Mapping the Blogosphere - My Corner

 If you have not seen it, there is a great mapping of many of the popular OSR blogs put together by Elmcat. I found it via JB at B/X Blackrazor, who in turn found it from James at Grognardia.

The map is based on linking, so if a blog doesn't link out to others or is not linked to, then its presence on this map is less. There are various clusters of blogs that are closer together than others. I am out in a region known as "Community 4."

There is a lot of value in this map, and I am quite impressed at the Herculean effort put forth here. 

The ability to see growth and decline over the years is rather amazing. I guess 2016 was a banner year here at The Other Side. Maybe I should go back and reread some of those posts!

The ability to see who links to you is great. Maybe they are praising your blog? Maybe they hate it!  It appears I link to a lot of "bigger blogs" (naturally, that is why they are bigger), but there are also a lot of lesser-known (to me) blogs linking to me. I am going to make an effort to link back to those blogs more. This includes blogs like Seed of Worlds, who is my top linker. As one commenter (@farmergadda.bsky.social) said, "We (bloggers) have GOT to get sluttier (link more)." 

While I feel we, OSR Bloggers, are a community as a whole, there are obvious sub-communities. In statistics and research design, we have a tool called Cluster Analysis. This is not that, not exactly, but we can draw some similar ideas from it. Namely, that various clusters have more similarity within than between. And these clusters can have themes or names. I don't think I'll offer up any names for these clusters, some are obvious. For example, the blogs in Grognardia's orbit tend to be more classical old-school, playing by the book or how Gary intended it, sort of blogs. The mini-cluster I am in tends to be old-school, but with a twist. There are a few blogs nearby that also add more elements, like horror, to their games. But that is a massive over-generalization.

It is all rather fascinating and a reminder that even while I am sitting on my own typing away at whatever nonsense comes up in my mind, I am not really out there alone am I? It's like the Police song "Message in a Bottle,"  "it seems I am not alone at being alone." Well, I never felt alone, but it is nice to be part of something larger.

Hopefully, we can use this data and excellent work by Elmcat to improve our community. 

To that end. Here are the top 10 blogs linking to me:

1. Seed of Worlds
2. THOUGHT EATER
3. Wasted Lands: The Official Blog of Elf Lair Games
4. B／X BLACKRAZOR
5. Dreams of Mythic Fantasy
6. Dungeon Fantastic
7. Tenkar's Tavern
8. CROSS PLANES
9. OLD Elf Lair Games Blog
10. Sea of Stars RPG Design Journal

The top 10 Blogs I Can't Believe I Have Never Linked To:

1. Age of Dusk
2. Numbers Aren't Real
3. Rise Up Comus
4. A Knight at the Opera
5. Ars Ludi
6. Whose Measure God Could Not Take
7. Throne of Salt
8. Coins and Scrolls
9. Goblin Punch
10. BASTIONLAND

I could probably keep doing this all day. But that is good for now. Will check more later on.

Magic Backlash!

Photo by Dima Valkov

Or,  Biting off more than you can chew, magically speaking.

In the AD&D rules (and really most D&D variants), a spellcaster can't cast a spell above their prescribed levels. As a rule of thumb, this is often a spell level of half their caster level. There are variations across classes and editions, but this is sufficient for today's discussion.

But what happens when a spellcaster tries to cast a spell of a higher level?

The 1st Edition DMG has some rules on pages 127-128 on scroll reading and failure, but nothing as far as I have found on similar rules for spellbooks. I am sure someone, somewhere, has said with all the authority a Rule Lawyer can muster that "I Shall Not Be Done!" and then quote something that someone else said somewhere else. Frankly, that is myopic and doesn't serve the players well. 

So let me see if I understand the logic here...a group of adventurers are going to risk life, limb, possiblly even their immortal souls and sanity, for a chance of gold and glory. But reading a spell of slightly too high a level is verboten? No. I don't think so. Granted, it should come with consequences.

Here some rules I have been picking at. They supersede the ones found in the DMG.

Casting Higher Level Spells

A spellcaster is typically prohibited from casting spells to which they have no mastery of. Higher level spellcasting is the domain of higher level spellcasters and the untrained mind can not recall the information adequately to even attempt a spellcasting, that is even when they can understand the arcane or occult formulae at all.

