January Update
about 4 years ago – Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 06:08:04 PM

TL:DR - Carnival map sent out in Backers Only update, plus an extra map!

Hey everyone, 

The carnival map is ready! Throughout this campaign I have been fortunate to work with some amazing artist, and that trend continues with this map created by my friends at Natwuns. 

I have a breakdown of the map below, and will be sending out a second Backers Only update with a link to the files (grid and gridless). That update will use the keyword from the project's FAQ, an uncommon word that you could use to quickly search through your inbox for important updates. 

I also made a map for a recent campaign with my party which I wanted to include as an extra thank you to all of you =)

Carnival Map

Map Breakdown (unmarked files will be sent in the Backers Only email)

•  1 - Bull Pen, see how many rounds players can last on a creature of your choosing (see Gorgon MM 171 for mechanical bull). The creature rolls a Dexterity ability check, while the player makes a Dexterity saving throw for each round.  The space could also be set up as a petting zoo, or space for pony rides. 
•  2 - Archery Range, players can learn to use ranged weapons in a non-confrontational way. GM's can decide on the Difficulty Class necessary to hit.
•  3 - Merchant Shop, a gift store where players can purchase fair goods or perhaps some knock off magic items ;) This was meant to be a place where malfunctioning items could be obtained by players, or they could be won as prizes from the various games.
•  4 - Merry-Go-Round, not a carnival without one.
•  5 - Out House, placed strategically next to the merry-go-round, and across from the bar. Mechanics, I dunno... roll a Nature check (ha) to see what you're up to in there.
•  6 - Milk Bottle Game, general Strength or Dexterity roll to knock them down, or could be a good place for a Wisdom check if the bottles are glued together.
•  7 - Bar, great place to hear some gossip from loose tongues. Drink tickets could be given out as prizes with the hope that inebriated players would do worse on games and be more generous with their purses. Roll a Constitution check to see if your faculties are comprised, under a 10 and you take disadvantage on the next game you play. 
•  8 - Basket Toss, players need to roll between a 12-14 to get the ball in the basket, otherwise it falls short or bounces out.
•  9 - Stage, available for performances, or as a soapbox for players or NPCs. Great place to have a pillory for unruly carnival guests. 
•  10 - Strong Man Test, requires a Strength or Athletics roll and can range from kobold (1) to Giant (20) on the scale.
•  11 - Ski Ball, point targets are 5, 10, 15, 20. You pay for balls (D20s) and get points if you pass those threshold on the roll, eg. if you roll a 17 you score 15 points.
•  12- Whack-A-Mole, The GM rolls 6D6. The player then rolls 6D6 trying to match the numbers the GM has, indicating how many moles they've wacked. They can re-roll a number of dice equal to their Dexterity (mod).
•  13 - Fortune Teller, Players roll a D20 and results over 14 can be banked by the player to use as a roll in the future. If it's lower, then the GM can use that result in place of a player's roll in a future situation.
•  14 - Food Stall, at the entrance to entice people to enter the fair grounds. 

Balance Map

I created this map for a recent game, with the goal of providing a riddle and challenge to get the party to work together. It is a bridge that crosses over a lava pit with a circular platform in the middle. There are three versions of the map: line art, colored, and gridded.

The riddle "pass through fire or feed it's flames" circles the rune for Fire  on the center platform. Players either have to walk through the center rune, or create a flame on it to continued unharmed. If not, the bridge collapses leaving only the platform which is balanced on a rocky spire. Then they have to figure out a way to make it across to safety while making sure the platform doesn't tip over dropping them to their deaths. There is also a railing on the platform which could be held up by gargoyles that come to life attacking the players and making the balance portion more challenging. Additional maps of the broken bridge with just the platform, a titled platform, and no platform are included. 

PNGs of the flat and tilted platform have been made so you can move them around as you wish. Instead of trying to figure out the perspective myself I made a quick 3D model which I based the drawing off of.

Until soon!

Hamid

Kickstarter Community Award
over 4 years ago – Mon, Jan 03, 2022 at 05:28:45 PM

Hey everyone, 

Happy New Year, I hope you've had a wonderful start to your 2022. Recently I found out about the Kickstarter Community Award, and wanted to share the link. If you are able to recommend this project for the award that would be amazing!

KS Community Award Link

I'll have a regular update coming up in the middle of January with some pretty cool stuff I'm looking forward to sharing. 

Until soon, 

Hamid

December Update
over 4 years ago – Sat, Dec 18, 2021 at 09:20:10 AM

TL:DR - first look at your suggested items

Hey everyone, 

Together, as new items were unlocked during the campaign, all of you were able to submit and vote for ideas that would be included in the final set.  I'm happy to share some of your creations below!

