Against the Starmaster news

Against the Darkmaster (VsD) is one of my favourite role-playing games of the 21st Century (matched only by Mythras). I’m currently running a long-term campaign for it (it’s been going on for over three years now) and recently ran a two-year campaign set in Middle-earth (information for both campaigns are available via links on the righthand side of this blog). While VsD is clearly inspired – mechanically and thematically – by ICE’s Middle-earth Roleplaying (MERP) RPG from the 1980s and 1990s (it’s easy to use old MERP material with VsD), it’s nonetheless not a “retro-clone” as it modifies many elements of MERP and introduces some of its own mechanics, perhaps the most impactful being “drive points” and associated “heroic paths.” 

Since I’ve posted quite a bit about VsD already, I won’t continue rambling about it now. But I mention it because the producers of VsD – Open Ended Games (OEG) – are developing a game that uses the VsD rules but adapts them for the “space opera” genre (the original Star Wars trilogy appears to be a primary inspiration). I’ve mentioned this RPG – called (appropriately enough) Against the Starmaster – here before. But I mention it again now because there are some new developments that I thought might be of interest to some readers.

First, a new version of the playtest ruleset is available here. The picture above is taken from the sample adventure. 

Second, there is an interview with the game’s lead designer Massimiliano Caracristi at Geek Native.

Finally, a Kickstarter campaign for VsS starts on 23 November 2026 (link). I backed the Kickstarter campaign for Secrets of the Golden Throne, and Open Ended Games did a great job in fulfilling that project, so I have full confidence that the Kickstarter process will help support an excellent final rulebook.

For what it’s worth, here is my very brief review of the playtest rules (which I previously posted on DrivethruRPG):

An excellent adaptation of the Against the Darkmaster rules to the space opera genre. 

Against the Starmaster (VsS) employs a straightforward unified mechanic: roll 1d100 and add/subtract modifiers. But rolls can “explode” at the extremes, leading to “open ended” results (i.e., an unmodified roll of 1-5 prompts a second roll that is subtracted from that amount; an unmodified roll of 96-100 prompts a second roll that is added to that amount; etc.). These can produce wonderfully unpredictable and memorable outcomes in play, as extreme successes or failures differ from standard successes or failures. 

For characters, VsS is a skill-based system, wherein skill selection and progression is organised via “vocations” (rogue, champion, mystic, etc.) and levels. There are a lot of charts (the system is a descendant in many ways of RPGs like MERP, Rolemaster, and Spacemaster). However, in VsS these are clear and easy to use. The critical strike charts are vivid and colourful. (E.g., the most lethal result for “Blast”: “A cataclysmic shockwave rips the target apart. Death is immediate and violent. Nothing remains but ash. Need a dustpan?”)

While the combat system can be brutal, “drive points” can be used by players to reroll certain results. Acting on the characters' “passions” can replenish such points. So while combat is dangerous, the heroes have resources – albeit limited in nature (no more than 5 drive points can be accumulated at any given time) – to engage in actions of derring-do.

There is no system quite like it out there today. Highly recommended!

(Note that these are the playtest rules. So rules on character creation, etc., are not included. However, a number of pre-generated characters are provided, as is an introductory adventure.)

Overall, and especially with respect to role-playing games, I generally am much more of a fan of the fantasy genre than I am of pulpy space opera. So, part of me wishes that OEG’s focus had remained on producing more VsD material (e.g., a bestiary, more adventures, perhaps a proper setting book) instead of a different game. Nonetheless, variety is the spice of life, and having looked at the rules, I now anticipate someday running a VsS campaign for a change of pace. The first two Star Wars films (and especially The Empire Strikes Back) remain favourites of mine. And even though I think that most Star Wars movies and shows have been rubbish after 1980 (Return of the Jedi is barely tolerable), both Rogue One and Andor were excellent. (I also quite like the Dune films, another inspiration cited for the rules.) So, I can see the appeal of a campaign of high adventure involving some plucky and determined rebels against a galaxy-spanning evil imperial order!

