(Kickstarter) East Texas University: Fresh Blood for Savage Worlds by Pinnacle Entertainment Group

Over a decade since the original book came out, East Texas University finally gets an update, both to the material, as well as an upgrade to the latest edition of Savage Worlds with East Texas University: Fresh Blood.

From the Kickstarter itself:

Study. Party. Fight evil.  So what is ETU? East Texas University is a college horror setting for the Savage Worlds roleplaying game. It takes place at a small but renowned college in the fantastic Southern climate of Pinebox, Texas. Pinebox has been the epicenter of supernatural disturbances for generations. But nobody really believes in that stuff, so students still flock to ETU thanks to generous scholarships, prestigious courses, and the active social scene…even if not everyone survives their college experience.   Players must contend with annoying roommates, murderous professors, and things that go bump in the night...all while trying to maintain good grades and graduate! Enroll at your own risk.  The original East Texas University released in 2014 for Savage Worlds Explorer's Edition. Savage Worlds has evolved since then to the Adventure Edition (SWADE), so now ETU is offering a refresher course!

While I haven't played the original in its original form, I have used the plethora of adventures for 20-year old Illuminati University (IOU) game, and the ones I haven't been able to use would make great material for multiple themes of strangeness and horror.  

(Backerkit) Starbeards! for Savage Worlds

 I get a lot of emails from the the companies that I've backed Kickstarters for.  I always take a peak, and many times the newest campaign isn't for me.  

Initially I didn't add two and two together with Fainting Goats and their latest campaign for Starbeards! for Savage Worlds.

Then I saw the artwork. 

It's the Savage Worlds version of DAMNIT, damnit! 

DAMNIT (Dwarven Assault, Mining, Neutralization, and Interception Teams) are the elite teams handling security on the galactic frontier.   As a man who loves space dwarves (even if I convert them to the realm of Gnomish Space Marines), DAMNIT is a great RPG system.  I have it keyed up as my back-up to my Monday night Gamma World campaign.   

I'm certain the Starbeards! version is taking full advantage of the Savage Worlds system (as I type this they've met their initial goal and have raised half the money in a day that original DAMNIT raised in a month.  

(Savage Worlds) Steamboat Willie - Affable Mouse Drifter #CharacterCreationChallenge

When the news of "Steamboat Willie" officially going into the public domain 2024, and the appearance of a Kickstarter based on this character, it was official: I only had 30 other characters to create for the #CharacterCreationChallenge.

Since the project imploded on me last year, Willie makes his appearance for Day 11 for 2025.

I'm including all the public domain cartoons from 1928 in the character concept, Plane Crazy, The Gallopin' Gaucho, and Steamboat Willie.  A host of other shorts became public domain as of January of this year, but that can be next year's project. 

Steamboat Willy the Mick, Affable Mouse Drifter  (Heroic) 

Attributes

Agility    d8

Smarts     d6

Strength   d4

Spirit       d10

Vigor      d8

Charisma: +2 (-2 to Animals see below)   

Pace:  6  

Parry: 6    

Toughness: 6

Edges:

• Combat Reflexes (+2 to recover from being Shaken)
• Improvisational Fighter
• Luck/Great Luck (+2 Bennies)
• McGuyver

Hindrances: 

• Mean Towards Animals (Minor) -2 Charisma to Animal Reactions. -2 Charisma if a humanoid creature witnesses the act first-hand.
• Enemy: Captain Pete/"Pete"/ "Pegleg Pete" (Minor)
• General Hatred of Parrots (Quirk)

Skills: 

• Boating (Ag) d4
• Climbing (St) d6
• Driving (Ag) d4
• Fighting (Ag) d8
• Knowledge (Dance) (Sm) d4
• Notice (Sm) d8
• Pilot: Airplane (Ag) d4-1   Watch the cartoon, he has no clue.
• Repair (Sm) d6
• Ride (Ag) d10
• Throwing (Ag) d10

Weapons/Equipment:

Potato Peeler

Serape

It's pretty simple, the earliest version of the mouse is a wanderer, a con man, a pushy date, and someone with no direction.  The intentional abuse towards animals is something that shocked even me, and I love old school cartoon violence.  

CB

Willie's Gal Pal Minnie  (Seasoned)

Agility     d8

Smarts     d8

Strength   d4

Spirit       d8

Vigor      d8

Charisma: +4 

Pace:  6  

Parry: 4 

Toughness: 6

Edge:

Charisma

Attractive

Hinderance:

Quirk - Refuses to see Mickey as the player he is

Quirk - Self-Indulgent.

Skills:

Fighting (Ag)  d4

Knowledge - Dance (Sm) d8

Knowledge - Ukelele (Sm) d4

Persuasion d10

Equipment:

Ukulele

Picnic Basket

Hat

Minnie is obviously rodent eye candy in a 1928 production, but she does have some skills.   For future considerations, she still has 5 skills points at creation to use. 

If I'm up to watching them all again (seriously, it's just over 20 minutes), I may stat out Pete.  

(Kickstarter) Savage Rifts: Europa

 Kickstarter is always better when Pinnacle and Palladium are active on.

The campaign book for Rifts for Savage Worlds:  Europa is now up and running.

