A Cat of Tindalos

A Cat of Tindalos

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Friday, October 23, 2020

2020 (A Personal Note)

This has been a tough year for me....my mom's health, financial worries, a skin cancer operation, Adam Koebel's fall from grace, the current global viral plague and the social isolation coupled with a little mild depression have made my posts few and far between and my former busy creative output limited.

However, gaming tabletop RPGs online has helped. 

I have Game Mastered a few FATE (and FATE Accelerated) one shots and joined a 5e campaign. That has been a joy. 

So I plan and hope for a bit of a comeback, and if anyone out there ever reads this thing know this: whatever happens I wish my fellow gamers all the best, always.








Tuesday, September 8, 2020

LL&P

EVENT: Star Trek Day

DATE: September 8

DESCRIPTION: Celebration commemorating the premiere of Star Trek on television in 1966.



Sunday, September 6, 2020

Monday, July 20, 2020

No Gods and Precious Few Heroes (Read America for Scotland)


One of the first antiwar songs. Beat the 1960s by 150 years!


The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was "Arrrgh!" - Piraticus 13:7

I am the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Thou shalt have no other monsters before Me (Afterwards is OK; just use protection). The only Monster who deserves capitalization is Me! Other monsters are false monsters, undeserving of capitalization.

— Suggestions 1:1

"Since you have done a half-ass job, you will receive half an ass!" The Great Pirate Solomon grabbed his ceremonial scimitar and struck his remaining donkey, cleaving it in two.

— Slackers 1:51–52

With millions, if not thousands, of devout worshipers, the Church of the FSM is widely considered a legitimate religion, even by its opponents—mostly fundamentalist Christians, who have accepted that our God has larger balls than theirs.

-Bobby Henderson



Thursday, July 9, 2020

Monday, June 29, 2020

Fate Accelerated Character

Sherlock Holmes

High Concept: Genius Consulting Detective
Trouble:  I  am addicted to 7 percent solution of cocaine
Aspect: Watson is my only true friend
Aspect: I exist to solve complex problems
Aspect: Ennui is my greatest foe, not Moriarty

Sherlock Holmes, fictional character created by the Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The prototype for the modern mastermind detective, Holmes first appeared in Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual of 1887. As the world’s first and only “consulting detective,” he pursued criminals throughout Victorian and Edwardian London, the south of England, and continental Europe. Although the fictional detective had been anticipated by Edgar Allan Poe’s C. Auguste Dupin and Émile Gaboriau’s Monsieur Lecoq, Holmes made a singular impact upon the popular imagination and has been the most enduring character of the detective story.

Approaches

+ 3 Clever
+ 2 Quick, Sneaky
+1  Flashy, Forceful
+0  Careful

Stunts

Because I am a Master of Disguise, once per adventure session I can change my physical appearance to look like someone else.

-The Game is Afoot: Once per adventure  session I can ask the GM three yes or no questions about a mystery and she must answer truthfully.

Refresh: 3

Stress: 3

Extras: Crime lab at 221 b Baker Street



Sunday, June 28, 2020

Dirty Dungeon Quick Rules

Each player adds elements to the dungeon by describing how they learned about this element - dungeon survivors, old maps, books, whatever. Each time they add something to the dungeon, a d4 is added to the pot. In the dungeon, players may take out a d4 whenever and add it to a die roll.

While the players are adding to the dungeon, the DM gets a bead every 10 minutes (or whatever time period you like).

Everything the players state is true.

The DM may spend a bead during play to make any player statement false.

So, basically, the players build the dungeon from the ground up, and then adventure through it. However, because the DM can change elements at any point in time, their plans are not foolproof.


Dirty Dungeons

Thursday, June 4, 2020

From the pages of Clark Ashton Smith...