Crypts and Things: Deal of the Day at DriveThruRPG

I thought that I would mention that my favourite OSR ("Old School Renaissance") RPG -- Crypts and Things -- is currently on sale (60% off the PDF!) at DriveThruRPG.

Of course, I may be a bit biased, as a number of my swords & sorcery house rules were incorporated into the game. (Annoyingly, my nom de plume is spelled "Araskia" in the credits. *sigh*)

Alas, the sale ends in about fifteen hours (around 11 am EST, 3 October 2026). 

Happy Hobbit Day

Today is the birthday of those two most famous of all hobbits: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Hence, ‘Hobbit Day’. Also, yesterday (21 September 2026) was the 89th anniversary of the first publication of The Hobbit (1937). 

The Hobbit was the first ‘proper’ novel that I independently read all the way through as a child (that is, something that was not assigned in school and not a ‘children’s book’), so it has a special place in my heart. I’ve been a fan of Middle-earth for longer than I’ve played role-playing games. Together, they constitute two of my most enduring passions. But I must confess that I sometimes am nostalgic for the era (pre-movie trilogy) when Middle-earth was still not ‘mainstream’ and exploited for popular consumption.  

[Hobbit poster by J Cauty]

Pete Fenlon on the Rise and Fall of Iron Crown Enterprises

Throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s, Iron Crown Enterprises was my favourite role-playing company. Of course, like most, I started out in this hobby playing Dungeons and Dragons, and I bought a lot of books and games from TSR during the 1980s – not just for AD&D (although that certainly was my focus), but other games as well, like Star Frontiers and Gamma World. Many of Gary Gygax’s classic AD&D books and modules I cherish to this day. I also was a fan of a few Chaosium games, and I had a strange fondness for Gamelords’ Thieves’ Guild products. I remember liking SPI’s Dragonquest as well (and still have the softcover rulebook – purchased forty-three years ago! – on my bookshelf). At some point in the late 1980s and well into the 1990s I became somewhat interested in GURPS, and was always impressed by their sourcebooks. But overall, well into the late 1990s (a time when I wasn’t gaming that often but always wished I was), I was most loyal to ICE’s Middle-earth Roleplaying (MERP) and (to a somewhat lesser extent) Rolemaster and Shadow World. (I also owned and liked the original Spacemaster but I never actually played it.) In fact, I followed ICE until it ultimately went bankrupt. (I also remained interested in what ICE produced when it was later resurrected – I bought Rolemaster Classic and Rolemaster Express two decades ago – but by that time I wasn’t really playing Rolemaster or MERP. My last, short-lived MERP campaign was in 1999.)

The driving force behind the original ICE was Pete Fenlon. In addition to running the company for about eighteen years, he helped to design Rolemaster – and of course he created all those beautiful Middle-earth maps! Indeed, Fenlon’s amazing mapwork earned him spot number four on my list of “top 5” fantasy role-playing artists. (Angus McBride’s wonderful covers for many of ICE’s MERP books earned him second place.)

Recently I discovered (thanks to a post by “Mankcam” at the RPG Pub) an illuminating interview with Pete Fenlon (by Wolfshield Games) on Youtube. It’s in three parts, with each part about 31-35 minutes long – so it’s a pretty informative and involved discussion.

Here is where you can find the three parts: 

1. Part One: The Birth of Iron Crown Enterprises (link).
2. Part Two: The Rise of Iron Crown Enterprises (link).
3. Part Three: The Fall of Iron Crown Enterprises (link).

I was already familiar with some of the events described by Fenlon (e.g., the reasons for ICE’s financial troubles and the eventual loss of the Middle-earth license). But there was a lot of new information (for me, at least)!

Here are some of the things that came up that I found especially noteworthy:

• Apparently TSR, and especially David Sutherland, were impressed by the early drafts of Arms Law (the combat system for Rolemaster) and the Vog Mur mini-setting (eventually part of ICE’s “Loremaster” series, and then Shadow World). But TSR could only offer a small amount of money at the time and so Fenlon (and “Iron Crown Productions”) declined. It’s probably a good thing that TSR failed to offer enough money to purchase that early version of Rolemaster. ICE needed to be the autonomous to properly create the game. But I can’t help but wonder how different the history of role-playing games would’ve been had TSR been able to make a decent offer at the time.

