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Today’s Tabbloid
PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net
This post over at Huge Ruined Piled has got me thinking about psionics As others have already reported, the Dizzy Dragon website now includes
again. Or rather it’s intensified my latest bout of thinking about psionics. the most awesome online random dungeon generator I’ve ever seen. Not
I make no secret of the fact that I’ve always loved psionics in D&D;. I only does it combine the monsters and treasures from the
know all the arguments against them, the only truly cogent one being Moldvay/Cook/Marsh Basic/Expert books with the dungeon dressing
that the old school implementation of them, whether in Eldritch details from the AD&D; Dungeon Masters Guide, but, even more
Wizardry or AD&D;, never really worked, but I’ve never understood the impressively, it creates really good dungeon maps. I mean really good.
notion that psionics “don’t fit” D&D;. I mean, I can understand not using Most random dungeon generators produce uninspired maps with only a
psionics in every D&D; campaign, but I’d argue that the list of things that handful of rooms and a very obvious “path” through them. That’s not the
genuinely “don’t fit” D&D; in any absolute sense is vanishingly small. case, where the maps are sprawling, with dozens of rooms, secret doors,
winding corridors, pools, crevasses, sections of cavern, and much more.
My own renewed interest in psionics is twofold. First, ever since my It’s frankly amazing.
stillborn attempt to produce an old school psionics system for use with
the retro-clones, I’ve thought that I ought to revisit the topic from a Check it out. Please.
slightly different angle. Second, without revealing too much to my
players, I think there’s definitely a place for psionics in my
Dwimmermount campaign. Indeed, over the last few sessions, I’ve found
myself thinking that I really need to come up with a psionics system that ROGUE FEED
“feels right,” so that I won’t miss the opportunity to introduce it into the
campaign when the moment arises. See us at GenCon
AUG 02, 2010 02:54P.M.
So far, though, I don’t have any new insights into the topic and so I’m left
more or less where I was last time. I remain committed to using Eldritch I know we’ve been a bit silent as of late, but that is due to getting ready
Wizardry‘s system as a starting point, because, to me anyway, that funky for GenCon. I leave tomorrow. Rogue Games’ booth is 1539. I will be
system has a great deal of flavor that I want to preserve. Figuring out a there most of the time, so if you want to stop by and talk feel free to. We
way to preserve that flavor and create something that’s, well, actually have a lot of cool things at the booth this year, and I look forward to
playable and isn’t a bookkeeping nightmare. Beyond that, I am not yet sharing some of the cool things we have in store for the next year.
sure how to proceed, but it’s something I am cogitating upon a lot these
days, so don’t be surprised if you see a bunch of psionics posts here over
the next couple of weeks.
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Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net 3 August 2010
ROGUE FEED Narthos had been abused by Prince Zotulla, who refused him alms and
trampled him beneath his horse “nigh to death.” Zotulla grew to
Pulp Fantasy Library: The Dark manhood and became emperor of Ummaos, while Narthos became a
mighty necromancer and seethed with a desire for revenge.
Eidolon
AUG 02, 2010 01:54P.M. It is this desire that forms the basis for the story, with Namirrha
consulting a “dark, gigantic statue of Thasaidon” — the dark eidolon of
the title — for advice on how best to avenge himself upon Zotulla.
Strangely, Thasaidon, speaking through the statue, rebukes Namirrha for
his request for assistance.
The story tells the tale of the fate of the sorcerer Namirrha of Ummaos, Namirrha is undeterred.
“who imposed his black yoke on the cities of Xylac and, later, in a proud
delirium, deemed himself veritable peer of Thasaidon, lord of Evil.” “Yea, there is a debt,” Namirrha growled implacably. “And
Thasaidon, as his name suggests, in Zothique’s equivalent of the Devil truly I will pay the debt tomorrow, even as I have planned....
and is the literary ancestor of Greyhawk’s deity Tharizdun by way of Rob There are Those who will aid me, Those who will answer my
Kuntz’s own Tharzduun. He’s also the inspiration for Typhon in my summoning in your despite.”
Dwimmermount campaign and the name of his high priest in Adamas,
Saidon, is an explicit connection between the two deities. Namirrha was “It is an ill thing to affront me,” said the image, after an
not always a great and powerful magician. interval. “And also, it is not wise to call upon Those that you
designate. However, I perceive clearly that such is your
Indeed, none could have dreamt that the great sorcerer was intent. You are proud and stubborn and revengeful. Do then,
one with the beggar-boy, Narthos, an orphan of questionable as you will, but blame me not for the outcome.”
parentage, who had begged his daily bread in the streets and
bazaars of Ummaos. Wretchedly had he lived, alone and Even those not familiar with Smith will recognize that Namirrha’s
despised; and a hatred of the cruel, opulent city grew in his unrelenting desire for vengeance will bring him to a bad end and it is this
heart like a smothered flame that feeds in secret, biding the course of events that the remainder of the story chronicles.
time when it shall become a conflagration consuming all
things. “The Dark Eidolon” is thus a fairly typical Clark Ashton Smith story but I
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Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR riorio2@rogue-games.net 3 August 2010
personally find it much more compelling than others of its kind. In part, ROGUE FEED
I think it’s because Thasaidon, who’s described as an “archfiend” and
“lord of the seven Hells” and other such diabolical things, comes across Richard Iorio
as a much more rational, even ethical being than does Namirrha, who JUL 31, 2010 02:25P.M.
has allowed an ancient slight, one that in fact laid the groundwork for his
eventual greatness, to consume him to the point of self-destruction. The So James is a lover of all things Old School. His passion for OD&D; and
story rings oddly true to me and more than makes up for its literary the roots of the hobby are one of the things I really like about him. In our
shortcomings in other areas. frequent phone calls and emails, he is always quick to point out things I
should look at, as well as new games that are worth checking out. Any
ready of his blog knows he reviews a lot of gaming products, and often
none of the things he reviews or recommends connects with me. Truth
ROGUE FEED be told, I am not interested in D&D; and games of that ilk any more. It
just does not click with me, and my tastes in games are different. Still, on
Creepy Japanese Children’s Art occasion I will read an occasional Old School product, but that is it. With
AUG 01, 2010 07:00A.M. this in mind, I was sudrpoised that I ordered Lamentations of the
Flame Princess Deluxe Edition. I did this for two reasons:
Reader Seth Poppy has passed along this link to a webpage showing 30
children’s book illustrations by Japanese artist Gojin Ishihara. The first 1. James speaks highly of the work James Edward Raggi IV does.
sixteen come from a 1972 book entitled The Illustrated Book of Japanese
Monsters and would make great inspirations any Japanese-themed 2. The box set was too cool to pass up.
fantasy RPG, like Ruins & Ronin or Bushido.
So I ordered it and waited. The game arrived yesterday and I this
morning I had a chance to open it. My first thought upon opening the
box? Wow. Why? Check it out:
ROGUE FEED
You can see the greens of some of their up and coming minis here.