David Michael Williams's Blog: One Million Words (or less), page 3
December 6, 2022
Book Wizard brings the magic to gift giving
People like books. People also tend to be the recipients of seasonal presents. Ergo…
In the spirit of the holidays—or at least the commercialized customs that compel us to exchange commodities—I created a product wizard to match readers with the book of mine they are most likely to enjoy.
(The wizard is certainly not an excuse for me to play around with forked-narrative software that powers interactive fiction.)
So why not take the tool for a spin? For the people!
.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1{border-radius:25px 25px 25px 25px;}Summon the Book Wizard.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post Book Wizard brings the magic to gift giving appeared first on David Michael Williams.
November 22, 2022
We’re off the rails!
Unlike trains, which travel predetermined paths with strict timetables, my first foray into game production has been far from linear.
Nevertheless, my small crew chugs forward—the little publisher that could!
While the talented graphic artist Mary Christopherson and I continue to work on the interior layout of The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd, I remain hopeful that the game will embark before the end of the year.
Yes, I’m eager to reach the destination. Yes, I’m excited about what I’ve seen so far. And yes, I can’t wait to bring the rest of you along for the ride.
Until then, let me dig through my freight (to mangle a metaphor) and tease eager ticketholders with some of the silly insanity that awaits in The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd.
All aboard!
T.H.O.M.A.S. the Tank
Illustration by Gwendolyn Williams
This locomotive golem—officially named The Homeland’s Optimal Military Assault Solution—was built for a single purpose: to derail any rivals attempting to claim the land once engulfed by the Funk.
T.H.O.M.A.S.’s unfriendly face is underscored by a spike-shooting cannon and a battering-ram-like fist at the end of its arm. With maneuvers that include Hobo Buster, Full Steam Ahead, and Loco Motion, this miniboss could well mean the end of the line for the heroes of Good Company!
Learn more about The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd:A first glimpse at The Curse of Er’Mah’GerdNPC sneak peek: River EagleA new look at some old friendsCover reveal: The Curse of Er’Mah’GerdNow it’s a party!Editing is for the birdsTake a tour of the Forbidden FrontierFree creatures & spells for 5EThe Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd Q&A.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post We’re off the rails! appeared first on David Michael Williams.
October 12, 2022
The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd Q&A
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:40% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 4.8%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 4.8%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Is The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd a fantasy novel?
It’s fantasy, but no, it’s not a novel.
The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd is a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG). Instead of reading the story from cover to cover, a gamemaster (GM) uses the book as a guide to lead players down whichever paths they pick.
TTRPGs are a little like the old Choose Your Own Adventure books but with multiple “readers” interacting in real time with one another and other characters that populate the stories. Therefore, The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd is a form of shared storytelling.
The guidebook will be available in hardcover and digital editions.
What exactly is a tabletop roleplaying game?
Simply put, a tabletop roleplaying game—also called a pen-and-paper roleplaying game—is a form of storytelling in which the participants describe their characters’ actions through speech. Whether an attempted action succeeds often depends on the roll of one or more strange-shaped dice. Most TTRPGs include combat.
Some of the more popular fantasy TTRPGs include Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd follows the Fifth Edition ruleset of the former.
Do I have to know how to play Dungeons & Dragons to play The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd?
The person leading the game—the GM—will need to know the basics of Fifth Edition D&D. Players will benefit from knowing the 5E rules as well; however, they can learn as they go if they have a patient GM.
While games that use 5E rules benefit from an open license, the rules themselves do not. Therefore, I can’t include all of the instructions in my game. Fortunately, the basic rules are available for free here: http://media.wizards.com/2016/downloads/DND/SRD-OGL_V5.1.pdf.
I designed The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd to be an entry-level adventure, avoiding some of the more nuanced mechanics and complexities that might confuse novice players.
Why did you decide to create a TTRPG?
After decades of writing short stories, novels, and fiction series, I wanted to try my hand at a different type of narrative: interactive storytelling.
While writing for a video game has long lingered on my bucket list, I don’t yet have the resources and skills to build even a basic game on my own. So that dream has been on hold for a bit.
Meanwhile, I have delved into Dungeons & Dragons as player over the past few years, even writing and running a few homebrew adventures of my own. Writing and publishing a TTRPG for people beyond my immediate family and friend groups seemed like a good way to take my talents to the next level and develop skills—such as technical writing, managing branching narratives, and playtesting—for future projects.
Most importantly, making my own game from scratch sounded like a whole lot of fun—never underestimate the Rule of Cool!
Is this your first tabletop roleplaying game?
The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd is my first published TTRPG.
Prior to that, I wrote and then ran a couple of homebrew games—short adventures designed to be one-shots that inevitably spilled into additional sessions.
The first game was a sequel to a third-party module I had run earlier. I had spent so much time developing the setting and nonplayer characters (NPCs) that it seemed worthwhile to bring the heroes back for another mystery. My second homebrew adventure built on the backstory of one of my own player characters (PCs). The other PCs had to rescue their missing ally. In both cases, I probably spent too much time on the worldbuilding and mapping out myriad story paths for so short an adventure. Live and learn!
I’ve also contributed freelance writing and editing to a few 5E adventures and resources for Goodman Games, a prestigious TTRPG publisher.
What is The Curse of Er’mah’Gerd about?
I like to describe the game as a lighthearted, self-contained adventure for fans of the fantasy genre—especially those who want to have a little fun with fantasy tropes.
The back-cover blurb sheds some light on the story itself:
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
When Good Company ventured into the Funk a year ago to retrieve the fabled Staff of Er’Mah’Gerd, the heroes hoped to bring prosperity to a land long fraught with peril.
But even as the ancient curse seems to fade, three factions fight for control over the region. The feral elves of the Untamed North suffer no trespassers in the former no-man’s land, while the industrious dwarves of the Civilized South seek to expand their borders. Meanwhile, the masked humans of the Disorient keep their movements—and motivations—a mystery for now.
With a threefold war brewing, Sir Larpsalot, Elvish Presley, and the rest of Good Company must return to the Forbidden Frontier to mediate what might prove to be the shortest peace talks in history.
