Alright I was holding off on posting an update until I had more stuff that looks pretty and shows well, but I've been doing a lot of work in different places that are all still partially complete and, well, there's a lot of it and the time has come to let you all know what I've been up to.

So instead of something fancy like a new video, we're doing a classic blog post!

⚔️ The Blades of Gixa

Spreads: I've been working on more level spreads, especially the next one, the Jade Kingdom. None are quite ready for a video just yet, but that's coming!

Playtesting: I've been playtesting the megadungeon in earnest with a few groups using Old School Essentials as a kind of "neutral" OSR system. Since OSR games are generally based on B/X D&D, and since OSE is mostly just a restatement of B/X, it seemed like the natural choice for playtesting in a fairly "system-neutral" kinda way. I have of course been making rules tweaks as is my wont.

New Materials: Playtesting has been really helpful for working out what information needs to be where, what parts of the levels I've completed are undercooked, etc. And it's really forced me to push hard on generating background material, especially tables, to use with the dungeon. (Thanks, players!!) To help me run my games, I've made:

• 2 d20 Fungus Tables for all the fungi PCs can forage in the dungeon.
• A treasure discovery system inspired by Courtney Campbell's Treasure, Dolmenwood, and goblin.zone's Treasure Generator for Knave, along with lots of tables:
  • Treasure Type (12 entries)
  • Armor: type (4), material (6), magic effects (20)
  • Artworks: types and various attributes (6x6), valuation (6), magic effects (8)
  • Books: types (3), diary types (4), spellbook rules, esoteric subjects (130)
  • Clothing: types (12), magic effects (20)
  • Coins: types (6), magic effects (3), optional denominations (6)
  • Furnishings: types (12), materials (5), magic effects for:
    • Storage/containers/ceramic (6)
    • Seats/lounging/sleeping (6)
    • Light fixtures (6)
    • Tables/ceremonial (6)
    • Floor covering (6)
    • Washing (6)
    • Utility (2)
  • Gems: quality (3), material (3 x 8), magic effects (20)
  • Ingots: material (6), magic effects (3)
  • Jewelry: type (12), material (6x2), magic effects (20)
  • Scrolls & potions: distribution (3), scroll rules, potion types (d6x6)
  • Unique magic items (44 entries so far, WIP)
  • Weapons: type (12), material (6), magic rules for wands & staves, magic effects for other weapons (20)
• Faction bios for surface and 1st-level factions
• Official Proclamations for players to find posted in Baintoch:
  • The "Baths Plunder" proclamation, outlining the House of Bain's official policy regarding the territory underneath the town. (Included at the end of this post!)
  • The "Highfleet Embassy" proclamation, declaring the establishment of an embassy for the rogue Highfleet under protection of the shadowy Admiralty Evidence Bureau.
• Character Generation Rules for making new characters in the world of Gixa.
• XP Recommendations for giving players additional ways to advance if solely focusing on all those treasures isn't your thing.

💯 HUNDREDS

It's been a bit since HUNDREDS got an update, but I've been working on a couple of new BIG tables full of dastardly stuff. Maybe I should make some smaller bonus tables to tide everyone over in the meantime though...any tables you'd particularly like to see?

🔊 tat

tat is now open-source, and has gotten its first update using contributed code, with 2 new themes and improvements to existing themes, available on GitHub and Itch!

🐀 Rat Fuck

I've playtested Rat Fuck a fair amount, and have been working on updating and expanding the system a little bit. I've also been working w a very cool collaborator on illustrations for the 1.0 version, more on that soon.

For better or worse, Rat Fuck has stuck as the name of the game, though I am considering offering a kid-friendly PDF options called, idk, Rat Heck or something like that.

And finally, Making & playing Rat Fuck has given me lots of insights into things I do/don't like about RPG systems. I think the identity of Rat Fuck is pretty settled with its current core rules but this has led me into developing what might turn out to be 1 or 2 additional small RPG systems. If that's where it goes I swear I'll give them better names. Or I'll try at least.

⚫️ paradiso.zone

Companion members at paradiso.zone can now enter the three words for their immortalization right on their account page! I've also been working on the videos for the next few immortal statues...

🔥 A simple new system for random encounters, torches, etc. for OSRish games

I made one with some cool features, still playtesting it. Stay tuned!

🪎 The "Baths Plunder" Proclamation

A PROCLAMATION.

By Lady Ilsten Bain,
of the House of Bain,
Governess of the Grand Admiralty Isle of Montiri,
& Mayoress of the Towne of Baintoch,

For the Rejuvenation of the Governorship
And Prosperity of Its People.

WHEREAS the Baths of St. Orvus, once the Pride of Baintoch and Source of Healing and Prosperity for its People, have long lain fallow beneath the Towne, its resident Koboldes Negligent in their Ancestral Promise to Maintain them;

and whereas numerous Smugglers and Bandits now take up Residence in said Baths and invite Lawlessness, Violence, and Criminal Enterprise therein;

and whereas Wealth, Gifts, and other Artefacts gathered across Centuries of Operation of said Baths, rightfully the Property of the House of Bain, remain Interred beneath the Ground,

THEREFORE does the Lady Bain see fit to to issue this Proclamation, calling for Persons of Enterprising and Adventurous Spirit, to Enter the Baths, to Remove Dangerous and Undesirable Elements in order to Make said Baths Safe for Use once again, and to Retrieve the Lost Wealth and Treasures rightly belonging to Lady Bain, returning them to the Towne of Baintoch. As Reward, the Most Generous Lady Bain offers such Persons fully one-half of all Wealth and Treasures so recovered, and Additional Recompense for Evidence of Dangers Corrected.

THEREFORE Towne Guardsmen of Baintoch shall be posted to Each Merchant and Money-Changer on the Isle, in order to Correctly and Equitably Ascertain and Determine the Apportionment of said Wealth upon sale. Furthermore, persons wishing to Present Evidence of Dangers Corrected are instructed to do so at the Hall of Justice. Guardsmen also shall be posted to the Docks in the Hamlet of Harboko in order to Ensure that any such Wealth being Removed from the Isle is Properly Accounted for and so Apportioned. Any Persons purchasing such Recovered Wealth are Required to Set Aside the Portion reserved for the House of Bain, maintaining a Ledger and making Regular Reports and Payments to the House of Coin in Baintoch.

THUS shall the Prosperity of the Governorship of Montiri and its People be Assured henceforth, through Bounties on Criminal Elements and Apportionment of Treasure Recovered.

SO IT IS PROCLAIMED, on this 1st of Arven of our Year of Sorrows 3623,
By the Governess Lady Ilsten Bain.