But there are times, dire times, in which a spellcaster might want to attempt the dangerous casting of a spell to which they have no knowledge or skill of. This maybe attempted by reading a scroll or directly from a spellbook. There is a high chance of spell failure, and a chance of unintended and catastrophic results. There is also a chance that the spell works as intended and desired. This could be the difference between life and death, or a fate even worse.

To determine the chance of success, start with the Caster level.

Roll under chance of Success on d%.

Base Chance of Success = 5% per level

Table: Spell Casting Modifiers

Situation	Modifier
Spell is of caster's own class list	+10%
Spell is of allied Witch tradition (Classical, Craft of the Wise, etc.)	+5%
Spell belongs to a related arcane class (Magic-User ↔ Illusionist)	-5%
Spell belongs to a related occult class (Witch ↔ Warlock)	-10%
Spell belongs to an entirely different class (Divine/Cleric/Druid/etc.)	-15%
Spell is 1 level above caster's maximum	+5%
Spell is 2 or more levels above caster’s maximum	+10% per spell level
Spell of opposing alignment/Patron	-25%
Spell of opposing school (arcane only)	-10%

01 always succeeds.

00 (100) always triggers a Major Backlash (roll twice on the d100 table).

Failure results are detailed in the tables below. Scrolls and Spellbooks use different tables. Any casting, success, failure, or otherwise, results in the destruction of the spell being used.

Table: Scroll Spell Failure / Minor Backlash

d100	Result
01–20	Fizzle: Spell fails harmlessly; scroll turns to ash.
21–25	Harmless Surge: Hair stands on end; tiny sparks fly. No damage.
26–30	Minor Burn: Caster takes 1d4 damage.
31–33	Flashblind: Caster blinded for 1d4 rounds.
34–36	Reversed Spell: Effect targets caster.
37–40	Wild Targeting: The spell affects a random creature within 30 ft.
41–43	Spell Fragment: Only the first or last portion of the spell manifests (DM choice).
44–46	Partial Success: Spell works at half-strength, half duration, or half area.
47–49	Echo: The spell takes effect 1d4 rounds later.
50–52	Arcane Whiplash: Caster cannot cast spells for 1d3 rounds.
53–55	Magic Drain: Lose one randomly chosen prepared spell (or witch spell-slot) for the day.
56–58	Item Flare: A magic item worn must save vs. Spells or malfunction once.
59–60	Sour Ink: A random scroll in caster’s possession corrodes (save or be ruined).
61–63	Spirit Attention: A minor invisible spirit observes for 1 turn; 10% chance it interferes.
64–66	Vermin Sign: Normal vermin swarm briefly; 10% chance of ruining random gear or potions.
67–69	Etheric Disruption: All spellcasting within 10 ft suffers –2 to initiative for 1 turn.
70–72	Foul Omen: Caster takes –1 on all rolls for 1 hour.
73–75	Spell Echoes Elsewhere: The spell manifests 100–1000 ft away at random.
76–78	Vitality Leak: Caster loses 1d3 points of Constitution for 1 turn (fatigue aura).
79–81	Arcane Whip: Caster is knocked prone.
82–84	Shadow Flicker: Something mimics the caster’s shadow for 1 turn. Harmless but unsettling.
85–87	Planar Draft: A chill wind blows from nowhere; undead within 1 mile sense the caster.
88–90	Fail + Attract Minor Monster: Equivalent to a random monster roll.
91–95	Arcane Pulse: 1d6 damage to all creatures within 10 ft (save half).
96–99	Severe Shock: Caster stunned 1d4 rounds; lose 1d3 prepared spells.
100	Catastrophic: Roll once on the Major Backlash Table below.

