Blades & Black Magic

Between work and family  I don't feel like I've had a break for quite some weeks.  Even though my book of ideas continues to blossom, the time and ability to sit for a few hours and make progress eludes me.  Perhaps this new idea is so obvious it took me a quiet cup of coffee and an exhausted mind to realize it.

Well in my morning stupor it struck me that I should make a sword & sorcery version of HOW.  One of the great things about the system and its progenitors is it fits quite well with the gritty and grim nature of Sword & Sorcery literature.  In fact thinking about it, it takes more effort to make it fit the D&D fantasy realm then it does to play out a gritty blades & black magic sort of game.

The only question I have is should players be able to use magic or not.  In my mind I think no...I can't recall a S&S hero who cast spells...but you are free to persuade me otherwise before the ink is dry.

So what does this mean for the HOW main book...sorry, that will remain on hold as this new muse sings her sweet tune in my ear.

A few updates

First, my sci-fi game Rogue Space is out and you can pick up a copy (at cost) over at my Rogue Space site.

Second an online game of Heroes & Other Worlds is about to kick off, check it out you may even be able to sign up and play!

Here is the in game play thread.

Last, here are a few public answer to questions I have been emailed and seen posted online:

1) Are you EVER going to make a GM book?  Yes indeed, and no not really.  The current download manual will be edited, tightened up, and a GM section will be added. Then it will be made available as a complete game book.

2) I love rule X from TFT...can you change your game to add that in?  Negative ghost rider.  While there are some clarifications and changes coming to the rules (such as experience and advancement changes) I am not trying to redo TFT exactly.  Instead, its more a TFT inspired RPG and less a direct clone.  This is more of the TFT I wish had come out: TFT mechanics +D&D game style=HOW. As with all RPG rules, you can (and should) tinker and change as you see fit! Have an old rule you like? It should be easy to just add that in.

3) What else are you going to create...AND WHEN? Easy tiger, this is a labor of love and not a money making venture.  Now if you have a few grand laying around you'd like to shoot my way to have me focus my sparse free time on this project alone, email me and we can talk.  Outside of that possibility, all I can say is stay tuned sports fan!

In all seriousness, I really do appreciate and value your feedback.  Everyone has their favorite TFT rules or conventions, and they really want those in my game.  I can appreciate that, but, what you are getting with HOW is my own look at the rules and the way I like the game.  Your mileage of course may vary.

It is quiet in space

First, thanks to those who commented on the next bits for Heroes & Other Worlds.

I am happy to say work on my Sci-Fi game Rogue Space is nearing completion and the core rules book should be available to purchase at the end of the month.  What started as a wee 8 page experiment has blossomed into a full blown game including a lot of support material from some very cool blogs.

The core rules will contain character creation, equipment, a solo adventure, referee tips, space ship construction and combat, sector creation, a sample setting and a refereed adventure.

It sounds like a lot, and it is, but it is spartan.  It is designed to get you off the launch pad, but where you venture is up to you!

There will be NO core setting, nope not even the sample one in the rules book.  Instead, like the games of yore, (even the original Traveler rules) it is presents the mechanics and some ideas...but you get to decide if its Empires & Rebels, Space Vikings, Bug Eyed Monsters, or Robots versus Humanity.

Following the Rules book, about a month later, will be Rogue Transmissions.  This will be the first, in a planned quarterly release schedule.  I accept submissions as well as continue to add new bits all of it through Rogue Transmissions

So how much will it cost? I am glad you asked.

I am going to try something a little different.  To buy copies, you pay production cost for the book.  That's it, not one penny of profit for yours truly.  Instead, I'd ask you to donate to the Rogue Space Program.  Your donations keep us exploring Rogue Space, lack of funding means the Rogue Space Program is terminated.  You get to buy it, read it, and then determine what it is worth to you.  $0? $1? $1000? Whatever it is, is up to you. 

I know gamers get a reputation for being a miserly lot. I happen to think that is a falsehood and am willing to bet my hard work and creativity on it.  If I am wrong, then it all goes away. 

So all my work and energy is going into finishing Rogue Space currently, thanks for your patience and your support.

Polling the depths

Okay in the past few weeks I created a mountain of new stuff for you:

1. A Melee/ Wizard/TFT inspired Basic RPG manual
2. Sample adventure
3. Add-on Cults book with spells and adventure
4.  A fiends & foes monster book
5. and a skirmish fantasy minis game!

All this for the incredibly low price of FREE! (just click the logo to your right to download this great stuff!)

So I have three ideas for what to do next.

1. A referee/ adventure guide for the RPG
2. A skirmish scenario book or mini campaign 
3. Nothing, just move on

Let me know if you have a preference for one of the above, or a mystery 4th option you think of!

A question

I was asked a question that I thought might be of broader interest to more players.  The questions was, do I have rules or a system to convert HOW RPG characters over to HOW skirmish.

