A ROLE PLAYING GAMES RESOURCE
Ok, fun HTML.
For those of you who made orders through email because the Store wasn’t working properly, I apologize. I also apologize to those who skipped making an order altogether. In a way, the Store page getting messed up was kind of a blessing – because it forced me to redo it (and I like it better this way). Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle shack!
The night-sky was overcast, with lightning striking the surrounding hills. The elves of the White Owls had closed their village gate and pulled up their rope-ladders. There was no rain that night, but the thunder was still enough to keep most inside.
After the thundering storm died down, Mother Pearl stepped out of her tree hut to breathe in some fresh air and listen to the wisdom of the wind. Instead, she was greeted by a newborn, wrapped snugly at her door. Mother Pearl realized this baby did not cry once while outside in the thunderstorm. She also realized that this baby did not belong to anyone in the village. Someone must have snuck into the village to abandon him.
Of course, the baby was adopted by the village, and given the name of Thunder. As the years counted on, Thunder was passed around as a foster child, never once settling with one family for more than a season. As a child, this began to wear on him, and he began causing trouble (as only a child can). With no real parents or family, he started to feel contempt for those in the village, since he felt that he would always be alone.
By the time that he could build his own tree hut, he did. With that, he began referring to himself as Plear, wishing to leave the name of Thunder behind. Most in the village assumed he was just trying to find an identity for himself. In reality, he wished to forget his upbringing, only looking toward the future.
The older he got, the more he avoided the other villagers. He took several trips away from the White Owls, and soon his trips took hem farther and farther. He was searching for his parents, looking for an identity, or looking for direction and purpose, but mostly just to get away from the village. He felt claustrophobic there. With few friends to come back to, Plear simply came back less and less.
If he ever came close to having a friend in the village, it was Mother Pearl. She didn’t try to befriend him – or push him away. She left him alone when he wanted, answered his questions with honesty, and rarely asked questions herself. He appreciated that.
During one of his treks he was ambushed by a small pack of orcs – orcs of the Iron Fang. Immediately, he noticed the leader carrying an intricate bow. Being something of an archer himself, Plear could clearly and immediately see that it was special. He had to have it. This bow did not belong to the claws of a filthy orc. Without thinking, he offered to sneak the pack of orcs into his village in exchange for the bow. Skog (the leader with the bow) agreed, and they sent off so as to increase their numbers.
Plear came through as he promised, unlocking the gates during nightfall, and then hiding in the bush. The village was overrun, and most of the villagers were rounded up for slavery. Plear had no trouble justifying his actions. Afterall, he didn’t owe the White Owls anything.
After the raid, Plear and Skog met for the exchange. Interestingly enough, Skog went to the meeting alone, and easily handed off the bow to Plear. The weapon was actually a Thunderburst bow, so when Skog (in his broken common) mentioned the word “thunder,” Plear thought the orc was referring to the bow. It wasn’t until a couple of hours later that that he realized the orc actually said, “Here Thunder, take your bow.” Plear never told the dirty orc that his childhood name was Thunder.
Disturbed by this, Plear went back to the razed village, gathered up some supplies, and set off to find Skog. Even though he now held the weapon that felt like home in his hands, he couldn’t help feeling that he was somehow part of something bigger, for good or ill. Whether he finds Skog, whether he atones for his crime against the village, whether he finds out what his real destiny is, depends on you…
Sorry, but my WordPress “upgrade” blew up my theme. Everything is still here (posts and pages), but I have to hunt for a new theme (damn it! I liked that one!). Hold tight, it’ll get done within a couple of hours.
But hey, the contest is still open! See the post below.
*UPDATE* This contest is closed.
I’ve said it before – I love contests, especially when they’re free. Win these large-sized drakes, either as monsters to fight or beasts to ride. All you have to do is leave a comment of your best idea for a character concept, adventure, encounter, NPC, enemy or monster. It’s just like the last contest, except this time you only need a couple of sentences in a comment on this page.
That’s it. It’s that simple.
Good luck everyone!
Tired of characters lugging around magic items as if they were mundane pieces of gear? This article will fix that, assuming you adopt the Classic Fantasy setting and apply it to your campaign. In this article, you’ll see how different types of characters gain the benefits of a normally 4e magic-equipped character, without actually carrying around all those magic items. Now, magic items are truly powerful tools that help define your character, as opposed to numerous pieces of mundane gear.
Your character concept defines your character in a more broad way than simply by race and class. It is especially important for this project because it determines how the character gains the benefits that normal 4e magic items instill.
In D&D 4e, PCs gain magic items almost every level, and are constantly swapping them for new and better ones. With Classic Fantasy, those magic items are few and far between (or non-existent), but the PCs still need the benefits that 4e magic items provide in order to maintain the power level matching the encounters, as well as the “larger-than-life” feel.
Here is a list of possible character concepts, and the explanations as to why your character gains the benefits of magic items, even if he doesn’t have any items. Take whatever fits your version of Classic Fantasy, use it, modify it, or come up with your own. Further down the page, you’ll find out how your character gains magic item benefits as he gains levels.
