The Path of Cunning, issue #5

Just a quick note to flag up that The Path of Cunning #5 has been released, including not one, but two contributions by yours truly!

One of these was sufficient to get my metaphor privileges officially revoked by the editor. I cannot imagine why.

The Publishing of Sir Ashby Phipps

On Sunday night I finally hit "Publish" on The Perishing of Sir Ashby Phipps. It's been seven eight years in the making.

Behold, The Perishing of Sir Ashby Phipps

TTRPG Bundle for Afghan Support

Evening all!

Recently my efforts have been poured into fundraising - specifically, setting up a charity bundle on Itch to help support vulnerable people in Afghanistan (details here).

Nearly 40 games-adjacent people have joined up to help raise money, with 70+ items (including everything I've written) for just $20 - though you can, of course, donate more. Anything we raise will go to the charity appeal. We're closing in on $5,000 after a week of the bundle, and if we hit that target I've promised to add another item (for free) for anyone who bought the bundle. You can even vote to tell me what to write!

You can get the bundle here: TTRPG Bundle for Afghan Support

Pathfinder: Now your character can be fruit

I've just realised that in a massive oversight, I've forgotten to write about what is undoubtedly going to be the next big thing in gaming, a concept that will rock the dice-rolling world. Which is to say, the supplement I wrote about playable fruit classes for Pathfinder.

Obviously, this inexplicably-neglected area is just ripe for exploitation. I expect to see my efforts bearing considerable fruit in the near future, and have already begun planning the development of my gaming empire, once I secure the necessary seed funding. Having got the jump on the rest of the bunch, I hope to peel away into an unassailable lead. This supplement will form the core of my future work, and I am already planning GURPS Fruit, Fruit: the Ripening, and of course, Fruithammer and Boldly Grow!.

Okay I'll stop, I promise. But! You can check out Fruits of the Spirit on my DriveThruRPG store here, it's Pay What You Want. Reviews (of this or anything else) extremely appreciated.

Have you considered being evil? The Antipaladin's Almanac

It's time once more for gratuitous self-promotion. I mean, nobody else is going to promote me, getting my hands dirty is really the only option. And that, your Honour, is why I was in the High Temple of Fraconis at the witching hour with the sledgehammer and this wheelbarrow of piglets.

No, wait, where was I... oh yes, evil. Despite the best efforts of my family, friends and an assortment of dark powers with whom I was formerly associated (for professional purposes only), I have recently published another Pathfinder supplement, devoted to the art of the Antipaladin. The class is sadly neglected for an iconic representation of true evil, and I thought it deserved a bit of love.

So, the Antipaladin's Almanac is now released on Open Gaming Store and on DriveThruRPG.

"Continuing professional development is an essential part of any career in the service of metaphysical Evil. Whether you are a blackguard raised from the cradle in the service of dark gods, a paladin newly-fallen from laughable idealism to a true understanding of the universe, or simply considering your career options, this publication is for you."

It is 40-ish pages of lovingly-crafted evil, archetypes, feats, spells, and traits. I've created an assortment of fiendish pacts, to mirror the Oathbound Paladin's solemn vows. You can trade in your fiendish bond for a wide array of vile partnerships with outsiders of various types, from oni-powered shapeshifting to mind-shredding ugliness courtesy of a qlippoth. If plate armour isn't your thing, you have the opportunity to be a ruthless duellist (maybe Captain Harrison Love from The Mask of Zorro?), or a nightmare gunslinger firing bullets of raw malevolence. The Witch-Eyed Knight combines martial prowess with a dreadful gaze that brings cities to their knees and shatters the resolve of valiant heroes. On the other hand, you could fuse elemental might and diabolical power into an apocalyptic hellspawned union.

Please take a look!

Now on DriveThruRPG and the Open Gaming Store

It's been a while, sorry folks. Work and personal life in the Time of COVID have been fairly brutal (I've been signed off work) so writing for the blog hasn't been a top priority.

One thing I have finally achieved is getting my Pathfinder supplements onto RPG stores! My first two are now available from DriveThruRPG and from the Open Gaming Store. So if you fancy taking a look, please drift over there.

I should mention that the Open Gaming Store charges a much smaller commission, so all things being equal I'd prefer you to buy from there... regardless, they're all DRM-free (or supposed to be).

Inglenook's Bloodlines is being reviewed as I have added more material to it. I've also been putting together an antipaladins supplement which I hope you might enjoy.

Hopefully I will be able to do some more writing soon. I just haven't been in the right headspace for pondering general questions of gaming, rather than putting together rules ideas.