A Delayed Start, But a Start At Last

Well hello! 

I created this blog in January 2024, and it has lain fallow since then. I used to have a different blog, and a different name, but lots of things have changed. 

I've got the itch to post content again, and the urge to have a sort of 'rpg diary' if sorts. If people end up reading it, great. If they don't....well, I still have a diary. 

For almost two years now, I've been exclusively running Dungeon Crawl Classics, with the occasional foray into one of it's weird cousins, like Star Crawl and True Vigilante. I even managed to stitch a bunch of modules together into a nautical-themed pseudo-sandbox....until they found the [redacted] in the module [redacted] and then the sandbox moved to a space station full of robots and wizards. It was wild. I've omitted the module names for the sake of spoilers, but I'd be happy to reveal them to interested parties. One of the modules is possibly in my top 3 favorites of all time. (Also recall that DCC modules are more about "navigating an extremely bizarre and dangerous location, rather than some kind of plot or adventure path.)

I've been taking a break from DMing for the past couple of months. My partner has been running XCrawl, that I played in an had fun. It's still going, but I've stepped out because I'm dealing with a condition that leaves me endlessly fatigued. 

What I'm into/reading/thinking about these days: 

Stars Without Number Revised, which I've had since 2018 when I backed the Kickstarter, but have run only once, a one shot at KantCon in Overland Park in... 2018? 2019? Some time back before the Dark Times started. 

White Star Galaxy Edition, which I have owned for a number of years. I just feel like it's a bit lighter (okay, a lot lighter) in tone than SWN. 

Cairn, 2nd edition. Cairn is hot. It's rules-lite but still has interesting mechanical choices. The character backgrounds (classes, of a sort) are delightfully batshit. The game has a creepy fairy tale vibe in all the best ways, and the map generation system is super fun. It also doesn't hurt that the entire game is available online for free, and the author also sells the books on Am@zon at cost.

The Sandbox Generator. This book is just a lot of fun to mess with. I like sketching out little hexcrawl areas because something neat always jumps out at me, even if I just file it away for when I have the energy to actually run a game.

 BX Options: The Class Builder. I've followed Erin Smale's class creation methods as they've evolved since he had his OD&Dities online 'zine back in the early aughties. I do love messing around with B/X, and it's fun to design super-focused or utterly bonkers character classes.  

I've considered picking something and doing an online campaign with it. I hate online gaming, as I hate Hell and all Montagues, but presently it might be all I have the endurance to handle. 

I hope to start posting periodic content in the near future. I'm hoping the blog eventually develops a focus, but given my poor brain, that level of cognitive organization might be a long time coming. 

Alright, awkward first post is out of the way!