Brodgar Tumulae Map25.06

Not far from the village of Bramblgulf a large tumulae has been discovered, hidden under the forest floor. How was it discovered you ask? A local ranger on his patrol surrounding the city came upon a swath of forest that had begun to rot, trees withering, vines turning to dust in his hands, and the remains of animals - untouched by prey - rotting in the gloomy death of the forest. A deeper investigation lead by the sheriff's men have discovered the entrance to an underground compound. The sheriff, unhappy about his recent loss of income from the bandit raids and a little butthurt about the loss of the extra manpower in the area, has decided to open the compound to exploration. He is hoping Mort, Vin and Gort venture inside, are slain, and kill a few of whatever lays within so he can enter later with his remaining men and secure whatever treasure is hidden inside.

Sheriff Ulfstan

The Witchmouth Grotto: Map25.05

Work today was stupid, so to destress and end on a good note, I took to my handy dandy little journal and drew a quick work map. Enjoy.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years, blessings to you and yours!

Solo d6 Fantasy: Session 8

As my friend Christian put it, "What a way for the elf Prince to go..."

I have said it before but the surprising twists and turn - the unexpected - is what drew me to DMing games, and due to the way in which I play solo RPGs, I have been able to continue this angle. So far, this little adventure, something like 5 locations, had really been interesting.

Update on the characters -

Solo d6 Fantasy: Session 7

Had some interesting things happening here, and in a direction I did not foresee with the goblin prisoners being tortured and even mutilated. Those bandits must be some bad mofos...

This is one of the things I like most about solo gaming, and one that shares a good deal with how I ran games for people. In my best gaming sessions I never fully fleshed out the encounter. I knew what would lead to the encounter, and then I just let fate, ingenuity, and off the cuff insanity take over and resolve the session. This meant I was often as surprised as the players as to the path the adventure takes (sometimes screaming towards). 

I find in solo gaming much of my enjoyment comes from the unexpected and interesting (sometimes deadly) turns that our story goes. I think that is one of the facets of solo gaming that the naysayers simply do not understand. I have often heard people say 'how fun can it be when you know what will happen, and that is exactly the crux of it. I really have no idea where the adventure will head, nor how well my heroes will do. Maybe they will be big heroes, maybe they will all die, maybe they will befriend a giant or demon. 

That level of the unexpected, keeps the game fun and interesting, and makes every single game unique.

Kapell of Kythira: Map25.04

Hidden in the rolling hills of the nearby frontier, lies a small chapel dedicated to a saint's last resting place. What might lie in waiting within its walls?

Solo d6 Fantasy: Session 5

The band enters the lair! I did modify the risk rule in the system due to the short dungeon. Now I will be increasing the Risk by +1 after every room instead of every three.

Exceptionally sharp readers might also notice the drawn map seems familiar, and they would be correct. I am utilizing the Bandit's Defilement map I posted earlier this month. I decided to redraw it here as I go along because, well, I like drawing maps.

I just realized I totally forgot about the campfire Vin could smell before they came to the lair. Oops...  I guess that is what happens when you play a session at work, on break, and do not play again until the following day. Oh well!

Solo d6 Fantasy: Session 2

Mort & Vin decide to inquire about adding a member to their crew, and then end up hiring Aranngort, a venturist that appears a little less sure of himself. Vin mumbles to Mort that at least he will take an arrow or two before falling and then they would not have to pay him...

Aranngort

They head out on the road...

And immediately encounter some trouble!

The Pit of Despair: Map25.03

Decades ago, Metcalf the Surgeon had a fantastic idea. Using his extensive biological knowledge and alchemical wizardry, he could create guard creatures, owls to deliver letters and a host of other interesting 'minions' as he called them. This did well until a dark-faced man came into his shoppe and asked for more, he wanted something larger, more powerful, more dangerous. Something sinister. An like that Metcalf realized he had discovered an entirely new business: custom-made golems! Thus was born Metcalf's Minions!

 

Due to disagreements with the local administration, Metcalf was forced to retreat a secret lair, deep in the forest. Being a dedicated loner, deeply into his work, he slowly lost his mind and create more and more wild and dangerous golems, selling them for massive profits.

He eventually ran out of fresh sources of material for his golems and began kidnapping passing merchants, captured goblins, cattle, and wild creatures for his creations. He is extremely paranoid and always has a few minions on hand to protect him and his lab. He is currently hard at work...and well behind the deadline...for a powerful customer. He would not appreciate being interrupted at this time.