To accommodate a variety of player preferences, three types of challenges are emphasized throughout the game: combat, diplomacy, and puzzle solving. Each of the heroes that make up Good Company is better suited for some of those aspects than others.
What does the title mean?
The Staff of Er’Mah’Gerd was introduced in The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot, a YA fantasy novel I wrote and published in 2020. The name of that magical weapon always got a laugh, so I thought I’d somehow work it into the title to immediately imply the humorous tone of the game.
What’s more intriguing than a strange staff? How about a curse? Only after I decided on The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd for a title did I realize I also was subconsciously riffing on a classic D&D module, Curse of Strahd.
Why did you tie the game to The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot’s characters and setting?
The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot is about a group of teens who dress up as fantasy heroes to act out battles in their fictional realm of Mezzo-Earth. However, the book is a portal fantasy, and the protagonists are ultimately deposited into a different fantasy world.
While the teens adopt their avatar personas throughout the novel, the reader gets only glimpses of Mezzo-Earth. I always felt that was kind of a shame because there were so many more irreverent and punny tropes to exploit!
At the same time, I wanted to create a game that wasn’t overly complex, one that could appeal to gamers of all ages, including teens and other newcomers to TTRPGs. I realized I already had all the ingredients right in front of me. So, perhaps counterintuitively, a novel about live-action roleplaying (LARPing) made for the perfect tabletop roleplaying game.
Do I have to read The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot to enjoy The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd?
No, the novel isn’t required reading.
The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot introduces five of the six playable characters (PCs) available in The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd, and many other details from the novel found their way into the game—including spells like Torchnado and Psychlone as well as magical weapons like Excaliburnt and the Cloak of Shadowbright. So folks who have read The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot will recognize these and will perhaps have a better sense of who the PCs are right off the bat.
However, players are encouraged to give the heroes of Good Company their own personal twists. In short, anyone can enter Mezzo-Earth without any prior knowledge of the setting and characters and still have a good time!
Who is the audience for the game?
I aimed to engage players 13 and older.
Because The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd adheres to the robust Fifth Edition ruleset, I took steps to streamline the adventure in order to accommodate new and/or rusty players, including first-time gamemasters (GMs) and younger players. It may also appeal to longtime TTRPG gamers who want to try something a little irreverent and, at times, silly.
From the outset, my goal was to make a game that was perfect for parents—or aunts or uncles or whatever—who want to introduce D&D to the teens or other adults in their lives.
What is the game “rated”?
As written, The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd would probably earn a PG or PG-13 rating due to violence as well as references to alcohol. Of course, individual GMs can make whatever changes they see fit to make in-game content more or less mature in nature.
How many people can play The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd?
The game can be enjoyed by as few as two people—the GM and a single player—or a GM and up to six players.
What is all included with The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd?
Both the hardcover and digital editions include the following:
1 complete adventure that can be played through multiple times6 pre-generated player characters with unique classes and abilities9 new deities that can be used in nearly any setting13 maps13 optional encounters16 new creature and NPC stats22 unique items30 original spellsWhat makes The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd different from other RPGs?
First and foremost, the game doesn’t take itself too seriously. How could it when you have characters named Elvish Presley and Lord Grimdark?
Secondly, I designed the game to be as self-contained and streamlined as possible so that new GMs and players could rely mostly on the book for guidance, rather than needing a library of additional sourcebooks.
The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd is also very scalable. For example, there aren’t a lot of TTRPGs that allow a GM to run the game for as few as one player or as many as six. There are also more than a dozen optional encounters, which lets the GM adjust the pacing of the adventure and cherry pick what seems most rewarding for that particular group of players.
Finally, the adventure encourages multiple playthroughs, unlike many one-and-done TTRPGs. Subsequent playthroughs allow players to try out different heroes, choose different allies, battle new foes, and experience unexplored encounters.
Who exactly is Lord Grimdark?
Playing TTRPGs with larger groups seems to be the trend lately. I wanted to make my game accessible to as many as six players, but there were only five core members of Good Company in The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot: Sir Larpsalot, Elvish Presley, Brutus the Bullheaded, Master Prospero, and Tom Foolery.
Excited at the prospect of augmenting the team, I came up with a new antihero: Lord Grimdark, an edgelord who serves as a counterpoint to righteous Sir Larpsalot and adds new dynamics (and dysfunction) to the motley band of heroes.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to play as an emo half-elf wielding a sword named Angstbringer?
Can I create my own player characters for the game?
The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd includes six pre-generated heroes. Choosing from these fully formed PCs helps everyone get to the adventure more quickly and ensures balanced gameplay.
The pre-rolled Good Company heroes have skills and equipment specifically designed for this adventure. Frankly, DIY characters will find themselves at a disadvantage, since the Good Company heroes are slightly above average in might for their levels. For these reasons, rolling new characters is not advised.
Having said that, players are encouraged to make cosmetic customizations to the six provided PCs. Go ahead and change their names, genders, backstories. As long as the PCs retain their original races and classes, they will remain a good fit for the game.
What was your biggest challenge while making The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd?
Writing and publishing a novel is a complex process, but it’s a course I’ve learned to navigate well after all this time.
However, writing and publishing a TTRPG is even more complicated, thanks to the need for multiple story paths, a plethora of technical writing opportunities, playtesting, and other game-specific tasks. Even the book’s layout—filled with images and maps, tables, and multi-tiered subsections—required far more time to perfect than the typically single-column, text-dominant pages of a novel and, therefore, necessitated outsourcing to a professional.
Keeping all of those unfamiliar plates spinning while meeting my deadlines proved far more challenging than I had anticipated.
What was the biggest surprise?
How much fun playtesting would be!
Of course, I didn’t think playing my game would be unfun, but watching players develop their characters and interact with my NPCs and, better yet, with one another was a riot. Players will always surprise their GMs—that’s just the way it goes—but I really enjoyed seeing how differently my groups reacted to the same set of circumstances.
