On track to return soon....

 When the templates in the box aren't quite the ones you need, building and editing takes a wee bit of time. 

More time than expected, apparently....

DM's Workshop: The Whispering Spider

 

When is a spider not a spider? Leave it in a Nithian necritorium for too long, and this is what you get.....

Happy Alternity Game Day!

 

Better late than never, one supposes.

DM's Workshop: On the Level

 I have been sitting on top of this hastily-scribbled map-with-some-barely-legible-notes for the better part of.... too many years that I care to admit.

Happy International GM's Day!

The Internet has claimed today as the day to celebrate game masters, commemorating the passing of one of the creators of RPGs as we know them, Gary Gygax. So lift a glass in honor of your GM, or DM, or Admin, Keeper... whatever you might call the fellow player who's taken up the mantle and lurks behind the screen at the end of your game table.

DM's Workshop: Katarin gets OLD

This week marks a first glance at crossing over the Spheric Weaving from the Alphtatians over to the What's O.L.D. is N.E.W. system.

DM's Workshop: Brynne gets OLD

This week, we take a look at converting the Handmaiden Brynne over to the What's OLD is NEW system.

DM's Workshop: Petra gets O.L.D.

I suppose the "No, this Handmaiden hasn't actually grown up" joke would wear a bit thin*, so I won't make it again.

DM's Workshop: Petra's Prepwork

The Handmaiden Petra took a bit more time to cobble together, since W.O.I.N. doesn't have full stats for a wide range of lycanthropes.

DM's Workshop: Jasna gets O.L.D.

If you haven't picked up ENPublishing's What's OLD is NEW system, you're missing out. It comes in three flavors -- O.L.D., N.O.W., and N.E.W. depending on whether or not you want to play fantasy/medieval, modern/near future action/adventure, or take to the stars in the far future. The best news, of course, is that the rules system is completely open, and you can find most (if not all) of the rules at the system's website, for free if you don't want to plonk down the ten or so bucks for one of the flavors of the core rules.

No, this post's title in no way means that everybody's favorite maker-of-trouble for a certain infamous villainous magic user has in any way grown up. Perish the thought!

Thornspace: Colonial Progeny, part 1

  The 15^th issue of Threshold: The Mystara Magazine’s “Flight of the Nachtklaue” article introduced the soulbound-construct known as Darzayitr,  the Sarimaarn equivalent of Silva, from Thorn’s Chronicle. Since then, there have been some questions (okay, one or two) about her nature and origins. And so, with no further ado, we delve into the intricacies of the Blackmoor Colonial branch of the Project SONATA demonic defense program.

Magitech of Blackmoor: Dragonstone Nacelles, part 2

The magewrights of the Glittering Empire have fashioned a host of devices capable of interfacing with a dragonstone nacelle in order to take advantage of the stones’ magic, despite their users not having inherent magical ability or blood. Helms, torcs, gloves, bracers, boots and greaves are the most commonly seen, though it is said that the Eternal Emperor owns a suit of plate mail festooned with nacelle sockets. Arms as well as armor have been socketed. In most cases, they are usually situated at the weapon’s base or pommel.

Faerealms of the World That Was

The fey have always been a part of Thorn's World That Was, just as they are a part of the world as it is, and as it has yet to be.

Magitech of Blackmoor: Dragonstone Nacelles, part 1

 Though the decorations on the housings may differ slightly depending on the gnomish metal crafting, dragonstone nacelles all consist of an oblong canister-like enclosure of blown glass enclosed in a brass housing, containing either one imperfectly-cut dragonstone or one to three dragonstone fragments amidst a tangle of thin wires of various precious metals. One end is usually domed, or conical, or tapered in some other fashion, while the other ends in either a toothed or grooved socket, depending on its estimated usage expectancy.

The nacelle is a crude extrapolation of the ancient Blackmoor magitech used to power, maintain, and operate a warforged and soulbound construct’s body shell. While the originals used a delicate tuning and harmonization process to regulate and enhance the enclosed dragonstones’ abilities fore use by the shell, the Eternal Emperors researchers found that their larger versions could stabilize a dragonstone otherwise made useless by imperfect cutting during harvesting or damage on the battlefield. That this was a result of stripping the safety and limiting functions found in the originals’ designs was of little consequence to the Emperor and his ministers of defense. The fact that this made the magitech suitable for weaponization in addition to its being used for physical enhancement only increased the funding for the ministry to eke out every means of use of the magitech of the enemies of the Glittering Empire.

From the Netbook: The Gravewall

The Gravewall

This long curtain wall of gray marbled stone stretches across the nearly 10-mile length of the Grand Cavern, from Rak Kuldrest to Rak Surest. The exterior of the wall, facing Karhr-Syharwehrf and its surrounding Blasted lands, is etched with intricate, interlocking runes and glyphs which radiate a skin-tingling potency, even to those who lack the gift of magical senses. Along the interior, the stones are bordered with similar runes, the center of each bearing glyphics — a dwarven family name, followed by the epitaph “Defender of the Empire, even in death.” Originally a soldier’s monument, after the Glittering Empire began to crumble, it became compulsory for all citizens to be interred within the monument.


When any of the twelve horns at the watchpoints along the top of the wall are blown three times, the sorceries laid on the wall activate, animating the corpses — mostly as skeletons, but occasionally as zombies, for the freshly-interred. Those of high nobility, who could afford the special rites associated with the passing of the head of a noble family — animate as wraiths, or in the case of those of the highest class, specters.

While engaged in battle within five miles of the wall, the animated undead reduced to 0 hit points will re-form within 1d6 rounds, taking up arms to fight again(and again, and again….). 

When the all-clear is sounded from the horns atop the wall, the undead turn, and march back to their graves, to sleep again until needed by the Empire.

Humanoid remains not removed from this five-mile expanse will likewise be claimed by the wall after nine days (the traditional length of a Dwarven mourning), rising up and marching to find rest in the catacombs beneath the Wall, where the dwarves interred criminals and those who could not afford burial within the wall itself.

DM's Workshop: Green Dragonstones

Green Dragonstones are alike in color with brilliant, deep emeralds, but shot through with a veinwork of fine golden threads. These burn with a bright golden light when the stone’s powers are activated, causing the entire gem to shine with a warm greenish-gold light.

Green dragonstones are closely tied to the Element of Water, and the Sphere of Time. Their power draws from the user’s Wisdom and lifespan.

DM's Workshop: Sundsvall Initiates

In counterpoint to the Glantrian shepherd Golithar and his leashed weaver, Jolenta, let's take a look at the other side of the Spheric weaving coin.

DM's Workshop: The Winter-Sworn

Those who swear their allegiance to the Dark Heart of Winter become cold and ice incarnate. Their skin takes on the cold blue-gray of frost-bitten flesh, and is painfully cold to others’ touch. An aura of cold lingers around the Winter-Sworn, out to a distance of five feet. The Winter-Sworn can increase this radius another five feet by invoking the Mantle of Winter effect.

Peril and Villainy: Threats from the Rise of the Winter King

Inspired by EPK’s “Mystara’s Enemy Number One” post late last month, and watching the ensuing discussion and polls on the Mystara 5^th Edition and Mystara Reborn Faceborg groups, I got to thinking about the threats to my own iteration of the Known World.

DM's Workshop: Blue Dragonstones

Blue dragonstones are alike in color with brilliant, deep sapphires, but shot through with a fine veinwork of silvery threads. These burn with a bright white light when the stone’s powers are activated, causing the entire gem to shine with a cold blue light.

Blue dragonstones are closely tied to the Element of Air, and the Sphere of Thought. Their power draws from the user’s own Intelligence.