heavy with reverence.

Shei approached the monolith cautiously, their gaze lingering on the carved face. “It’s eerie,” they said, their voice uncharacteristically quiet. “Like it’s watching us.”

Makaira stepped forward, his movements deliberate. He ran his fingers over the carvings, feeling the grooves and ridges beneath his touch. “It’s well-crafted,” he remarked, more to himself than to the others. “The work of master stonemasons. But it’s not magical. Not directly.”

Joy glanced at the compass, its needle unwavering in its direction. “Do we go through?” she asked, her voice tinged with both excitement and trepidation.

Makaira hesitated, his gaze fixed on the dark mouth of the cave. The forest was silent around them, the rain muffled by the thick canopy above. The monolith loomed, its presence oppressive yet strangely compelling.

“We proceed,” he said finally, his voice firm.

Newt shifted uncomfortably but nodded, his resolve outweighing his fear. The group gathered their courage and stepped toward the monolith, its shadow swallowing them as they entered the darkness beyond.

TALKING TO DRAGONS, the novel, which is book 1 of TALES OF DISTANT LANDS, is being released on my Patreon. You can read a lot more about the world and about the novel there.

The Crossing

The Wanderer rocked violently, a fragile speck in the vast, storm-beaten waters. Spicer, the captain, stood barefoot at the helm, his wiry frame braced against the ship’s shuddering frame as waves slapped mercilessly at the hull. A deep-set grin carved into his face despite the danger, he looked more at ease here, at the edge of disaster, than he would lounging in a courtly bed.
“Wizards,” he muttered under his breath, eyeing his three passengers who clung to the mast in various states of distress. “Fools, more like.”
Makaira, the once-was court wizard, clutched the tail of a line in a white-knuckled grip, his cloak pulled tight against the biting spray of seawater. He had wrapped this line three times around his waist. He was a tall, fussy man, ill-suited to the hard edges of the Wanderer and already regretting every boast he’d made. “I tell you,” he had declared to King Frey, “I shall find a dragon, speak with it, perhaps even bend its will to serve you.” And now, barely a day out of Saaland, he feared it would be the waves he’d bow to instead.
Beside him, Joy—a newly appointed wizard who had only recently left the comforts of her study—wavered on her feet, clinging to the mast with one hand and her hat with the other. The wind had whipped her dark hair into a frenzy, and her face was pale, her eyes darting between Spicer and the horizon, as if uncertain which held more danger.
And then there was Shei, a bard whose life of small misdeeds and worse luck had somehow landed him on this ill-advised voyage. Lounging near the prow, he had hooked a leg under a plank, securing his weight. Even as waves broke over the sides, he hummed with a half-hearted bravado, masking his own unease with a forced grin.
“We’ll be fine, Makaira,” he said, though his voice shook. “Spicer knows these waters, don’t you, Captain?”
Spicer chuckled darkly, his eyes fixed on the storm-laden sky. “Know of them, aye. But that don’t mean they’re kind. The Crescent Isle’s just beyond this fury,” he added, as if that knowledge alone would steady the groaning timbers of his ship.
Makaira shifted uneasily, his pride deflating with every lurch of the boat. “You assured me this crossing was… challenging, but manageable. I had no notion it was—”
“I didn’t reckon you’d care to know just how many bones lie beneath this stretch.” Spicer’s gaze was unforgiving. “These waters don’t welcome travelers lightly, wizard.”
As if summoned by his words, the waves grew fiercer, rolling over the Wanderer and crashing against the deck. Joy lost her grip and stumbled forward, barely catching herself before falling overboard. Shei lunged, grabbing her arm with a quickness that betrayed his deftness.
