Eldritch Tales Referee Screen Now Available!

Great News!

The Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing Referee Screen and Reference Sheets are now available at DriveThruRPG and RPGNow!

There are 5 interchangeable internal sheets containing all of the important tables from the Core Rulebook, as well as two additional bits - the Insanity Saving Throw flowchart and the Skill Reference list - both of which should prove very useful at the table. Finally there are 4 external sheets of artwork to decorate the front of your screen or use as handouts, mood setters, etc. All are color, landscape format and 8.5"x11".

The sheets are available in PDF for $3.99 and in Print (with PDF) for $9.99. If you purchase the print version, you will given the option to add a vinyl GM Screen for an additional cost at checkout. I was skeptical about the quality of the screen and bought one myself. I can tell you that this thing is HEAVY DUTY! It seem very well made, and has four panels, with sleeves front and back, and measures about 45.5" in length by 9.25" high. Have a look at the pictures below!

A few additional observations...

• The sheets are interchangeable so you can customize your GM Screen to other games!
• The cards are printed on a thick cardstock and should prove durable and long-lasting.
• The vinyl screens are only shipped from the United States, so overseas shipping is expensive. I encourage those outside the U.S. to find a vinyl GM Screen locally.

  

Eldritch Tales in Print!

Greetings and belated Happy New Year to all!

Thank you all for your patience throughout the past year. I am coming to you with excellent news - Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing is now available in print-on-demand! 

Standard Color Softcover is priced at $29.99 while the Premium Color Hardcover is priced at $44.99.

If you bought the PDF version before today (January 23, 2019), you should have received a coupon  allowing you to purchase the Hardcover version for $35, that's $9.99 off the normal price!

(Remember that to have received the discount email, you have to have your account set up to allow contact from Raven God Games!)

***UPDATE*** It has come to my attention that the original coupon I sent out to early supporters did not work correctly and I have sent a new coupon that should work!

Also note that the PDF version has been updated with a few minor corrections and a form-fillable character sheet has been added for download as well! Use the links below to head over to RPGNow today!

Eldritch Tales (all versions)

Character Sheet

Here are some photos of the final proofs of the print version.

Hardcover on left, softcover on right.

Hardcover on bottom, softcover above.

The Hardcover spine seems tight and durable.

These final two offer a comparison of the same page spread, softcover above and hardcover below. The edge color in the hardcover is ever so slightly brighter than the softcover.

PDF Update and Other News

So, today I uploaded "Version 2" of the Eldritch Tales PDF to RPG Now! We've corrected and fixed all errors we could find, from typos to layout inconsistencies. I also dropped a new landscape character sheet into the downloads, this one was made by Tom Novosel and matches his excellent layout. Its very clean, easy to read and has an Art Deco feel!

Since release, Eldritch Tales has been featured on Yog-Sothoth.com and has received great feedback all-around! Mark Siefert, who playtested ET and has been a long time supporter of the project, has created an Eldritch Tales Fan Community over on G+. I had this on my own to-do list, but Mark actually beat me to it, so rather than having two communities, Mark's ETFC will be the official place to find ET news. Be sure to join up and take part in our growing discussions, we'd all love to hear your questions, input and comments on things Lovecraftian! Thanks to Mark for setting this up!

Next, Jonathan Hicks has written a very nice review of Eldritch Tales. Be sure to stop over at his blog, Farsight Blogger, and check it out! Thanks for the review, Jonathan!

Around the time that Eldritch Tales went live, Rafael Beltrame contacted me and asked to do a mini-interview for his Brazilian blog, Modulos RPG, in which he reviews and discusses older editions of D&D and OSR games. The link will take you to the interview post, but you can find a link there for the English translation. Thanks for your interest in ET, Rafael, I had a great time answering your questions!

And finally, something that only recently came to my attention. Skinner Games, dropped an actual play video of their play through of an earlier version of Eldritch Tales. Due to their tight schedule, Skinner Games wasn't able to get any sessions in before the playtest closed, but they were still enthusiastic about getting a game in before live release. They actually streamed the game back in May, but I didn't learn about it until late August. Shame on me. Like I said, this is an earlier version of the rules and not everything you see here carried over to the final product. Check out the video on YouTube! Many thanks to the Skinner Games team!