What I liked best about playtesting, however, was being able to experience these stories with my audience. Novel writing and reading both tend to be isolating activities. With my other books, I don’t get to peer over a reader’s shoulder and see where they laugh, gasp, or decide to take a break. When GMing my adventure, however, I was able to witness every single reaction—and add to the story in real time when the players inevitably threw me a curveball.
Do you plan to make more tabletop roleplaying games?
I’m not gonna lie: The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd took a lot out of me. Even for a modest-sized campaign, the scalable nature of the game required a lot of time for writing, testing, and tweaking. The game monopolized most of my attention for a year and a half—and that’s not counting the off-and-on-again brainstorming leading up to the project.
And, honestly, I’m eager to write another novel!
At the same time, I’m fortunate to have a few freelance TTRPG projects in the pipeline, including writing a one-shot for Goodman Games’ Fifth Edition Fantasy series. In all likelihood, that won’t see the light of day until later in 2023 or possibly even 2024.
Have you written any other blog posts about The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd?
I sure did, and here they are:
A first glimpse at The Curse of Er’Mah’GerdNPC sneak peek: River EagleA new look at some old friendsCover reveal: The Curse of Er’Mah’GerdNow it’s a party!Editing is for the birdsTake a tour of the Forbidden FrontierFree creatures & spells for 5E.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd Q&A appeared first on David Michael Williams.
September 13, 2022
Free creatures & spells for 5E
This year, Reader Appreciation Day doubles as Player Appreciation Day!
To say thank you to the readers who have enjoyed my sword-and-sorcery fantasy novels and to promote my upcoming tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG), I’m sharing some exclusive content from the campaign.
So whether you’re a fan of The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot, someone eager for a sneak peek at The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd, or simply a connoisseur of “the world’s first fantasy roleplaying game,” I humbly submit the stats for a couple of unique creatures and four new spells you can insert into your next 5E encounter:
Creatures
Illustration by Wyatt Knoll (aka The General)
BedlambEasily mistaken for an ordinary lamb, the Funk has rendered this carnivorous creature the proverbial black sheep of its kind. When attacking, it glares with its red eyes and bares its unnaturally sharp teeth.
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Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 33 (6d6 + 12)
Speed: 30 feet
STR 12 (+1) DEX 12 (+1) CON 14 (+2) INT 2 (-4) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 5 (-3)
Senses: passive Perception 10
Languages: —
Challenge: 1/4 (50 XP)
Pack Tactics: The bedlamb has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the bedlamb’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Sure-Footed: The bedlamb has advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws made against effects that would knock it prone.
ACTIONS
Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 feet, one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage.
Lullableat: The bedlamb targets a creature that can hear within 20 feet with its hypnotic cry. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw, or it falls asleep. The creature can be shaken awake with an action. It also awakens if it takes damage.
REACTIONS
Opportunity Attack: When a creature the bedlamb can see within 5 feet of it moves out of its reach, the bedlamb makes a melee attack against it.
Nerf HerderHuman shepherds corrupted by the Funk sometimes transform into nerf herders. Whether dressed in the billowing robe of desert-dwelling sheepherders or the common tunic of woodland peasants—and regardless of its age or gender—the malevolent nerf herder is always scruffy.
#accordion-2999-2 .fusion-panel:hover{ border-color: #f4c204 } #accordion-2999-2 .fusion-panel { border-color:#f4c204; }.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box{ color: #ffffff;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box:before{ font-size: 13px; width: 13px;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-title a{font-size:18px;line-height:1.2;color:#1b98e0;font-family:"Spectral SC";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .toggle-content{font-size:18px;color:#25404d;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #333333;border-color: #333333;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover, #accordion-2999-2 .fusion-toggle-boxed-mode:hover .panel-title a { color: #65bc7b;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-title .active .fa-fusion-box,.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #65bc7b!important;border-color: #65bc7b!important;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-7737cdb92053f3fd8 .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-2 .panel-7737cdb92053f3fd8 .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}NERF HERDERMedium humanoid (human), neutral evil
Armor Class: 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points: 78 (12d8 + 24)
Speed: 30 feet
STR 12 (+1) DEX 14 (+2) CON 15 (+2) INT 12 (+1) WIS 17 (+3) CHA 12 (+1)
Senses: passive Perception 14
Languages: Common
Challenge: 1 (200 XP)
Special Equipment: boots of dwarven tread (ignore all difficult terrain)
Innate Spellcasting: The nerf herder’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:
At will: mild hallucination, phlegm flam, roast3/day: bamfACTIONS
Crooked Crook: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 feet, one target. Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or have its AC reduced by 1 for the next 1 minute. Subsequent hits have a cumulative effect on the target’s armor class.
REACTIONS
Opportunity Attack: When a creature the nerf herder can see within 5 feet of it moves out of its reach, the nerf herder makes a melee attack against it.
Woolen Fortitude: When a bedlamb that the nerf herder can see is reduced to 0 hit points, the nerf herder extends a hand and wills the creature to live. If the nerf herder succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom check, the bedlamb is instead reduced to 1 hit point.
Spells
Illustration by Wyatt Knoll (aka The General)
#accordion-2999-3 .fusion-panel:hover{ border-color: #f4c204 } #accordion-2999-3 .fusion-panel { border-color:#f4c204; }.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box{ color: #ffffff;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box:before{ font-size: 13px; width: 13px;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-title a{font-size:18px;line-height:1.2;color:#1b98e0;font-family:"Spectral SC";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .toggle-content{font-size:18px;color:#25404d;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #333333;border-color: #333333;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover, #accordion-2999-3 .fusion-toggle-boxed-mode:hover .panel-title a { color: #65bc7b;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-title .active .fa-fusion-box,.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #65bc7b!important;border-color: #65bc7b!important;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-4c063902179178a1b .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-4c063902179178a1b .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}BAMFBamf1st-level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous
A cloud of dark blue smoke engulfs you, and you teleport up to 25 feet to an unoccupied space that you can see.
