Sunday, June 30, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Night Below Session Recap 6.30.19

Join me on the Thought Eater podcast for another session recap from my Night Below AD&D campaign! We had a fun session last night....basically some good old-fashioned hack and slash. The party also made a new "friend": a gnoll named Grok.




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Saturday, June 29, 2019

Free and Pay-What-You-Want 5e DMs Guild Highlights: Week Ending 6.29.19

Every week, talented creators upload products to the DMs Guild, pricing them as free or pay-what-you-want in order to reach customers. Dozens of new free and pwyw products are added each week alone. It is a lot to sort through. My hope is that highlighting a few of each week's best supplements will help the designers get the attention they deserve.

You can find previous posts in this series HERE.


Class Booklet Bundle from Avalon Divine


Awesome, awesome, AWESOME collection of booklet-style character sheets for each core class. Includes advancement tables and class features. Definitely my next character sheet.


DDEK Sidekick Support Pack from Christopher Blanchard


If you are like me and have just picked up the new Essentials Kit starter set, you will want to grab these accessories for it. Includes table tents and tokens for the new "sidekick" characters. 


Advanced Weather Table from Toban Barnes



The potential effects of weather on the game are often under-utilized. You can remedy that with this short supplement. I like the idea here; you roll each day and shift up or down a sort of weather scale. Check it out if you are looking for a user-friendly weather system. 


Trouble at Southstone Mine from Corey McNabb



Fun little one-shot for 3rd-4th level PCs. The party must rescue some miners from a bunch of grimlocks. Includes a zip file of the maps for easy printing or VTT use. 


The Golgari Guild Kit from Multiple Authors



Players and GMs of Ravnica campaigns might want to take a look at this. You get two Graveborn races, the Symbiote Host Ranger (sort of in the vein of the Druid from the Ravnica book), and several Golgari backgrounds. 


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Friday, June 28, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Five Minute Friday: Empty Rooms

Hi everyone. Today's episode was inspired by this tweet from Shawn Merwin spotted over at Sage Advice:

This is important. If you can avoid empty/boring rooms, avoid them. If you can't (and sometimes you can't), do SOMETHING to make them at least semi-interesting. Put in an object that is unusual that the characters can explore, giving a clue about what's happening in the place.
— Shawn Merwin, incorporating aquisitions (@shawnmerwin) June 4, 2019

Basically...I politely disagree.




Here are the other links mentioned:

http://initiativeone.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-tao-of-empty-room.html

http://grognardia.blogspot.com/2010/06/empty-rooms.html


If you enjoy my free zinepodcast, and/or blog, please consider supporting my work for only $1 per month. 








Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Humpday Blog-O-Rama 6.26.19

Blogs are an integral, vital part of the RPG hobby. They serve as incubators for new games, sounding boards for fresh ideas, and platforms for up-and-coming talent. They keep "forgotten" games alive, foster discussions, and build communities.

Every Wednesday on the Thought Eater podcast and blog, I take a look at what is going on in the vibrant RPG blog scene. Check out previous Humpday Blog-O-Rama posts HERE.




MAPS



https://mapoftheweek.blogspot.com/2019/06/mercury.html



https://mega-dungeon.com/2019/06/23/fun-house-dungeon-of-the-lesser-lich/



https://dysonlogos.blog/2019/06/24/kheyus/

http://3toadstools.blogspot.com/2019/06/mapping-tutorials.html

https://www.sageadvice.eu/2019/06/24/mapping-is-a-great-way-to-get-younger-people-involved-in-the-hobby/



REVIEWS



https://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=6053



https://cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2019/06/25/acquisitions-incorporated-review/



https://beyondfomalhaut.blogspot.com/2019/06/review-magical-murder-mansion-2019.html



RETROSPECTIVES



http://originaleditionfantasy.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-origin-of-basic-d-known-world-or.html
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/02/07/the-known-world-dd-setting-a-secret-history/

https://hobbyinspired.com/dd-5e-adventures/



http://thoulsparadise.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-time-corps.html