“We’ve made it too far to drown here,” Shei muttered, helping her steady herself. “And Makaira’s got dragons to charm, remember?”
Joy gave him a weak smile. “If we make it to the Crescent Isle in one piece, it’ll be a miracle, let alone finding a dragon.”
Spicer’s laughter cut through the howling wind. “If dragons hear you coming, they’ll laugh just as hard, I’ll wager.” He pointed to the horizon, where a shadowed line of cliffs was barely visible through the mist. “There it is—the Crescent Isle.”
Makaira’s eyes brightened. “At last! There, do you see it?” But his excitement faded as the waves grew more chaotic, as if some unseen force stirred them into a frenzy. “Captain, are we safe to approach?”
“Safe?” Spicer snorted. “No one’s ever ‘safe’ here, wizard. The Crescent Isle’s got a hunger for men and ships alike.” He glanced at Shei, who had gone back to picking his fingernails, his expression tight. “Shei, best play a tune for luck, if you know one.”
Shei shook his head but began to sing, the faltering notes wavering over the chaos of the sea. Makaira muttered incantations under his breath, his fingers tracing symbols in the air. The wind shifted, and for a brief moment, the storm seemed to calm.
But then, as if mocking their efforts, a monstrous wave rose, its peak foaming with rage. It crashed into the Wanderer, sending Joy tumbling and nearly knocking Makaira from his seat, though the line held fast. Shei was drenched, the notes silenced, and even Spicer looked grim as he fought to keep the boat on course.
Makaira clung to his staff, his eyes wild. “Can’t you do something, Captain?”
“Against the sea?” Spicer barked a laugh, though his knuckles whitened on the wheel. “Not even your dragons could tame these waters.”
As if in response, the shadow of a cliff loomed closer, jagged and unforgiving. Crescent Isle had them in its grip, pulling them forward with an invisible hand. And then, as they drew near, the waters abruptly stilled, the fury of the storm falling away into an eerie calm.
Joy looked up, her face pale. “Did… did we make it?”
The Wanderer drifted forward, its timbers creaking in the silence. The air was thick, almost oppressive, and the island loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. On the shore, shadows shifted, half-seen shapes flitting between the twisted trees.
Makaira’s voice was barely a whisper. “This is… Crescent Isle.” He shivered, feeling the weight of the island’s silent watchfulness. “Captain, I… I thought there would be… people.”
“People?” Spicer’s grin returned, sharper than before. “This isn’t Saaland, wizard. The Crescent Isle’s folk don’t welcome strangers. You wanted dragons, did you not?”
Makaira’s bravado faltered, his gaze flicking to Joy and Shei, both as uneasy as he was. But he forced himself to nod. “Yes. We’ve come to parley with dragons. To serve the King.”
Spicer’s laugh was hollow, echoing over the silent waters. “Then you’d best be prepared, wizard. For the Crescent Isle holds no love for fools, nor for those who seek to stir its ancient spirits. Remember,” he said, as they began their slow approach to the shadowed shore, “dragons don’t bargain. They devour.”
The Wanderer drifted closer to the land, the shadows deepening, and the ship slipped silently into the protected lagoon of the Crescent Isle. The air thickened with a silence that held not just menace, but an ancient promise of ruin for those foolish enough to seek what should never be disturbed.
Spicer set an anchor and then collapsed onto a pile of nets. “Now we wait,” he warned, “No-one sets foot on this Isle without invitation.” The other three peered at the silhouette of the land before them and there was no-one to be seen.

