I have started the 'modern' game, set in a period roughly equivalent to the turn from the 19th to the 20th century; post-Spanish-American War, pre-World War One.
I had started to write one of my lengthy expository descriptions, detailing the period, but then I remembered I'm supposed to keep quiet ("stay in bed or in the kitchen") and talk about more interesting things, like:
Random Torch-sconce Table: 1d4-
4: Diabolically-lewd figures in an orgiastic embrace of a phallic cone of cold-wrought iron
3: Weird carved ivory depicting six-limbed insecto-elephantine gods being wreathed by attendants
2: A crudely hammered-together collection of holy symbols
1: Mirrored 'Glass-steel' affair in an inhumanly geometric and blocky construction
With the JT-paid, I'm announcing that I'm not planning on posting any further campaign details.
A blog for The Urutsk Cycle and Related Subjects,
including the URUTSK: World of Mystery RPG.
Shipwrecked survivors of a galaxy-spanning empire (ruined when the core exploded) settle upon a wetlands world occupied by humans and other species. They then poke through ruins of their Ancient ancestors as they strive to regain space and then, starflight.
Search This Blog
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I Hear You: Logo + Booklet Title-
I have read the eight comments on the previous post after having tweaked this and another booklet's cover. Here is a second go, although nothing is dead-final:

As to the nearness of release, I cannot speak from any certainty, and as others have said, it is best to deliver on promises --therefore no promised release dates. In short: It'll be released when it is meets my compromise between perfection and reality of what a first print, first edition product can be.
I will tell you that the product is not (in all likelihood) what you think it will be, and I look forward to reading the strong opinions about it when it is released.
Work on the final draft of the Referee's Manual will begin soon after the main release, and the cover artwork for that book is stunningly beautiful. It is difficult to contain my excitement. :D
I'd like to take this time to clarify something:
My 'devil's advocate' stance in the OS discussions should never be construed as one of antagonism towards the authors themselves. Like most of you, I have strong opinions, and when I am not with the stated majority, I imagine I am more of a grain of sand in the OS oyster than its shiny pearl. Yet, that's from whence pearls originate: an irritating grain of sand chafing at the soft underbelly of the creature. ;)
If I don't care for you, like Florida weather, wait a few minutes, as it'll often pass. If not, you'll know.
--If you don't like me, may I suggest you use your energy more effectively by doing your own thing more strongly to offset my Annoyance Factor. That'd be like producing a pearl out of a pesky grain of sand. :D
:: Best to all of you out there in Gaming Land

As to the nearness of release, I cannot speak from any certainty, and as others have said, it is best to deliver on promises --therefore no promised release dates. In short: It'll be released when it is meets my compromise between perfection and reality of what a first print, first edition product can be.
I will tell you that the product is not (in all likelihood) what you think it will be, and I look forward to reading the strong opinions about it when it is released.
Work on the final draft of the Referee's Manual will begin soon after the main release, and the cover artwork for that book is stunningly beautiful. It is difficult to contain my excitement. :D
I'd like to take this time to clarify something:
My 'devil's advocate' stance in the OS discussions should never be construed as one of antagonism towards the authors themselves. Like most of you, I have strong opinions, and when I am not with the stated majority, I imagine I am more of a grain of sand in the OS oyster than its shiny pearl. Yet, that's from whence pearls originate: an irritating grain of sand chafing at the soft underbelly of the creature. ;)
If I don't care for you, like Florida weather, wait a few minutes, as it'll often pass. If not, you'll know.
--If you don't like me, may I suggest you use your energy more effectively by doing your own thing more strongly to offset my Annoyance Factor. That'd be like producing a pearl out of a pesky grain of sand. :D
:: Best to all of you out there in Gaming Land
Thursday, March 31, 2011
New Logo-
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
More DnD Luv-
NPC Damage-dealt Table-
20-12 - 1d8 (5)
11-10 - 1d6 (4)
09-01 - 1d4 (3)
Quick NPC-Kill Table-
20-12 - Dead
11-10 - Dies after action of next Round
09-01 - Still Alive
DM adds the PC's Fighting Man Level to the d20 roll
After First Hit NPC Reaction Table-
20-12 - Remains on-task
11-10 - Fighting Withdrawl (-1 to hit/+1 to AC)
09-01 - Drops heavy gear and flees
DM adds the NPC's HD to the d20 roll
20-12 - 1d8 (5)
11-10 - 1d6 (4)
09-01 - 1d4 (3)
Quick NPC-Kill Table-
20-12 - Dead
11-10 - Dies after action of next Round
09-01 - Still Alive
DM adds the PC's Fighting Man Level to the d20 roll
After First Hit NPC Reaction Table-
20-12 - Remains on-task
11-10 - Fighting Withdrawl (-1 to hit/+1 to AC)
09-01 - Drops heavy gear and flees
DM adds the NPC's HD to the d20 roll
Monday, March 28, 2011
Micro Campaign Design Tables-
Roll d20 for the tables below, unless otherwise directed:
TABLE I: The General Place-
20-12 - A Trippy Place (Tesseract, Rubik's Cube, Giant Ball of Lint in intergalactic space, etc.)