MORE CONS



https://tabletopbellhop.com/game-reviews/origins-2019/



https://www.orkpiraten.de/blog/nordcon-2019
https://www.zombiecalypse.de/2019/06/nordcon-2019-ein-rueckblick/



RANDOM TABLES

https://reddicediaries.com/random-things/random-thing-things-you-may-find-in-a-sewer/

http://elfmaidsandoctopi.blogspot.com/2019/06/d100-wizard-school-missions.html

https://intolondon1814.blogspot.com/2019/06/what-plot-d66-table-for-random-building.html



FREE STUFF

http://9and30kingdoms.blogspot.com/2019/06/generic-bandit-tower-pamphlet-dungeon.html



http://chaudronchromatique.blogspot.com/2019/06/goblin-enchantress-mini-zine.html



https://rollsanity.com/character-sheet-lotfp-horizontal/

http://bloodandironrpg.blogspot.com/2019/06/fantastic-friday-rayguns-rocketships.html

https://crateredland.blogspot.com/2019/06/one-page-goblinplagued-barracks.html




https://throneofsalt.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-great-discape-arises-from-deep.html



MISCELLANY

http://monstersandmanuals.blogspot.com/2019/06/historical-slang-for-your-edification.html

https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/2019/06/links-to-occupations.html

https://www.geeknative.com/66977/routinely-itemised-rpgs-1/

https://signsinthewilderness.blogspot.com/2019/06/travel-through-wilderness-references.html

http://myosr.blogspot.com/2019/06/monster-manual-haiku-batch-5.html



ABILITY CHECKS

https://bxblackrazor.blogspot.com/2019/06/for-love-of-god.html



If you enjoy my free zinepodcast, and/or blog, please consider supporting my work for only $1 per month. 


Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Top Three Tuesdays: Novels, Superhero RPGs, and a Multitude of Call-Ins

It is time for another Top Three Tuesday on the ol' podcast! Today I field a plethora of call-ins from other legendary Anchorites. I also discuss my favorite novels and the superhero RPGs I would most like to play.





If you enjoy my free zinepodcast, and/or blog, please consider supporting my work for only $1 per month. 

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Night Below Session Recap 6.23.19

Every Sunday on the Thought Eater podcast, I recap the events of my AD&D Night Below campaign. Last night's session included attack chickens, a bouncing eyeball, Svirfneblin work-songs, and the dreaded Assassin Bug.





If you enjoy my free zinepodcast, and/or blog, please consider supporting my work for only $1 per month. 

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Free and Pay-What-You-Want 5e DMs Guild Highlights: Week Ending 6.22.19

Every week, talented creators upload products to the DMs Guild, pricing them as free or pay-what-you-want in order to reach customers. Dozens of new free and pwyw products are added each week alone. It is a lot to sort through. My hope is that highlighting a few of each week's best supplements will help the designers get the attention they deserve.

You can find previous posts in this series HERE.

There were OVER 50 new free and pwyw products this week! Here are some of the best.

Adventurer Couture from Francesca Rowan 


Turn the harvested hides and teeth of vanquished foes into high fashion! This is really just images and prices...no mechanics...but I liked how the author framed it as a fashion magazine. A good example of the offbeat, original products you sometimes find on the DMs Guild.


Official DDAL Pregen Characters Makeover from Christopher Blanchard


The Adventurer's League pregens get a major presentation upgrade here. Even includes tokens and table tents. 


Jamjie's Book of Odds from Jeffrey Gunnarsson


I was told there would be no math! But seriously, if you want to understand more about dice probabilities in 5e, check out this free pdf. Bring a calculator. 


Ten Taverns from Dungeons and Djinn


I loved this one. Many tavern supplements are bloated with material you do not need. Here the taverns basically fit on a business card. A little flavor, a few NPCs, some menu items, and a plot hook. Perfect. Usable with any edition. 