Domination….no, not what you’re thinking.

I was a fan of Domination (the RPG) for a while. It was published by Starchilde Publications in 1989. Starchilde also made another game I really liked: Justifiers (and I have to say it is definitely in the heritage of our upcoming new game Whole New World.)

The system used a percentile ‘attribute’ which made up for the bulk of your ability and then skill bonuses in smaller doses which accounted for training.

Domination (and the skirmish battle version Sabot and Laser) had the simple premise that aliens invaded the Earth. We’ve seen this multiple times in fiction from War of the Worlds to Falling Skies, from V to Signs, from Battle: Los Angeles to even more recent versions like A Quiet Place. The premise isn’t new, and it wasn’t new in 1989.

What I liked about it was a couple of things.

I really like the A5 (around half US Letter) format. I kinda like the mess of aliens it creates and the possibilities for play. It seems the big bads, the Kalotions, have enslaved other races to fight for them. So there’s an undercurrent (which isn’t fully explored of both fifth columns within the Kalotion regime and also aliens which defect.

So, of course, as this is an ancient and out of print book, which is a pain in the butt to find…and I love all of the properties listed above, it behoves me to develop my own idea. This will be a supplement for Twilight 2000, (or maybe an independent game) which models the invasion of Earth by an alien species.

NEW RELEASE: Rise of R’lyeh – a new post apocalyptic vision

The strange aeons arrived and R’lyeh rose from the dark waters.

Screenshot

A Dark Past
When the darkness came for me,
There was no-one who stood in their way

In 1998, the unthinkable happened.

It started with immense earthquakes under the Pacific Ocean as the Earths crust was torn and rent under the oceans. As the modern world turned their eye to the seismic events and did their best to cope with the resultant tsunamis over the days and weeks to follow along every coast along the Pacific (and beyond). The warnings were clear as the surge travelled to the east to the coast of the Americas and west to Asia and Oceania. Millions died as as a sequence of waves, hundreds of metres high inundated port cities and millions more were claimed by the destruction and pestilence to follow. Those who survived, by being inland or on high enough ground, found a world changed. The seas did not recede to their previous levels, staying more than 10 metres higher than previous; nor was there enough surviving infrastructure to allow any semblance of normal society. Anyone sent to the flooded cities either did not return or came back changed by their experiences. They spoke of vast basalt edifices dwarfing the skyscrapers of the past, the dark clouds of noxious smoke that billow from their chimneys, of terrible winged things that shrieked around their formidable spires and the city being filled with horrid fishlike humanoids hunting humans for sport. Their stories were not too far from the truth.

Using the acclaimed Year Zero Engine and specifically the Step Dice version pioneered in Twilight 2000 and used for more than a dozen other third party games, this promises a level, grounded, modern action system.

This also enables use of other supplements for Twilights 2000 without modification, whether you want the interdimensional invaders of Through the Silver Gate, the Dragons from Here Be Dragons, Supersoldiers from Enhanced or Psychics from Twilight Tangents.

Rise of R’lyeh contains mature themes (cosmic horror, death, invasion, infection, body horror, climate collapse, the end of the world, violence, mental illness, war, human sacrifice, cannibalism and other subjects which might cause distress. Please make use of appropriate safety and consent tools at your discretion with your players (X Card, Lines and Veils) to ensure that the game is enjoyable to everyone.

Until it runs out, you can grab it for only $4

Tales of Distant Lands – Fights

Drennus is a Privean pirate who fights with a long blade. He’s matched against Blackfeather, a Saalian dockworker. Both have seen several scrapes in the past
Drennus
Body d10, Pirate d10, Past: Grew up on a Privean pirate ship (+1). Has a long blade (+1 to hit, 2 damage). Drennus is wearing boiled leather armour (1d6)
Blackfeather
Body d8, Dockworker d8. Past: Tarxian Sewer Rat. Has a ShortBlade (+1, 1 damage). He has no armour.

Drennus and Blackfeather roll their combat abilities.

Drennus is rolling 2d12. He’s argued that both of his +1s add to his d10 in Body and d10 in Piracy. He rolls 8 and 6. Two successes, making for 3 damage.

Blackfeather is rolling d10 and d8. He’s only got the bonus for the blade. He rolls and scores a 9 and a 5. One Success. He decides to Push the d8, getting a 6 on the second roll. Two Successes, making for 2 damage

Both got two Successes so both hit, though technically as Blackfeather rolled highest, his blade is quickest. Drennus is inflicting 3 Harm, whereas Blackfeather is only inflicting 2.

Drennus rolls for his armour, getting a 5. It doesn’t protect him this time. He takes 2 points of harm.

Drennus’ Body is down to d6 but Blackfeather is down to d0. Blackfeather is down!

No quarter is asked, none given.

As Blackfeather received 3 points of Harm, Drennus also rolls on the Critical Table. He’s rolling d10 for his ability with a +1 for the blade, so d12! He scores a 7, meaning Blackfeather has a leg injury that will take a month to heal.

Blackfeather lies on the ground, writhing from the pain. Drennus can end it here for him, but instead he kicks dirt at him and walks away.

Whole New World: Seeking Artists

The art for Enhanced or Through the Silver Gate doesn’t vibe well with Whole New World so I’m hunting for an artist again to produce the cool retro-space vibe I need for this.

“The human race is going to be adrift, desperate for a rock to cling to while they catch their breath.”

