By James Bitoy & Peter von Bleichert Aug 21, 2017 | Articles, Shades of Magic |
Draconic Magic Items Dragons are known to have a deep connection with magic. Those who seek to understand or emulate this connection study such monsters as others that fear their power or hate their ways incant spell and raise sword in opposition. Some seek to tap the dragon’s well of magic, collecting their body parts, while others deify the wyrms, believing them vessels of cosmic alignment or embodiments of godly might, thereby pursuing their...
By Richard Pett Aug 18, 2017 | Articles, Your Whispering Homunculus |
Unusual Attire—Part Two “You’ve changed your mind, master… it is master isn’t it?” “Of course it is. Now tighten my corset, tie up this blouse, and help me put my tiara on or I’ll be late.” Continuing our look at unusual attire, we come to the ladies… Female Attire She’s dressed as some sort of pantomime giant slug She wears a gown of cunning and beautiful silks, held together with a hangman’s noose It appears she’s wearing a gown...
By James Thomas Aug 16, 2017 | Articles, Sidetreks |
Pernicious Template (and 3 examples) Pernicious Creature (CR +0 or +1) Creatures with the pernicious template live anywhere evil fey are found. Pernicious creatures acquire the physical characteristics (such as green feathers, fur, or scales, and red spots), locomotion, and feeding habits of the pernicious platypus. A pernicious creature’s CR increases by +1 only if the base creature has 5 or more HD. Rebuild Rules: Senses gains...
By Neal F. Litherland Aug 14, 2017 | Articles, Shades of Magic |
The Necromancer’s Toolkit Necromancy is a potent force, and while many spellcasters might long for its power over the dead, the wise know not to meddle with what lives in the shadows. Despite this magic’s reputation, though, it can be used to create items of great potency. Those who take up these tools may even use them to battle the scourge of undeath… if they so choose. Bonebreaker Mace Weapon [any bludgeoning], rare,...
By Jacob Huebsch Aug 11, 2017 | Articles, The Far Side of the Table |
“Click! Now What?” Our heroes find themselves standing in the Tangle, a sprawling market square filled with local merchants and their patrons. Before them sits one of the city’s grand masters, Lady Rena Ambar, master of brewers. She waves them to join her at the small plaza table, topped with fine foods. Welcome to the table. In my quest to learn better ways to GM, I discovered a tip mentioned by the writer, The Angry GM, called a “Click Trap.”...
By Dan Dillon Aug 9, 2017 | Articles, Shades of Magic |
Gifts from the Void When the multiverse was whispered into being by the first words of creation, there was an echo of that generative moment. Nothingness in a dark reflection left behind in contrast to All That Is, the Void is All That Is Not. A place of dark, cold, and madness, the Void is beyond the reason and understanding of mortal creatures. Even the gods themselves fear to stare into that yawning gap between the planes, save those already...
By Kobold Staff Aug 7, 2017 | Articles, RPG Blog Carnival |
Magic The Kobold Blog has been given the esteemed privilege of hosting the RPG Blog Carnival for the month of August. (And honestly, I got all excited about what we would be publishing that I forgot to post the month’s intro on the 1st of the month. What you’re reading right now! I accept full responsibility for that gaffe. But it’s okay because I’ll just zap myself back in time with magic. That’s totally how this...
By Kobold Staff Aug 4, 2017 | Articles, Wallpapers |
2017 Kobold Press Calendar It’s August! So here’s a set of wallpapers for your computer, your smartphone, or whatever electronic device you’ve got. These come from our Kobold Press 2017 Calendar. This month’s scene is by Marcel Mercado. The August Kobold Discover Midgard, a fantasy realm of dark roads and deep magic! The 2017 Kobold Press Calendar brings you 13 scenes of wonder, mystery and adventure. From the Black...
By Konstantinos Dimopoulos Aug 2, 2017 | Articles, Medieval Urbanism |
Fantasy Transmutations of Medieval Urbanism Deep, exhaustive knowledge of the functions, shapes, styles, structures, and topologies of the medieval city is, irritatingly, not enough to guarantee the birth of places as unique, believable, and awe-inspiring as, say, Tolkien’s Gondor. Such feats of the imagination are indeed rare, but knowing where to draw upon, not being afraid to allow the rich history of cities to inspire you, and...
By Kobold Staff Aug 1, 2017 | Articles, Warlock |
Warlock is a new Patreon-supported project from Kobold Press, publisher of the Midgard Campaign Setting for 5th edition. With your support, the Kobolds can make new 5e Midgard material on a regular, ongoing basis. In return for becoming a patron, you’ll get first access to new maps, new monsters, new 5e character options, and much more. Help expand the world of 5th edition dark fantasy at...
By James J. Haeck Jul 31, 2017 | Articles, Beyond Damage Dice |
Monk Weapons A weapon is more than the damage it deals. In combat, skilled warriors use their weapons to confuse, disorient, and disadvantage their enemies before moving in for the kill. Beyond Damage Dice ties unique maneuvers to weapons from both the core rules and the Midgard Campaign Setting, giving them a distinct impact on the battlefield. This first part of the monk weapons series presents new maneuvers that monks can use with...
By Stephen Rowe Jul 28, 2017 | Articles, Memoirs of a Lich |
Dear Ivlysse, This is Osvaud. As my imp familiar, you are the only individual other than myself even remotely likely to ever read my diary. So I wanted to set aside this personal heartfelt message for you. Every young apprentice must decide if he or she is going to permanently invest arcane power into a paltry bauble or a living creature. Once this all-important choice is made, it can’t be unmade. Out of all the options in the multiverse, I...
By Davide Quatrini Jul 26, 2017 | Articles |
Adventures from English Literature Lord Dunsany’s (1878–1957) works have been cited as sources of inspiration for the most famous fantasy roleplaying game since its first edition in the late 70s. His short tales, in particular, are really “fantasy” in the modern sense: most of them follow the “hero’s journey” model, involving young brave adventurers involved in situations dealing with magic swords, monsters, spells, and...
By Robert Fairbanks Jul 24, 2017 | Articles, Backgrounds |
Khazzak Vagabond A nomad among wanderers, an outsider among exiles, yours is a storm-touched tale. The open sky and wind-brushed tundra were blanket and bed to you, the thunder of hoof beats, a lullaby. To you, “civilization” was wind-snapped yurts and healthy herds; words like city meant tents and wagons and carnivals, leather and wheels and rope. Among the mixed tribes, horse clans, and khanates that form the Khazzaki nation, anyone who...
By Richard Pett Jul 21, 2017 | Articles, Your Whispering Homunculus |
Unusual Attire “Interesting attire you’ve chosen for this evening’s ball, master.” “I see nothing unusual about it. Noteworthy definitely; unusual no.” Well, my thinking is—if he’s going dressed as an evil apocalyptic duck, I wonder what the other guests will come as? Nothing is more important than making a first impression, they say. Well tonight’s YWH certainly aims for that. Dress your NPCs up in some of these costumes, and the questions are...