Eldritch Tales: The Long Overdue Update...

Greetings Friends!
I know many of you have been wondering about the status of Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box RPG and, rest assured, I continue to plug away at this. I had almost no time to work on the game over the summer and my progress was at a snail's pace due to real life. Allow me to inform you all on the progress that has been made.

Though summer was rough for me, during that time several groups playtested the game and sent me great feedback, questions, and suggestions. I added bits here and there and clarified other areas and overall the game has come together nicely. I am still working on some writing bits, but nothing too time-consuming.

Tim Snider has completed a first editing pass (back in August) and I have made all the changes he suggested. I have decided not to do the layout myself...I feel like it would take me far too long and would result in an inferior product. That wouldn't be acceptable to me, and I'm not going to let you down that way. So, I have been in talks with Thomas Novosel who has agreed to tackle the project.

Finally, for the most exciting news... since about September I have been focusing hard on art production and I've contracted two artists to help on that front. Many of you will know Del Teigeler's work from various OSR projects including many from North Wind Adventures, including the recent second printing of Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea and my own Beyond the Ice-Fall. Del is a great fellow to work with and has been doing some fantastic work, visit his art blog! Here is a great piece he has finished for Eldritch Tales...

Our second artist is Kurt Komoda, a name new to the OSR, though his work can be seen in Fate Core, The Dresden Files, Torchbearer, Firefly, and other RPGs. I came across Kurt's work on DeviantArt and first contacted him more than a year ago now. I recommend that anyone reading this visit his portfolio and blog - you will see some astonishing work. Kurt approaches each new piece with an unbelievable exactitude, researching Lovecraft's stories for every clue concerning the description of whatever creature he is drawing. Below you can see his take on the Elder Things of Antarctica...

In addition to these true professionals, I am doing quite a bit of art myself - mostly spot art for equipment, vehicles, weapons, and the like, though I've done a few adversaries as well, such as the vampire below. To round out all of this art, I'll grab a few pieces of stock art as filler.

Once art is completed and I have finalized the text, layout will begin and should take up to 3 months. The finished book will have approximately 70 pieces of original art and come in around 200 pages.

That's all for now, best to all in the new year!

Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day 2017!

Swords &Wizardry Appreciation Day has arrived and festivities abound! Visit Gamers and Grognards to see the full list of blog posts, freebies, sales, podcasts and other S&W support!

S&W is a great game, and has had some amazing growth over the past year. Charlie Mason's White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game has taken the WhiteBox torch and run with it. It has quickly become one of my favorite games and is the game that I chose to introduce my stepson and his cohort of friends to the game. Meanwhile, Erik Tenkar has slimmed the game down to its bare bones with Swords & Wizardry Light, which puts the game into your pocket. Probably most notably, Swords & Wizardry Complete has received a fully updated (and gorgeous) third printing. 

I've been focusing my attention on WhiteBox. Its robust but malleable nature has allowed third parties to create some slick compatible works - White Star (now PWYW!), WWII: Operation White Box, and White Lies all spring to mind. My own S&W derivative, Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-playing, was announced last year and has garnered some much-appreciated support. It is currently in playtesting. I want to tweak some of the additional rules, but the majority is written and playable. My next steps will be editing, art and layout. I am still hopeful for a 2017 release!

I missed S&W Appreciation Day last year, but resolved to do something this time around. First, my White Box adventure, Beyond the Ice-Fall, is on sale at 40% off on DriveThruRPG from April 22nd thru the 24th. I've also offered a free pdf copy to be given away on the Drink, Spin, Run live broadcast, airing on April 22nd, at 9:00 PM EST.

Second, a few days ago I released a product called Dungeon Connections but I'm only now officially announcing it. The pack consists of two small dungeon maps with some room descriptions and with at least two exits/entrances. However, they are entirely system-neutral with no stats or plot; nor are they stocked with treasure or monsters. Why? The idea came from my own games in which I sometimes run pre-published adventures and link them together with small dungeon locales. I use the unfinished "expansion tunnels" to lead to other large dungeons, by way of a "dungeon connection." I've created a few maps and think they'll be useful to any referee looking for a quick dungeon to stock with monsters and treasure to suit their party level and campaign. If they prove useful, I'll likely put a few more packs together. Dungeon Connections will also be on sale this weekend at 40% off the list price!