FTL

There’s really no FTL in the setting. Sure, FTL tech was used to get the humans here, but it’s a kinda of a one way trip. They were catapulted here.

Tech Level

We can assume some technological advances. Particularly in computers, sensors and maybe even some bioware. But the space ship tech? “the only way humans have ever figured out of getting somewhere is to leave something behind.” I do like the idea of sarcastic robots.

Limited Resources

The ship has limited life support, limited fuel but effectively unlimited energy when the solar veil is deployed. This can, with time, replenish fuel stores.

Interpersonals

“That’s what I love – out there we face great odds. Death. But not evil.”
We’ve always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible. And we count these moments. These moments when we dare to aim higher, to break barriers, to reach for the stars, to make the unknown known. We count these moments as our proudest achievements. But we lost all that. Or perhaps we’ve just forgotten that we are still pioneers. And we’ve barely begun.

Using Twilight 2000 Resources with Blade Runner

Blade Runner is one of the published games by Free League which uses a version of the Year Zero Engine (YZE) which eschews dice pools in favour of stepped dice. This means that instead of just adding more dice until you’re rolling a handful of clickety-clacks, you increase the ‘magnitude’ of the dice for skills and attributes. A d6 becomes a d8, a d8 to a d10….etc.

Blade Runner and Twilight 2000 use the same base system. Blade Runner is a little simpler, having an advantage/disadvantage mechanism whereas Twilight 2000 just uses a sequence of modifiers from a small table which promote or demote your dice up or down the magnitude scale.

Now, while there are a couple of supplements for Blade Runner available (Fiery Angels is out, Replicant Rebellion is coming), there are literally hundreds of scenarios and campaign materials for Twilight 2000.

So, even if you don’t want the clean, accuracy of Twilight 2000, you still have a heap of materials to use.

Take your Blade Runner characters into the Deadzone. Enhance their psychic abilities with The 23rd Letter. Introduce a zombie plague with Twilight Tangents. Bring in superpowers with Enhanced. Add in Magic with De Occulta, add in Vampires with Exsanguine. Find mythos horror with Rise of R’lyeh or have them fight Dragons, Elves, the menace of the Gloom or even Space Marines. All of these are available for a couple of dollars to enhance or change the direction for your Blade Runner game.

Next, a brief chat on how to use Alien resources with Blade Runner, taking advantage of the Easter Eggs which litter both.

New Release: Through The Silver Gate – a new alt-campaign for Twilight 2000

Through the Silver Gate is a new alt-campaign for Twilight 2000 cementing it as a flexible and practical modern task and combat resolution system.
It sits alongside Here Be Dragons and The Gloom as possible alt-campaigns for T2K on the premise of “what if it wasn’t the Soviets….”
This means it’s perfectly possible to play T2K and not be as concerned with the current situation in the world.

So, saddle up, grab your packs and get to the front line. The Orcs have all but taken Virginia and are moving North. Tales of Dragons flying over the Appalachians and a large silver sphere has materialised on the front lawn of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Let’s take the fight to them!

This book contains:

  • A new set of extradimensional enemies (Orcs, Goblins, ….and Elves…kinda)
  • A dual purpose campaign of resisting or invading the alien world
  • A whole new magic system, based on Fantasy Magic
  • A tie-in to future books about Dimensions

This is particularly inspired by a few sources including

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Janissaries, by Jerry Pournelle
Cannibal Halfling: The Forbidden Stairs
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
The Long Stair, a very long thread on RPGnet.

You might see some other influences from the Del Toro movie Cronos, to TORG.

Discussion

One of the issues I’ve seen raised repeatedly is the current state of the world. That Twilight 2000 represents something a little too close to reality with the current conflict in Ukraine. It’s kinda hard for some of us (old, aged, seasoned) GenX to fully understand as we grew up in the shadow of constant potential nuclear devastation from the USSR in the height of the Cold War. That’s when Twilight 2000 was birthed, in the state of existential worry.

But things are different now. People are more informed, possibly better informed, but certainly more. However there’s never been more uncertainty in the world.

This is the result of masticating this idea, in conjunction with others, on how to use a modern, tactical ruleset without the potential triggers it might cause. And this was born the idea of Twilight Dimensions or, in other words, alt-campaigns for Twilight 2000.