When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the distance increases by 10 feet for each slot level above 1st. For example, if a 2nd-level spell slot is used, you teleport up to 35 feet.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-c7bcef94ab54898c9 .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-c7bcef94ab54898c9 .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}MILD HALLUCINATIONMild HallucinationIllusion cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S
Duration: 1 minute
You create a phantom smell, disembodied sound, or simple image of an object (only one of the three) within range for up to 1 minute.
If a creature uses its action to examine the hallucination, the creature can determine that it is fake with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. On a failure, the creature suffers 1 point of psychic damage. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, it vanishes. The hallucination also ends if you dismiss it as an action or cast this spell again.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-ed9c78c1294618bae .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-ed9c78c1294618bae .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}PHLEGM FLAMPhlegm FlamConjuration cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You lob a blob of putrid green slime at a creature you can see within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 acid damage.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-f15345d9c217e11f2 .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2999-3 .panel-f15345d9c217e11f2 .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}ROASTRoastEnchantment cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous
You unleash a barrage of scathing insults saturated with fire magic at a creature you can see within range. If the target can hear you (though it need not understand you), it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or take 1d4 fire damage and have disadvantage on its next attack roll.
The Curse of ER’Mah’Gerd.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}In case it isn’t clear from the content above, The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd is a playful, pun-filled adventure. This scalable 5E campaign is designed for newcomers to tabletop gaming as well as established players who might appreciate a lighthearted and, at times, irreverent approach to questing.
Learn More
A first glimpse at The Curse of Er’Mah’GerdNPC sneak peek: River EagleA new look at some old friendsCover reveal: The Curse of Er’Mah’GerdNow it’s a party!Editing is for the birdsTake a tour of the Forbidden Frontier.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post Free creatures & spells for 5E appeared first on David Michael Williams.
August 12, 2022
Let the games…continue?
Once upon a time, I wrote novels.
These days…?
Aside from some brainstorming for the sequel to Magic’s Daughter, I haven’t worked on traditional, book-bound fiction since June 2021, when I wrote a short story for a pending dreampunk anthology.
Ghost Mode & Other Strange Stories, my collection of short fiction, came out the month before that. As far as an actual novel goes, that would be The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot—which was published way back in October 2020.
For a writer who always gravitated toward long-form fiction, this novel-free span has been a breath of fresh air but also bizarre. After all, I still have many ideas for wonderfully weird books bouncing around my mind.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not having a blast playing around with other storytelling formats!
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}One Million WordsA year ago, I announced my first foray into producing a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG).
I hoped it would take about a year to complete—a failed reality check, considering The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd won’t see the light of day for a few more months yet.
The progress addict in me has made peace with the delay, and I’m pleased to report the game is in good hands.
My layout designer, proofers, and illustrators will ensure that when my TTRPG drops, it’ll have the polish it deserves.
Of course, I still have plenty of marketing tasks ahead of me, including several more blog posts to build excitement for the late 2022 launch.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Goodman GamesBesides game writing for my own company, January 2021 saw the addition of a new role for me: freelancer.
Over the past 20 months, I’ve edited and proofed the text for seven TTRPGs and game-adjacent publications for the illustrious Goodman Games. The first of these, Denizens of the Reed Maze, was released a little while ago. (You can buy it here.)
I’m also proud to report that my pitches to write a Fifth Edition Fantasy of my own were well received, and I’ll be penning a one-shot for 2023 later this year—
—you know…when I thought I’d be starting my next novel.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}(To Be Revealed)Another freelancing opportunity recently came to my attention, one that ties into my creative bucket list: writing for a video game.
After spending so much time working on interactive fiction for TTRPGs, the jump from paper to screens has stretched me in fun new ways. I’m not allowed to go into details—yet—but what I can say is that I’m contributing a handful of quests for an upcoming sci-fi RPG.
It’s an exciting project, and more opportunities seem likely from this up-and-coming indie studio. I’ll share more about it when the timing is appropriate.
In the meantime, I’m content to press the pause button on novel writing—at least for now.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post Let the games…continue? appeared first on David Michael Williams.
July 12, 2022
Take a tour of the Forbidden Frontier
Are you ready to travel into unexplored territory?
Prior blog posts about my upcoming tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) spotlighted a possible ally or enemy, the playable heroes, and the very gods themselves. Today, I’m delighted to unveil a few of the locations that comprise The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd.
Come take a closer look at the setting of my game:
Welcome to Mezzo-EarthAlthough Mezzo-Earth might resemble a few other places you’ve visited in books, on screens, or in games, it is distinct from all others in that it unabashedly embraces the tropes and archetypes strewn throughout the fantasy genre. Moreover, it exploits them.
Part homage and part parody, Mezzo-Earth is a setting rife with re-engineered cliches, meta commentary, and plenty of eye-rolling puns. It’s a wonderful place for gamers who want a playful adventure sprinkled with humor.
Mezzo-Earth is pretty big. Fortunately, The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd is set in a self-contained area—specifically a cursed region called the Funk and the lands bordering it.
The Forbidden FrontierThe Forbidden Frontier is a colloquial name given to the fringes of several countries, especially the hinterlands of the eastern human kingdoms. Prior to the appearance of the Funk, these frontier lands stretched for miles and miles. Explorers, prospectors, and homesteaders ventured far from the established humans realms. However, after the Funk swallowed these fledgling settlements, only the bravest dared to venture into the accursed region.
FarwayHuman VillageFew people actually call Farway home. Most folks encountered in Farway are merely passing through, and the rest are shrewd merchants, desperate exiles looking for protection in a harsh land, criminals, or all of the above.
The Untamed NorthElven NationFrom the outside, the Untamed North is just a wide swath of uncultivated prairies and forests. Uninvited visitors to the Untamed North are invariably greeted by a band of feral elves, whose sharp words and sharper spears encourage travelers to turn back.
The Civilized SouthDwarven EmpireThose who travel to the Civilized South are welcomed with open arms and open purses— commerce is the lifeblood of an empire, after all!—but those who break the law face costly penalties. The Civilized South is renowned for its clockwork contraptions.
The DisorientHuman NationDue to their staunch isolationism, very little is known about this region of the Far West, including the “Masked Ones” who live there. Unfortunately, war may be the only way the rest of the world will ever learn anything about the Disorient.
