#033en - april 2024 TTRPG newsletter
The monthly TTRPG newsletter from Xapur
The scheduling curse has struck again! Only one game this month, so I've been experimenting with solo RPGs.
What's new at my gaming table?
We were able to resume the Delta Green mini-campaign, but with only one session on the clock. As a result, I resumed a solo adventure I'd started in D&D 5E and switched to Cairn, which was much simpler to manage, but which I had to modify to guarantee a minimum of survivability for my character! In fact, I preferred to play only one adventurer rather than a group, to keep the games simpler, and explored the different systems (oracles, random tables...) used by solo players. On the Traveller side, with a very successful crowdfunding, I've received the PDF of the ‘light’ French rules (the translation of the Explorer’s Edition) as well as a scenario (Stranded), and I'm preparing a game on Foundry.
Latest articles published on the blog
As always, my posts are written in french but there is a translation widget on the blog
After Traveller in March, I wrote about Cepheus, which is derived from it and very close to it.
Change of scenery with the penultimate level of my mega-dungeon, a small aquatic level before the big plunge into the depths, and a final floor that will be massive!
Last but not least, I discovered and bought (thanks to those who support my little creations, thank you) the Canvas of Kings software to be able to draw outdoor maps. A great little program with a very distinctive and original graphic style.
Readings and inspirations
Readings: I've finished volume 7 of Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen and read Margaret Killjoy's anarchist utopia: A Country of Ghosts. Before moving on to volume 8 of the Malazan saga, I'm speed-reading the previous ones (well, not so much, as the books are dense) and participating in the french Malazian Wiki!
I read two issues of D12 Monthly while trying to catch up a little.
Issue 32: Classes for Old School Essential. Kits from AD&D 2E are revisited and adapted. There are adventure tracks based on class or race (in some games, race is a class). A new class, the Skald, derived from the bard but not using magic, is detailed. More secondary skills and, finally, ideas for gaining experience based on actions performed according to class.
Issue 33: Arcanists special. A new class for Old School Essentials, the Sorcerer, based on Constitution, which he can degrade to cast spells. Along with some twenty new spells. A short magician's survival guide. Specialization ideas by magic school.
Video games: I mentioned above Canvas of Kings, which isn't really a game, but it's still entertaining. And I'm slowly making my way through Assassin's Creed Origins. The lance or spear and shield combination of the opponents is formidable and gives me ideas for the Mythras fights (my little campaign is on pause).
TV series: I did a binge-watching the Fallout series (despite the annoying commercial breaks now imposed on us by Amazon Prime Videos) and I'm very much in tune with the spirit and locations of the video games, even though I'm not very familiar with them. It's fun, ironic and sometimes quite gory!
Creations, tips, shop…
Publications of the month
For a change of style, I relaunched Flowscape and created this fairly simple map of a hilltop refuge, which can be used as a place to camp - or as a last retreat in case of attack. It's available in 6 versions on DrivethruRPG or Ko-fi.
Current projects
level 12 of my megadungeon - we've reached the goal (and the bottom!)
a new map in the Eldritch Maps series
and I still have to finish a little fantasy adventure
Follow me on the web
follow me on TwitterX and/or Mastodon
Buy me a coffee, or a tea, or a beer! Explore my shop!
my TTRPG blog (in french - with a translation widget)
That’s it for this issue, see you soon!
And do not hesitate to leave a message or comment below or answer to the email to let me know what you think of this letter.