That's all for now, enjoy S&W Appreciation Day!

Beyond the Ice-Fall Released!

Beyond the Ice-Fall  is a low-level adventure written for use with Swords & Wizardry WhiteBox and similar OSR games! Set in a northern land of viking warriors, the adventure is for a party of 4‐8 characters of levels 1‐3. It can be easily adapted to any campaign!

In the village of Askibakken, the winter has been harsh and an unnatural blizzard has gripped the area. The village chieftain has called upon young warriors to search for a missing supply ship, but this endeavor leads the adventurers into a mysterious adventure. Will the party discover what lies Beyond the Ice-Fall?

Beyond the Ice-Fall is inspired by Algernon Blackwood’s The Glamour of the Snow and Robert E. Howard’s The Frost Giant’s Daughter.

Features cover art and an interior piece by Del Teigeler! Writing, cartography and additional art completed by Joseph Salvador. Included in this 28-page product are a mini-setting, a dungeon crawl, two maps, new monsters, new magic items, new spells, and a viking name list!

Get it at DriveThruRPG! It will be on sale 20% off until March 24!

Update and Announcement

After a bit of a holiday hiatus, I'd like to let everyone know what's going on at Raven God Games! First, I'd like to thank everyone who has contacted me or otherwise shown support for Eldritch Tales. You inspire me to "get it right" and make a game that will be appreciated by the community. Many thanks, and if anyone has comments, questions or ideas, feel free to drop me a line!

Work is continuing on Eldritch Tales, never fear. I was able to get a few playtests in over the holiday and also received some great feedback from some from Pete Spahn (Small Niche Games, WWII: Operation WhiteBox) and others. A few of you have mentioned playtesting and I have not forgotten you. Once I have a new draft available I will be looking for a select few to give the game a spin. I'm also slowly grinding away at some adventure modules for use with playtests and further development.

I have had several questions asking about random monster creation charts, and other random charts. I like the idea and have been considering how to approach it. I don't want to force them into the book, so these sorts of things may appear in the appendices or perhaps as separate downloads. How would you guys and gals use them? Would you rather they were loose?

In other news, I have rewritten a short viking-themed adventure scenario for use with Swords and Wizardry: WhiteBox. The adventure, Beyond the Ice-Fall, first appeared in AFS Magazine #6 and was written for the Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea rules. I have expanded and revamped the setting and story, created new maps, and changed the relevant rules to WhiteBox. Regardless, it should work well enough for any OSR game. Beyond the Ice-Fall is a location-based adventure, a fjord with some viking villages, a dangerous wilderness, and primarily a icy dungeon that poses its own hazards. It will feature a cover piece and a full page interior illustration by Del Teigeler, with cartography and additional art by my own hand. My hope is that this module (and perhaps some other small projects) will help foot the bill for Eldritch Tales. I've not quite finished the maps yet, but layout and art are largely complete. So, it should be released within the next month or so. In the meantime, check out Del's fantastic cover art!

Until next time!

Eldritch Tales: Contacts and Characters

Last week, we talked about the four base character classes in Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing, and I mentioned that every class begins the game with Contacts.

Not even beginning characters live in a vacuum and all have some experience with the world and people. University students are exposed to any number of professors, soldiers meet people from all walks of life, lawyers know experts within the justice system, and so on. Each character begins with at least one close friend who is willing to help out when the character is in need - these are the character's Contacts. Characters may call upon their Contacts to assist in any way they can, dependent on the referee's discretion. However, most Contacts will not break the law or put their lives and livelihoods in jeopardy, and players are advised to remember that just as they may call upon Contacts, Contacts may call upon them. Friendship is a two-way street.

Characters are not restricted to only those Contacts that they start with and may acquire additional Contacts  during the course of the game. There is no set mechanic for gaining Contacts, only that it can be accomplished through role-playing and cultivating connections. Again, the referee is free to control this as he or she wishes.

