REVIEW: Brindlewood Bay | Taskerland
The Lantern’s Sweep follows the season’s turn, gathering reviews that trace a feeling and follow a thread. This autumn, the light falls on horror: small-press RPGs, misfit adventures, a…| Taskerland
This blog is meant to track my creative process, though it mostly records what distracts me from it. Recently, returning to my Tudor Cairn campaign, I found myself thinking about how that game only swam into focus when I began to take inspiration from the landscape that surrounds me. The OSR loves its forests. Cairn […]| Taskerland
The Lantern’s Sweep follows the season’s turn, gathering reviews that trace a feeling and follow a thread. This autumn, the light falls on horror: small-press RPGs, misfit adventures, and strange things that gather at the edge of play. The rest of the series can be found here. Reivdene-Upon-The-Moss is a folk horror sandbox adventure, written […]| Taskerland
The Lantern’s Sweep follows the season’s turn, gathering reviews that trace a feeling and follow a thread. This autumn, the light falls on horror: small-press RPGs, misfit adventures, a…| Taskerland
People keep buying products. But all you need is paper and something to write one. Sure, for this I used 4″ x 6″ cards with pre-printed grids. But, I didn’t really need those. Just a pencil and paper would have done. If you are struggling to come up with a campaign map or dungeons. Here’s […]| Fluid — Druid
Call of the Wild RPG A few years ago, I started down the path of making a role-playing game about the Klondike and Alaskan gold rushes, tentatively titled Call of the Wild. I never finished it. Primarily because I came to the conclusion that I didn’t know how to make it fun. These gold rushes […]| Fluid — Druid
This is a dueling method for AD&D. It is not recommended for regular combat. Really, only used voluntarily if both parties choose to do so. This breaks the 1-minute round into component segment…| Fluid -- Druid
Last week, a prominent YouTuber named Quinns released a video about the ENNIE award-winning RPG Triangle Agency. As someone who a) doesn’t regularly watch Quinns’ videos and b) has not read Triangle Agency, I am in no position to speculate on the soundness of Quinns’ remarks but I was dismayed by the reaction to the […]| Taskerland
This is the same approach as here. Read that first. Here’s a quicker version of the above. It eliminates the new weapon table and uses the original AD&D damage table. It replaces the previous armor dice with what is shown below. Otherwise, it is the same procedure.| Fluid — Druid
It could be argued that the Alternative Combat System that appears in th original Dungeons and Dragons is what distinguishes Dungeons and Dragons from the earlier game Chainmail. From one viewpoint, OD&D is just Chainmail with the ACS bolted on. But, that’s not what this post is about. What this post is about is continuing […]| Fluid — Druid
I cover unarmed combat for dragons here. Jousting with dragons here. There is still a bit more information to cover when jousting with dragons. First there is the lance. Given the ratio of neck to body of a dragon, the lances used in dragon jousting are specialized instruments quite a bit different from those used […]| Fluid — Druid
I’ve never been a great fan of the Dragonlance setting, modules, or novels. However, that does not mean I’m not a fan of dragons and lances. I’ve posted before about an expanded method that both allows the use of the Chainmail jousting matrix in AD&D. I’ve now extended this method to jousting with dragons. Procedure: […]| Fluid — Druid
Overbearing in AD&D means an unarmed action where an attacker attempts to knock his opponent off his feet. The base chance of success is exactly the same as for grappling (discussed here and here). Where overbearing differs is in the effect. The biggest difference is effect is modified by only the attacker’s strength, not the […]| Fluid — Druid
In my previous post of unarmed combat in AD&D, I discussed the basic mechanisms and gave an example of pummeling. Here is an example regarding grappling human versus ogre. A few years ago, when…| Fluid -- Druid
There are already too many RPG books. Shelves groan with unused settings, unplayed supplements, and dice that have never been rolled. Never known mercy. Never tasted fear. We buy them for inspiration. For hope. For the sense of possibility that comes with a new world in shrinkwrap. And then we leave them unread. Waiting to […]| Taskerland
One of the great things about Hal Foster’s seminal Prince Valiant is that from very early on, Foster demonstrates how medieval combat was inextricably entwined with wrestling. The sequence below is one of the earliest examples, Val is losing versus the quarterstaff and resorts to grappling. It’s an early example, but the strip is full […]| Fluid — Druid
…I don’t think that every class should get a raft of soldiers. The cleric should get less soldiers and more zealots and believers, but probably this was a bit creepy for the 1979 company [that published Dungeons & Dragons]…. I can cheerfully allow an “evil” cleric player character to gain eighty or so deranged, murderous […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Welcome back readers. Two more weeks for the Queer Games Bundle. This is one case of line-goes-up I’m always happy to see. Check out our Patreon if you like what we do and want to help us continue to do it in...| Critical Distance