• ICE acted fast when SPI lost the license to produce Middle-earth games. Even though TSR acquired SPI, Fenlon knew that Tolkien Enterprises (which controlled the license) had had a somewhat antagonistic relationship with TSR, thanks the use of “hobbits,” “balrogs,” and the like in early D&D products. So Fenlon judged that if they made a decent offer Tolkien Enterprises would be happy to pass the license on to ICE rather than TSR. 

• ICE managed to make a deal with Dragon magazine that secured for them the full back cover of every issue (starting around number 67, I think) for their advertisements. They held that “space” for many years (certainly for as long as I read Dragon). I suspect that those gorgeous full-page ads helped MERP to become the second-best selling fantasy role-playing game during the late 1980s.

• It seems that Fenlon never really stopped working on his detailed map of Middle-earth and now has somehow returned to a situation where he may be able to legally make it available. (The precise details are a bit unclear to me – I’d have to listen to the second interview again, and even then, I doubt I’d fully be able to follow the chain of events.) If this is so, this is extremely exciting news! The release of a full “Fenlonian” map of Middle-earth would be a dream come true.

Even if you weren’t a fan of ICE or MERP the interview is well worth listening, in my opinion, if you’re interested in the history of role-playing games. The history of TSR has been documented extensively in recent years (and rightfully so, given its central importance in the creation and development of the hobby). It’s great that we’re learning about some of the other important games and companies from the early years (I would say the “Golden Age”) of RPGs as well.

Open00 System Reference Document for Against the Darkmaster now available

Here’s some Against the Darkmaster (VsD) news that may be of interest to anyone (a) interested in looking at the game’s mechanics for free (although a “pay what you want” PDF of the “quick start” rules is available at DrivethuRPG), (b) having easy access to the rules online, or (c) interested in possibly creating something for VsD, either for sale or to post online.

An SRD – “System Reference Document” – is now available from the good folks at Open Ended Games!

My Top-5 Roleplaying Games of All Time

Over at the “RPG Pub” there is a thread asking people to post their top-five favourite role-playing games of all time.

Here’s my list. Reflecting on the role-playing games that I’ve played over the past forty-five years or so, I’d say that my top five have to be the following:

Middle-earth Roleplaying (MERP)/Against the Darkmaster (VsD)

My first “real” campaign involved MERP and ICE’s beautiful maps and detailed campaign modules. MERP – and its descendant VsD – captures what I like the most about Rolemaster – the flexible class-based character development system; the detailed, vivid critical hit charts; the overall coherent rules framework – but without the large volume of charts and details that (IME) bogged down RM in actual play.

Some of my fondest memories of playing RPGs involve MERP and my two favourite campaigns of all time as GM (one still ongoing) use VsD.

Mythras 

I started playing this in 2011 – back when it was still being published by Mongoose and was called RuneQuest II (i.e., MRQII) – and haven’t stopped since. I’ve played in campaigns set in the Young Kingdoms (“Elric”), Mythic Britain, Mythic Babylon, Beyond the Mountains of Madness (the CoC campaign adapted to Mythras), and now Lyonesse, as well as in several “one-shots” or short campaigns (Mythic Greece, Luther Arkwright, Meeros, etc.). A really excellent system overall.

Call of Cthulhu

I haven’t played CoC since 2017 and I’m in no rush to do so again soon. But I’ve run a lot of CoC over the years – almost always as GM (er, “Keeper”) – and I’ve always really enjoyed it. I’m pretty sure it’s the game I’ve run the third most often (after MERP/VsD and AD&D). The scenarios are generally excellent (although some needed work). My only regret is that I have yet to run one of the “classic” campaigns for it (although I did play through BMoM using Mythras).

