Out of the 80s, Out of the Toy Chest

The eighties is a time famous (or infamous) for toy properties with synergistic multi-media marketing. It seems like every one of them came complete with cartoon series and comic book in addition to the usual merchandise. Very few (okay, none) had role-playing game tie-ins. That’s a pity, because several of them had some potential...well, at least some potential elements suitable for swiping for rpg inspiration.

Everyone will immediately think of the big guys like Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe (which my friends and I did make an rpg for back in the day, based on TSR’s action table games), and Transformers. Those are all good, but I’m going to dig a little deeper...

Inhumanoids tells the story of an armored-suit-wearing group of scientists fighting a trio of newly re-awakened part kaiju, part Lovecraftian, subterranean monsters--the Inhumanoids. The scientists are aided by the surviving members of ancient, prehuman races, who had imprisoned the monsters in the first place. Armored heroes battling subterranean monsters? The rpg applications ought to be obvious.

The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior played with the timeless brother against brother theme, as a personalization of the very rpg-like battle of Order against Chaos. The heroic brother, siding with Order, and his retinue get turned into living crystal. The other brother sides with chaos, and he and his cronies get turned into rock/magma. Both of them got a wizardly advisor, too. Crystar probably doesn’t warrant its on game, but crystal-men and magma men would be pretty cool editions to an already existing one.

In a similar “novel character conception” vein, is Sectaurs. It’s another fantasy, though this is one is perhaps a post-apocalyptic science fantasy taking place on a distant planet. The current natives have insectoid characteristics--the good guys are humans with antenna and compound eyes, while the nasties are more insectoid humanoids. Both sides use giant insects are mounts, and use carapace-derived armor and weapons. There are also the “Keepers of the Way,” a secret society trying to resurrect the lost knowledge of the ancients and pull the world out of medievalism. Sectaurs might make a good campaign, but again might mainly inspire an insectoid race (or races) to drop into a game.

There are so many other possibilities. Particularly, if wander a bit and outside of the cartoon-promoted big guys.  Remco’s Pirates of the Galaxseas had little going for it beyond the name, but that name is really cool. For the sweep-spot of utter imaginative craziness and utterly poor toy design, we need look no farther than The Other World, where all the action figures were bendies, but the creatures were all of the “this has to be a D&D monster already” variety. Exhibit A being our friend Froggacuda, here:

More Images from the City

Racing Ornithopters

During the annual "Champion of Innovation Competition" in 5888, flying craft powered by various sorts of raced through the canyon of streets down the length of Empire Island.  The ensuing traffic disruption led to City eoldormen prohibiting such races in the future.

Bone Wars

Competing archeological expeditions to northern Freedonia to excavate mounds and a related underground complex, led to allegations of armed robbery, hijacking, and assault, but yielded amazing finds like this skull, larger than even those of the Ancients. 

The Homunculi City

In 5889, visitors to the World Exposition, marvelled at an entire city of minature, artificially created people.  The exhibit had to be closed down briefly for retooling, as the crowds of giant, leering faces were leading to violence and turmoil, born of superstitious terror, among the city's tiny inhabitants.

Ghoul Queen

A 5866 publicity photo of Morthylla, the first (and only) ghoul "it" girl.  Morthylla disappeared from public view seven years after this picture was taken, though persistence rumors suggest she continued to perform in the subterranean Grand Guignol theater of her people for at least another ten.  Any film from these Undertown theater days would be highly valued by collectors.

Legion of Hate

The self-styled Knights-Templar of Purity are a secret society and criminal organization which can be found throughout the Union, but most common in the South and rural areas of the Steel League. The knights engage in a campaign of terror and intimidation, aimed primarily at racial and ethnic minorities. There goal is the cleansing of the New World of these “undesirables” and its return to of the land to its “rightful” owners.

The true origins of the group is unknown, but they came to public prominence perhaps a hundred years ago, and have waxed and waned in influence throughout the intervening years. Their traditions hold that the white man of Ealderde is actually descendant of the true master race of now-sunken Meropis, who was eventually overwhelmed by their giant servitors--the people mainstream New World history calls the Ancients. This master race was being “perfected” by higher, angelic beings from a planet which is unseen today, and possibly destroyed. Their overthrow by the Ancients is held to have thwarted the process of the spiritual evolution of the human species.

This supposed revelation came to a penniless, drifter (known in the Knight's lore as "The Great Man") from a strange “artifact” found atop a granite monadnock in the South. He began to preach that the granite mount was to be the site of the Temple of Purity, from whence the paradise-on-earth to come would be ruled. But first, the descendants of the peoples holding humanity back would have to be purged.  This included the Natives of the New World, the Black Folk, the giantish hill people, and the Yianese.

Tragically, hard economic times caused more people than might have otherwise to be swayed by the man’s poison pronouncements. Soon, white-robed and hooded Knights-Templar circles were springing up across the South, and brought violence wherever they appeared.