Below is the method for which magic item benefits are attained in this Classic Fantasy setting, regardless of the character concept.
Remember, while your character sheet may have several different magic items listed and equipped, they are all not really separate items. All of their bonuses, powers, benefits, etc. are all lumped into your character concept. These benefits come from either a single powerful magic item, a curse, a blessing, his own personal magic ability, or simply his place with fate and destiny – making him larger-than-life. Really, it’s up to you to decide. This is in no way a method to limit the character; it is simply a way to explain how your character is larger-than-life, without having all PCs lug around 10 different magic items as if they were mundane gear.
On paper (and according to the character builder), your character carries magic items like any other 4e game – it’s just that we are reflavoring all those magic items into a single item or power. We are changing the flavor of the game, not the mechanics.
It’s time to announce the winners for the Minotaur contest!
Before we begin, let me throw a couple of things out there. First, none of the Steal This… entries from the authors of Stuffer Shack were considered; only readers. Secondly, none of the pictures accompanying the entries had any influence; only content was considered. Now, with that being said, here they are:
3rd place wins the Adventurer’s Bundle:
2nd place also wins the Adventurer’s Bundle:
1st place wins the huge-sized minotaur, and also the Adventurer’s Bundle:
Thank you everyone for your contributions. I’m happy with the turnout, and look forward to the next contest. Winners have been notified via email.
I once introduced a magic item to the group, gave it a name, gave it a backstory, impressed how the item was somehow important, and then gave it to a player character. Before the end of the session, the player was trying to get rid of it so that he could get two other magical items.
So, magic in 4E is plentiful. I can dig it. I do dig it. It makes for cool customization, bonuses, and benefits. 4e’s magic items allotment has added something to the game, but it has also taken something away. Now, magic items are practically everyday tools. In your typical 4e game, every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a magical item. No, he has several.
“Anybody need a magic sword? No? Ok, I throw it in the Bag of Holding with the magical bow and wizard’s staff.”
Ok. Moving on.
In the last three campaigns that I was involved in, we had:
Where are my humans? Sure, most of the towns we enter are filled with humans. Most of the NPCs we talk to are human. They’re the most abundant race in the game world, yet practically non-existent in the gaming group.
“Oh look, we’ve come across a group of travelers – two shifters, a deva, a dwarf, and another half-orc.”
Ok. Moving on, still…
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run into a tribe of goblins, a band of hobgoblins, or a pack of orcs. Not only are they all over the place, but they have their own societies, cultures, traditions, and laws. And, they all have children! Oooh, scary. They just don’t really seem like monsters. They may as well be races for us to play. Wait, they are.
“Well, let’s go talk to that minotaur and see if he has what we need.”
What it boils down to…
I’m sorry, but all of these magic items, all of these non-human races, and all of these non-monster monsters just don’t seem like my preferred fantasy setting. When I think of the fantasy genre, I think of:
All of the above movies belong to what I call “Classic Fantasy.” Are there some magic items? Yeah, a few, and they’re powerful. Are there some non-human races? Yeah, a few, and they’re mysterious. Are there some orcs? Yeah, a few, and they’re nasty.
I want my fantasy to be powerful, mysterious, and nasty. I want my character to be a nobody in a vast world where home is relatively safe, and everything outside of that is unknown, wild, and dangerous. I want my fantasy to be fantastic.
What now?
Classic Fantasy is going to be the first project here at Stuffer Shack. I’ll be adding ways to turn your fantasy game into a classic fantasy game.
I hope you find it all useful!
I’ve always liked the idea of the bard, not because of what he can do in terms of game mechanics, but because of what he can do in the game. Simply expanding the perception of the bard just a little bit can greatly expand the gamer’s experience. Let’s take a look at the two most traditional roles a bard can assume in any fantasy setting:
The Entertainer
The most often used type of bard would be the entertainer. This is the guy (or gal) who usually works for himself. He’s in every major town, and can be seen on any major street. The lucky get a few gigs in taverns, while the talented can book major events. As an entertainer, this bard is always looking to make people laugh, swoon, or close their eyes to enjoy his music. This guy doesn’t have to be versed in literature, or have any knowledge of history (though all that helps). What’s important is that he knows how to give the people what they want. And hey, in an age without TVs or ATVs, that can sometimes be hard to come by.
This guy is very easy to insert into a fantasy game. He simply tags along an adventuring party to gain material for his songs, stories, and poems, so that he may make some coin off them at the next town. As a plus, he might also get to include himself in the adventures.
Since a bard among a group of adventurers is already a cut above the rest, it can be assumed that he has, or will soon gain, a reputation. After a bard gains a few levels, it can even be said that he has become a celebrity. Just imagine the bustle that happens when a bard of renown walks into town. He will soon be asked to perform at events and gatherings – and in fact it is assumed that he will. Invitations to dinners and parties are readily offered. He’ll even be offered money just to make an appearence at events.