Short answer? Not specifically.  As the HOW RPG can be played skirmish style already, it did not occur to me to create one.

That being said, I can see where someone just wants to play a quick battle and HOW RPG contains nifty bits to add to HOW skirmish.  So for those interested, here are the untested rules:


As to conversions from HOW RPG to HOW Skirmish? Well that would take a bit of work but off the top of my head I think you could:

1. Get rid of EN
2. Divide each of the RPG character's ST, IQ, and DX by 4 and the result is its HOW skirmish value
3. MV translates straight across

That will mean a 6 or higher rating on many creatures ST.  Take any ST above 6 and turn it into HTK for that creature. Yes that does mean the creature can "auto hit" in melee, but that is what makes a monster monstrous!

Spells would NOT cost EN any longer--but the EN value of the spell now becomes the Point cost necessary to use it. Not all spells translate very well, and if a HOW RPG spell sounds similar to something in HOW Skirmish, switch the RPG wizard's spell to the Skirmish variant.

Not perfect, but just dangerous enough to have fun with!

Skirmish 1.5

 

I did a quick clean up of the rules and gave it a proper cover.  No major changes at all, but you can download it's pocket mod goodness for free now!

Heroes & Other Worlds Skirmish Battle Report

My wife and I played a battle today using the Heroes & Other Worlds Skirmish rules and I thought it would be good to post a quick report.  Note while my wife likes games, this is not the sort of game she is used to playing.  So while she can tell an Orc from a Goblin, she isn't a hard core gamer.

Her Forces
1 Sorceress with mage staff, sword, leather armor and spells Hex bolt and Hold
1 Knight with chain, sword and shield
1 Spear guy with chain and shield
1 archer with chain, dagger and bow
1 archer with leather, dagger and bow

Him Forces
3 goblin archers in leather with bow and dagger
3 orc fighters in leather with shield
1 Necromancer with mage staff, dagger, and the spells Shatter and Coward

The battlefield 24x24 with 16 chessmen scattered around in diamond pattern.  Center of the board was The fabled ORB OF MIGHT!

Goal: Grab the Orb of might and take it off the board back to your wizard's keep. We each started on opposite sides of the board.

I arrayed my forces goblin archer in a line first, followed by a row of 3 orcs and the Necromancer Eddie in
the back.

She placed archers on the wings, with knight and spear man in the middle and the sorceress behind the row of  warriors.

Turns 1-3 move to contact

Turn 4: First blood. A goblin archer shot her spear man...but was shot in return fire.  Her: 4 left Him: 6 left

Turn 5: Goblin archer takes gem and sorceress casts hex bolt killing goblin.  Goblin archer returns the favor and kills the sorceress.  Second human archer and remaining goblin trade fire, goblin loses that exchange. Her: 3 left (2 archer 1 knight)  Him: 4 living (3 orcs & necromancer)

Turn 6: Orc moves in to retrieve Orb. Necromancer casts shatter on archer's bow...but he gets a shot off and kills the necromancer. Another orc is dropped by the second archer.  Her 3 left (dagger wielding archer, knight and archer) Him: 2 orcs.

Turn 7: Orc carrying orb moves to leave the battle field, second orc moves into hand to hand with knight, they trade blows but both survive. Archer shoots at orb carrying orc and hits...his shield. Her 3 left, Him 2

Turn 8: Orb orc moves further away, interference orc chargers archer...and is shot dead.

Turn 9: Orb Orc moves closer to edge of board...and is shot by William Tell in the back...The Red Knight has his men retrieve the orb and its off to the bar to quaff some brews.  Her 3 left, Him:0

The whole battle, with explanations, questions and spell reference, took 50 minutes and I spent 30 in prepping figure sheets and the battlefield.  A roaring success as we will face off again after dinner.

Some tweaks and clarifications are still necessary, but I think I can clean it up and have it in a 12 page booklet soon!  As is, the pocket mod works well and is free to download!

Fiends & Foes

Here is the first monster book for Heroes & Other Worlds RPG.

Note the original file was a download with no author given and no credit claimed in the text.  The images were part of the original document and only minor changes were made by me to have it synch up with Heroes & Other Worlds.  Note there may still be some stray bits that are not perfectly HOW compliant, but certainly it is more than enough for someone to use with the Heroes & Other Worlds RPG rules.

I make no claims to authorship, creativity, artistry, or any sort of copyright on this download.  It is provided freely, and is now available in the download section, just click the HOW logo to the right.

Also you can still download the new HOW Skirmish rules for miniatures and I posted a new Skirmish tracking sheet for your figures when you play!

Skirmish rules

The 1st draft of HOW Skirmish rules are now up for download in pocket mod format.

Lots of room for additions and probably clarification.  Note as per HOW rules, skeletons are immune from ranged weapon fire.

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.  Download it now by clicking the Heroes & Other Worlds Logo to your right.