If you need invites, let me know. I got a bunch.

Thanks to everyone that linked the trailer of the upcoming John Carter of Mars. (I linked to the Apple trailer instead of the one on YouTube.) Since it is Disney, I’m not sure what to expect. Until then, all I can say is BARSOOM!

I have received a review copy of Azamar, a game based on the OpenD6 rules. The folks at Wicked North Games developed their own SRD called Cienma6 and then created Azamar as a fantasy setting on top of it. Seeing Azamar reminds me of what I loved about D6 when I first saw it a couple years ago. I’ll get into more detail in another post, but it reminds me of Talislanta in scope and diversity. I’ve really enjoyed reading it so far. When I think about RPG material I like, it has to meet two criteria: I want to play it and it has stuff I can re-use in my campaign. Azamar meets both of these criteria very well.

I think I’ve worked out the spell and augmentation systems for the Arcanist. The spell list is heavily inspired by OpenQuest sorcerers, 2e psionicists, a smattering of Wizards from TFT and magic items from Tekumel. Developing this class has helped me to define some of what differentiates Andras and 2e. It has also stretched the class creation system I plan to include in the GMs guide. Not only can you re-create the standard classes, but invent an off-the-wall magic wielding class!

Zolotta Publishing will quit publishing Tekumel books after its current inventory runs out. Many fans of Tekumel books have inquired about digital publishing and/or assuming the rights to publish the books. We’ll see what happens next.

Savage Worlds Deluxe is out and I have a copy. I am excited about it in many ways. The biggest way pertains to advice about running the game without miniatures. I don’t use minis at all. I have a big pad of blotter paper and I may scribble some sketches of a room or corridor, but nothing with enough detail that a player begins to study the scale of the drawing and start to argue exact distances. If the action moves from the mental landscape to the real world, it’s not fun for me anymore. It’s a personal preference, not a criticism. Many of my gaming friends love minis and tactical planning, etc. If I had the money, I’d be painting them and building huge armies to display in my basement.

I don’t have to change much about Shayakand to conform to these rules, but I am hopeful that it can help me figure out the system of psionic magic called Shaping.

Lastly, a link I keep forgetting to make permanent on my site, the list of retro-clones, some not related to D&D.

Anyway, that’s what is percolating here. Next post really should be the Azamar review. I am testing it to see if I understand some of the finer points so that I can sound half-way intelligent in my review.

The Desire

Beware to those that betrayed her – she will repay any harm done to her tenfold. Beware to those that stand in her path – her lust for power is insatiable.

The Desire

Armor Class: 17
Hit Dice: 8**
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage: 1d4+4 (silver dagger)
Movement: 30′
No. Appearing: 1
Save As: Fighter: 8
Morale: 12
Treasure Type: G+O
XP: 1015

The Desire is a human woman of great ambition. Even without the powers granted to her from a demonic pact, her training as both a thief and a magic-user is formidable. As a thief, she can use any skills as an 8th level thief. She uses magic as an 8th level magic-user. The spells in her spell book are: Detect Magic, Magic Missile, Shield, Detect Invisibility, ESP, Invisibility, Clairvoyance, Dispel Magic, Polymorph Self, Wizard Eye.

From the demonic pact, she gained the power to charm anyone who meets her gaze; a save vs. Spells is allowed to resist, but at a penalty of -3 due to the power of her charms. The pact has also granted her immunity to sleep, charm and hold spells. She is also immune to any special ability that resembles those spells (for example, she cannot be charmed by a vampire). She also gained an unnatural toughness that allows her improved saving throws.

She carries a magical silver dagger +4 that she uses in physical combat. Typically, she will use her spell casting ability if forced into personal combat. In almost any combat situation where she might be encountered, others do her real fighting for her.

If you do not use Basic Fantasy, you can find The Desire for:

The Pathfinder system over at the Sea of Stars

Deadlands Reloaded (Savage Worlds) over at the Core Mechanics

Vampire, The Masquerade at Tenletter