RPG Crowdfunding to Check Out

 Time for some plugs for rpg projects by friends of mine I think you ought to check out.

Luka Rejec's Our Golden Age: An Ultraviolet Grasslands rpg has taken off big time, so you are probably already aware of this one, but just in case, you should follow the link and cast you eyes upon its goodness!

Chris Vermeren has been toiling away for a while now on a cool cyberpunk rpg, Terminal State. I've been privileged to see the teases he's been dropping on Discord, and think if it's a genre you dig you won't want to miss this one when it launches. Be there in the beginning for the street cred! You can download the Quickstart free, too.

What's on TV

Here's your periodic reminder that if you have an interest in old TV shows, Jason "Operation Unfathomable" Sholtis and I are watching one a week, pulled from the forgotten corners of streaming and the moldering pages of old TV Guides, in our "Classic TV Flashback" over on the Flashback Universe Blog.

We've been on a British TV kick lately, sampling Star Cops (1987) and Jason King (1971).

Westwind Garden

If you do Roll20, you should check out Westwind Garden, a whimsical 5e one shot for all ages written by two of my friends and gamers in my group, Gina and Jim Shelley. It's kind of anthropomorphic animal adventure (in the vein, say, of something like Redwall), but provides a rationale for why this is occurring in a human-centric campaign. It's got great art with a70-80s Disney or Don Bluth sort of vibe. Our regular group really enjoyed the playtest.

It's Roll20 features include:

• 22 Colorful Maps - Temples, Greenhouses, Observatories, and Gardens, all in bright and inviting colors
• Helpful Macros - Initiative Macros and Location Macros to help speed up gameplay
• Side Quests - A huge cast of characters with different goals allows your players to explore the setting in different ways
• A Magical Scavenger Hunt - The party must collect several objects to break the curse, but there are multiple ways to find what they need.
• Dynamic Lighting - All maps come with prebuilt dynamic lighting
• Custom Tokens - 23 custom tokens sure to bring a smile to all your players
• Printable DM Guide - All handout materials have been collected into an easy-to-read Downloadable PDF DM Guide so you can easily review game details on your favorite electronic device, or print it out and read wherever you like.
• Printable Player Character Sheets - All eight Player Characters sheets are included in the DM Guide to help them pick the character they like best, and provide easy reference during the game.

Six More Days to Get Gridschocked

Paul Vermeren's 80s-chromed post-apocalyptic, superhero setting Kickstarter has just 6 more days for you to jump in. While it hasn't funded yet, it's getting close. You can help it reach it's goal.

At the base level you get all 4 32 page zines in pdf for $19, which is a pretty good deal given what I've seen in Zinequest as a whole.

This setting is really a labor of love for Paul (some might say an obsession!), and having be privy to much of the design discussion over the years, I can say it is unique, while at the same time being completely accessible due to a lot of familiar tropes.

It's got great 80s invoking design by Paul's brother Chris and awesome art by Steven de Waele, too!

Enter the Lumberlands!

Erik Jensen of the Wampus Country blog and related publications is Kickstarting a new zine in that setting called Lumberlands: 

"...spend some time in the misty Lumberlands, a vast expanse of enchanted forest where brawny lumberjacks ply their trade, seek adventure and fortune, and defend the frontier from horrible sasquatches."

I loved playing in Erik's Wampus Country game in the days of G+ and I'm pleased it's been resurrected in this zine. Check it out!

Wednesday Comics: Bronze Age Book Club: Man-Wolf!

We're normally going to do biweekly episodes, but we were on a roll, so here's the second episode of the Bronze Age Book Club podcast: Marvel Premiere #45!


Listen to "Episode 2: MARVEL PREMIERE #45" on Spreaker.

In addition to Spreaker, you can find the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, and Deezer. Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts are coming soon.

Wednesday Comics: Bronze Age Book Club

I started a podcast with fellow Hydra heads Jason Sholtis and Robert Parker, and my friend and fellow blogger, Jim Shelley (though he couldn't make the first episode). Take a listen! We discuss Destructor #1 form Atlas Comics. Check it out:

Listen to "Episode 1: DESTRUCTOR #1" on Spreaker.

What Ho!

You've waited for it, and now it has finally arrived in soft cover. The fourth publication set in the richly drawn, a little bit Slavic, a little bit Vancian, all old school D&D, Hill Cantons settings: What Ho, Frog Demons! Even if you have the pdf, you'll no doubt want this handsome volume on your shelf.

What Ho has two shorter adventure sites, an overview of Marlinko Canton where this and the other publications have take place, and supporting tools like random village and frog demon generators. It's written by Chris Kutalik (owner-operator of the Hill Cantons campaign) and features art by fan-favorite Luka "Witchburner" Rejec.

Reserve your copy today!

Wednesday Comics: Hey, Kids! Comics Sales

Christmas is over and the time of buying stuff you didn't get as gifts has begun. Comixology is running a number of sales on digital comics. Here's the big list of sales, including big sales from Marvel and DC. Most of these last until January 3rd.

What Ho, Frog Demons!

I mentioned the impending release of What Ho, Frog Demons! the fourth of Chris Kutalik's Hill Cantons adventure supplements Friday, not knowing it was so close at hand. Surprise! It's now available on drivethru/rpgnow.