Table: Spellbook Spell Failure / Major Backlash

d100	Result
01–05	Psychic Burn: 1d6 damage per spell level attempted; stunned 1 round.
06–08	Arcane Fever: –2 to all rolls, no spellcasting for 24 hours.
09–10	Witch-Marking: A permanent visible magical mark appears; –1 Charisma.
11–13	Memory Leak: Lose 1 prepared spell of each level. Highest levels first.
14–15	Reversal Cascade: Every beneficial effect on the caster reverses for 1 turn.
16–18	Wild Elemental Surge: Take 1d8 acid, cold, fire, or lightning damage (random).
19–21	Voice of the Spirits: Caster hears whispers for 1d6 hours. -2 on all rolls
22–24	Spirit Intrusion: Attempted possession (save vs. Spells or controlled 1d6 rounds).
25–27	Fates Displeasure: –1 to saving throws for 24 hours; omen appears.
28–30	Arcane Wound: Permanent –1 Constitution unless cured by heal, wish, or witch ritual.
31–33	Temporal Skip: Caster vanishes for 1d4 rounds and reappears confused for 1 round.
34–35	Spell Implosion: Lose all prepared spells of the highest level available.
36–37	Mana Scour: Drop to 0 spells; cannot cast for 12 hours. Spells return.
38–39	Grimoire Corruption: A spell in the caster’s book becomes unusable for 1 day. (Divine reroll)
40–41	Pain Curse: For 24 hours, all damage dealt to the caster is increased by +1 per die.
42–44	Aura Taint: Detect Magic/Good/Evil shows the caster as a random alignment for 1 day.
45–47	Attract Lesser Demon/Spirit (DM chooses): Negotiation may be required.
48–49	Blood Price: Lose 1d4 Strength for 24 hours.
50–52	Summoning Echo: A random outsider peers through briefly; 5% chance it steps through.
53–55	Arcane Feedback: Caster and all within 10 ft take 2d6 damage (save half).
56–57	Magic Reversal: The spell goes off but affects the absolute worst possible target.
58–59	Astral Flicker: Caster is partially astral for 1 turn; incorporeal but cannot act.
60–61	Possessed Insight: Gain a vision of the future, but also take 2d6 psychic damage.
62–63	Hexblight: Caster cannot benefit from magical healing for 24 hours.
64–65	Nightmare Veil: The next time the caster sleeps, they suffer a draining dream (lose 1d6 hp).
66–67	Witchfire Backlash: Caster burns with blue flame; take 1d6 damage and frighten nearby animals.
68–69	Feral Mind: –4 Intelligence and –4 Wisdom for 1 hour.
70–72	Undead Attraction: The nearest undead (within 1 mile) senses and seeks the caster.
73–74	Patron Claim (Occult only): The Patron asks a service (within 1 week). Refusal imposes -2 to all rolls. (Arcane/Divine reroll)
75–76	Contagion of Chaos: 10% chance for each magic effect within 30 ft to misfire.
77–78	Spell-Eater Aura: For 1 hour, any spell cast within 10 ft automatically fails.
79–80	Dimensional Shudder: Teleportation near caster is impossible for 1 day.
81–82	Grave Chill: Caster’s touch deals 1 cold damage per hit die for 10 minutes.
83–84	Shadow Doppelganger: A hostile shadow-copy of the caster manifests (HD = caster level –2).
85–87	Blood-Ink Words: Any further spellcasting today causes 1 hp damage per spell level.
88–89	Wards Collapse: Any magical protections on caster immediately expire.
90–91	Forbidden Knowledge: Gain a secret insight (DM chooses) but take 2 permanent hp loss.
92–93	Cataclysmic Surge: 3d6 force damage in 20 ft radius; save half.
94–95	Deathly Pallor: Caster appears undead to detection spells for 1 week.
96–97	Spellstorm: Roll a random spell of each level the caster can cast; all activate at once.
98–99	Arcane Rupture: Caster must save vs. Death Magic or die (success = 3d10 damage).
100	Grand Catastrophe: Roll twice more; both effects apply; the attempted spell explodes violently. Spellbook destroyed.

Any roll that results in an ability being reduced to 0 or below results in the death of the caster. Saving throw vs Death will instead place the caster in a coma until they are restored.

--

With the chances of death, destruction, and the potential loss of an entire spellbook, it is easy to see why many spellcasters treat casting higher level spells as something "they just can't do."

Attacked! By a Python!

Posting is likely to be a bit sporadic for a bit.

I started a new job and while I have expertise in SAS, SPSS, Statistica, and enough knowledge of R to get me into real trouble. My new gig needs me to know Python.

Like yesterday.

So I am battling a Python today.

I'll figure it out. 

Monstrous Mondays: Wyrdcat

Carla Bosteder from Pixabay

 I am working on another piece of something that may or may not involve my "The One Who Remains."  Think of this as a warm-up sketch an artist would do before getting into their main composition. 

As it turns out, this also makes a decent OGL-ready version of a Displacer Beast. This is based on a monster we used to use called a "Tessercat." 

Wyrdcat

Dimensional Apex Predator

“It isn’t invisible. It’s just in three places you’re not.”

