Delving Wolf

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with Black Powder and Brimstone by Benjamin Tobitt , a Borg game full of gunpowder and witchery set in a fantasy version of Renaissance Germany. Reading online I've heard people complain about the editing of the book and some rules inconsistencies, but I'll be using the Italian version to create this character. Without further ado, let's get into it! 1. First of all we roll for our  CLASS AND SUBCLASS . This game has 5 classes with 3 subclasses each, so I'll roll a d5+d3: -Class , d5: 5, Practitioner (a Paladin-style character) - Subclass , d3: 3, Vow of Sustenance, who can prepare abundant meals for themselves and their party members (which give ...

The following is part 12 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! They weren't kidding, in those days Sam had to work harder than he ever did while in the Navy. It felt different, though, because on his previous ship there was a strict hierarchical order and it was difficult to get along with your superiors, while on The Shriek everyone, captain included, was always willing to have a word with him or share a joke...as long as the Rules were followed. The voyage to Havana was mostly uneventful, save for one instance. One morning, shortly after dawn, Brother Bilge, who was on the crow's nest (he was surprisingly agile for his age), told Bones, who was at the helm at that time,  Watch out, there's a field of flotsam ahead of us, turn to port! The rest of the crew immediately wen...

After creating a realm , a faction and a forest for my future Silksong-inspired duet campaign (I talked about how the idea came to be  here ) it is now time to create a dungeon that will be part of said forest.To do this I will once again use the procedure  included in Cairn 2e's Warden's Guide. Let's begin!   We already know our dungeon will be an Abandoned Manor part of the Shrouded Shelter forest, and that somewhere in it is the place where "The Veil between worlds is thin", where the Mirror can be activated (with all its consequences). First of all, let's make a few rolls to learn more about this place! 1. Let's first roll for the  HISTORY  of the Manor: - Original Use , d20: 12, Impenetrable vault - Built by , d20: 2, A fanatical cult This lines up with my original idea: This cult (whoever they are) built the Manor to secure the Veil; the Wizard we talked about during the forest creation might be the leader of the cult, or maybe its main researcher ...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Points of Light by Dayle Grixti , a Borg hack that is even closer than Mork Manual to the B/X origins of Mork Borg, with less doomed world and more classic fantasy; I find this to be a very interesting and inspiring take. Without further ado, let's get into it! 1. First of all we roll for our  ABILITIES , using the traditional 3d6 in order method: - Strength : 14 => +1 - Agility : 13 => +1 - Toughness : 14 => +1 - Presence : 10 => 0 - Intelligence : 8 => -1 Not a bad series of rolls! The game allows us to then swap to if we want, but I think I'll leave mine as they were rolled; 2. Next we pick our  ANCESTRY  and  CLASS . I...

The following is part 11 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! Brother Bilge then turned to Sam and burst into a surprisingly loud laugh for a man his size.  You should see your face, mate! Le me explain: this is something we do every time   someone joins the crew; we bet about their reaction when they first see The Shriek, and the winners get to do only half work on the ship for a week at the expense of the losers. It's fun! You'll try it next time. -When did you even have time to do the bets?  Sam asked, dumbfounded. We were together the whole time! Bilge chuckled.  Oh, most of the crew already did when we were first talking. I added mine while you were talking to White. Sam turned to the robed man: What did you bet? -Oh, I never take part in this activity , replie...

It's time to return to the forest I created using Cairn 2e's Warden's Guide generator a few weeks ago  and continue to expand it, weaving the various results together to make it interesting to play in. Let's continue where we left off. In area 9 ( the hut with legs which is also a thieves' camp ) there's a bandit hideout on top of a platform elevated from the ground by four wooden poles and they always have a lookout, so a direct approach has very little chances of success. Attentive characters, though, will notice that a few of the trees around the hut protrude their branches very close to it, giving them another option. The bandit leader,  Neria  (she/her), is usually in the hut, together with 3/4 more bandits. Let's flesh her out a bit using  Cairn 2e's NPC tables , where I already got her name: - Name , d20: 17, Neria - Quirk , d20: 2, Bald - Background , d20: 14, Mystic - Goal , d20: 18, Survival - Virtue , d20: 5, Disciplined - Vice , d20: 2...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Mork Manual by Rodney Rickrode , a Borg hack that keeps the iconic Mork Borg style but is closer to the classic fantasy of games like B/X, of which it retains the race-as-class. Without further ado, let's get into it! 1. First of all let's roll for our CLASS , d10: 3, Fallen  (basically an Elf), a character who has a bonus on reaction rolls made against creatures you haven't met before and is immune to diseases, poisons and old age (among other things); 2. Next let's determine our ABILITIES , for which this game offers an alternative to the usual Borgs: d4-d4 x4, to be assigned as you wish and then modified by the class (in our ca...

