Top Secret Project & Companion Update

So what the heck have I been doing the last couple weeks, since I haven't been blogging/writing? Well, while I have been a little busy with "normal" life, the truth is that I've been a little lazy.

I mean, that's how I see it. Certainly, I've had the time to do things (if I'd taken the time to do it), but I haven't been organizing my life as well as I feel I should, letting things slide here and there, watching too much TV, listing to too much sports talk radio, napping in my truly free time, and just living a bon vivant lifestyle rather than being productive.

Not that I haven't done SOME stuff. I am currently working on an O-So-Very-Secret-Writing-Project that I am not quite ready to reveal the details of...in fact, unlike the B/X Companion I don't intend to say anything AT ALL about it until it's completely written...well, other than the following:

- it's a 60-64 page RPG

- it will probably NOT be a boxed game

- it is NOT "post-apocalyptic" (at this point)

- I am going to be much less ambitious with the artwork than the Companion

- I am working on it in collaboration with my buddy Kris

The good doctor is pretty excited about it, which is cool, and even though I'm guessing I'll be doing most/all of the writing it is still great to have a PIC (Partner In Crime) to bounce ideas off. Writing the B/X Companion in a Void was (and to a degree still is!) greatly frustrating at times.

Now onto news about the Companion...I have been holding off on writing anything for a couple reasons recently, the main reason being that I've been on a bit of hiatus from the project. For which I got a little chewed out by the good Doctor (Kris) just last night. "You've done too much work on the damn thing to let it slide!" He's right, of course.

And like I've said, I feel like I've been lazy on the matter. One of the biggest pitfalls of this kind of thing (other than "analysis paralysis" and "waiting for things to line up perfect") is "resting on one's laurels." I wrote a book...yay. But writing it ain't the same as publishing it for others; time to do the rest of the work.

I was just down at Gary's Games today, talking about local designers, conventions, and networking. Unfortunately, while Seattle apparently has a thriving design community (too many smarties, I guess) there seems to be nada in place as far as organization. Hell, I hear the Big Name Publishers don't even bother showing up to the big local convention (Dragonflight) as the thing is generally put on around the same time as GenCon and they are too busy preparing/recovering from THAT to worry about the local yokels. Guess I'm on my own (still).

So today I'm cutting breakfast short and getting back to what I need to do: first, some chores around the house (!!), and second getting some REAL writing done. Yes, I will also get the Hackmaster Basic review posted, too (talked about THAT at the game shop, too...mm-mm), and hopefully AT LEAST ONE MORE MAP for the damn module. Ugh, I wish I was as talented in that regard as some of you bloggers (you know who you are!).

And oh yeah: artists? I need your artwork to keep coming in. February is a short month, but this is going to be the Big Push, as far as I'm concerned. I haven't been getting on anyone's ass because A) I'm not paying you, and B) I can criticize folks for not working when I haven't been doing what I need to do myself. But I need those pieces, folks. Everyone who asked for ideas/assignments got different ones from me...if you don't think you'll be able to do something, let me know so I can give the piece to someone else.

That being said, I think I may need to offer an "incentive program." How about this...anyone who contributes more than four pieces of art will get a free .pdf copy of the Companion when it's finished. Hell, I might be willing to give it away for THREE pieces of art (and large pieces, like the cover leaf, will be considered two or more pieces)...as I said earlier, I'm less concerned with making money on this thing than with getting a quality project into the hands of the public.

People who are interested in contributing art (that haven't contacted me yet) can email me at bxblackrazor AT gmail DOT com.

All right...now, back to work.

: )

B/X Blackrazor

Here are my statistics for Blackrazor in B/X (the Moldvay/Cook Basic and Expert sets); it should be compatible with both BECMI and Labyrinth Lord.  Those who own S2: White Plume Mountain will see that my write-up does not deviate significantly from the weapon as presented by Lawrence Schick.

Blackrazor, Chaotic sword +3

Intelligence 17, Ego 16+ (see below), Will 38+

Capable of both Speech and Telepathy

Detects living creatures (souls) within 60' radius

Haste (wielder only, 10 rounds), 1/day

Wielder immune to Charm and Fear when blade is drawn

Blackrazor's special purpose is to suck souls. On any killing blow (a hit that reduces an opponent to 0 hit points or less) Blackrazor temporarily adds a number of levels to its wielder equal to the hit dice of the opponent, and a number of hit points equal to victim's full normal hit points. These extra hit points and levels last a number of turns equal to the the number of hit dice or levels received.  Subsequent damage suffered by Blackrazor's wielder is first subtracted from these temporary hit points. A character's level may not be increased beyond his or her normal maximum level (36 for human characters, less for demi-humans).  Once the maximum level is reached, killing opponents with Blackrazor confers no additional benefit.

Temporary level increase affects the character's fighting ability only: to hit rolls, saving throws, turning ability, damage dice from spells, etc. It does not affect a character's ability to learn or memorize new spells, use thief skills, or the ability to attract followers and build a stronghold.

The souls of entities killed by Blackrazor are sucked out and devoured by the sword, lost to the Void; they cannot be raised or resurrected.

For every three days Blackrazor remains "unfed" its Ego (and by correlation, its Will score) increases by one point, until it can compel its bearer to kill a sentient humanoid being. Upon "feeding" its Ego returns to 16.

Blackrazor is a negative-energy being (much like a wraith or spectre) that exists by absorbing positive energy from those it kills. If it ever strikes another negative-energy entity (for example, any undead creature that drains life levels) the blade will work in reverse, transferring one level from its wielder (along with the corresponding hit points) to the creature attacked!  It will do this on each successful hit roll. A wielder drained of all levels in this way will have his or her own soul sucked out and devoured by Blackrazor!  Levels lost may only be restored (prior to death) through the taking of twice the number of positive levels from living creatures (of the same race as the wielder) as were lost, through the power of a wish (one restored level per wish), or through the normal acquisition of experience points. Blackrazor will not inform its owner of this drawback, and it should only become apparent the first time he strikes a negative-energy being, like a wight or vampire. Remember, Blackrazor exists solely to feel power and souls coursing through its length, and the sword is not picky about where it receives its nourishment!

Introduction: Welcome to the Void!

Here you may find yourself lost in countless hours of old school reminiscing and interesting (and tedious) thoughts regarding the hobby of role-playing games...by which I mean table-top RPGs, not the computer variety originally inspired by Dungeons and Dragons and its brethren.

Having been a looooong time player and collector of RPGs, I feel I have plenty to express on the subject; though whether or not others will find my musings interesting or useful food for thought is anyone's guess (I am not so arrogant as to suppose I am offering anything more than others on the web, but the fact that I'm taking the time to start this blog should demonstrate some sincerity).

However, this blog is truly more for my own entertainment...and the edification of my memories!...than for any other reason.  I have been greatly inspired of late by the Old  School Renaissance blogs I've been reading (especially Grognardia and Ode to Black Dougal), and I figured I wanted to join in the discussion.  For those interested, I've posted selected links to several of these blogs.  I hope the authors consider this a compliment...I do!

Anyway, welcome to my musings.  Hopefully you won't be lost to the Void!