GDQW did this first with MERC 2000, where they took away the apocalypse and made the game more about mercenaries in a more milsimmy-way. But I’m more interested in other things. Like what if there was an interdimensional invasion? Or what if the minions of Cthulhu rose up and took over the world. And this book is a part of that.

Tales of Distant Lands Playtest: Group 2, Session 2 – AP

Once she was sure that everyone was asleep, Joy crept from her stuffed straw pallet and slipped out of the room. She was sure no-one would have heard her move because of the constant put-put-put from Makaira’s snoring. But even as she pulled the door closed, she wouldn’t have seen a pair of eyes flick open.

Once outside the room, she muttered some words and felt a flush of joy as the magic coursed in her, and she became invisible to the world, yet fully visible to herself. for not a moment did she consider if her spell had worked, she just was confident in its working.

She padded down the steps towards the open door and stepped out into the night. A cat hissed at her passing and she wondered at the strangeness of those creatures and their keen senses.

From an upper window, Shei gazed out upon the yard, wondering if Joy would be leaving but as nothing came into view, they curled up on the straw and listening to the rhythmic snoring of the older mage, fell back into their nightmare.

Joy could hear the last of the town revellers as she crept along the dirt streets, doing her best to stay in the shadows. One could never be sure if the invisibility was complete and she had seen too many pranks go awry at the Guild when an inexperienced apprentice had forgotten to mask their own shadow as well as their body. Joy would make no such mistake; she had practiced the art of invisibility for slipping off into the woods and watching nature for hours on end.

Finally she arrived at the strange fish-shrine in the town. Someone had left two burning candles there, to the fish-effigy was wreathed in an ethereal flickering light. The trapdoor was still secured.

Outside, across the square, one of the many porthole taverns were closing their trade. Porthole taverns represented the roughest of places – where the clientele wasn’t even trusted to enter the hearth but instead were passed drinks through a small window. She crept closer, careful not to disturb any stones and then she spotted the three unpleasant men she’d spoken to earlier. One, the ringleader, seemed very much the worse for wear and he coloured the air blue with his language.

All three sloped off into a small cul-de-sac and then parted ways, the leader shuffling into a one room shack. As she peered in the window, she could smell only man sweat and fish work and all she could see was a lone table and chair, a poorly tended fireplace with a pot hanging above it and poking out of a dark alcove, two grubby feet.

She debated whether to investigate further but was wary – these were rough people “of the knife” it was said. Feeling slightly defeated she returned to her lodgings and crept back inside.

As she opened the door to their room, she heard Shei hiss “and where have you been”

Shei questioned her at length, knowing the dangers of snooping around at night, and berated her for carelessness and how they’d be sick with worry if she did not return. Makaira made a loud snort that seemed to indicate he was still asleep but then he spoke “Do I have to lock fast your jaws to make you stop wittering through the night?”

Joy related her journey to them both and Makaira surprised her by standing up and starting to dress. Even moreso when he did not put on his ceremonial garb that he went everywhere with. Makaira was not the sort of Wizard to be seen about town so unadorned yet here he was, beard and hair uncombed, ready to step out into the night.

The three made their way in darkness, not bothering with invisibility or any form of camouflage until they arrived at the Shrine. It was now Deepnight and it seemed that anything that had occurred here had long since departed. The candles were burned down to their wicks.

Makaira nudged Shei towards the locked trapdoor and Shei, taking the meaning, obliged. The lock was simple, only two tumblers, and Shei picked it expertly but the mechanism wouldn’t release. “It’s held fast by magic”. Joy wondered at the implications of this when Makaira stood to his full height and uttered a single word “Haba”, which means Raze in the True Speech. Instantly the trapdoor itself was rendered to splinters which hung in the air for a moment as if surprised, and then fell into the darkness of whatever was below the door.

Clicking his fingers, Makaira summoned a magelight which he tossed into the blackness and then stepped into the hole.

Below, lit by the eerie magelight, was a small pontoon at the end of a long cave. There was some evidence it had been used due to the marks of feet on the greenish slime so common to caves and harbours but there was nothing else to be seen. The cavern waters carried the smell of the sea and they all surmised this must lead to some secluded opening on the coast. Joy recognised this a s smugglers hole, not uncommon when folks wanted to avoid taxes or move good unseen.

