Primordial Chaos

 

I think there's lots of good stuff for everyone in this book.  You get a better idea of what gonzo is, what it can be, and the future of that niche.  It comes with a lengthy adventure, plenty of random tables, and gameable tips, tricks, and techniques to get more gonzo out of your gaming.

You can download the PDF here.  For the softcover print-on-demand book, that you can find on Amazon.  If the title doesn't do the trick search for Venger Satanis and/or Kort'thalis Publishing.

Now, that KS backers have their copies, I want to make this title public.  Hopefully, the feedback is positive.  The artwork, which is all from actual human artists, cost a pretty penny, but I'm glad that's where the majority of the budget went.

Speaking of budgets, with the ordering of softcover print-on-demand books to send out, I'm over the limit on money in versus money out.  But hey, this is a labor of love... and perhaps Primordial Chaos: Gonzo Like A Fucking Boss will pay for itself in post-Kickstarter sales?

The lesson is that gonzo is everywhere, all around us.  Maybe not in the direct, in-your-face, floating-shark-down-orange-hallways gonzo, but this world is all kinds of fucked-up.  Use it.

Thanks for your continued support and Merry Christma'as, hoss!

VS

p.s. Want the hardcover Cha'alt trilogy?  here's how!  Want to join the Kort'thalis mailing list to stay up-to-date on what's going on in the skinematic Vengerverse?  This is it!!  Last but not least, I'm organizing a based-as-fuck RPG convention in Madison, WI this July.  Grab your weekend badge for VENGER CON IV: Post-Modern Apocalypse!!!

The Slow Blade Penetrates The Culture

 

Like the new map?  I made it with my own tentacles!  ;)

I was on a FB group devoted to David Hargrave and Arduin, posting something about my latest book, Primordial Chaos: Gonzo Like A Fucking Boss (now that KS backers have theirs, I'll be releasing it to the general public tomorrow morning), when I find myself embroiled in a discussion.

A dude commented on my post, letting me know that I'm no Dave Hargrave, and Arduin "wasn't as gonzo as you think."  When I mentioned that things change over time, he said that I'm nowhere near as good as Hargrave.  

All props and praise due to those who came before... Gygax, Arneson, Hargrave, and so on.  This isn't about who's better or worse.  It's about how culture moves through the decades.  While there are certain factors that balance and mitigate, restrain and conserve what was, an even greater force constantly pushes things forward, making them faster, stronger, easier, more efficient, longer lasting and tastier.  Yes... 3 steps forward, 1 step back.  Regression and going in the wrong direction are built into "progress."  In other words, it's not always a good thing.  Nevertheless, we can't stop moving forward in time.

When gonzo was new and fresh, a little went farther than it does now.  Sure, the odd laser-shark floating down an orange stairway can give 2024 players a minor shock, but chances are we've been there, done that, seen it all before.  If you want the same kind of reaction today that you'd get in the late 70s, you have to up the ante.  

Sticking with that poker metaphor, if you always play Texas Hold'em at the $1 / $2 tables, say after 20 years, it can still be quite challenging and fun.  But that same rush you got at the beginning won't return until you move up in stakes to $2 / $5 or perhaps even $5 / $10 (my next personal poker goal) and beyond.  Additionally, common sense strategy, not to mention optimal game theory, back in 2009 looks a whole lot different than 2024.  That's because the game changes.  Not like another edition, because chess and Texas Hold'em aren't changing the actual game, but the way people play changes over time.

My stuff, especially my Cha'alt stuff, might be "ahead of its time" or simply yet another "wrong direction" because it sticks out like a sore thumb and isn't all that popular.  But even if Cha'alt is just garbage to certain people, it represents movement, conscious movement or evolution towards something - the next stage of gonzo, perhaps...  

One of the things that resonated in me regarding the OSR was the renaissance.  Taking what was and remaking it.  I know the term "modern sensibilities" is so beyond cringe that I didn't even want to bring it up.  Let's just say it's getting slapped with a new coat of paint.  

[Same map; laminated... will be using this at VENGER CON in July]

Gonzo was amazing in the 70s and 80s, and probably through the 90s, but gonzo in 2024 is different, by necessity.  Same fundamentals, but updated understanding and execution.  For gonzo to survive, it can't stay the same - just like you can't put your hand into the same river twice.