Mordiggian AvatarSolitary, Huge, Magical, Divine, Planar, Terrifying, Amorphous
Life Drain (w[2d12+5] damage)29 HP5 armor
Reach, Ignores Armor, Near, Far
Special Qualities: Various Forms

Mordiggian, also known as The Charnel God, is a Great Old One associated with ghouls, necromancers and death created by Clark Ashton Smith for his Zothique stories, where he debuted in the story "The Charnel God" as the primary god of the city-state of Zul-Bha-Sair, attended to by a mortuary-cult of ghouls dressed in long, hooded robes of purple paired with silver skull masks. Although capable of ferocious acts of wrath when roused to anger, he is generally a peaceful, amiable god who genuinely respects his faithful worshippers and who merely asks to be fed with the bodies of the dead. This makes him a true minority amongst the deities of the Cthulhu Mythos. He has appeared in Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu Malleus Monstrorum. Creature, Gods, and Forbidden Knowledge, and in Pathfinder. This name is used in Zothique, Man's last continent, and it is entirely possible that this gigantic creature is the same as Shaurash-Ho, although the name might go back to medieval France, and be a corruption of the Latin "Mortician" (to do with the dead). May be identical to Cynothoglys. He would seem to be the main subject of The Ghoul's Manuscript and Culte des Goules. Described variously as swirling darkness, a gigantic shadow, a worm shaped column. 

Instinct: Render to Dust
  • Consumes Corpses
  • Cthulhu Mythos Great Old One
  • Patron of the city-state of Zul-Bha-Sair

Friday, May 22, 2020

Magda (from Showtime’s Penny Dreadful: City of Angels)


A Monster of the Week Conversion

“All mankind needs to be the monster he truly is, is being told he can.”

— Magda

Magda

Magda is a main character on Showtime's Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. She is portrayed by Natalie Dormer.

Magda is a demon who can take on the appearance of anyone she chooses. Charismatic, clever and chameleonic, Magda is a dangerous enemy and an invaluable ally. In her true form, Magda has fair skin, grey eyes, and dark brown hair, often seen wearing all black attire. Described as charismatic, clever and chameleonic, Magda is a powerful demon who has a strong hatred for mankind, seeing them only as monsters and wishing to bring that to the surface. Magda usually seeks to remain behind the scenes, manipulating mankind to its destruction without being noticed. Magda is the "sister" to the Angel of Death (in her avatar of Santa Muerta) with whom she apparently has a somewhat friendly relationship.

Monster Type: Breeder (motivation: to give birth to, or bring forth, evil).

Powers:

•Shape-shifting: Magda possesses the ability to take on the appearance of anyone she wishes. Her multiple persons are a testament to that, with various features such as hair and eye color.

•Pyrokinesis: The power to generate, control and manipulate fire.

•Homunculus creation: Magda can create homunculi, who presumably act as extensions of herself. She notably created one to manipulate Dr. Peter Craft in her guise as Elsa. This homunculus had the appearance and manner of a small male child and was able to answer questions independently. It appeared human enough that even a trained physician believed it was human. Magda absorbed the homunculus back into herself when it was not needed.

•Incorporeal: Magda can become invisible and incorporeal at will.

•Hypnotic suggestion: Although she relies mostly on conventional psychological manipulation, Magda can impart "suggestions" into the minds of NPCs that she whispers to while invisible, which can influence their next action, often with disastrous results.

Attack: Flame Touch 5 (Ignore Armor)

Armor: Unclean Spirit. May not be harmed with ordinary weapons or means.

Weaknesses: Magic

Holy Water and Roman Catholic rituals and prayers will drive her away

Harm capacity: 20 harm.



The Tomb of the Gray Philosopher for Dungeon World Revised

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1o-RDsHylLwWVUhatpYNPopiqo0MwhTps




Thursday, May 14, 2020

A Monster of the Week Conversion of a Delta Green Scenario


 “Last Things Last”  


Written by Bret Kramer with Shane Ivey

From Delta Green: Need to Know a free download at:

http://www.delta-green.com/2016/02/download-delta-green-need-to-know/

Converted to a Monster of the Week mystery by Mark Tygart

This is an example of how easy it is to convert a Delta Green scenario to a Monster of the Week mystery.

