I obviously haven’t been keeping to my New Year’s resolution, but I’ve cut out all the social media (aside from RPG.net) from my Internet time, so I really ought to get on the horse again. Big thing taking up personal mindspace right now is solo RPGs - I need to get back on track with polishing my PF1 content and actually play some Iron Gods and Starforged.
I recently ordered the remaining in-print Academy stuff I didn't have; two copies each of Druid, Elementalist, Monk, and Necromancer. The package arrived today and of course it's only a single copy of each. I've messaged Arcane Wonders, hopefully I'll get this addressed quickly. It's not as if I'm playing any time soon but it's still disappointing that I have to wait even longer.
Our tax return came in really quickly this year. I'm using most of my share on debt, but I did buy some computer monitors, a docking station, and attendant accessories. I'm finally going to have my perfect desk setup; plenty of screen real-estate, a clear desktop, and a quick and easy way to switch between my work and personal computers without moving a ton of cables around.
Looking forward, I'm hoping to be able to get BT11 at or near release, and I might want to get printed copies of the Academy Forcemaster and Warlord. Not committing to either, though; Joc and I are trying to hold each other responsible for nonessential purchases, so both will require a talk first. Of the two I'm more focused on Digimon.
In other games, my hobby focus for the foreseeable future is going to be on finalizing my Pathfinder house rules document, so I can move on to transcribing my Iron Gods game and actually play it for once. I'm incorporating a lot of third-party Akashic material, and a good chunk of it is revisions to Akashic Mysteries itself. Consequently I've decided to just lift over most of the book and collect it as "Ultimate Akashic", in the same vein as Dreamscarred's Ultimate Psionics. Particularly, this'll let me rename the base classes and scrub off AM's ill-advised layer of orientalist paint. I might even release it as a PWYW on DriveThru. I'm not quite solid on that yet, though. Most of it would be reprinted rules from other works, which seems rude even if permissible by OGL. For another, I'd be taking a heavy editorial hand to that content, modifying or cutting things I don't like - whether because I think they're thematically incoherent, redundant, poorly written, or excessively overdesigned. It might be Ultimate Akashic at my table, but that title might come across as a bit pretentious in the wider community. Also, putting in the work to catalog my changes and get Section 15 properly filled out doesn't seem especially rewarding. We'll see.
Managed to track down the full Iron Gods AP in physical format. This - along with some pocket editions I picked up - will make playing my solo games a little easier.
Last Time on Iron Gods
The party entered the ancient technological facility underneath Black Hill, and encountered a robotic drone and what appeared to be a room for housing animals. [see more]
Last Time on Iron Gods
The party delved deeper into the caverns underneath Torch, which they found is now being used as the home of a tribe of Skulks. The skulks offered safe passage to the party in exchange for clearing some nearby caverns of gremlins. Returning to town to rest and return the body of an adventurer they found, the party was invited to a local gambling den, the Silverdisk Hall, by a messenger with a note from Garmen Ulreth. [see more]
Last Time on Iron Gods
The party set out to delve the caverns beneath the town, but ran into a fierce and unexpected monstrous foe. They retreated to the Foundry, where they prepare to once again brave the deeps… [see more]
Last Time on Iron Gods
The party was hired to delve a series of caverns beneath the town in search of the missing councilor Khonnir Baine. First, they investigated the site of the town's namesake fire; finding no clues there, they then proceeded to the Foundry tavern, a place they had been told they could use as a base of operations. On nearing the tavern, however, they discovered Val, Khonnir's adoptive daughter, under assault by a malfunctioning robot! Barek's swift blade dispatched the metallic monstrosity, and now the group plans their next move… [see more]
9 Rova 4714 AR
A little over a week ago, Durand Sorrenco arrived in Torch. He hoped to be given permission to investigate the town's namesake, for he suspected it was in fact some form of technological artifact. Over the course of the next few days, he sought the aid of others, and found it first in a pair of Kellids that, strangely, sought him out instead. He further was approached by Valki, a sullen but intense woman.
While he was searching for companions, the fires atop Black Hill guttered out; an entrance to some caverns below was discovered, effectively confirming Durand's suspicions. A few other groups, including two headed by councilor Khonnir Baine, were able to begin delving beneath the town, but since Khonnir's second expedition none have returned. The town council grows worried at Khonnir's absence, and has decided to send another party into the caves. Durand and his companions volunteered. [see more]
A few years ago, I started a solo-play of the Iron Gods adventure path. I've let it sit fallow for a while, but given the lockdown I'm looking at reviving it.
You can find a Trello board with information here. It has some useful background information and documents I'm using. [see more]