From the Kickstarter, this campaign includes:

• Rifts® for Savage Worlds—Europa: With over 200 pages, this hardcover worldbook explores the British Isles, New German Republic, Neo Rome, the Phoenix Empire, the Brodkil Empire, the Gargoyle Empire, the Free Scandinavian Alliance, the Russian Frontier, and everything in between, including new character options and plenty of new gear found across the continent.
• Savage Foes of Europa: A 128 page hardcover book with statistics for the creatures and enemies found across Europa, plus Savage Tales and a Plot Point Campaign that draws the heroes of the Tomorrow Legion into danger all over the continent.
• Rifts® for Savage Worlds Map Pack 4—Europa Battlefields: A double-sided, 30" x 24" fold-out combat map. Sturdy, wet & dry erase, and great for tactical combat, it features the Millennium Tree Settlement and the Moscow Deadzone maps.
• Europa Boxed Set: This has it all! The Europa source book and Savage Foes of Europa, plus the Europa Battlefields map, six all-new Archetype Dossiers, Pawns for the heroes and foes of Europa, and a fold-out political map of the region! The two books and the Europa Battlefields maps are available separately, but the archetypes, pawns, and political map are only available as part of this box.

(Painting) Russian Train Crew by Brigade Games

Now that #RPGaDay2024 is over, we're back with our regular programming, at least until my October to September end-of-year wrap up at the end of the month.  

In one of those mini-miracles, something I picked up at Historicon is already painted up!

This is a Russian Train Crew from Brigade Games

I gotta get back to the tiny eyes, although these guys have obviously seen some shit. 

These guys are obviously allies of the mythical Alexander Mikoyan, the rogue Soviet agent keeping the Motherland safe.  These three, the "Temnye Relsy Okkultizma" are frontline scouts on the war against against inhuman creatures.  They scour the trains, looking for relics and nefarious folk, all in the propped up authority from Moscow.

And going through my "Zombie" case of minis, I remembered that the Armed Jews from Battle Valor should probably get a place in the lore, as allies, enemies, or both. 

I don't foresee myself painting up the Chinese Henchmen I also got from Brigade anytime soon, but I can at least say I have some Asian Pulp figures.

Next in the Queue:   28mm sci-fi, 1/285th sci-fi, and fantasy round out the items I'm trying to clear off the painting bench until my next year's projects change everything. 

Project 350:   This project, with the goal to keep my blog drafts and scheduled blog posts behind the scenes at 350 or fewer is, of course, horribly backlogged.  The blog is currently at 516 (319 drafts /197 scheduled posts) significantly up from 506 (327/179) after Historicon, when the project goes on hiatus due to all the posts for #RPGaDay.    I'm not too worried by the uptick remaining in scheduled posts.  The next week's worth of posts are already ready to go, a number of the Georic Gazetteer entries are complete, plus a few more future holiday posts.   While I probably won't clean off my notes until the end of the month, I think we're making some significant progress working through some of these drafts/ideas/etc.

And, for my own future reference, the posts I already have in the can, waiting to be released over the next five months: 

Rest of September 12

October                 10

November              8

December              8

January                 16

#RPGaDay2024 - Day 11 - RPG With Well-Supported One-Shots

Day 11 of #RPGaDay2024 and the question is... old school or new school?

"RPG With Well-Supported One Shots" 

The immediate no brainer is Call of Cthulhu.  

For an RPG in its fifth decade, there are plenty of Chaosium published one shots, tons of licensed products over the years, the Miskatonic Repository is a thing on DriveThruRPG, and let's not forget the piles of files available over at Yog-Sothoth.com.

Out of the first twenty sessions of my classic Call of Cthulhu campaign, I'd say I pulled two of them from campaign books, two came from the same sourcebook (Secrets of New York), and the rest were either one-shots out of the rulebook, out of magazines, or collections of unrelated scenarios. 

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention Pinnacle's efforts to provide Savage Worlds One-Sheets.  While a scenario on one sheet of paper isn't as robust as the Cthulhu library, I've found them well-balance, self-explanatory, and easy run.  

***CURRENT PLAYERS STOP READING***

I recently started using some of the one shots for Savage Rifts in my Gamma World campaign.  They've required some conversion and forced me to reference my copy of Savage Rifts.  The most critters stat blocks refer to the main rulebook.  Otherwise be creative!  No one has openly said that the rash of similar mutants in the region, the bright lights to the south, instead of the north is all connected.  Let's not even go into the militarization of the living metal as just discovered caches of Ancient technology, or perhaps the mass production for that tech.   

(Kickstarter) Savage Battlelords - Reprint Campaign by 23rd Century Productions

If I wanted an episode of "You know grinds my gears"  it's smaller companies running multiple Kickstarters for multiple printings, or worse yet, multiple editions when they hold print runs close to the vest and they print barely over Kickstarter demand and have no capital for a 2nd printing.

The  Savage Battlelords - Reprint Campaign by 23rd Century Productions is not one of these.  As the Kickstarter states, the Carnage Companion (CC) and Alliance Setting Guide (ASG) are getting a 2nd printing regardless of whether this Kickstarter succeeds, but the crowdsourcing allows pledges to get these book under retail.  The initial Core Rulebook for Battlelords of the 23rd Century for Savage Worlds is also available to order, and a 2nd printing is planned, but the publisher expects to provide 1st printing books during fulfillment.  

(Savage Worlds) Adrik the Rusalki - Deep One "Ally" - #CharacterCreationChallenge

Day 5 of the #CharacterCreationChallenge and we come upon Alexander Mikoyan untrustworthy ally:  Adrik the Rusalki.  

Aldrik the Rusalki, Deep One Rogue Sorcerer

Attributes

Agility      d6

Smarts     d10

Strength   d6

Spirit       d8

Vigor       d8

Charisma -6   Parry: 5  Toughness: 9  Armor: 2  Pace: 6+d6 Land/Water  Power Points: 20

Edges: 

Alertness  (+2 Perception)

Aquatic

Arcane Background

Low-Light

Improved Frenzy

Tough  (+1 Toughness)

Hindrances:
Bloodthirsty

Dehydration

Outsider

Wanted

Skills:

Arcane Spellcaster (Magic) (SM) d12

Climbing  (ST)  d6

Fighting  (AG) d10

Investigation (SM) d10

Knowledge: Arcana  (SM)  d8

Knowledge: Occult  (SM)  d8

Language: Russian (SM)  d6

Notice d4+2

Persuasion (SP)    d8

Stealth (AG)      d8

Swimming  (AG)  d8

Powers:  

Beast Friend 

Invisibility

Summon Ally

Slumber

Adrik the Rusalki

These creatures are members of the the Boloto clan, a perverse and decrepit family which rules the town of Ust'ye Kem in Northern Russia without resistance.  The Imperials refused to tread near the town, by foot or by sea, and even in darkest of times, the Soviets refused to even acknowledge this town existed.  

