"The Blackest Tesserzigguract, also known as the Fuligin Hyper-Ziggurat, a four-dimensional structure consisting of eight hyperspace cells connected to eight black ziggurats located across several worlds, planes and dimensions such as Algol, Contra Algol, Yezmyr, The Land of Two Rivers, Glorantha, Konduum, and others."
Recently the good friend of Planet Algol, Geordie Racer, posted about the adventures of his players in his own Planet Algol campaign in The Black Ziggurat. (I, II & III). Two fine gentlemen of our "OSR community", Chgowiz and Yesmar, expressed dismay as they already had plans involving their own "Black Ziggurats," and stated that they were going to change the names of their respective Black Ziggurats.
Now it's none of my business to tell others what to do BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IT WOULD BE AWESOME IF THERE WERE MULTIPLE BLACK ZIGGURATS! It would be like Moorcock's Tanelorn but an OSR meta-dungeon instead! Especially if there were gates linking the multiple Black Ziggurats!
Now I should point out that it is hardly surprising that there are multiple Black Ziggurats, heck in my Iridium Plateau sandbox there is "The Ziggurat of the Maggot Queen" which is black. Black is a pretty common sword & sorcery prefix and ziggurats are an even more sword & sorcery version of the pyramid, so "Black Ziggurat" is an obvious archetype of the primal sword & sorcery unconcious.
So Chgowiz, Yesmar, and anyone else out there. Make your dang Black Ziggurat and call it THE Black Ziggurat. We're all friends here guys, we can handle multiple Black Ziggurats, I want there to be a cornucopia of Black Ziggurats out there in RPG land!
Under the Dying Sun (and a very meta- manifestation as well!) The Ebon Zikkuract (a very literal tesseract manifestation and now we have the word "zikkuract!") The Black Ziggurat of Riskail (You know Riskail? That hot, new weird fantasy setting with all the talented writing and artwork...plus their Black Ziggurat has a Shoggoth!) And what's This? Only the Black Ziggurat of GREYHAWK! (Which also contains an imprisoned Satan-figure and a lightsabre...) EDIT: I'm hating myself for forgetting The Black Ziggurat of the Mutant Future!
Another stellar illustration by Lester/B. Portly, depicting some Earth Men adventurers.
Another manifestation of the Black Ziggurat, Zikkurath Nacaal of the Weirdlands of Quantique. I have to say I have been consistently pleasantly amazed by the varied evocative creations, all of which have stirred my imagination!
As well, here is the rough draft of the Planet Algol NPC Names Tables with 200 names.
I suspect this is a condition that affects all DMs eventually, and I've wrestled with it in the past, but for the past couple of months I've felt Burned Out as a DM. Interestingly enough, this burnout seems to be the result of non-RPG-related factors.
I'm not going to go on a "woe is me!" jag here....I know I have it better off than the majority of the folks in this world and that you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. But brooding about crap has a way of impairing one's enthusiasm and creativity, and I haven't been working on Algol material (and another "secret" project) nearly as much as I'd like.
I'm not about to 86 this blog or give up on DMing (although I've been considering a brief sabbatical), but I do feel a need to re-charge my RPG creativity, and have been considering several projects in order to take a break from Algol/alternate with Algol/do some one-shot's (or micro-campaigns) and get Stoked! again.
Some of the projects that I've been mulling over include:
- A small, digest-sized, free to download, Sword & Sorcery/Weird Fantasy/Science Fantasy D&D zine; crudely illustrated by myself and done in a punk rock/underground comic style. Something in the 8-16 page range, done for fun. I've considered the following names: Cyclopean; The Jewel Throne (..of the Earth), IIIrd Gatekeeper; and Voronya...I was going to go with "The Black Ziggurat"...but the Black Ziggurat belongs to everyone. Let me know if any of these names tickle your fancy!
