Amber Diceless RPG, Sample Characters II

   To continue with a special request for some Amber Diceless RPG material, since we had a couple of Lords of Chaos in the last entry, here are a couple of starting-level Lords of Amber.    Sabre, Lord of Amber    Sabre is probably the youngest pattern master ever, a result of a freakish coincidence. His [...]

Amber Diceless RPG – Sample Characters

   Today, due to a special request, we have a few starting-level characters for the Amber Diceless RPG:    Malinbert The Inept, Of Chaos Strength;16, Psyche; 5, Endurance; Amber (0), Warfare; Chaos (-10). Good Stuff IV (4) Two Court Friends (4) Chaos Court Devotee (4) Conjuration (20), Spells of Conjuration (+5), Improvised Spells of Conjuration [...]

Continuum II: Conjuration Cantrips

   Here we have the next portion of the Continuum II Cantrip list – in this case, Conjuration Cantrips. These cantrips deal with summoning or “creating” something, whether entities, objects, or forces. The distinctions are fairly simple; entities have independent existence in their own right, and are merely forced into local manifestation or “embodied”. Creating [...]

Additional Indexes

   In the ongoing effort to make things easier to find – with better than 850 posts and 200 sub-pages it can get awkward, and a lot of visitors seem to miss the index tabs at the top of the page – I’ve added the tag cloud and a full post list in the right sidebar. [...]

RPG Design – Whither Backstory?

   A lot of adventures don’t pay much attention to the backstory and adventure background. That’s more-or-less understandable – that kind of thing is usually designed to be dropped into almost any setting and used as-is – but it can lead to major problems if the characters are even slightly thoughtful or actually attempt to [...]

Eclipse – Battling Business World

. One of the benefits – and burdens – of the Manifold setting (more information is available over on the d20 tab) we’ve used for the Federation-Umal and Federation-Apocalypse games is that it allows near-complete freedom. Since characters may come from any setting that has ever been imagined – whether or not anyone save the [...]

Continuum II: Illusion Cantrips

   Here we have the next portion of the Continuum II Cantrip list – in this case, Illusion Cantrips. Illusion cantrips can be quite impressive and flashy compared to other cantrips, given that all they’re usually doing is manipulating light and sound a bit – a trick that requires virtually no power at all. All [...]

Eclipse – The Animistic Wizard Level One Build

   Our next sample level one Eclipse classless d20 character build is the Animist or Animistic Wizard – a character who knows the Primal Speech or Tongue of Creation – the universal language of the cosmos, which is both understood and spoken by all things, whether those things are conventionally seen as being animate or [...]

Federation-Apocalypse Session 69: The Ward War

   Watching the power-fountain in the temple – and the wave of sacred energy pouring out over the city – A’ikana sighed. Perhaps it was simply the fact that she hadn’t known Kevin and Marty very long, and that blatant plans and actions were the most obvious – but it was really beginning to look [...]

Eclipse – The Primal Warrior Level One Build

   Our next level one Eclipse classless d20 (available in print HERE and in a shareware .pdf version HERE) character build is a Primal Warrior – a shapeshifter filled with all the fury of the wilderness, yet easily capable of scouting an enemy position as a small animal or bird. Sadly, while this is quite effective [...]

Eclipse – The Swashbuckler Level One Build

   To continue with the previous article on swashbuckling campaigns, our next level one Eclipse classless d20 (available in print HERE and in a shareware .pdf version HERE) character design is a swashbuckler – an unarmored (or at least lightly-armored) fighter who relies on evasiveness, parrying, and various weapon tricks to keep his or her own skin intact [...]

Shadowrun – The Neo Skillsoft Store

   The current Shadowrun party has managed to collect quite a few knowlege skill programs - in fact, an outrageous number of knowledge skill programs since they were the most expensive. Since they’re being used fairly often, here are the Knowledge Skillsofts which are currently available:  Topic: Micro Small Large Very Large Behavioral Animal 6 Psychology 6 [...]

A’ikana – Current Skills

   Here we have a quick note for A’ikana Kalil, who has finished shopping for her skills – at least until she acquires some more skill points…     This being the Federation-Apocalypse setting, she gets custom skills and training bonuses – to make up for the fact that the settings skill list is potentially endless. [...]

Eclipsing and Swashbuckling on the High Seas

   For today it’s part one of a series on swashbuckling campaigns – setting up the basics in Eclipse: The Codex Persona (available in print HERE and in a shareware .pdf version HERE).    So you want to run a swashbuckling campaign. Is it piracy on the high seas? Quarrelsome young nobles at a decadent court? [...]

Eclipse – TARDIS d20

   Now that we have a Time Lord template, we’re going to need a Time Lord vehicle – a TARDIS. How can we build one of those in Eclipse: The Coded Persona? That’s a really powerful device, right?    Well, as usual, the trick is to think about what it actually does.    Lets see [...]

Federation-Apocalypse: The Crusader Kingdoms

   Here we have some information about one of the currently-important realms in the Federation-Apocalypse setting, the Crusader Kingdoms. This particular summary is something of a collaboration with Brian Potter; I’ve added a variety of details and additional information to his framework.    In the quantum froth of the Manifold, the dreams of men are [...]

Eclipse – The Time Lord Template

   Doctor Who has been popular for many, many, years. Popular enough to spawn several different games, and to inspire numerous adventures. In a way, Doctor Who encapsulates the basic RPG adventure – a few highly skilled adventurers and a few less-skilled ones arrive in a strange area, where they encounter strange creatures, eccentric locals, [...]

Federation-Apocalypse Session 68: Revelations

   Marty, having just uncovered the vile plot – or at least lunatic experiments – of the evil Hospitalier Lichstein, was now confronting him and his abhorrent constructs of undead and living flesh – as they attempted to subdue him and return him to the operating table that he might share their fate.    And [...]

Eclipse – Sample Relics Part VII, Overview

   For today it’s part seven of the series on Relics in Eclipse: The Codex Persona. This time around it’s a few more Relics, including one item of legend and some devices for spellcasters, some notes on the general setting and feel that this series of relics was designed for, and a look – with some [...]

Eclipse – Sample Relics Part VI, Skills and Talents

   Here we have a few more Relics for Eclipse: The Codex Persona (available in print HERE and in a shareware .pdf version HERE) - in this case some practical – and relatively cheap – items for general adventurers.    The Helm of Tolwyn:    Tolwyn the Demonslayer was noted for her constant battles with the forces [...]