Searchers of the Unknown - pocketmod version

I really like Searchers of the Unknown, the super-minimal D&D by Nicolas Dessaux, where you just use the standard monster statline to represent any character. It's a one-page ruleset. So I converted it into a pocketmod.

Searcher of the Unknown pocketmod PDF for printing

I edited it a little bit to make it fit better. Then to PAD IT OUT, I added Monsters of the Unknown by Brent P. Newhall and a quick equipment list by me.

(Turns out, there is another pocketmod version out there, but I prefer my formatting)

Fight on!

Lycanthropy rules, based on the Turn Undead table

A simple system for player characters infected with lycanthropy!

 

There are two types of transformation: voluntary or forced.

Forced transformation happens under setting-specific circumstances: full moon, passing of a comet, meteor shower, drugs, anger or stress, trigger word for hypnotic suggestion, etc.

The player must roll on the following chart, 2d6 for voluntary transformation, 3d6 with “disadvantage” (roll 3 dice, keep the 2 worst).

	Lycanthrope type (HD) **
Level *	Wererat (3)	Werewolf (4)	Wereboar (4+1)	Weretiger (5)	Werebear (6)	Devil Swine (9)
1	-	-	-	-	-	-
2	11	-	-	-	-	-
3	9	11	-	-	-	-
4	7	9	11	-	-	-
5	T	7	9	11	-	-
6	T	T	7	9	11	-
7	D	T	T	7	9	11
8	D	D	T	T	7	9
9	D	D	D	T	T	7
10	D	D	D	D	T	T
11	D	D	D	D	D	T
12+	D	D	D	D	D	D

 

- = transformation and uncontrolled rage for a number of rounds equal to double the Lycanthrope HD, then transform back and crash (unconsciousness for 1 hour)

11, 9, 7 = roll equal or higher to retain control for a number of rounds equal to character level, then rage for a number of rounds equal to Lycanthrope HD, transform back and check for crashing (save vs Petrification or lose consciousness for 1 hour)

T = transform and retain control for a number of rounds equal to character level, then transform back; unable to transform again until after a night’s rest

D = transform, retain control and transform back at-will, no crashing

* Reddit user Maz437 proposed an addition to the system: 

This is based not on absolute character level, but on "levels spent with the curse".

However, that also means that mightier high-level characters (who level slowly), will spend a LOT of time trying to learn to control the disease, which is also a bit strange (logically, a high-level character would have an easier time retainig control).

** HD values based on OSE. Modify as needed...

Piles of Downloaded Files... #2: a deeper delve

Time for another installment of Piles of Downloaded Files, where I go through my folder of unsorted RPG-related PDFs. We all have that. Here's the first delve.

 

Adventures on Mars: An Addendum to Doc’s Excellent Warriors of Mars, Rules by gloriousbattle

This file is named “MARS WITH LARGER FONT NEATER LAYOUT” in the folder. Did I rename it to aid myself in the future? It’s still not a very informative title… Anyways, this is “Adventures on Mars: An Addendum to Doc’s Excellent Warriors of Mars, Rules” (sic!). If you don’t know it, Doc’s Warriors of Mars is a cool homebrew amalgamation of OD&D and the old TSR Warriors of Mars ruleset, for Barsoomian adventuring. Available on Grey Elf’s website! Now, this is a supplement for that. Some searching shows that I found it on the ODD74 board, and it was created by user gloriousbattle. Then a file with larger font was created by Bastet1002. The document contains Barsoomian gazetteer tidbits, but also brings in other pulptastic science fantasy monsters as well, like the Leeches of Yoh-Vombis and Mi-Go and Star Vampires. There is a 4xd12 random table for Indescribable Martian Artifacts, so now you can find a Circular Ceramic Orange-and-Silver Intelligent (as a magic sword) object while “groping through black pits”. There are also mass combat rules. This is a useful grab-bag for sword & science OD&D gaming!

 

Conrad’s Fantasy Free-Style Role-Play by Better Games

From 1990! I got it from Drivethru. Offered as “a companion to HUGO (original underworld’s generated by computer, no two alike)”! But also a system on its own. Promises free-style rules with “Quick and Dirty” combat. Attributes are not measured numerically, you either have them or don’t. Advance on the Progression Path from Bumpkin to Delta Zaire (a high-level wizard)! There is, however, a plethora of skills. The combat mechanics are maaaybe quick and dirty once you learn them, but there are several charts, so I’d need more time to really understand it. This is a wonderful artifact or old-school gaming, complete with DIY art.

Stuck under a pile of unread PDFs.

The Cuboid Prison of Joanna Cahb by Mariuswasright

A short little adventure, I downloaded it from itch.io. Free PDF. It’s a cube-shaped prison for a Dwarf singer. The cube is now “half-submerged in the magma of Mount Thal’s caldera”, that’s always a good thing. The volcano is not part of the adventure document, though. The dungeon has 7 areas, laid out on one level (there’s no multi-level cube shenanigans). Science fantasy stuff, guardian constructs with eyebeams, anti-metal artifacts. Barebones layout, some highlighting and bulletpoints. Monster stats are included in each room description, which seems like an overkill, because there is a stat appendix too. No biggie. It’s pretty cool as a last-minute drop into your setting’s volcano adventure!

Go on, open your unsorted PDFs folder! If you dare!