- A Vancouver Old-School Micro-con: Certainly not an original idea, but it would be great to set up a weekend for some awesome old-tyme rpg antics, especially if some of our neighbors from BC, Alberta and the USA were able to make it (yes, I am talking about you! If you are 10% as awesome in person as you are on the internet you could help make the best weekend ever!). Rent some cheap hall or meeting facility, set up a schedule, and play a butt-load of D&D, Gamma World/Metamorphosis Alpha, Traveller, Boot Hill, Tunnels and Trolls, Runequest, Call of Cthulhu, Star Trek, Car Wars, et al...
- "The Vance Sector:" interstellar sci-fi adventure campaign heavily, heavily inspired by Jack Vance. I'm waffling between Traveller, Terminal Space, X-Plorers and Stars Without Number for this.
- Dune D&D: A houseruled D&D game in the universe of Frank Herbert's Dune, although probably quite a while before the events in the book. Space Feudalism!
- Fallout!: I'm not sure if I'd use Gamma World or Mutant Future's Mazes & Mutants as the base, and I'd probably incorporate a 3E style skill system, but it would involve the post-apocalyptic Canadian prairie, vault-dweller PCs, Canadian Tire money, way too many kinds of firearms and ammo, Mad Max-esque vehicular warfare, and using soft drinks instead of booze for the "heal 1d6 hp once a day" houserule.
- Gene Wolfe tribute campaign: Either set on a post-historical Earth or in an O'Neil cylinder; although it would definitely not be a railroad, there would be a "central campaign quest" in the vein of The Book of the New Sun and The Book of the Long Sun. Would every PC be unaware that they are a Cleric? ;)
- "The Lemurian Age", a Sword & Sorcery campaign set in the Lost Prehistory of the Indian Ocean: The Kerguelen microcontinent, Kamari Kamdan, Africa, Mesopotamia, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, & Prehistoric Marsupial Megafauna. Inspired by Conan and Atlantis: The Second Age.
- Empire of the Petal Throne: Using the original OD&D variant rules...but set on Mars! With additional Barsoom, HG Welles and The Dictionary of Mu influences.
- 80s Action! Movie campaign: Something in the vein of Commando and Miami Vice. Mini-Uzis, sinister Eurotrash in turtlenecks, crazed coke dealers, and rescuing The President's Daughter!
- Carcosa: Although Algol is heavily influenced by Carcosa, Geoffrey's creation is an entirely different beast, far more grim and far less "Jack Vancian" than my Algol game. OD&D and crazy dice conventions!
- OD&D: Of course this could be combined with several of the above ideas, but I want to try out pre-Greyhawk style LBB OD&D; d6s and d20s only!
Man, just thinking about the above options gets me fired up, just the thing to get me out of this rut...I gotta run these ideas past the gaming group.
Roughly twenty years ago he emerged from the wastes of the Greater Glow, followed by his henchmen and soldiers, and began a campaign to bring the Western Badlands under his iron heel.
Darath Ymph, The Deranged Tyrant, a strategic and tactical genius of great vanity who is the de facto ruler of the Western Badlands and who aims to conquer the known civilized lands and make himself Autarch.
Darath Ymph, a tall Hyperborean of patrician aspect and possessing an impressive black mustache, clad either in his sinister black war harness or in foppish finery of lilac, mauve, lavender, teal, and similar hues. Darath Ymph, a master of fencing who has no qualms personally slaying those who have displeased him with the red energy blade of his Phasic foil.
Served by his Vizir, the lich Sorcerer Gelgethea, and his fanatically devoted army: the reanimated Skeletroopers; the psychic slime warriors in their black exo-suits; his elite Andorian battleguard; and many others eccentric and fierce of aspect.
His throne is Skullstone Skyisland, which hovers miles above the Glow Pit, his servitors flying out in gleaming chrome skull-shaped sky vessels to do his bidding and enforce his will over the Western Badlands.