All the Soviets, save one:  Alexander Mikoyan.  He disobeyed direct order from the SV-8, infiltrated the town as a poor peddler, befriended Adrik the Rusalki, and attacked the (barely) underground Temple of Dagon.  The combination of mythos magicks and high explosives tore a hole in the ceiling, letting the River Kem flood the chambers.  It's unknown if the Boloto Rusalki have recovered from the attacks, but their efforts were hampered with Mikoyan absconding with their idols and a number of other trinkets.  Rumor has it that only some of the items made it back to his masters in the SV-8.

Adrik would be considered a hybrid of the hybrid Rusalki.  He has never completed his full transformation and was largely ostracized for their society.  Befriending the human that he knew was far more powerful and destructive than his disguise led on allowed Adrik a chance at revenge, and to leave Ust've Kem.  Neither truly trusted the other, but over the years they've accomplished much together, as Alexander is a bit of a pariah himself among his Soviet people.    They have saved each other's lives countless times over the years, and it would be a shame to put the human down, but he has a knack for showing Adrik the far more villainous and corrupt sides of humanity, especially these "Nazis" who are doing something far more vile and evil in ashes of a city called Stalingrad...

(Savage Worlds) Alexander Mikoyan - Rogue Soviet Agent of the Occult - #CharacterCreationChallenge

We shift today's character from Call of Cthulhu to Lovecraftian Savage Worlds, with a rogue agent of the Soviet Union, Alexander Mikoyan.  

Attributes

Agility    d6

Smarts     d6

Strength   d4

Spirit      d12

Vigor      d8

Charisma:  -2  Pace:  7+d10   Parry: 5  Toughness:  8

Notice +2   Fear Tests +2

Edges:  

Alertness (+2 Notice)
Brave (+2 Fear Tests)
Combat Reflexes (+2 to recover from being Shaken)
Elan
Fleet Footed
Killer Instinct
Luck
Scholar
Tough as Nails
Improved Tough as Nails
Two-Fisted
Woodsman

Hindrances: 

Elderly (-1 Pace, -1 to Strength and Vigor, +5 Skill Points)
Mean (-2 Charisma)
Overconfident
Wanted

Skills: 

Fighting (AG) d8
Intimidation (SP) d12
Investigation (SM) d6
Knowledge: Occult (SM) d8+2
Knowledge: German (SM) d8+2
Shooting (AG) d10
Stealth (AG) d8+2
Survival (SM) d8+2
Throwing (AG) d4
Tracking (SM) d8+2

Weapons:

Pick Axe (Str+8)
Pistol (12/24/48) 2d6+1

Alexander Mikoyan

Alexander Mikoyn has been around since the discovery of Lovecraftian Ghouls during the Russian Civil War, he jumped sides and joined SV-8 during Stalin's Purges, and he's either so deep into occult research that he's eluded Stalin's purges or Stalin's minions are too afraid to try anymore.  

By the time of this picture, it's the pinnacle of the vicious fighting in Stalingrad.  No man of his pedigree should have been with 300 kilometers of the battle, but reports of agents of the Karotechia moving to the city caused him grave concern.  His fears were realized, as they were able to release some sort of ritual to turn the piles of corpses into re-animated killing machines that no human was able to control.  

👽 Buckaroo Banzai for Savage Worlds

It's been 39 years since we were first blessed with the presence of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banazi Across the 8th Dimension.   A regular staple of the my Saturday afternoon HBO watching, I must admit I wasn't the fervent cult fanboy as many of my friends are.  

Statting out Buckaroo (from the movie) has been a long-term plan of mine, delayed in part of finding it on a streaming service AND getting time to watch and stat everything out.  So here's a first, full attempt at Buckaroo using the Explorer's Edition of Savage Worlds.  

Dr Buckaroo Banzai

Agility d8
Smarts d12
Strength d6
Spirit d8
Vigor d8

Charisma +4

Edges: Ace, Quick, Attractive, Charismatic, Command, Leader of Men, Jack-of-All-Trades, Gadgeteer, Followers (Team Banzai), Musical Adept, Luck

Hinderances: Arrogant (Science), Heroic, Overconfident

Skills:
Driving d8
Fighting d8
Fighting (Katana) d10
Notice d8
Persuasion d6
Piloting d12
Repair d10,
Shoot d6
Stealth d8
Knowledge (Physics) d20
Knowledge (Medicine) d20
Knowledge (Weird Science) d10

If I ever get time (and perhaps time to watch the movie again), I'll give out basic stats for the Hong Kong Cavaliers and Blue Blaze Irregulars for the 40th Anniversary of the movie. 

(Kickstarter) Savage World Fantasy Skirmish

Chalk this one up to the "I thought we already had this" category, but Graham Bottley and Arion Games have launched a Kickstarter for a licensed set of Savage World Fantasy Skirmish Wargaming Rules

There was already a perfectly serviceable set of skirmish rules, Savage Showdown, that as of this writing, are still available for free on the Pinnacle website.  I've used them to fuel my Savage Saga of Maja Millie campaign for the girls and they've worked quite well. 

