A Threesome of Space Opera Sleaze

I just created this DriveThruRPG bundle at 20% off each of the three products:  Alpha Blue, Girls Gone Rogue, and Universal Exploits.

Those on the fence, hesitant about spending their hard earned money on a humorous soft core sci-fi shameless ripoff of dozens of popular and obscure franchises can check out the previews, read the reviews, and (if you like what you see) get a deal on everything at once.

Combined, these three books are like How to Game Master like a Fucking Boss, except for sci-fi and space opera RPGs.  There are multiple, short essays on GMing in the genre of blasters and starships.  The entire series is full of adventure hooks, evocative artwork, 1970's & 80's nostalgia, and high-res maps you can take to a local printer or use in a virtual tabletop.  You simply would not believe how many random tables are included in order to facilitate an infinite space sandbox for years of campaigning.

Even though Alpha Blue and both its sourcebooks are firmly in the old school style, I've provided ultra-neo innovations that make it easy to try this game with your non-gamer friends.  One-shot character creation takes as little as 5 minutes; short campaigns about 15.  It's all pick-and-choose or rolling on random tables... no number crunching, no min-maxing, and best of all - NO BORING!!!

I hope you take a chance on these books that I've put my heart and soul into creating the past year and a half.  In my opinion, it's the best of Kort'thalis Publishing and if you don't mind getting a little screwball and raunchy with your thermal detonators and photon torpedoes, I believe it'll soon become your new favorite RPG.

VS

p.s.  And here's a fun little bonus on the house!

It's all about the exploits!

This blog post focuses on Universal Exploits, my latest creation.

Reviews have been favorable.  Some say, it's the best thing Kort'thalis Publishing has ever put out.  Here are reviews one, two, and three.  Additionally, a fresh review of Alpha Blue herself.

Below is a video walk-thru or visual preview of Universal Exploits.  Even at 9 minutes or so, I feel like I barely scratched the surface...

If you've had a chance to check out the book, I hope you also consider writing a review and telling people what you think about Universal Exploits.  Actual play reports are awesome, too!

Curious about any aspect of the game or its sourcebooks?  Just ask, I'd be happy to provide info or run a short demonstration for you.

Remember, if you purchase UX from Amazon or CreateSpace, email me for the PDF (just send invoice, receipt, proof of purchase, etc.) so you can get those high-resolution files of starships, Grabba the Butt's palace of perversity, and custom character sheets.

Enjoy,

VS

p.s.  This is where to find the previous maps/PDFs.  Oh yeah, and here are the new custom character sheets for Alpha Blue.

Universal Exploits in Print!

For those who don't know, Universal Exploits is the 2nd sourcebook for my sleazy space opera RPG Alpha Blue.  Yes, I merged R-rated, NC-17, and even XXX stuff with 1970's sci-fi.  You're welcome.  ;)  

It feels old school, even though its system only vaguely resembles D&D, Star Wars, and Traveller.  The vast majority of content is system-neutral, but the engine runs on d6 dice pools (usually the most you'll be rolling is 3 or 4d6 - you won't need 15d6 for anything!)

You've heard the expression - give a man fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he can feed himself for a lifetime?  Well, a good random table is like teaching a man to fish.  It'll serve him a hundred times over, maybe even a thousand.

All three books - Alpha Blue, Girls Gone Rogue, and Universal Exploits have more random tables than 3.5 had feats!  This is pure space sandbox roleplaying with adventure hooks galore.  Combine these three books with whatever sci-fi / space opera RPG you're already using.  Make it edgy and dangerous - make it dirty!  Three times the laughter, three times the fun, three times the retro weirdness among the stars!

Universal Exploits is now in print over at CreateSpace - that's Amazon's print-on-demand service.  If possible, get it there.  Otherwise, you can get it at Amazon itself (they take a larger royalty, in that case).

Regardless of how you get it, definitely email me with some kind of confirmation or receipt so I can get you the PDFs that come with it!  There's the book PDF with new custom character sheet, maps of new starships, and a layout of Grabba the Butt's palace of perversity!  All high-resolution for printing out and using in your Alpha Blue game.

Here's my email:  Venger.Satanis@yahoo.com

A print version will also be available on DriveThruRPG soon, but their printer is slower and more finicky.

Even though I've been doing this awhile, I'm still very much the underdog, the outsider, the little guy going door to door asking gamers to take a chance on gonzo space smut.

This is currently the best kept secret of the DIY/OSR scene.  Aside from the Kickstarter backers who originally funded it and are now beginning to enjoy their rewards, almost no one knows about Universal Exploits.  So, please mention it when you can, blog about it, review it, help me get the word out!

Thanks,

Venger As'Nas Satanis
High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing

Universal Exploits PDF is live!

Only three months ago, I launched the Kickstarter for Universal Exploits, the 2nd sourcebook for my sleazy sci-fi RPG Alpha Blue (1st sourcebook was Girls Gone Rogue).

It successfully funded awhile ago.  Now, the first exploitation fruits can be tasted and enjoyed!  Here it is (PDF only, until I can check out the proof) on DriveThruRPG.

As I've mentioned before, the time/energy I have for RPGs (running and writing) is dwindling.  My wife will be giving birth to twins this fall.  I hope to be active again a year from now, but we'll see.

That's why I wanted to go all-out with this book.  107 pages (8.5" x 11") worth of supplementary material, every nook and cranny stuffed to the gills with game-able content and gorgeous artwork (some of it NSFW).