Dungeons & Dragons/Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (TSR era)

Like most RPGers, I started with D&D and spent a lot of my early gaming days (the early 1980s) playing and running AD&D (and I’ve returned to it from time to time since then). Reading Gygax’s hardbound volumes not only improved my vocabulary as a wee lad, but also sparked my imagination. They were the works of a disorganized creative genius. I still treasure the classic modules from that era as well. Although aspects of the system never failed to frustrate me, the game will always have a special place in my heart.

Stormbringer/Elric!/Hawkmoon/Corum 

(i.e., BRP “Eternal Champions” games)

I don’t really have any interest in running these BRP RPGs now – Mythras has largely filled that space for me – but I still have these books and really enjoyed these (closely related) games back in the day. 

There are other games that I like and other games I hope to try – but these are the games that I consider my all-time favourites.

Feel free to post your "top-5" lists in the comments, if you like. I'd be curious to learn what games have stood "the test of time" for you.

Against the Court of Urdor – Part 6

The Return to Prince Berethil’s Barrow and the Journey to Taaliraan

Our protagonists – Einar Quicksilver, the Green Elf rogue of Koronande, and Kiren Hammerstone, the Dwarf animist from the Halls of Pale Steel – have accomplished many things in the past month:

• The two adventurers were magically coerced by the vile Tantûraki necromancer Zepheus to raid the Barrow of the Elf Prince Berethil – only to escape with the help of Berethil’s ghost. The ghost asked the duo to return the crown of Queen Blàithnaid – which the prince had stolen from his older sister a thousand years ago – to her in the northern Cursed Lands. They agree and take the crown made of entwined white branches with them. (Part 1.)

• Einar and Kiren encountered the Company of the Morning Star, travelled to Korlax’s Haven, and helped the bard Blarth recover his harp from some fiendish redcaps – but at the cost of poor Blarth’s life. In the process, the two adventurers liberated the half-orc Krumm and the pixie Neriss. (Part 2.)

• The duo travelled through the Cursed Lands with Neriss, eventually arriving at the town of Dawnfell. There Neriss was taken hostage by the town’s leader, Brynjar, who demanded that Einar and Kiren recover the town’s protective artifact, the Dawnchime. The adventurers then went to the elvish village Crystal Glade, where Einar met his cousin Nuriel, the village’s leader. An important artifact of the village, the Dragon’s Eye, had recently been taken by raiding trolls. From a prisoner, the group learns that the trolls are working with a band of human brigands, the “Dread Wolves,” all under the guidance of the vile Zepheus. (Part 3.)

• With the help of the Wyrdwood guardian Aleisa and an intelligent macaw Quiss, the adventurers recovered the Dawnchime from some trolls holed up in a ruined Tantûraki temple. Returning the Dawnchime to Brynjar, the party then helped the elves of Crystal Glade and the men of Dawnfell capture the “Dread Wolves” and recover the Dragon’s Eye. At the urging of the gnome “Grizzy,” Neriss then decided to return to her Faerie Mound. Kiren acquired a falcon companion named Miranda. Having successfully reconciled the Crystal Glade and Dawnfell, Einar and Kiren travelled to the Tower of the Morning Star where they met with some members of the Company of the Morning Star, including the ranger Karos. The adventures then journeyed on to the Tantûraki town of Soggy Fields. (Part 4.)

• Einar and Kiren travelled to Misty Vale. While there, they solved the mystery of the “Beast of the Lake,” helped (and was helped by) the herbwife Eileen, discovered that the village’s leader Wulfric is secretly in league with Zepheus, who seeks the legendary “Elfstone,” and recovered the true Warden’s pendant from the Warden’s Mound south of the village. Most impressively, the adventurers travelled to the Isle of the Lake of Mists, which they learned is a fragment from the plane of Faerie. There, they returned the white crown to Queen Blàithnaid. Moved by this act, she lifted the curse on her brother, and gave the Elfstone and a mighty enchanted blade, the “Queen’s Thorn,” to the adventurers. Her spirit then passed onto Fairie, her body transforming into a thicket with flowering white roses. (Part 5.)