The Funk???Although this cursed land seems to be slowly receding, emboldening many to lay claim to the territory, plenty of danger still lurks within the gray-violet fog. Since those dangers are at the heart of The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd, the specifics must remain a secret—for now.
Suffice it to say, players have more than a few surprises in store, including a particularly foul creature that lurks at the center of the Funk—a Big Bad that heroes worldwide will be able to battle before the end of the year!
Dig deeper into The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post Take a tour of the Forbidden Frontier appeared first on David Michael Williams.
June 7, 2022
Editing is for the birds
This is a larakeet. Read on to find out why this picture (and headline pun) exists.
Don’t let the headline fool you. I actually enjoy editing.
But sometimes this stage of refinement seems more like an obstacle to progress than actual advancement. At least, that is how I’ve been feeling lately about The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd, which I had hoped to release this month.
Instead, I’m greaves-deep in creating the third draft of my first tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG), implementing substantial edits that include:
Reverting all player characters’ levels back to 1 (instead of starting at 3)Rebalancing enemies’ and allies’ statsFurther streamlining combatRedoubling my attempts to make this a game suitable for first-time gamersSteering into the weirdWhile there isn’t a magical—or even mathematical—formula for editing, there are a few commonalities between revising drafts of traditional fiction (like short stories and novels) and interactive fiction (like TTRPGs): you add what’s missing, multiply what’s working well, and subtract what doesn’t need to be there.
That last part can be a considerable problem for us writers. We want the world to know all of our (allegedly) wonderful ideas. Even though authors should know more about our subjects, stories, and characters than the reader ever needs to, the temptation to include as much as we can is strong—often to the detriment of pacing and clarity.
One such example is the content that follows. I had wanted to give gamemasters (GMs) a peek at the prime pantheon that governs Mezzo-Earth, the fantasy setting of The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd. Well, it ended up being more like a ponderous plunge than a passing glimpse.
So rather than bog down my game with more background before the adventure or another appendix at the end, I have elected to extract the descriptions of these nine gods from my book and include them as “bonus content” here in my blog.
Because in addition to enjoying editing, I’m also a big fan of repurposing!
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The Gods of Good#accordion-2979-1 .fusion-panel:hover{ border-color: #f4c204 } #accordion-2979-1 .fusion-panel { border-color:#f4c204; }.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box{ color: #ffffff;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box:before{ font-size: 13px; width: 13px;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-title a{font-size:18px;line-height:1.2;color:#1b98e0;font-family:"Spectral SC";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .toggle-content{font-size:18px;color:#25404d;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #333333;border-color: #333333;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover, #accordion-2979-1 .fusion-toggle-boxed-mode:hover .panel-title a { color: #65bc7b;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-title .active .fa-fusion-box,.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #65bc7b!important;border-color: #65bc7b!important;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-3a5a88e739c3bc40c .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-3a5a88e739c3bc40c .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}GallantGallantLawful GoodAlso called the Patron of All Paragons, Gallant serves as exemplar for mortals who wish to become the best versions of themselves. While this may sound like a selfish approach to life, Gallant’s followers believe that putting others’ needs before their own is both a prize and a penance for any pride they may be harboring. And woe to anyone whose ambition takes advantage of those weaker than themselves!
Many humans and members of a few other races revere Gallant as a powerful force of good in the world, making donations and offerings to his churches while trying to live up to his lofty standards. The most devout followers become priests who care for the needy in the community, judges who impose justice tempered with mercy, and paragons who use Gallant’s divine gifts to fight evil.
When Gallant walks among mortals, he adopts the form of a knight clad in golden armor with a modest-looking longsword dubbed the Bane of Iniquity. His countenance is always covered by a visor not only to shield onlookers from the god’s radiant glory, but also to demonstrate the humility he encourages in his worshipers.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-da7b78c3025a86a56 .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-da7b78c3025a86a56 .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}MaestroMaestroNeutral GoodMaestro ranks among the oldest in Mezzo-Earth’s pantheon, though his secrets have endured for many millennia. One might infer a playful irony in this, since among Maestro’s many aliases is Truthteller. Because this deity champions the pursuit of knowledge, he is wont to weave factual details in superficial songs, ambiguous poetry, and outright riddles. Supporter of the arts and scholarship, Maestro is sometimes called Heaven’s Bard or the Conductor of Creation.
No single race claims Maestro as its own. Rather, artists and academics from across Mezzo-Earth pay homage to this elusive god. A painter who reveres Maestro might plant hidden symbols in his masterpiece, while a nomadic collector of knowledge may share what she gleaned on her travels with everyone she encounters. Some institutes of learning or the arts pledge their efforts to Maestro, but no true churches for this enigmatic god exist. Strangely, Maestro is the only god ever referenced the ancestor-worshiping elves’ ceremony and tradition, though his inclusion is more of an aloof acknowledgement than true veneration.
Maestro rarely visits Mezzo-Earth, and when he does, he seldom reveals his divine nature to mortals. However, those who claim to have been visited by Maestro say the god takes the form of a silver-haired traveler wearing colorful, if road-worn, garb and carrying a beautifully carved lute. His invariable elvish appearance may lend credence to the rumor that Maestro’s music created not only Mezzo-Earth, but also its first people.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-8ea971f666d6dbede .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-1 .panel-8ea971f666d6dbede .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}Lady LarakeetLady LarakeetChaotic GoodThe essence of Lady Larakeet can be captured by a single word: flighty. Whereas the whims of other capricious deities can lead mortals to lamentation, Lady Larakeet’s larks always bring about good fortune for those whose paths she crosses—albeit unintentionally at times. Sometimes called the Good Luck Goddess, Lady Larakeet is often thanked when an unexpected windfall or other surprising gift of providence befalls a mortal.
Followers of the goddess commit random acts of kindness, never taking credit for their mischievous good deeds. Benevolent practical jokers of any race tend to flock to Lady Larakeet, and at least one church has been founded for the Feathered Benefactor of Good Fortune, though its tenants are as ever-shifting as the clouds above. Wishing wells are often dedicated to Lady Larakeet and painted in bright blues, greens, oranges, and reds.
