Wow. What a busy week really.
Tonight is 2nd Ed. AD&D, a continuation of our Basic game from two-weeks ago. But I am dead tired.
So here is a size comparison of some Dragons. Happy Friday!
Friday, May 2, 2014
Dungeons.. AND Dragons.
So week end wrap up.
Wow. What a busy week really.
Tonight is 2nd Ed. AD&D, a continuation of our Basic game from two-weeks ago. But I am dead tired.
So here is a size comparison of some Dragons. Happy Friday!
Wow. What a busy week really.
Tonight is 2nd Ed. AD&D, a continuation of our Basic game from two-weeks ago. But I am dead tired.
So here is a size comparison of some Dragons. Happy Friday!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
All Star RPG Q&A #2
Tonight I am participating in Dan Davenport's All Star RPG Q&A #2.
Check his blog for a list of who is participating,
http://gmshoe.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/all-star-qa-2-lineup/
It will be tonight 7pm to 10pm Central time.
If you want to come by to ask me or anyone else questions then I would love to see you there.
http://tinyurl.com/rpgnet-audience
If you come by I am sure to say something about old school gaming, but I am also going to talk about horror games, Ghosts of Albion and Victorian games in general.
The last one I did was supposed to go for an hour and the questions kept me on for 3 instead!
So come on by!
Check his blog for a list of who is participating,
http://gmshoe.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/all-star-qa-2-lineup/
It will be tonight 7pm to 10pm Central time.
If you want to come by to ask me or anyone else questions then I would love to see you there.
http://tinyurl.com/rpgnet-audience
If you come by I am sure to say something about old school gaming, but I am also going to talk about horror games, Ghosts of Albion and Victorian games in general.
The last one I did was supposed to go for an hour and the questions kept me on for 3 instead!
So come on by!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
A to Z of Witches. Z
Z is for Zodiac
I was going to do Zatanna today, and really I should since my normal Zatannurday posts have been taking a hit for the A to Z. But instead I want to talk about something else.
Growing up in the 70s I was exposed to what I like to call a lot of "left over hippy shit". One of those was Astrology. Now I knew astrology was bullshit at a very early age, but I also grew up up when people would ask "what's your sign?". As typical with anything from the 70s occult era, it somehow made it's way into my writings on the witch. So witches, by my reasoning, are all very much into horoscopes and everything.
This manifests itself in my book The Witch as the Aquarian Witch.
I have always imagined my "iconic" Aquarian witch as a blonde, waify, looking hippy chick. Stereotypical? Yeah. I never claimed to be 100% original. For a while I had a couple different characters that fit this iconic image, top of that list was Megan Maclay nee O'Kelly from my Season of the Witch game. But the best example might be Misty Day from American Horror Story: Coven.
What I really want to do with the Aquarian Witch is expand their beliefs and add more spells based on Zodiac signs.
I would stick with Classical Zodiac 12 signs like Gemini, Ares, and of course Aquarius. Though I might go with there common names like The Twins, the Ram and the Water Carrier instead. I am also still debating on whether or not to use Ophiuchus, the Snake Handler, as the 13th. I like 12 because there 12 hours on a clock and 12 months of the year. Also I have 12-sided dice. I like the idea of using "our" Zodiac as opposed to making one up. It gives me a lot different sources of materials to use and players can relate. Sure I can use Chinese, Celtic, Hindu or other Zodiacs as well.
In truth there is a lot about Astrology I don't know. Though for witch characters I will go online and input an approximate "birth date" and see what I come up with in terms of character traits. Not be a slave to those traits, but play them up more often. I really have no clue what I am reading, but I pick and choose as I like or what I feel works for the character.
Let's pick my favorite witch, Tara Maclay, who I say was born on November 7, 1980.
Here is her natal chart.
While I can certainly see "brave" not so much the "popular". But like I said, I'll pick and choose.
For my iconic witch Larina, I had to move to modern times, but that is easy. Her natal chart I can make more use out of.
Has anyone out there tried this with their characters? Does it work? Are you happy with what you get?
Supernatural AtoZ
I was going to do Zatanna today, and really I should since my normal Zatannurday posts have been taking a hit for the A to Z. But instead I want to talk about something else.
Growing up in the 70s I was exposed to what I like to call a lot of "left over hippy shit". One of those was Astrology. Now I knew astrology was bullshit at a very early age, but I also grew up up when people would ask "what's your sign?". As typical with anything from the 70s occult era, it somehow made it's way into my writings on the witch. So witches, by my reasoning, are all very much into horoscopes and everything.
This manifests itself in my book The Witch as the Aquarian Witch.
The Aquarian Witch looks to the stars, planets and beyond to divine the secrets of the universe. The meaning each witch divines can vary from witch to witch and they will often disagree on what the signs and portents mean, but they all share a common belief; that a new astrological age is coming and the change will be profound. Whether this change will be good or ill is at present unknown.So this looking to the stars is less Call of Cthulhu "when the stars are right" and more "Age of Aquarius".
