Lay worshipers and priests of Ninkash spend much time brewing ale. Every drop of the ale they make, which has had prayers to the matron goddess of dwarven wine and beer chanted over it during the brewing, is “holy ale.” But certain ales are infused with the magic spells of the Vaer, the priests of […]
The 7 Ales of Ninkash Read More »
Why in the world is the shadow walk spell 6th level when teleport is 5th level? Is seems to me that shadow walk’s travel limit of 50 miles/level is less useful that teleport’s 100 miles/level. Besides, teleport is instantaneous travel, whereas shadow walk can eat up hours of game time. Why shouldn’t shadow walk be
Ask the Kobold: Teleport and Shadow Walk Read More »
The Origins Award nominated Kobold Guide to Game Design gets a writeup over at the WIRED blogs. Here’s what they’re saying: So, you want to break into RPG writing? Or maybe you just want to write better adventures for your players. Could be you aren’t a roleplayer and just love the worldbuilding aspect of writing
Kobold Guide to Game Design at WIRED Read More »
Maps do much more than tell us where we are or how to get where we’re going. Maps tell us about the world they depict and the cartographer who created them. As RPG cartographer Jonathan Roberts says, “A good map should be functional. The primary purpose of any map is to be clear and precise.
The More Fantastical It Can Be:
Map Talk with Jonathan Roberts Read More »
Is it possible to learn enough about a location through a scrying spell so you can teleport there? The combination of scrying and teleporting seems very potent and capable of breaking an adventure. Is there a way to limit this combination of spells without cutting them off completely?
Ask the Kobold:
Why Villains Rearrange their Furniture Read More »
First and foremost, trapsmiths are engineers, and not every project concerns itself with the destruction of intruders. Waste disposal is a daily concern for most dungeons and once collecting and carting it away becomes cost inefficient. Trapsmiths are contracted to deal with the problem — and sometimes they make the solution a bit of a
Trapsmith: The Refuse Pit Read More »
At KQ, we don’t just care about great fantasy gaming in the Kobolds & Dragons tradition. No, we also care about style, fashion, and celebrity gossip killer traps. Ok ok, our fashion sense sucks, but we sometimes like to wear cool t-shirts. And now we have one! The KQ t-shirt will robe you in sartorial
Looking Good: The Kobold Quarterly Tabard Contest Read More »
They were once the province of the corrupt aristocracy, running down escaped slaves and tracking prey in hunting expeditions. Those days are gone, but the clockwork hounds still tick and hunt. The Praetors of Zobeck seized them during the revolt that established the Free City, and now, they operate only on the command of the
Monday Monster: Clockwork Hounds Read More »
Game designer Hank Woon, Jr. got his start with Demonblade, a 15,000-word adventure that appeared in Dungeon 97. The best part of Demonblade for Woon was that he got to include a new prestige class, the Keshen Blademaster, who hail from the land of Kesh and are fierce enough when encountered alone. And profoundly deadly
That Sense of Awe, Wonder, and Mystery:
a Conversation with Hank Woon, Jr. Read More »
Kobold Quarterly 10 is making a lot of people’s lists, all of a sudden. It made it onto the RPG Countdown (a podcast covering the most popular items over at RPGNow). It’s #6 on the Paizo bestselling games list, and it’s also #6 on the DriveThruRPG list of Hottest Small Press. Yeah, we’re small press
Ralf Schemmann is a designer for ProFantasy Software Limited. Currently, he works on “styles” for Campaign Cartographer. He is also a web designer and freelance cartographer with a love for classical fantasy campaign maps. “The guidelines I use are generally very loose, since maps vary so wildly,” said Schemmann. “The most important one is probably
In Praise of External Limitations:
Map Talk with Ralf Schemmann Read More »
Steven D. Russell has written for E. N. Publishing, Bastion Press and Expeditious Press, among others. He’s worked on Monsters Evolved, Verrik Evolved and The Rituals of Choice Adventure Path. These days he focuses on being the Lord Protector of Rite Publishing. Like many designers, Russell is first and foremost a player of games. “I
Steven D. Russell: A Player of Games Read More »
When the sun’s rays shone through the airshaft and struck the corridor’s murals, the Maruvian caste-nobles ended their long vigil and touched the door of their father’s tomb, whispering their final farewells. The caste-nobles gathered where the corridor led out, patiently waiting for the Lifesinger priest to appear. When he finally arrived, he struck his
Trapsmith: the Mauruvian Harp
and the Corridor of Remembrance Read More »
Possibly the most awesome KQ10 review we will blurb all week comes from super-powered funnyman Wyatt Salazar over at The Spirits of Eden blog. The Spirits of Eden: Kobold Quarterly #10 gave me some good times. We laughed together, we cried together, we wondered whether the Haffun racial power was really sexual innuendo. Do I
Review: Eminem as a Fey Pact Warlock Read More »
Here, then, is the source of the screams. A giant that has been stripped and burned, pierced and flayed until there is nothing left but a mass of weeping sores upon sores, cankers, and wounds. This suffering monstrosity stares at you with sad, lidless eyes and snorts through the hole where its nose once jutted.
Monday Monster: the Suffering Man Read More »
So the first set of reviews was pretty good, we’re doing it again. And starting with RPG blogging legend Uncle Bear (named one of the Top 100 Geeks to Watch on Twitter by WIRED magazine). Uncle Bear: I would use this in my own game, and I’d go out of my way to find a
2nd Review Roundup at the KQ Corral Read More »
Stay informed with the newest Kobold Press news and updates delivered to your inbox weekly. Join now and receive a PDF copy of Shards of the Spellforge