When Lady Larakeet strolls through Mezzo-Earth, she takes on a wide variety of guises. Depending on her mood, she might appear as a wealthy noblewoman in a showy gown or a dirty pauper who doubles any donation bequeathed to the would-be beggar. Some (especially folks who spend a lot of time in their cups) claim to have seen Lady Larakeet adopt a half-humanoid, half-avian form—a rainbow-hued angel flying wherever the winds take her.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-2{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The Gods of Neutrality#accordion-2979-2 .fusion-panel:hover{ border-color: #f4c204 } #accordion-2979-2 .fusion-panel { border-color:#f4c204; }.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box{ color: #ffffff;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box:before{ font-size: 13px; width: 13px;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-title a{font-size:18px;line-height:1.2;color:#1b98e0;font-family:"Spectral SC";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .toggle-content{font-size:18px;color:#25404d;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #333333;border-color: #333333;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover, #accordion-2979-2 .fusion-toggle-boxed-mode:hover .panel-title a { color: #65bc7b;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-title .active .fa-fusion-box,.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #65bc7b!important;border-color: #65bc7b!important;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-23578347bacb05efa .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-23578347bacb05efa .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}BureaucratesBureaucratesLawful Neutral“Rules were made to be brokered” is an adage commonly attributed to Bureaucrates, whose obsession with fairness and predictability has earned him the alias Rules Lawyer. The god believes everything has its purpose and that cause and effect should be as consistent as clockwork. As such, he has inspired his followers to pen copious tomes detailing nuanced edicts, statutes, and decrees for how mortals should live their lives—from judiciary systems to commerce to cooking.
Bureaucrates’ devotees follow the god’s proclamations to the letter of the law. Zealots who prize order above all else are attracted to the many administrative positions Bureaucrates’ systems promote. From civil leadership to banks to courts to colleges—whatever the sector, worshipers of Bureacrates bring with them rubber stamps, red tape, and an unwavering belief in stability. While some might view their strict adherence to rules as needlessly restrictive, Bureaucrates teaches that such laws are required for peace, prosperity, and progress.
Dwarves revere Bureacrates above all other deities, and so when the god holds court among mortals, he almost always takes the form of a stoic dwarf wearing impeccably tailored clothes. He is never without a hammer, which can be used as a gavel, a smith’s tool, a mallet, or a sledgehammer, depending on what the situation requires.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-935c23cf4094b318b .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-935c23cf4094b318b .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}Caht-TelCaht-TelTrue NeutralAlthough many minotaurs revere Caht-Tel as the Goddess of the Stampede, there are many more facets to this deity than the embodiment of a chieftain driving her warriors forward. For example, humans sometimes call her the Wellspring of Will, while the dwarves—who typically value community over individuality—paint Caht-Tel as the Shortcut Queen, Bureaucrates’ unpredictable consort. However, one thing all of her incarnations have in common is this: Caht-Tel is a fierce proponent of free will who stomps out oppression wherever it is found.
Caht-Tel is more likely to have champions than priests. Those who follow her most devoutly earn her favor by rising above those around them and distinguishing themselves as the best in their arena, whether that happens to be a farm, a forge, or an actual arena. Human communities that were settled by one of Caht-Tel’s champions erect statues of the goddess, and small sects of dwarves worship her above Bureaucrates, but she is best loved by minotaurs, whose war cries venerate her name.
It is believed by every clan that Caht-Tel is the mother of all minotaurs and, therefore, her natural form is that of a white-furred minotaur with red eyes and massive horns. Warriors claim to see their goddess charging into battle beside them, her monstrously large battleaxe, Castrator, in hand. Those who are bold enough to challenge the minotaurs’ assertions claim Caht-Tel is wont to take the form of any race, though she is always albino.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-53da6e1f458093e42 .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-2 .panel-53da6e1f458093e42 .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}QuinleharQuinleharChaotic NeutralSome say the only constant is change. Quinlehar embodies that notion, sweeping through the lives of mortals like a whirlwind, leaving confusion and, often, collateral damage in her wake. Though she is best known as the Divine Fool—a capricious goddess who toys with mortals for a laugh—Quinlehar cares as much about flux as she does fun. Because she abhors stagnation and boredom, she routinely disrupts the status quo, to the delight of some and the detriment of others.
Quinlehar lends her power to a motley fellowship, from acrobats and other performing artists to thieves and assassins to the overlooked or downtrodden people in a community. Indeed, she is sometimes called the Mad Matron, a title that is certainly subject to interpretation. Statues of the Jester Goddess grace communities of all races, not as a tribute, but for protection against the mischievous deity’s unpredictable antics. At least one network of spies calls Quinlehar their sovereign, and the Hallowed Disorder’s only goal is to remain apolitical by sabotaging all vestiges of governance.
According to myth, Quinlehar delights in confounding mortals by never taking the same form twice, but she is often depicted as a nimble jester clad in black-and-white fabric of every pattern imaginable, haphazardly stitched together. Her presence is heralded by the jingling of unseen bells or a disembodied chuckle.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-3{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The Gods of Evil#accordion-2979-3 .fusion-panel:hover{ border-color: #f4c204 } #accordion-2979-3 .fusion-panel { border-color:#f4c204; }.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box{ color: #ffffff;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box:before{ font-size: 13px; width: 13px;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-title a{font-size:18px;line-height:1.2;color:#1b98e0;font-family:"Spectral SC";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .toggle-content{font-size:18px;color:#25404d;font-family:"Source Sans Pro";font-weight:regular;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #333333;border-color: #333333;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover, #accordion-2979-3 .fusion-toggle-boxed-mode:hover .panel-title a { color: #65bc7b;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-title .active .fa-fusion-box,.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-title a:not(.active):hover .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #65bc7b!important;border-color: #65bc7b!important;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-d2f26f243826bd5e9 .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-d2f26f243826bd5e9 .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}Gha’alGha’alLawful EvilWhile it would be easy to say Gha’al is Gallant’s opposite in every way, such a declaration would be a gross oversimplification. In fact, some sages have argued that Gha’al and Gallant were once the same deity, a god whose internal struggles split him in twain. Other myths posit that the two gods are twins. Regardless, Gha’al’s tenants feature one major difference from Gallant’s: whereas the Patron of All Paragons puts others before himself, Gha’al preaches that power breeds entitlement. Simply put, might makes right!