The Aquarian Witch often serves as an astrologer, soothsayer and diviner of fortunes. They are learned in the ways of the motions of the stars, planets, sun and moon so there is a practical, even mundane, application of their skills.
I have always imagined my "iconic" Aquarian witch as a blonde, waify, looking hippy chick. Stereotypical? Yeah. I never claimed to be 100% original. For a while I had a couple different characters that fit this iconic image, top of that list was Megan Maclay nee O'Kelly from my Season of the Witch game. But the best example might be Misty Day from American Horror Story: Coven.
I would stick with Classical Zodiac 12 signs like Gemini, Ares, and of course Aquarius. Though I might go with there common names like The Twins, the Ram and the Water Carrier instead. I am also still debating on whether or not to use Ophiuchus, the Snake Handler, as the 13th. I like 12 because there 12 hours on a clock and 12 months of the year. Also I have 12-sided dice. I like the idea of using "our" Zodiac as opposed to making one up. It gives me a lot different sources of materials to use and players can relate. Sure I can use Chinese, Celtic, Hindu or other Zodiacs as well.
In truth there is a lot about Astrology I don't know. Though for witch characters I will go online and input an approximate "birth date" and see what I come up with in terms of character traits. Not be a slave to those traits, but play them up more often. I really have no clue what I am reading, but I pick and choose as I like or what I feel works for the character.
Let's pick my favorite witch, Tara Maclay, who I say was born on November 7, 1980.
Here is her natal chart.
While I can certainly see "brave" not so much the "popular". But like I said, I'll pick and choose.
For my iconic witch Larina, I had to move to modern times, but that is easy. Her natal chart I can make more use out of.
Has anyone out there tried this with their characters? Does it work? Are you happy with what you get?
Supernatural AtoZ
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Strange Brew Kickstarter is back!
The new video for my Kickstarter is now up.
I am re-kicking off "Strange Brew: The Ultimate Witch & Warlock" again soon. This is going to be the ultimate book of witches, warlocks and pretty much everything I have been doing for the last 13 years.
But here, let me tell you about it.
This book with be for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. It would be compatible with any 3.x d20 game you choose to play.
We have taken some time to trim the book down a bit, but it will still be a huge book. I have a ton of material and I am not alone in this project.
What I want to do here is the same thing that was done for Wizards in Deep Magic and Psychics in Ultimate Psionics. These are also massive books at 378 pages and 452 pages respectively. So a book on witches, warlock, their prestige classes and spells will come in around the same size.
Also everything is written. We have some careful editing to do to get down to our target size, but really if you have liked my work in the past then this will like this one too.
I plan on getting more video up, but vloging is really not my thing.
We are getting some great art and here is one of our firsts, the iconic witch Larina and her familiar Cotton.
This is going to be a great book!
I am re-kicking off "Strange Brew: The Ultimate Witch & Warlock" again soon. This is going to be the ultimate book of witches, warlocks and pretty much everything I have been doing for the last 13 years.
But here, let me tell you about it.
This book with be for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. It would be compatible with any 3.x d20 game you choose to play.
We have taken some time to trim the book down a bit, but it will still be a huge book. I have a ton of material and I am not alone in this project.
What I want to do here is the same thing that was done for Wizards in Deep Magic and Psychics in Ultimate Psionics. These are also massive books at 378 pages and 452 pages respectively. So a book on witches, warlock, their prestige classes and spells will come in around the same size.
Also everything is written. We have some careful editing to do to get down to our target size, but really if you have liked my work in the past then this will like this one too.
I plan on getting more video up, but vloging is really not my thing.
We are getting some great art and here is one of our firsts, the iconic witch Larina and her familiar Cotton.
This is going to be a great book!
A to Z of Witches. Y
Y is for Yama-uba
Yama-uba is a mountain witch or hag from Japanese culture.
The issue with Japanese creatures and myths, at least from western eyes, is that Yama-uba could be a witch, a hag, a ghost, a demon or somehow all the above at the same time! Certainly makes them fun.
What separates these creatures from western hags is that the Yama-uba has a second mouth on the top of her head. She uses this one to eat while her "regular" mouth can be used to hold conversations. Interestingly this does not make her unique in Japanese culture. The Futakuchi-onna also has a second mouth on the back of her head. Maybe in myth these started out as the same creature and then split or two local creatures that adopted the same traits.
The Yama-uba is described otherwise very much like the western Hag; old, large and potentially cannibalistic. Alternately she is also described as having a dark face with large white eyes.
This has lead to a couple of strange pop-culture trends in Japan. First is the Pokemon Jinx, that looks like the descriptions of Yama-uba. She is of course a psychic Pokemon.
