Caravan Attack [Play Report]

 

I like simple concepts.  You're walking down the road and something catches your eye - things are not ok.  You feel compelled to get involved, mostly because the risk of death might be right around the corner.

So it was with the Roll20 session a couple days ago.  I was playtesting a new Cha'alt adventure that'll show up in Cha'alt After Dark, once that's completed.

I shared this link with the players because it's what I listened to throughout the game (up until Mos Eisley cantina).

PCs are walking through the hot S'kbah desert on their way to who knows where.  They spy a caravan of humanoids atop riding lizards; those lizards equipped with bulging saddlebags, as well.

I let the PCs react because this is their story.  They walk closer, intent on making contact with the caravan.  Maybe they'll rob it, maybe they'll make friends?

All of a sudden, a sand-barge full of skeever desert pirates attacks the caravan with its laser cannon.  All Hell breaks loose as the PCs battle the skeevers.  

Before we get too deep, let's describe the 2nd level PCs...

• Matt played Alahka'ar, a crystalline sorcerer.
• Prince of Nothing played Razor Kage, Federation bounty hunter (fighter, basically) wielding an M-3 Lawgiver and plasma katana.  Check out his blog!
• "Some Dude" played a droid thief named ST-33L.
• Heather played Lottie, a halfling cleric.

Turns out the skeevers were after the caravan's smoky quartz crystals that were to be sold in the city of A'agrybah.

A pitched battle sent a few skeevers to their sandy graves and the sorcerer shot his web into one of the barge's anti-grav thrusters, the malfunctioning thruster making it tilt to one side.  Eventually, the skeevers had enough and ran away with their lives and not much else.

As the barge was sputtering away, Kage fired a parting shot.  It went straight through a skeever's hand.  I told the players that henceforth, that pirate would be nicknamed "glory hole" for the rest of his days.  Everyone laughed.

The caravan folk were extremely grateful, asking the PCs if they'd like to journey with them the rest of the way to A'agrybah and also offering half of their crystals to repay their courage and heroism.  The adventurers accepted gladly.

An hour or two later, the caravan and PCs encounter 4 desperados.  They watched each other intently.  If the PCs hadn't been there, the grim looking outlaws would have robbed the caravan for sure.

Razor Kage went up to the shiftiest of the desperados, demanding his clothes.  It was a scene straight out of The Terminator.  "Your clothes... give them to me."  The interaction could have gone either way, so I randomly rolled to see how he'd react.  Poorly, was the answer.  

The outlaw fired first and missed.  Razor Kage returned fire, putting a smoldering void where the desperado's chest should have been.  Adios, hoss!

The other outlaws stayed uninvolved as Kage looted his body.  One of the looted items was a matchbook from the infamous sex club Pervert's Paradise.  A half-hour to the club or a couple more hours to A'agrybah... hmm, what to do?

After a cinematic screen-wipe with artistic acid-wash dissolve, the PCs show up at Pervert's Paradise as evening drew nigh.  This is a family friendly blog, so I won't spoil what happened, except the adventurers were hired to take out a slave trader's rival, also present at the club.

A distraction was created with a suped-up cocktail.  Remember that awful blue drink from the movie Heathers?  Yeah, it was like that.  ST-33L included some of his cyber-lubricant for good measure.

It was a bigger battle than the sand-barge.  Alahka'ar almost lost his life, and would have surely died if not for the cleric's healing hands.  

Everyone contributed greatly, as is the way with a 4-PC adventuring party.  The PCs even got a little extra hazard pay since their sorcerer almost bit the big one.

It was a good time.  The session lasted almost two hours, which seemed to be the perfect length for a virtual one-shot.  And it gave me some playtest notes to improve the adventure before its released.  Win-win!

VS

Boycott Gencon and Origins

 

Yes, I think it's time to fight fire with fire.  Cancel Gen Con, Origins, and every other institution supporting cultural Marxism.  

Things have been off the rails for awhile.  A reckoning was coming... if you couldn't see it on the horizon, it's probably because you tried your darnedest to shut out all politics from your gaming spaces.  Doesn't matter, radical-leftism infiltrated gaming culture years ago!

Well, the fight has come to you.  The new TSR has been banned from the biggest gaming conventions in the world.  Pretty soon, we won't have those spaces left.  It'll just be a barren landscape of woke dominance.  Capitulating to the SJW crowd will eventually get you a dirt covered knee to go along with your severed head.

