Saturday, February 15, 2020

Free and Pay-What-You-Want 5e DMs Guild Highlights: Week Ending 2.15.20

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.




Curse of Strahd Vallaki Propaganda Posters from Luka Lock



Curse of Strahd Vallaki Festival Posters from Luka Lock

I soooo wish I had these back when I was running Curse of Strahd. The propaganda posters in particular would add wonderful flavor and a bit of humor to any CoS campaign. Grab these if you are running it or are planning to in the future.



Locke and Key: Keyhouse Maps from Jeremy Christensen


I know nothing about these comic books and I haven't seen the Netflix show. I don't even know what these have to do with D&D. What I do know is that this is a high quality set of "manor" maps, very usable for a variety of different games.



Spell Tattoo from Heath Israel


I like the ideas presented in this brief supplement (two pages of actual content). Spell tattoos kind of work like scrolls. There is a spell tattoo artist background and some pricing ideas. This made me envision a villain with tons of spell tattoos, or maybe some wizard school where all of the members are just covered in these. Free.



Divok's Pamphlet of Epic Mini-Boss Monsters from Divok


This interesting monster supplement introduces the idea of "epic actions", basically weaker legendary actions that have to occur in a specific order. A common complaint I see about 5e is how easily solo monsters can get locked down. If you are looking for new ways to challenge your players, you might want to take a look at some of these creative concepts. Free.



5e Encounter: The Behemoth Strikes from Stephen Bull


I have featured a lot of Stephen Bull's products, as they have a lot of great ideas. This "encounter", really a mini-adventure, would make for an excellent campaign starter. A godzilla-like creature is attacking the town! There are a bunch of ways to involve the PCs, from dealing with widespread panic, to dodging falling rubble, to freeing trapped civilians. Sort of feels like the beginning of Tyranny of Dragons; in fact, I might combine the two down the line. Good stuff.


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



Friday, February 14, 2020

Thought Eater Podcast: Five Minute Friday: Talking Free Dice Apps With Kitty

Happy Friday! My cat Hazel joins the program today! Listen to me ramble for a few minutes about some killer dice apps (links below).

CLICK HERE for listening options or use the embedded player below.





DICE

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.sevenpixels.dice
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dice-3d-7pixels/id1263339902


THE CRAWLER'S COMPANION

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.crawlers&hl=en_US
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-crawlers-companion/id597725801


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


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Humpday Blog-O-Rama 2.12.20

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 for listening options or use the player below!





INTRO




THIS IS FINE



http://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2020/02/concerning-judges-guild.html

https://www.geeknative.com/71137/rpg-publishers-cut-ties-with-the-judges-guild-game-company-after-bigotry-expose/

http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2020/02/choose-side-or-one-will-be-chosen-for.html

https://chgowiz-games.blogspot.com/2020/02/when-our-heroes-become-those-people.html

http://adventuresingaming2.blogspot.com/2020/02/regarding-judges-guild.html

https://oldschoolfrp.tumblr.com/post/190774680587/companies-cut-ties-with-judges-guild-after-owners




http://www.trollishdelver.com/2020/02/the-racism-jumped-out.html



MAPS



https://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=46002



http://lawhammer.blogspot.com/2020/02/new-map-from-gw.html



https://monkeyblooddesign.co.uk/2020/02/10/megadungeon-monday-map-12/



http://deltasdnd.blogspot.com/2020/02/subterrane-surveys-caverns-of-quasqueton.html





REVIEWS AND RETROSPECTIVES



http://punverse.blogspot.com/2020/02/dead-in-water-review.html




http://endzeitgeist.com/troika-numinous-edition-troika/




http://fantasy-faction.com/2020/spire-rpg-review-part-one-core-book



https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/roleplaying-game/news/grimdark-tabletop-rpg-mork-borg-doom-metal



https://vintagerpg.tumblr.com/post/190674584300/this-is-m%C3%B6rk-borg-2019-by-pelle-nilsson-with



https://www.tribality.com/2020/02/07/descent-into-midnight-preview/



RANDOM TABLES AND GENERATORS

http://antlerrr.blogspot.com/2020/02/things-goblins-do.html

http://monstermanualsewnfrompants.blogspot.com/2020/02/spice.html

https://randroll.com/archive/gens-roundup-feb-2020/



FREE STUFF

https://haughtyfantasy.blogspot.com/2020/02/adventure-monastery-of-chuckle-brethren.html



http://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2020/01/truth-or-consequences.html

https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2020/02/ose-encounter-activities-blink-dog-d100.html
https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2020/02/ose-encounter-activities-berserker-d100.html
https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2020/02/ose-encounter-activities-buccaneers-d100.html
https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2020/02/ose-encounter-activities-brigands-d20.html
https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2020/02/ose-encounter-activities-bears-d20.html
https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2020/02/ose-encounter-activities-kobold-d100.html
https://blog.d4caltrops.com/2020/02/ose-encounter-activities-zombie-d100.html



https://dumpstatadventures.com/the-gm-is-always-right/making-tools-useful-in-5e-woodcarvers-tools




https://www.knightsinthenorth.com/the-redcap/






https://ynasmidgard.blogspot.com/2020/02/mini-review-mazes-minotaurs.html

http://storygame.free.fr/OLDMAZES.htm



https://theindierpgpipeline.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-enderwoods-free-pdf-starter-free.html

https://www.geeknative.com/71027/love-domain-wizards-of-the-coast-withdraws-unearthed-arcana-subclasses-part-2

https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/UA2020_02_06_Subclasses2.pdf



