Grimdark, the bad guys

Every good group of heroes need a bunch of baddies trying to destroy the world, right? How about some weasels, badgers, and rats? Plus a vile swamp lord?

And the vile Swamp Lord, Veras Mortifer:

And his minions, the swamp devils

Grimdark Midjourney by request

By special request for Bill and Felbrigg, I have delved into a grimdark version of the images I posted awhile ago. I imagine this as a sort of 'adult' version of Redwall, perhaps combine Joe Abercrombie's novels with Redwall? I don't know. Anyway, here are some cool images.

Actually, now that I think about this, that sounds really, really cool. I am not a big furry guy (I think its weird, but you do you) but the idea of an adult fantasy Redwall/First Law mashup sounds pretty badass to be honest.

Brindlegrit Gatehouse [map]

Yes, I occasionally still do draw maps! I through this together this week, and decided to color it out and play a little with shadows and highlights. I like to think the little huts are recently added additions by the crew hired by the new king or duke who wants to repair the damaged wall surrounding the gatehouse. Keep those pesky orcs on the other side of the wall!

Below are a couple of variations for those so inclined.

 

White Box, new character card

Been playing around with different card cards and I decided to rework my old White Box character cards. I am really liking the direction on this one. The top one would fit on each side of an index card. The one below fits three to a letter sized page (works perfect in Goodnotes for me). Still playing around with it...you can see the HP, AC etc are different as I am trying to figure out which I prefer.

The Viscooth

North of the village of Scar, a terrifying new creature was spotted. The bulbous Viscooth (so named by a local named Timblot Smithers) has ravaged the scattered farms, tearing through their fields and eating everything. Mr Smithers has declared his entire crop was fouled by the fearsome creatures. Mrs Kimmour's youngest daughter was startled by a pair of Viscooths and narrowly escaped to their abode. The sheriff has made inquiries into the creatures' lair but so far came up empty-handed. 

Mr Smithers has offered a reward of 50gp if the creatures can be ran off. Local sage Humbolt the Knowing has offered up 80gp if a sample of the creature can be brought to him for study.

TCT - Maybe going back?

Sometimes I just hate our hobby. Many of us are creative types and we generate so much amazing things that my attention I end up getting lost and halting all activity as I ponder what might I do next. Seriously, it is a struggle. I recently discovered Tricube Tales, which I absolutely love. So after looking at numerous systems, settings, rules, etc, I thought perhaps I would go back to my story of Rufus and Silas but use Tricube Tales. Converting them to these rules will be interesting.

Will this happen? Fuck if I know, we will see...

 

Tricube Tales Characters

Played around a little and came up with some character art for the Tricube Tales character card.

UPDATE: Character Cards are now available on itch!
https://mattjackson.itch.io/tricube-tales-character-cards

 

Tricube Tales Character Cards II

...and because I cannot leave well enough alone, I redid these as 3x5 cards for Tricube Tales! I think I prefer these over the larger cards. I think it would be great to have a whole party printed out on these little cards.

 

Tricube Tales Character Cards

I recently discovered Tricbue Tales and I have to say I am really quite impressed. Yes, it is rules lite and yet still can provide a wide depth of play and can seemingly handle nearly ANY genre. Don't believe me? Head over to the creator's site (link below) and find the links of the right side. The first 3 are links to rules, the rest? Settings. SETTINGS!  Want to play errand running trolls in dirigibles? Robbers in Sherwood? Interstellar smugglers? Jedis? Gangbusters? Stranger Things? Werewolves? Ghostbusters? Firefighters? Pirates? Weird West defenders? Each of these little settings are great springboards from which you could launch into a campaign for a creative DM. 

Anyway, I am planning trying to squeeze in some sessions, and you know me, I cannot leave well enough alone, so I made a character card to use in the game....

The game on DriveThru: 
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/294202/tricube-tales

I think I understand why I might like this game (beyond the actual rules I mean), this guy looks like he started with Savage Worlds, which used to be one of my favorite systems. Creators site: 
https://savage-stuff.blogspot.com/

UPDATE: Character Cards now available on itch!
https://mattjackson.itch.io/tricube-tales-character-cards

MidJounrey Goofin'

I know I ain't supposed to like it, but I love it. Furry explorers!  LOL

Fool's Game Character Card

Further exploration on my silly idea. Testing to begin soon.

The Fool's Game

A dumb idea I had to get out of my head. Have a great weekend all!

Roll dice. Kill Monsters.

I posted this nearly a decade ago, but I thought it made sense still to this day, so I reposted it.

Blaster & Hardpack: FKR scifi

My buddy James released his Sword & Backpack: Reforged yesterday and I decided I was happy enough with scifi hack to go ahead and release it. This is my attempt to make a rules-lite, FKR scifi game with just enough meat that you could play out whatevercomestoyourmindversion of scifi. 

Check out James' awesome game that inspired mine:
 https://jamesthook.itch.io/sword-backpack-reforged

Mine holds very close to his but adds more scifi elements to the game and some kickass amazeballs artwork. ;-) It is also free, so take a gander and let me know what you think:
https://mattjackson.itch.io/blaster-hardpack

Mydwandr Monday update

 

Still working on this, but getting closer. Need to tweak a few things, figure out those shields at the bottom and work on the background area a little more...but very close!

Yep, I do draw maps

I know some of you have started to wonder, but yes, I still do occasionally draw maps. I recently reread Olde House Rules' Mydwander (thanks to my pal James bringing it up in a discussion) and it really got me interested in the game.

Wouldn't you know it, I like pretty things, specifically pretty things I make, so I decided I wanted to redo the setting map. Nothing wrong with OHR's version, I just want to make a big ass, scalable, and detailed map because I want to use it in a solo game using the system. Just started last night but I have converted everything over to vectors and have a basic layout for what I want the final version to look like (for now, likely to change some).

Current state

Check out Mydwander here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/445668/mydwandr

May she forever fly

 

I am fortunate to have been born in the best country on the planet and happy to have served my fellow citizens. May we forever be a beacon of liberty and hope on this blue ball circling the sun.

Update: Wow, the negative and hateful comments I have received for this post are simply shocking. This post is simply celebrating the fact that our country is amazing and a beacon of freedom and liberty. As comments on my blog are moderated, you won't see these comments because this is my blog and I won't condone your silliness. Go pet a puppy or something. Y'all need to get a grip. 

Monster Blood Tattoo

 

I do not know if I have ever supported a Kickstarter here on the blog but I cannot pass this one up. I read these books when they came out and somehow these floated under the radar of everyone I knew. This is a fantastically unique world, so very much unlike anything I have ever encountered in my fantasy reading. Sadly, they went out of print years ago but through this kickstarter, an American company is trying to bring them back to life. I am in for print and the epub. The setting and worldbuilding D.M. Cornish creates is fascinating, unique, detailed and complex, and a breath of fresh air in a genre that is full of secret princes, orcs and elves, and abundant Tolkienisms. 

Help this one come to life!

Be a part of this kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/369012565/mbt-ebooks/