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.
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!
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.
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!
|
1–3 |
Predictable stuff |
|
4–5 |
Outré/gonzo stuff |
|
6 |
Annoying curse, trap
or mutation |
|
7 |
Delayed effect that
has to be tracked or forgotten forever |
|
8 |
Quirky or whimsical
thing |
|
9 |
Meta-gamey element
or campaign-breaking bullshit |
|
10 |
Painful pun or pop
culture reference |
That's it. The only random table you'll ever need!
'Now we should like to see our rooms,' Zerd said.The governor led him over to the staircase - the more menial of us followed closely, the rest trailed behind or simply didn't bother - and the governor stood aside to let his guests precede him. I ran up, two steps at a time, and only when I was at the top did I realise that everyone else was still at the bottom.They all stood quiet, with upturned faces, then gasped.'What's the matter?' I said, feeling appallingly self-conscious alone at the top there. T'm sorry, I thought we were supposed to come up here - ' and I began to descend again, feeling the blushes rising up my throat and scorching my cheeks.'How do you do it?' 'Where did you learn?' said several voices.'Learn what?' I asked, most embarrassed.'She ran up, two at a time,' said someone.I was now at the bottom and a crowd of winegirls ran forward cheering me, and Isad came up, dripping wet, hooting on his pet horn. Lara looked sour.'Do it again, do it again!' cried the winegirls to me.'What is it?' I said.'You're so fast, could you do it again just as fast?''Of course, my country is full of stairs. Our houses are often four-storeyed - aren't yours?''No,' Zerd said. 'We don't have stairs in the North. Do it again, Cija, it's fascinating to watch.'So I ran up and down the stairs for them twice more, and they cheered me and chanted compliments, and at last all trooped up after me.
A quick house rule for magical duels!
A Magic-User character can try and counter an opposing caster’s spell by entering into a duel. Depending on the combat/initiative system in use, this must either be declared first or the declared action must be cancelled in favor of counterspelling. The countercaster has to be aware of, or at least anticipate that the enemy is about to cast a spell.
Both
duellants roll d6 and add their character level.
|
Caster’s roll >
Countercaster’s roll |
Caster’s initial spell
works as intended, Countercaster must roll on the Effects chart |
|
Caster’s roll =
Countercaster’s roll |
The two wizards are
locked in duel! Repeat the procedure next time, unless one participant
decides to withdraw or is distracted or takes damage (in which case this
duellant must roll of the Effects chart) |
|
Caster’s roll <
Countercaster’s roll |
Caster’s initial
spell is cancelled (and the spell (slot) is lost) |