There is also the Yamanba fad (is that the right word for this) that Japanese girls have participated in.
Yama-uba
AC: 5 [14]
Hit Dice: 10d8+10* (54 hp)
No. of Attacks: 2 claws + 1 bite
Damage: 1d8/1d8 + 1d6
Special: Charm, Dance, Shape Change, Spell use
Movement: 20'/40'
No. Appearing: 1
Saves As: Witch 10
Morale: 11
Treasure: 1d12 Gems (1d10x10 gps each)
Alignment: Chaotic
XP: 2,300
Yama-uba is large creature related to the common hags and the night hag. She has two forms that are her most often used. The first, and the one that many claim is her true form, is that of a grossly bloated hag. Her hair is black and wiry and her skin is molted and yellow from disease. Open sores cover her skin and her breath is foul. Due to her size her movement is slowed.
Her second form, Yamanba, is more appealing. Her skin is dark, almost blue or violet and her hair varies from light blonde to platinum. In this form she move twice as fast. There must be some reason why she can't remain in this form.
In both form the Yama-uba favors red dresses.
The Yama-uba is a cannibalistic monster that prefers to eat small children, but like many hags she has been known to care for children that evil parents have left to die.
The Yama-uba can cast any charm-like witch spell as a 10th level witch. She will typically augment this with dance which in her Yamanba form will provide a -2 penalty to any save vs charm.
Yama-uba, despite their appearance and diet, are often sought out for magical advice. If the Yama-uba so decides she can grant as many boons as she likes. Typically this takes the shape of either knoweldge or a +1 to hit, damage and saves for 24 hours. She can also just decide to eat anyone that walks into her land.
Supernatural AtoZ
Yama-uba is a mountain witch or hag from Japanese culture.
The issue with Japanese creatures and myths, at least from western eyes, is that Yama-uba could be a witch, a hag, a ghost, a demon or somehow all the above at the same time! Certainly makes them fun.
What separates these creatures from western hags is that the Yama-uba has a second mouth on the top of her head. She uses this one to eat while her "regular" mouth can be used to hold conversations. Interestingly this does not make her unique in Japanese culture. The Futakuchi-onna also has a second mouth on the back of her head. Maybe in myth these started out as the same creature and then split or two local creatures that adopted the same traits.
The Yama-uba is described otherwise very much like the western Hag; old, large and potentially cannibalistic. Alternately she is also described as having a dark face with large white eyes.
This has lead to a couple of strange pop-culture trends in Japan. First is the Pokemon Jinx, that looks like the descriptions of Yama-uba. She is of course a psychic Pokemon.
 |
| Jinx |
 |
| Ventisca the Yama-uba |
AC: 5 [14]
Hit Dice: 10d8+10* (54 hp)
No. of Attacks: 2 claws + 1 bite
Damage: 1d8/1d8 + 1d6
Special: Charm, Dance, Shape Change, Spell use
Movement: 20'/40'
No. Appearing: 1
Saves As: Witch 10
Morale: 11
Treasure: 1d12 Gems (1d10x10 gps each)
Alignment: Chaotic
XP: 2,300
Yama-uba is large creature related to the common hags and the night hag. She has two forms that are her most often used. The first, and the one that many claim is her true form, is that of a grossly bloated hag. Her hair is black and wiry and her skin is molted and yellow from disease. Open sores cover her skin and her breath is foul. Due to her size her movement is slowed.
Her second form, Yamanba, is more appealing. Her skin is dark, almost blue or violet and her hair varies from light blonde to platinum. In this form she move twice as fast. There must be some reason why she can't remain in this form.
In both form the Yama-uba favors red dresses.
The Yama-uba is a cannibalistic monster that prefers to eat small children, but like many hags she has been known to care for children that evil parents have left to die.
The Yama-uba can cast any charm-like witch spell as a 10th level witch. She will typically augment this with dance which in her Yamanba form will provide a -2 penalty to any save vs charm.
Yama-uba, despite their appearance and diet, are often sought out for magical advice. If the Yama-uba so decides she can grant as many boons as she likes. Typically this takes the shape of either knoweldge or a +1 to hit, damage and saves for 24 hours. She can also just decide to eat anyone that walks into her land.
Supernatural AtoZ
Monday, April 28, 2014
A to Z of Witches. X
X is for Xothia
The Xothia is a the witch of the dwarves. Back when 3.0 D&D came out a change in the rules opened all classes to all races. That left me with an interesting problems. I had half-elf, half-orc, and even goblin witches were like, but never considered dwarves, halfling or gnome witches would be like.
I was sitting in a research meeting at work on day, a student was presenting but I didn't need to pay attention. So I set down and wrote these words "for as long as anyone can remember Roryn was the Xothia of the Rock".
