Just found this magic item, an out-take from Wizardzine #1. I had planned to include details of several more aquatic wizards and their magical creations, but at 40+ pages, I already had more than enough content for an issue of a zine. This item is the creation of one Master Harlwn of the Luminous Docks, a renowned artificer specialising in the construction of enchanted ships.
Anchor of Ethereality
A huge anchor, 8’ in girth, of rune-engraved, oxidised bronze with a mother-of-pearl sheen. When cast from a ship to the sea bed, the anchor’s magic is activated. The anchor, attaching chain, and vessel (including everyone and everything aboard it) are transported to the ethereal plane for 3d6 hours. The ship will drift thence upon the waves of ether which permeate that plane. A correctly trained crew may navigate the ether, sailing the ship to strange shores. It is said that it is thus possible to reach distant locations in the material plane or even, via ether vortices, to travel deeper into the astral plane and the far realms beyond.
If the ship is still in the ethereal plane when the randomly determined duration of the ethereal jaunt expires, it is returned instantly to the location at which it was anchored in the real world.
Showing posts with label wizardzine!. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wizardzine!. Show all posts
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Friday, 14 November 2014
Sunday, 5 October 2014
Project Updates: Wizards, Vats, Elementalists, Dolmenwood
A quick progress update on the major projects which I have in the works.
I've just finalised the text for the first issue of Wizardzine. In the end, I made the decision to cut back the amount of content somewhat, in order to get this thing out of the door. I think I made the mistake, early on, of getting too carried away with reams of ideas and thinking that I should elaborate them all in a single issue. This isn't necessary -- there will be future issues and I already have about 40 pages of content, which is, I think, more than enough for an issue of a zine!
As for From the Vats, it's been lingering for quite some months but I'm pleased to say that I've started with the layout now. Shouldn't be too much longer! Thanks again, everyone, for your submissions.
With both of those things looking like they'll be leaving home soon to make their own way in the world, my list of ongoing projects is getting back down to more manageable levels. The Complete Elementalist remains bubbling away on the back burner -- I'm just adding ideas to it as and when they come, taking things slowly. I must say, though, I'm really pleased with what I have so far. My intention was always to create an elementalist class with its own special vibe (which I fail to find words to describe really, but which has always been clear in my imagination), avoiding the kind of "fifty different ways to kill people with fire" cliche. (See here for some of the new spells I have lined up for the book so far.)
Finally, the Dolmenwood project with Greg Gorgonmilk continues apace. As Greg mentioned recently, we're currently working on an initial publication which will contain player-oriented content for use with the setting (or, for that matter, in any other campaign where root vegetables are a viable sentient race and druid types have a penchant for human sacrifice). You can expect in the region of 6 to 10 classes, reams of background tables, plus loads of weird spells.
So, I think that's all of the main writing / publishing projects I have underway... Apart, naturally, from the dozens of seeds of things which may someday blossom.
Fight on!
I've just finalised the text for the first issue of Wizardzine. In the end, I made the decision to cut back the amount of content somewhat, in order to get this thing out of the door. I think I made the mistake, early on, of getting too carried away with reams of ideas and thinking that I should elaborate them all in a single issue. This isn't necessary -- there will be future issues and I already have about 40 pages of content, which is, I think, more than enough for an issue of a zine!
As for From the Vats, it's been lingering for quite some months but I'm pleased to say that I've started with the layout now. Shouldn't be too much longer! Thanks again, everyone, for your submissions.
With both of those things looking like they'll be leaving home soon to make their own way in the world, my list of ongoing projects is getting back down to more manageable levels. The Complete Elementalist remains bubbling away on the back burner -- I'm just adding ideas to it as and when they come, taking things slowly. I must say, though, I'm really pleased with what I have so far. My intention was always to create an elementalist class with its own special vibe (which I fail to find words to describe really, but which has always been clear in my imagination), avoiding the kind of "fifty different ways to kill people with fire" cliche. (See here for some of the new spells I have lined up for the book so far.)
Finally, the Dolmenwood project with Greg Gorgonmilk continues apace. As Greg mentioned recently, we're currently working on an initial publication which will contain player-oriented content for use with the setting (or, for that matter, in any other campaign where root vegetables are a viable sentient race and druid types have a penchant for human sacrifice). You can expect in the region of 6 to 10 classes, reams of background tables, plus loads of weird spells.
So, I think that's all of the main writing / publishing projects I have underway... Apart, naturally, from the dozens of seeds of things which may someday blossom.
Fight on!
Sunday, 10 August 2014
Wizardzine #1: Table of Contents
The contents of Wizardzine #1 are now coalescing a bit. I still have writing to do in some sections, but the overall structure is pretty much fixed now.
Introduction
Everything in this issue focuses around the topic of aquatic and oceanic magic.
Wizards of Renown
Each discussed with details of their research, marks of magic, domains, and servants.
(ps. regarding From the Vats, I plan to compile and read the entries to the monster contest today. An announcement of the winner should be coming soon!)