Approximately 90% of Universal Exploits is system neutral.  Use it with your White Star, Machinations of the Space Princess, Traveller, Stars Without Number, Star Wars, Star Trek, Starfinder, Rifts, Thousand Suns, X-plorers, Starships & Spacemen, Encounter Critical, Metamorphosis Alpha, Warhammer 40K, and countless other sci-fi and space opera RPGs that could use a little gonzo grindhouse.

VS

Alpha Blue: Making a Character

The following are three video tutorials.  Each one goes into detail about Alpha Blue's system, setting, and character creation...

If you have any questions, please ask!

VS

Progressive Gaming Coalition

I don't know about you, dear blog reader, but I've had enough.  Call them social justice warriors, left-wing fascists, swine, story gamers, the outrage brigade... I don't care what they're called in your neck of the woods.

What I do care about is their interference, their agenda, their attacks, their lies, and most importantly, their attempts to censor and silence creators.

To me, it seems that they hope to stand on the shoulders of giants only to piss all over everyone from their undeserved lofty height.  What they do is definitely easier than actually creating something of substance.

Their latest contribution to the gaming community was to get +James Desborough's Hentacle card game banned from One Book Shelf.  Unfortunately, OBS doesn't plan on re-instating Hentacle after its peer review, unlike Alpha Blue.  I appreciated all the vocal support I and Alpha Blue received after it was temporarily pulled from OBS.  And I want to offer my organized support to similar creative people who are unnecessarily targeted - keep reading.

I suppose that's because "play rape" with tentacles is somehow too close to actual sexual assault in the real world?  I did remind OBS that play rape between consenting adults is an actual, albeit minority, form of sexual expression, preference, and identity.  It's perfectly legal for consenting adults to pretend about rape.  Just because it makes a few individuals uncomfortable shouldn't keep it off the virtual shelves.  To do so would be like banning games involving homosexuality.  Except that gay sex gets an auto-pass because homosexuality is more outspoken and popular.

This next violation is on a much lesser scale.  How to Game Master like a Fucking Boss was given a one-star review on DriveThruRPG in Polish by Andrzej S.  Now, you might be thinking - a bad review, big deal.  While I take feedback and criticism to heart, it was the apparent disingenuous nature of this particular review that got me curious about the motives behind the review.  In this g+ thread he finally admitted that he had a secret agenda for dragging my book through the mud.

because advices like lipstick +1 are not only useless, but also horribly wrong. You shouldn't treat girls playing rpg like some kind of dolls. And that's one of many advices which shoudn't be there.

Yes, it's disgusting, and they won't stop.  I realize this now.  They won't ever stop.  It may seem like a conspiracy to many reading this, but I have seen the evidence, the gradual, subtle influence upon our beloved hobby.

I've decided to organize a new group called the Progressive Gaming Coalition.  There are no memberships cards, dues, code of conduct, laws, tenants, criteria for belonging, or even an overriding belief system.

All the Progressive Gaming Coalition will do is keep watch, looking out for shady behavior, and say something rather than keeping silent.  I'm sure many are afraid to fight, are afraid to voice their concerns as individuals.  Well, the Progressive Gaming Coalition can provide you with backup.  It will bring more eyes, more voices, and more pressure upon those who wish to destroy the RPG community from the inside.

Contact me about becoming involved in the Progressive Gaming Coalition - because we all have the right to make progress within the roleplaying game community and industry.

Sincerely,

Venger As'Nas Satanis
High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing
Progressive Gaming Coalition

p.s.  From now until H.P. Lovecraft's birthday (August 20th), my guide to GMing will be on sale.

It's Harmon's world... we just game in it

I've only recently been introduced to the madness that is the Rick and Morty animated TV show. I've only seen 2 episodes so far, but just purchased both seasons on DVD based on the strength of those two episodes. They should be arriving this week.  

It was that good. It reminded me of Alpha Blue... and then I remembered a recent player mentioning something about a show called Rick and Morty after a session of Alpha Blue.

[Update: I've seen the entire first season]

So, yeah... it's a bit like Alpha Blue. But what else is it like?
It's sort of a cross between Heavy Metal (we're not worthy!) and that Futurama show (not really a fan, though I can see why some find it enjoyable). Plus, Dan Harmon is behind it! I know him from Community and that was pretty much it. Community was a comedy TV show with a lot of hilarious episodes, including a couple that focused on D&D.

Well, I've also now been exposed to a long-running podcast called HarmonTown. The most interesting aspect of HarmonTown is a segment where they started to play D&D. That spawned a partially-animated spin-off show called HarmonQuest where Dan Harmon and friends play a fantasy RPG that feels old school and is Game Mastered by Spencer Crittenden, who was just an average geek and GM living in California who decided to attend a live taping of HarmonTown.

I've now watched the first season (10 half-hour episodes) of HarmonQuest, and it's good. It won't necessarily resemble the games you play at home. About 20% of their adventuring feels ironic, but the remaining 80% is pure nerd bliss! Having an audience makes it seem more important somehow. I think this could catch on...

There's also a documentary on Dan Harmon and company as he takes HarmonTown on the road, appearing in comedy clubs and such. I've watched it since beginning this blog post a week ago. Even though it's about an hour and 40 minutes, it feels short. I definitely wanted more!

Lastly, for the entire month of August, Alpha Blue will be on sale (PDF and softcover). I anticipate the latest AB sourcebook to be available in September. It's called Universal Exploits and will contain so many fucking random tables that it will be virtually impossible to "sandbox fail." #sandboxfail

Keep gaming,

VS