Two positives for this campaign.  I've been largely unable to recreate the pulp campaign magic or enthusiasm in our Mousling games.  Also, I might make a distinction that these rules appear to focus on individualized units in skirmish setting versus individualized figures in a unit.  Regardless, it's on my watch list to follow and ponder a pledge before the month is out. 

(Kickstarter) Savage Battlelords by 23rd Century Productions

 In my youth, I was enamored with the crunch-heavy Battlelords of the 23rd Century.  

Decades later, as I've encountered middle-age and fatherhood, I've embraced the nuance elegance which is Savage Worlds.  

I'm conflicted whether to be disgusted or mindlessly fanatical over the Kickstarter presence of Savage Battlelords as a thing.

Consolidating the weapons and systems data in SW makes the setting loose a little of its flavor, but there is a twisted part of me that just wants to add an Eridani or a Ram Python in a pulp game and let them have a go at it.  

(Savage Worlds) Alphonse Fabien - Mousling Musketeer

As I push towards more games with the kids, it's pretty certain that we're returning to a Savage Worlds Mousling Fantasy game.  That being said, we're using one of the minis I already used for the #CharacterCreationChallenge to take refresher on Savage Worlds.  

It's very likely the girls will use modified archetypes, while filling out Hinderances and any necessary changes.

Alphonse Fabien - Mousling Musketeer

Agility: d10  Smarts: d6 Spirit: d6 Strength: d4  Vigor: d6

Skills:  Fighting d10, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Taunt d8, Knowledge: Poetry d6

Charisma: +2  Pace: 5   Parry: 5  Toughness 5    

Hinderances: Arrogant, Phobia: Heights   Enemy (Minor): 

Edges:  Florentine, Two Fisted. Attractive 

Equipment:  Rapier  Str+d4, +1 Parry (not included) 

Mousling Racial Adjustments: 
More Mouse than Creature: Mouslings are allowed one free edge, just like humans.
Nimble Creatures: Mouslings navigation of the forest allow them a d6 base in Agility rather than a d4.
The Mouse Nose Knows: The Mousling Sense of Smell gives +2 to scent-based Notice rolls.
Tiny Legs, Tiny Feet: Mouslings small stature allow them only a base pace of 5.
Only so much strength in such a small body: Mousling characters must spend two steps to raise Strength during character creation and must use two advances to increase Strength during play.

The 2022 RPG Dream List

I don't foresee another Social Media project endeavor, such as the #CharacterCreationChallenge or #ZineMonth2022, so it's back to one-off posts about RPGs.  

The recent lull in the Star Wars online game has forced some interesting one shots, and a collective review of what else we (re: I) would like to play.  

Of course, the significant drop-off in COVID infections and hospitalizations mean that the world is getting a bit back to normal and we could possibly resume/resurrect some face to face gaming. 

Finally, with the captive audience at home no longer captive 24/7 about basketball, I should probably try to sink my gaming hooks into them one more time.

Face-to-Face Gaming

Call of Cthulhu  - During a recent "chat only" Monday night session, my friend /college roommate / regular player Steve let it out of the bag that while he enjoys most RPGs systems, he enjoys classic Call of Cthulhu the most.  That's a pretty strong vote to consider CoC with the return to actual tabletop sessions.  A resumption of our now classic 1920's CoC Campaign would be the end goal, regardless of how we get there. 

Call of Cthulhu Invictus - But even I know that diving head-first into that old campaign would not be beneficial to anyone, so a few sessions of Cthulhu Invictus would satiate my desire to play Cthulhu, and use some of the material I've acquired over the years.  

Basic D&D - "Home" -  My permanent placeholder on these lists for at least a decade now, my Polynesian D&D game covering the fact that the PCs are natives on the Isle of Dread would change styles of play as the game progressed.

Twilight: 2000 - One of my long-awaited Kickstarters was for the Free League Twilight: 2000 Boxed Set.  I'd love to run it, but with my group of players *cough* civilians *cough*, I believe face-to-face gaming would almost be required to get them acclimated to the darker setting.  It would also expand my ongoing Challenge Challenge project, where I try to exhaust as much GDW and other material out of Challenge Magazine that I can. 

GI Joe - Almost a complete 180 degree swing from Twilight: 2000, the upcoming RPG about the popular TV series/toy line might work for both online and face-to-face.   First I need to get the rules to make sure they're as decent as I hope they are.

At-Home Options
Savage Mouslings - I've already done some gaming with the girls using Reaper Mouslings and other similar figures.  The first four significant games were using Savage Showdown, but I would like to go from skirmish level to actual role-playing, with a rotating cast of support NPCs.

Gamma World - All the stuff Thom Wilson has written for post-apocalyptic gaming has made me realize that Gamma World with the girls might be a fun exercise, a mixture of beat 'em up combat and riddles as the PCs try to decipher the secrets of the Ancients.  I'd use the 4th Edition of the rules (Proto-d20 almost a decade early).  

Pulp Alley: Tomb of the Serpent - After three season of the Savage Saga of Maja Millie, season 4 is taking a sudden turn.  Savage Worlds/Showdown is moving to Pulp Alley and with the option for multiple leagues, it's time to turn to the Tomb of the Serpent for a long-term campaign.   Just reading the intro scenarios, this is a bit more intense than we're used to, and we'll need to convert/kitbash some terrain.

My Little Pony - I stand by the fact that River Horse's My Little Pony RPG is one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.  Yep, I'm that enamored with it.  The girls are almost too old to play it enthusiastically, but getting things together is, as always, the toughest part.

Online Options

Hackmaster - Burning Trogs Redux... Continued.  Longtime readers may tire of my longtime pipe dream:  getting all my old Hackmaster players back together to have their characters exact the very sweet justice and revenge on the despicable Slavers of Roark  

Espionage RPG - I've compiled a good assortment of spy/espionage material and I'd like to try it out.  Initially I was thinking a Spice Girls RPG using Top Secret, but Top Secret is simply too crunchy.  It may take awhile, but I think I found a system I can hack for the lighter mechanic but heavy planning required, but time will tell.