Introduction
Everything in this issue focuses around the topic of aquatic and oceanic magic.
Wizards of Renown
Each discussed with details of their research, marks of magic, domains, and servants.
- Ephenedrine the Sirene
- Naxamh, Master of Spirits
- Master Harlwn of the Luminous Docks
- 12 tomes containing a set of spells, with details of the construction, author, and history
- 20 new magic items
- 10 new monsters
- 30 new spells
- Aquatic Monster Summoning Tables
- Sea Wizard Spell List
- Aquatic Familiars
- Tables for Random Selection
(ps. regarding From the Vats, I plan to compile and read the entries to the monster contest today. An announcement of the winner should be coming soon!)
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Wizardzine #1: Tomes
Further to the list of spells contained in the first issue of my forthcoming zine, just for fun, here are the names of the tomes which are described in its pages:
- A Treatise on the Aspects, Phases, States, and Conjuncts of the Fluid Element
- Communions and Conjurations
- Gbahal
- Leviathan
- Phalaine’s Tome of the Seas
- Rituals of the Vasandian Shipwrights
- Songs of Sea, Wind, and Wave
- Summons to the Sea-Drowned
- The Archipelagist’s Notes
- The Wrath of the Sea Gods
- Transmutations
- Untitled (being the notes of the adventuress Martha Wainlord)
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Wizardzine!: Issue #1 Spell List
Now that the OSR Superstar contest is behind me (well, the contest isn't over yet, but I've submitted my entry for the final round), I've moved back to focusing on the writing for issue 1 of Wizardzine. So far I've been concentrating mainly on the new spells which will grace its pages, and this morning I got up to a round 30, which was my goal.
To whet your taste buds, here's the list of spells which will be in this issue:
Now onto the monsters, magic items, and a description of the sorceress Ephenedrine and her domain!
To whet your taste buds, here's the list of spells which will be in this issue:
- Aquatic Adaptation (reversible)
- Boiling Sphere
- Call to the Deeps
- Castaway
- Conjure Land
- Control Buoyancy
- Dive
- Enslavement of the Drowned
- Erosion (reversible)
- Ghost Ship
- Hallucinatory Island
- Ice Sphere
- In the Belly of the Whale
- Island Hop
- Locate Land
- Luminescent Swarm
- Ocean’s Embrace
- Raise Wreck
- Ride the Waves
- Sea Lust
- Seasickness (reversible)
- Shockwave
- Sink Island
- Sirens' Call
- Sound the Deeps
- Swarm Transformation, Aquatic
- Tidings
- Transmute Liquid to Crystal (reversible)
- Water Walk
- Whale Speech
Now onto the monsters, magic items, and a description of the sorceress Ephenedrine and her domain!
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Wizardzine! #1: Ephenedrine the Sirene
Wizardzine! #1 is coming along very nicely! As I mentioned previously, the theme is oceanic and sub-aquatic magic.
I want each issue to be not just a collection of spells and magic items, though, but also to describe the magician who has created these wonders. For the first issue, the figure of "Ephenedrine the Sirene", oceanic sorceress, has crystallised. I'll be giving some more thought as to her character, history, and motives as writing for the issue continues.
As a teaser, I also wanted to share one of her spells, which I just wrote:
Sea Lust
Level: 2nd
Duration: Special
Range: 60’
Schools: Charms, Elemental water, Oceanic
The homes of men are founded on earth but their hearts are with the seas. Many a wanderer, upon his first glimpse of the ocean, is smitten with a lifelong yearning for the waves and the mysteries of the deeps.
This spell plays upon these deep-rooted instincts, awakening a lust for the ocean deeps in a person of the magic-user’s choice. Typically humans are the only race which may be affected with a sea lust but the referee may rule that other races in his campaign are susceptible to this charm. Two effects are possible, as follows.
Consort with Deep Ones: When cast at the sea’s shore at night, in the presence of denizens of the deep (merfolk, locathah, sahuagin, or other races of “deep ones”), the spell’s target enters into a state of delirious infatuation in which he or she will consort with the creatures, engaging in whatever rituals or rites of communion they may desire. This state lasts for a single night. Only vague memories of the events which transpired under the enchantment remain to the victim. Women who are victim of this magic sometimes give birth to children who bear odd marks hinting at their sea-blood heritage.
Lost Love: Alternatively, the magic-user may use this spell to abuse the heart of a lovestruck victim, inflicting them with a glamour of great potency. This usage of the spell requires the heart of the object of the victim’s love, removed from the body, whether living or dead. The heart must be thrown into the waves of the sea as the spell is cast. The victim is inflicted with the delusion that their love has gone across the seas and will do whatever is in their power to follow. The charm will thus drive the victim to a life of futile wandering and searching, forever yearning after their lost love.
In both cases, a successful saving throw versus spells negates the enchantment.
I want each issue to be not just a collection of spells and magic items, though, but also to describe the magician who has created these wonders. For the first issue, the figure of "Ephenedrine the Sirene", oceanic sorceress, has crystallised. I'll be giving some more thought as to her character, history, and motives as writing for the issue continues.
