Hard at Work on New things

Hail Followers of the Maths Rollies,

We're hard at work currently on some new projects, we will be including extra interviews and a few other new concepts as we can add them so please stay with us for more fun things.


Thunder Mouser.

PAINTING MONDAY: Raptadon Charger: Emma Svensson - Dice n Demons

Painting is a ton of fun in the hobby, and whilst I can't have something ready every week (sadly), I have friends who not only do wonderful colouration but also make You-Tube Vids of how to do it so you can follow and mimic it yourself.

This week I want to show you the cool Raptadon Charger from Dice 'n Demons, painted by the wonderful Emma Svensson, (you can follow her here) who not only makes them look amazing, but also create with neon paint.

We hope you have as much as as Emma did decorating this mini and feel inspired to create your own.

ThunderMouser 

INDEPENDENT TTRPG MODULE/SYSTEM CREATOR: Escape Plan Games: Michael Pisani.

There are times when a player can't make it to a game and rather than continue the adventure that the characters are already engaged in, you're looking for something that they can do, whilst the other player is indisposed.

This is where places like Escape Plan Games comes to the fore, with their latest book, Tavern Tales, which gives the GM, a whole host of quests for their players to embark upon to keep the central hub of any community alive and breathing.

We grabbed a pint of the local brew, sat down and started chatting with Michael Pisani, one of the creative minds behind this latest release...

Totally Pawsome:  As a creator of modules/systems for TTRPG's, what inspired you to write the one you're most proud of?

Michael Pisani:  The earliest inspiration for Tavern Tales was a need to buy myself extra time as a DM for my home games. I was working a very demanding work schedule, around 12-14 hours a day. During that time I was also running a weekly campaign for some of my friends. Trying to find the time to homebrew content for them became very tricky. I started to turn to the DM's Guild and DrivethruRPG to supply adventures to kind of fill the gaps when I didn't have time to put something together. The problem I found with that was that there often was no through line in any of the adventures, so I was back to trying to come up with some way to interconnect everything and make it seem natural. That's when I started to conceive of the idea of having a tavern that the players could return to over and over again with a bunch of colorful regulars they could interact with and even get quests from.

TP:  What would you say is the best selling point of your TTRPG's?

MP:  I think the best thing about our products is that we really try to include a number of different voices in the creation process. I'm a firm believer that the inclusion of outside voices only helps to elevate a project. I know I'm not good at everything I'm trying to do in a project and leaning on someone that is stronger at a particular aspect of writing or design only serves to elevate the project all together.

TP:  Why the TTRPG space?

MP:  I think it offers a level of person to person interaction and shared experience that is unique in the gaming space.

TP:  What is your favourite product that you produce and why?

MP:  Well so far we've only released our first product Tavern Tales, but we've got a few others in the pipeline. I'd have to say right now that I'm most excited for the pirate themed campaign we're working on. We've managed to get some really beautiful art and are already working with some fantastic people. That said, Tavern Tales will always hold a special place in my heart because it is the product I needed as a DM and hopefully something that alleviates those issues for others.

TP:  What is your current work in progress and what can you tell us about it?

MP:  We are currently working on a card game, a 5e D&D campaign, and a board game. What I can say about the 5e campaign is that we're going to work very hard to give you a ship as customize-able as your character and a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the dramatic conclusion.

TP:  Who do you think would love to play your TTRPG's and why?

MP:  I think anyone who needs a tavern for their campaign world that feels like a living, breathing place would find a use for Tavern Tales. It can also be played as a campaign as there is a range of levels to the adventures offered in the book. I also think if you just need a location to send your players for one or two sessions A Trip Away Inn is a great place to spend some time on your campaing. As far as our next project, I think anyone interested in a tradition swashbuckling pirate adventure with a heroic fantasy twist will love what we've got coming.

TP:  Where do you see your TTRPG writing career taking you in 5 years?

MP:  I will be happy with anywhere I end up in this business as long as I'm able to add value to someone's game.

TP:  If you were given the time and opportunity to develop something unique, what would it be and why?

MP:  I think I would try to develop some form of TTRPG MMO. I think it's a complex problem that could be solved with the right time, money, and talent. 

TP:  Who do you admire in the Independent TTRPG writing space and why?

MP:  I am in awe of so many of the writers and creators in this space. Lynne M. Meyer taught me some important lessons about using existing mechanics and creatures to create atmosphere and effects. Kailey Bray always floors me with her ability to have an endless well of whimsical storytelling with interesting and quirky characters. I think Matt Coleville and MCDM have done an incredible service to the hobby and industry by really demystifying the role of the DM and now game design. Jessica Marcrum taught me that sometimes putting the players in the middle of two powerful entities and their conflicts can be just as interesting as making them face their personal conflicts. This is just a small list of the people that I have learned and continue to learn from. 

TP:  What got you into TTRPG's in the first place?

MP:  I originally fell into the TTRPG space out of a need to keep contact with friends back home after moving from upstate New York to Chicago. It was a way for me to keep in contact with family and friends and also a way to keep a social life alive during a period of time when I was still meeting new people and making friends. At the time I would DM a game for a bunch of players back home over skype. They would all assemble at my cousin's house and then I would DM for them. It will always remain some of the most memorable roleplay I ever experienced and really changed the course of my life.

