The Gang Pilots a Gnome Mech
Originally published on my newsletter, December 2022
Frost is coating the leaves, carols are on the radio, and my desk is covered in layers of last minute crafts and wrapping paper, which must mean the holidays (and the new year) are almost here!
Starting this newsletter was only one of many things I got up to this year, and I have much more planned for next year, so let’s take some time to both reflect and look forwards!
What I’m working on:
Yeah I went hard with the cover. I just discovered how to do cool off-set transparent layers, how could I resist?
I wrote another Mausritter adventure! I created Mycelium, a mushroom inspired adventure set in a back garden overrun with fungus and fairies for #mushroomjam, hosted by Kaden Ramstack.
I released a WIP version for the game jam and I’m busy editing and completing layout after a successful (and very silly) playtest. I love mushrooms and little mushroom men cavorting about causing havoc.
I wanted Mycelium to be a little bit creepy and a little bit cute. There are plenty of fun high jinks such as rules for piloting a Gnome Mech overrun by mushrooms, and hopping through strange portals. But, there is also room to explore the creeping horror of slow decay under damp soil while exploring a twisting, fey enchanted fungal network. Watch out for the full version coming out soon.
Also, check out Taylor running my other mausritter adventure in her Mausritter actual play here!
GM’s Notebook
My friend and brilliant improv teacher Ben MacPherson taught me a great adage that holds true both for comedy and when playing TTRPGS.
If you aim for drama and miss you get comedy. If you aim for comedy and miss you get nothing.
What this normally means in practice is that when you take the world you are playing in seriously, you’ll often end up having a laugh anyway. This has been especially evident to me this month in my new home campaign.
Around Eberron in 80 Days
It has come to my attention that, with advances in the lightning rail and airship travel, it is possible to circumnavigate Eberron in 80 days.
This thought came to me a few months ago after watching a fascinating video about the Jules Verne-inspired Space Mountain disneyland ride. While watching, I began thinking about the magical science that is common place in the Eberron DnD setting, and how a Jules Verne story would fit brilliantly. Perhaps one could run Journey to the Centre of Kyber, 20,000 leagues under the Lhazaar sea, or around Eberron in 80 Days.
After some calculations (thanks to this amazing interactive map!) I worked out a route that could be done with time to spare for shenanigans, because when does this sort of adventure ever go entirely to plan.
I mention this all partially to brag that I have officially thought of a DnD campaign idea so good that my partner – who had sworn off DnD after finding the joys of indie games – was enticed back. But also because this is a bit of a bananas idea and I am taking the planning Deadly Seriously™.
I have the map printed out with red string tracking the players’ progress. I’m checking travel routes, blocked railway lines, and points of political upheaval. There WILL be at least one assassination by the time we are finished. And this planning is all for a very silly campaign. Because if you start with drama, then realise what fun you are having, you’ll get comedy and fun.
So this months GM note is: if you are having fun, so will your players.
Try out the stuff you think is cool now and don’t save it for the perfect time, because you might miss it. It can be easy to get bogged down in trying to create the ‘perfect storyline’ or the most balanced or most exciting encounters, but what is going to be most fun for the group is to have a GM telling stories they are excited about and invested in.
Next year!
Dungeon23
In lieu of an in depth review of a game, this month I wanted to highlight a fun challenge for 2023. Sean McCoy has come up with the idea of a year long challenge to build a mega dungeon, which has been coined Dungeon23.
Basically, if you write a room a day for a year, you’ll end up with a 12 level, 365 room megadungeon. It can be as simple or detailed as you like, with empty rooms giving both you and the adventurers in the dungeon a rest, and I am going to be taking part.
Sticking with my current Mausritter obsession, I am going to create a scrapyard megadungeon, with various critters hiding amongst the rubbish piles. There is going to be a Mad Max style hamster faction controlling a broken tube system, magpies jostling over the best trinket hoards, and plenty of repurposed human junk.
Some people got started as soon as the challenge was announced, but I wanted to take some time to put together a (short) plan and gather resources. There is plenty of advice and resources available to help you if you also want to join in, so here are three things I have found useful while planning my megadungeon:
A Design Journal by Pandion Games - I’m going to use this PDF journal layout as the basis for my digital journal.
A big list of resources put together by DuvelmanDice - this is a treasure trove of resources from dungeon theory to drawing tools.
This great twitter thread by GoblinArchives - a great crowdsourced list of resources to help you.
Are you planning to take part in Dungeon23?
Onwards and upwards…
So what is the plan for next year?
You can expect to see plenty more from me. I’m planning some new releases (such as a new wanderhome supplement), I’m hoping to GM and play in more streams (like my previous Mausritter game on Girls Run These Worlds), and of course I’ll keep you up to date with indie game reviews here and on my tiktok.
I don’t tend to make concrete goals, especially while life is so busy, so my main resolution is to still be creating things I enjoy and sharing them with you this time next year!