With nothing else to be gleaned here, they climbed out of the hole. Shei expressed some concern at the trapdoor which lay in fragments, but Makaira ignored them and bade Joy to lead them to the ringleader.

In this odorous little shack, standing above it’s owner, Makaira spoke quietly into the darkness. Both Joy and Shei recognised some of the words. Shei saw them form as certain musical notes which they had used many times in attempts to sway the minds of others. A reminder of the kinship between magic and song.

With his mind utterly enslaved, the ringleader confessed all. He was part of a clandestine gang who were moving people in and out of the lands unseen. He personally was responsible for the deaths of at least six people. Their motives were partly about money but there was a revolutionary aspect to it that left Makaira very uncomfortable. He sent the man back to sleep with no memory and then the three returned to their lodgings.

Rising fashionably late, they decided to inform the wizard Alaric of the goings-on. He again displayed considerable prepared relaxation but promised them he would take action. Uncertain of his sincerity, they made their way down to the port to find the ship they awaited.

The Wanderer was a sleek vessel, narrow of beam but quick on the wind. It’s master, Spicer, was a lean Osslan who inspired confidence and strength. He agreed to their haggling for the trip to round the top of Saaland and out to the West.

As they loaded their belongings aboard the Wanderer, Joy spotted a commotion in the square. A large crowd was gathered. Spying through the eyes of a seabird, she saw the ringleader being hoisted to a pillory. The Wizard Alaric must have made good on his promise. The Wanderer slipped it’s moorings and headed East out into the open sea before turning Northeast. After a day at sea, it rounded the northern horn and set a course due West for Alben.

Spicer took great delight in teaching anyone who would listen about the sails and lines. Makaira spend most of his time in silent meditation with only the occasional snore but Shei and Joy were quick to follow instructions and soon were able to tack and steer without supervision.

Alben came into view a day later, a town brightly lit by greenish magelight. It was clear the place was wealthy, maintained by the lucrative Ironworks in the region. The Wanderer slipped quietly into the dock with Shei and Joy securing her to the harbour wall and Spicer off to unload cargo and collect supplies for the next leg of the journey.

The Fantasy War – putting the War in Wardrobe

I wrote some notes a while ago so forgive me for brevity. This morning on the bus….I kinda expanded them. Images are placeholders, I’ve pinged my artist, Dino, to produce some nice original art.

The Long Stair was an internet thread on rpgnet which imagined, possibly to excruciating detail, what happens when a fantasy world crosses over with ours.

This was then followed up with crossing Forbidden Lands (Free Leagues flagship fantasy game) with Twilight 2000 (IMO the best evolution of the YZE).

Now, we had written stuff a while ago about Narnia which kind of tracked with this. (OMG that was 2008).

The idea what what would happen in our world if there was interaction between modern soldiers and fantasy races with magic.

Fantasy Races?

So, Twilight 2000 only really deals with humans. Sure you can get supplements (right here) that add in horrific monsters (in The Gloom) or Dragons (in Here Be Dragons) or mutations (in Enhanced) or Zombies (in Twilight Tangents) but we hadn’t covered Orcs, Goblins and Elves – the standard fantasy fare.

I use the word race very deliberately. There’s only one human race. There is only one surviving human species.

In this photo-fantasy world, they didn’t get humans, they got Orcs, Goblins and Elves. In the hominid evolutionary tree, Orcs are the descendent of ape-like ancestors similar to the modern day Earth Gorilla. Goblins too – descended from chimpanzee-like ancestors.

Rise of the Orc

The Orc is a tribal, aggressive species standing on average 1.8 metres (6’) though specimens are recorded much larger. In terms of body mass, the Orc is commonly up to 500 lbs (226 kgs) of muscle and bone. They have a characteristic gait with the heavily muscled arms reaching down to their knees and can reach a top speed of 40 km/h – fast enough to outrun all but the fastest sprinters. Physically humans are not a match one on one. They have astounding endurance and are very hard to kill.