FANTASY BOOK REVIEW: The Sanctuary of the White Friars 2: The Woods of Arcady - Michael Moorcock

Release Date: 08/06/23

Publisher: Gollancz

SYNOPSIS:

In the 1970s, Michael Moorcock, a writer of genre fiction, attempts to save his failing marriage by taking his wife and daughters to Paris. One night in a bar he is amazed to find himself drinking with heroes of story and history. The next day he awakens aboard a sailing ship, kidnapped into another reality by a French highwayman and the four Musketeers, who know Moorcock well from adventures in London's Alsacia...but that was another Moorcock, from another world.

Soon after they reach Africa, the company are rescued from ambush by Antara, a poet-adventurer who offers to lead them across the desert and through several realities to the estate of Lord and Lady Blackstone. The trip is full of wonders Moorcock has read, dreamed, or written: an underground civilization of nonhuman creatures; a magical oasis where the lion lies down with the lamb; a lush garden inhabited by miniature dinosaurs.

They are pursued by the notorious Jacob Nixer, who also remembers the Alsacia and is determined to destroy Moorcock and his companions.

The Woods of Arcady is punctuated by episodes from the story of the Blackstones and by spirited, freewheeling appearances by Captain Buggerly Otherly and his companions from the Second Ether. As readers move deeper into Moorcock's multiverse, it rises up on all sides, ready to astound and delight.


REVIEW:

Michael Moorcock is an author with not only a long history, but one whose imagination at times knows no bounds as he returns to the world of the White Friars, in this, the second book in the series.

As you'd expect with him, the pace if phenominal with great action sequences alongside quieter lulls as you get the chance to get your breath back and get to learn more about those who appear within the pages.  

Its descriptive prose really works well engaging whilst not being overly flowery and when you throw into the mix the appearance of Moorcock himself all round makes this adventure one that is hard to put down.  (Thank you for the very late night Michael.)  

My only criticism of the book is that at times, it suffers from a lot of the same problems that many second books do in a series and whilst it is a solid read, it does at times feel a little like a filler as we wind up for the spectacular finale.  That said, it is above quite a few other authors out there and for me, really does show why the man is not just a legend in fiction but also in our own world.  Cracking

INDEPENDENT TTRPG MODULE/SYSTEM CREATORS: Greedy Gorgon Press - Nathan

 

We've recently had the pleasure of being introduced to Greedy Gorgon Press, a new independent group of four adventuring teachers who love to rock out and play ttrpg's, so it was inevitable that the two would blend into a unique adventure titled Song for the Dead (currently on kickstarter.)

Whilst they're all relatively new to the adventure writing game, the two titles that they have out Song for the Dead, and 666: Number of the Beast (available on DM'sGuild) have been quite popular with Song of the Dead being funded in 12 hours.

Here we had the chance to chat to one of the group about who they are, what they're doing and of course who inspires them, here are Nathan's answers:

Totally Pawsome:  As a creator of modules/systems for TTRPG's, what inspired you to write the one you're most proud of?

Nathan, Greedy Gorgon Press:  I’d say the one we’re releasing for our first Kickstarter project, Song for the Dead. I play a 5e homegame with my two daughters, 9 and 7, and my wife, and it’s mainly improvised. Well, my 9 year old is a total min-maxer (lol) and runs a totally OP barbarian. I threw too much at them, and ended up killing both her and my wife’s PCs! I was not popular. I run a level 5 cleric, but didn’t really want to cheapen the moment by just using revivify – the spell where you bring someone back to life immediately – so, instead, cast gentle repose – the spell where you preserve the body for 10 days – and announced I had no diamonds – the material you need for revivify – but there was a diamond mine 10 days journey away so we need to leave. Right now! It turned into one of our favourite adventures together!

TP:  What would you say is the best selling point of your TTRPG's?

NGGP:  They’re funny. I’m quoting feedback here, but I think the phrase “cheeky as hell” has been mentioned. Also, we like to add just a little bit of heavy metal flavour!

TP:  Why the TTRPG space?

NGGP:  It’s such a creative, diverse space. There’s such range and imagination that it’s just lovely to be a part of this space. The community is wonderful, and it is a genuine delight to meet, chat, share ideas and have a laugh with so many people who come from so many backgrounds and yet share this passion for TTRPGs. It’s this passion that’s so apparent that makes the TTRPG space so unique. It’s a bit different and, dare I say, a bit more grown up that other spaces of passion, like if you say you like a particular type of music or a band, people will genuinely walk away from you if it’s something they don’t like or don’t know. TTRPG people are all like, “oh, wow! Tell me more about this!”

TP:  What is your favourite product that you produce and why?

NGGP:  We’re still pretty new to the game, so only have a handful of products out there, but, I’d say I really enjoyed putting together the 100 Heavy Metal Feats – the title alone tells you a lot about us! It may as well be called 100 silly dad puns about rock music and DnD!

TP:  What is your current work in progress and what can you tell us about it?

