THOUGHT EATER

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Froth University Session Four: Needful Things

Join me on the podcast today for the latest recap of my 1980's horror/comedy Savage Worlds game! We have entered 1983, and a set of mysterious paintbrushes cause a heap of trouble for the freshmen. Also...Breakin'. Check out more Froth University posts HERE.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!!!

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

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Free and Pay-What-You-Want 5e DMs Guild Highlights: Week Ending 12.7.19

Every week, talented creators upload Dungeons and Dragons 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.

An Alphabet of Legendary Magic Items from George Collie

Collie's excellent "Alphabet" magic item series concludes here with this collection. I have thoroughly enjoyed the creativity and artwork that went into these. Don't miss the Very Rare, Rare, Common, and Uncommon companions to this final installment.

Politics of the Eldeen Reaches from Joseph Meehan

Speaking of excellent series, no Eberron DM should be without Meehan's regional gazetteers. Be sure and also check out their Zilargo, Thrane, Aundair, Karrnath, and Breland supplements.

D&D Party Sheet from Ernad Osmic

I consider party tracking sheets a must, and not just for beginners. I can glance at passive skills, armor class, and more without having to ask for it, and if some of your group's player names get as weird as mine, it can take a few sessions to learn them. "Ok Zzhorlakiatharka, you're up."

MZS1 Monsters of Maztica from Jon Hild

Hild has carved out a niche on the Guild doing Maztica-themed supplements and conversions. This is a pretty substantial collection of creatures that are perfect for jungle or "lost world" settings.

Essentials Kit Companion from Andrew Sneath

This is a helpful collection of tools for running the recent Essentials Kit. One of the two pdfs is used as an encounter tracker, while the other includes tips, key locations, tokens, and more. Also check out their companion for the original starter set.

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

Friday, December 6, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Five Minute Friday: Review: Mehliu: Blood 'N' Bone

Hey everybody. Quick review today on the podcast of a new D&D variant, Mehliu: Blood 'N' Bone. I thought this was a cool mix of old and new...like OD&D old and 5e new. It also adds a mechanical twist to give it an original feel.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE IT!!

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

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Humpday Blog-O-Rama 12.4.19

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.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S SHOW!!!

INTRO

https://theangrygm.com/lost-player-skills-mapping/

https://crumblingkeep.com/LongestNight/

https://diceinthenorth.blogspot.com/

https://onthetabletop.home.blog/

https://chgowiz-games.blogspot.com/2019/12/three-hexes-zine-2-released.html

IT'S GOOD TO BE GAVIN

https://reddicediaries.com/osr/old-school-essentials-birthday-unboxing/

http://halflingsluck.blogspot.com/2019/11/old-school-essentials.html

https://beyondfomalhaut.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-wormskin-0108.html

MAPS

http://iceandruin.blogspot.com/2019/12/new-map-of-elf-empire-and-southern-isles.html

https://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=45530

http://bearded-devil.com/2019/12/02/more-maps/

BUY IT HERE!!!

http://chaudronchromatique.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-forgotten-garden.html

http://chirinesworkbench.blogspot.com/2019/11/blackmoor-castle-map-i-hope-youll.html

REVIEWS

https://rollingboxcars.com/2019/11/27/visit-beautiful-barsoom-a-review-of-the-john-carter-of-mars-rpg/

https://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=6347

https://www.geeknative.com/69687/nightmare-fuel-a-review-of-nibiru-a-sci-fi-rpg-of-lost-memories/

RANDOM TABLES

https://renaissancewoodsman.wordpress.com/2019/12/02/3d10-exceptional-weapons/

http://eldritchfields.blogspot.com/2019/12/1d6-things-that-happen-when-you-smoke.html

FREE STUFF

https://www.kalevalahammer.com/2019/12/norsca-grim-north-of-perilous-adventure.html

http://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2019/11/thoughts-on-metagaming.html

http://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2019/11/artificers-for-savage-worlds-and-sixth.html

http://worldcreatorstoolbox.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-bayview-strangler.html

https://cthulhureborn.wordpress.com/2019/12/01/openness-is-a-warm-pseudopod/

MISCELLANY

https://dumpstatadventures.com/blog/deep-dive-the-aboleth

http://mostunreadblogever.blogspot.com/2019/11/feed-me-games-new-social-media-site-for.html

https://originaldungeons-and-dragons.blogspot.com/2019/12/craig-vangrasstek-reminisces.html

http://playingattheworld.blogspot.com/2014/08/1974-dungeon-variant-now-for-download.html

https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/2019/11/choose-your-own-miscellany-history.html

IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO MAKE A GOOD D&D MOVIE?

https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/11/27/dungeons-and-dragons-movie-forgotten-realms-eye-of-vecna/

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/tabletop/features/14604-Inside-Lost-1980s-Dungeons-Dragons-Movie-Gary-Gygax-Loved

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

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Thought Eater Podcast: Froth University Session Three: Potty Humor

Hey everybody! We had a really fun session of my 1980's horror/comedy Savage Worlds game last night. There was some potty humor...but honestly what 1980's youth comedy would really be complete without it?

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!!!

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

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Free and Pay-What-You-Want 5e DMs Guild Highlights: Week Ending 11.30.19

This is a collection of additional properties for the core weapons in the PHB. For example, the Parry property allows you to use a reaction to add a +1 to your AC vs a single attack. How much you like this will really depend on your appetite for complexity, but I thought it was reasonably balanced and pretty cool.

Character Biggies XGE and Character Passports XGE from Tabletop Unglued

I featured the PHB versions of these cool character sheet variants a couple of weeks back (HERE and HERE), and thought I would mention that there are now options for Xanathar's Guide to Everything.

Mike's Free Encounters #11-20 from Michael LaBossiere

This is the second collection from LaBossiere; download the first one HERE. These are perfect to sprinkle into sessions or use as random encounters.

Trinket Busters from Star Shine

This one gets points for originality. Basically you can use trinkets to temporarily power some weapons by placing them into a special cavity in the grip. The magical effects fade within days. I know it sounds weird, but I like temporary magical effects, so here you go.

Advent of Destruction from Alex Niswonger

I thought this was a pretty ambitious and epic adventure. The dwarven city of Markheldiim is under attack, and of course the PCs are caught up in the mess. New creatures and items, with a helpful layout for DMs. Part 1 of the "Legacy of the Song Blades" series.

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