Warlords of all races and cultures pledge fealty to Gha’al, whom they call the Conquering King. Rulers who oppress or otherwise exploit their people may be followers of Gha’al’s crooked path, and more than a few minotaur clans have forsaken Caht-Tel for Gha’al’s hotblooded embrace. However, small-thinking highwaymen or a murderer who kills for pleasure or personal profit has no place in Gha’al’s kingdom. For Gha’al’s elite, conquest is more than taking what others possess. No, the mighty subjugate the weak for the commoners’ own good.
When Gha’al deigns to grace mortals with his presence, he adopts the form of a severely handsome warlord adorned with the bones—and sometimes drenched in the blood—of his enemies. In battle, he is said to wield a spear called True Glory and a mace named Temperer. Others claim that Gha’al’s avatar is always an elf as an insult to Maestro and his alleged children.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-8094925a7269684bf .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-8094925a7269684bf .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}ScoundrelleScoundrelleNeutral EvilWhen misfortune assails mortals, Scoundrelle is often blamed—and rightly so! Also known as the Wretched Wench and the Covetess, Scoundrelle delights in the suffering of others. Because she believes the other gods have wronged her by forcing her to share the pantheon with them, she will do whatever it takes to give anyone responsible for a perceived slight their comeuppance, and the punishment almost never suits the crime. Her cruelty is eclipsed only by her subtlety.
Few people of any race openly worship Soundrelle, and those who privately do so pay a high price for the power she grants because the Covetess gives with one hand but always takes a little more with the other. Her typical supplicants are individuals who are willing to sell their soul for a quick win, especially for vengeance. While the goddess’s methods can be vicious and startling, those who revere her come to appreciate the patience required for a gradual poisoning or incremental sabotage against a foe.
Above all the other gods of Mezzo-Earth, Scoundrelle readily appears before her followers, showing off her alluring form, such as a wickedly beautiful elf maiden, a battle-scarred minotaur chieftainess, or a voluptuous dwarf maid with fiery sideburns. Whatever avatar she chooses, Scoundrelle is never without her hoard of jewelry, which all harbor some sinister means of doing harm.
.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-f5f83e9dd32744ea4 .panel-title a{color:#1b98e0;}.fusion-accordian #accordion-2979-3 .panel-f5f83e9dd32744ea4 .toggle-content{color:#25404d;}DisastrexDisastrexChaotic EvilOf all the gods in the pantheon, Disastrex is the least understood and the least liked. Seemingly, no mortal can understand the dark and twisted desires of this deity, and even the other evil gods give Disastrex a wide berth. Perhaps Disastrex can be described as the absence of all beauty, kindness, artistic expression, or reason. While it would be convenient to call Disastrex a nihilistic deity, history has shown that Disastrex wants more than absolute destruction. Instead, the Devouring One wants to replace all that is with itself.
Common belief is that no sane person would willingly follow Disastrex and that any cultists who crop up were tricked into service. Alas, individuals who suffer from mental afflictions have a higher likelihood of falling prey to Disastrex’s inscrutable schemes. Although most scholars speculate that a society devoted to Disastrex is a paradox, others suspect that the humans of the Disorient have made a covenant with the Devouring One.
No one who has ever come face to face with Disastrex has told of the horrors they saw. Never adopting any particular race or gender, most depictions of Disastrex show the god as a mass of roiling storm clouds, a sprawling shadow comprised of grasping hands and jaws, or a fleshy amalgamation of all creatures as a mockery of natural life.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-4{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}If you want to learn more about The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd, check out these earlier blog posts, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss the delayed-but-destined release of my first game!
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-5{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post Editing is for the birds appeared first on David Michael Williams.
May 10, 2022
Now it’s a party!
When it comes to adventuring companions, the more, the merrier!
Fortunately, my upcoming tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) features a sextet of heroes to choose from. In addition to Sir Larpsalot, Elvish Presley, and Brutus the Bullheaded, I am thrilled to reveal the remaining members of Good Company.
The final three playable characters from The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd are as follows:
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.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Master ProsperoHuman MagusQuests come and go, but Master Prospero has his eye on the most valuable prize of all: knowledge. He travels with Good Company because their adventures take them far and wide—and the party did help him claim the coveted Staff of Er’Mah’Gerd. Besides, it never hurts to have someone to watch one’s back.
Master Prospero knows good intentions are not good enough. Intelligence in the form of an actionable plan trumps Sir Larpsalot’s chivalry and Brutus’s savagery. He still can’t figure out why they keep Tom Foolery around but concedes that Elvish Presley, at least, will listen to reason.
Working from the safety of the shadows, this magus always keeps a spell in reserve, just in case. If only the other members of Good Company would acknowledge how many times he’s saved their lives…
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Tom FooleryDwarf ClerogueSome fight for justice; others, for glory. But Tom Foolery would rather avoid a battle altogether if he can help it because there’s nothing fun about dying! Of course, there are plenty of other ways to keep adventures interesting—such as pranks.
As Good Company’s cleric-rogue hybrid, Tom Foolery taps into the trickster goddesses’ powers to sneak up on enemies (if he has to), successfully disarm traps (if he’s lucky), and claim the best loot for himself (always). Let Sir Larpsalot, Brutus the Bullheaded, and Master Prospero play by the rules. Elvish Presley, at least, can appreciate the importance of fun. With Quinlehar’s blessing, this clerogue isn’t afraid to color outside the lines.
Tom Foolery is always full of surprises, so foes—and friends—beware!
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-2{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Lord GrimdarkHalf-Elf EdgelordThe unwanted son of a dishonored Knight of the Coffee Table, Damien Grimdark was sold to More-Dread by his elvish witch of a mother. Mistreated but quick to learn from his mistakes, the broody youth ultimately betrayed More-Dread and fled to lead a nomadic life, where the only law he follows is his own.