We need to fight back while we still can.  Wait too much longer, and it's game over... literally.  

For mobile phone users, the link to my latest video is right here.

Have something to say?  Say it here.  The freedom of expression still exists on this blog.  Thanks!

VS

p.s. Only a week left for my Cha'alt After Dark kickstarter campaign.  Don't miss out on the gorgeous, signed, numbered, limited-edition hardcover books!

Cha'alt on Roll20

 

Do you like eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalyptic adventures?

I'll be running 2 or 3 different Cha'alt sessions on Roll20 this week.

The first one is this afternoon, 1pm central standard time.  Join if you can.  I'll update this blog post with future dates, once those are locked in - so check back!

Here's the link!

I believe you need to message me to join and then I can invite you.  I've never been on the player-side of Roll20, so not entirely sure.  

If there's an issue, just contact me: Venger.Satanis@yahoo.com

Thanks,

VS

p.s. My xxxtra sleazy Cha'alt After Dark Kickstarter (more scenarios) is doing xxxtremely well.  See what I did there?  Only 10 days left to back.  Those gorgeous signed, numbered, limited-edition hardcovers are at a special discount... don't miss out!

Inspirational Nostalgia [80s Movies]

 

By request, I'm going to try and list all of the fantasy and scifi movies from the 1980s that have inspired me.  

Since this is almost an impossible task, I'll keep updating it.  There's a certain line where scifi crosses over into post-apocalyptic exploitation / horror, so I tried to stay on this side of that line.

In no particular order, here goes...

• Heavy Metal
• Big Trouble In Little China
• Escape From New York
• Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn
• Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone
• Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
• Ice Pirates
• The Last Starfighter
• Re-Animator
• Bride of Re-Animator
• From Beyond
• Dune
• The Fly
• Conan the Barbarian
• Conan the Destroyer
• Hawk the Slayer
• Deathstalker I and II
• The Beastmaster
• Forbidden World
• Galaxy of Terror
• Weird Science
• Transers
• Goonies
• Conquest
• Gandahar (Light Years)
• Return of the King
• Saturn 3
• Battle Beyond the Stars
• Excalibur
• Flash Gordon
• Krull
• Spaceballs
• Aliens
• Bladerunner
• Masters of the Universe
• The Terminator
• The Thing
• Things
• Empire Strikes Back
• Return of the Jedi
• Robocop I and II
• Galaxina [but only for the hottie]
• Space Raiders
• Yor: Hunter from the Future
• Highlander
• Clash of the Titans
• Legend
• Willow [just barely]
• Labyrinth
• The Last Unicorn
• Dragonslayer and Ladyhawke [don't remember loving these, but people will keep suggesting them, so there you go]
• The Dark Crystal
• The Princess Bride
• The Neverending Story
• The Sword and the Sorcerer
• Flight of Dragons
• Fire and Ice
• Time Bandits
• Brazil
• The Barbarians [again, just barely]
• Tron
• Eliminators 
• Megaforce
• The Quiet Earth
• Mad Max and Beyond Thunderdome

Feel free to suggest any I missed.  Happy viewing!

VS

p.s. Did you know I've got a Kickstarter campaign going to fund more Cha'alt adventures?  Just as eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalyptic... with xxxtra sleaze!

Cha'alt After Dark Kickstarter

 

Ok, I'm finally opening up the Kickstarter for my Cha'alt After Dark collection of adventures.  

Exactly what you've come to expect from Cha'alt - eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalypse - but these scenarios are even sleazier!

Check it out here.

The first 2 adventures, Cha'alt After Dark and So Beautiful, So Dangerous, are already 90% written.  That's why I only did a 20-day crowdfunding campaign.  

And once this KS has been fulfilled, I'm going all-in on the next edition of Encounter Critical (kickstarting that in August).

If you have any questions, suggestions, comments, or anything else, let me know.  Also, please share the Cha'alt After Dark Kickstarter campaign on social media.  

Thanks,

VS

Encounter Critical of Kort'thalis Publishing

 

If the title to this blog post is confusing, let me spell it out for you... 

I, Venger Satanis, have purchased the rights to Encounter Critical from its original creator, S. John Ross.

If you've been with me since the beginning, you'll know how much I love Encounter Critical.  It influenced a lot of my RPG writing.  This review and play report was written the same year (2014) I put out The Islands of Purple-Haunted Putrescence.  And it's no exaggeration to say that Crimson Dragon Slayer, Alpha Blue and Cha'alt were inspired by Encounter Critical, as well.  

