Old Skulling

I am really happy with the reception Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells is getting. It is really a work of love and it’s amazing to see other people sharing this love for the game. But I want to share it even more. I want people to be able to make their own creations for it. So I am releasing a Compatibility License with a cool Logo too. People will be able to create new material for game, be it adventures, zines, settings, optional rules and whatever they feel like it. It’s completely free, obviously, and will be amazing to see what other people can create with this game. I know a couple of authors that are already working on a few things that will be really fun to see when it’s published. So what do you think? Do you want to make the Universe of Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells even more fun? Grab the SB&CS Compatibility License and Logo here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/267646/Solar-Blades--Cosmic-Spells-Compatibility-License If you like what you've just...

Artwork for Dark Streets & Darker Secrets As I am writing the draft text of the revised edition of Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells, I am compiling things from the corebook, the Addendum, updating some rules and adding new tolls and options to make the game provide even more hooks and opportunities for adventures to create themselves. One of these tools is the establishment of Characters's Relationships. However, I made the table in a way that it can be used in pretty much any type of game, as it describe relationships in a way that is somewhat specific but genre neutral. Characters’ Relationships Oftentimes the game will start on the premise that the PCs already know one another in some manner. This is done to speed up game play and get to the adventure as quicklyas possible. After all, everyone is there to have thrilling escapades in a sword and sorcery setting, and relationships actually take a long time to form. Thus, it is usually a good idea for each ch...

I know this is one of the most explored subjects out there and people have already come up with thousands (maybe?) of different ways to generate characters Attributes. But I guess I can't help myself from thinking about new ways to make it more interesting for players while not giving them too much control over it to allow the old surprise of making a character based on the results rolled (dice can be a great source of inspiration I believe). So here is what I am doing right now in my games. Players do the traditional roll 3d6 down the line with just one slight difference. They can reroll 1 die of every roll , but they must keep the second result no matter if it's higher or lower than the original one. This is slightly better for the number than 3d6 but definitly worst than 4d6 dropping the lowest. And, more importantly, it gives players a difficult choice (I love those). Should they risk rerolling a die or not? It's not uncommon to reroll a 1 or 2 and still get the...

A friend of mine is writing a really great game centered around mercenary guilds and how to handle them in an Old School RPG kind of way. His name is Felipe Pep and his game is called Mercenary Guilds of Belmonte (which I am working with him to bring it to the English language). One of the many things I like about his game is how he creates some guild roles for players and let them earn points to be used in the game by them. I know this is not completely new and innovative, but it was put together in such a cool way that I would like to talk about it and create some new stuff with it for my own games. What he has done is clearly defining roles and respective tasks associated with them that players can take and earn what it’s called Legacy Points (which we will discuss its uses in a bit). There are roles that very well can exist within any adventure party or mercenary company. Players who perform these roles in a session earn 1 Legacy Point to spend in any way they desire. The ro...

I know I am not an expert or anything to be giving these sort of “advices”, but this is not really an advice. It’s just that people often ask me what do I use to write and publish my games, either because I post a photo of the text processor, an illustration I am working on, or the process of laying out the book. So I will talk briefly about the tools that I use. Pen and paper - The most obviously. When I think about something, I greab what I have nearby and jot down notes, sketches and what not. I usually have one of those small notebooks with me, or plain paper on the desk I work on to draw and write things. It’s useful not to let that idea run by you and get lost. OneNote/EverNote - I used EverNote and now use OneNote on my phone. Basically this is a app that lets you make notes and organize them into categories. I use it to compile ideas, photos and whatever and then sort them out. I write down research I do on subjects related to my game, artists names to research or try...

Well, I have to make this post. Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells , my star and sorcery, heavy metal science fantasy RPG with an updated version of Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells engine. You can find it on the links below. Standard Cover (DriveThruRPG):   https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/260378/Solar-Blades--Cosmic-Spells Special Cover (DriveThruRPG):   https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/260570/Solar-Blades--Cosmic-Spells-Variant-Cover Special Cover (Lulu):   http://www.lulu.com/shop/diogo-nogueira/solar-blades-cosmic-spells-corebook/hardcover/product-23969148.html For those that are curious about the game but are afraid of spending your hard earned money on it, here   you can find the complete text of the game and the character and vehicle sheets. Go ahead, read it, play it and make your decision later. If you need a quick blur: This is an old school style RPG with modern rules and a post-apocalyptic far future mystic setting where the many gal...