Alice Black: Blood Tribute – A Fate Solo Adventure Book

I’ve been busy, hence my lack of updates. Work on Vanagard has been going well, very soon it will be ready to be kickstarted. Dragon Trinity Crash is moving along, though Vanagard has taken priority. I’m also close to signing a contract for a small short story gig, I’ll post about it when it nears completion.

I have also released…

I’ve blogged about this before, and have even offered a free sample. It now finished and ready for purchase, just click here.

As for what it’s about:

You are Alice Black, feared feline space pirate and captain of the dreaded Manticore. For years you have plagued the spaceways trading slaughter for profit. You seek no approval from king or lord. Yet infamy has a price and your coffers are low. Without the necessary funds, your ship will fall into scrap, shadow ports will close their doors, you and your crew will be left helpless against the tender mercies of the Wolves. Your one chance at salvation lies in stealing tribute from a faded wolf house. However, your success will break a treaty and doom trillions to annihilation. Alice Black: Blood Tribute is a solo game and adventure in one book. All you need to play is this book, a pencil, some paper, and a few common dice.

Publishing it has been a dream come true for me. As a kid, I cut my teeth on Fighting Fantasy novels, I am very pleased to have my own adventure book. Evil Hat’s Fate RPG system is a godsend, I was able to tweak it to fit an RPG adventure book perfectly. Those who know Fate can start playing this novel right away. For those who don’t, the rules come with the book and are very easy to learn.

A big thanks to Xenotropos who did the art and layout, and Melanie Jacobs who edited the novel

So, if you like space pirates, adventure books, and other such shenanigans check this out.

I hope to write a sequel soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon Trinity Crash – New Adventure Book, Will Be Working On Stand Alone Setting Book

Before I started writing Seith and Sword , and in between bits of Vanagard, I was plucking away at my 2nd Dragon Trinity Crash adventure book. Well, it turns out that I’ve had enough time to not only finish it; but also update the first one.

Therefore I proudly represent:

Dragon Trinity Crash Adventure Book 1: Call of Cakethulu

 

Click for Book

 

And proudly present:

Dragon Trinity Crash Adventure Book 2: Hamerkop Halfling Blues

 

 

Click for Book

 

As before the covers were drawn by the ever talented Gnaw.

Furthermore, I’ve talked it over with Olivia Hill and have decided to write out Dragon Trinity Crash as a stand-alone Fate supplement. Yes, it will still come out with the ADX Anthology, Olivia assures me that this will be released, however, I’d like to give DTC the attention it deserves, in that regard I’ll make my own book.

This book will be a pay what you want release, that way, those who bought the anthology will be able to acquire the PDF without paying anything more. It’ll have a healthy dash of setting information, the full rules, and plenty of sample aspects, stunts and spells. I hope to purchase more art from gNaw, and will put in as much as my wallet and bills will allow.

What’s the timeframe? I don’t know. I’ll be working on this in conjunction with Vanagard, however, Vanagard will get priority. That being said, I’ve impressed myself with the level of work I’ve been able to get done recently so this may get done soon.

I will keep you all informed.

Dragon Trinity Crash Solo Adventure Book 1 – Call of Cakethulu

So I’ve been busy.

Work on The Childe Hell progresses. I’ve outlined 43 chapters and have finished the first draft for  up to Chapter 4. It’s going slowly but steady.

While working on said novel I’ve also put together a solo adventure book; Dragon Trinity Crash: Call of Cakethulu. This is a labour of love and as such I’m providing it for free, you can find it here: DTC Book 1 Call of Cakethulu . However, in order to play, you’ll need to be familiar with Fate Accelerated. If you don’t have it you can get it easily enough via Evil Hat for a song, err well actually for pay what you’d like but you get the gist.

This book took me a month or three to write up and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it. So much so that I commissioned a cover for it from the spectactuar gNaw.  I think I’ll make more of them, so keep an eye on this blog for more DTC goodness.

In the meantime work on the ADX Anthology continues , once it’s finished you’ll be able to see a full Fate Core hack there.

 

 

 

Dragon Trinity Crash – Secret of NIMH – Knights Of The Hidden Sun – Update

So it turns out that the ADX kickstarter was a resounding success!

Thank you internet!

Dragon Trinity Crash will be part of the anthology as will a TON of other settings. Go the kickstarter to check them out.

Given all this I’ll be super busy. Here’s what I’ll be working on:

1. My first priority is to get DTC to David. No updates until that happens.
2. After DTC is submitted I’m going to add a whole mess of sample spells, sample characters, sample monsters and flash fiction to this blog. Why? Cause I’m that passionate about it. 😀
3. After this I’m going to publish my Fate Secret of NIMH rules here. I promised a player at Phantasm this and I will deliver.
4. After that Knights of the Hidden Sun will get my full attention until it goes to the editors.

Outside of this plan is Space Pirate Alice Black: Blood Tribute. That’s because I don’t need to work on it. Xenotropos is on art and layout. Once that’s done Blood Tribute will be ready for market without me doing anything.

And that’s my plan.

Expect DTC updates soon.

Apotheosis Drive X – Dragon Trinity Crash

So,

I recently joined Google+ and there met David Hill of Machine Age Productions.

He was looking for alternate settings to offer as a kickstarter incentive for his Apotheosis Drive X. I submitted an idea and he deigned it worthy to add as a possible reward.

Needless to say I hope the kickstarter goes very well.

Apotheosis Drive X

Is a Fate based, mecha table top RPG along the lines of Gundam and Evangelion. It’s a multi-generational, interplanetary romp where the stakes and the mechs, aptly named Myths and Titans, get grander as the campaign goes on. It encourages players to make a cavalcade of characters to crew their Mechs and ride their adventures till they become an epic saga.

I’ll be backing it. I want this book, even if my own contribution is not included.

Granted, the kickstarter’s generated over $2’400 in its first few hours, so things are looking good.

ADX’s setting also has something known as the ‘Stratos Commonwealth’, go ahead, say it out loud, the name’s pure awesome.

Dragon Trinity Crash

For the past month I’ve been working on an Anime style magic system for Fate. Given David was looking for ideas I thought I’d roll this into a mech game, hence Dragon Trinity Crash.

The setting’s based on three great Dragons; Typhon, Dragon of the Earth, Bahamaut, Dragon of the Sky and Tiamat, Dragon of the Sea. Together they created the world. They’re also, braty little siblings who constantly fight. Often these celestial battles rupture the fabric of reality and summon monsters into the world.

Some of these are freaking HUGE.

Fortunately, there live sorcerers who can call upon the power of the Dragons to slay said beasts. A few can even summon aspects of the big three to create humongous dragon armors. Also, in a last ditch effort, multiple armors can combine to create a single Mega Armor.

Unfortunately, sorcerers tend to be a selfish, destructive lot and often blow up as many villages as they do beasties.

Oh well.

Think of this setting as a mesh between Magic Knight Rayearth and Slayers.

Features of Dragon Trinity Crash

• An anime battle magic system for Fate. Low level’ spells can send a knight in full plate flying. High level spells can dispatch ogres with one casting. Legendary spells reshape the the landscape; you finally can carve out that bay you’ve always wanted.
• Simple rules for crafting your very own dragon armor and similar rules for combining it with your party’s armors.
• A tongue in cheek high fantasy setting with darker themes lurking just underneath.

Aaand, that’s my pitch.

I hope this entices you to become a backer.

For Your Perusal – A Sample From Space Pirate Alice Black, Blood Tribute

I’ve done all I can for my first solo-adventure book, Space Pirate Alice Black, Blood Tribute. It’s gone through the editor, the Amazing Mel, and currently the Incomparable Xenotropos is finishing up the Art and Layout. I’d be lost without these ladies.

As it stands I am proud to present a sample of my book. This is just a snippet of what I will eventually sell on Lu Lu, Indi Press or wherever.

Note: This sample is not indicative of the final layout. Think of it as a slice of a rough draft. The final book will be much longer and more polished.

Note II: I’d consider this book mature due to violence and alcohol use. However, there’s nothing pornographic in it. PG 13 I suppose.

As for what’s involved, Blood Tribute is a story where you play a feline space pirate who chooses to steal a particular treasure, how you go about it will determine the fate of trillions. The adventure’s meant to be a dark, high-action, Space Opera where your choices will lead to failure or one of four victories. It’s not merely a ‘go to this page’ sort of solo-adventure, you also use dice for extra zing. Specifically you use Evil Hat’s  open game license Fate system. Go visit them, look at their Kick Starters, invest and buy their stuff, they’re awesome.

If you have feedback please comment, I’d love to hear from you.

Space Pirate Alice Black, Journey 1: Blood Tribute

While waiting on development for Knights of the Hidden Sun I found there was very little on my plate. For two years I ‘d been writing my game and now I had nothing to do. On a lark I looked up the old Fighting Fantasy Novels I used to read as a kid and discovered they are still being produced and going strong, check it out here.

Furthermore, Fighting Fantasy (aka Wizard Books) was doing something cool with its licence. They had kindly provided templates for fans to make their own Fighting Fantasy  fan books, they were even holding contests to see who could write the best FF fan book based on various themes.

I had to try and so wrote The Blackthorne Ogre  for their Valentine’s Day contest. I didn’t win but I had hella fun participating.

Being the vain sort I regularly Google myself and the things I write. As such I was lucky enough to stumble upon this, a glowing review, by Stelio on RPG Geek. This made me feel all kinds of awesome. So much so that I wanted to write another Book.

This time the book’s my own, a non-Fighting Fantasy space opera featuring my favorite open source rules set.

I plan to publish it very soon.

What It’s About

In Blood Tribute you play the part of space pirate captain who, out of desperation,  chooses a prize whose theft will result in the death of trillions. Over the course of the the game you decide how best to find, secure and flee with your plunder. Along the way you can choose to be dastardly or redeem yourself.

The story takes place in a galaxy where hominid Wolves rule as warrior lords over other Canines, Trolls and Hares. Your character is a feline captain who leads a crew of freed slaves to fight against the tyranny of the Wolf Houses.

Okay I admit, this was inspired from watching hours of  Talespin as a kid and I’m a rather shameless fan of Disney’s Treasure Planet. This book though has absolutely nothing to do with either of these properties.

While the setting can be seen as cartoonish the story’s rather dark. Your character is a villain as are the Wolves you prey upon. I found the real trick to writing this to be making the main character act like a plausible pirate while at the same time leaving room for plausible heroics. I believe  I’ve done an excellent job but ultimately it’ll be up to the reader to decide.

I’d rate this a mature for violence and alcohol; there is no pornography involved.

To add randomness  and gaming goodness I’m using a very simple version of Evil Hat’s Fate System. For those familiar expect the Skill Ladder and Aspects to feature prominently.

As for the book itself its 50 Sections/88 written pages. There are four different endings aside from the ones involved in losing a critical test or fight. I just finished the book’s second draft and am now sending it to an editor. Once that’s done it’ll be sent out for art and layout. After that I’ll look into where to publish it.

I hope this wets your appetite and thanks for checking in.

Back On The Horse

It’s been over a year since I last posted.

Why?

Laziness.

Despite this I have updates on my recent work:

Knights of the Hidden Sun

It’s been in development for a looong time. The reason for this is Malcolm’s other commitments, White Wolf work. That being said Malcolm was kind enough to invest in Geoff Garbowski (of Exalted Fame, yay ) to finish the rest. This has gone incredibly well. Very, very soon KoTHS will be developed. After this is editing, and type setting which should go muuuch quicker. I’m looking forward to getting this out, holding a published book I authored will be awesome.

If you don’t hear from me after Hidden Sun’s published it will be because I exploded with joy.

Space Pirate Alice Black Journey 1

I wrote a Fighting Fantasy Amature adventure for Wizard Book’s Valintine’s Day contest. You can find it here. I didn’t win. However, I did get this amazing review. It blew me away, so much so that I’ve decided to write my own for self publication. Enter Space Pirate Alice Black Journey 1. It’s a 50 section Book where you play a feline space pirate who takes a villainous job in order to keep your ship, freedom and crew. So far I’m at 48 pages. I’m thinking it’ll be over 60 by the time I’m done. I plan to release it in parts for free and sell the compilation on LuLu. It’ll be a solo adventure book using FATE rules.

Fun, no?

I the meantime I plan to keep blogging.

Expect updates, reviews, alignment game stuff and other goodness.

Chall