Nerd Things I'm Thankful for Today

It’s Thanksgiving, and that’s a day that even the Sith pause for a moment to reflect on what they’re thankful for. So come along with me and explore that (nerdish) things that I’m thankful for on this day.

Here is my first annual White Hot Top 5 of Thanksgiving thanks for 2014.

Toolkit: The Montage

This is part one of a new series over at ‘OnTheDie, items you can use as part of your toolkit when you run a role-playing game.

Last time in my 13th Age campaign summary, I mentioned that I used a montage mechanic for how the group found one of the bad guys. As promised, let’s talk about the montage and what it can do for you.

13th Age Campaign Session IV: Shadows Over Eldolan

13 Age Campaign Session IV -- Shadows Over Eldolan

Editor's Note: Many of you have noted the use of puns in the session titles. Even though it may not look like it, this one is a pun as well. Take ye heed!

Last session the group had defeated the Dream Master. This session began with the spoils of that victory. In other words, there was loot.

The group pored over what they presumed was the Dream Master’s workshop. They found a ledger  that went back just over two months. About a month ago, new line items for bodies both live and dead started to show up.

There were two names associated with it who were taking the supplies: Landon, with a notation about the Dead Vaults, and Aerto, a “broker” in the docks.

The group additionally found a large amount of coins (the Dream Master’s ill-gotten gains) and quite a bit of Dream Leaf. They quickly put everything together and left, planning a discussion on what to do next for tomorrow. The Dream Master had taxed them to their limits, and the only thing to do was get a night’s sleep.

As they left the building they were met by Kalia, the girl they had spoken with earlier in the day, and who had told them how to find the theater.

“Wicked! That was absolutely incredible, what did you do there?”

Quickfire: Bundle of Holding

While I'm working on my update from the 13th Age campaign (note to self: don't tell people you're back when you have two 3000 word posts to write...) I wanted to do a quick update that a lot of you might actually use about the Bundle of Holding.

I'm sure all of you have heard about the Humble Bundle: a program where you can get loads of great software for a pay-what-you-want price, and the proceeds to go charity. If you haven't heard of it, time to click on that link above and also fine yourself 10 Quatloos.

What you likely haven't heard about is the Bundle of Holding. a similar project for role-playing games. Bundle of Holding offers bundles of PDF versions of different RPGs, with the proceeds again going either to the authors or to charity, as you prefer.

The current bundle is games for the Fate RPG system. I really like Fate, and moreover, the people who create it are great people. If you've never ventured outside of games like Dungeons and Dragons, Fate will come as a shock to your senses. While it's still a traditional game with a GM, players and Mountain Dew, it allows the players to work with the GM to tell the story of the game much more collaboratively.

If you've never heard of it, it's a great time to get pretty much everything for the game. I think you'll have a great time reading it and it will make you think about gaming in an entirely different light.

The bundle comes with the following:

• Fate Core rules
• Day After Ragnarok -- WW2 Post Apocalyptic role-playing where the Germans woke up the Midgard Serpant.
• Iron Edda -- a Norse giant mecha game where the mecha are made from the bones of giants.
• The Ministry Initiative -- Victorian Steampunk
• Base Raiders -- explore superhero bases in a world where all the heroes and villains just up and disappeared one day.
• Jadepunk -- a Martial Arts Wuxia game where you're rebels against an evil government.
• The Pirates Guide to Freeport -- the Freeport campaign setting for Fate.
• Tianxia: Blood, Silk, & Jade -- a full-on martial-arts game set in a fantasy ancient China.

Wow. That's a crazy amount of stuff you can get, and the games are fun to read even if it turns out you're not going to play Fate.

So check out the bundle and hold on just a bit ... large article coming shortly. Until then, Make Mine 20!

Edition Wars: Threat or Menace?

Editor's note: And ... we're back. Thanks for being a bit patient with us over at OnTheDie. A mixture of work and illness kept me from these updates for a bit. It definitely had nothing to do with a bit too much celebration for my Sith Anniversary (AKA my birthday) or having to fight off some angry Jedi. The important thing is that WE'RE BACK!

Welcome back to 20OnTheDie’s opinion column where we ask and answer the questions of the day in an angry and argumentative fashion.

Fresh from this year’s Gamehole Con, there are a number of important topics to discuss, so let's get to them.