Item: Animating Chess Set

Animating Chess Set; ebony & ivory, nice box, 1d30 pieces remain, one use each, roll d20 to determine type, if max/type has been reached, substitute Pawn

d20      Figure              Max #              Stats

1-8       Pawn               16                    Warrior, XPL 1, HP 10, AC 14, aids up to 24hrs

9-11     Rook                4                      Enlarges to permanent two-story stone Tower Keep

12-14   Knight              4                      Knight, XPL 10, AC 17, D BW+1, HP 70, aids 3T

15-17   Bishop             4                      Casts one Spell; Restore, Resurrect, or Regenerate
18-19   Queen             2                      Valkyrie; XPL 15, AC 20, D BW+3, HP 100, aids 1T
 20       King                 2                      Summons any other piece to act on Party behalf

Unrelated Link 

 https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/2089/what-are-the-differences-between-holmes-moldvay-and-mentzer-dd

Updated d100 Potions, now with potential Side Effects

Thought that since they are so prevalent, and possibly subject to alchemical variation and error, Potions should come with potential (one in ten?) Side Effects; slight to major risks that accompany or possibly distort expected results.  Updated table here

New URLs in the Linkdump

New Linkdump:

http://hackslashmaster.blogspot.com/p/trick-trap-index.html
The Thursday Trick & Trap Agency Series index
This series examines original and classic traps discussing how to present the traps while maintaining the agency of the players.

https://billcoffin.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/wormy.pdf
Trampier's Wormy PDF

https://laughingsquid.com/mike-bukowski-drawing-all-of-h-p-lovecrafts-creatures/

https://stefanpoag.com/ 
The Weird Fantasy Art of Stefan Poag

http://zerohitpoints.com/Articles/Advantage-in-DnD-5 
Probability and the new Advantage mechanic 

 Random Unrelated Link: Let me ask you this

 

Foreshadowing PC Doom; a game mechanic for any RPG

The TOKEN of DOOM always rests before one of the Players at the table.  It can be any small object; special die, favorite paperweight, conch shell... it serves two purposes, possibly three:

1. When a die roll must be made on behalf of the Party, rather than an individual PC - Surprise, Party Initiative, maybe an on-the-fly treasure determination, etc - the Player makes the roll, then passes the Token to the next Player (keeps it fair, helps maintain engagement)

2. The "Doom" Part; Whomever holds the Token is also under the Shadow of Doom, for should the next Encounter call for a Party member to be a trap-tripper, attacked first in a combat, or otherwise randomly selected, singled out, possibly ganged-up on (definitely, if number of foes exceeds number in Party!)... They've ALREADY been randomly selected, AND they got to "have a bad feeling about this..." beforehand.  Not that anyone else is safe, just that the Token bearer is under increased threat of extra peril.   Pass it along after doom befalls

3. Next time a Player does something solely and explicitly designed to piss off the DM, he has the option to silently yet meaningfully pass the Token from the current bearer to the offending Player, and make them keep it awhile

Random Link o' the day:  https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44648/the-skeleton-in-armor

psst - Your Shield is Upside Down

Came across an old fave Dave Sutherland graphic on Old School FRP ...but something about that shield always bugged me.  You tell me...?

Am I wrong?

(according to Old School FRP, "no credit for Sutherland by name" in the module that the original drawing had inspired!  For shame!)

And while I'm at it, I suppose this big guy is Surprised, because why else would he be holding his polearm upside down?  Maybe trying to get around some Large vs Small penalty

Unrelated Link: http://jrients.blogspot.com/2019/11/watch-out-for-bucket-bob.html

Detailed Mundane/Slightly Magic Loot (d200)

I like to throw a handful of odd goodies into a treasure trove  :)

cause why not

Unrelated Link o' Day: https://dysonlogos.blog/2011/01/11/labyrinth-lord-uniquely-undead/  

Cool Options for unique/random Undead effects! 

Barrier Peaky Weapons and Tech

what's this lever do?

4d12 Gem Types Tables

the Hellfire of Hellastar

GEM TYPES (d12 each)

Ornamental                                                                 Fancy to Precious

1 Azurite: mottled deep blue                                       Amber: transparent golden

2 Banded Agate: blue, red, and white stripes            Alexandrite: dark green

3 Blue Quartz: transparent pale blue                          Amethyst: purple crystal

4 Hematite: gray-black                                               Aquamarine: pale blue green

5 Lapis Lazuli: dark blue, yellow flecks                      Chrysoberyl: green or yellow green

6 Malachite: striated light and dark green                  Coral: pink to crimson

7 Moss Agate: pink, gray-green moss                       Garnet: deep red to violet crystal

8 Obsidian: jet black                                                   Jade: light to dark green or white

9 Rhodochrosite: shades of pink                                Jet: deep black

10 Tiger Eye Agate: gold brown, dark stripes            Pearl: pure white, rose, to black

11 Turquoise: aqua, darker mottling                          Topaz: golden yellow

12 Gnartian Glowstone, small                                    Glowstone, medium-large or spar

                                                                                   

Semi-Precious                                                            Gems & Jewels

1 Bloodstone: deep red, black mottling                      Diamond: clear, blue, yellow,pink           

2 Carnelian: orange to red-brown                              Ruby: clear to deep crimson red

3 Chalcedony: white                                                   Emerald: brilliant green

4 Citrine: pale yellow                                                  Sapphire: clear to medium blue

5 Jasper: blue, black to brown                                   Black Sapphire: rich black highlights

6 Moonstone: white pale blue hue                             Opal: pale blue/black, gold motes

7 Onyx: black, white, or bands of both                       Fire Opal: fiery red

8 Rock Crystal: clear, transparent                              Jacinth: fiery orange

9 Tourmaline: translucent green                                 Dark Amethyst: deep purple

10 Smoky Quartz: yellow, brown, rose, blue              Fire Topaz: fiery yellow

11 Sard: dull or brick red                                            Moon Opal: misty blue, silver motes*

12 Gnartian Firestones (# 1d6)                                  Moon Sapphire: dark blue, silver highlights*

* Moon Gems glow softly from within, their only source is the moon of Nikto.  Moon Opals always have a base value of 5K, while Moon Sapphires start at 10K