Canadian Call of Cthulhu - My 90's based horror/paranormal game based in Medicine Hat, Alberta needs more love.  The scenarios are outlined, I just need a steadier rate of game to go further.  A two or three session arc each time there's a Star Wars lull might do it.

Star Wars D6 - This remains the old stand-by.  We recently restarted after an extended holiday hiatus, and the sheer joy everyone had resolving the cliffhanger we paused at warmed my heart.  This could end with a bang, I could cover the mid-game and end-game ideas I've had from session 1, or I could continue to peruse decades of materials (and Traveller articles in the Challenge Challenge) and keep this going indefinitely.

IOU a la Risus - It's quite simple, I need to use Risus for one-shots a LOT more, and Illuminati University (IOU) continues to provide the freedom to run with the crazier ideas, concepts, and puns. 

Another Month of Gaming (October '21)

Another month of new solicitations from Alliance Games is here.  Oh good Lord, like an old man sitting at the counter of a local diner, I've got a lot to talk about this month. 

Issue #260 of their Game Trade Magazine is available at FLGS everywhere, and online here.

ViscountEric's Want List

Nothing

ViscountEric's Money-Is-No-Object Want List

Arc Dream Publishing

DELTA GREEN: ARCHINT ............................................. $14.99

DELTA GREEN:Journey to Ragnaork RPG (5e) Norse Grimoire ... $39.90

DELTA GREEN: EVIDENCE KIT - THE LABYRINTH ............... $24.99

Grail Games

Hibachi ............................................ $30.00

Mana Project Studios 

Journey to Ragnarok RPG (5e) Norse Grimoire ............. $39.90

Journey to Ragnarok RPG (5e) The Rune Thief .............. $29.90

The price tag is a bit high for anything that catches my normally cheap eye, but I'm interested in any solid resource to enhance my Norse cultures in the long-suffering back-burnered FRPG campaign world.  Nine adventures in the Rune Thief piqued my interest a bit more. 

Pinnacle Entertainment Group

East Texas University: Study Abroad ................................ $24.99

I've definitely used some of the Savage Worlds one-sheets for ETU for my IOU game.  Love the concept of the the other strange and unusual goings on at colleges and universities around the world.

The Imaginary Game Store List (The Pegleg Gnome)

Autarch 

Ascendant RPG ................................................................... $60.00

Catalyst Game Labs

Battletech: Ilclan ..................................................... $39.99

Shadowrun RPG: Johnson Dex .............................. $14.99

Chessex Manufacturing

BAG OF 50 ASSORTED LOOSE MINI-POLYHEDRALS ........................... $40.80

D10's or D20's.  Everything goes up, especially through my nostalgic rose-colored glasses.

Cubicle 7

Warhammer Fantasy: Elector Counts ....................... $29.99

Erika Svanoe Game

Marrying Mister Darcy ............................................. $30.00

Gale Force Nine

D&D: The Wild Behind the Witchlight figures .......... $50.00

Hags of Past/Present/Future, League of Malevolence, Valors Call 

Gallant Knight Games

Tiny Cthulhu ...................................................... $24.95

GMT Games

ABSOLUTE WAR: THE RUSSIAN FRONT 1941-45 ..................... $59.00

Iello 

King of Tokyo Monster Box ....................................... $69.99

Konami Digital Entertainment

YU-GI-OH! TCG: THE GRAND CREATORS BOOSTERS 

Legendary Games

Asian Monsters (5e) ...................................... $24.95

Fiddler's Lament (5e) .................................... $11.95

Legendary Ninjas .......................................... $12.99

Dragon's Hoard #7-9 ..................................... $12.99 each

Mana Project Studios

Historia - Dark Fantasy Renaissance Setting (5e) ................ $49.90

Historia - Adventure Book (5e) ........................... $34.90

Historia - Game Master Screen ........................... $19.90

Mantic Entertainment

A big month of solicitations for Armada (those Dwarf ships looks crisp), and a good swath of Kings of Wars with one thing that tickle my fancy (but not enough to buy.)

Halfling  Mega Army ......................................................... $160.00

Terraincrate: Grocery Store ............................................... $ 30.00

Terraincrate: Town Square ................................................ $ 30.00

Terraincrate: Village Cafe ................................................. $ 30.00

Modiphius

Acthtung! Cthulhu 2d20 - Player's Guide ....................... $44.00

Acthtung! Cthulhu 2d20 - Gamemaster's Guide.............. $58.00

Acthtung! Cthulhu 2d20 - GM Screen ............................ $22.00

Acthtung! Cthulhu 2d20 - Black Sun Dice Set ............... $22.00

Black Void RPG: Into the Oblivious Depths ................... $24.99

Conan: The Art of Conan ................................................ $34.99

Conan: The Exiles Sourcebook ....................................... $34.99

Conan: The Wanderer ..................................................... $34.99

Conan: Waves Stained Crimson ..................................... $34.99

That is a LOT of product.  My imaginary store is looking at a big bill for product that moves marginally, even with Acthtung! Cthulhu coming out in November, and the other items should be out already.  

Star Trek Adventures RPG Divisions Dice Sets ............  $19.99 each

Command, Operations, Sciences

Mongoose Publishing

Traveller RPG - Core Rulebook Update 2022 ...................... $59.99

Traveller RPG - The Bell of Rocamadour ............................ $19.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation Boxed Set ............... $79.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation Dice Set .................. $24.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation - The Crossing ........ $44.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation - Expeditions .......... $49.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation - Near Side of Yonder .... $44.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation - Far Side of Nowhere ... $44.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation - The Riftsedge Transit ... $44.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation - Voidshore ..................... $44.99

Traveller RPG - Deepnight Revelation - The Lost Duke ............. $19.99

After complaining about Modiphius, Mongoose decides to have an alphabetically generated "Hold My Beer" moment, with product releasing for September - November.  