For years, the self-titled Lord Grimdark wandered Mezzo-Earth, dispatching all manner of warriors who wished to collect the price on his head and earning a name as an antihero of no small skill for taking on longshots and lost causes.
During his travels and travails, he ran afoul of Good Company, coming to blows with his instant nemesis, Sir Larpsalot, but then a greater threat manifested, and he lent his evil sword and spells to their cause. He occasionally accompanies Good Company on quests, though his motivations are ever his own—and sometimes extend no further than infuriating a certain paragon.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-3{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}My personal challenge to publish The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd by the end of the year may be daunting, but I’m both eager and excited to create a quest worthy of these quirky champions!
Illustrations by The General
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-4{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post Now it’s a party! appeared first on David Michael Williams.
April 18, 2022
Cover reveal: The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:25% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 7.68%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 7.68%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The indominable Mary Christopherson has done it again!
It is my pleasure to share the cover design for my upcoming tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG), The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd.
Inspired by The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot—the source material for the game—the cover for The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd reverses the color scheme of the novel while paying homage to its predecessor’s overall composition.
Honestly, I love it, and I can’t wait to see it on the shelf beside all my other books.
About that, though…
Project UpdateWhen pondering a plethora of possibilities for 2022, my hope was to release The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd in June and then fill the third and fourth quarters of the year working on my next project (whatever that will be). Sadly, that summer deadline must be delayed for two major reasons:
1. More Games!Over the past couple of months, I have been busy freelancing for another TTRPG publisher, proofing a standalone adventure as well as four chapters of a campaign for an excess of 100,000 words—the equivalent of a novel!
I will complete these jobs up at the end of April, at which point I can turn my attention back to The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd. But I seriously doubt I’ll be able to whip my TTRPG into shape in a mere month.
Especially since my next steps are somewhat muddles…
2. Analysis ParalysisFollowing internal playtesting, external playtesting, and other miscellaneous feedback, I am left with a long list of questions, concerns, and other considerations that could impact fundamental aspects of the game.
To be fair, I tend to experience a bout of panic (or outright despair) in between drafts, convincing myself that I will have to completely rework a project before it is fit for publication. The reality tends to be far less severe, but since I haven’t had a chance to wrap my mind around the matter these past few months, I can’t yet say how long it will take me to reimagine, rearrange, and otherwise repair the game.
All I can say is, God willing, this work in progress will see the light of day before year’s end!
The silver lining is that even while I press the pause button on The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd, the project still moves forward in small ways, including additional character illustrations, which I hope to share next month.
As much as I define myself as a progress junky, I won’t rush this. I want to be proud of every works that bear my name. If that means taking some extra time for quality control, so be it!
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-2{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post Cover reveal: The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd appeared first on David Michael Williams.
March 7, 2022
A new look at some old friends
It’s an author’s job to bring characters to life with words.
Of course, the occasional illustration can’t hurt!
The heroes of Good Company made their debut in my novel The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot. Now I’m thrilled to share some new illustrations from my upcoming tabletop roleplaying game.
Here are the first three (of six) playable characters from The Curse of Er’Mah’Gerd:
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:66.6666666667% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 2.88%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 2.88%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Sir LarpsalotHuman ParagonAs the leader of Good Company, Sir Larpsalot du Lac has a clear mission: to protect his companions while serving as a champion of justice to the realm. While he has only recently freed his homeland, the Kingdom of Llamalot, from More-Dread’s stranglehold, he knows there are plenty of other wrongs that must be righted.
Serving Gallant, the patron god of all paragons, Sir Larpsalot prefers a straightforward approach to confronting foes as opposed to subterfuge, which sometimes puts him at odds with shrewd Master Prospero and sly Tom Foolery. Unlike Brutus the Bullheaded, whose instinct is to fight to the death, Sir Larpsalot yields when an adversary cries for mercy.
With his enchanted sword Excaliburnt in hand and his fast friend Elvish Presley at his side, he faces all manner of peril with dignity and honor.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:33.3333333333% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 5.76%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 5.76%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Elvish PresleyElf MinstrelSome call him the Minstrel King because of his noble birth, but Elvish Presley is content to let Sir Larpsalot lead, offering sage advice as needed. Clad in a blue-suede cloak and carrying the party’s Bottomless Bag, he’s always ready to support Good Company with an uplifting ditty or timely curative.
Elvish Presley serves as Sir Larpsalot’s mentor and confidant, and he is more often amused than annoyed by Brutus’s unruly behavior and Tom Foolery’s pranks. He is also one of the few people in Mezzo-Earth who can—occasionally—convince Master Prospero he is wrong.
Flamboyant, funny, and fair—he knows when a joke is needed to ease tension within the group and when to let sleeping minotaurs lie.
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-6{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-6 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-2{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Brutus the BullheadedMinotaur BerzerkerWhile he shares the sheer ferocity of his fellow minotaurs, Brutus possesses one thing his clansmen lack: an ambition to do more than sack the same helpless villages over and over again. Equipped with Plan A, the deadliest battleaxe in all Mezzo-Earth, and a temper that could make an adult dragon cry, he seeks glory on the battlefield above all else.
A worshipper of Caht-Tel, Goddess of the Stampede, Brutus considers strength a virtue in of itself. He is proud to fight beside brave Sir Larpsalot and begrudgingly respects the spellcasting prowess of Master Prospero. Not a fan of Tom Foolery, who always seems to be underfoot, Brutus has a soft spot for quick-witted Elvish Presley.
Whether Good Company is facing a band of brigands or a small army, Brutus the Bullheaded will always charge into the fray, horns first!
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:50% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 3.84%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 3.84%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-3{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}I’ll reveal the remaining three heroes in a future blog post. In the meantime, if you’re curious about which member of Good Company best suits you, just take the quiz!
Illustrations by The General
.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-10{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-10 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-10{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-10 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-10{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-10 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-4{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}The post A new look at some old friends appeared first on David Michael Williams.
One Million Words (or less)
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