So, what are my plans for the game?

As I assured Mr. Ross, I intend to expand Encounter Critical with a new edition + several adventures.  I'll probably want some help, so if you have input, don't be afraid to reach out to me.

In my mind, there's no clearer way to judge demand like crowdfunding.  Slightly awkward timing as I'm a day or two away from launching a Kickstarter to fund new Cha'alt adventures called Cha'alt After Dark.  

At least, that will give me several weeks to plan for an Encounter Critical Kickstarter campaign.  I'd like to have a better idea which direction Encounter Critical will go before diving headfirst, anyway.

You think you know true scientific realism, hoss?  We'll just have to see about that...

Thanks for your support in perpetuity, 

Venger As'Nas Satanis

High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing

SJWs Rage-Quit T&T

 

Ken St. Andre didn't kneel before our woke overlords, and now it seems like political activist gamers (of the radical-left) are trying to cancel him.  Or, at least, signaling their virtue by denouncing both Ken and Tunnels & Trolls.  

Why, you ask?  Because Ken had the sheer audacity to disagree with a gamer who said it's not enough to simply not be racist, one has to be anti-racist.  One has to join the angry mob.  If you don't pick up that torch and pitchfork, you'll be hunted down and burned with all the bad people.  You know... because we want to make gaming more inclusive.

This is where the tweet is screenshot.

Since Ken isn't a flaming radical-leftist and stands up for what he believes, all the little SJWs are taking their little shots.  You can't apologize to these people.  They have no sense of humor, justice, mercy, fairness, gratitude, respect, or shame.  All they know how to do is infest, take over, and destroy.  Every major institution has either resisted or fallen prey to the outspoken woke mob.

RPGs have done a good job of resisting, but the pressure keeps building.  We must support those who resist being assimilated into political activism on the left.  Sitting on the fence, trying to play it safe, and stay neutral ain't going to work.  It's long past time we fought to protect our hobby from a hostile woke takeover!

Everyone is an individual at my gaming table, not part of a special interest group or racial faction or privileged class.  The minute you start dividing people, that's when you lose.

I wish D&D had a modicum of the Troll Godfather's spine.  Please, show Ken St. Andre your support on social media.  Buy and play some Tunnels & Trolls.  Help us fight back against the evils of radical-leftism that want to control us like an authoritarian puppet-master.

VS

The Long Game

 

As I've mentioned before, my focus has been on one-shots and micro-campaigns lasting 3-5 sessions.  That's pretty much all I could get away with considering my crazy-ass, wild, carefree, Satanic orgies before teatime lifestyle of a wife, 5 kids, job, and suburban living.

However, one of my goals for 2022 is refocusing my roleplaying towards longer campaigns.  That's what I did in my youth and now I feel like I'm missing out by constantly restarting.  Hey, it's been a blast, tons of fun, but I'm shifting gears.  The sleeper must awaken!

You've probably also heard me talk about the January 2022 Kickstarter for Book 3 of the Cha'alt trilogy - Cha'alt: Chartreuse Shadows.  Well, included in that book will be another version of Crimson Dragon Slayer.  It'll still be rules-light, but this incarnation will be suited for the campaign, rather than individual sessions.

It's going to have negative character traits and cultural backgrounds, along with extra classes, more races (especially those included in the Cha'alt books), and I'm going to tweak the epic deeds of awesomeness.

Similar to what I've done before with my Purple Islands sessions, players will get a fuchsia stone to keep track of their character's Divine Favor.  Usually, PCs each start with one and may earn more through play. 

You can trade-in 3 of the fuchsia stones to get a chartreuse stone (still searching the internet for the right shade of chartreuse).  The chartreuse stones are more valuable because they can be spent to automatically (no rolling needed) do something spectacularly awesome in the game.  I'll provide a cheat-sheet for those desiring recommendations on far you can take it.  

There'll be more, as well.  The revised Crimson Dragon Slayer D20 cleaned-up and tacked-on several changes to the original, but this new edition will be more than a fresh coat of paint.  I'm tentatively calling it Advanced Crimson Dragon Slayer.

Obviously, I'm going to have to playtest the shit out of this.  Where will I find the time?  Good question, might have to clone myself.  Or perhaps someone out there wants to help test things out with their own long-term Cha'alt campaign?

By the way, I'm launching another Kickstarter next week to help raise money for more Cha'alt adventures and to sell more books.  It's called Cha'alt After Dark, and will have an extra sleazy edge.  If you want to order your glorious hardcover before the crowdfunding begins, check this out.