MISCELLANY



https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/roleplaying-game/feature/gurps-cyberpunk-rpg-us-secret-service

https://espharel.blogspot.com/2020/02/osr-rules-for-underwater-play-light-and.html

https://diyanddragons.blogspot.com/2020/02/secret-santicorn-2019.html



http://zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2020/02/tom-wham-art-on-gary-con-xii-cups.html



https://oldschoolfrp.tumblr.com/post/190650102348/gameraboy1-dungeons-dragons-party-invitations




http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/57805

https://dragonsgonnadrag.blogspot.com/2020/02/i-hate-read-magic.html



TOTAL DOMINATION



https://www.geeknative.com/71046/dd-5e-strengthens-its-market-share/

https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/02/rpg-after-q4-dd-still-dominates-but-other-games-are-on-the-rise.html

https://grumpywizard.home.blog/2020/02/08/dungeons-and-dragons-is-its-own-hobby/


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



Sunday, February 9, 2020

Sunday Zine Club: Episode #3 (Guest: Nate Treme)

Aside from the actual PLAYING of games, my favorite things about this wonderful hobby are those two bastions of DIY creativity, zines and blogs. I tackle blogs every week on Humpday Blog-O-Rama...and now on Sundays I bring you Sunday Zine Club! Pocketmods, pamphlets, digest-sized, PDFs...I love them all! Expect cool features, news, reviews, interviews, and more! All of the links from related topics will be listed here on the blog, much like the Humpday show.

You can "join the club" and make the show better. Are you working on a zine? Do you have zine-related news to share? Would you like to send me a review copy or to be considered for an interview on the show? I want to hear from you! Email me at frothsof at gmail or use the contact form on my blog (visible in desktop mode in the right-hand column).

CLICK HERE for listening options or use the player embedded below!



ZINEQUEST 2



https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/advanced?tag_id=346



WHAT I'M BACKING SO FAR



WHAT I'M WATCHING SO FAR



ZINEQUEST ANNOUNCEMENTS AND BLOGGER PICKS

https://sexuallytransmittedcentipedes.blogspot.com/2020/02/my-zine-is-live-on-kickstarter.html

https://chthonic-halls.blogspot.com/2020/02/reanimation.html



https://aloneinthelabyrinth.blogspot.com/2020/02/zine-quest-2-qestzining.html



https://archons-court.blogspot.com/2020/02/king-of-dust-is-live.html



http://vulpinoid.blogspot.com/2020/02/bgs-zine-quest.html



https://dndborderlands.blogspot.com/2020/02/dice-roll-zine-3-launched-on.html



https://technicalgrimoire.com/david/2020/01/ZineQuest2020



https://unlawfulgames.blogspot.com/2020/02/zine-quest-2-gourmet-street-fantasy.html



https://www.theexplorersco.com/home/2019/1/30/greatsoultrain-zinequest



https://www.theexplorersco.com/home/2019/1/30/nostone



https://www.theexplorersco.com/home/2019/1/30/stratosfiend-zinequest



https://yak-hack.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-skvd-chronicles-zinequest.html



https://graverobbersguide.blogspot.com/2020/02/to-quest-perchance-to-zine.html



https://originaldungeons-and-dragons.blogspot.com/2020/02/willow-grim-micro-setting-zine-quest.html



https://gothridgemanor.blogspot.com/2020/02/kickstarter-zine-quest-selections.html



https://boneboxchant.wordpress.com/2020/02/06/zinequest/



http://thac0rpg.blogspot.com/2020/02/3-great-zines-on-kickstarter-now.html



https://dungeonspossums.blogspot.com/2020/02/zine-quest-2020-week-one.html



GRAB BAG



https://www.blackgate.com/2020/02/04/amazing-stories-november-1979-a-retro-review/



https://axesnorcs.blogspot.com/2020/02/review-terror-of-stratosfiend-15.html

https://osrgrimoire.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-strategic-review-2.html



https://onthetabletop.blog/2020/02/01/hammer-of-the-gawds/



https://unbound.com/books/games-workshop/



https://sfmagazines.com/?p=12128



http://endzeitgeist.com/maximum-hp-001-osr-patreon-request/



http://wormwoodiana.blogspot.com/2020/02/a-new-issue-of-biblio-curiosa.html



https://dungeonspossums.blogspot.com/2020/02/zq2019-review-temple-of-blood-moth.html



CREATOR INTERVIEW: NATE TREME OF THE HIGHLAND PARANORMAL SOCIETY



http://natetreme.com/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HPS/posts

Itch: https://natetreme.itch.io/



Vanquisher Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/calris/vanquisher-0

Evlyn Moreau's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evlynmoreau/posts

Videos of Nate working on zines (via Twitter):

https://twitter.com/NateTreme/status/1177960449213632512

https://twitter.com/NateTreme/status/1164708999951986695

Images of the "Mind Control" Zine




Nate Zinequest vids:




FREE ZINE OF THE WEEK: THRESHOLD



http://www.pandius.com/thrs_mag.html



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