What Ho has two shorter adventure sites, an overview of Marlinko Canton where this and the other publications have take place, and supporting tools like random village and frog demon generators. The text is written in Chris's engaging style, festooned with humor sometimes Vancian, sometimes old school D&Dish. (It isn't comedy, however, so if your D&D is a more somber affair, it's easy to disregard.) The art by Luka Rejec flows from illustratorly to cartoony and back again. It encompasses everything from pieces that look like sketches from life to anachronistc near one panel comics. Whatever it's style, it is always interesting and well done.

Maps are in the flavorful style of Karl Stjernberg, and I designed the cover in reference to German Expressionist movie posters, but it also kind of resembles the work of Ralph Steadman with Luka's wild-eyed illustration ensconced.

So I did some small work on the project and it came out from a co-op of which I am a partner, so my bias is there for all to see. Still, I think I can honestly say this a flavorful work that could only possibly have come from the DIY Gaming seen, but it is not meant to merely be the subject of gaming "shelfies," sitting with uncrack'd spine among other luminaries of the OSR Pantheon. It's meant to be played and enjoyed.

Get it now!

What's New at Hydra

It's Friday and it's a good time for some shameless Hydra Cooperative plugging. For no particular reason, I'm going to adopt a Marvel Comics Bullpen Bulletins style for that--but not alliterative nicknames.

ITEM! The hardest working man in Hydra, Luka Rejec, has released Witchburner just in time for your Halloween adventuring. Luka says: "an intimate, tragic adventure of witch hunting in a town huddled between rivers and mountains and forests one wet and cold October." So there you go. Witchburner is available in a free burner edition and in the full edition for a very reasonable price.

ITEM! The long wait is nearly over for the Hill Cantons faithful! Chris Kutalik's What Ho, Frog Demons! is being released to Kickstarter backers and soon to every one else. It features art by the aforementioned dynamo Luka Rejec and maps by Karl Stjernberg. It will be on the holiday gift list of every geek in the know, so make sure you can show your superiority by getting your copy first!

Wednesday Comics: Underground Comics #1 on Comixology

You can now purchase Underground Comics #1 at Comixology in digital, and of course, it's still available at IndyPlanet in digital and physical copy.

It's 36 pages by some great DIY rpg illustrators. Here are the preview pages that will (eventually) be on the IndyPlanet page:

What Are These Items Being Displayed by This Hand Model?

Why, they're the latest proofs from the Operation Unfathomable Kickstarter! The Player's Guide and the second volume of that hymn to the oracular dice gods, Dungeon Dozen vol. 2.  Both adorned with snazzy cover designed by your truly (he said with all due modesty).

First, they will go to the the deserving faithful (i.e. Kickstarter backers), then they will go on sale to more recent converts at the usual outlets.

Underground Comics is Almost Here

First mentioned six months ago, Underground Comics #1 is now nearing completion! It will be 36-pages and 6 black and white features of dungeon-related stuff. Jeff Call debuts that delvers best friend, "Dungeon Dog." James V. West uncovers a lost poem of Barrowstain Goodly, Great of the Brownie poets in "The Ballad of the Doomed Delvers." Karl Stjernberg gives us a glimpse of the dungeoneer "Before and After."

A veritable treasure trove, right? But we're not done. There's also OSR art luminaries like Jason Sholtis, Luka Rejec, and the legendary Stefan Poag!

Look for it in POD and digital in June.

The Operation is About to Begin!

At last, the Operation Unfathomable soft cover proof is in Jason Sholtis's trembling hand--and it looks good! Check out this two-page spread:

Vouchers for order will go out to Kickstarter backers very soon and in in a short time, it will be available for purchase by anyone on rpgnow.

Completely Unfathomable Covered

Jason Sholtis and the rest of Hydra are still at work on the various Operation Unfathomable stretch goals. Jason and I have been bandied about cover ideas. Here's the latest (and possibly final, but you never know) for the omnibus Completely Unfathomable based on classic bubblegum card packaging:

Operation Unfathomable is Out

In case you missed it, Operation Unfathomable was released in pdf this week and is (as of this writing) number 1 on rpgnow. I can say that everybody in Hydra was excited to be involved in bringing this adventure out. I personally have played in the con game version, and it was a blast. I'm also honored that my somewhat Scooby-Doo homage logo made the cut and wound up gracing the final product.

The adventure has a great tone, like Shaver Mystery, 50s monster movies, and Jack Kirby Atlas monster comics. Get it now, before the rave reviews start rolling in, so you can have the satisfaction of knowing you got there before the crowd!

Operation Unfathomable Players Guide

One of the stretch goals in the Operation Unfathomable kickstarter was the Players Guide. Like all the other, Operation Unfathomable material it's nearing completion. It's one I've been involved with in some small ways, and I got a look at the rough layout of yesterday.

The guide will include:

• A compilation of the Operation Unfathomable one page comic strips that were created as promotional material
• New Races: Underworld Otter and Wooly Neanderthal
• New Classes: Citizen Lich and Underworld Ranger
• New Spells & Equipment

Get Ready for Operation Unfathomable!

Operation Unfathomable is drawing near! With text and art by Jason Sholtis and layout by Jez Gordon you will want to get in on this when it's available.

It's in the layout proofing stage now, but it shouldn't be too much longer. Here are two sample pages to whet your appetite:

In case you forgot: BUNDLE OF HOLDING OSR+5

The Bundle of Holding Old School Revival +5 (including all the fine products you see above like the Mortzengersturm digital edition) is still for 10 more days as of this writing. So you haven't missed out yet, but don't wait!

Also, the boys at DIY Games have extended an extra offer: Just send Mike Evans a receipt showing the purchase and he'll give you a discount on the print on demand version of Gathox. How cool is that?