Monster Fight Club

Cyberpunk Red - Edgerunners  .................................................... $20.00

Cyberpunk Red - Wallcrawlers .................................................... $20.00

Monster Scenery - Amethyst Crystals ......................................... $24.00

Monster Scenery - Ice Crystals ................................................... $24.00

Monster Scenery - Peridot Crystals ............................................ $24.00

Monster Scenery - Snowy Hills .................................................. $40.00

Monster Scenery - Evergreen Pine Forest ................................... $40.00

Monster Scenery - Snowy Pines ................................................. $40.00

Monster Scenery - Snowy Ice Fields .........................................  $40.00

Having finally scene in the new Cyberpunk minis, they're very nice, but of limited use to small subsection of gamers.  The Monster Scenery  stuff seems to fit a nice niche between Gale Force Nine Battlefield in a Box and Miniature Building Authority in both quality and price.  

Outland Entertainment

Althingi: One Will Rise .................................................. $19.99

Paizo Publishing

Pathfinder RPG: AP - Strength of Thousands 6 - Shadows of the Ancients .............. $24.99

Pathfinder RPG: Flip Mat - Tavern Multi-pack ......................... $24.99

Pathfinder RPG: Lost Omens - Monsters of Myth HC .............  $34.99

Starfinder RPG:  AP - Horizons of the Vast 4 - Icebound .........  $22.99

Starfinder RPG:  Flip-Tiles - Space Station  - Corridors Expansion ........... $19.99

Starfinder RPG: Spell Cards ...................................................... $34.99

Pinnacle Entertainment Group

Savage Worlds: Deadlands - Blood Drive .............................. $24.99

Savage Worlds: Deadlands - Map Pack 4: Ambush Pass ........ $14.99

Savage Worlds: Deadlands - Map Pack 3: End of the Line .... $14.99

Savage Worlds: Deadlands - Weird West Blood Drive Pawns .............. $14.99

Pokemon USA

Pokemon - Rayquaza v and Noivern V Battle Decks 

Space Orange 42

42 Guns ........................................ $19.90

Arborea: Surivors of Arborea ...... $24.90

Be-Movie ..................................... $24.90

Kaiser 1451 .................................. $19.90

Savage Worlds RPG: Gold & Glory - Seven Deadly Dungeons ............... $19.90

Savage Worlds RPG: Hope & Glory - Player's Book ............................. $39.90

Savage Worlds RPG: Hope & Glory - Master's Guide ............................ $39.90

SCHEHERAZADE RPG: THE ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHT..$39.90

Shidee: The Tales of Our Journey ............... $ 9.90

Call me hypocritical, after complaining about Mongoose and Modiphius, looking at this new company's offerings, I feel excited for some of these stand-alone RPGs, particularly if I waltzed into a random gaming store with twenty bucks burning a hole in my pocket.

Teeturtle

Unstable Unicorns: Kids Edition

Troll Lord Games

Starship Warden RPG ............................................... $79.99

Wizards of the Coast

D&D FIZBAN’S TREASURY OF DRAGONS ........................................... $49.95

Standard and Alternate Covers available

WizKids

Critical Role

Old Fogey rant time.  Not a fan of Critical Role, but I can obviously see the popularity of the series.  Similar to the Cyberpunk Red minis, I've seen the Critical Role stuff on game store shelves, and like Cyberpunk, the stores stocking them hadn't sold any.  Know your customer base, while anticipating the random wandering first-time visitor without breaking the bank.  Piece of cake. 

D&D - 3" Plush charms - Wave 1 

D&D Fantasy Minis - Icons of the Realms - Adult Gold Dragon Premium .......... $89.99

D&D Fantasy Minis - Archdevils - Bael, Bel, and Zariel ...................................... $79.99

Marvel Heroclix: War of the Realms Booster 

Marvel Heroclix: War of the Realms Booster Fast Forces ............................ $19.99

Marvel Heroclix: War of the Realms Booster Dice and Token Kit ............... $9.99

Marvel Heroclix: War of the Realms Booster Play at Home Kit .................. $9.99

Game Mat: Acid Lagoon ........................................... $24.99

D&D Gameworks Primastic Paints ........................... $2.49 each with other products available. 

The very last product in the solicitations is the one the intrigues me the most.  A line of official D&D paints at an entry-level price point is something I could see investing in, if the color palette is diverse enough, the bottles bigger than miniature thimbles, and the painting results are as easy as what I already do with craft paints.  

D&D Frameworks Minis  ......................................... $14.99 and much more 

In direct contrast of the paint line, the new unpainted, assembly required mini line leaves a lot to be desired.  Going with a basic press released styled article from Comicbook.com, these figures are still on the sprue and will require assembly.  Pictures of the minis look like Cyberpunk Red quality, but I'm hoping for fifteen bucks for a single figure, the customization options.  We're talking GW silliness with pricing for the larger figures, no matter how awesome they might be.  Of course the D&D brand will sell these, but there are far better existing options in both plastic and metal, for significantly less money. 

(SAVAGE MICE) #3 The Deserted Halfling Village

In the last episode, The Olde Farm, Wakanda had encountered a pair of halfling archers, who pleaded for someone to help them with a great evil that had befallen their village.

Unfortunately, the halfling duo told their tale of woe to the leader the Snakes, a notorious group of bandits.  Fortunately, none of the Snakes could keep their traps shut and word quickly spread to the Merry Mice and the G'ba Goblins.

The halfling village, stone watchtower already engulfed in smoke and flames. 

Tired from the fighting and wary of yet another ambush, all the leaders decidedly separately, to send an advance party to investigate these claims.

For the Merry Mice the leaders themselves, Robin Mouse, Mouse Marian, and Friar Buck took the journey (all Wild Cards/Heroes).

The front row of the Merry Mice (Maja - age 11)

The Snakes were a little short on "Hero" material, so Wakanda, Pinky the Archer, and a random Snake minion took the northern approach to the village.

Pinky and Wakanda (front) Minion is back row 2nd from left. - Millie - age 9

The Blue Goblins were a trickier situation, their leader, the shaman G'ba, hand been badly hurt in the last two raids, so the idea of him leading the advance party moments after the last raid might have sounded foolish.  It did to his second-in-command, Patches, who refused to follow.  Perhaps he was preparing to assume command of the gang once the shaman finally bit off more than he could chew.  

But accompanying the shaman was a goblin minion and the great Troll mercenary Wipes.  If the troll couldn't handle things, it would be a problem for all parties involved.

Front Row: Goblin minion and G'ba.  Back Row: Wipes the Troll (pretty obvious) - Dad - Age Too Old.

All the groups could see two things:  First, the halfling stone watchtower and smoke and flame pouring out of it.  Second, the village appeared to be completely deserted.

The Merry Mice spread out across the fields to enter the town, to not attract too much attention.  

Robin and Marion dashed over to the small mushroom farm for cover and came up with a large discovery (objective #1).  The mushrooms that they were growing were fireproof and might be used to help put out the tower fire. 

Friar Buck walked down the main road from the Olde Farm into the village.  As he passed the church, he could hear the solid *THWUNK* of an arrow lodging itself into the fence he was walking alongside.

The village was not completely deserted.

The Snakes entered from the north with completely different plans.  They liked bread, and raiding the wheat field seemed a much higher priority than saving some stupid village.

The smoke coming out of the field looked like a bad sign.  The hellhound pacing back and forth inside the field was good enough reason for Wakanda to look at other crops.

So, they hastily crossed the road, ran behind a house, prayed the creature had not seen them, and began plundering watermelons.

They're still in season?  Sweet!

 The goblin approach from the south seemed safe, no objectives, but the fire was a good distance away, and obviously no hellhounds to fight.

"We helps the stupidz halfling and we get a reward, then we take extra for the good job we did," G'ba the Shaman told the others as he passed a barn.

Suddenly the barn doors burst open in flames as not one, but TWO hellhounds emerged!

(Edit: Best picture of the game, and I forgot to add it orginally. Do'h!)

Back at the church, the Friar ran up the stairs of the belltower to investigate, only to be met by a rain of arrows coming down.  He decided retreating was the better form of survival and dashed out of the church and around a corner, out of sight from the belltower.

At the barn, G'ba's magical staff was completely ineffective as he kept stumbling back away from the hellhounds.  The troll was distracted by the scene of two giant mushrooms with feet running across the lane (The Merry Mice carrying mushrooms to the flaming tower).  His minion was far better, slaying the powerful beasts in one hit (with three raises for damage).

The second hellhound moved closer to the shaman, but two arrows from the direction of the church hit it in the head, and the creature dropped.

"Mushrooms with Legs" running across the lane.  

The hellhound from the field finally meandered over to the watermelon patch, trying to figure out the new scents it had detected.

Friar Buck stares in disbelief as the inevitable is about to happen.

 Realizing the gravity of the situation, the barbarian mousling took a watermelon, sliced it in half with his battle axe, and chucked a half of a watermelon at the monster.  It slammed into the hellhound's head, meat-side of the melon first.  The creature wailed in pain.

"It doesn't like watermelon! Chuck more at it!"

Quickly a rain of watermelon befell the beast, and before it could escape, the monster perished.

Robin Mouse caught sight of the burning barn and told Marion to continue to the tower.   There, he applied the mushroom to the fire... to no avail.

"No, no, stupid mouse," the goblin minion yelled.  "Don't rub the mushroom on the fire.  Carefully blot it out!"   Following the oddly knowledgable goblin, the barn fire was out in two rounds.

Wipes the troll was strolling up the lane when he discovered arrows sticking out of him.  Greatly upset, he walked right up to the church, climbed the tiny staircase, and yelled at the two halflings holed up in the belltower.

"Stop trying to hurt Wipes!  Wipes strongest of all!"

 Realizing the Troll was with the oddly helpful goblins, they thank him, apologized for making him target practice, and gave him two pies (their rations).  Wipes wandered out of the church, content.

A useless objective.  Obviously there was no bucket for the well.  

With all of the magical creatures dead, and the watchtower deemed a total loss, Robin Mouse ventured over to the village well to draw some water possibly save the fields.  Alas, he could find no bucket.

G'ba wandered over there to chastize the mousling, but he took could find to bucket to use to draw water.

The village was (mostly) saved and now we certainly have halflings in the game world.

Scenario notes:  Four objectives for the teams to look for were the Mushroom farm, the well, the church, and a cottage by the wheat field.  The Snakes ignored the wheat field on their weird adventure.  Everyone failed their objective roles on the well, the Merry Mice obviously got the mushroom, and those scared halfling archers in the belltower of the church were largely ineffective towards those visitors not associated with the Snakes.  Thank God they were awesome shots against the hellhoud, less G'ba could possibly bite it in three straight scenarios.  

For objective points, dead hellhounds, and fires put out (1 for each accomplished), I actually won!    The Goblins earned 3, the Merry Mice 2, and the Snakes got one for hellhound death by watermelon!

This scenario was initially inspired by "Deserted Village" on   Phil and Kati's Epic Wargaming Adventures

Here are the stats I found for a Hellhound in Savage Worlds.  I didn't use the creatures to their full potentials (I also didn't need ice to hurt them.  Watermelons did the trick.)  The Hellhounds were out of a Magic: The Gathering board game and painted by committee here.

