Looking Back over December and the year MMXIV as we step into MMXV

The New Year and January is just minutes away in my time zone.   Good fortune to all in MMXV!

The biggest news for me is that I have started my Sea of Stars Campaign Setting Kickstarter!  Please take a look, download the free adventure and give it your support if you think it is something that would interest you.

January is named after Janus (Ianuarius) the god of doorways, pictured as looking both forward and back.   We will revisit the themes of doorways, transport and travel for January what with moving into the New Year and all.  As usual, if there is something on this theme you would like to see, let me know.

Looking back over December, 2014, we see another month of light but hopefully interesting posting:

The Sea of Stars Kickstarter is Go! Now With Terrible Video and Did I Mention the Free Adventure?

It just went live, the Sea of Star Campaign Sourcebook Kickstarter, though it is currently without video as I could not get it to upload the one I had shot so you will have to wait until later to see my ugly mug asking for your support.

A brief explanation of the odd length of the Kickstarter, it starts today so that, technically, it started in 2014.  I just had to get it started this year or it was not going to happen.  The end date of the 8th is on my birthday, so, thus the odd length.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them below.

Update: Now with terrible video!  And there is a free adventure so you can take a look at the setting.

Let us boldly go.

New Magic Item – New Year’s Coin

As was the custom, the Royal Family moved among their people as the bells and horns sounded out the arrival of the New Year.  I had heard of such but not being a subject of this small kingdom I had never before witnesses it first hand.

The Royal Family seemed quite beloved by their people and they mingled freely, though armed guardians were kept close by as a wise precaution.  As I watched the spectacle, one of the young princes approached and handed me a bright new coin.  “May this serve to protect you and your friendships in the coming year,” he said formally but with warmth.

“Thank you,” I replied and holding the coin, I did suddenly feel more hopeful for the New Year.

New Year’s Coin

These coins are minted only for use in New Year’s celebrations and for their magic to be active they must be given freely.  They are usually the same size coin as the base currency of the realm and have a symbol of the land on one face and a symbol of hope or success on the other.

Pattern Seekers – Episode 18: Forbidding Island (Part Two)

Having arrived at the top of the mountain at the center of the island, our brave venturers found a abandoned fortified manor, an overgrown garden and a once beautiful fountain that had been converted into some sort of horrible nest.  With great caution, they investigate the nest which was full of bones and other less pleasant things but they did find a few valuable things.*

The doors to the mansion had been torn off and cast out into the garden, ages ago, they spotted one of them almost entirely overgrown in the garden.  Above the door was written “Welcome All Those of Good Intent” in an antique language (Mirror could read it though) that had been scored through by something sharp possibly a dragon’s claw.  The entry hall was obviously a battle site, the grand marble stairway leading up had been partially melted.

Only one week out to the Sea of Stars Kickstarter!

And I need to record a video, really nervous about that but I will do my best.

See my last update for a general framework of my plans.

Added another artist, my lovely wife has agreed to do a few pieces for the sourcebook as well!

Oh, and everyone have a happy and safe Christmas Eve!

Tuesday Magic Item – Lamp of Reason

My uncle had a favorite lamp, he always used it to read by or to write be, he said that the light it gave off was clear and constant, making it easier to work.  He carried it wherever he was working and would go back for it if he forgot it.

Now that I think about it, I never remember him replacing the candle in it.  I wonder what happened to that lamp?

Lamp of Reason

These well-made metal and glass lanterns often have words or mottos etched into the glass, common among the four-paned lanterns in one word in each pane “Reason, Understanding, Knowledge, Wisdom.”

Two Weeks until the Sea of Stars Kickstarter begins

Yes, and I am terribly unprepared.  But I will get it started this year even if only barely.

I will definitely have a short adventure, Rogue Island, as a free download so that people can get a taste of the Sea of Stars and what the setting is like.

The current plan is to produce an illustrated PDF, about 120 pages, broken down (roughly) as follows:

• Introduction to and history of the Sea of Stars, 12 pages
• New and adapted species with support material, 24 pages
• Magic items, spells and such, 24 pages
• New Monsters, 20 pages
• The world and places to visit, 20 pages
• GM Advice and adventure seeds, 20 pages

Most of this, apart from the GM advice, I already have written just not organized into a form ready for publication but then it will need to be properly vetted and edited, art commissioned and proper layout make it readable and interesting.

What would people want to see more of?  Less of (down to none at all)?  The initial mechanics would be for Pathfinder but I would be happy to include a D&D5 or FATE adaption or both as stretch goals.

In other stretch goals, I have tentative agreements from Ben Baugh (noted game author), Brandes Stoddard, and Trey Causey to contribute to a Sea of Stars Companion PDF which would be a bonus beyond the base campaign setting.

Here is a list of some of the artists I hope to have involved on the project, but always looking for more.

I would love to hear back from you about what you would like to see in such a kickstarter and what would make you more likely to participate in one for the Sea of Stars.  Thank you in advance.

Tuesday Magic Item – Dark of Night Cloak

Under the long night, the figure spread the dark cloth upon the neglected stones and began a chant that was ancient when the world was young.  At midnight, the last words were said and the figure cut their palm and sealed the magic of the night within the cloth by use of their own blood.

When dawn came, there was no indication that the stone circles had ever been disturbed in the night.

Dark of Night Cloak

There is nothing remarkable about this hooded cloak of dark cloth, indeed it is easy to overlook in its plainness.  A more through investigation would show that is in made of strong but simple cloth, sewn by someone with  great skill as every stitch is nearly invisible.

Dark Future Ahead 9 – News from the ‘Net of a Cyberpunk bent

I have ended up with a mostly nautical theme here, inadvertently:

Would you live in an underwater city?  Even if not, it would be a great place to visit.  This one is designed to be self-sufficient in energy through various means.

Which would be shipped in containers carried by ships like the new massive Triple-E container ships, the largest currently in service carrying 18,00 containers.  And here is some information, and amazing photographs, about how it was built.

And those ships, heavily insured and it is Captain Nick Sloane’s job to board troubled vessels and salvage what he can, read about his fascinating career.  Nautical salvage, an interesting idea for an adventure (or campaign).

The US Navy has deployed its first laser armed ship.  More to follow soon.

I am writing this from shaky.hatch.exacted, what does that mean?  Well, a company called what3words has divided the world up into 3m x 3m squares and given each a three word code that you can use to find that location.  Interesting and full of potential.

Lastly, Harley-Davidson is working on an all-electric bike, the Livewire.

Review – Monster Movie Matinee

Monster Movie Matinee provides ten new monsters plucked from horror and other movies and able to be dropped into a Pathfinder campaign.  While some are probably best suited to one-shot adventures, others could be woven into an ongoing campaign.  Pretty much, this product does what it says on the tin, if you want some movie monsters to bedevil your players, this is for you.