[The Cursed Lands] 

27th February 1000 2AH (Second Age of Humanity): 

While at the Tower of the Morning Star, Kiren and Einar meet with Bleys, Karos, and Onshay of the Company of the Morning Star. The duo relates their recent adventures in Misty Vale and the various things that they learned there about the machinations of Zepheus. (Kiren, however, is careful to gloss over the “flaming outhouse” incident, as he is somewhat ashamed of what happened there.) The members of the Company are most impressed! Karos decides to lead a group of fifteen soldiers to drive Wulfric and his henchmen out of the vale and discover the fate of his friend Nevynn the Wise. Kiren and Einar give Karos the Medallion of the Warden to give to Eileen while there. 

[Misty Vale]

In recognition of their impressive deeds, Karos declares the two adventurers “Friends of the Company” and they are given permanent private quarters in the tower. Kiren and Einar mention their forthcoming plans: to go to Prince Berethil’s barrow to inform the ghost that his curse has been lifted, and then to journey to the elven port of Tilvirin to give the Elfstone of Queen Blàithnaid to Prince Eldanar. Karos recommends that they go to the Manor of the Elf Lord Laurre Menelrana for counsel before proceeding to Tilvirin.

[Karos]

28th February 1000 2AH: 

While enjoying their new permanent quarters in the tower, the halfling servant Cora tells Einar and Kiren that there are some “rather strange” travellers staying in the Evening Star inn looking for them. Within one of the inn’s booths the duo encounters three faeries: their pixie friend Neriss, her brother Nervo, and the gnarly gnome Grizzy. Neriss explains that she came looking for the adventurers when she heard her magic whistle blown three days ago.

[Neriss]

The adventurers chat with the wee fey folk. Grizzy is intrigued by the connection of the Isle of the Lake of Mists to the plane of Faerie. The gnome encourages the pixies to accompany him to the island to explore the possibility of moving their faerie settlement there. Grizzy also advises Kiren in the ways of animist magic. The dwarf tells the fairies that Eileen and Padraig are trustworthy folk within the mannish settlement near the lake. 

[Grizzy]

1st March 1000 2AH:

Grizzy, Neriss, and Nervo depart the Tower of the Morning Star for the Lake of Mists.

2nd – 6th March 1000 2AH:

Einar and Kiren rest, recover, and reflect at the tower. 

[Kiren]

7th March 1000 2AH:

Karos departs from the tower with fifteen mounted soldiers to rid Misty Vale of the malevolent presence of Wulfric and his lackies.

Kiren and Einar travel south to Triumvir Town. There, at the Evening Song inn, Kiren tells Marda the innkeeper and Jabbo “the Far-Walker” about the fight with the ghouls back at the Warden’s Mound. Alas, his attempt is an abject failure: the two do not belief the dwarf. Fortunately, Einar salvages the awkward social situation with some smooth talking. 

[Einar]

8th March 1000 2AH:

While in Triumvir Town, the duo visits their friend Xerric. The Arsilonian scholar is most impressed by the tale related to him, especially the role of Einar and Kiren in returning the white crown to Queen Blàithnaid and thereby ending the curse on Prince Berethil. In return for this news, Xerric gives the adventurers a golden quill. The quill is magical: if tapped three times an unending supply of ink will be provided at its tip; if tapped once the ink will disappear. 

[Xerric]

Later the same day, taking advantage of the pleasant weather, the adventurers travel to Korlax’s Haven. They reach the small settlement just before dusk. Einar impresses the gruff dwarven guards with the tale of Blarth. Aethelia the herbalist greets the two adventurers warmly and is told of their exploits since their last meeting, four weeks earlier. She is in awe of the two’s daring and bravery, and agrees to accompany them to Tilvirin, where she is from. But first she must properly store her herbs, unguents, potions, and other supplies, which will take a few days.

9th – 11th March 1000 2AH:

The party rests in Korlax’s Haven for a couple of days.

12th March 1000 2AH:

Einar and Kiren head east. By late afternoon a fog has descended. Nonetheless, by the end of the afternoon, the party successfully reaches the pentagon where they first met Karos, Evrix, and Zephyr just over a month ago. The adventurers cannot believe that so little time has passed since that fateful encounter!