The Xothia is the witch of the dwarven people. Dwarves are depicted as lawful, dour and non-magical. The Xothia was a chaotic, bright and very magical creature. In other words, more elf-like. From this point the ideas just flowed.
I decided that the worst things that can happen to any dwarf are removal from clan and family and shaving off their beard. The xothia deals with both of these as part of her life. First when a dwarf learns she is a xothia she moves away from her home. She is still a part of the community, but she is also apart.
How does a dwarf, male or female, learn they are a witch? They never grow a beard.
In my world dwarves, male and female, grow beards and these beards are a measure of their standing int he clan. For dwarves a fully beard indicates virility and overall health. A xothia never grows a beard. For a male this is devastating; in fact the best way to shame or dishonor a dwarf is to remove his beard. For a dwarven woman lack of a beard means she would not be able to have children. It's not true, but it is a belief.
She typically will wear long, brightly colored dresses. Minimal gold jewelry (it reminds them too much of the home they left). Their homes are bright lit with lanterns that cast light in multiple colors.
The Rock is the home of the Xothia. Typically 6 to 7 witches will live at the Rock, all under the direction of The Xothia, the oldest witch of the group. In my world the current Xothia is Roryn.
I talked about her when the first Hobbit movie came out.
Over the years I have really gotten to like the xothia. Dwarves are an interesting race, so the witches of the dwarves should be as equally interesting. I have not come up with any other xothia other than Roryn, but her story is interesting and I think there is more to tell about her.
Supernatural AtoZ
The Xothia is a the witch of the dwarves. Back when 3.0 D&D came out a change in the rules opened all classes to all races. That left me with an interesting problems. I had half-elf, half-orc, and even goblin witches were like, but never considered dwarves, halfling or gnome witches would be like.
I was sitting in a research meeting at work on day, a student was presenting but I didn't need to pay attention. So I set down and wrote these words "for as long as anyone can remember Roryn was the Xothia of the Rock".
The Xothia is the witch of the dwarven people. Dwarves are depicted as lawful, dour and non-magical. The Xothia was a chaotic, bright and very magical creature. In other words, more elf-like. From this point the ideas just flowed.
I decided that the worst things that can happen to any dwarf are removal from clan and family and shaving off their beard. The xothia deals with both of these as part of her life. First when a dwarf learns she is a xothia she moves away from her home. She is still a part of the community, but she is also apart.
How does a dwarf, male or female, learn they are a witch? They never grow a beard.
In my world dwarves, male and female, grow beards and these beards are a measure of their standing int he clan. For dwarves a fully beard indicates virility and overall health. A xothia never grows a beard. For a male this is devastating; in fact the best way to shame or dishonor a dwarf is to remove his beard. For a dwarven woman lack of a beard means she would not be able to have children. It's not true, but it is a belief.
She typically will wear long, brightly colored dresses. Minimal gold jewelry (it reminds them too much of the home they left). Their homes are bright lit with lanterns that cast light in multiple colors.
The Rock is the home of the Xothia. Typically 6 to 7 witches will live at the Rock, all under the direction of The Xothia, the oldest witch of the group. In my world the current Xothia is Roryn.
I talked about her when the first Hobbit movie came out.
Over the years I have really gotten to like the xothia. Dwarves are an interesting race, so the witches of the dwarves should be as equally interesting. I have not come up with any other xothia other than Roryn, but her story is interesting and I think there is more to tell about her.
Supernatural AtoZ
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Zatannurday: Evil-Lyn Attacks!
Last week I shared the awful Turmoil in the Toybox series. So I thought today might be a good day to share some my favorite toy witches!
Might as well start with the undisputed star of early 80s toy-franchise insanity. The Mistress of Evil Magic herself, Evil-Lyn!
Evil-Lyn and Zatanna do have something in common. If you have been here for any length of time you know that the best writer for Zatanna is Paul Dini. Paul Dini got his start on Masters of the Universe and her wrote the famous Evil-Lyn episode "The Witch and The Warrior"
Who would win in a fight? Well this guy goes with Zatanna.
Evil Lyn by Inspector97 on deviantART
Evil-Lyn by DarioJart on deviantART
Evil Lyn by Dangerous-Beauty778 on deviantART
Evil-Lyn by berkheit on deviantART
Sketch 363 - Dragon Con by MatteoScalera on deviantART
EVIL-Lyn by vashperado on deviantART
Sketch Card #116 - Evil-Lyn version 2 by destinyhelix on deviantART
MOTU: Evil-Lyn by grantgoboom on deviantART
Evil Lyn by AngryDogStudios on deviantART
Megacon 2014: Skeletor and Evil-Lyn by pgw-Chaos on deviantART
Evil-Lyn by Inspector97 on deviantART
I have to admit. There have been these DC vs. Master's of the Universe packs out, but non for Zatanna or Evil-Lyn. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
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