The following is part 10 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! White closed his eyes and muttered what sounded like a prayer before replying  May she rest in peace. Did you have a chance to visit her village before ending up here? -I did, yes , replied Sam.  We went there a couple of days after the attack. I got there just in time to see her body before they burned her and the rest of the victims to make sure they won't come back as undead. White nodded gravely.  It's sad we are forced to do this, but at least it lets our beloved to be free from this world. -...or so they say,  Sam muttered   whille making eye contact with Catherine's dark eyes; he then immediately continued to prevent questions . Anyway, once I got there I asked my captain to help me find those wh...

It's time to return to the forest I created using Cairn 2e's Warden's Guide generator a few weeks ago  and continue to expand it, weaving the various results together to make it interesting to play in. Let's continue where we left off.   In area 2 ( the toxic spores area with watchful dead ), deep within a field of rotten mushrooms is hidden a Mirror, a magical artifact that allows communication with deceased people...at a cost: whoever uses it becomes the new guardian of the Mirror (a wight). Stepping on the mushrooms requires a successful save (STR in Cairn, CON in D&D and the like) to prevent being poisoned for 24 hours; submerging oneself in running water cures the poison [A river should be added in some other part of the forest, to offer a way to get rid of the poison]. The wight will attack anyone that touches the Mirror which, to be used, has to be in a place where "the Veil between worlds is thin" (area 3). The Elves know all this (it's an El...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Dukk Borg  by Gem Room Games, a Ducktales-inspired Borg game. Once I found out about it, I  had  to try it, so...let's begin! 1. First of all, let's roll for our  CLASS , d4: 4,  The Devotee  (a young member of the clan with a passion for adventure...basically the nephews); 2. Next we roll for our  ABILITIES , 3d6 each in order (as usual) adjusted by our class' modifier: - Agility : 12+1=13 => +1 - Presence  8 => -1 (but the DR for all PRES tests is reduced by 2) - Strength  10-2=8 => -1 - Tuffness  12 => 0; 3. Our class gives us a few  EXTRA rolls to make: - Favorite color , d4: 4, Pink; -...

The following is part 9 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! -You're a religious man, then?  Sam asked the robed man.  Despite everything the Dark Caribbean has to offer? -Yes, I am , he replied.  In fact, I am...or rather, I used to be a pastor, back in the Netherlands. -You're not anymore? -Sadly not, but it wasn't my decision. As you've seen earlier, I possess an...unusual connection with the Lord. I am capable of asking him questions and receiving proper answers, even though sometimes they are a bit...cryptic. -Wow, that's incredible! Though not unusual, on this side of the Ocean. -Exactly. Back in my homeland, though, it was almost unheard of, and that led to me losing my position and having to escape to these lands to avoid a...fiery demise. Long story short...

It's time to return to the forest I created using Cairn 2e's Warden's Guide generator 3 weeks ago  and continue to expand it, weaving the various results together to make it interesting to play in. Let's continue where we left off. Area 4 (the hidden village popular with smugglers)  is the den of a weretiger, Scratch, who is the "leader" of a group of smugglers. He's the only one permanently living there, but Scratch's Den  is known amongst smugglers even from far away for being a neutral site for exchanges, where things will go well (because no one in their right mind would try to cheat while in the Den, or they'd immediately pay with their life). Only criminals know about the Den. The bandits are not welcome here (they're too loud and "rude" for Scratch). He doesn't know about the Elves. Hidden in area 5  (the rotting farmhouse with the bound creature) , always guarded by 3 bandits, is a  Pegasus , chained to the floor and with ...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with  Orc Borg  by Grant Howitt, a Borg hack set in a spaceship full of orcs whose dungeons are floating in space and sometimes randomly crash into said spaceship. The concept alone sold me on it! As it has happened other times, I'll be using the Italian version of the game for this character creation, so some table results may vary here and there. Now, without further ado, let's begin! 1. First of all, let's pick our  CLASS : in this game you can only be an Orc or an Orcborg, so I chose to go  Orc Borg  to see more of what the game has to offer; 2. Now it's time to roll our  ABILITIES , which this game allows to assign after rolling (as ...

The following is part 8 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! Ramirez almost growled as she spat on the ground.  Let's bring it back to the ship. Pedro will have a lot of explaining to do. No one dared to reply to that. Sea Whale grabbed the chest with both hands, lifted it as if it weighed nothing and everyone began the walk back following the Captain; Ophelia, whose mind had not returned home yet, had her hand taken by Bilge and started meekly following him. Sam had the feeling this was a recurring task for the old man. During the walk back to the ship the tension was so heavy they were all hunched over, barely speaking to each other. The jungle was still eerily silent, although now it felt more as if it was matching their mood. After a few minutes Ophelia seemed to return from ...