Thanks,

VS

p.s. It's been awhile since I've seen reviews on DriveThruRPG, TheRPGsite, reddit, etc.  Please write a review of my stuff - it keeps me going.  Thanks!

Summer Kickstarters

 

Yeah, I've got another one coming up in a week or two.  However, I wanted this blog post to shed light on a couple of lesser known Kickstarters...

The first is something called Revenge of the Gobcocker!  Come for the 13th Warlock's erotic computer generated art, stay for the miniatures.  I used a number of his images in latter-day Alpha Blue supplements.  Good stuff!

The second is for Creature Feature Quarterly, volume #6.  Who doesn't need more fearsome foes and creepy creatures to fight in their OSR games?  Jeremy Hart illustrated a gorilla monster with tentacle arms in, I believe, Revelry in Torth.

I'll do an announcement post for my own Kickstarter somewhere between June 10th - 15th.  Until then, have a great gaming summer!

VS

NFT, Blockchains, Cryptocurrency, and Cha'alt

 

Welcome to the very first crypto-campaign setting... CHA'ALT!!!

Since they're numbered and finite, the gorgeous hardcover books for both Cha'alt and Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise are already unique, non-fungible tokens [NFTs] on a Blockchain.  Basically, collector items that will appreciate in value over time.

But instead of opening up an Ethereum wallet in the real world, I've decided to create a highly lucrative cryptocurrency storage facility in the eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalyptic world of Cha'alt.  Cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum, was introduced into Cha'alt's economy by the Federation.  Specifically, Federation outlaws and criminal organizations.  

Ethereum is traded throughout Cha'alt, above and below ground.  Currently, a signed and numbered hardcover Cha'alt book (either one) is worth 100 Ethereum or 100e.  At the moment, a single unit of Ethereum on Cha'alt is worth 93 talons (equal to 31 gold pieces or credits).  That's already a substantial amount, which is no surprise as the precious tomes have received their fair share of praise.

As the supply of books diminish, the value of Ethereum will increase - that's just basic economics.  The valuation formula is not open to the public, but investors can ask me about it privately: Venger.Satanis@yahoo.com

What can you do with the money?  Ethereum can be used to buy goods or services, like regular currency, not only on Cha'alt but all Federation controlled space.  Ethereum is tied to a real world individual (you), not Player-Characters.  That should be of particular interest to investors.

As a player, you can distribute Ethereum to one or more characters as you see fit via access crystal.  You receive 3 complimentary access crystals upon opening up your Ethereum account, which has automatically processed.  If you already own a hardcover Cha'alt book, then congratulations - you're already an investor!  

Ethereum is recorded at the Cryptocurrency Storage Facility in A'agrybah (I've heard rumors that a subterranean branch has already been approved in the dark-elf city Ba'al-Tan).  Your Ethereum is accessible in-game with an access crystal.  If an access crystal is lost or stolen, even if the character who owns the access crystal dies, your Ethereum is safe.  The amount of Ethereum you own fluctuates when authorized individuals make in-game purchases with the cryptocurrency.  

Purchases made with Ethereum are protected transdimensionally.  Let's say, you save up enough Ethereum to buy a starship so you can tool around the galaxy.  Even if that starship is blown-up in the campaign run by your current Game Master, the starship still exists somewhere in an alternate universe.  Given that there are nearly infinite dimensions, your starship should still be somewhere, even if finding its location may be a pain in the ass.  

Of course, the number of hardcover Cha'alt books owned also changes the amount of Ethereum in your account.  FYI, another Kickstarter, Cha'alt After Dark, is coming June 10th, followed by a Kickstarter for book III, Cha'alt: Chartreuse Shadows, in January 2022.

As stated, the value of Ethereum can fluctuate.  On the 1st of every month, I'll make a blog post reflecting Ethereum's current value.  Generally speaking, the more books sold, the higher its value.  Does that mean the remaining few books will increase in price?  Well, if a single tweet or abstract digital drawing can be auctioned off for millions of dollars, anything's possible.  

Months from now, I have no idea if the last dozen or so books will be sold for thousands of dollars or not, but the chances are good that prices could skyrocket, especially if the predicted hyperinflation comes to pass.

Last but not least, how do you order Cha'alt books?  Details right over here!

Happy speculating, hoss!!!

Venger As'Nas Satanis

High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing