New d30 Table Available Now: NPC Background Generator

By my math I'm still one month behind on d30 tables, so expect at least one more d30 table this month. My regular 12 readers might not mind (or even care), but for some reason this is important for me to get back on track.

I do have some ideas still in the old brain-pan, so I should be caught up soon(ish). Unfortunately it sometimes takes a while to figure out how to make sense of the initial concept so it fits/works with the d30.

Anyway.....this d30 generator is designed to provide a bit of a skeleton of sorts for a random NPC. The GM is encouraged to tweak/ignore individual tables as desired, and when looking at this generator some of the details might seem stupid. For example, who cares if the NPC is the 2nd of three kids to a couple of indifferent parents? Well, you might decide that this NPC is suffering from "Middle Child Syndrome" and acts accordingly.

I hope that you'll get some use out of this....

Like usual, click on either graphic in this post to go to the appropriate DTRPG page, or use this link.

New PWYW Tweak & Toss is up!

I finally got around to finishing the Tweak & Toss I started last year.

Some of the basic ideas have been floating around my noggin for a while now, but getting them down into the computer was a bit problematic. Nothing technically wrong, just all me.

This one is called "The Humid Harvest" and the basic setup is that the party needs to go from point A to point B, with B being a wilderness location. Maybe they need to get out of the country, maybe they want to go bounty hunting. For whatever reason they need to get there and someone is willing to help foot the bill for a little armed escort up the river.

Usually these things have some set encounters, but this time around it is mostly some ideas for flavor text. The GM could easily just use wandering monsters or attach this to an already planned adventure.

There is a bit of bonus content on my Patreon site, and a link is on the back page of this Tweak & Toss. Just a new monster to enjoy....or not.

Like usual, you can click on either graphic in this post to go to the DTRPG page, or you can use this link.

Freebie Dave Graffam Paper Model for Warhammer 40K Games

I got an email today about a free paper model that I figured I'd share here:

Here are some cardstock model cargo containers you can use in your Warhammer 40K games. Feel free to share these all around the internet, since they're completely cost-free and copyright-free and meant for public consumption.

I won't post a direct link, but here is the appropriate Patreon post with the download link.

Free GM Resource: Random Maps from Uncharted Atlas

Early last week my buddy Topher Kersting gave me a head's up about a cool Twitter feed by the name Uncharted Atlas.

Of course at first I was like, "Who still uses Twitter?", but I checked it out and this feed pretty much does nothing but upload pictures of randomly generated maps.

 The creator does have a website where he explains all the bits and bobs about the random generator in case that interests you. It's a bit much for me, but that could just be because it is a rainy Monday morning.

Free GM Resource: Play By Email Dice Roller

Right off I have to admit I'm a bit of a dice snob. I'm all about precision dice and my favorites are from Gamescience and Easy Roller Dice Company is a close second.

The thing is that lately I've been playing in online games where the GM prefers we all use the Roll20 dice roller. This is great when everybody is online, but when you need online dice when "offline" from the group?

Enter the Play By Email Dice Roller. Yesterday I went to finish rolling up a backup PC and wanted a way to roll online without spamming the group chat. Using this dice roller you can have up to five "rolls" (can be multiple dice in each roll) which can be shared with up to five email addresses and......and there is a built-in verification system. The results can be emailed, displayed on the screen, or both. I only saw two minor issues with the dice roller, and one was due to the system I was playing. You see the results, not the roll itself, so 3d4+1 would get you a result ranging from 4 to 13. If you needed to see the results of each d4 you'd just have to tweak the roll a bit.

The other minor issue was just me being stupid and selecting "display" instead of "both".

Free GM Resource: NWMap

A little late, but still a Monday post for a Free GM Resource.

NWMap is an interesting, if not simple mapping program for windows. "NWMap is a free, powerful, tile-based mapping utility designed to help you plan modules for Neverwinter Nights (and you may find it useful as a general RPG mapper as well). The author, Jason Harris, has released the program into the public doamin. NWMap uses context-sensitive drawing algorithms that make mapping complicated areas fast, easy and fun."

I downloaded the zip file and simply extracted the contents. No install files or loading, quick and easy. Not a lot of features, but it was real easy to make a simple enough map, faster than most every other app/program I have. Unfortunately the help files online are long gone, but there is enough info in the FAQ (I think) to have a go at making your own tiles.

Kickstarter for an Adventure and Campaign Setting (With Content Reviewed Here Last Month)

I rarely use my forum here to shill for Kickstarters unless I have some personal connection and think they are a good deal. As these things go more and more publishers are turning to Kickstarter and I'm asked to make a mention a few more times than I'm comfortable doing.

Normally I'd pass on a more recent request from A Hole in the Ground Terrain & Games, but I did review one of their products about a month ago (Inn of the Buxom Wench). These guys aren't asking for a lot and if you play 5th Edition I'm thinking it might be a good deal.

The Halls of Runehammer seems like a pretty straight-forward Kickstarter and with only two donation levels ($5 & $10), it looks like you could get a decent amount of content for a good price. Heck, they are already 1/2 way towards their goal and it looks like most are going with the $10 buy-in.

Free GM Resource: 3d Printer "Stuff"

This week's Free GM Resource is a twofer and a real-recent re-hash...definitely NOT a threefer.

In February I offered up the newsletter from Fat Dragon Games. This week I'd like to add a newsletter from Hobgoblin 3D and a newsletter from Printable Scenery.

I know the idea of 3D printing might not seem to fit in with being "frugal", but for me it has always been about getting a good value for your money and not just trying to save a buck or two. With the prices of 3D printers coming down and the availability of great 3D models going up...I think the time is coming.

So far I've received newsletters from Fat Dragon Games and Hobgoblin 3D, but nothing from Printable Scenery yet. The newsletters I've gotten so far have had freebie 3D files and even a good tip or two with regards to getting the most out of your prints.

I hope to get my 3D printer up and running soon so I can take advantage of what this new technology has to offer.