The Gamer Effect's $50 Dollar Giveaway!

The guys over at The Gamer Effect are doing a contest were you could win up to $50 in either Drivethrough RPG or Amazon.com credit! It's super easy to sign up, just click the link and follow the instructions.

Savage World's Tenth Anniversary Sale!

If any of you love Savage World's as much as I do, then you will be happy to hear that the Pinnacle Entertainment Group is doing a sale starting next Monday to celebrate Savage World's Tenth Anniversary!

Burn out

Hey Guys, Zeno the Aegis here. So I have been super burnt out concerning gaming. Part of it stems from stress spilling over from real life, but I have been kinda disappointed with myself. With most games I typically prep a bit the night before; go over my characters abilities, motives, refamiliarize myself with core mechanics, ect. However with specifically with the MES Vampire game, the game is "Always On."

People are constantly chatting In Character back and forth, spit-balling ideas with the Storyteller, and submitting Downtimes. For the first couple of months I fell in love with the concept, but after my character became Prince of the City, I just felt a bunch of responsibility dumped on top of me. I had to learn more about my character's Covenant, about the political workings of a Vampire Domain, even creating the Laws of the Domain (Those will be up here soon *chuckles*).

On top of that, the 3.5 game I regularly play with is slowly coming apart, which sadly enough deserves it's own rant. I guess there really wasn't a specific point for this post, just felt the need to post on something gaming related; while also giving a reason why I haven't been posting lately. But lately I have been feeling re-energized, so regular posts will resume soon!

Minecraft Monday and Other Updates

Sadly we had the move the server yet again. Feed the Beast Ultimate was just too intense for the hardware we were using. This time around we are going to go with Feed the Beast Lite and hope for the best.

In other news, interesting things have been happening in the 3.5 game and with Vampire. Let's just say being a visiting Prince in another Domain certainly puts some pressure on a guy. Full updates coming soon!

Retro: Most Hillarious Time of the Year for White Wolf Fans

And here I am introducing a new Tag I will be using on my posts, "Retro." As I move posts from my previous blog to this one, you may occasionally see the "Retro" tag. This implies the post was time-sensitive when it was originally being written; like White Wolf's latest April Fools Release.

Scion: Extras (Supplemental, Yet can be Somewhat Useful on Occasions, Scions)
Oh gods, I can't believe I forgot about keeping an eye out for White Wolf's newest April Fool's release. In the past, White Wolf has used April Fool's Day to poke fun at their own products while giving their costumers a good laugh. Dudes of Legend ended up spawning the best pick-up game of Vampire I have ever had the joy of playing, leaving all of us at the table crying from laughter. This year, they released Scion: Extras (Supplemental, Yet Can Be Somewhat Useful On Occasions, Scions). Scion is not a World of Darkness product, but if one is familiar with one, it is quick to learn the other.

Now I have a long, and troubled, history with Scion. For the better part of three years, I DM'ed the game off and on, receiving little satisfaction from my players. There were times when the system was unwieldy, and brand new players were easily overwhelmed at character creation. Over and over again, I saw beefcake combat-monkey characters be created, with little imagination put into their character's birthrights, always the same enhanced weapons and armor. Yet it always remained my guilty pleasure, hoping that one day I will discover a group that would embrace the game in new and creative ways. Tonight, I will be taking a look at Scion: Extras, and hopefully, will be getting a laugh while rekindling my love for the system.

Let's Review: Sorcery and Steam Pt 1, Introducing Steam

Earlier, I was diving through my local thrift shop and to my surprise, discovered a d20 module called Sorcery and Steam. It seems to have been released by Fantasy Flight Games, under the Legends and Lairs product line, and details how to plan and play a d20 Steampunk Campaign, using the 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons rules.

Before reading the first chapter, I had thought the book would shed some like on a realm where steampunk had become every day life. Delightfully, this was not the case. Instead, Steam and Sorcery provide the tools needed to add steampunk elements to any game, instead of a singular realm.

Something New

The first scenario provided allows steampunk to slowly bloom into the world. Such advances rarely stay secret for long. Either a curious watch-maker or a blacksmith with a vision creates a new product and demand explodes overnight. The PCs might be exploiting this new technology, or hired by greedy ne'er-do-wells that want to control the market.

Something Hidden

Be it ancient technology, a secretive sect, or a nation's trump card, steam technology has existed for quite some time. There is a treasure-trove of plot hooks provided, from adventurers needed to probe new-found ruins to recover technology from an invading nation.

Something Strange

Steam has existed for a while, it just hasn't been common knowledge to the setting of your campaign. Using this example, those curious merchants from beyond the desert could take center stage for a technological boom in this new region.

Something Mixed

Now easily these themes could be mixed to provide your own twist. Those strange merchants, they may be spies preparing for an impending invasion. The Ne'er-do-wells might be a sect that already knows the secret of steam, and doesn't wish to see the technology spread beyond their control.


I am uncertain if I will ever be able to create a campaign focused on the steampunk aspect, but luckily, it doesn't have be the spotlight of your story. How would you introduce a world-changing concept to your story?

Let's Review: Atheism in D&D

I tend to be a very immersive (is that not a word? It is now) role-player. Playing in a realm where gods or beliefs in greater beings exist, I will adopt a god. Someone suggests a race for me to play, research will be done to make sure I play that race correctly. Sometimes, even going as far as to look up trade routes and expected climate.

With the Derp Group, when we play D&D, most Players align with a god only because of "game mechanics." Then after character creation, pay no attention to their faith. I feel a part of it may belong to today's aversion to "religious talk." Another part is that many people in my gaming circle are atheist, some even going as far as their character claiming no god. When asked of the issue, they try to refute the gods by using modern day logic, reasoning, and sense of independence. The DM never pushes the issue for fear of rocking the boat, and never have the gods make a living presence in the world.

I will take some blame, as the first D&D setting I ran for them was Eberron, a realm were the gods are more distant. Yet even with a different setting,the result is the same. Once again the only reason this grates me is because of a difference in style. In world taking place before the Age of Enlightenment, it simply baffles me, and I view it as poor role-playing.

Have any of you dealt with Players who openly defy the existence of gods in a fantasy setting? How was the issue dealt with, if at all?