Located deep in the bowels of Skullstone Skyisland is a labyrinthine complex of tunnels and chambers, known as "The Proving Pits of the Deranged Tyrant," where those who seek the favor of Darath Ymph prove their mettle with blade, spell or stealth. These Proving Pits are said to have several connections to the pan-dimensional meta-dungeon "The Black Ziggurat."
It sounds like the British Planet Algol campaign is headed well down the road to ENCOUNTER CRITICAL gonzo awesomeness! I'm beginning to think that "Sean Wills" is actually Robert Anton Wilson...
I'm eagerly awaiting what occurs at THE BLACK ZIGGURAT!
Yesterday I wrote a post about a "Stupid" moment in my game. I should have used the term "Absurd," as in "Coen Brothers-esque Sublime Absurdity." I certainly don't want any of my players operating under the misapprehension that I consider them or our game stupid in any derogatory sense. Often I use the term Stupid to refer to RPG matters in the Jeff Rients-ien fashion:
Stupid games do not take themselves seriously. PCs can die horrible deaths and other grim stuff, but that horrible death might involve being eaten by a horde of zombie chickens. Big dice charts, such as wandering monsters or random mutations, are often associated with this style of game. Most comedy games fall into this category, as do all the good versions of Gamma World. The new editions of Paranoia and WFRP look pretty Stupid to me as well.
Some of my favorite rpg moments have to be when events devolve into beautiful absurdity, and I would never want to discourage players from attempting crazy plans. I heartily approve of improvised sound effects! (and now we know why a cape is worth being on the equipment buying lists!)
As well, I would be remiss to not mention that talented surreal Planet Algol-related illustrator Wesley Fat Cotton now has his own blog to display his artwork.. Although it is slim on the content, it is also new, and hopefully some of you folks in need of an artist for your creative madness will find his style suitable for your project, especially as I know that he is eager to work with some of you crazy internet rpg types!
Also...
CHGOWIZ/OLDGUYRPG BLOG 03/22/2010 - NEVAR FORGET!
The drama is over (Drama Explanation Here!), folks are actually communicating instead of flaming each other, but The Old Guy RPG Blog is Gone! I'm not going to speculate or comment on why Chgowiz withdrew from the community, but I really dug his blog (the solo games with his wife always gave me the warm fuzzies "What A Great Loving Couple!") and I'm sad to see it go. I am also sad that The Tomb of Hulkasarag/The Land of Two Rivers ancient Mesopotamia oldschool D&D project is apparently dead as a result...it would have been a perfect companion to Ancient Kingdoms: Mesopotamia. There would have been no "Black Ziggurat Madness" without Chgowiz either!
Good luck and best wishes to Chgowiz...you will be missed.
A (somewhat) Master Index of Resources and Relevant Topics, both "Official" and "Unofficial," compiled and organized for usage in your own campaigns.....Game On!
"... to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet...."
- Robert E. Howard
"Once prayed to my gods, searching for the whistled memories
Empty eyes are staring now, to my feet a land of sorrow
I'm the king, sitting in the dark hiding from the shadows of the wind
Wafts of might, wine of fire, I was called to taste
Silver horses brought us here, to the edge of the universe
We left the falling walls as the stars' collapse began
Now I rest on the highest steps, revealed the eternal frontier
As I gaze from the Jewel Throne to the portal of infinity
Fallen have the "chosen ones", debris remain in the dust
Far behind, beyond the sands, the wind sings to those who fell
Forever now, my hands laid down the poisoned weapons
I will pray to my gods, searching for the mysteries"
- Thomas G. Warrior
As I've previously mentioned, I've been mulling over doing a RPG zine as a means of getting past the stress related burnout that's been plaguing me recently (speaking of stress, as I was writing this my boss phoned me to talk about possibly being laid off, good grief!), and with the positive reaction it has elicited (and the possibility of having a buttload of free time soon) I've decided to do so.
I presented a selection of names for the zine I had been considering, and "Jewel Throne" won by a considerable landslide with two votes. Although I'm sure Netherwerks will be gratified to see that I managed to work a Black Ziggurat into the logo.