Setup 

Clyde Baughman was an active agent from 1967 to 1970, and an infrequent “Friendly” during the late Nineties. Four days ago, he died in his apartment of a massive heart attack. For the most part, Baughman was very circumspect about keeping his secrets. There was one significant, unfortunate exception: his reaction to the death of his wife, Marlene. When cancer took her, he attempted to use certain incantations, discovered during his work with “the Agency”, to restore her to life. Tragically but unsurprisingly, the spell failed to return her in the condition he wanted. Instead it created an undying monster that spoke with his wife’s voice. Baughman, distraught and ashamed, told no one. He sealed the creature in a septic tank at an isolated cabin. He repeatedly tried to work up the nerve to destroy the thing that had once been his wife, but he never could. She waits at his cabin still.

Hook 

“The Agency” has learned of this death and has tasked the nearest available Officer(s) and their local deniable network recruits (if any) to conduct a sweep of the late retired Agent Baughman’s apartment to remove any evidence of his ties the organization.

Locations

Baughman’s Apartment: Hub (motivation: to reveal information)

There is nothing in the apartment except for the fact that it reveals through various financial and personal documents that Clyde Baughman owned an isolated vacation cabin.

The Cabin: Wilds (motivation: to contain hidden things)

Hunters that locate the Footlocker in the Cabin gain access to a free Armory as per the Expert Move for the party.

Armory: You have a stockpile of mystical and rare monster-killing weapons and items. If you need a special weapon, roll +Weird. On a 10+ you have it (and plenty if that matters). On a 7-9 you have it, but only the minimum. On a miss, you have got the wrong thing.

If Hunters already have an Armory, substitute another appropriate Expert Haven move as a resource.

The Septic Tank: Den (motivation: to harbor monsters)

That Which Was Marlene has her current residence here.

Bystander(s) 

Mrs. Janowitz: Busybody (motivation: to interfere in other people’s plans)

Agents making an open or noisy approach to the building will encounter Mrs. Janowitz, age 66, out to walk her dog, Mitzi. While Janowitz knew Baughman, the two were not close. She has never met either of Baughman’s children. She says in passing, “It was a terrible shame that poor Mr. Baughman wasn’t found for three days. A real pity.”

She will seemingly accept any explanation the hunters will offer for their presence but after that she will keep any eye out for suspicious activity; and if the police later come asking questions, she will remember the Hunters well.

Monster 

That Which Was Marlene (The Other) 

A wasted corpse, rotten from so many years in the septic tank, Marlene is more than an inexpertly raised zombie. Her resurrection was the result of Baughman unwittingly imbuing her remains with an unnatural consciousness called “the Other.” The Other is a formless intelligence from dimensions outside of our own that can inhabit the corpse of any human. The reanimated corpse is unnaturally strong. It is more cunning than intelligent, but it can draw upon the memories of the corpse it animates. The Other knows much of what Marlene knew. While it could not convince Clyde that his wife had returned to him, it made it impossible for him to destroy the body that spoke with his wife’s dead voice. It hopes to manipulate the newcomers with greater effect.

If “Marlene” realizes human beings are near, she attempts to get their attention and sympathy by pounding on the inside of the tank and crying for help in a croaking, pathetic voice. She says that her husband was a sick man, always seeking terrible secrets. She says he did something strange to her, awful pagan prayer to make her his slave forever. But it did not work the way he thought, so he locked her in this tank. Whatever he did kept her from dying. She begs for air and light. She begs for freedom.

An Agent who opens the hatch sees her inside, huddled weakly in the shallow water, reaching a hand feebly up. She looks like a small, somewhat misshapen, nude woman in her fifties. Her flesh is grey-blue, and she has torn out most of her hair. Her hands are blood-stained, the flesh stripped by constant clawing at the walls. Her feet and lower legs are swollen from frequent immersion in water, and their skin sloughs off with alarming frequency. And yet she lives. She does her best to persuade the Agents to help her. If an Agent reaches down to help her, she takes the offered hand. She says that she will recover. She needs only to eat, and rest and things will be all right.

