Got barely enough time to prepare the module? Want to include cool, evocative random encounters in your games, but just don’t have the time to prepare them? Bored of pointless random encounters comprising bands of generic monsters that only seem to exist to attack wandering PCs? Then Random Marsh Encounters is for you!

Presenting eight ready-to-use random encounters ranging in EL from 2 – 8 (and 16 stat blocks ranging from CR 1/2 – 8 ) all suitable for use in any marshland or swamp, Random Marsh Encounters takes the pressure off the time-crunched GM, enabling him to concentrate on crafting cool, evocative adventures!

Encounters include:

• Chanamas: Frog Prince…Of Darkness (EL 7): A polymorphed bone devil leads his gullible lizardfolk acolytes through the marsh in search of new recruits for his burgeoning kingdom.
• Events Come To A Head (EL 5): A band of kobold raiders with a bag of (regenerating) troll heads prove a surprising encounter!
• Forlorn Mother (EL 7): A distraught mother begs the PCs for aid in tracking down the evil crone Hassani who has just stolen her newborn child!
• Gnawing Father (EL 3): In a terrible rage, Tranek (husband of the Forlorn Mother) hacks his way through the swamp in search of his child. Woe betide any who get in his way for he is very hungry…
• Knightly Apparitions (EL 8 ): On an ancient battlefield lurk invisible, malicious and evil creatures that feed on the terror of those unfortunate enough to stumble into their lair.
• Resolute Crone (EL 8 ): A sodden camp in the depths of the swamp is home to the crone Hassani and her many children.
• Serpentine Sage (EL 6): The hydra diviner Chalos enjoys speaking with travellers…if he can resist the urge to eat them!
• Wanderer (EL 2): Bral, Warden of the Marsh, wanders his home, keeping it safe from those who would do it ill.

You can download a sample and check out the Contents here.

And don’t forget, Random Marsh Encounters is a Dual Format PDF and is included in Raging Swan’s Free PDFs promotion. It also comes with an additional PDF presenting all the product’s stat blocks so the GM can easily add the featured NPCs to his stat block library.

It can be downloaded here: aethericdreams.com/notc/_images/NotC_Rulebook-latest.pdf

And here’s a little bit about the setting…

“Nights of the Crusades is a roleplaying game set in a land and time that is familiar on the surface, but within its cracks lie tales of sorcery, madness and violence. It is a world that could have happened and then been lost to barbarity and time. Players take on characters that can explore its lands and plunder it for wealth or knowledge. The Tale-Weaver is their guide, plunging them into the horrors of war and fanaticism as they pursue their goals. The world is rife with dark cults, creatures that dwell in unseen places and bloodthirsty warriors. This is a time when anyone’s thoughts, from king to slave, are enough to condemn them to death and hell, and many are they that will line up to cheer the execution.

The setting of Nights of the Crusades is a mixture of the One Thousand and One Nights, the history surrounding the Crusades and both modern and ancient tales of terror. The rules reflect mature and gritty issues, including the psychological impacts of combat and killing. The gameplay also allows for tension in every form of conflict, whether verbal or physical, and the game becomes more complicated as the characters advance. A group of companions made up of an artist, diplomat and physician will be as enjoyable to play as one made up of a warrior, archer and thief.”

Ætheric Dreams are hoping that the interest RPGers had for settings like Dark Sun and Al-Quadim might make Nights of the Crusades appeal to players who like exotic fantasy set in grim, harsh environments.

Your PCs have set out on an ocean voyage in search of loot and glory. As they cruise the waves, they see a distant ship on the horizon and turn toward it. As they draw closer they can make out that the ship is a pirate vessel! At that point, they ask “So what’s the pirate ship like, anyway?”

So What’s The Pirate Ship Like, Anyway? answers this question by presenting tables to enable a busy time-pressured GM to quickly and easily generate the ship’s name, captain’s name, flag and figurehead as well as providing tables to enable the PCs to make Knowledge checks to learn more about the vessel – including the ship itself as well as the captain, crew and their exploits. (You even get three stat blocks of typical pirates to hurl against your PCs!)

If you are running a nautical-based adventure featuring pirates, So What’s The Pirate Ship Like, Anyway? is for you!

You can download a sample and check out the Contents here.

And don’t forget, So What’s The Pirate Ship Like, Anyway? is a Dual Format PDF and is included in
Raging Swan’s Free PDFs promotion.

So your PCs have wandered into a nearby town. Perhaps they are relaxing in the tavern talking with the locals, haggling with a merchant or trying to gather information about a nearby ruin from a sage. Then they ask “so what’s this bloke called, anyway?” At this point, the GM normally uses the first name that pops into his head (probably “Bob,” or the one he used minutes ago for another NPC) crushing the players’ suspension of disbelief.

So What’s The Human Called, Anyway? banishes this problems by providing 500 first names and 250 surnames and nicknames of Anglo-Saxon, Finnish, Greek, Roman and Viking origin. Divided by culture, these handy tables enables the busy GM to generate literally thousands of unique names for use in his campaign. Players can also use the tables herein to create cool names for their PCs that suit the background and flavour of their GM’s campaign.