Azzod's Temple: Map25.02

Another work break map, a simple remote temple inside a mountain or hill. The hermit-like monks run the temple for dedicated followers on a pilgrimage to a holy place in their religion.

The Bandits' Defilement: Map25.01

Another friend and I were lamenting that we missed the creative process that was fulfilled by gaming back in the day (both of us have stepped away due to the politicized gaming community). 

Christian smartly said: “Don’t do anything grand, fellas. Field notes map doodles, star block, adventure seeds, etc. Quick little bites for a daily creative check in, but leave it at that.” 

And you know what? He was exactly right. I immediately stepped back, pulled out my field notes, and tossed this together. No grand “I am going to publish this!”, no “I am going to throw this into Affinity and clean it up, add color!”…just a notebook and a pen.

I think too often my desire to create morphs into a desire to create things useful to others. My enjoy moves from the most important thing for me and is replaced with others' needs. I think I have let this dominate the way I create things for so long that I honestly do not know how to just do for me. This left me feeling very much unfulfilled as a creator, gamer, heck...person.

After a month away, and discussing this with my other good friend Bill, I realized what the problem was: I missed gaming for me. Doing what I enjoy and (sorry) reader/others be damned. I need to do what brings me joy. I have always enjoyed mapping, so I followed Christian's advice and took five minutes or so at work and drew a map using what I had handy. Luckily, I always have a Field Notes style notebook, pens and a marker.  The result is what I posted at the top of this page. 

Is it perfect? Heck no. Might someone use it? Maybe? Do I care? Not really. Around the same time I stumbled upon Solo d6 Fantasy. Now, I love me some d6s and a simple system and I have tried dozens of them and they just felt lacking, this one though, I really liked. Just deep enough to be interesting, but not so deep that it kills the speed of play for me. I am going to play it for a while, goof off, and have some fun. Some of you might like it, most probably won't but you know, I don't care.

So I guess what I am saying is...

"Hi. I am back. I am going to have some fun for me and enjoy some creating and gaming, my way."

Turand Kamlat Monastery Map25.07

 

A return to form? I do not know, but I received a new Apple Pencil and wanted to give it a go so what better way than to draw a map. Last night I watched "Season of the Witch", not a fantastic film but somewhat fun and the end battle took place in a remote monastery so I think that subconsciously guided me on this one. 

The Moathaus

 

Been a loooooong time since I picked up my tablet and drew a map. I started working on this map well over a year ago. Today I replaced my Apple Pencil (likely stolen by goblins) Not finished but made a lot of progress over where I previously had stopped. It was based largely on a map I found somewhere on the internet and I just wanted to do my little spin on it in my usual style.

Anyone recognize this one? No-prizes if you can identify it!

Dungeon 25: week 5

 

I was hoping these would be a bit of a zen thing for me but I am finding them more and more rushed to get done due to life getting in the way. Hoping to continue these at a good pace.

Dungeon 25: week 4

Now we enter the Forgotten Crypts, and a dastardly deadly deep pit full of undead! 

Dungeon 25: week 3

A weird water level this week. In play, I feel the waterholder would be a blast.

Dungeon 25: week 2

We delve deeper into the mega dungeon. This time, entering the realm of the shroom lords!

Dungeon 25

 

Alright, going to give this a go and see how far I can get, I previously have completed a full month of map-a-day, so the goal is to do better than 30 days straight. Will update as time allows.

Brindlegrit Gatehouse [map]

Yes, I occasionally still do draw maps! I threw this map together and decided to color it out and play a little with shadows and highlights. I like to think the little huts are recently added additions by the crew hired by the new king or duke who wants to repair the damaged wall surrounding the gatehouse. Keep those pesky orcs on the other side of the wall!

Below are a couple of variations for those so inclined.

 

Mydwandr Monday update

 

Still working on this, but getting closer. Need to tweak a few things, figure out those shields at the bottom and work on the background area a little more...but very close!

Yep, I do draw maps

I know some of you have started to wonder, but yes, I still do occasionally draw maps. I recently reread Olde House Rules' Mydwander (thanks to my pal James bringing it up in a discussion) and it really got me interested in the game.

Wouldn't you know it, I like pretty things, specifically pretty things I make, so I decided I wanted to redo the setting map. Nothing wrong with OHR's version, I just want to make a big ass, scalable, and detailed map because I want to use it in a solo game using the system. Just started last night but I have converted everything over to vectors and have a basic layout for what I want the final version to look like (for now, likely to change some).

Current state

Check out Mydwander here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/445668/mydwandr