13th March 1000 2AH:

The duo heads into the jungle. After a day of difficult travel, they make camp. Chittering and other disturbing noises are heard off in the darkness.

14th March 1000 2AH:

The jungle air is thick and damp as the duo reaches the site of Prince Berethil’s barrow. An eldritch black cloud hovers over the barrow. Sensing great danger within the cloud, the two adventurers sneak up to the doorway. Einar opens the door by placing his elvish hands on it and the two enter. The ghost of Prince Berethil greets the party and thanks them profusely for bringing about an end to his thousand-year curse. He releases the Tantûraki undead from his service. Before he departs for Faerie, the ghost gives his white Elbrinth wood armour and sword to the duo. The skeletal remains of Prince Berethil then collapse into dust. 

After recovering the dice from the now immobile skeleton guards, Einar and Kiren deliberate about what to do next. They go to the preservation chamber and find shattered urns. It appears that Prince Berethil’s heart and brain have been stolen! The adventurers take the tapestry of Faerie. Kiren uses the Elfstone to travel with Einar back to the Tower of the Morning Star via the Ethereal realm. (They actually appear a few miles south of the tower, but are unscathed if weary.)

By dusk Einar and Kiren are in the common room of the inn of the Evening Star where they enjoy a brisk drink together. Kiren retires for the night while the elf lingers, listening to the comely Hathorian minstrel Lena sing “The Ballad of Blarth the Bard.” Moved, Einar tells Lena of his adventurers since their last encounter. A spark is lit between the two and a night of passion follows. 

[Lena]

15th March 1000 2AH:

The duo meets with Bleys, Wylane, and Onshay of the Company of the Morning Star. Bleys reacts with alarm to the news that Prince Berethil’s brain and heart have been taken. He also suspects that a demon of some kind has been bound to the barrow. He and Onshay praise the adventurers on their clever escape using the Elfstone. Einar and Kiren agree to accompany Onshay on her journey to the village of Green Shields, in the south of the Cursed Lands, where she is to meet up with Evrix and deliver weapons to the village’s leader, Lord Vilm.

[Bleys]

16th March 1000 2AH:

Kiren and Einar relax and prepare for their journey in the Tower of the Morning Star.

17th March 1000 2AH:

The three travellers head south to Triumvir Town where they obtain lodging at the Evening Song inn. While in town, the duo meets again with Xerric the loremaster. Xerric examines the Elbrinth wood sword and explains that it is capable of taking different forms: those of a scimitar, a longsword, and a greatsword. Moreover, he notes that the enchanted wood is harder than steel and will never dull. 

18th March 1000 2AH:

The group travels to Korlax’s Haven. There Kiren and Einar are reuninted with Aethelia, whom they update on their adventure at the Prince Berethil’s barrow. They give her the prince’s Elbrinth sword in gratitude for her willingness to accompany them to Tilvirin.

[Aethelia]

While relaxing at the Storm’s End inn, both adventurers notice that they are being observed by a well-dressed Arsilonian. Einar chats with the fellow, who introduces himself as “Torth.” Kiren cases a spell and discerns that Torth is in fact a servant of darkness! The dwarf confronts the Arsilonian; the latter reacts negatively and storms out of the inn in irritation. The party learns from the innkeeper Wakkim that Torth visits the hamlet occasionally. Disturbed by the encounter, the party rests for the night.

19th March 1000 2AH:

The party of four – Einar, Kiren, Onshay, and Aethelia – departs Korlax’s Haven. Kiren instructs his falcon Miranda to fly about, keeping her eyes out for any sign of Torth. 

Halfway to Green Shields the group is attacked by a bomb-throwing dwergar, a murder of gorcrows, the vile sorcerer Torth, and a faceless demon! The fight is difficult: Aethelia’s hand is broken by one of the dwergar’s explosions, one of the horses is slain, and Onshay’s hand is badly damaged while grappling with the demon. While the dwergar, demon, and gorcrows eventually are vanquished, Torth transforms into a great black hawk and flees from the ambush site. Athelia and Onshay are partially healed by the ancient elvish wine that Einar and Kiren had obtained from Prince Berethil’s barrow. Kiren heals the surviving horse. 

