3 August 2010
Today’s Tabbloid
PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net
ROGUE FEED
Thinking ‘bout Psionics
AUG 02, 2010 07:24P.M.
This post over at Huge Ruined Piled has got me thinking about psionics
again. Or rather it’s intensified my latest bout of thinking about psionics.
I make no secret of the fact that I’ve always loved psionics in D&D;. I
know all the arguments against them, the only truly cogent one being
that the old school implementation of them, whether in Eldritch
Wizardry or AD&D;, never really worked, but I’ve never understood the
notion that psionics “don’t fit” D&D;. I mean, I can understand not using
psionics in every D&D; campaign, but I’d argue that the list of things that
genuinely “don’t fit” D&D; in any absolute sense is vanishingly small.
My own renewed interest in psionics is twofold. First, ever since my
stillborn attempt to produce an old school psionics system for use with
the retro-clones, I’ve thought that I ought to revisit the topic from a
slightly different angle. Second, without revealing too much to my
players, I think there’s definitely a place for psionics in my
Dwimmermount campaign. Indeed, over the last few sessions, I’ve found
myself thinking that I really need to come up with a psionics system that
“feels right,” so that I won’t miss the opportunity to introduce it into the
campaign when the moment arises.
So far, though, I don’t have any new insights into the topic and so I’m left
more or less where I was last time. I remain committed to using Eldritch
Wizardry‘s system as a starting point, because, to me anyway, that funky
system has a great deal of flavor that I want to preserve. Figuring out a
way to preserve that flavor and create something that’s, well, actually
playable and isn’t a bookkeeping nightmare. Beyond that, I am not yet
sure how to proceed, but it’s something I am cogitating upon a lot these
days, so don’t be surprised if you see a bunch of psionics posts here over
the next couple of weeks.
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ROGUE FEED
Superb Dungeon Generator
AUG 02, 2010 05:12P.M.
As others have already reported, the Dizzy Dragon website now includes
the most awesome online random dungeon generator I’ve ever seen. Not
only does it combine the monsters and treasures from the
Moldvay/Cook/Marsh Basic/Expert books with the dungeon dressing
details from the AD&D; Dungeon Masters Guide, but, even more
impressively, it creates really good dungeon maps. I mean really good.
Most random dungeon generators produce uninspired maps with only a
handful of rooms and a very obvious “path” through them. That’s not the
case, where the maps are sprawling, with dozens of rooms, secret doors,
winding corridors, pools, crevasses, sections of cavern, and much more.
It’s frankly amazing.
Check it out. Please.
ROGUE FEED
See us at GenCon
AUG 02, 2010 02:54P.M.
I know we’ve been a bit silent as of late, but that is due to getting ready
for GenCon. I leave tomorrow. Rogue Games’ booth is 1539. I will be
there most of the time, so if you want to stop by and talk feel free to. We
have a lot of cool things at the booth this year, and I look forward to
sharing some of the cool things we have in store for the next year.
Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net
ROGUE FEED
Pulp Fantasy Library: The Dark
Eidolon
AUG 02, 2010 01:54P.M.
Though I am very fond of most of Clark Ashton Smith’s tales of the far
future continent Zothique, I am particularly fond these days of his “The
Dark Eidolon.” First published in the January 1935 issue of Weird Tales,
“The Dark Eidolon” is also Smith’s longest Zothique story. That length is,
in my opinion, also its greatest weakness, for while there’s no question
that the text of the story contains some of the most powerful and
evocative images in the CAS canon, it nevertheless feels self-indulgent, as
if Smith has thrown his literary sense to the wind in order to revel in
pure esthetics. Now, if you enjoy lush, luxuriant prose, you might not
even consider this a defect in the story and, on some level, it isn’t,
especially if you read Smith for his imagery rather than his plotting.
However, not everyone has the same degree of patience for this and, if
so, they may find “The Dark Eidolon” rough going in places.
The story tells the tale of the fate of the sorcerer Namirrha of Ummaos,
“who imposed his black yoke on the cities of Xylac and, later, in a proud
delirium, deemed himself veritable peer of Thasaidon, lord of Evil.”
Thasaidon, as his name suggests, in Zothique’s equivalent of the Devil
and is the literary ancestor of Greyhawk’s deity Tharizdun by way of Rob
Kuntz’s own Tharzduun. He’s also the inspiration for Typhon in my
Dwimmermount campaign and the name of his high priest in Adamas,
Saidon, is an explicit connection between the two deities. Namirrha was
not always a great and powerful magician.
Indeed, none could have dreamt that the great sorcerer was
one with the beggar-boy, Narthos, an orphan of questionable
parentage, who had begged his daily bread in the streets and
bazaars of Ummaos. Wretchedly had he lived, alone and
despised; and a hatred of the cruel, opulent city grew in his
heart like a smothered flame that feeds in secret, biding the
time when it shall become a conflagration consuming all
things.
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3 August 2010
Narthos had been abused by Prince Zotulla, who refused him alms and
trampled him beneath his horse “nigh to death.” Zotulla grew to
manhood and became emperor of Ummaos, while Narthos became a
mighty necromancer and seethed with a desire for revenge.
