TARGA?

Anyone know what the status of TARGA ( Traditional Adventure Roleplaying Games Association ) is?  When I click on the banner the home page still pops up, but the Wiki page is gone, or at least most of it is.  The blog hasn't had a post since May.  If the organisation is kaput I want to take down the banner on my sidebar, and remove them from my blog roll.

I have a feeling it's dead in the water.  The only thing remotely active is the yahoo group, and it's not that active.  The last message there was in early October.  I guess I'll give it a week.  If I can't find anything out then I start purging TARGA off my blog.

Oh well, life goes on...

Viphtry: The First "Hook"

In the last blog entry I discussed how writing fiction can help create a campaign world, and set the tone of the campaign.  I really didn't go into a lot of detail, but it makes a lot of sense.  Many people ( GMs and DMs ) get inspiration for their campaign worlds and adventures from works of fantasy fiction.  My idea would take it an extra step.  You write your own fiction, for your original campaign world.  It wouldn't have to be a whole novel, but rather a series of short, short stories.  These in turn can be used as adventure hooks, and "color" for the campaign to help the players get a feel for the world their characters live in.

Also, it doesn't even have to be complete stories, maybe just snippets, a paragraph or two.  Entries into a wizard or sage's journal, or even a letter, would work, and help flesh out your world.  These of course can became hand outs/props you give your players.

Here's one example that I plan on using to get players to the main city of the campaign.  It's a letter from one of the character's old friends inviting them to come to Viphtry.  This is the initial adventure hook.

Greetings _________!

I hope life finds you well, and that you and your family are prosperous.  As you know I traveled to Viphtry to seek my fortune last year, and I have not been disappointed!  I have secured a position at the Castle Viphtry.  I am the second assistant, to the assistant of the Royal Adviser on Civic Improvements in Viphtry, and I am learning so much.  However, once I have earned enough for tuition I will be entering the Viphtry Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences. ( I know I talked about attending the School of Alchemical Cookery, but I decided that sort of schooling would not help out on adventures of the sort we are going to have! )

In fact I have secured a tutor, and have already begun my magical education.  This was necessary, because to enter the V.A.M.A.S. you need to be able to show some magical aptitude.  I can already make my thumb glow with enough light to see by!  This is very handy when I need to go the privy at night.  My tutor tells me I have great potential, and that I will be throwing flaming balls and scorch bolts with the best of them before long.

Well, enough of my ramblings.  Perhaps you should come to Viphtry?  We always talked about adventuring together, and if you want adventure then Viphtry is the place to be.  Plenty of opportunities here.  Viphtry is a great city!  There is usually some sort of festival every month.  Always something exciting going on in Viphtry! 

I am sure you have heard some rumors about how unsafe the city is, but aside from a couple of rare instances caused by undesirables, Viphtry is very safe.  Occasionally ork gangs make it into the city, but the city watch is very diligent in keeping the peace.

If you decide to come I can assist you, at least until you can survive on your own.  Also, if it all possible could you bring a couple of jars of your Aunt's Tok Jam?  No one here makes good Tok Jam.  Upon your arrival here you can meet up with me at the Ork Knob Tavern.  I am usually there every night.  Hope to see you soon...

Your friend,
Jig, soon to be Red Shadow the Wizard!

      
I think the letter could use a little work, but it's just a first draft.  I would print it on parchment paper to give to the player.  Every player would get something similar, perhaps from the same NPC, if the PCs live in the same town or village.

The letter ( aside from being a hook ), also gives the players a little information on the city of Viphtry.  Not much mind you, just enough to hopefully entice them to travel to the city.  Do they have to go?  No, that would be railroading, but I would hope that they would.  It is after all such an exciting city!

Quirky Quotes for Fantasy NPCs

Okay, this is just for fun, and are mainly intended for quirky or gonzo fantasy RPGs.

"Those who don't wander in the forest, never discover it's wonders." Vokron ~ Soon to be forgotten Sage, who shortly after writing this in his journal, disappeared after wandering in the forest.

"Smashing things fun.  Killing elves fun.  Killing elves by smashing them most fun of all!"