This week I'm here to share some exciting news: as the title says, I made a MÖRK BORG class! Wimpish Trainer is a Pokémon-inspired class, where you stay away from the front line and let your monster fight for you. During character creation you roll a d4 to establish the way you tame monsters (from bones of a mesmer to burn marks on your body, including a Zelda reference) and a d4 to find out your starting monster, which are obviously inspired by the first generation starters. Your monster will not live forever though...it will probably die pretty fast, if you're not careful. What to do next then? Luckily, this class includes a mechanic to tame new monsters (any monster you encounter on your adventures), which becomes easier as the monster's HP decreases. Gotta catch'em...can I even say that? I've been working on this for a while before deciding it was good enough to publish it (in my opinion, at least), and in the meantime I've run into something that comes fro...

It's been a while, but this week I'm returning to Cairn 2e's Warden's Guide, specifically to its  forest generator , to create a a forest to use in the Silksong-inspired 5e Duet campaign I'm preparing for my wife (I'll actually start it, eventually! But for now I'm alternating various different games already). 1. We start by rolling for the  FOREST DESCRIPTION , 2d20: 4,  Dying  and 19,  Sunlit ; 2. Next we need to establish the  SPIRIT OF THE FOREST , 2d20 again: -  Virtue : 5, Cultivating ; -  Vice : 16,  Prideful; 3. Now we need to find out the  FOREST AGENDA , rolling, you guessed it, 2d20: - Goal : 2,  Awakening ; -  Obstacle : 19,  Vulnerability ; 4. The next step is to roll a few d6s on a sheet of paper to generate the  POINTS OF INTEREST (POIs)  of the forest, numbering them and assigning a type to each of them based on the number rolled (each type then has 2 d20 tables to characterize them). Let's see wh...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with MÖRK DÖD by Sunzenaut , a "Brutal Death Metal Chainsaw & Sorcery TTRPG" set in the same Dying Lands as Mork Borg, but with oil, industry and a lot of brutality! The horde rules are one of my favorite things of this game, something I'll probably port into other Borg games. Anyway, without further ado, let's begin! 1. Let's start by rolling our  CLASS , d6: 2,  Bonesaw Surgeon , which gives us  Bonesaw Surgery : Heal d6 HP to yourself or someone else. On a 6 you heal 6 HP, on a 1, the injured limb is amputated dealing d6 damage instead (if the surgery is to repair a vital organ or critical wound, the result of 1 is instant death instea...

The following is part 7 of my solo Pirate Borg campaign. It focuses mainly around the character I created in this post , which was so interesting to me that it prompted me to set up a whole solo campaign . You can start with episode 1 here . Let's dive right in! -Not yet a man covered in tattoos replied without stopping. - Did any of the skeletons turn to ASH?  asked the woman with the eye patch, raising her head to look out of the hole. -I didn't tell you to stop digging said the Captain with a sigh.  We'll take a look around, and if we find any you can have a dose when you find the treasure . - Thank you Captain!  She resumed her digging with renewed vigor, humming a song to give herself and the others the rhythm. Now that he was looking at her more carefully, Sam could notice the signs, sunken eye sockets and darkened lips. That woman was addicted to ASH, the powdered remains of the undead. Sam had seen many people having the time of their life with it, but even more...

A while ago I had an idea for a gambling game to add to my TTRPG games: Dice Roulette. Initially I was thinking of using 3d6 to roll it, but I almost immediately switched to d66 to have 36 possible results. So far I've used it in a Pirate Borg campaign I'm running (because modern roulettes have been around since early 1700s in France, I checked, so it would make sense for pirates in the Dark Caribbean to know them), but there's nothing stopping you from using it in any game, fantasy or not. Anyway, enough with the preamble, let's get to the game!   You're going to take two d6 of different colors, one for the tens and the other for the last digit, and ask the players to place their bets before rolling. There are 3 times of bets that can be placed: 1.  High or Low : guessing which of die color will be higher (winning their bet x 3); 2.  Even or Odd : guessing whether the last digit will be...well, even or odd (winning their bet x 2); 3.  Exact Number : guessing the to...

This week I'll continue my character creation series, continuing the series of Borg-like games characters made for a future project of mine. These will be alternating with other kinds of posts, like my solo campaigns recaps and some gameable content coming from my Duet Pirate Borg home game. This time we're going with a new Pirate Borg character (since the first one I created, Samuel Robert Thomas , is already busy in his own adventure ), but to give it a twist it'll be a character from one of the optional classes, Tall Tale! These can range from a Merfolk (with a fish-like lower half), an Aquatic Mutant ("an abominable union between man and the sea") or a Sentient Animal (which is self-explanatory). Without further ado, let's begin!  1. Let's start with finding our  CLASS , d6: 6,  Sentient Animal , so we have another roll to determine which animal we are, d6: 1,  Foul Fowl : a demonic chicken with the ability of one random relic and one random ritua...