It is this desire that forms the basis for the story, with Namirrha
consulting a “dark, gigantic statue of Thasaidon” — the dark eidolon of
the title — for advice on how best to avenge himself upon Zotulla.
Strangely, Thasaidon, speaking through the statue, rebukes Namirrha for
his request for assistance.
“I have helped you heretofore in all things,” said the image,
with stony and sonorous accents that were echoed
metallically in the seven silver lamps. “Yea, the undying
worms of fire and darkness have come forth like an army at
your summons, and the wings of nether genii have risen to
occlude the sun when you called them. But, verily, I will not
aid you in this vengeance you have planned: for the emperor
Zotulla has done me no wrong and has served me well though
unwittingly; and the people of Xylac, by reason of their
turpitudes, are not the least of my terrestial worshippers.
Therefore, Namirrha, it were well for you to live in peace with
Zotulla, and well to forget this olden wrong that was done to
the beggar-boy Narthos. For the ways of destiny are strange,
and the workings of its laws sometimes hidden; and truly, if
the hooves of Zotulla’s palfrey had not spurned you and
trodden you under, your life had been otherwise, and the
name and renown of Namirrha had still slept in oblivion as a
dream undreamed. Yea, you would tarry still as a beggar in
Ummaos, content with a beggar’s guerdon, and would never
have fared forth to become the pupil of the wise and learned
Ouphaloc; and I, Thasaidon, would have lost the lordliest of
all necromancers who have accepted my service and my
bond. Think well, Namirrha, and ponder these matters: for
both of us, it would seem, are indebted to Zotulla in all
gratitude for the trampling he gave you.”
Namirrha is undeterred.
“Yea, there is a debt,” Namirrha growled implacably. “And
truly I will pay the debt tomorrow, even as I have planned....
There are Those who will aid me, Those who will answer my
summoning in your despite.”
“It is an ill thing to affront me,” said the image, after an
interval. “And also, it is not wise to call upon Those that you
designate. However, I perceive clearly that such is your
intent. You are proud and stubborn and revengeful. Do then,
as you will, but blame me not for the outcome.”
Even those not familiar with Smith will recognize that Namirrha’s
unrelenting desire for vengeance will bring him to a bad end and it is this
course of events that the remainder of the story chronicles.
“The Dark Eidolon” is thus a fairly typical Clark Ashton Smith story but I
Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net
personally find it much more compelling than others of its kind. In part,
I think it’s because Thasaidon, who’s described as an “archfiend” and
“lord of the seven Hells” and other such diabolical things, comes across
as a much more rational, even ethical being than does Namirrha, who
has allowed an ancient slight, one that in fact laid the groundwork for his
eventual greatness, to consume him to the point of self-destruction. The
story rings oddly true to me and more than makes up for its literary
shortcomings in other areas.
ROGUE FEED
Creepy Japanese Children’s Art
AUG 01, 2010 07:00A.M.
Reader Seth Poppy has passed along this link to a webpage showing 30
children’s book illustrations by Japanese artist Gojin Ishihara. The first
sixteen come from a 1972 book entitled The Illustrated Book of Japanese
Monsters and would make great inspirations any Japanese-themed
fantasy RPG, like Ruins & Ronin or Bushido.
ROGUE FEED
Secret Skeleton Miniatures
AUG 01, 2010 12:01A.M.
One of the many great things to have come out of the revival of interest
in old school gaming are lots of great miniatures that look to classic
fantasy RPGs for their inspiration. Otherworld Miniatures is already well
known, but many of you may not know about Secret Skeleton
Miniatures. Though their selection is small at the moment, the
miniatures they currently have available look excellent. I’m especially
keen on their “frog man.”
You can see the greens of some of their up and coming minis here.
3 August 2010
ROGUE FEED
Richard Iorio
JUL 31, 2010 02:25P.M.
So James is a lover of all things Old School. His passion for OD&D; and
the roots of the hobby are one of the things I really like about him. In our
frequent phone calls and emails, he is always quick to point out things I
should look at, as well as new games that are worth checking out. Any
ready of his blog knows he reviews a lot of gaming products, and often
none of the things he reviews or recommends connects with me. Truth
be told, I am not interested in D&D; and games of that ilk any more. It
just does not click with me, and my tastes in games are different. Still, on
occasion I will read an occasional Old School product, but that is it. With
this in mind, I was sudrpoised that I ordered Lamentations of the
Flame Princess Deluxe Edition. I did this for two reasons:
1. James speaks highly of the work James Edward Raggi IV does.
2. The box set was too cool to pass up.
So I ordered it and waited. The game arrived yesterday and I this
morning I had a chance to open it. My first thought upon opening the
box? Wow. Why? Check it out:
The box is freaking packed. I snapped some pictures as I went through
the box and looked everything. You can see them here. Now I have not
read anything yet, and probably will not have time until after GenCon
next week, but man, I cannot wait to dive in.
Filed under: Games, thoughts Tagged: Games, Gaming, thoughts