The typical Knights-Templar is not a particularly skilled fighter, though the most fanatical members may sometimes be of the gifted. They view thaumaturgical magic as tainted, and view practioners of those arts as debased and degenerate.  Generally, the knights-templar prefer to let force of numbers and surprise work to their advantage. They seldom attack police or even adventuring groups directly, unless they feel they have the upper hand. They also use their anonymity when outside their hoods and robes to their advantage. Some small towns are virtually controlled by the group, though this is seldom apparent on the surface.

There is some speculation about the mysterious artifact which seems to have led to the group's formation. Self-proclaimed defectors have told authorities that the founding circle has a wizened, severed head, which whispers (sometimes shrilly yells) glossolalic proclamations, which are then interpreted by the High Panjandrum of the Temple as yet more venomous hate.

The Moral Stages of an AD&D Player

My brother was in town last week, and our reflections on our AD&D days of yore led me to think about how the ethical/moral assumptions of our gaming group changed over time--at least, in regard to how what sort of characters we chose to play in AD&D.

Starting out with a background of comic book superheroes, sanitized versions of Arthurian legends, and Tolkien, we tended to play Good characters (except for the odd Druid), because in our mind that’s how heroes were suppose to be. True, the actions demanded of characters can (from some perspectives) create a certain moral disconnect, but we were blissfully on troubled by that.  This era featured a large number of paladins and bards in our group.

Moving into high school, our characters spent more and more time bathed in moral shades of gray. Some of this was getting older and more “sophisticated”--in the sense that high school kids conceive the term. Another part was our influences changed: Conan, Fafhrd and Gray Mouser, and modern movie heroes were the touchstones we drew upon. This was an era where there were few paladins played, but many thieves and barbarians, and the not uncommon assassin. Fairly antisocial acts were common, and downright infamous acts might be committed on occasion.

My assumptions on the next stage rests on less evidence, as my high school group is long disbanded and scattered, so I don’t know how they would have evolved in their character preferences as they moved into adulthood. However, I can say that the late twenty- to forty-somethings I game with now seem to have synthesized both of the previous styles. Characters don’t tend to be paragon’s of virtue--though this is “realistic” given the career paths they tend to follow--but there is little of the outrageous villainy or gleeful antisocial behavior that sometimes showed up in our late teens.

Anybody else see these similar sorts of shifts with time in their gaming? Or maybe different ones?

Warlord Wednesday: The Challenge

Let's re-enter the lost world with another installment of my issue by issue examination of DC Comic's Warlord, the earlier installments of which can be found here...

"The Challenge"

Warlord (vol. 1) #26 (October 1979)

Written and Pencilled by Mike Grell; Inked by Vince Colletta

Synopsis: In the snow-shrouded Mountains of the Sun, a man literally drags himself along with single-minded purpose. It is Chakal, wounded--his right arm nearly amputated by Morgan’s bullet--who pursues the Warlord with a burning hatred and desire for revenge. A crimson-cloaked figure appears in the mists before him and offers him just that. The devil-priest Deimos offers to make Chakal the instrument of his vengeance, in exchange for his oath of allegiance. Chakal quickly swears his oath, and Deimos rewards him by ripping off his useless arm--and applying his magics to the stump...

A dozen leagues away, Morgan and Ashir ride along in their quest for the Eye of Truth. Ashir concedes that he may have exaggerated the ease of obtaining the jewel--the legends say the it will only be acquired after a great test is passed within the temple. Morgan wonders if someone else has already gotten the Eye, but Ashir assures him that’s not possible. He has stolen the medallion, dating from the time of the Sorcerer-Kings, which is said to hold the secret of the Eye.

The two rise higher in the mountains until they sight the Temple of the Sun on a rocky crag. Impulsive Ashir races ahead to claim the prize, but is attacked by a three-headed dragon as soon as he enters the temple’s outer gates. Morgan rides to the rescue and takes out two of the creature’s heads with some fancy shooting, while Ashir dispatches the third with his sword.

The two enter the temple and approach the central altar--and they find it empty! Morgan suggests that somebody beat them to it, but then a large parrot flies down and bids them welcome as “keeper of the key.” Ashir thinks its a demon, but Morgan brushes it off as pet of one the priests just repeating phrases it’s heard.

The parrot’s talk of a key gives Morgan and idea. He realizes the center of the medallion will fit a niche on the altar. He’s able to separate the soft metal piece easily and place it in the niche. Instantly, a glow emanates from the altar, and an image forms within the light.

Morgan is surprised as an eidolon of Tara emerges, accuses him of betrayal, and tells him there is blood on his hands. After the image dissipates, Ashir asks who she was.  Morgan, shaken, doesn’t reply, but instead points out that a new niche is now visible on the altar.

Another fragment of the medallion will fit it, but this time Morgan let’s Ashir place it in. Now it's Ashir who's assailed by phantoms of people of Kaambuka--including his father--who chastize him for abandoning his kingdom and leaving his people leaderless.