The make things manageable, Contacts are divided into broad categories - Academic, Criminal, Influential, Legal, Martial, Medical and a final catch-all, General. This division is mostly used during character creation to direct what type of Contacts a beginning character starts with. For instance, an Antiquarian begins with two Academic Contacts - perhaps a curator and a librarian; while a Socialite begins with one Influential contact and any two other contacts - maybe a governor, a detective, and a fence. The choices that a player makes here will help to define the character's background and add some color to the campaign.

Finally, Contacts help the referee craft a story with depth. They can be used as plot devices - anchoring a character to a specific area or interest, connecting characters to the game world, providing motives and goals for characters, they might even present plot hooks to the group and "call in favors."

Next week, I'll discuss Occupations, an entirely optional rule that further defines a character's background and offers greater character customization.

Making friends?

Character Classes in Eldritch Tales

In Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing, players take on the roles of average people thrust into maddening and horrifying situations. They investigate Mythos mysteries, learn cosmic secrets and face ancient monstrosities that have plagued the Earth since before mankind.

There are four base classes in Eldritch Tales and these represent a broad spectrum of character types. The Antiquarian is a scholar who gains additional languages as he rises in level and the unique ability to find clues when all other channels fail. Antiquarians might be professors, curators, occultists, antique dealers, amateur scholars, or any other individual interested in seeking knowledge. Antiquarian's skills involve educational studies, such as history, science, and literature. They are largely untrained with weapons but are the only class that gains a bonus against Insanity Saves.

The Combatant is a translation of the Swords & Wizardry fighter class. They have the traditional "combat machine" ability, which might be limited by ammunition at the referee's discretion, and gain an ability to inspire their allies, providing a bonus to saving throws against fear. Their skills include knowledge of tactics and weaponry, fighting styles, and endurance.

Opportunists replace the thief, but fill a similar role - they are adventurers, scoundrels, gentleman rogues, and others who seek fortune and glory. They gain the usual backstab attack and are unusually lucky (may re-roll one failed die roll per session). They skills include perception and stealth, driving and appraisal, and may choose a geographic area in which to specialize. This allows the player to tailor her opportunist however she sees fit - a criminal or detective Opportunist might choose a city, while a globe-trotting archeologist might specialize in Egypt.

Finally, the Socialite rounds out the core classes and allows players the option of a class eminently suited for verbal information gathering and investigation. Socialites are charismatic personas such as actors, politicians, preachers, or con artists, and may hail from any social stratum. They have a special knack for influencing listeners and are skilled at interrogation, impersonation, deception and seduction.

In addition to these attributes, all classes receive a certain number of Contacts to help in their endeavors and may be further customized by inclusion of the optional Occupation rules. Next week, we'll describe Contacts in greater detail.

Which one of this multitude might you be?

Crowd Outside NYSE, Public Domain

Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-playing

Coming soon from Raven God Games!

ELDRITCH TALES: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing is a new, old-school game that builds on the mechanics of Swords and Wizardry WhiteBox and other original edition RPGs. In Eldritch Tales, players will investigate the oddities of Mythos Earth, learn arcane secrets, and experience sanity-blasting terror!

Eldritch Tales is inspired by the weird fiction of Howard Phillips Lovecraft and other pulp writers including Clark Ashton Smith and Robert E. Howard. Lovecraft created a version of terror called cosmic horror, which emphasizes the idea that man is an insignificant creature and that mankind's history and even biology has been influenced by ancient, inhuman beings known collectively as the Great Old Ones. Many of these Old Ones continue to alter the course of normal events through sorcery, weird science and the machinations of diabolical cults!

Eldritch Tales includes four base classes - Antiquarian, Combatant, Opportunist, and Socialite, a new spell-casting system based on the original but tweaked to better suit the genre, a system for tracking your character's increasing madness,  Mythos artifacts, a host of sinister adversaries to thwart the party, and much more!

Eldritch Tales is entirely compatible with Swords and Wizardry WhiteBox, and can be used with most other OSR games with ease. Coming in 2017!

Keep checking back for more information!! 

Artwork copyright 2016 Eric Lofgren, used with permission. All rights reserved.