The Outer Presence PDF is live

Yep, it's up on DTRPG,  The print version should be available there and on Amazon by September 1st.

The system is as minimalist as I could get it, while giving players and GM options.  Personally, I feel it's old school designed from a 2015 mindset.

The actual "investigative horror" scenario has a whole bunch of things going on and should appeal to a variety of tastes - without being watered down into mediocrity.

I'd like to thank the Kickstarter backers (especially Greg Beck, Anthony DiNovo, and Chris Ayotte), contributing artists, +MonkeyBlood Design, playtesters, and everyone else who believed in this project and enthusiastically encouraged me to create The Outer Presence.

Hopefully, it's as enjoyable to read and play as it was for me to write.  I'd love to hear your feedback, so let me know how you feel.

VS

p.s.  An extremely favorable review over here.

Less than 24 hours to go!

The Outer Presence kickstarter campaign is about to come to a satisfying close.  As of this moment, it's about 22 hours from completion.

So, get your backing in while you can.  When this is all done and for sale on DriveThru and Amazon, it's probably going to be around $10 for the PDF and $15 for the softcover.

To the right is a rough sketch by a new artist I've been working with.  Just asked him to create some new pieces and he happily agreed.

An eldritch thank you to everyone who is helping to make this book possible!

VS

p.s.  Help me out by sharing this post.  Thanks!

The Opener

Lately, I've been listening to +Fantastic Dimensions run a few playtest sessions of The Outer Presence on youtube.  Because of the way it's currently written, the adventure just kind of starts with notification that Dr. Henry Bile is putting together another expedition to New Guinea.  Not very cinematic.

Of course, scenarios don't have to emulate the theater.  They can just sort of start at the beginning, just before things start happening.  On the other hand, I believe a strong opening is preferable - especially for a one-shot.

Watching the game being run (rather than running it myself) made me feel like I was at the movies, except the story didn't really come alive until later.  So, why not a cinematic beginning to establish the setting, characters, atmosphere, or simply to get the blood pumping?

As I revise The Outer Presence, I'd like to know if you guys ever go for a movie-like opener?  If so, how often?  Does it work well for you?  Results?  I want to know the good, bad, and ugly!

VS

[KS] The Outer Presence

Yep, doing the kickstarter thing for The Outer Presence, my investigative horror scenario I wrote and playtested a couple months ago and have been slowly refining ever since.

But it's not just a scenario!  In addition, the PDF contains the barest bones of a "complete" RPG system *.  The core mechanic is very similar to Crimson Dragon Slayer, except even more simple than that game.  Definitely has an old school feel (both the adventure and rules).

Also, the rules can easily be discarded.  So, if you'd prefer to use The Outer Presence with another RPG, that's easy to do with a little conversion.  Conversely, you might fall in love with the system, using it with your next investigative horror campaign.

If you're into that kind of gaming, I hope you support this endeavor.  If you have questions, most likely they'll be answered on the KS page.  If you have more questions, comment below!

VS

* As complete as a 5 page RPG can be.

Face Off

I've been watching the practical special FX tv show on the Syfy channel from the beginning, back when they still called themselves Sci-Fi.  Since I love older science fiction, horror, and fantasy movies and tv shows that used those sort of non-CGI effects, it's always been a pleasure to see.

Last night was no different.  Although, there was one concept that totally blew me away.*  It spoke to me in that creepy voice you only hear in a nightmare.  While Adam wasn't able to fully realize his vision, that concept drawing was everything I love.  Ironically, that makeup sent him packing.  However, I've been inspired to incorporate his basic conception in my future investigative horror scenario.

I'm tentatively calling it "The Outer Presence".  It's basically already written in scribbled note form.  All I have to do is type it up into a pleasing, useful format.  Part of me is tempted to do a Kickstarter, mostly to raise awareness because I just don't have the advertising dollars available.  If I went the KS route, I'd probably feel obligated to extend and expand the scenario so it also included a softcover version.  FYI, I'm not comfortable starting a new KS campaign without first having discharged my current KS campaign.  Yes, multiple Kickstarters can be done but I'm pretty sure it would make some backers uneasy.

The only downside is that such an endeavor would postpone any science-fantasy OSR adventure I might write.  The investigative horror scenario is in the same ballpark, of course, but it's still a slightly different audience.

So, I open it up to you guys!  I don't know how to make an actual poll, so below are your quick and dirty choices...

A.  Just do a short PDF of The Outer Presence in between your D&D type stuff. 

B.  Do a longer version of The Outer Presence with softcover via KS. 

C.  Forget this system agnostic Call of Cthulhu-esque nonsense; focus on your D&D type stuff.

Thanks for your feedback,

VS

p.s.  Currently, I can't find an image of his concept drawing on google.  I'll try looking later in the week.  If you spot it somewhere, please let me know.  Thanks!  The second image posted is kind of close... but not really.

Writing a Modern Day Investigative Horror Scenario

It's been awhile.  While working on the Game Mastering book and other life stuff, I haven't had much time to roleplay.  That's why the long space between posts, in case you were wondering.

However, a confluence of events had prompted me to write an investigative horror scenario.  This will be a short thing that can be completed in three hours.  Probably 9 or 10 pages.  I'll most likely release it as a $1 PDF on DriveThru when it's ready.  I'll craft it as mechanically generic as possible, should be good to go without much conversion for whatever your RPG of choice is or might be in the future.

So what are these stars in alignment?

1. Walpurgisnacht (May Eve) is upon us!  I've actually got prior commitments on that night, but was able to secure a local library meeting space for playtesting on both April 18th and May 15th (let me know if you'll be in the Madison area and want to participate on either of those dates).
2. I've wanted to both write/publish and Game Master something other than D&D for ages.  Now's my chance!
3. I'll be running this scenario at Gamehole Con this fall.  If you check out their website (or simply look at the upper right corner of this post), the artwork for Gamehole's 3rd year as a convention is about as Cthulhu as it gets.  Yes, my "investigative horror scenario" will be inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.  Did you have any doubts?

As some of you may know, I work best when faced with a deadline (self-imposed, preferably).  The more pressure I'm under, the better I perform.  So, there are plenty of disconnected ideas floating around my subconscious, but I don't have anything written as of right now.  That'll change as April 18th draws nigh.

Have a suggestion?  Please feel free to make one (or a thousand... who's counting?)  If I incorporate something you suggested into the scenario, I'll be sure to give you credit in the front-matter of the PDF.

VS