Orcs are smart, maybe not human smart, but they can learn. They’re delighted to learn about new weapons and toys, new ways to create fire or explosions and they find slapstick humour, particularly where someone gets hurt, to be utterly hilarious. (Not so different from humans).

Orcs live in Prides, where the decisions of the family group are decided by the female Orcs. They’re responsible for food prep, for rearing young and also for the social order. All of the females in the Pride are related but many of the make Orcs will be “hangers on”, drawn by the “wealth” of the Pride (territory, conquests, potential for mates, charismatic leadership). The females select who is their mate (if any) this adds to the males prestige.

Orcs are opportunistic omnivores, able to digest everything from raw meat to tree bark. They are seldom cannibals but will consider humans and even Goblins as a valid food source.

Culturally, the Orcs will form war bands for conquest, based on loose alliances. They can, however be controlled by the Fein who have millennia-old spells to ensnare the mind of the Orc and turn them to war.

STR AGI INT EMP
d20 d10 d6 d6
Close Combat d12, Stamina d12, Mobility d6, Ranged Combat d8, Recon d10, Command d10
Brawler, Melee, Killer, Load Carrier, Ranger
All Critical Thresholds are +1 when attacking Orcs. And their melee attacks Critical Threshold is reduced by 1
Equipment: Sword, Halberd, Mail Armour, Shield

The Goblins

Goblins are the arboreal equivalent of the Orc, weighing much less (50 kgs) and much smaller in stature (1.2m, 4 ft). Their arms are proportionally longer and well suited for moving through trees. On land they’re fast but not for sustained periods. Proportionally they’re stronger than most humans reflecting a life of action rather than sedentary life. Goblins are also smart tool-users, proficient at the bow and practiced with crossbows of their own design.

Goblins live in large community groups, each numbering around 100 individuals. Under normal circumstances, they hunt and forage for food but have been put to work in agriculture and war by the Fein.

STR AGI INT EMP
d10 d12 d8 d8
Close Combat d8, Stamina d12, Mobility d6, Ranged Combat d10, Recon d12, Command d6
Brawler, Archer, Mountaineer, Pitcher, Combat Awareness
Goblins can move through the trees at twice ground speed.
Equipment: Short Sword, Long Bow, Leather Armour

The Fein

The Fein are a slender race of humanoid elfin vampires, reaching 2.1 metres (7 ft) in height. They wear long flowing robes and have golden adornments on their fingers, beck and ears, which are long and pointed. At some point in their past, the Fein developed a type of magic which extended their lives but required the living to sacrifice theirs. They will feed on any living creature, draining its life fluids (blood, sap, ichor) to sustain their own lives. This way the Fein can live for thousands of years. A human will sustain them for 1 month, an Orc for two months and a large tree for a year.

They still eat food for pleasure and sustain their lifestyles through the control of other races, notably Goblins for manual labour and Orcs for war. Their history is a long series of highly triumphant novels about how their intervention has been vital for the survival of all. The Fein worship their royal family, a particularly wretched line of vampires who only feed on other Fein. At some point in the past, they were creatures who lived commensally with the trees using magic to create song and great works, but over the years their lust for immortality drove them to use their magic to unnaturally prolong their life.

Culturally the Fein consider all races to be subservient, as they alone are uniquely long lived. Their methods are cruel and their magic is effective. They are often armed with a keen and slender needle rapier which is effective against armour, ignoring any protection provided by mail armour.

STR AGI INT EMP
d8 d8 d20 d12
Close Combat d12, Recon d12, Command d12
Killer, Intelligence, Interrogator, Psy Ops, Fein Magic
With but a touch, the Fein can drain Hit Points from other creatures 1 per turn, healing their injuries. This operates through their Opifex
Equipment: Rapier, Opifex, Magic Scroll

Fein Magic

The Fein use Magic powered by their own life force and the life force of others. Each effect requires at least the expenditure of 1 Hit Point, which can be regained immediately using their Opifex. Humans can learn Fein Magic and use an Optifex.

The Optifex

The Optifex is a piece of magical technology resembling a pocket watch with an interior filled with glass, blood and some sort of insect-like creature. The Optifex cannot be dismantled without killing the creature. This technology enables the Fein to live effectively forever through the vampirism of other species.