As a teaser, I also wanted to share one of her spells, which I just wrote:
Sea Lust
Level: 2nd
Duration: Special
Range: 60’
Schools: Charms, Elemental water, Oceanic
The homes of men are founded on earth but their hearts are with the seas. Many a wanderer, upon his first glimpse of the ocean, is smitten with a lifelong yearning for the waves and the mysteries of the deeps.
This spell plays upon these deep-rooted instincts, awakening a lust for the ocean deeps in a person of the magic-user’s choice. Typically humans are the only race which may be affected with a sea lust but the referee may rule that other races in his campaign are susceptible to this charm. Two effects are possible, as follows.
Consort with Deep Ones: When cast at the sea’s shore at night, in the presence of denizens of the deep (merfolk, locathah, sahuagin, or other races of “deep ones”), the spell’s target enters into a state of delirious infatuation in which he or she will consort with the creatures, engaging in whatever rituals or rites of communion they may desire. This state lasts for a single night. Only vague memories of the events which transpired under the enchantment remain to the victim. Women who are victim of this magic sometimes give birth to children who bear odd marks hinting at their sea-blood heritage.
Lost Love: Alternatively, the magic-user may use this spell to abuse the heart of a lovestruck victim, inflicting them with a glamour of great potency. This usage of the spell requires the heart of the object of the victim’s love, removed from the body, whether living or dead. The heart must be thrown into the waves of the sea as the spell is cast. The victim is inflicted with the delusion that their love has gone across the seas and will do whatever is in their power to follow. The charm will thus drive the victim to a life of futile wandering and searching, forever yearning after their lost love.
In both cases, a successful saving throw versus spells negates the enchantment.
Saturday, 28 June 2014
Wizardzine! #1: Progress
As recently announced, I've started work on the inaugural issue of my zine about magic and magicians in D&D.
The theme I've chosen for this issue is sub-aquatic and oceanic magic. So far I've been working on writing new spells but I also have a lot of ideas for magic items and monsters, so there should be a pretty nice mix of different stuff in this first issue!
Currently I have full write-ups of the following spells:
If you've ever thought of running a campaign based around sea travel or underwater adventuring, this will be the zine for you!
The theme I've chosen for this issue is sub-aquatic and oceanic magic. So far I've been working on writing new spells but I also have a lot of ideas for magic items and monsters, so there should be a pretty nice mix of different stuff in this first issue!
Currently I have full write-ups of the following spells:
- Boiling sphere
- Call to the deeps
- Castaway
- Conjure land
- Control buoyancy
- Dive
- Ghost ship
- Ice sphere
- Locate land
- Raise island
- Raise wreck
- Shockwave
- Swarm transformation, aquatic
- Tidings
- Whale speech
If you've ever thought of running a campaign based around sea travel or underwater adventuring, this will be the zine for you!
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Tentatively Announcing: Wizardzine!
I mentioned very briefly on google+ the other day the fact that I had created a document entitled Wizardzine. The name was a joke / placeholder, but I've not thought of anything better and I kind of like the goofiness of it, so I get the feeling it's going to stick.
Anyway, my document has just exploded into a load of seeds of ideas, so I think it's time for a very tentative announcement of intention.
Wizardzine!
(perhaps the exclamation mark is officially part of the title?)
A periodically produced conglomeration of my musings on the subject of wizards and magic in D&D. Featuring stuff like:
Illustrated? Somehow. I don't know yet. Maybe, maybe I'll bust out my felt tips and give it a go myself, in true zine style.
Who knows when this will come to fruition. I could foresee a first issue in the not too distant future, however, given the explosion of ideas that just happened in my little document. It might be a one-off if I run out of steam, it might be a multi-volume wonder in several years time. We'll have to wait and see.
I'll keep you posted.
ps. I also have news on the community-sourced vivimancer supplement From the Vats. An announcement about that will be coming soon...
Anyway, my document has just exploded into a load of seeds of ideas, so I think it's time for a very tentative announcement of intention.
Wizardzine!
(perhaps the exclamation mark is officially part of the title?)
A periodically produced conglomeration of my musings on the subject of wizards and magic in D&D. Featuring stuff like:
- New spells (naturally). Loads of them.
- New magic items.
- Wizardly companions, constructs, minions, and beings from beyond. (Monsters, to you and me.)
- Magicians and their lairs. (That is, adventure locales.)
- Esoteric tomes, procedures, formulae.
- Miscellaneous articles on subjects arcane.
- House rules for magic-users and spell-casting.
Illustrated? Somehow. I don't know yet. Maybe, maybe I'll bust out my felt tips and give it a go myself, in true zine style.
Who knows when this will come to fruition. I could foresee a first issue in the not too distant future, however, given the explosion of ideas that just happened in my little document. It might be a one-off if I run out of steam, it might be a multi-volume wonder in several years time. We'll have to wait and see.
I'll keep you posted.
ps. I also have news on the community-sourced vivimancer supplement From the Vats. An announcement about that will be coming soon...
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