- Notes from the Archives of Killian Mazior

The Wyrdcat is a predator from beyond the edges of known planes, not born of one world, but between them. It is not native to any reality, and perhaps not even alive by most definitions. When Killian’s Tower began drawing in unstable planar energies, the Wyrdcat slipped through. A wandering apex hunter, now trapped within the folds of fractured dimensions.

Though feline in form, the Wyrdcat is a thing of quantum uncertainty and temporal stutter. It appears as a sleek, panther-like creature with oily black fur, three shadow-laced tails, and eyes that glint in colors no one can name. Its form pulses with fractured reflections. At any given moment, it may exist in multiple nearby positions, flickering like an unsynced illusion.

It hunts with the precision and cruelty of a big cat; stalking, pouncing, toying with prey before the kill. The laws of space and time bend around it. Some say it sees not just where a creature is, but where it was and will be. Those who survive a Wyrdcat encounter speak of claws that cut through armor, wounds that reappear after healing, and psychic echoes that return in dreams.

Behavior

Solitary Apex Predator: The Wyrdcat hunts alone. It marks its territory across multiple overlapping realities. If another apex predator enters its distorted hunting grounds, it becomes immediately aggressive.

Reality Drifter: The Wyrdcat can manipulate its form to align with different versions of reality. This shift can cause localized changes in reality, resulting in distorted probability fields. (This results in the players needing to use different dice to roll for initiative, to hit, and damage. It can also cause the local "rules" to shift between editions of the game.)

Mirror Flicker: It always appears in three semi-distinct forms: one solid, two afterimages or preimages. Only one is real at any time, and it may shift between them without warning.

Dimensional Stalker: It may pursue prey even after they plane shift, teleport, or escape into another zone of the tower. It remembers where they will be.

Wyrdcat (1st Edition)

Frequency: Very Rare
No. Appearing: 1 (always solitary)
Armor Class: 2
Move: 15"
Hit Dice: 7+2
% in Lair: 5%
Treasure Type: Q (×10), X
No. of Attacks: 2 claws / 1 bite
Damage/Attack: 2–8 / 2–8 / 2–12
Special Attacks: Surprise (90%), planar pounce
Special Defenses: Mirror Flicker (see below), +2 or better weapon to hit
Magic Resistance: 25%
Intelligence: Low (animal cunning)
Alignment: Neutral
Size: L (8–10' long)
Psionic Ability: Nil

The Wyrdcat is a sleek, black-furred feline predator from beyond the known planes. Though it resembles a panther or great jungle cat, the Wyrdcat’s form flickers unnaturally between overlapping dimensions, accompanied by afterimages that move out of sync with its body. Its three shadow-tailed limbs seem to lag or stutter through space, and its eyes shimmer with alien colors beyond mortal comprehension.

Wyrdcats are not native to any world. They are planar anomalies. Believed to be either accidents of cross-dimensional entropy or the predatory echoes of something far older and deeper. The creatures now prowl the fringes of unstable magical structures such as witch gates, collapsed covensites, and reality-warped ruins.

Though bestial in nature, Wyrdcats hunt with a cruel cunning. They stalk arcane spellcasters and dimensional travelers, and are particularly drawn to witches, warlocks, and those who have tampered with interplanar forces.

The Wyrdcat attacks via a claw/claw/bite routine common to large cat predators. Each claw can do 2-8 (2d4) hp worth of damage, while its bite can do 2-12 (2d6).

Mirror Flicker (Special Defense)

The Wyrdcat constantly flickers between three visible forms. It functions as if under a permanent mirror image spell with two false images. The true form randomly shifts every round. Attacks against the creature have a 66% chance to target an illusion unless the attacker has true seeing or similar magic.

Planar Pounce (Special Attack)

Once per encounter, the Wyrdcat may teleport up to 30 feet to attack as if using a dimension door. This grants it +2 to hit and imposes a -2 penalty on the target's surprise roll.

Edition Flux (Optional Rule)

Once per turn, the GM may declare that the Wyrdcat is using mechanics from a different edition (i.e., switch initiative methods, AC rules, etc.). Players must quickly adapt.