NGGP:  As I mentioned before, our next adventure is Song for the Dead, the campaign being launched on Kickstarter. It can be played as a long one-shot or a side quest, or can be incorporated into people’s ongoing quest. It gives an alternative to revivify, which is the worst spell in the game as it robs all the drama out of death.

It kicks in the moment a PC dies (although it can be run as a side quest where you are tasked with revivifying an NPC). You have ten days to cross a range of increasingly difficult terrain, with masses of possible encounters (all determined on rollable tables) before you get to a – totally not ominous at all – abandoned diamond mine. Why would a diamond mine be abandoned? (It’s really hard not to spoil it here because the answer is not exactly what you are expecting!)

Most importantly is time, which is the key commodity in this quest. The maths geek in me has really enjoyed working out exactly how to set it up so that there’s no guarantee you’ll make it to the mine on time! This really ups the tension in the game.

Part of the drama, or part of the absolute slapstick shenanigans depending on how you DM it, is that you have to transport the body/bodies with you. That’s why my one-line pitch is: Song for the Dead – a 5e Weekend at Bernie’s speed run.

TP:  Who do you think would love to play your TTRPG's and why?

NGGP:  I’ve played and play tested my adventures with very differing groups, from my family as mentioned above, to the rest of the greedygorgoncollective (waves! Hi guys!) and we’ve always had a lot of fun. If you like 5e, you’ll like our stuff. If you like childish humour and classic rock, you’ll love it!

TP:  Where do you see your TTRPG writing career taking you in 5 years?

NGGP:  I can dare to dream, right? The long term goal is being able to do less of my day job and more of my side hustle – mainly because TTRPG writing is something I find so very rewarding, and, as I’m sure we all know, ticks a lot of those self-care boxes. But a little less long term than that would be to begin to work with other systems outside 5e (we’ve got a number of forged in the dark and Mork Borg ideas a brewin’) and beginning to get to a place where we can collaborate with some of the talented artists, cartographers and other writers whose work we follow so obsessively.

TP:  If you were given the time and opportunity to develop something unique, what would it be and why?

NGGP:  This is an awesome question. We are having a lot of fun making DnD x Rock music crossovers, so, and this kind of leads on from the last question, we’ve some ideas about producing non-5e games with the same vibes. One idea is (and I’ll sue the pants of anyone who nicks this!) Roadie – a solo journaling adventure whereby you play the roadie of a 70s superband. The big, big project though is a TTRPG based on putting a band together, and rising to the top during Rock’s Golden Age (1969-1984 – change my mind!) – though this involves perfecting our own system. So yeah, big ideas!

TP:  Who do you admire in the Independent TTRPG writing space and why?

NGGP:  Gosh there’s so many! I will say that I was totally agnostic about social media – I’m a dad, so I’m convinced the second my daughters go online they are getting cyber bullied and groomed by far right wack jobs – but since taking the leap and getting involved I have to say it’s been a delight. There are so many wonderful, supportive people out there (and I am totally including you in this!) but I am going to have to limit my shoutouts to the following five, whose work is absolutely stunning as well as them being lovely:

@RPCraft_publish – who ran a wonderfully successful campaign for Book of Conflict, but still takes the time to give advice and support to us little guys.

@gwritepretty – who is my DM’s Guild Sherpa! Check out his subclasses – they are perfect!

@PennyBlake1827 – who is not only one of the most positive, supportive people in the game, but whose own creativity leaves me breathless – check out BunnyJacks!

@JAMGAS_Games – who I absolutely vibe with, and whose solo adventures are metal af!

@YFTechno – Kyle is, again, not just a game design genius, but a genuine supporter of the community.

Seriously, there’s a lot of people that I could mention here, but will limit it to these five!

TP:  What got you into TTRPG's in the first place?

NGGP:  I love that you are asking a backstory question last! In terms of a lot of the people I know, I’m a relative noob. However, myself and the other greedy gorgons who all found TTRPGs at the same time all agree that everything we’d done previously kind of fed into falling in totally, complete love with TTRPGs.

Greedygorgonpress is made up of three best friends and English teachers whose love of games and stories was boosted by lockdown. During this time, meeting your friends for a chat and a drink became totally normalised. So we did. And we started to game together on a Friday night. And we started with … Yahtzee. Who knew Yahtzee to be such a gateway drug? That developed into us playing boardgames online, and, as lockdown lifted, starting to meet up to play boardgames together face to face. It was just prior to one of these meet ups that my wife, most fatefully and, from her point of view, possibly not without some regret, asked if I’d heard of this game where you make your own fantasy characters and go on adventures together? Would I like to try it? Well, I picked up the starter kit (Oh Phandelver and your mysterious mines!) and, as they say, that was that. Since then, one of us hooked us up with his friend, who has been our DM for years now (god love you, @ShadowRoadDm, and I promise we’ll stop doing that thing we do to the horses with mage hand … one day) and we’ve had a brilliant group running pretty much every Thursday since.

From this, for a bunch of English teachers, it’s not too much of a stretch to try our hand at beginning to write our own adventures. And an adventure it has been!