Tag Archives: swords and sorcery

Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery Edition Now Available For Free Download

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Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery is now available. This version of Microlite74 is designed for Swords & Sorcery settings. If the fantasy stories of Robert E. Howard, Fritz Lieber, Clark Ashton Smith, C.L. Moore, Karl Edward Wagner, and David Gemell are more to your taste that those of Tolkein or Eddings, this version of Microlite74 may be just what you are looking for. Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery is based on Microlite74 Extended 3.0 but with many special rules designed for Swords & Sorcery style campaigns. For example, there are only two classes (Adventurer and Sorcerer) and 6 levels, magic is limited … Continue reading →

Microlite74 Swords and Sorcery RC2 This Weekend

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My plans to only have two release candidates have already gone up in smoke. Proofreaders with actual proofreading ability (unlike me) have found large numbers of major issues. Things like references to clerics in the monster listing, saving throw issues, etc. Lots of “clean-up” stuff from the changes between standard Microlite74 and the Swords and Sorcery rules that I never even noticed. Have I mentioned that I’m horrible at proofreading? A much cleaned up Release Candidate 2 should be out this weekend.

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Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea PDF Available

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My PDF copy of Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea is downloading now. 80+ megs in a zip file. It was only $10 on RPGNow/Drivethru. Here’s a link to the Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea page on RPGNow. The download has finished so I’m off to look at the rules.

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Microlite 74 Swords & Sorcery Release Candidate 1 Available (Free Download)

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The first “release candidate” version of Microlite74 3.0 Swords & Sorcery is now available for download. For those who haven’t been following my blog posts on this new variant of Microlite74 3.0, Microlite74 3.0 Swords & Sorcery is a special edition of Microlite74 focused on campaigns in a “swords & sorcery” setting. That is, it is designed for “gritty” campaigns with characters who are mercenaries, scoundrels, and explorers out to stay alive and increase their money supply, not for campaigns about heroes questing to save the world from the return of the Dark Lich. In other words, Microlite74 3.0 Swords … Continue reading →

Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery Edition Beta 2 Available

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The second beta version of Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery is available for free public download. Draft copies of “between betas” work will still be available to RetroRoleplaying Cancer Fund donors. This beta incorporates feedback from donors and from members of my Sunday group of players. However, the rules are still “very beta” and will be subject to many changes based on further thought on my part and feedback from those who download the betas and choose to give me comments and ideas. New material for this beta version is mainly in the monsters and magic items area, although some new/modified … Continue reading →

Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery Edition Beta 1 Available

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The first beta version of Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery is available for free public download. Draft copies of “between betas” work will still be available to RetroRoleplaying Cancer Fund donors. This beta incorporates feedback from donors and from members of my Sunday group of players. However, the rules are still “very beta” and will be subject to many changes based on further thought on my part and feedback from those who download the betas and choose to give me comments and ideas. One already noticeable change is in the classes. The Physical Combat Bonus (PCB) and Magical Combat Bonus (MCB) … Continue reading →

Microlite74: Swords & Sorcery Edition Design Begins

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The reaction to my recent post on a Microlite74 Edition designed for “Swords & Sorcery” genre play has been very positive. I’m happy to announce that I have started to work on it. So far, work consists on taking a copy of Microlite74 Extended Edition and starting to trim material from the document that will not be needed in a Microlite74 Swords & Sorcery Edition and beginning to give some careful thought to what is needed to give the game a more swords & sorcery feel. Your input will be welcome. As with previous Microlite74 projects, I will be talking … Continue reading →

Microlite74: How about a Swords and Sorcery Edition?

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I’ve been asked if I could make a “Swords ansd Sorcery Edition” of Microlite74 by someone who would be willing to donate a few very nice AD&D items for a Cancer Fund drive. He’s asked that a Microlite74: Swords and Sorcery Edition have characteristics like these: * Based on Microlite74 Extended* Like “E6”, be limited to 6th level with advancement thereafter be limited to things like talents and action points.* Player characters should be human and limited to two classes: Adventurer (think Fighter) and Sorceror (magic-user with access to both arcane and divine magic). Backgrounds could be used to create … Continue reading →

Legends of Steel – Barbarians of Lemuria Edition

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Barbarians of Lemuria is a surprisingly simple and robust swords & sorcery RPG. It’s one of the best non-retroclone RPGs if you want to do swords & sorcery. This new PDF combines the Barbarians of Lemuria rules with the excellent Legends of Steel setting: Legends of Steel – Barbarians of Lemuria Edition. Evil DM Productions has teamed up with Beyond Belief Games to bring you Legends of Steel – Barbarians of Lemuria Edition. Now you will be able to adventure in the Sword & Sorcery world of Erisa with heroes created using the highly acclaimed and innovative engine from The … Continue reading →

Astounding Tales: Back to The Drawing Board

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My busy holiday season with a sick foster dog and relatives in town has kept me from posting much more about my ideas for Astounding Tales of Swords and Sorcery. I’m sorry to report that this may have been a good thing. We held a few playtest sessions with a couple of free members from my OD&D game. We discovered a number of problems. Players consider the hit dice system “too fiddly”. The magic system just does not work well. It is far too easy to cast high level spells as rituals. Characters have a good number of hit points, … Continue reading →