Item Spotlights

Unstable Returning Weapon (John Paul L) - Can hit a creature behind total cover, but has a small chance of causing injury when it returns to the wielder 

Acid Quiver (Alim) - Will create acid-tipped arrows, but if left in too long they corrode and become unusable

Djinn Bottle (Rovinder) - An inebriated efreeti emerges and will respond based on its level of drunkenness 

Bell of Heat Metal (Sheldon H) - Being made of metal itself, this bell will most certainly maim an unsuspecting user

Work In Progress

•  Mask of Animals (Sandra BC) - Wildshape into a random animal not of your choosing 
•  Spectacles of Separation (Salima) - When separated you are able to see from one lens through the other, but your immediate field of vision remains blurred while the glasses are not intact
•  Friendship Bracelet of Spell Sharing (Ben) - Share known spells with a friend, at the cost of each expending a spell slot

•  Knucklebones of Anguish (Stella) - Provides divination insights at the cost of some health
•  Perfume Bottle (Anar) - The odor produced creates an area of effect where creatures take disadvantage
•  Signet Ring of Sealing (Al) - Can be used to magically seal an object with wax, requiring 1 hour of fire exposure to melt away

•  Derelict Crown (Jesus) - Gain 100 temp HP, any remaining HP is removed from your total health following a long rest possibly leading to death
•  Potion Decanter (Michael) - Turns water into a random potion, or poison indiscernible from a potion

Until soon!

Hamid

November Update
over 4 years ago – Mon, Nov 22, 2021 at 03:07:28 AM

TL:DR - Artwork coming along, map design will be a fair ground, item spotlights at end

Hey everyone, 

The last few updates focused on some of the peripheral aspects of the campaign, bonus cards and the map. I wanted to give you an update about the item cards themselves. Artwork continues to be created, and once it is all collected we will be speeding ahead. I have also been in contact with our manufacture to keep them up-to-date about our progress, so they'll be ready to go once it is in their hands. 

Map

By popular demand we will be creating a fair ground map. It should provide a nice downtime setting for your parties, with fun and game. I have been in touch with some very talented creators who will be doing the map for us, and will have more details in the future. 

 Double Item Spotlight 

Pacifist Blade

When stabbed with this blade, the attacker loses a hit dice which is immediately expended giving the rolled health to the target. Distrustful of your party's rogue? Have an accompanying NPC that you don't quite trust? Want to stage a fake altercation to sell a ruse? Then this is the blade for you. Never worry about being stabbed in the back again!

Amulet of the Bare

On the back of this amulet is inscribed the ability to teleport to an unoccupied space within range. Omitted from the properties is that it only transports non-living materials leaving players that don't fully investigate their items in a pickle. If ever heat metal is cast on you while wearing full plate armour, escape that oven prison in an instant. If you find yourself needing to sneak weapons into a restricted area, transport it magically ahead of time, then retrieve it once inside. 

Until soon, 

Hamid

October Update
over 4 years ago – Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 08:13:47 AM

TL:DR - artwork is making good progress, help decide the map design, item spotlight at the end

Hey everyone,

In the last update, I shared some of the work that is being done for the specialty cards. This update is going to focus on the map that was unlocked as our final stretch goal. I have a couple of concepts for maps that I have always wanted, but could not find elsewhere. You will see a breakdown of the two concepts down below.

I have also set up another poll where you can vote for the concept that you like best, or even suggest a new concept of your own. Throughout the Kickstarter, members of our community were able to submit ideas and vote for the items that they wanted to have included in the project. Our illustrators are working hard to complete those items, and I wanted to give you the same voice with regards to the map.

VOTE HERE

Traveling Fair/Carnival

This map would have tents, booths, or stations set up along a path, where players could engage in fun and games. The setting would be a great place to have players spend some downtime, or introduce younger players to combat mechanics without the typical violence (in a low-risk setting). For example, attack rolls could be used to hit targets in an archery range. You could distribute magic items by having them presented as prizes that could be won.

Thematic Ideas for this Map

• Zombies - You could use a map like this to put a scare in your players around the Halloween season. Imagine an abandoned amusement park that your players happen upon, unaware of the zombie clowns that lie in wait, ready to strike!
• The Fortune Teller - An idea I came across online recently, was that you could set up a fortune-telling booth that the players can engage with. Each player can have their fortunes told while they roll a D20, having their roll banked for use during a future encounter (at the DM's discretion).

Zoo

This map would be the container in which you house all the creatures you would dare gather in one place, in order to display for and entertain the attendees. You could use a map like this as a light-hearted setting for players to explore and learn, or turn it into an expedition where the players must contend with potentially dangerous obstacles. You could distribute magic items by having them sold at the zoo's gift shop, or even placed within the habitats of certain creatures who guard them as if they were their own.

Ideas for a Zoo Map

• The creatures have escaped and now need to be captured and returned to their habitats. The creatures can be scaled to your party's level, and range from Ape Escape to full on Jurassic Park.
• You could stage a heist of the zoo where your aim is to break out with an Ankheg without getting caught. Maybe some of your less scrupulous players promised a Monarch a stable full of Owlbears for their favour, and there is only one place to collect a large enough supply...

Item Spotlight

Medicinal Leach (not final version)

This parasitic worm allows you to transfer health and/or conditions from one creature to another of the same size or smaller.  Would you use it for good, curing a kind person of their blindness and passing it along to a more deserving evildoer, or selfishly use it to improve your health to the detriment of another?

Until soon,

Hamid