This zine will be digest sized, done in a underground metal/punk style, with dodgy illustartion by myself, and will focus of sword & sorcery, weird fantasy, science fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and science fiction gaming. The intention is to present a selection of D&D-compatible resources in those genres...one-page sandboxes, mini-dungeons, monsters, spells, technological artifacts, random tables, and so forth. Although I would like to include material compatible with Runquest, Call of Cthulhu, Traveller, and other great RPGs, both old and new.
My original intent was to do this as a free-to-download present to the community. Now, with the potential of impending financial hardship, I'm reconsidering this solely as a means of mitigating the aforementioned scenario.
Several of you expressed interest in contributing; originally I was wildly enthusiastic about that, but with the possibility of this being a for-(meager)profit venture I can certainly understand any that would wish to rescind their offer; however, anyone who did contribute would, if it ends up not being a free-to-download production, receive fair compensation for their effort.
My plan is to begin working on material, with a two-week deadline before commencing with layout and than publishing in some form or other. If I end up printing this myself I have some ideas regarding pull-out maps that could be quite nice.
I'd love to hear any feedback regarding this project. Suggestion, criticisms, it is all welcome.
1. A while ago I posted my "100 NPC(s) Table." I feel terrible for neglecting to mention/credit how much of an inspiration Zak Smith's "Hidden Traits of NPCs" tables was. #99 is my favorite!
2. After I posted about my appreciation for Morten Braten's Ancient Kingdoms: Mesoptomia, the admirable Melan put a boot up my ass for neglecting to mention XP1: The Spider God's Bride And Other Tales, an excellent 3.5 edition traditional Sword & Sorcery resource and non-sucky adventure path easily usable with any version/edition.
3. While I was discussing Mesopotamian D&D, I should have also mentioned Chgowiz' yet unreleased "Land of Two Rivers/Tomb of Hulkursag." The crumbs of info I have seen have me drooling...
4. One day I berate simulacrum producers and the OSR-at-large for neglecting the Froghemoth and the next day a true scholar and gentleman of the aforementioned OSR provides an open game content version for us all to use.
Hopefully my next post will actually have some Planet Algol related content instead of blogosphere/meta- echo chambering (as much I love the "echo chamber" effect!).
All this talk of Black Ziggurats has me thinking about one of my favorite D&D supplements, Necromancer Games' (R.I.P.?)/Morten Braten's ANCIENT KINGDOMS: MESOPOTAMIA. This book is composed of two parts: a guide for adventuring in ancient Mesopotamia with notes about the world, races, classes, magic and religion; and a series of desert adventures culminating with a well-detailed massive lost city.
Sorry, did I say "adventures?" How about a fully realized mini-sandbox setting, "The Red Wastes!" This adventure section consists of several linked locations, all gently prodding towards The Lost City of Ibnath.
Although this is a 3.5 edition D&D product, the material within could easily be used with any previous editions (and I did use it for my short-lived 4e campaign...please don't judge me...). Every page is practically dripping with inspiration and the contents are very "Clark Ashton Smith-esque."
Plus lurking in one of the detailed adventure locations is one of my favorite all-time iconic D&D monsters...The Froghemoth! Now let me go on a little ranting aside here. Froghemoth's rule. Return to the Barrier Peaks. Monster Manual II. Necromancer Games' superb resource Tome of Horrors.
So which retro-clone contains stats for the Froghemoth? Remember that since it is featured in the Tome of Horrors one can easily use it as open-game-content with proper licensing. It's one of the iconic gonzo Gygaxian monstrosities. It's a giant frog..with tentacles...
...I don't know of any retro-clone publication containing the stats for the Froghemoth. It's not in OSRIC, or Labyrinth Lord AEC, or the Swords & Wizardry Monster Book, or anything else I can think of. (I believe it's in a Pathfinder product..but that's not an "old tyme D&D" version) Seriously...what's wrong with these jerks? No love for the Froghemoth? For shame OSR...For Shame!