Dranch the Smasher ~ Ork well known for his smashing, especially of elves.

"The King wants a what for breakfast?!?"

Elman, the King's Cook, after learning the King wants a soft boiled dragon's egg for breakfast.

"Cook wants me to go to the market and buy a what?!?!"

Shorty, the King's Cook's Assistant, after learning Elman wants him to go to the food market to buy a dragon's egg.

"They did what?  Arrest them and throw them in the dungeon!  Then execute them!  I need my breakfast!!!"

An irate and eccentric King Viphtry, after learning his cooking staff has fled the castle.

"Wow, this is going to be a busy day!  I've never executed a cook and his assistant on the same day before!"

Delton the Dark ~ Enthusiastic executioner.

"Oops... uh... you see..."

Delton the Dark, and much embarrassed executioner, after learning the King wants to pardon his cooking staff.

"Guys, I didn't think we could afford an inn tonight?  Hey, where's my horse?"

Fredrick the Clueless Bard

"Ouch! That really hurt..."

Swift Fist the Warrior Monk, after trying to demonstrate his version of the Dragon Fist on a stone wall.

"What! A dragon? No, no, no, no, no..."

Resh Dragonsbane, the last words his fellow party members heard him speak before he fled down the dungeon passage; never to be seen again.

"Well, Resh certainly had an ironic last name, and I was only kidding about the dragon..."

Seven Fingered Fred, the Unlucky, but humorous thief.

Well, I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed writing them.  I have a lot more, but I think I'll save them for another day.

TARGA on Tuesday & The Eye Guy!

 I joined TARGA today.  TARGA stands for Traditional Adventure Roleplaying Games Association.  I put a link to TARGA on the sidebar.  Go check it out.  They also have a discussion group on Yahoo, and a facebook page.  TARGA is all about promoting 'traditional RPGs'.  Now you may ask what IS a tradition role-playing game?  Well, some feel it's all about the old school renaissance, and perhaps a bit of the DIY, homebrew/ house rule paradigm.  Me?  I think if it's a game, where you take on the role of a different person, character, monster, whatever, for the purposes of entertainment, roll dice to resolve things, or use other methods, then to me that's a traditional RPG.

How do you join TARGA? Well, go join the Yahoo group and/or the facebook page and you are a member.  It's that simple.

The Eye Guy

The "Eye Guy" ( yeah, I know, he looks like a crappy beholder ) was a quick sketch I was doing while trying to figure out a topic for todays blog post.  He started out like this...

This is a black and white scan of the sketch.  It was on blue graph paper.  This was all I was going to post. but I thought I should add a bit of color.  Now, the only graphics program I have is Paint, but it worked out okay.  I erased the grids, and cleaned Eye Guy up a bit.  This is a bit later in the process...

I should have drawn it on blank paper...

I've got a couple more "process" pictures, but you should be able to get the idea.  This really isn't a tutorial.  It's more about use what you have, because you can't use what you don't have.  So many times I've wanted certain "things", to be able do certain projects "better".  I want to make great maps, but I can't really justify buying Campaign Cartographer, or any of the expensive graphics programs, so I try to find a good alternative, but still delay creating things, because in my mind, this program, or that tool, would make things so much easier, and better.  In the end, I don't get many things accomplished.  Use what you have, and when you get the nicer alternative, you will not only appreciate it more, but should be able to use it better, and get more bang for your buck, so to speak.

I could have just posted the sketch as it was and be done with it.  But I decided to see what I could do with what I had, and while it's not great.  I think it's fairly good, if not a tad bit cartoonish.  I changed a few things, the arrow was replaced and I added another arrow.  I added quite a bit of detail.  The nice things is, when I was adding details I wasn't worried about mistakes, because sometimes the mistakes look better than what I had planned.  Drawing with a mouse isn't easy, but I use what I have.  It's my new philosophy.

I could have worked on Eye Guy for a long time, but sometimes you have to find a stopping point.

Eye Guy actually has a back story, but that'll be for another day.

I've actually got a few things started for HDWT.  One is an article about campaign/world creation, the other is the Texicon interview, and the third is a kind of mapping experiment.

So until next time, keep rolling those dice!