The Voice
As the voice, a bard is responsible for praising his patron, and insulting his patron’s enemies. This position almost always requires formal training in literature, history, and poetry, as well as an excellent knowledge of current events. Such bards are employed by rich merchants, noblemen, or even royalty, and remain in service for years. At any gathering or event, they either speak for, or alongside their masters, to make for a better presentation. Not really suited for singing, dancing, or playing music, their specialty lies in what they say, as opposed to how they say it. For sure, being able to gain attention through commanding presence and charisma is a must, it’s just that they are not necessarily entertainers.
It’s very easy to integrate this type of character in a fantasy game. The simplest way is for the bard to be employed by the adventuring party. At the very least, he is simply part of the group and speaks up for them every chance he gets. When an introduction is called for, he does it grandly. The deeds and exploits of the group (what they fought, who they rescued), is spoken at every tavern and recited at most other gatherings. His position as a bard becomes quite apparent to others right away, and that often improves how the adventuring party is perceived. Anytime the adventuring group is addressed, the bard is almost always included in the conversation, if not talked to directly.
If you’ve ever wanted to play a bard, but were unsure about how to take it on, use one of the two examples above. Hopefully, by choosing either the entertainer or the voice, you’ll have an easier time. I think you’ll find that role playing a bard, while challenging at times, can be very rewarding.
P.S. – Why don’t you try to add the bard to your sci-fi game, like Star Wars or Traveller? I’m sure it could work just as well, maybe even more so.
This Contest has ended. See the results!
Last month I put up a contest allowing for readers to win a free huge-sized minotaur. All you have to do is submit either a character background, adventure or encounter idea, NPC, monster, or enemy (see the Steal This… page for examples).
Well, so far I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on the site, but few contest entries. I know that Stuffer Shack is relatively brand new, and that I shouldn’t expect a lot, but it seems that the entries have stopped coming in.
So, I figure it’s time to sweeten the deal. The rules of the contest remain the same, but the rewards are being increased.
2nd place: Adventurer’s BundleCall me crazy, cause I just might be. I simply want to get the shelves stocked up with “steal this” material, and I can’t do it alone.
So join in. All it takes is for you to submit your current character, your favorite character, maybe an encounter you just went through, or an adventure you just ran. NPCs and enemies are a dime a dozen, too. Just make sure your entries are about 500 words each (a few paragraphs). That’s it – it’s easy!
Quetsen Sisten, like most hunter Ferrenai, clings to the traditions of old. He makes his own clothing, his own weapons, and hunts for his his own meals. Even though he is a slave that has risen to the status of Head Trustee, he still prefers to be waited on by no one. Though he is a grateful, humble slave, he is still a hunter at heart.
Several times almost run over by competing farmers, the Stern Marsh has endured many setbacks. With so few slaves remaining, and only a third of the original land still protected, the Stern Marsh has had to go from being a passive farming business, to an aggressive opportunist.
During the early days, when the Marsh Wars first began, the Stern Marsh was prosperous, but not well protected. For competing farms, the Stern was ripe for the picking. With its slave numbers dwindling (from either being killed or captured), and the lands being gobbled up by neighboring farms, it appeared that the Stern would vanish. Yet, out of the chaos rose a hard-working slave-boy, Quetsen Sisten.
Quetsen Sisten was born unto the Stern Marsh, and that is all he has ever known. Seeing so many family and friends killed or captured has erupted in him a savage beast. As a boy, he made his first weapon and began to fight. Steadily, he led the slaves through battle after battle in defense of his master’s marsh. His master took notice, and quickly rose Quetsen to the status of trustee, then Head Trustee. Now, with control over the other trustees and their slaves, the Stern Marsh has fortified its land and repelled all forthcoming attacks. Neighboring marshes no longer attack the Stern, and his master could not be prouder.
As a slave, Quetsen can not attain a higher position than that of Head Trustee. Everyone in his marsh knows him on sight, and respects his position. Even if he could be granted ownership over his own body, he would prefer not to, as the perks and status in the Stern are too great.
When his master’s son left abruptly on a trade ship, Quetsen was tasked to find him, protect him, and bring him back home if possible. Quetsen was hesitant with this request at first, as he was not comfortable leaving the Stern Marsh, his home. However, wanting to serve his master faithfully, he agreed. After saying goodbye, he left the Stern Marsh on the next scheduled trade ship.
He’s pretty sure that he will not like what life is like outside of the marshlands, but plans on making the best of it. He is loyal to his master, and is glad to serve him. No other slave or trustee of the Stern has been granted permission to leave the Stern for such an extended length of time, so he appreciates the honor, and his quest.
This character background was created for a Star Wars campaign, though it should work in fantasy as well. As a PC, Quetsen could be forever looking for his master’s son, taking on whatever adventure moved him closer to that end. Or, another player could be the master’s son, who refuses to go back home (leaving Quetsen to be his bodyguard). As a Star Wars character, Quetsen prefers to use only weapons that marsh slaves are allowed to carry (melee weapons) – to use anything else would defy his slave status.