A new niche opens, and it's again Morgan’s turn to be tormented by the images--this time of Deimos and the death of Joshua. There are then two pieces left, and Ashir's resolve begins to falter, but a reminder from the parrot of “the great treasure” goads him into again placing a piece, and again been reproved by his father.

To Morgan falls the last fragment, and the last niche. This time Machiste, Mariah, and Tara appear. They all accuse him of one betrayal or another: to the cause he preached, to his friends, and to his mate. They taunt him that the path he walks leads to destruction, and he will face it alone.

When the cruel phantoms fade, the Eye of Truth is finally revealed. It’s not a jewel, but ball of magical energy. The parrot again repeats that one may “step forward into the Eye of Truth” to gain one’s heart’s desire. Morgan decides what his heart desires is a second chance; a chance to start over at the beginning and do it right.

He bids Ashir good-bye. Ashir urges caution: “A fool cannot change destiny and a wise man never tries.” Morgan is determined, though, and steps into the eye...and vanishes.

Ashir has little time to contemplate this as an energy blast whizzes past him. He turns to see Chakal, who now has a energy weapon for a right arm. He announces he’s here to kill Travis Morgan in the name of Deimos.

Morgan, however, is very far away. The Morgan who emerges from Eye of Truth in a primeval forest is a shaggy-haired primitive, armed with a club, and menaced by a likely surprised sabre-tooth tiger.

He did say he wanted to go back to the beginning...

Things to Notice:

• Morgan seems completely unfazed by the cold winds as he travels through snow-covered mountains despite his skimpy outfit.
• Deimos looks more nonhuman/demonic than in his last appearance.  All these deaths must be taking there toll.

Where It Comes From:
Kaambuka, Ashir's home city, likely derives its name from Kambuka (or Kambu) silver, a famous trade product of the Iron Age kingdom of Kamboja, located in what is now Afghanistan.

One wonders if Chakal's gun arm was inspired by the 1978 low-budget science fiction film Laserblast, but there may be more pertinent inspirations in comic books.

Audie Murphy (1925-1971), mentioned by Morgan in this issue when he does he trick riding/shooting, was the most decorated American soldier in World War II, and appeared in 44 feature films after the war, 33 of them Westerns.

Look Out! Pink Elephants on Parade

“I could stand the sight of worms,

And look at microscopic germs,

But technicolor pachyderms,

Is really much for me.”

- “Pink Elephants on Parade”

Those who become too inebriated or intoxicated, invite the astral invaders known as pink elephants into their minds. These creatures appear as gelatinous, multi-colored, bipedal elephants, with sinister, leering expressions and eyes as featureless as the abyssal depths. They are non-corporeal, and can only be harmed by magical means, except by other astral beings. They cause fear in those able to see them (unless they make a save vs. magic).  Unreasoning fear drives those that perceive them to fight for their lives against the elephants as if they are corporeal beings--which can lead to the victim inadvertently injuring themselves or those around them. During this period (which lasts 1-4 hours) the victim's mental faculties (Intelligence and Wisdom) and dexterity are effectively reduced by 1d4. After the resolution of the elephants' attack, the victim will sleep for 2-12 hours and awaken with a monstrous headache. There is a 33% chance that an encounter with the elephants will lead to more serious, permanent impairment of mental abilities, if a save vs. death is failed.

Pink Elephants: HD 3, AC 7 [12], Special: cause terror, noncorporeal.

The Ten Cent Menace

A weird menace haunts the newsstands and magazine racks of the City. Behind some seemingly innocuous--if lurid--paper cover there lurks an alien entity with an appetite for human minds. This entity has no official name, but is sometimes called the “shudder pulp” after the odd “some walked across my grave” feeling people often describe upon first encountering it.  A warning, perhaps--which they generally ignore.

The entity appears as a pulp magazine of the most prurient variety. It changes the specifics of its title and cover image on each occasion, but invariably teases tales of violence, sadism, and the macabre. There are some reports of the entity appearing as comic books as well, but these have no been verified.

A purchaser will find the pulp largely indistinguishable from any mundane publication of the type. The stories will be as expected from the cover, though perhaps a little less logical and more nightmare-like that would be typical. A Wisdom roll upon first browsing its contents gives the victim a change to recognize the inherent wrongness of the publication and avoid further harm. A failed roll means the victim will read the entire volume, over a period of time. unless there is some intervention.

Every story read (there will be 2d6 in the volume) will require a saving throw (with a progressive -1 for every previous story read) or result in the loss of 1d4 points of Wisdom. When a victim's wisdom drops to 0 they disappear from prime material plane, and no where knows where they are taken.

In addition, even having the item in one’s possession requires a saving throw every 1d6 days or else the possessor acts as if under a Suggestion spell and performs increasingly depraved acts (though starting at the relatively mundane) bearing some similarities to those depicted in the stories in the volume.

The entity may be destroyed by any of the usual means used to destroy a mundane magazine (HD 1-1). Destroying its physical manifestation breaks its spell, and limits further effects. However, it will likely re-coalesce elsewhere in a slightly different form in 1d10 days.