Mormesk's Diversions: Trials of the Heron's Gaze from Saga Mackenzie


Wowzers. This Saga Mackenzie person is a talent to be watched. Great art, cool isometric maps, tokens, great layout...very strong one-shot adventure here, and I look forward to more from the author.


If you enjoy my free zinepodcast, and/or blog, please consider supporting my work for only $1 per month. 


Friday, June 21, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Five Minute Friday: Ascension

Ascension was not a great show. Hell, it wasn't even a good show. That metaplot though...now that would make for a killer sci-fi campaign. Listen to me ramble about it today on the Thought Eater podcast.




If you enjoy my free zinepodcast, and/or blog, please consider supporting my work for only $1 per month. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Humpday Blog-O-Rama 6.19.19

Blogs are an integral, vital part of the RPG hobby. They serve as incubators for new games, sounding boards for fresh ideas, and platforms for up-and-coming talent. They keep "forgotten" games alive, foster discussions, and build communities.

Every Wednesday on the Thought Eater podcast and blog, I take a look at what is going on in the vibrant RPG blog scene. Check out previous Humpday Blog-O-Rama posts HERE.




MAPS



https://megadungeoncomic.wordpress.com/2019/06/16/thieves-guild-built-in-the-subterranean-ruin-of-insert-generic-anthropomorphic-urban-rodent-god-of-your-choices-temple-completed/



http://www.msjx.org/2019/06/dhul-crag-village-map.html



http://crookedstaff.blogspot.com/2019/06/patreon-vtt-tiles-update.html



REVIEWS



https://dndborderlands.blogspot.com/2019/05/dice-roll-zine-2-in-print.html



https://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=6047



https://theymightbgazebos.blog/2019/06/11/the-blight-by-frog-god-games/



RETROSPECTIVES



https://awesomeliesblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/the-wfrp-story-introduction



https://dmdavid.com/tag/red-hand-of-doom-2006-greatest-dd-adventures-since-1985-number-2/



https://dmdavid.com/tag/nights-dark-terror-1986-greatest-dd-adventures-since-1985-number-1/



RANDOM TABLES AND GENERATORS

https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2019/06/these-dwarfs-are-d100-table.html

https://sheepandsorcery.blogspot.com/2019/06/welcome-to-whispershire-2d20-encounter.html

https://www.remixesandrevelations.com/2019/06/osr-lich-generator.html

https://goodberrymonthly.blogspot.com/2019/06/who-waits-outside-dungeon.html

http://elfmaidsandoctopi.blogspot.com/2019/06/d100-lies-my-bunker-ai-told-me.html



CANTRIPS AND SPELL VARIANTS

https://devilghost.com/blog/20190615122300.html

https://reddicediaries.com/osr/cantrips-in-osr-games/

https://3toadstools.blogspot.com/2019/06/random-spellcasting-mechanic-idea-plus.html



SPAM



http://blessingsofthedicegods.blogspot.com/2019/06/best-spam-comment-ever.html


"My name is laura From united states i never know that spell caster is real, I thought they are fake until I met a man called Dr BAKABA On this day i am very happy to tell the world that Johnson is back to me thanks to Dr. BAKABA who use is great powers to cast a spell that brought Johnson back to me within 3days. I really want to tell the world that Dr. BAKABA is genius and powerful this means that is capable to restore any broken relationship or marriage just within the period of 3days. And due to the fact that Dr. BAKABA is very helpful and must people will need is help to restore there relationship or marriage i will write out the contact via email: or you call him, DOCTOR BAKABA CAN AS WELL HELP THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS 1. HIV/AIDS CURE 2. HERPES CURE 3. CANCER CURE 4. PREGNANCY SPELL get all your problems solve. No problem is too big for him to solve.. Contact him now for any kind of help"