Marlene keeps up this act if it works. If the Other thinks it has been found out, it will attempt to bargain with the Agents, offering the secrets of the cosmos in exchange for its freedom. What exactly the Other tells the Agents is up to you. It knows far less about the cosmos than it claims, and whatever it says will be four parts nonsense to one-part truth. Make up gibberish names and violations of physics.

The Other 

Monster Type: Destroyer (motivation: to bring about the end of the world).

Powers:  

• Regeneration: If her Harm drops to zero, she falls twitching—and begins to heal. Marlene heals 1 point of harm at the beginning of her turn, every turn unless her body is thoroughly destroyed.

• Possession: If her body is destroyed, the spirit of the Other abandons Marlene’s corpse and drifts away unseen, seeking a new host. If another human dies nearby (within about 10 meters) the Other jumps into that corpse. If it can not gain access to a corpse it is forced to return to its native alien dimension. The Other can draw upon the memories of the corpse it animates.

•Undead Flesh: The sinews and body of an Other’s undead corpse is strong and tough. Hunters who attempt to contest with her in brute strength take -1 ongoing.

Attacks: Claws: 1-harm hand messy; Teeth: 1-harm intimate

Armor: 2-Armor

Weaknesses: Fire; Decapitation.

Harm capacity: 10 harm.

Countdown 

• Day: Clyde Baughman dies of a massive heart attack.

• Shadows: Four days later “the Agency” assigns an Agent to remove all evidence of Clyde Baughman’s ties to the Agency.

• Sunset: Mrs. Janowitz’s addict niece Eileen breaks into the Baughman apartment, ransacks it for drug money and learns of the cabin.

• Dusk: Eileen decides to squat in the cabin.

• Nightfall: Eileen frees “the Other” in a drug induced haze and is killed by it. “The Other” destroys the Armory by burning the Cabin and flees into the night.

• Midnight: “The Other” forms an evil cult at a remote location in New Mexico and begins to plan attacks on “the Agency”.



Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Beware Space Hippies!


Star Trek Space Hippies for Dungeon World!

Sevrin Solitary, Stealthy, Devious, Organized, Planar
Sonic Blast (d8 damage) 12 HP 0 armor
Ignore Armor
Special Qualities: Charm as per spell
"We turn our backs on confusion and seek the beginning." – Sevrin, 2269 ("The Way to Eden"; Star Trek TOS) Doctor Sevrin was a research engineer from the planet Tiburon, renowned in the fields of acoustics, electronics, and communications. He came to reject the modern technical society of the Federation and started the philosophical movement One ("Space Hippies"), in search of the mythical planet Eden. When he started his movement, he was dismissed from his post. He carries the disease synthococcus novae, which required him to remain in environmentally-controlled areas. His rejection of modern technology and his inability to leave technologically-regulated areas contributed to his insanity. His fatal illness has somehow given him the psionic power to charm (as per the spell) and create fatal sonic blasts. Instinct: Create insane plans
  • Summon Space Hippies
  • Babble
  • Channel inner Charles Manson

Space Hippies Group, Intelligent, Planar
Alien Dagger (d8 damage) 6 HP 0 armor
Close
Special Qualities: Annoying
Several scholars have discussed the "space hippies". Like the acolytes of Leary, Charles Manson, and other negative counter-culture leaders, these bizarre and stereotypical alien flower children are "under the spell of an unknown "charismatic but dangerously unhinged leader"(Dr. Sevrin or chosen by the GM) and "stand for a sixties generation in the thrall of misled idealism." The group shows a disrespect for authority and demands to be taken to a planet they call "Eden" (a dangerous Dungeon World location sure to kill them all). If the party refuses they will label them "Herberts" and begin to loudly mock them.Paladins and other formally good character may be forced to care for them or suffer the displeasure of their deity. Instinct: Guide innocents to destruction
  • Chant "Herbert!"
  • Replay Woodstock
  • Die