Wyrdcat (3.5 Edition)
Large Magical Beast

Hit Dice: 8d10+32 (76 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), planar pounce 1/day
AC: 18 (–1 size, +4 Dex, +5 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 14
Base Atk/Grapple: +8/+17
Attack: Claw +12 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack: 2 claws +12 melee (1d8+5), bite +7 melee (2d6+5)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with claws)
Special Attacks: Planar Pounce
Special Qualities: Mirror Flicker, Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, DR 5/magic, SR 18
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +10, Will +5
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 19, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +8, Listen +8, Move Silently +12, Spot +8
Feats: Multiattack, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (claw)
Environment: Any extraplanar
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Neutral
Advancement: 9–12 HD (Large); 13–18 HD (Huge)

The Wyrdcat is a sleek, black-furred feline predator from beyond the known planes. Though it resembles a panther or great jungle cat, the Wyrdcat’s form flickers unnaturally between overlapping dimensions, accompanied by afterimages that move out of sync with its body. Its three shadow-tailed limbs seem to lag or stutter through space, and its eyes shimmer with alien colors beyond mortal comprehension.

Wyrdcats are not native to any world. They are planar anomalies. Believed to be either accidents of cross-dimensional entropy or the predatory echoes of something far older and deeper. The creatures now prowl the fringes of unstable magical structures such as witch gates, collapsed covensites, and reality-warped ruins.

Though bestial in nature, Wyrdcats hunt with a cruel cunning. They stalk arcane spellcasters and dimensional travelers, and are particularly drawn to witches, warlocks, and those who have tampered with interplanar forces.

The Wyrdcat attacks via a claw/claw/bite routine common to large cat predators. Each claw can do 1d8+5 hp worth of damage, while its bite can do 2d6+5.

Mirror Flicker (Su): The Wyrdcat exists partially in multiple dimensions. It is constantly under an effect similar to mirror image, generating 2 illusory copies of itself. These cannot be dispelled normally. True seeing reveals the true form.

Planar Pounce (Su): Once per day as a free action, the Wyrdcat may teleport up to 30 feet before making a full attack. This does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Edition Flux (Ex): Once per encounter, the Wyrdcat may twist reality, forcing all initiative to be rerolled using d10 (2e style) or d6 (1e style), randomly determined. It may also alter damage reduction, attack styles, or magic resistance at the GM’s discretion.

Wyrdcat (D&D 5e)
Large monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class 16 (natural armor, flickering defense)
Hit Points 95 (10d10 + 40)
Speed 40 ft.

STR 20 (+5)
DEX 18 (+4)
CON 18 (+4)
INT 6 (–2)
WIS 14 (+2)
CHA 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +5
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +8
Damage Resistances force, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages —

Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

The Wyrdcat is a sleek, black-furred feline predator from beyond the known planes. Though it resembles a panther or great jungle cat, the Wyrdcat’s form flickers unnaturally between overlapping dimensions, accompanied by afterimages that move out of sync with its body. Its three shadow-tailed limbs seem to lag or stutter through space, and its eyes shimmer with alien colors beyond mortal comprehension.

Wyrdcats are not native to any world. They are planar anomalies. Believed to be either accidents of cross-dimensional entropy or the predatory echoes of something far older and deeper. The creatures now prowl the fringes of unstable magical structures such as witch gates, collapsed covensites, and reality-warped ruins.

Though bestial in nature, Wyrdcats hunt with a cruel cunning. They stalk arcane spellcasters and dimensional travelers, and are particularly drawn to witches, warlocks, and those who have tampered with interplanar forces.

Mirror Flicker.

The Wyrdcat projects two illusory versions of itself, similar to the mirror image spell. At the start of each turn, roll 1d6. On a 1–4, the attack targets an illusion, which vanishes; on a 5–6, the attack targets the real creature. If all images are destroyed, they regenerate at the start of the Wyrdcat’s next turn.

Planar Pounce (1/Day).

As a bonus action, the Wyrdcat teleports up to 30 feet to a space it can see and makes a full multiattack.

Reality Flux (Recharge 5–6).

The Wyrdcat distorts the battlefield. Until the end of its next turn:

• All initiative rerolls use a d10 or d6
• Saving throws use the 3e categories (Fort/Ref/Will).
• AC is treated as descending (lower = better) for targeting purposes.

This affects PCs and NPCs alike. Creatures with truesight are unaffected.

Actions 

Multiattack. The wyrdcat makes two attacks with its claws and one attack with its bite.

Claw.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target

Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.

If the target is a spellcaster concentrating on a spell, it must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or lose concentration due to the Wyrdcat’s disruptive phasing claws.

Bite.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target

Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage.

If this attack reduces a creature to 0 hit points, the Wyrdcat may teleport up to 30 feet as a free action at the start of its next turn (Planar Reflex Surge).