You can download a sample and check out the Contents here.

And don’t forget, So What’s The Human Called, Anyway? is included in Raging Swan’s Free PDFs promotion.

The Demon of Duncallaich – The demon Kithreth lies trapped and bound to the soil of an ancient lost town Balyeux, which was destroyed during the Demongate Wars. Its taken many years for Kithreth to loosen his bonds but now he is slowly returning to the world and a cult is aiding his release. Can he succeed in his escape or will he be defeated – only you can find that answer!

Tales of Darkness contains two fantastic adventures for Triple Ace Games’ epic fantasy setting, Hellfrost.

2300AD games range from interstellar exploration and interstellar war, down to the gritty streets and the mega-cities of the human Core. This is a game about people, and their rise to the stars. Aliens are a part of the 2300AD milieu, but the focus of the game is on Humans.

2300AD strives to obey the laws of the universe as we know them. The stutterwarp drive, the technology that allows humanity to travel faster than light, is the sole departure from this. Some of the other technologies bend the laws a little, but that’s from the standpoint of the early 21st century. Three hundred years in the future is a long time. There are no blasters or laser swords in 2300AD, no magic anti-gravity or artificial gravity – just guns and helicopters, spin habitats and spaceplanes. At the same time, though, 2300AD is a game, not a hard-and-fast technical simulation.

The Traveller Core Rulebook is required to play 2300AD.

First of all I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time to write a Citation.

I know as much as the next person, that sometimes you just want to game. Why spend time discussing theory or best practices or which style of gaming is the best? Why spend time telling people about your session if a. they were there or b. they weren’t there and they may not care? Why spend time completing a review for people outside of your group who you will never game with?

Why? Because RP’ing is much more than just the game. It’s spending time with like minded (most of the time) people. It’s about sharing ideas to create something that everyone can enjoy. It’s about talking nonsense that means something. It’s about collaboration and cultivating this unique hobby so that it grows in a way we want it to grow and rewarding us with the games we want to see.

So thank you, you are the reason why this hobby is so much fun and you are the reason why I continue to be amazed, shocked, stunned and blown away by the quality and the thought behind the games out there today…I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

• UKRP forum contributor of the year: Neil Gow
• UKRP topic of 2011: Why aren’t you playing D&D?
• Best new rules design of 2011: Fatigue/Exhaustion rule (The One Ring)
• Best artwork in an RPG of 2011: The One Ring
• UKRP RP retailer of 2011: Leisure Games
• UKRP LARP designer of 2011: NO WINNER
• UKRP LARP of 2011: NO WINNER
• UKRP newcomer: NO WINNER
• UKRP Con of the year: Furnace
• UKRP Con GM of the Year: EvilGaz
• UKRP Con Player of the Year: Scott Dorward and Elina
• UKRP Game of the Year: Albion

The Order of the Dictum fights crime and corruption in a lawless society. They are the voice of the people, and an ally to those who desire law and order. But are they as benevolent as they seem? Is the code of order they seek to establish what the people truly want? A dark force lurks at the centre of this cult, and those that expect to find a kindred vigilant may instead discover too late that the people’s wants do not count at all. For all that counts for the Order of the Dictum is the law. The law of Havra Zhoul.

“I am Havra Zhoul. Respect me. Obey me. Fear me. If you are unpure, take your spouse and offspring and their offspring, and flee, for it will be your undoing to stand and fight. Flee as fast and far as you can run, and faster and further still! Lest I track you down and slay you, you and your kin, until all discord is purged from this realm. And if, instead, you are pure, and free of the taint of chaos, then flock to me. Bow down and subject yourself to my edicts, to my commands, to my word. For my word is law.”

The Dictum – Section 1: Introductions

You can download a sample and check out the Contents here.

And don’t forget, Cultists of Havra Zhoul is a Dual Format PDF and is included in Raging Swan’s Free PDFs promotion. Villains III also comes with an additional PDF presenting all the product’s stat blocks so the GM can easily add the featured NPCs to his stat block library.

Your PCs have final emerged from the dungeon laden with loot prised from the clutches of their slain foes. Heroically returning to civilisation, they find a tavern, divide up their loot and relax. Then they ask “So what are the people like here, anyway?” At this point, the GM likely panics and either replies “nothing special” or improvises a series of similar, one-dimensional (and ultimately forgettable) NPCs. (After all, most GMs have got barely enough time to prepare the next adventure; preparing dozens of NPCs the PCs might interact with is likely a long way down their “to do” list.)

So What’s the NPC Like, Anyway? banishes this problem! Within, you’ll find tables designed to enable the busy GM to quickly and simply create hundreds of memorable, rounded NPCs. With just a few dice rolls, the GM can generate an NPC’s notable physical traits, personality traits, mannerisms, current activity and profession, leaving him more time to concentrate on the adventure at hand!

You can download a sample and check out the Contents here.

And don’t forget, So What’s The NPC Like, Anyway? is a Dual Format PDF and is included in Raging Swan’s Free PDFs promotion.