Monday, May 4, 2020

Tower of Zenopus Dungeon World conversion refined and updated

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vDvmq_KWz2pqGKA8jcZRVFa9IDaDJQa9


From the Slave-Pits

Sandling Solitary, Large, Planar, Amorphous
Abrasive pseudopod (d10 damage 1 piercing) 19 HP 1 armor
Near


A sandling appears to be an amorphous mass of moving, sliding sand. An adult sandling is a solitary creature, and it dwells in lonely sandy areas such as uninhabited deserts, siliceous caverns and deserted beaches. Sandlings are savagely territorial, and will attack any creatures that trespass upon their areas. They fight by slashing and lacerating with a coarse, abrasive pseudopod. Sandlings’ flexible, shifting forms are difficult to damage by physical assault. If a sufficient quantity of water or other liquid (10 gallons or more) is cast upon the creature it will cause the sandling to strike for only one-half damage. Sandlings are apparently silicon-based creatures, and some sages believe that they originated on the Elemental Plane of Earth. A sandling grows until it reaches full size (10’ diameter), and then it begins to reproduce by budding. Tiny sandlings grow to about 2” in diameter before they split from the parent. An adult sandling’s territory often swarms with thousands of infant sandlings, none larger than ’h’ in diameter. When one grows above this size, the parent sandling perceives it as a threat, and kills it. When the parent sandling dies, the largest infant grows to take its place, killing all rivals (if it can). Sandlings sense heat, sound and moisture. They dislike wetness, and will burrow underground to avoid rain or water (unless al- ready defending their territories). There have been reports of huge sandlings three times as large as normal adults, but these have not been substantiated. Sandlings are always the same color as the sand of their territories. They are also the same temperature as their surroundings, and thus are invisible to infravision.

 Instinct: Defend Lair

  • Inhabits Lair
  • Elemental Creature
  • Silicon Lifeform

May the 4th be with you! Happy Star Wars Day!


Sunday, May 3, 2020

Cube Wisdom


New Dungeon World Monster

Cleaning Cube (ZENOPUS CUBE) Solitary, Hoarder, Construct
Pseudopod (w[2d10] damage) 12 HP 0 armor
Close, Near
Special Qualities: Opens Doors, Cleans

A cleaning cube is a smaller, more visible (translucent) gelatinous cube first bred by Zenopus to clean his dungeon. A non-aggressive scavenger, it attacks only if threatened. Indigestible material such as rocks or metal is deposited in a selected rubbish room. Other dungeon monsters will avoid a cleaning cube. 

Instinct: Devours Waste

    This new monster is from Zach Howard's wonderful new 5e Conversion of The Tower of Zenopus or "Sample Dungeon".

    Aspis Drone Attacks!


    Dangers of Jetsam Beach

    Giant Sundew Solitary, Large, Hoarder
    Sticky tendrils (d4 damage 1 piercing) 16 HP 0 armor
    Far
    Special Qualities: Plant, Sticky, acidic globs of sap, Mssile and fire based attacks will only do 1/2 damage

    Unlike its smaller cousin, this plant is almost sentient, being slightly aware of its surroundings. Preferring shaded, cool places to grow, the giant sundew grows only roots to lightly anchor it in place. Furthermore, it may at will with- draw these roots and pull itself along the ground with its sticky tendrils. It primarily derives its sustenance from the prey it catches. Giant sundews appear as 3 to 4’ large mounds of gray-green tarry ropes or rags. Areas where they are found are often heavily insect infested. If found in a closed area, the air will often have a thick odor like sweet syrup. These tendrils may be broken on a DEFY DANGER+STR roll for each character. Failure to due so may cause a character to eventually be engulfed and suffocated. The sap is mildly acidic but will dissolve and become harmless if soaked with vinegar or alcohol (such as wine). Due to the plant’s sticky exterior, missile and fire based attacks will only do 1/2 damage.

