Colin McComb shares his Gen Con memories in the “My First Gen Con” series of guest posts. You’ll find Colin’s essay on designing combat systems in the Kobold Guide to Game Design Vol. III: Tools & Techniques. Tell the story of your own first Gen Con (even if this upcoming one is your first), and […]
My First Gen Con: Colin McComb Read More »
The monstrosity appeared like a 50-ft.-long crocodile careened above the otherworldly battlefield, soaring on rigid leathery wings and coming to an awkward, upright landing among the scattered bodies of angels and fiends like. It charged straight into the celestials’ siege tower, both tails whipping wildly. Belviss fled in abject horror. Some minutes later, the gnome
One of Open Design’s favorite cartographers wrote recently to let us know about an event he’s putting together — an art show for fantasy maps! Says Roberts, “I’m pulling in professional fantasy cartographers and very talented amateurs and I’ll be showing my own work as part of the show.” Readers will remember his work from
“The bear, falcon, and wolf are merely three of the totems a barbarian may revere. Every totem offers a small background as well as rage powers that fit the totem’s theme. And even their physical fetishes, the objects that focus their veneration, can bestow upon those worthy the primal magic of these creatures.” [from Part
All the Rage: Barbarian Totems (Part 2 of 2) (and A Margreve Preview) Read More »
Chris Pramas of Green Ronin shares his Gen Con memories with us in the second in our “My First Gen Con” series of guest posts. Tell us the story of your own first Gen Con (even if this upcoming one is your first) in our My First Gen Con contest! It was 1989, and I
My First Gen Con: Chris Pramas Read More »
Another man would have given up by now, but Goreg was no ordinary man. His blood pounded with rage-fueled adrenaline, and his nose twitched, catching the sour scent of retreating orc. Goreg bounded forward, his muscular legs driving him through the snow. Each step tore through ice and frost as he closed in on his
All the Rage: Barbarian Totems (Part 1 of 2) Read More »
4th Edition D&D designer Logan Bonner shares his Gen Con memories with us in our “My First Gen Con” series of guest posts. Logan will be leading Open Design’s newest project, The Lost City. Tell us the story of your own first Gen Con (even if this upcoming one is your first) in our My
My First Gen Con: Logan Bonner Read More »
Following on Courts of the Shadow Fey, its second adventure compatible with the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game, Open Design is announcing a new D&D project launching immediately: the Lost City project. Leading the project is former Wizards of the Coast designer Logan Bonner, lead designer on Arcane Power and author of the
Logan Bonner to Lead Lost City 4th Edition Open Design Read More »
In the old days, giant killer scorpions didn’t throw lightning bolts and fireballs. They had to rely merely on bone-snapping pincers and flesh-melting venom. Pine for those simpler days of bloodshed no more! ___ Nature DC 15—Giant scorpions hunt at night, using their large claws to hold prey while injecting paralytic poison. They typically eat
The ENnie Awards have announced their nominations for this year, and they include two nominations for Open Design! This site is nominated in the Best Blog category, so congratulations to Scott Gable and all the authors who have blogged, posted, and contributed crunch, stories, and reviews here this past year. In addition, the Open Design
ENnie Nominations Announced Read More »
What are reviewers saying about Kobold Guide to Game Design, Vol. 3 (print/PDF), Open Design’s source for game design? … As with the first two volumes, if you’re an aspiring pro this book is a must. If you’re a rules hacker like me, this stuff is solid gold. If you’re just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill gamemaster
Kobold Guide to Game Design, Vol. 3 Goes to Brazil and Back Read More »
Ed Greenwood, legendary game designer and best-selling author, shares his Gen Con memories with us in the second in our “My First Gen Con” series of guest posts. Tell us the story of your own first Gen Con (even if this upcoming one is your first) in our My First Gen Con contest! ___ My
My First Gen Con: Ed Greenwood Read More »
“Inspiring Terrains” looks at encounters—fundamental building blocks that bring together PCs, conflict, and environment. With a little inspiration and a few mechanical bits, it’s easy to make the terrain in an encounter just as memorable as the foes. [Part 1][Part 2][Part 3][Part4] ___ For the fifth installment, we leave the wilderness to explore a shadowy,
Inspiring Terrains: Alleyways (Part 5 of 5) Read More »
Yark! Gen Con Indy is on the horizon! To celebrate, from now through the end of July we’ll be running a series of guest posts by some well-known people in the games industry, writing on the topic “My First Gen Con.” But we also want to hear your stories—so we’re running a contest! Send your “My
“My First Gen Con” Series and Contest Read More »
What are reviewers saying about Sunken Empires (print/PDF), Open Design’s source for exploring underwater civilizations for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game? It’s not so much a setting as it is a toolkit for building an underwater setting for your own game. It discusses Atlantis, Lemuria, and Mu as worldbuilding examples, and goes on to a walk-through of
Sunken Empires, a Wonder of the Deep Read More »
Born of malice and contempt from corrupted magic, this vile dragon scours the landscape, attempting to sate his unwavering hunger. General Xaldraxis is an ancient dragon commander, having survived since the dawn of man. With a temper forged in a violent age, he emerged victorious after defeating entire swaths of foul creatures, beasts, and monstrosities.
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