Let me put it this way because I don't want folks to get the wrong idea.  I love The Twilight Zone.  Always have, always will.  If I was creating my own show in the same vein, with the same vibe, I wouldn't just slavishly copy what The Twilight Zone did in the late 50s.  I'd take that awesomeness and go even harder so that same feeling the audience had back then, they'd have today.

Ok, I'm excited to show you Primordial Chaos: Gonzo Like A Fucking Boss tomorrow morning.  The artwork, the advice, the random tables, the Cha'alt adventure at the back is one of my best, and will bring your table multiple sessions of eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalypse, humor, sleaze, pop-culture, and grindhouse exploitation enjoyment.

Thanks,

VS

p.s. Want the hardcover Cha'alt trilogy?  here's how!  Want to join the Kort'thalis mailing list to stay up-to-date on what's going on in the skinematic Vengerverse?  This is it!!  Last but not least, I'm organizing a based-as-fuck RPG convention in Madison, WI this July.  Grab your weekend badge for VENGER CON IV: Post-Modern Apocalypse!!!

The Gonzo Book You Never Knew You Needed

 

Before I go into the "state of the union" regarding my affairs, here is my Kickstarter for PRIMORDIAL CHAOS: Gonzo Like A Fucking Boss.  It's going to be a wild ride, so come join! 

Taking over the family business after my Dad passed away about this time last year, and everything associated with that, such as spending more time with Mom, has taken a chunk out of my free time.  

However, I've still been able to maintain a baseline of RPG productivity... even though the promotion aspect of my job - hyping up Kort'thalis Publishing and current projects - has declined.  And the pendulum-swing of politics and culture war pushback against the woke, DEI, Socialist-left surprisingly (well, surprising to me) did not reach deep down into the tabletop RPG industry like I thought it would.  

Our hobby, is still very much "progressive" and invoking my name on social media will likely get your posts locked, downvoted, or reported to the rainbow jackbooted authorities.  Nevertheless, I remain hopeful.  Those who've benefited from western civilization should one day realize the path their on, while also remembering that Communism doesn't really help anyone, except the Great Leader and his (or her) inner-circle of bureaucrats, along with their useful-idiot administrative thugs and propaganda personalities in the media.  

This Ben Shapiro video was particularly insightful of what's in store for American politics and the stakes for our entire world.

So, what does this have to do with gonzo?  After 5 years of developing and 2 years of running a super-gonzo campaign in the world of Cha'alt, I've discovered RPG secrets the vast majority of gamers - even those who do love and run gonzo sessions - don't even know exist.  And those tips, tricks, and techniques I've found are not just applicable to those pursuing high-weirdness, but every GM hoping to run an extraordinary game.

A guide to gonzo even won my Twitter / X poll.  Yeah, it's still niche as all Hell, but this is something people want, that people can use.  Unfortunately, for reasons named and unknown, I'm just not pulling the numbers.  My reach has diminished, my influence waning, sales down, convention barely breaking even - even though I feel like my creative powers and technical achievements are at their height, I'm struggling to cross the $5k Kickstarter finish line.  WTF, hoss?!?  

But even if I make zero or, let's face it, much less than zero doing this RPG thing, I'm still going to keep doing it, under the radar - even if I have to use A.I. art or my own colorful scribbles.  Recognition would be nice, but maybe that'll come later, like H.P. Lovecraft.  Things are cyclical, and I'm hoping this is the low-point from which I come back.  You never know...

Regardless, I hope you'll back this Kickstarter because it's got a lot of awesome things going for it - gonzo, hyper-immersion, random tables, kickass artwork from real artists, a Cha'alt adventure, and if things go well, more of the Lavender Moons digital-comic.  

Thanks for your continued support.  Will try to get the session report for yesterday's game done tomorrow... but realistically not until Tuesday.  Busy, busy, busy...

VS

p.s.  I don't even know why I'm bothering to type this post-script, as I haven't sold a hardcover Cha'alt book (other than last month's VENGER CON) in months... oh yeah, that's actually a reward on the KS campaign.  Sweet!