Ten-Year Anniversary Reflection

Given that 26 December 2019 marks the ten-year anniversary of this blog, I feel it's appropriate to reflect on how things have gone.

Skull & Bones

The first focus of the blog—and the reason why it's called d20 Pirates—was the mostly historical setting for 3^rd Edition D&D called Skull & Bones. Indeed, the entirety of the first four years were dedicated to that purpose. In that time the content included a series of nineteen adventures, maps and descriptions of locations, scenes to add as filler, NPCs, magical items, reviews of pirate-themed books and shows, and other elements. 

All in all I was pleased with how that turned out; even though it needed polishing, it provided a good outlet for my creative energies. I ran a number of these scenarios at local game days and private gatherings, mostly for friends, but never played all the way through to the end.

Freeport

The first change to that early focus came early in 2014, when I published a party of Pathfinder characters for use with the Freeport campaign setting. I was running some scenarios at Con of the North in the Twin Cities, and decided to share them. Eventually this material included a handful of scenarios and some articles, along with a few reviews. I have fond memories of these sessions, both from CotN as well as from MisCon (in Montana) in 2015 and Gen Con in 2016.

Al-Qadim

Later that year I also shared a couple of scenarios for the Al-Qadim campaign setting, one that I'd loved since it first appeared in 1992. I didn't end up making too much content for it, but it was fun. I still wonder sometimes about running an AQ campaign using D&D 5^th Edition.

Space Fantasy—Aetherial Adventures

May of 2014 brought another change of focus, this time on writing rules and scenarios for use with the Pathfinder RPG, ones that emulated the space fantasy style of the old Spelljammer campaign setting. This came to include a setting based on our own solar system that I used for my home campaign, which I eventually ran during the 2017-18 school year and wrote up as the Godsharp Saga. I really enjoyed the process of developing a world and its cultures, something that I'd never done to this extent before. This of all the content for this blog is probably the one thing of which I am the most proud.

Pirates of the Spanish Main

My first delve into the Savage Worlds RPG came in April of 2015. I'd picked up the Pirates of the Spanish Main rulebook at some point, and had played some Savage Worlds in a series that helped playtest the Broken Earth campaign setting with Matthew Hanson. Since I enjoyed the “Fast, Furious, Fun” nature of those rules, I decided to try using them to write a few adventures for PotSM. I loved just how easy it was to do so, especially the process of creating NPCs.

D20 Sidewinder and The Sixth Gun for Savage Worlds

Most recently I've been channeling a lot of my creative energy into material for the RPG based on The Sixth Gun comics. I'd previously dabbled with the Sidewinder rulebook, which uses the (in my opinion) underappreciated D20 Modern rules for Old West adventures and campaigns. While that book is remarkably comprehensive, though, I didn't love the amount of work that went in to writing stats for characters. I'd also started reading The Sixth Gun comic series starting from Free Comic Book Day in 2011, and quite enjoyed it. When Pinnacle Entertainment Group announced that they would be kickstarting an RPG using the Savage Worlds rules, I knew they'd be a good match. This led into setting and scenarios that came to form the Manifested Destinies campaign, which I ran during the 2018-19 school year.

Moving Forward

Currently, of course, I'm running the Return to Freeport campaign for the 2019-20 school year. We're in a bit of a hiatus right now for the holidays, but intend to be back at it in the New Year. I'll include weekly updates once we're back underway, and an overall reflection when we finish. Due to personal reasons, I'm looking to finish this campaign by the middle of March.

Personal Stuff

The past ten years have brought a lot of changes in my life.

• I have moved five times since I started the blog, due in part to some of the circumstances that I'll mention below.
• After nearly ten years, I emerged from a challenging and ultimately unhealthy relationship. That's been a very positive change.
• My mom passed away in July of 2017, and my dad in March of 2019. That was hard for me, of course, but I had the support of family and friends.
• I've been fortunate to keep the same job for the past ten years, as an English teacher at an alternative high school.
• In March of 2017 I started dating someone new; we became engaged in November of that year, and were married in that same December. That was a whirlwind, to say the least.
• Finally, my wife and I are expecting a son in March of 2020. That will be a tremendous adventure in its own right, but I have could people in my life coming along for it.

Artificers for Savage Worlds and The Sixth Gun

This article details how the Savage Worlds rules can be used for creating patent medicine and other magical items.

Artificers

Introduction

Throughout the world there are many people who can wield magic in one form or another, and a few in every society even know how to imbue it into physical items that can be carried by others and used at a later time. Detailed below are a few of the ways in which this ability could be represented in adventures and campaigns using the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition RPG and the setting of The Sixth Gun.

Game Mechanics for Creating Magical Items

Refer to page 153 of the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition to find rules for the Artificer edge. While there is no cost involved in making many of these items, the GM may wish to require the character making them to acquire certain unusual ingredients, especially ones related to the item being made. For example, a rabbit's whiskers might be part of the recipe for make the Quickening Quaff (see below). Also, the type of Arcane Background being used informs the nature of the item made. For instance, an amulet made by someone with the Sorcery AB might be a metal object inscribed with mystic ruins, while one made a practitioner of Voodoo could be a pouch containing potent materials.

Note, too, that the artificer can feel the ebb and flow of magical energies, without specifically knowing which items have or have not been used. For example, a maker of patent medicine might use all of his power points one day to brew up a batch of bottles; as they are consumed, he feels his power points being restored—and thus can invest in creating new items.

Patent Medicine

The production of amazing elixirs, spectacular panaceas and other such nostrums is no new thing; one need only page through a newspaper to find advertisements for offerings with names like “Kickapoo Indian Sagwa,” “Bonnore's Electro Magnetic Bathing Fluid,” or “Clark Stanley's Snake Oil Liniment.” Even though the medicinal benefits of those concoctions is unproven, there are in fact a few individuals who can brew potables that produce real benefits. Keep in mind that these usually still have fancy names, in order to increase their appeal to potential customers.

• “Quickening Quaff”—(Boost Trait: Agility)
• “Mental Magnifier”—(Smarts)
• “Elixir of Enlightenment”—(Spirit)
• “Potion of Power”—(Strength)
• “Holistic Health Enhancer”—(Vigor)

What is more, the concoction that might make the most sense is the sleeping draught. This might be marketed in a way similar to the items mentioned above, as a home remedy for insomnia, or it could be something created on the basis of need in a more clandestine kind of way.

• The Sleeping Draught invokes the Slumber power; it must be ingested by the intended target in order to work.

Protective Amulets

These items can take different forms, but all are worn, usually around the neck. As mentioned above, they can be made from precious metals or from natural materials, depending on the Arcane Background used to make them. Some options include the following.

• Ones with Arcane Protection act as a ward against mystical influences.
• Those with Deflection are effective wards against ranged attacks.

Divination Tools

Certain items can be endowed with energy similar to the Divination power, but that works in slightly different way. In this case, the device in question is prepared for a specific purpose, including some of the following possibilities. Rather than allowing the user to commune with an intelligent spirit, however, it instead leads to a desired item or provides an answer via a specific set of circumstances.

• The dowsing rod is commonly used to find clean water, but has also been used in the hunt for buried loot, lost graves and the like. The energy inside it seems to draw the wielder in the direction of the desired item, until reaching its location.
• The method known as the I Ching use coins or similar items to generate hexagrams, sets of six broken or unbroken lines. Those, in turn, can be compared to standardized lists of meanings in order to provide the message desired.

Spencer Hoyt

This oldtimer makes his way around the American frontier, gathering unusual ingredients and using them to prepare his Hoyt's brand of patent medicines. In this way he has become a font of curious information, picking up little bits of western legends, native lore, and smatterings of the occult.

Attributes: Agility d4, Smarts d8, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d4

Skills: Academics d6, Common Knowledge d8, Healing d8, Language d6, Notice d6, Persuasion d6, Research d6, Spellcasting d8, Stealth d4, Survival d4

Pace: 6, Parry: 2, Toughness: 4

Edges: Arcane Background (Sorcery), Artificer

Hindrances: Elderly

Special Abilities

• Powers: Boost/lower Trait, deflection, dispel; Power points: 10

Gear: Clothing, ox-driven wagon, week's worth of food and water, folding knife (Damage Str + d4). 

Return to Freeport--The Halfway Point

The last session in my weekly home campaign brings us to the halfway point; as such, I've updated my campaign notes on this blog for the first time in about two months.

-Nate

Return to Freeport Campaign Notes

Aetherial Adventures at Con of the North 2020

I am happy to announce that I'll be running four rounds of Pathfinder space fantasy at Con of the North 2020, February 14th-16th in the Twin Cities. Check out their website for more information.

Con of the North 2020

-Nate

The first scenario is called "The Wages of Sin." I'll be running it at 10:00 and 2:00 on Saturday the 15th. Here's the blurb:

When an ally recruits the PCs to help protect a meeting of the Celestial Council, 

it's up to them to prevent an interstellar tragedy.

The second one is "Lead or Gold." I'll run it at 10:00 and 2:00 on Sunday the 16th.

A cryptic message leads the PCs into the pursuit of a valuable treasure--

but how much will they sacrifice to obtain it?

Druids

Just in time for Halloween, here's an article that presents Druids for use in Savage Worlds adventures and campaigns. 

-Nate

Druids PDF

Background

Centuries ago, before the soldiers of the Roman Empire or the idea of Christianity had touched the British Isles, there flourished in that isolated region a religion that revered the forces of nature and called on them to provide food for the people and strength in battle. While they did not leaving behind much in the way of written doctrine, what is known about their ways was reported by Roman soldiers who visited the area. They were regarded as being the holy ministers to a savage people, especially when it came to their practice of human sacrifice (see below).

Druidism

Edge: Arcane Background (Druidism)

Requirements: Wild Card, Novice, Druidism d6+, Spirit d6+.

Arcane Skill: Druidism (Spirit).

Power Points: 10

Starting Powers: 2

Backlash: When a druid rolls a critical failure, double 1s, on his Druidism roll, he is automatically Shaken. This can cause a wound if he is already Shaken.

Trappings: Powers used by druids are invoked through ritualistic chanting and the brandishing of some natural talisman, often a sprig from a sacred tree.

Available Powers: Beast Friend, Boost/Lower Trait, Deflection, Dispel, Divination, Elemental Manipulation, Entangle, Environmental Protection, Protection, Smite, Warrior's Gift.

Druid Archetypes

Presented here are stats for typical practitioners of this faith.

Aspirant (Novice)

Those individuals who show some affinity for the ways of the Druids must seek out an existing member, demonstrate one's potential, and then seek further instruction.

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d4, Druidism d8, Fighting d6, Healing d8, Notice d4, Persuasion d4, Stealth d4, Survival d8

Pace: 6”, Parry: 5, Toughness: 6

Edges: Arcane Background (Druidism), Beast Bond

Hindrances: All Thumbs

Special Abilities

• Powers: Beast Friend, Environmental Protection; Power Points: 10

Gear: Clothing, silver sickle (Damage Str + d6), sacred sprig.

Initiate (Seasoned)

Those who learn well from tutelage become assistants to the druids who lead their independent faith communities.

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d4, Druidism d10, Fighting d6, Healing d8, Notice d4, Persuasion d4, Stealth d4, Survival d8

Pace: 6”, Parry: 5, Toughness: 6

Edges: Arcane Background (Druidism), Beast Bond, Beast Master, New Power, Power Points; Power Points: 15

Hindrances: All Thumbs

Special Abilities

• Powers: Beast Friend, Boost/Lower Trait, Divination, Environmental Protection

Gear: Clothing, silver sickle (Damage Str + d6), sacred sprig.

Druid (Veteran)

Once they've proven themselves, full druids eventually set out to become leaders of their own new faith communities.

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d4, Druidism d12, Fighting d6, Healing d8, Notice d4, Persuasion d4, Stealth d4, Survival d8

Pace: 6”, Parry: 5, Toughness: 6

Edges: Arcane Background (Druidism), Beast Bond, Beast Master, Channeling, New Power x2, Power Points x2, Woodsman

Hindrances: All Thumbs

Special Abilities

• Powers: Beast Friend, Boost/Lower Trait, Deflection, Dispel, Divination, Entangle, Environmental Protection, Smite; Power Points: 20

Gear: Clothing, silver sickle (Damage Str + d6), sacred sprig.

Archdruid

The leader of all the druids in a particular region is this powerful individual. Each Archdruid can choose to retire from active leadership, becoming part of the group known as Hierophants (see below).

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d4, Druidism d12+1, Fighting d6, Healing d8, Notice d4, Persuasion d4, Stealth d4, Survival d8

Pace: 6”, Parry: 5, Toughness: 6

Edges: Arcane Background (Druidism), Beast Bond, Beast Master, Channeling, New Power x3, Power Points x3, Power Surge,Woodsman

Hindrances: All Thumbs

Special Abilities

• Powers: Beast Friend, Boost/Lower Trait, Deflection, Dispel, Divination, Environmental Protection, Protection, Smite; Power Points: 25

Gear: Clothing, silver sickle (Damage Str + d6), sacred sprig.

Hierophant

Those Archdruids who have served their time as leaders in their regions can give up the mantle of power and choose to serve on this shadowy council, which provides guidance to the other Druids in times of need.

Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d8, Strength d8, Vigor d8

Skills: Athletics d6, Common Knowledge d4, Druidism d12+2, Fighting d6, Healing d8, Notice d4, Persuasion d4, Stealth d4, Survival d8

Pace: 6”, Parry: 5, Toughness: 6

Edges: Arcane Background (Druidism), Beast Bond, Beast Master, Channeling, New Power x4, Power Points x4, Power Surge,Soul Drain, Woodsman

Hindrances: All Thumbs

Special Abilities

• Powers: Beast Friend, Boost/Lower Trait, Deflection, Dispel, Divination, Entangle, Environmental Protection, Protection, Smite, Warrior's Gift; Power Points: 20

Gear: Clothing, silver sickle (Damage Str + d6), sacred sprig.

Ogham

While the Druids were not known to have kept records in book form, it is believed that they sometimes did use marks engraved on sticks to communicate—the language known as Ogham. This had the advantage of using materials that were readily available, even in a wild setting, and they could be destroyed without attracting much suspicion by simply casting them into the fire.

 

Burial Mounds

Important places of worship for the Druids were those locations where they buried their dead. A famous example of this is Newgrange, which hearkens back to the Stone Age. It consists of a long entrance tunnel with a low ceiling that leads to three interior chambers, each of which functioned as a tomb or ossuary. Some legends maintain that burial mounds such as this could be gateways between this world and whatever lies beyond it.

Plot Hooks

Suggested here are a few of the ways in which Druids can be involved in Savage Worlds adventures and campaigns.

• Given their long conflict with the various denominations of Christianity, Druids tend to keep their activities secret.
• Common places of worship for them are rings of standing stones and burial mounds.
• The wave of migration that occurred in the United States after the Civil War, combined with the settlement of the vast western frontier, provided many opportunities for Druids to create new communities.
• Given their reverence for nature and ability to influence animals, this made these newcomers ideally suited to the professions of farming and ranching.
• For the Druids the two main holidays are Samhain, which marks the transition into winter, and Beltain, which is observed as spring is leading back into summer. These have been co-opted by the Christian traditions of All Hallows' Eve/All Saints' Day and May Day.
• It has frequently been claimed that the Druids practiced blood sacrifice in order to appease the forces of nature, thereby gaining fertility for the livestock and crops as well as strength for the warriors who protected them.
• Indeed, no less than Julius Caesar himself described how they sometimes built human-shaped structures out of wicker-like material, which they then filled with human victims and then burned in colossal, fiery sacrifices.

Savage Worlds Adventure Edition Review

Late in September I picked up a hardcover copy of the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition RPG; I've finally finished reading it and am ready to write a review.

-Nate

Savage Worlds Adventure Edition Review

Last month I finally picked up a hardcover copy of this new RPG, and wanted to share my thoughts about it.

• I like the size of the book. As a graphic-novel-sized hardcover, it matches my book for The Sixth Gun campaign setting.
• The added comments, by a GM and the players Emily and Nate, are a fun touch.
• The Skills section did a nice job of cleaning up some overlap, especially with the Knowledge skills. Also, the fact that all characters start with d4 in Athletics, Common Knowledge, Notice, Persuasion and Stealth opens up points for other choices.
• There are some interesting new Edges, too, and the use of the social ones seems clearer than it was in the previous edition.
• I like the flexibility that's encouraged for character advancement, with suggestions for faster or slower character development.
• The same goes for the use of Bennies to affect the story.
• The Power modifiers provide a good means of letting characters with arcane backgrounds adapt the Powers they invoke for specific situations.
• As before, the Game Mastering section provides a solid overview of how to plan and run adventures and campaigns using these rules.

All in all, this is a solid, compact game that I would recommend for all manner of campaign settings and styles.

Small Raven's Flock

This post presents the ghost of Small Raven and how he has taken to living in the Winding Way.

-Nate

Small Raven's Flock

Background

It's no secret that life is hard on the western frontier in the United States of America, but it can also be a place of almost unlimited opportunity. Few know this better than a Native American boy named Small Raven. After seeing many of his fellows give up their traditional lifestyle—along with important artifacts—while signing a treaty at Fort Arneson, he decided to steal back the items and flee the area. Unfortunately, he was wounded during the attempt and ended up in Smith's Crossing, a settlement under the sway of powerful occultists, Dr. and Mrs. Smith. The bad doctor murdered the boy and cut off his right hand, knowing that he could use it to create a Hand of Glory. The rest of Small Raven's body was buried in the cemetery by the local church and, as a result, his spirit was unable to find the eternal rest of the afterlife. 

That wasn't the end of Small Raven's story, however. Possessing a normal raven, the boy began to search for his missing hand. That brought him into contact with a band of adventurers, ones who led him down beneath Fort Arneson and into that realm between different places, times and possibilities, the Winding Way. Realizing that he could acquire knowledge and influence beyond any past imagining, Small Raven decided to establish himself in that location, gathering a flock of other birds around himself who could act as guides and protectors for other travelers.

The Tree and Nest

Small Raven's nest is located in a tree that forms part of a grove surrounding a strange old manor house inside the Winding Way. That house stands in the middle of a steeply walled canyon, one that is surrounded by sheer rock walls and has four tunnels leading out of it. Those tunnels lead to the passages under Fort Arneson (A), the cistern beneath a stronghold of the Knights of Solomon (B), a wardrobe in the underground level of the New Globe Theater in London (C), and an area that has not yet been explored. 

The nest is made from sticks, bits of string, and other materials. It sits amid the outstretched limbs of the tree, which hold it almost like a skeletal hand. Said tree is devoid of leaves, but is decorated by various baubles hanging from its branches; these are shiny trinkets collected by Small Raven and his flock. Those, combined with the numerous black birds that sit on its branches, make for an impressive sight. 

Small Raven and his fellow birds can act as guides for those who travel the Winding Way, as long as they provide suitable gifts. They are most fond of shiny baubles, with which they decorate their nest and the rest of the tree, or relatively fresh meat for them to eat. In the latter case, the birds save the eyes of any given creature for their leader to devour. As long as they are satisfied with a visitor's offerings, the birds share what they know and even lead parties through the hazards of this strange and otherworldly realm.

Connections Refer to the following articles and adventures for more information about this location. The manor house: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2019/04/unfettered.html. Small Raven's story: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-dead-mans-hand.html. More about that story: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2018/07/this-scenario-builds-upon-events-in.html. Perils of the Winding Way: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2019/01/beyond-veil.html. Fort Arneson: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2017/12/frontier-fort.html. The Knights of Solomon: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-knights-of-solomon.html. The New Globe Theater: https://d20pirates.blogspot.com/2019/09/diablerie-revisited.html.

Small Raven

Use the stats for a Haint, from pages 75-6 of the Sixth Gun RPG, but add the following abilities: Arcane Background (Shamanism), with powers deflect, dispel and speak language, and 15 Power Points.

The Flock—When pressed, the birds can attack as a swarm (refer to page 189 of the Savage Worlds Adventure Editionbook for stats).

Plot Hooks

Here are just a few ways in which Small Raven and his flock can be used in adventures and campaigns.

• As mentioned above, Small Raven needs to recover his right hand—which has been made into a hand of glory—in order to find eternal rest.
• He would also like to retrieve the artifacts given up by members of his tribe, which would require raiding the exhibition put on by Miles Jameson.
• The flock has acquired numerous items left behind by groups of travelers who met untimely ends in the Winding Way, which might include items of monetary value or ones that contain important information.
• Any power who gained the cooperation of the flock—such as the Cabal, Black Stars, Knights of Solomon, Invisible College or others—would benefit from a powerful ally.
• The birds are natural foes of the wolf raptors (see page 31 of The Winding Way for stats), who prey upon them. 
• During interactions with travelers, Small Raven's spirit, as a haint, can try to take over the body of a new host, if the situation requires it.