Vale Greg Stafford (1948 - 2018)

Whoa.  I'm completely shocked. :-(

Vale Greg Stafford (1948 - 2018): The shock and grief the Chaosium family felt at the news of the passing of our beloved and revered company founder, Greg Stafford, cannot be measured. Greg died yesterday in his sweat lodge at his home in Arcata, CA. Mercifully, his passing was painless and quick. He died as he lived, on a spiritual quest of enlightenment.As one of the greatest game designers of all time; winner of too many awards to count; and a friend, mentor, guide, and inspiration to generations of gamers, “the Grand Shaman of Gaming” influenced the universe of tabletop gaming beyond measure.Greg founded The Chaosium in 1975, and from the outset (to quote his own words) “was never content to imitate, but instead published games that were original in their style of play, content and design”. Under his leadership, the company quickly became renowned for its originality and creativity, and was responsible for introducing numerous things to the hobby that are standards today. As John Wick (7th Sea, Legend of the Five Rings) memorably said, “The older I get, the more I hear young RPG designers say ‘Never been done before!’ And then I just point at something Greg Stafford did a few decades ago.”Greg’s work in roleplaying games, board games, and fiction have been acclaimed as some of the most engaging and innovative of all time. There will doubtless be many valedictory messages over the coming days from the countless ...

Miniatures Monday

A halfling chicken butcher done for a friend.  It's been a while since I've painted a figure this small, but I think that it turned out fairly well.  I just need to seal him and he'll be ready for the table.

Miniatures Monday

A dragon among the ruins

Here is a green dragon that I'm pretty pleased with,  I could have done a better job on the shattered stone that he is standing on, but that is something that I can fix later.  I don't paint many dragons, as I don't have much call to use them in games.

Friday Five (Swords)

Five "magical" swords:

1.   The Invisible Blood Sword of Devouring Dismemberment
2. The Platinum Horror Sword of Sacrifice
3. The Wondrous Vapor Sword of the Veteran
4. The Hell Sword of the Sepulchral Maiden
5. The Living Moon Sword of the Hunter

Weird Adventure Wednesday (Now with more stuff)!

On A Brisk Afternoon you are stopped by a young adventurer in the slums.  The adventurer tells you a forgotten tale that nine days ride to the northeast, across The Loathsome Ravine of the Stargazer can be found The Crumbling Village of the Vile Veterans.  It is whispered that there can be found The Iron Sword of the Fateful Dictator. The adventurer tells you that an acolyte will pay a small fortune to those who can retrieve that Sword. But beware, for the adventurer admonishes you that  The Unholy Troubadour of Visions enslaves all who come near!

I added the possibility that someone may be willing to pay you to undertake the adventure. I figured that there needed to be some incentive to go after these horrible items. ;-)

Some old Tunnels & Trolls Character Sheets

Way back in the day, Ken St. Andre held a contest to make character sheets for Tunnels & Trolls over at his sadly now defunct Trollhalla site.  I came across my entries (which admittedly aren't very good, but they do have snakes and daggers), and thought that I'd share them.  I made two versions, one for T&T 5th edition (my personal favorite edition) and one for T&T 7.5.  Maybe one of these days, I'll make one for Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls.  These could definitely have benefitted from some kind of a border.  Perhaps skulls.

T&T 5th Edition

T&T 7.5

Weird Doodling

Yeah, it's a giant bee stinging a pickle.

Miniatures Monday: An elf among the ruins

An elf among the ruins

It's been too busy in Skullsword's Tower lately.

Too busy to post, almost.  So here is a new table of Items of Terror and Wonder (the "wonder" is  about who would actually try to use most these things, I think).

Random Doodles

Dope Beets

I probably need some better hobbies. :-)

Friday Five: Five Dwellings of Doom

1. The Shameful Cloister of the Accursed Teeth

2. The Fluctuating Inn of Whispering Hallucinations

3. The Timeless Village of the Sanctified Maw

4. The Flesh Melting Fortress of Sacrifice

5. The Unfathomable Monolith of Inauspicious Stars

Beyond Fomalhaut: [REVIEW] Under the Temple Crypt

Beyond Fomalhaut: [REVIEW] Under the Temple Crypt: Under the Temple Crypt (2018) by Extildepo Published by Verisimilitude Society Press 4 th to 7 th level Under the Temple C...

Weird Adventure Wednesday: With a free magic item!

On a steamy day you are hailed by a foppish jongleur loitering in a bustling inn.  The jongleur tells you an interesting tale that two months travel to the northeast, across The Relentless Ocean of the Unburied Gods was built The Emasculating Zoo of Astonishing Mockery.  It is said that there is hidden The Terrifying Iron Spyglass of Illusions.  But beware, for the jongleur admonishes you that it is alleged The Wayward Surgeon of Shrieking Mystery tortures all who go there!

Item: The Terrifying Iron Spyglass of Illusions
     This iron telescope is covered in a pattern of 5-60 (5d12) small raised skulls.  The telescope is approximately two feet in length when fully extended allows the user to cast an illusion that will frighten creatures anywhere within the line of sight provided by the telescope.  When all of the skulls are gone, the spyglass vanishes in a puff of purple smoke.  Casting the spell is accomplished by pressing one of the raised skulls which then disappears.  The user has no control over how the actual illusion manifests, and there is a 2% chance every time the telescope is used that it will backfire and affect the user and his or her friends.

In Dungeon Crawl Classics mechanics, this would have the effect of both Phantasm and Scare simultaneously as if cast by a 7th level Wizard.

In Labyrinth Lord mechanics, this would have the effect of both Phantasmal Force and Fear simultaneously as if cast by a 7th level Magic User and a 6th level Cleric respectively.

In Swords & Wizardry mechanics, this would have the effect of both Phantasmal Force and Scare simultaneously as if cast by a 7th level Magic User.

Custom Skullsword Bennies/Fate Points

Skullsword Bennies/Fate Points

I just made some more custom Sword & Sorcery Bennies/Fate Points with updated artwork

Personalized Red Poker Chip Chip, $2.10

Friday Five: Five Gruesome Geographic Locations

Today's Friday: Five gruesome geographic locations:

1. The Mind Destroying Swamplands of the Singing Barbarians

2. The Eerie Crags of the Primitive Crone Cult

3. The Loathsome Scrublands of Timeless Delirium

4. The Calamitous Gulf of the Smoking Initiates

5. The Perilous Jungle of the Fiendish Vivisectionist