Post Release Update!

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to update you all on the current behind-the-scenes activity concerning Eldritch Tales, but first, I'd like to send you over to Tenkar's Tavern! +Erik Tenkar shared his thoughts on the first half of the book and has enjoyed his read so far. He's also talked a bit about the game on his Anchor podcast, Tavern Chat. If your planning on picking up the PDF, stop at the Tavern and use his affiliate link!

Art by Del Teigeler

As far as updates:
I've done a final proof and found a bunch of minor corrections (and a few major, unexplainable ones). +Tom Novosel plans to take care of these fixes this week as we prepare Version 2 of the PDF.

Version 2? In order to go to print we need to add a few pages - two for the character sheet, one for full page art, one filler art. Nothing major and all at the end of the book. We also have to finish up the back cover and Tom had a great idea that we are going to go with, I think you'll all dig it!

Print? I know many of you are anxiously awaiting POD release, here's the plan. Once all of the above work is done, we'll release V2 and order print proofs. I imagine I won't have those in hand for about two weeks, at which point I'll look them over for issues and, barring any major errors, POD will drop. Maybe four weeks out.

• Color options will be available via DriveThruRPG/RPGNow in Standard Softcover and Premium Hardcover. You'll be able to choose POD only or bundled with the PDF (in which case the PDF will be steeply discounted).

• Black & White options will be available through Lulu. These will also be SC/HC and will offer a more inexpensive option for table copies. And you'll be able to use those fantastic Lulu coupons for an even better deal!

What Else?
I've been releasing stock art for 3rd-party publishers and will continue to do so over the next week or so. This is all available for use with any publication, not just Eldritch Tales Compatible products.

We will be releasing a second version of the character sheet, made by Tom to closely match his layout. This is the one that will appear in the book.

Next will be a set of reference sheets that will double as GM screen inserts. This will include all the most important tables from the book, as well as a Skill reference table and a flow chart for Insanity Saves, neither of which currently appear in the book. I think these will be really useful at the table.

Right, that's all for now. Thanks for your support and interest!

Cheers!

Find Eldritch Tales at RPGNow!

Eldritch Tales RPG Released!!

Hello Everyone, 

Raven God Games is proud to announce that, after more than two years of development, Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing has released on this auspicious day, the birthday of Howard Phillips Lovecraft himself. Eldritch Tales brings Mythos horror to the OSR and OSR gaming into the 1920s!

From the product description:

"Aeons before man arose from the primordial mire, ancient creatures descended from the stars or stepped through dimensional passages to inhabit the Earth. Whilst many of these Old Ones have since passed into inactivity, the secrets they carried with them have been shared with man and now terrible cults haunt the fringes of modern society. These ancient terrors thus still menace mankind and, if the prophecies are to be believed, the Old Ones shall return to reign again over the Earth!

Eldritch Tales: Lovecraftian White Box Role-Playing in an OSR rule set with its roots in the Original version of the world's favorite RPG, but instead of exploring musty dungeons, characters in Eldritch Tales investigate Mythos horrors in the 1920s! The setting and background are based on the cosmic horror tales of Howard Phillips Lovecraft and other members of his writing circle. 

Within the pages of Eldritch Tales you will find four character classes representing many classic pulp archetypes, occupations, rules for insanity, spells, monsters, esoteric tomes, artifacts, and setting material, as well as advice on using Eldritch Tales with other White Box games. This game is compatible with Swords & Wizardry White Box and other OSR games."

Available now in PDF format on RPGNow!

Please note that Print on Demand versions (black & white softcover, color softcover, and color hardcover) will be available soon!

https://www.rpgnow.com/product/250356/Eldritch-Tales-Lovecraftian-White-Box-RolePlaying

Lovecraft eZine Interview!

Hey Everyone!

For anyone who didn't see my posts to G+ yesterday, I was interviewed by Acep Hale of the Lovecraft eZine and asked about all things Eldritch Tales! Have a look to see some art from the game and get some more information about where the game came from, and where I hope it goes! Many thanks to Acep and the Lovecraft eZine!

Find it here The Lovecraft eZine! While you're there, be sure to check out all the great thing they do - publications, v-cast, podcasts, and consider backing them on Patreon!

Beyond the Ice-Fall Play Reports!

Hi All,

The excellent Acep Hale over at The Monstrous Pig is sharing play reports of my Swords & Wizardry White Box scenario, Beyond the Ice-Fall! Follow his "murder hobbits" as they explore the wintry region of the Skallafjord and seek out the missing sea-captain, Hallstan the Wayfarer!

Beyond the Ice-Fall is a Nordic-themed adventure with good dose of pseudo-historical influence, a heaping handful of mythology, and the mighty thews of Howardian Sword & Sorcery! I'm putting the adventure on a 20% off Sale until the end of July, grab it at RPGNow!

Maps, Art, & Eldritch Tales News

Just wanted to post a quick update to inform you all about the goings-on with Eldritch Tales! I have been periodically posting brief bits of information on G+, some of which I will recap here since I know that not everyone catches those posts.

Most importantly - progress is great and is nearing completion! All art is officially complete, including my own. The only thing remaining to complete is the final map of "Lovecraft Country," which I am personally grinding out in my spare time. I hope to have it done within the next two weeks. Here is a look at a portion of the completed Arkham map:

Arkham, shewing Hangman's Hill, Downtown, and Miskatonic University

Pre-layout prep of the manuscript is done. Tom Novosel is still working on a few design bits but the work he has done has been absolutely stellar. Every new test page he sends just blows me away and I think you will all be happy with how this book will appeal to the eye. A while ago I mentioned somewhere that I had come to the decision to hire a proper layout professional, rather than doing it myself. Best choice I've made in this project.

Eldritch Tales Mummy

The Compatibility License and Logo are complete, with much-appreciated assistance from James Spahn, author of White Star, The Hero's Journey, and countless other RPG products. The license will be made available on release day and I sincerely hope to see third party material coming from the wonderful people of this community!

 

We have more exciting news and info in the pipe that I will be sharing soon, talk then!

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!