    Instinct: Consume
    • Trap in sap
    • Engulf prey and suffocate
    • Collect shiny things

    Aspis Larvae Swarm Solitary, Tiny
    Bites (w[2d10-2] damage) 12 HP 0 armor
    Hand

    Considered unfathomable by humans, aspis are seldom encountered in populated lands unless raiding for food. They commonly live in small groups, tending to their own business and only occasionally dealing with outsiders. Few people can report of ever meeting one of these creatures, and the existence of larva and cows is only a subject of rumor. These do exist, however, as they are necessary for the survival of the race. Aspis lairs are found underground and consist of sloping tunnels bored through soft rock or dirt. A lair or nest will consist of 1-3 egg chambers, 2-4 rooms for food storage, 1-3 grub hatcheries, and a central chamber. The tunnels are commonly about 4’ high and will be well defended by traps and guards. The grub hatcheries will contain a larvae swarm each. Only one cow will be found in any nest. Aspis larvae are the offspring of the nest. Ranging anywhere from 1%’ to 3’ in length, they resemble fat, white grubs. They are blind and deaf but can locate and identify other creatures through vibrations and scent. They have voracious appetites and require an almost constant supply of food. They are most commonly found in hatcheries maintained by the drones - usually pits of rotting materials in which the larvae swim or burrow and feed. Occasionally the drones will select one larva and feed and treat it in such a way that it will not develop along normal lines, but will instead become an aspis cow.

     Instinct: Devour

      Aspis Cow Solitary, Large, Organized, Intelligent, Hoarder
      Bite (w[2d10] damage) 16 HP 0 armor
      Near

      Considered unfathomable by humans, aspis are seldom encountered in populated lands unless raiding for food. They commonly live in small groups, tending to their own business and only occasionally dealing with outsiders. Few people can report of ever meeting one of these creatures, and the existence of larva and cows is only a subject of rumor. These do exist, however, as they are necessary for the survival of the race. Unlike other larvae who harden their skins and metamorphose into drones, the cows retain their larval form, becoming huge and bloated females, 10’ to 15’ in length. Their sole purpose in life is to lay eggs for the nest. They are sluggish creatures, but their large size makes their bite dangerous. In addition, their skin exudes a milky acidic slime which causes 1d4d if touched. If killed the surviving drones will abandon the Hive and move to another location with any remaining larvae and create a new Apsis Cow and Hive.

      Instinct: Feeds
      • Creates the Hive
      • Summon drones
      • Command drones

      Aspis Drone Group, Organized, Cautious, Hoarder
      Multiple small weapons (d8 damage 1 piercing) 6 HP 4 armor
      Close, Near
      Special Qualities: Immune to electrical and cold, 1/2 damage from fire-based attacks

      Considered unfathomable by humans, aspis are seldom encountered in populated lands unless raiding for food. They commonly live in small groups, tending to their own business and only occasionally dealing with outsiders. Few people can report of ever meeting one of these creatures, and the existence of larva and cows is only a subject of rumor. These do exist, however, as they are necessary for the survival of the race. Drones are 6’ long and appear to be giant weevils. They have an extremely long proboscis and multi- faceted eyes. Their diet consists of vegetable matter and meat. Blood is a preferred drink amongst them. Aspis drone are the adult males of the nest and perform all functions dealing with the outside world. These creatures lack individual identity even to the point of not having personal names. Fierce warriors, they are capable of using all weapons but bows, and can fashion items they need with skill. Although they prefer to travel on all six legs, in combat they will stand on their hind legs, using the other four to wield two weapons and two shields. They are fanatically loyal to a single cow and will defend her to the death. They are immune to electrical and cold attacks and will only take 1/2 damage from fire-based attacks Aspis drones speak their own language and 5% will be able to speak common. They do not have a written language per se, but may communicate in a similar manner by using subtle scents and perfumes

      Instinct: Elminate intruders
      • Serve the Hive
      • Alert the Hive
      • Feed the Apsis Hive Cow