Welcome back readers. The Queer Games Bundle just crossed another fundraising goal! You’ve got three more weeks to see how many more goals it can smash. Ultra-compact Patreon plug! On with the show. This Week in Videogame Blogging is a roundup highlighting...| Critical Distance
Welcome back readers. Two more weeks for the Queer Games Bundle. This is one case of line-goes-up I’m always happy to see. Check out our Patreon if you like what we do and want to help us con…| Critical Distance
Welcome back readers. The Queer Games Bundle just crossed another fundraising goal! You’ve got three more weeks to see how many more goals it can smash. Ultra-compact Patreon plug! On with th…| Critical Distance
A long-awaited RPG sequel finally got a release date at this year's Gamescom, but that was immediately overshadowed by the reveal of a pricey DLC.| Inverse
'Onimusha: Way of the Sword' brings the series back in grand fashion, putting the focus on tense dueling system that really shines in one unforgettable boss battle.| Inverse
As of this date, I haven’t really done any product reviews. I don’t reckon I’ll be doing many. Unless, discussion of old games is considered a product review. But, nonetheless, I …| Fluid -- Druid
I have never been a fan of the chromatic and metallic dragons of Dungeons & Dragons, even when ignoring the Alignment aspect. Great variety but otherwise lacking both depth and need, in my opinion. Red dragons are the closest to traditional European mythology: flying fire breathers. That seems sufficient—with one exception. Regarding Alignment, something recently […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Have you been to Moria yet? That’s right, the OG megadungeon, the greatest of the dwarven halls, Khazad-dûm, where Gandalf stood alone, upon Durin’s Bridge, to block the passage of […]| Dragon's Lair Comics & Fantasy
Using a Chainmail battle to start a AD&D 1e campaign| Grim Schneider
Hierarchy of Ladies for AD&D 1e| Grim Schneider
Troop Promotions for AD&D 1e| Grim Schneider
Troop cost calculator for AD&D 1e| Grim Schneider
Morality Feedback Loop in RPGs| Grim Schneider
Morals in modern RPGs| Grim Schneider
In an earlier post, I discussed the spear versus the dagger efficacy versus the armors available in AD&D. I also present, more generally, the entire list of weapons and how they’d fare ve…| Fluid -- Druid
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
NB: This piece is part of a series of reviews based upon the shortlist for the 2025 Ennies Award for Best Adventure – Short Form. For the rest of the series, please look here. Sweet Revenge is a sh…| Taskerland
NB: This piece is part of a series of reviews based upon the shortlist for the 2025 Ennies Award for Best Adventure – Short Form. For the rest of the series, please look here. Tides of Rot is an ad…| Taskerland
My game has been on a bit of a hiatus due to one of the players experiencing an extended bout of Covid and I have been using the spare time to put some thought into my next campaign. Despite having…| Taskerland
This post is inspired by this video. Though this one pretty much sums up my conclusions pretty well. In summary, Shad’s argument goes like this, when held up next to one another a dagger and …| Fluid -- Druid
The other day, Warren D at I Cast Light put up a really good and thought-provoking post about running Lovecraftian investigation games. The post covers a lot of ground that I won’t rehash but the b…| Taskerland
Welcome back readers. If you’ve been out of the loop on games writing for a month or two, Kaile’s got you covered with a hefty recap for April and May over on our Patreon! For as little…| Critical Distance
Welcome back readers. If you’ve been out of the loop on games writing for a month or two, Kaile’s got you covered with a hefty recap for April and May over on our Patreon! For as little…| Critical Distance
Here’s a short one with no real conclusion. This really is just a place to memorialize where I am in thinking about this subject. And, to inspire anyone who also might be interested in the to…| Fluid -- Druid
At the end of the recent Arbiter of Worlds stream, with Alexander Macris and Harmony Ginger, the issue of game rulings and precedent came up. I commented in the chat my view that rulings should not…| Fluid -- Druid
In AD&D, a typical movement rate is 12″ per round. Cursory review of the missile weapon ranges shows that for most weapons an infantry unit moving to engage in melee with a unit of missil…| Fluid -- Druid
Way back in 1980, someone named Glenn Blacow submitted an article to Different Worlds magazine. The piece was entitled “Aspects of Adventure Gaming” and it was an attempt to address creative tensio…| Taskerland
In my previous column here, I suggested that cavalry may be the best unit type to use against trolls in AD&D. Not just because the damage advantage of the lance at the charge, but because the c…| Fluid -- Druid
This is a scenario I’ve run for Mr. Wargaming of the Joy of Wargaming. He’s done me some favors in the past, now is time to help him out. Mr. Wargaming generated an AD&D 1e encounte…| Fluid -- Druid
Zine Corner is an occasional series in which I talk about individual issues of zines I have come across on my travels. Some of these will be about RPGs, some of them will be about horror, some of t…| Taskerland
Lately I've found myself struggling to stay motivated on some of the nitty-gritty bits of running an ongoing campaign. I need a system for t...| vilecultofshapes.blogspot.com
I am not the first person to say this about RPGs, but mediums have strengths and weaknesses. Every creative medium has some sort of limits or boundaries that are usually informed by their physical medium of conveyance. Paintings are typically on a flat canvas, film must pass into a camera lens, theatre must fit on […]| Fae Errant
AD&D 1e gets a fair amount of flack for being awkward and clunky. This is mostly from people who haven’t played it for any length of time. Gygax’s rather florid style which challenges their com…| Fluid -- Druid
Way back in 2022, the Prismatic Wasteland blog hosted an award called the Bloggies. The award was designed to showcase the best blog-posts to appear on an RPG blog during the course of that year. H…| Taskerland
Origins is a series of posts in which I reflect upon my relationship with RPGs as well as the events that have shaped my tastes and understanding of games. The rest of the series can be found here.…| Taskerland
Welcome back readers. As promised, after a week to take stock, we’re back at it. To close the gap, this week’s issue is correspondingly embiggened, but even this must be considered an a…| Critical Distance
This is a follow-up on my piece about firearms for AD&D. Presented are my approach to Renaissance artillery for AD&D 1e. The rules here use the War Machine rules on page 108 & 109 of th…| Fluid -- Druid
The discussion that follows is best understood with a copy of both the first edition DMG and a copy of the Boot Hill rules. Gary Gygax was against functioning gunpowder in AD&D. For him, gunpow…| Fluid -- Druid
Welcome back readers. Kaile beat me to the punch this afternoon with our monthly Patreon-exclusive newsletter. If you like what we do and can spare a fiver, you should subscribe! This Week in Video…| Critical Distance
Welcome back readers. No big updates around the site this week, other than the ongoing fact that you, the readers, are the ones that pay our bills and allow us to keep our finger on the pulse of ga…| Critical Distance
Welcome back readers. Around the site, Kaile’s been cooking, serving up both fresh TMIVGV and our monthly Patreon-exclusive update. back-to-back. Check em out, and if you want to materially h…| Critical Distance
Just a few magic items I created for our Dungeon World game last night that I thought others might find useful. Ring of Invisibility 0 weigh When you put this on, you are invisible until you touch another living being. Roll +CHA. On a 7-9, also choose 1; on a miss, both: your invisibility ends if you […]| Mental Propinquity
Most people think of Dread as a one-shot-only game, but when we wrote it we intended to create a campaign-worthy game that created particularly intense individual sessions in that campaign. The secret, as in so much of Dread, is in the questionnaires.| Mental Propinquity
Lost: Ω Power: Not Entirely of this World: she stands apart from this world Weakness: Magic of other realms can always reach her Quirk: can always interact with intangible items—and them with her Known: d6 Gifted student of math and engineering: she would be a master engineer, if she weren’t 13 and unapprenticed Dynamic: d6 […]| Mental Propinquity
Lost: Ω Power: “fighting with all the energy with which he so mightily endows me.”: Can absorb and store all types of energy. Weakness: …but not energies from beyond the mortal sphere. Quirk: his eyes glow when he is charged Passion: d6 Power Stunt: “like a hammer that breaketh the rock”: can release stored energy […]| Mental Propinquity
Many years ago, one of the games I created was a space opera re-imagining of Everway. Yes, that Everway, the game with all the gorgeous art cards, 3 completely separate action resolution systems, a…| Mental Propinquity
I recently wrapped up a seven-year-long D&D campaign, and wanted to share some thoughts and favorite moments.| Space Ninja
“Can I buy a magic sword?” This is a question that seems straightforward, but is actually fraught with follow-on implications that are not obvious. It is also one that’s asked at some point in any D&D campaign. You might be thinking, as GM, that you’re making a choice about the setting of your campaign (is this a high-magic or low-magic world, a desert island, a major trade city, etc). While you are making this decision, you’re also deciding (perhaps without knowing) what money is i...| Sir Poley
In my review of Regency Cthulhu, I mentioned that I was reaching the point where I cease considering Chaosium’s output to be worthy of my time and money. In fairness to the people who worked on Reg…| Taskerland
Junior Hybrid Battle Cryptids is a game about anthropomorphic animals protecting the innocent, investigating strangeness, and crushing it at dance-offs. Download it on Itch.io as part of the entire…| Pretendo Games
Today I want to tell you about one simple house rule which really improves my games. My Call of Cthulhu campaign is mostly classic, with squishy investigators who are easily torn apart by monsters …| Thing of Things
