Space Station M

Space Station M (not Asteroid M as I keep calling it in my head) is one of the books from the prolific and talented crew at Bloat Games. This is another classic video game tribute monster book. Metroid is the focus this time. Like others in this series, their are multiple versions: System Neutral, SURVIVE THIS!!, 5e, and DCC.  The system neutral version includes base stats and how to interpret them to existing systems. The other versions contain concise stat blocks. Lukasz Piwinski does a great job with the art. Each piece is a great tribute to the Metroid monsters. 

A majority of creatures presented are the strange insect and mutant fodder that Samus Aran fights. There are about 14 of these creatures. This is followed by two different Space Bounty Hunters (a rookie and veteran). These could represent Samus or her fellow hunters. We are also given stats for Space Suckers (normal and queens). These are expy Metroids. There are a few big bads featured too. The first is Station M Terror, which could be used to represent Ridley from the series. The Thorn Beast is an expy of Kraid. Finally the Brain of the Death God (pictured on the cover) is the dreaded Mother Brain. 

Who doesn't love a new monster book? These aliens might not fight into every game, but I'm sure you can find a use. Obviously the SURVIVE THIS version is perfect for SURVIVE THIS!! The Blackest Space.  It could also work with Vigilante City if you aren't just sticking to street level shenanigans.. The DCC version is a great add-on for Gunzo! Operation: Bughunt. It would also be great for the Purple Planet. Finally the 5e version is a great monster supplement for Spelljammer, though many of the monsters are strange enough that they'd be perfect for planar encounters or the Underdark. 

There is also an Equipment Guide PDF. It contains stats in all the above systems. You'll find treasure drop tables, Space Armor, Space Armor Upgrades, and Refills for the suits. Overall they are really strong, but emulate the game well.

If you didn't back the Kickstarter and want copies, make sure to pre-order from the Bloat Games store asap.

Big Eye Chungus Review

Full confession: I love *redacted*. They are one of my favorite monsters. They are powerful, flavorful, and creepy. My favorite is definitely the Xanathar. I don't think *redacted* get enough love. Then again one of the big reasons is because *redacted* are not open content and are part of WotC's IP. This means publishers can't really be show their creativity with *redacted*.

That's why Planet X Games newest Kickstarter Big Eye Chungus is so great. These spherical ocular tyrants definitely aren't *redacted* and are ready to be dropped into your magic elf games. 

 Here's a sample page:

If you're a regular hear at the Halls, you know that I absolutely adore Levi's writing style (and if we're going to be real, I adore Levi too). My man was cool enough to let me take a look at the pdf. A review wasn't requested, but it's such good stuff that I'm doing one.

Let's start with the name. Big Eye Chungus is absolutely ridiculous and I love it. Big Chungus was a meme I didn't get, but still enjoyed. Then again, maybe the best memes just need to be enjoyed and not understood. In its current form Big Eye Chungus is a 24 page pdf written by Levi Combs, with contributions form Cheese Haasselberger, Casey Christofferson, and Lawrence Hernandez.

The first three give an overview of the Chungus. We are given the lowdown, why they are badass (and they definitely are), and why they are dicks (mentioned above). We are then hit with variations of the big eye chungus. Speaking with Levi, the number could be increased, but these are the big eye chunges presented. There are stats given by they are pretty neutral OSR style (which means you can use this shit with little modification for pretty much any version of D&D).

• Void Chungus - What happens when an eye tyrant combines with a Sphere of Annihilation? That question no one ever wanted to ask is the void chungus.
• Nether Chungus - You got your lower planes in my big eye chungus. Well you got your big eye chungus in my lower plane.
• Hive-Mind Chungus - This is a swarm of gazer size chunges that have banded together to make chungus swarm.
• Chungus of the Waste - Possibly a singular big eye chungus, the Chungus of the Waste is a larger than normal and horrifying big eye chungus found (thankfully) only in the most desolate wastes.
• Gas Spores - Not a true big eye chungus, adventures have been dealing with these creatures since the early days of the game.
• Ioun Chungus - Hailing from a distance crystalline dimension, these big eye chunguses don't have eyestalks, but rather have Eye-oon stones that float around them. Yeah I hate myself for that joke too.
• Blind Albino Chungus - No one is sure where this destructive variation came from, but they are feared for the carnage they can cause.
• The Great Chungus - No stats are given for this planet-sized big eye chungus (which may or may not exist). Think Mogo or Ego... but more big eye chungus-like. *shudder*
• Death Chungus - Undead variations of the big eye chungus exist and are hated by other chunguses.
• Clockwork Chungus - a singular creation this big eye chungus feels like a modron-big eye chungus hybrid.

After the variations two pages are given to big eye chungus lairs. As hyper-intelligent abominations, these lairs should be deadly to even the best prepared party. There's also a selection of things found in their lairs (with illustrations). To make sure you big eye chungus encounters are formidable, a page of tactics is given. This is followed by a selection of "10 Impolite and Downright Rude Things a Big Eye Chungus Would Say Before It Kills (or Enslaves... or Petrifies...) You." This is *chef's kiss*. Seriously, things like this make me love Planet X Games content as much as I do. Content-wise the big ends with six big eye chungus adventure seeds. These are entertaining, brilliant, and often open ended.

The book ends with OGL and one of the phenomenal faux comic book ads that Planet X has made a part of their products. Again it's little things like that that are as the kids say.... dope as fuck. Okay maybe that's what I say and not the kids, but I digress.

If you like D&D in any of its variations, you really need to back Big Eye Chungus. I promise, you will not be disappointed. I know personally I'm going to take the content presented and use it in the Spelljammer game I plan on running to beef up the *redacted*. I might also use some of these ideas next time I use the Xanathar and Waterdeep.