11-10 - A multitude of advanced subterranean complexes with occasional 'bolt-holes' leading out into the mysterious unknown.
09-01 - A world, possibly a planet, possibly a Realm (trapezoid with edges one can sail off, etc.)
TABLE II: Life-
20-12 - Vibrant, rich, full of unimaginable diversity of life forms
11-10 - As varied as Earth's heyday of megafauna (Irish Deer, Giant Sloths, Mamoths, etc.)
09-01 - Sparsely populated, or with very little diversity (Axebeaks, Cacti, Joshua Trees, Orcs, and Firenewts, for example)
TABLE III: Distant Past-
20-12 - The Gods Made The World Yesterday, and the Races, Today; Hello!
11-10 - The Ancients Destroyed Themselves in a One Day War, at least 1,000 years ago
09-01 - The past is an uncountable long chain of disasters and empires of super-science and sorcery
TABLE IV: Middlin' Past-
20-12 - A Dark Lord held Sway throughout the Land until Slain by a Hero
11-10 - Petty kingdoms battled for 2d6+3 centuries, plagues killed 1d4-5ths of the population, trade mushroomed afterwards
09-01 - Savage Warlords vie for semi-nomadic fiefdoms from 3d6 centuries ago until now; skip TABLE V, goto VI
TABLE V: Recently-
20-12 - Lesser Minions of a/the Dark Lord are gaining strength and numbers in the (1. North, 2. East, 3. South, 4. West)
11-10 - Trade disputes are currently (1-3.) heading towards war, or (4-6.) just now ending
09-01 - Monstrous armies erupt from the wilds and surge against Humanity
TABLE VI: Number of Big Players-
20-12 - 1d3, each with hundreds of thousands or millions of troops
11-10 - 1d6+2, each with tens or hundreds of thousands of troops, and great navies or war machines
09-01 - 2d12 Tribes, 1d4 Races, and Demonic Noble Houses at war with each other, using the Races as mercenaries
TABLE VII: Newest Stuff-
20-12 - Great Alchemical Wonders (magical war machines, wish magics, etc.)
11-10 - Stainless Steel and Steam Engines
09-01 - Iron and Silk
TABLE I: The General Place-
20-12 - A Trippy Place (Tesseract, Rubik's Cube, Giant Ball of Lint in intergalactic space, etc.)
11-10 - A multitude of advanced subterranean complexes with occasional 'bolt-holes' leading out into the mysterious unknown.
09-01 - A world, possibly a planet, possibly a Realm (trapezoid with edges one can sail off, etc.)
TABLE II: Life-
20-12 - Vibrant, rich, full of unimaginable diversity of life forms
11-10 - As varied as Earth's heyday of megafauna (Irish Deer, Giant Sloths, Mamoths, etc.)
09-01 - Sparsely populated, or with very little diversity (Axebeaks, Cacti, Joshua Trees, Orcs, and Firenewts, for example)
TABLE III: Distant Past-
20-12 - The Gods Made The World Yesterday, and the Races, Today; Hello!
11-10 - The Ancients Destroyed Themselves in a One Day War, at least 1,000 years ago
09-01 - The past is an uncountable long chain of disasters and empires of super-science and sorcery
TABLE IV: Middlin' Past-
20-12 - A Dark Lord held Sway throughout the Land until Slain by a Hero
11-10 - Petty kingdoms battled for 2d6+3 centuries, plagues killed 1d4-5ths of the population, trade mushroomed afterwards
09-01 - Savage Warlords vie for semi-nomadic fiefdoms from 3d6 centuries ago until now; skip TABLE V, goto VI
TABLE V: Recently-
20-12 - Lesser Minions of a/the Dark Lord are gaining strength and numbers in the (1. North, 2. East, 3. South, 4. West)
11-10 - Trade disputes are currently (1-3.) heading towards war, or (4-6.) just now ending
09-01 - Monstrous armies erupt from the wilds and surge against Humanity
TABLE VI: Number of Big Players-
20-12 - 1d3, each with hundreds of thousands or millions of troops
11-10 - 1d6+2, each with tens or hundreds of thousands of troops, and great navies or war machines
09-01 - 2d12 Tribes, 1d4 Races, and Demonic Noble Houses at war with each other, using the Races as mercenaries
TABLE VII: Newest Stuff-
20-12 - Great Alchemical Wonders (magical war machines, wish magics, etc.)
11-10 - Stainless Steel and Steam Engines
09-01 - Iron and Silk
d20 Combat Advantage Critical Table-
For the D&Ders:
When a PC generates a Critical Hit (by whatever means one does in your game), (have the Player) roll on the following table:
20-11 Double Maximum Damage, Gain a Free Strike, and a Free Move
10-01 +1d4 Damage, and Gain a Free Move
If the DM desires, perhaps modify the d20 roll by Fighting Man Level and/or Hit Dice.
When a PC generates a Critical Hit (by whatever means one does in your game), (have the Player) roll on the following table:
20-11 Double Maximum Damage, Gain a Free Strike, and a Free Move
10-01 +1d4 Damage, and Gain a Free Move
If the DM desires, perhaps modify the d20 roll by Fighting Man Level and/or Hit Dice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)