[Faceless demon]

Hours later the battered band reach Green Shields. Onshay, Kiren, and Einar go to see Lord Vilm and Evrix at the town’s manor house while Aethelia rests at the Soothing Songs inn.  Recent developments are discussed by the group, and Lord Vilm invites the travellers to stay the night. A magnificent dinner is enjoyed by all (except Aethelia, who remains at the inn). That evening, Onshay boldly knocks on Kiren’s bedroom door, and the two dwarves enjoy a lustful night involving little sleep.

[Onshay]

20th – 26th March 1000 2AH:

Evrix and Onshay depart Green Shields to head north back to the Tower of the Morning Star. Einar, Kiren, and Aethelia stay in the small town while Aethelia’s wrist mends. 

27th March – 3rd April 1000 2AH:

The trio travels south. Kiren spots a giant eagle with a rider flying high above. Aethelia reassures the dwarf that it is an eagle rider of Taaliraan, patrolling the northern boundary of the elvish realm. Soon after, the travellers reach the great elvish fortress, The Eye of Taaliraan. They stay at the Gentle Breeze inn, which is near the fortress.

The next day the party enters the realm of Taaliraan. They travel to the village of Maethling, where they stay at the Silver Harp inn. Then they continue southwards, leaving the jungle behind and entering the rolling hills and vineyards that constitute the heart of the realm. Aethelia seems happy to be back in her homeland and relates some of its history to her companions.

By mid-morning of the third day of April, the group reaches the Vale of Tumlinde, the location of the manor of the ancient and mighty Lord Laurre Menelrana. 

------------------------------------------

HEREIN ENDS THE FIRST BOOK OF AGAINST THE COURT OF URDOR: TALES OF THE CURSED LANDS.

THE NEXT BOOK: MISSIONS FOR THE GUILD OF ELEMENTS.

------------------------------------------

Notes:

The master page for the World of Ukrasia and this campaign is here. (Links to other log posts can be found on the master page.)

The “Court of Urdor” setting (including the central part of the island) draws upon – but significantly modifies – ICE’s 1981 Court of Ardor campaign module by Terry Amthor. The map of the “Cursed Lands” is from the module’s main map, by Peter Fenlon. (I added a number of new locations to the “Cursed Lands” map – it should be obvious which ones are not part of the original map.)

I drew the map of Misty Vale; many of its locations are from the adventure included in the Against the Darkmaster core rulebook.

The picture of Grizzy is from the book Secrets of the Golden Throne from Open Ended Games. The picture of the faceless demon is from the Against the Darkmaster core book (also from Open Ended Games). The picture of Aethelia is by Stephanie Brown (found on the web). The pictures of Karos and Kiren are from the Baldur’s Gate II Enhanced Edition CRPG. The pictures of Einar and Onshay are from the Neverwinter Nights Enhanced Edition CRPG. The other portraits are from a “mod” for BGIIEE (found on the web – I don’t know where they’re originally from, unfortunately). 

Yes I am still alive. And Happy Canada Day!

The first half of 2026 was a bit overwhelming as I frequently had piles of (soul crushingly boring) administrative work to do. (Sorry for mentioning this again – I know that I’ve whined about this here before and promise that this will be the last time.)

 
I hope that things will be a bit more manageable for the second half of the year. And while blogging has been sparse, I have managed to maintain a more-or-less regular gaming schedule. Both of the campaigns with which I’m involved – the Against the Darkmaster campaign that I’m running and the Lyonesse campaign that I’m playing in – have managed to meet one to three times every month (usually twice). 

Now that it’s summer, I’m really hoping to update my logs (adventure summaries) for my Ukrasia and Middle-earth campaigns (the latter one is now on hiatus), as well as write up a conclusion and final overview for my Greyhawk campaign (which ended, *gulp*, almost three years ago!). 

To celebrate the end of our terms, my wife and I just spent a little time in Montreal, enjoying some good food, company, a museum visit, and a couple of long walks.

