LL Campaign House Rules

After playing around with D&D 5 last year (and deciding that, while there are some elements of it that I like, overall it's not really my cup of tea), I'm just about to start a new Labyrinth Lord campaign.

I've just finished compiling a short (6 page) house rules document, including details on the custom races and classes of my (very vaguely imagined) setting.

Click here to check it out!

For the Coming Year

So, as the new year is beginning, it feels like an appropriate juncture to take a moment to assess where I stand with the various RPG-related projects that I have going on. In no particular order...

• Theorems & Thaumaturgy Revised Edition: The writing is mostly finished. I just need to add some elementalist magic items (I decided to add a section of magic items to go with each of the classes in the book -- the elementalist in the current Theorems & Thaumaturgy has a big 0 in that department). When that's done, it'll be onto layout and the possible requisitioning of more illustrations.
• The B/X Warrior: Following on from the B/X Rogue, I've started working on a Warrior class along similar lines, amalgamating and subsuming a set of optional abilities for the fighter and various sub-classes or variant archetypes. I've got the basic concept worked out, so now just need to spend the time writing it all up properly. I also have some rough ideas for a wizard and priest class along the same lines, which may also get written up at some point.
• The Complete Elementalist: This is a project that I've had in the works for a long time, at least since publishing the Complete Vivimancer. I make progress on it in bursts, once in a while, when I feel the urge. I'd like to say that I'll try to get this published this year, but it's far from certain. We'll see.
• Wormskin: Issue 1 has been a great success, in terms of sales, at least. Greg and I have started working on issue 2 and we have a lot of material lined up for future issues as well (including two complete adventures set in Dolmenwood!). I'm excited that the Dolmenwood material which we've been writing is finally getting to see the light!
• Wizardzine: Has not been forgotten! I have a half-written second issue which I'm hoping to finish off at some point (though the muse has left me on that one, for the time being) and came up with a completely different idea for the second issue last week. I'll have to see if the new idea takes seed enough to be developed into a full issue. But suffice to say, Wizardzine will be back, when the stars are right.
• New Labyrinth Lord game: I'm starting up a new campaign in January and have been putting together some house rules documents for that. (The adventurer cleric class which I posted yesterday was for the campaign.) I may get it together to put some more of these documents up for download.

It looks like I'll be publishing at least one big book this year (Theorems & Thaumaturgy Revised Edition) and several smaller ones (Wormskin, B/X classes, Wizardzine). Very exciting!

Free PDF: Adventurer Cleric Class

My beef with the cleric has been long and well-roasted.

In the new year, I'm going to be starting a new Labyrinth Lord campaign (a welcome change after my experiments with D&D 5 this year) and thought it was maybe about time to come up with a divinely blessed class which is to my taste.

Lo and behold! The adventurer cleric.


The design goals of the class were:

• (Primarily) A divine class without any moral imperative and which can fit in with the usual assortment of mercenaries, rogues, cut-throats, and murder-hobos.
• Cutting down the power of clerical magic a bit -- no raise dead.
• Reducing the class' spellcasting advancement -- no spell at 1st level and a maximum of fifth level spells.

You can download the PDF here.


Wishing everyone a happy 2016!

The B/X Rogue: Now Available in Print!

The postal gods smiled kindly upon me this morning and delivered the long-awaited proof copy of the B/X Rogue. All looking spectacular, I have switched the switch at RPGNow: tis live!

Thou mayst get thy hands on it here!
(The PDF comes free with the print version. For people who've already purchased the PDF, I'll send you a coupon with a discount on the print version, if you'd like to "upgrade".)

Wormskin 1 PDF Live!

Dreams can be real.

(PDF only for the moment. What with the holidays and so on, the print version probably won't be out til the new year. BUT!: if you purchase the PDF edition now, we'll send you a discount on the full print/PDF combo when it goes live.)

Pre-Yuletide Missives

Just a quick update on a few projects and gaming-related things that I've got on the go:

• The first issue of Wormskin -- my and Greg Gorgonmilk's zine exploring the mythical Dolmenwood -- is (dare I say it?) poised for release. (See grumpy cat.) I have completed the layout and it is in the fair hands of the Gorgonmilk, awaiting his ducal seal of approval. Get your nostrils ready for massive infusions of dank moss.
• Also: following on from the critically acclaimed (James Spahn, Tim Brannan, and Eric Fabiaschi liked it) B/X Rogue, I will shamelessly admit to having begun work on a sequel: the B/X Warrior. I imagine you can guess what it might be about.
• Additionally: I am pleased to share that my home games are about to revert to Labyrinth Lord, after a brief flirtation with 5e. "Not my cup o tea" would be a fair summary of the experience.

More news as it breaks.

May all your dreams be mossy.

The B/X Rogue: Out Now!

I have written a thing and you might like to buy it! It has illustrations by the esteemed Nicolò Maioli. Here is what it says on the back:


Climbing walls, hiding in shadows, moving silently, removing traps... There must be more to the adventuring life than this!

Explode the talents of your sneaky characters with this book!

More than simply a thief, the rogue class has access to talents drawn from a wide array of archetypes, all integrated into a single class. Scouts & spies, burglars & tomb robbers, charlatans & con-artists, swashbucklers & explorers, brigands & highwaymen, assassins & thugs. No need for all of those specialised sub-classes any more!

Within these pages you will discover:

1. Complete advancement tables for levels 1 to 20
2. 36 adventuring talents
3. Themed packages of talents for a quick start into the game
4. Guidelines for other classes attempting roguish feats
5. Rules for song magic and dabbling in arcane secrets

Buy the PDF at RPGNow

(Print version coming soon.)