Regent

The Fein have a complex ritual which is performed on every Fein. This causes every Orc and Goblin to be immediately subservient to Fein, effectively giving the Fein an extra d12 when using Command with Orcs and Goblins. It has no effect on Humans. Removing the Regent enchantment from a Fein is considered a serious punishment as these Fein are also vulnerable to the influence.

The Silver Gate

The caster can open an Schwartzschild Bridge (actually a Morris-Thorne Wormhole) between two locations. This spell creates a shimmering globe of silvery metal which, at the predetermined time, will transport anything that walks though it to the desired destination. The primary component is at least 200 grams of orichalcum (which may be re-used). Rather than being an unobtainable mystery substance, Orichalcum is a specific ore of copper and nickel (and can be manufactured).
The Bridge is opened above a specific pattern made in Orichalcum powder by the spell. To close the bridge, break the pattern. The pattern is automatically generated (similar to cymatics) depending on the destination and each pattern is unique.
There is no guarantee that anyone crossing a Bridge will survive. Sometimes they come out the other end ‘reassembled’ incorrectly and survival at the other end can also depend on the presence of life-sustaining conditions.

Rending

This spell exists in many forms across cultures. It causes direct harm to a target, Each Hit Point invested causes a point of damage and Stress may also be exchanged for enemy damage, point for point. The flesh of the target is scored and burned by the spell, including their internal organs. Cause of death will be inexplicable to normal medicine if it kills the target. The Caster may also choose to spend a Permanent EMP level to inflict an immediate Death Save on the target.
This spell completely ignores armour and can be cast line of sight or may have effectively infinite range if there is a sympathetic connection (hair, etc).

Place Stelae

The ritual for placing a minimum of three stelae to enable the forming of a dimensional chiasmata (the overlap of two dimensions) on the basis of a Silver Gate. Stelae must be forged from a conductive metal. The first three stelae must be placed within 16 hours of each other and the ritual performed over each one. Additional stelae can be added later. The maximum distance between them is 1.054 kilometres. If performed correctly, the next 32 hours will see the region within the stelae boundary change as the other dimension begins to write itself over Earth, changing plans, changing the air, even changing the sky.
The specific dimension is dictated by changing the directions within the ritual. If the stelae are destroyed, any areas not covered begin to revert though they will not be the same. For the chiasmata to maintain, there must be at least three stelae.

Resurrect

This spell takes the body of a deceased person and summons life back into it. Any decomposition will remain and can be healed (in theory). The spell does not remove the cause of death (wounds do not heal, cancer is not cured) but for the time being, they are alive again.
The spell also won’t heal any putrefaction processed (They’re still rotting). The Referee deducts 1 level from one Attribute, if it is from STR, AGI or INT, it’s likely decomposition. If it’s from EMP, it’s likely due to feeling the pull of death. If the target has an Attribute that was previously reduced to 0 due to another spell or injury, they retain that handicap.

One Page RPG Jam 2024 – Communists in the Funhouse

So, where did this one come from?

Communists in the Funhouse is a euphemism used in Denmark to describe a woman who’s at a certain stage of her menstrual cycle. My wife and I thought this was hilariously phrased and as a result, it had to inspire a mini-game.

So, if it tickles you, pop along and download it:

Communists in the Funhouse at itch.io

One Page RPG Jam 2024 – We Go In – Saving the World when you’re not From The World

The third RPG I’ve posed to the Jam is

WE GO IN

The concept is being a disaster relief operative. A little like “International Rescue” also known as Thunderbirds.

Now there are differences

  1. It’s team based per player rather than playing a single “brother” with their own craft.
  2. Every player has the same vehicle (though this could change if it gets a full release)
  3. The PCs are all aliens. They’re not brothers from a secret island on Earth, they’re concerned citizens from the worlds involved in the war
  4. Every ship is slightly different.

One Page RPG Jam 2024 – Chosen Men – “Sharpe” by any other name

The second RPG I’ve posted for the Jam is

Chosen Men

This game is the “Sharpe” of RPGs. The idea of romping around Spain putting Napoleon back in his place has entertained me for years while watching the TV movies and also then reading the books.
If you’re familiar with the concept, you’d have no trouble at all with the system.