The history of espionage, even in the Classical or Medieval or Renaissance periods that so frequently inspire elements of fantasy settings, is enormous and deep. It's also probably filled with holes in information, because so many resources were probably destroyed or lost due to their covert nature. So, if you plan to use spies and coded messages in your game, how can you turn those story elements into challenges or hooks for player characters? Below are a few brief thoughts on the form that spies might take, along with notes on how they might be treated, and a few example methods for passing secret information that could be slipped into any game.
A Mad Book of Truth, the Lonely Song of Savages, and Whoopin’ Fisk
You can find the ever-growing list of “Better Than Nothing” items over on the right. Read ‘em, like ‘em, share ‘em, and comment. Darkle Fas Wendell let them walk right into the path of the swinging log. Served them right, afterall---always on about him. Always judging. them with their noses high and their ways. If he'd... Continue Reading →
Skinning a Godling, a Guide to Living Forever, the General Takes the Field, I’ve Been Reading a Lot of “Fables”, and Dirty Old Men…
You can find the ever-growing list of “Better Than Nothing” items over on the right. Read ‘em, like ‘em, share ‘em, and comment. The Cray of the Dead God Teller started the careful process of wrapping the long strap of boaxhide around her midsection. Around, then over, then around, then over--the motions were familiar to her,... Continue Reading →
Play the Madness, Been Re-Reading Fables, A Cheap Trick, Tiny Lair, and Blessed Nonsense.
You can find the ever-growing list of “Better Than Nothing” items over on the right. Read ‘em, like ‘em, share ‘em, and comment. Kortholt of the Brigh Delac "The Congregation wiles and pomps, For ever day and shine again, When Revelrie and Revelire, Set to dance the feet of men, The king! The king! In tally... Continue Reading →
Study Hard, Mr Gorbechov Build Up That Wall, and There Aren’t Enough Nice Clothes…
You can find the ever-growing list of “Better Than Nothing” items over on the right. Read ‘em, like ‘em, share ‘em, and comment. Laffetr's Pince-Nez "He's over there..." Sabya called out, pointing with his larian-made sword toward the outcroppings overlooking the long valley. His comrades tensed. They did not like this place, nor did they like... Continue Reading →
Buying Swords is Dumb, Return of the Death Bear, and Everyone Has That One Player Who Wants To Do This Kind of Stuff…
You can find the ever-growing list of “Better Than Nothing” items over on the right. Read ‘em, like ‘em, share ‘em, and comment. Shandalplai "We lost everything, don't you understand that you hoke-jumped layabout!" To watch the unbridled rage of a "master of the arcane arts" was something more than funny to Pret. Of course, the... Continue Reading →
Liner Notes: The Role of Bards In A Setting
Medieval fantasy settings have bards. It's something that many players or Dungeon Masters might not even note anymore, especially as the class has been a staple of Dungeons & Dragons for so long now. It's been my experience, in fact, that the class really only comes up – in regards to how it fits the game – when the subject is "How do the various classes balance against eachother?" Like any other class, however, there is a ton of potential there for character backgrounds and conflict to be found if you just go digging around enough.
Showstopper, Still Watching Too Much Daredevil, and Power Is Neither Created Nor Destroyed…
You can find the ever-growing list of “Better Than Nothing” items over on the right. Read ‘em, like ‘em, share ‘em, and comment. Lament of Naamah As Raxaia took her first step toward the throngs of buzzing, salivating, angry things she could feel the tension in the air behind her. They were out-numbered ten or twelve... Continue Reading →
Data Is Beautiful – What’s In Stock For “Better Than Nothing” Items…
So, after 166 items in our "Better Than Nothing" category, we've put together a heat-map of the types and class distribution (more or less just for fun). We've tried to keep it balanced, so there's a little something for almost everyone--but there are some holes we'll expect to try and plug with the next few dozen.... Continue Reading →
Like in the Movies, Stealing Chance, and the Sound of Terror…
You can find the ever-growing list of “Better Than Nothing” items over on the right. Read ‘em, like ‘em, share ‘em, and comment. Hornwail Cord "What's to stop us just clubbin' that pretty face flat and tossin' whats left into the brine, neh?" First Mate Sorka's face was a deep rouge leather, hard-baked by decades of... Continue Reading →
Many-Sided Dice 