Hellhound

Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d10
Skills: Fighting d6, Notice d8, Stealth d10, Survival d8, Tracking d8
Charisma: -; Pace: 7; Parry: 5; Toughness: 9 (2)
Edges: Level Headed
Special Abilities
• Armour +2: Reddish-brown fur.
• Bite: Str+d4; Fire.
• Darkvision: No vision penalties for darkness (range 12").
• Scent: Can navigate, track and detect creatures by scent (range 6", halved for upwind and doubled for downwind, doubled again for very strong scents). Only adjacent creatures can be pinpointed accurately.
• Extraplanar: Not native to the material plane, and can be targeted by Banish.
• Fast Runner: Roll d8 when running instead of d6.
• Evil: Affected by powers and abilities that work on evil creatures.
• Breath Weapon: All targets within a Cone Template must make an Agility roll at -2 or suffer 2d6 fire damage.
• Immunity: Fire.
• Weakness: Cold (double damage).

Next: #1.4 - Attack of the Peeps!

(SAVAGE MICE) #2 The Olde Farm

After ridding a local Mousling town of a meddlesome giant, the three most eager warbands in the realm were looking for most adventure and more look.

There chance came with rumors of a handsome bounty on a dashing rogue gnome wizard, all three were ready to head to an oddly abandoned hobbit farmstead.

The conquering heroes, Robin Mouse and his Merry Mice were still excited from their last successful mission, and with the additional of the heroic Friar Buck to their band, success was assured.

 The mice bandits, The Snakes, had found some selfish treasures last time, but between Pinky and Wakana Forever, their relationship with a magic frog wasn't a guarantee success.

Plus the goblins were sure to be there!  G'ba had recovered from this wounds in the last raid, and this time they had a new friends, Wipes the Troll!  He was a hulking brute, but he was only a minion, so a a single would could take him out permanently from the band.

 There were four minor objectives:
A) Gnomar the Relentless - Gnomish Wizard (Hostile Objective)

B) A Random hunk of stone in the field

 C)  A lost pig (at least on the wrong side of the stream)

 D) An abandoned raft

E)  Two "lost" hobbit archers.

TURN ONE:  Everyone rushed towards an objective, but only Wipes had the right strides to rech the big hog.  One quick roll and we don't talk about what happened to the future pet/future bacon.

TURN TWO:  Robin Mouse checked out giant rock in the field with success, by no special modifiers.

Wakanda of the Snakes also dodged a few warning arrows and befriended the two female hobbits.  They had expected the hobbit farmers to be here to help with some great commotion at a halfling village upriver.

Uncovering the minor encounters allowed for the Gnome Patrol arrived.  Gnomar was a wanted gnome and the Patrol was going to bring him hoe no matter what.

TURN THREE: It took a great deal of searching but two of the Merry Mice found the Gnome Wizard and convince him to follow them with surprisingly little effort.

You or the Gnome Patrol?  I'll take you guys for now....

 G'ba finally reached the abandoned raft.  He might have been pre-occupied by the Gnome Patrol moving up the alternate side of the river, as a small individual got behind him and *KER-KLANGED* him in the back of the head. 

No Guacamole Dip for you! 

 G'ba rolled a double botch on his challenge roll (1 on the attribute die and 1 on the wild die).  An ignominious end for the second game in a row!

TURN FOUR:  The Friar snuck downriver to look into the raft, or perhaps the Gnome Patrol.  The goblins had forded the river to chase something mouse-shaped, but a number of them were aghast to learn that their arrows had been dumped downriver in their crossing. 

One goblin without that problem was the second-in-common, Patches.  He charged the mandolin playing mousling and wildly missed, crashing into boxed (yet another botched die roll.)  He was stunned but not out. 

The dottering Gnome Patrol took its time across a field, and taking pot shots against one of the Merry Mice sitting on the farmhouse roof.  

TURN FIVE:  Considering the hobbits' plight a bigger challenge than the Gnome Wizard, the Snakes high-tailed it off (or nearly off the battlefield). 

Robin Mouse struck one of the goblin minions and then realized the rest of his gang were already near the edge of the battlefield, gnome wizard in their arms. 

Patches the Goblin recovered from his embarrassing performance, cold-cocked the mandolin player to he wouldn't be the recipient of the mouse's bardic tales, and ordered the retreat.  

The Gnome Patrol split up, two futilely pursuing the wizard, one continuing shooting at the housesitting mousling, and two swinging over to confront Friar Buck!

The sounds of their guns only confused the Friar as they engaged the futile melee.

The mouse on the house had a different plan, leaping off the building and drop-kicking the Gnome Patrolman.!

TURN SIX:  With most of the warbands off the table, and no one interested in the last minor objective, it was some minor mop-up activities. The free-falling mousling jumped back on the stunned gnome and took him out of action, before skittering away.  Despite the two-on-one battle,  the Friar held his own, but was still engaged as the turn finished.

Using the Pulp Alley Rules, the Merry Mice won with 4, followed by the Snakes and Goblins with one apiece.  Definitely need the objectives to be closer to the center of the board, and the girls are not cutthroat with the mice, preferring to seize an easier objective and calling it quits.  Might need to get back to Pulp Egypt and see if that translates into a far-bloodier game.  

I had much grander and expansive plans for Father's Day, but sleepovers, swimming, and a neighborhood reggae party threw everything off.  But we still got out annual game in, and the 8th(?) year of our Tea Party.  

Another session inspired by The REALM of JiNNai: Battle Report: The Farm

Next Up:  The Deserted Hobbit Village, some Planet 28, and perhaps a final return to Pulp Egypt.