Below are two photos from that visit:

The view from Le Réservoir, where I always get a few pints when in town. 

A picture of me with a Cthulhu-ish octopus in the Pointe-à-Callière Museum.  

I hope that all is well with you, that you’re enjoying the World Cup, some fun role-playing games, pints of decent ale, sunsets at a cottage, or whatever brings you joy.

And Happy Canada Day eh! 

🇨🇦

Lords of Chaos! Free League also producing a Stormbringer game?

Well this is a bit confusing. Just two days ago I mentioned that Goodman Games announced that they will be producing material based upon Michael Moorcock’s “Elric” novels for the Dungeon Crawl Classics and 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons role-playing games.

Now it looks like the Free League also will be getting in on the Eternal Champion multiverse action, with Legends of Stormbringer, based upon their Dragonbane system. (Hat tip to Todd S for alerting me to this in his comment on my previous post.)

“Today, we are thrilled to announce Legends of Stormbringer, a new officially licensed tabletop roleplaying game based on the iconic fantasy works of Michael Moorcock, planned for release in 2027.

Legends of Stormbringer will carry you into the Young Kingdoms – a world of dying empires, warring gods, and doomed heroes – and bring Moorcock’s richly imagined setting to the tabletop using rules mechanics based on our award-winning Dragonbane RPG. The game will feature the same accessible, dynamic, and deadly approach that has made Dragonbane one of our most celebrated titles.

Returning to the Young Kingdoms as setting writer is Richard Watts, whose work on previous Stormbringer RPGs helped define how generations of roleplayers have experienced Moorcock’s world.”

This announcement is a lot more interesting and appealing to me than the one from Goodman Games, given Watts’s involvement and the use of Dragonbane instead of DCC or 5e D&D. I have yet to actually play Dragonbane, but I own and have read it. My overall impression of the game is quite positive. Moreover, since Dragonbane is descended from the Basic Roleplaying System – just as were Chaosium’s various editions of Stormbringer – there is greater continuity here with previous Eternal Champion role-playing material than there is with Good Games’ projects. This continuity is reinforced with Watts’s involvement.  

But I have to confess that I’m a bit confused by these multiple announcements! Given the setting in question, though, I suppose that this kind of Chaos is appropriate. 

By Arioch!

The return of Elric?

It looks like the multiverse of the Eternal Champion Elric will be returning to the world of in-print role-playing games thanks to Goodman Games:

“Goodman Games is thrilled to announce a licensing agreement to publish official tabletop role-playing material based on Elric of Melniboné, the iconic sword & sorcery character and setting created by legendary author Michael Moorcock! 

The Classic Era of Elric will include a line of sourcebooks, adventures, maps, and additional supplements, all designed for compatibility with both Fifth Edition and Dungeon Crawl Classics role-playing game systems. The project is scheduled to launch via crowdfunding in 2027. Products will be released following the successful campaign and will be available at game stores worldwide.”

Despite the influence that the early Elric stories had on me (and I remain fond of them to this day), I have to confess that I’m not all that excited about this. One reason is that the setting will use 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons and Dungeon Crawl Classics – two systems about which I have decidedly cool feelings. DCC was a poor fit for another cherished fictional setting – Jack Vance’s Dying Earth – and I doubt that it will be appropriate for Elric (at least not without some heavy reworking). 

A second – more decisive – reason is that I already own a lot of "Elric" role-playing books: three editions of Chaosium’s Stormbringer (including Elric!, which is the same system as 5th edition Stormbringer), and a lot of supplemental books for those editions, as well as all the Elric of Melniboné books that were published for Mongoose’s Runequest II (MRQII) system. (MRQII, as many readers no doubt know, eventually evolved into Mythras.) So I already have more than enough Elric material – as well as some Hawkmoon and Corum material – to run multiple campaigns, all using RPG systems that I much prefer to both 5e D&D and DCC.

But who knows – maybe the new material will be good! Time (and funds) permitting, I may check out what Goodman Games produces for everyone’s favourite melancholy albino.