Behold H’Catha

 The final chapter of Spelljammer Academy, Behold H'Catha, is now available. 

Written for three to seven 4th level characters, Behold, H'Catha picks up where Realmspace Sortie! ended. The characters take their new tyrant ship to H'Catha to continue their mission to find a meteorite, and bring it back to Spelljammer Academy. Part I sees the characters exploring the Spindle. They encounter beholder-kin and may have to fight to get their prize. Meteorite in hand, they have encounter and asteroid and have to fight githyanki agents of the Mercane that's been trying to eliminate Mirt, head of the Spelljammer Academy. At the academy, they fight agents of the Mercane, seeking to tie up lose ends. When they succeed they have finished their training and graduate from the academy and are ready to take to the stars.

The Spelljammer

 Did anyone ever use THE Spelljammer? Seen in the Spelljammer logo, it was featured in the Legend of the Spelljammer boxed set. I owned the boxed set, but never got to use it. The Spelljammer is essentially a city sized living ship that has it's own life cycle. An enchantment made nearly all that breathed its air desire to stay. There was essentially an adventure path that dealt with a character becoming the captain. I'm really thinking about grabbing the pdf and using it as the end game of my first 5e Spelljammer game. If not, I still may draw some inspiration from it. Genial Jack could be a space god whale, right?

Assorted Sortie...

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Realmspace Sortie! is the third chapter of Spelljammer Academy. Designed for three-seven 3rd-level characters. The adventure is split into three parts. The characters finally head into wildspace. The party is charged with installing a helm in an emptied beholder tyrant ship. After avoiding traps and completing their task, the party face some clockwork horrors and encounter an autognome survivor. The final part of the adventure involves betrayal and a fire. 

The chapter includes all relevant stats, a tyrant ship map, and an overview of Realmspace. I've enjoyed these adventure and am interested in seeing how the chapter plays out. 

No Better Way To Learn Than A Trial By Fire

 Part II of Spelljammer Academy, Trial By Fire, is available. You can read about Part I here.

Designed for three to seven 2nd-level characters, Trial by Fire, continues where Orientation left off. The adventure starts out with the party eating breakfast and socializing with other members of the academy. They can talk about recent events with other cadets and staff. After breakfast they head to the Simulations Deck for another test of their abilities. The simulation allows them to take on the roles of spelljammer crew members. They will face various challenges during this time. After completing them the party begins to learn of some intrigue and rivalry between the academy staff and a mercane.

The adventure contains connected encounter creature/npc stats and stats for a one of the oldest spelljamming ship types, the iconic squid ship.

Like the previous adventure, this one is short, but does an excellent job of presenting spelljamming rules and prepping characters for their eventual space travels. 

Music Monday - Doc Brown vs Doctor Who

Cubicle 7's Doctor Who: Doctors and Daleks Player's Guide drops this week. Shout out to Tim Knight for bringing the game to my attention. As Tim mentioned in this post, the time is great considering Wizards is dropping Spelljammer soon. 

In honor of the release, I wanted to share a classic Epic Rap Battle of History. Is it perfect, no? Are Nice Peter and Watsky fantastic as versions of the Doctor, yes!

Enroll Today!

 WotC has released a fun little trailer for Spelljammer Academy. Check it out.

Get Ready Recruit!

Wizards of the Coast and D&D Beyond are ramping up excitement for Spelljammer with some new free content. Spelljammer Academy is a series of four adventures that will prepare parties for adventures in space.

The first adventure is for three to seven 1st-level characters and is called Orientation. The characters are all new recruits into the titular Spelljammer Academy. Located on the island of Nimbral, many miles southeast of the Chult.

The adventure is broke down into three parts. Part 1 sees the new recruits doing battle on an illusionary Simulations Deck (there's definitely a Star Trek vibe to the minisetting). During Part 2 they will gain familiarity with their new home and have to do tasks for various individuals at the academy. Part 3 will see the party deliver a crate to Mirt the Merciless, the head of the academy, but unknown to everyone, the cargo is quite dangerous. 

The adventure is a nice introduction to Spelljammer. The academy staff includes a thri-kreen, autognome, and Hadozee. Classic spelljamming creatures such as a mindflayer and neogi also make appearances (well there's a chance the party sees a mindflayer). The academy itself has ties to the Rock of Bral. I'm curious about the next three in the series. 

I kind of forgot Spelljammer was coming. I've been wanting to do a nautical campaign, but maybe I should focus on ships of a different variety. Genial Jack in space could be fun (and a throwback to the original Spelljammer).

Spelljammer 5E Is Coming!

Wizards of the Coast have been teasing 5e Spelljammer for a while now. It's official. The setting is making a comeback. Releasing August 16, 2022, Spelljammer: Adventures in Space will feature the following:

• The Astral Adventurer's Guide - 64 page hardcover introducing the Astral Plane as a setting, character options, spells and magic items, and spelljamming ships
• Boo's Astral Menagerie - 64 page hardcover Monster Manual... murder comets and space clowns are mentioned in the official blurb.
• Light of Xaryxis - 64 page hardcover adventure for levels 5-8.
• Double-sided poster map of the Rock of Bral
• Four-panel campaign specific DM's screen.

A big difference is a shift to the Astral Plane, though because space is still mentioned this change doesn't bother me. This makes the campaign easier to include with other parts of the greater D&D multiverse.

Get 10 Spelljammer monsters for free by checking out this link on D&D Beyond. You can get it in pdf form here.

Baldur's Gate III Opening Cinematic

Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn are two of my favorite games of all time. I'd say if you add up all my time playing them it would be months. Needless to say when I found out they were releasing a third, I was excited. After watching the opening cinematic, excited isn't a strong enough word! Watch this and prepare to geek out!