Pod People from Mars!

Pod People from Mars! is an adventure for The Monsters Are Our Heroes by Fainting Goat Games. I want to start by saying that cover is awesome! An homage to may classic movies with a monstrous spin. The pdf is 12 pages (counting cover and OGL). 

The story is a combination of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and War of the Worlds. The adventure is five scenes that see your monsters go face to face against both pod people and a Martian tripod. It's a prime example of what an adventure for The Monsters Are Our Heroes should be. A group of monsters come together and face off against a different kind of inhuman foe hellbent on taking over the world and preying on humanity.

It's a well written and fun adventure. Jacob Blackmon did a fantastic job with this one and if you play TMAOH, you need to grab it (which you can do here).

The Monsters Are Our Heroes (Now With Bonus Content)

I've already reviewed the extremely fun horror game The Monsters Are Our Heroes here. The project smashed its print run Kickstarter goal and now that version and the pdf has even more content. The new version of the pdf has everything I mentioned before and a short adventure written by me. 

The Rise of Malachai is a short (four encounter) adventure that can be used as a one shot or inserted into a regular campaign. It sees our monstrous heroes investigating a rash of disappearances in a nearby state forest. It features shambling corpses, hodags, and an undead puritan... everything you need for a good time. 

If you haven't picked up the pdf already, you can snag it here. 

Champions of the Electrocube War Omnibus

The Champions of the Electrocube War Omnibus is compilation of the core rules of Valor Knights: The Electrocube Wars (with new art, since it's released by FGG), and Champions of the Electrocube War Volumes 1, 2, and 3. If you click those links, you'll see why I recommend this one.  

You can snag the pdf and print on demand version here. 

Destination: Uncharted Kickstarter

 Destination: Uncharted, despite the name, is not a new reality show on Discovery or the Travel Channel. No, Destination: Uncharted is the newest game from Bloat Games. 

Think of this game as the table top version of Uncharted, Indiana Jones, The Mummy, or Tomb Raider. It's designed to be a comedic action-packed romp. It will use the Hack the RPG ruleset, making it totally compatible with Valor Knights: The Electrocube War and The Monsters Are Our Heroes. 

The project has a quick turn around time (5 days) and has already funded, with 3 days left. While no official comment has been made, I may or may not be contributing to the project. 

Check out the project here and considering backing it.

Character Creation Challenge - Day 24

Today's character is doing his best to avoid death in The Blackest Space.

Griz O'Janen

Evade: 13
HD: 1
HP: 13
Armor Points: 1 (furry)
Level: 1 

Race: Gnargfang

Class: Smuggler

Move: 35

STR: 1 INT: 2 WIS: 4
DEX: 3  CON: 3 CHA: 3

Luck: 4

Attack Damage

Claws +1to hit, d4+1 damage

Telekinesis +3 to hit, 1 damage (60' range)

Laser Pistol +3 to hit, 1d6 (100' range, 20 shots per clip)

Energy Rifle +3 to hit, 1d8 (200' range, 15 shots per clip)

Knife +1 to hit, d4 damage (60' thrown)

Race Traits: 

• Enhanced Sense: Advantage on sight, hearing, and smelling checks; Dark Vision 50'
• Claws and Fangs: d4+ STR damage
• Great Leaper: Advantage on on jumping and climbing checks 
• Furry: 1 AP and ignore first 2 damage from cold sources (then apply AP)
• ability to use Grnarcryst weaponry and armor
• Way of the Eye: +2 Evade, Telepathy (100', only works on willing), Telekinesis (60', 5lbs., can do one damage with ranged attack), can understand, read, and speak any language encountered 

Race Traits: 

• Fake Papers: Advantage on attempts to gain or create forged papers for ship, crew, cargo, etc. and bluffing attempts
• Sense Weakness: ignore 1 AP when gain an attack Benefit, may use Luck to gain an additional random Benefit
• Luck of the Stars: 25% chance of regaining extra Luck point at the start of each session. Regain Luck point after successfully pull off a big score
• Smuggling All the Time: Advantage on all checks involving hiding items, people, and self. Advantage on searching checks.

Equipment

92 Galactic Repute, Sensor Comm, Laser Pistol (2 extra clips), Energy Rifle (1 extra clip), Simple Breather, Medi-Pak, Knife, Backpack, Quality Wine, Small Mirror

Background

Born with access to the Eye of Koshka, Griz was destined to become a Meta-Psyche or Emerald Champion. Well... that's what his parents thought, at least. However, while he appreciated his psionic and the advantages they gave him, he preferred a more roguish carefree life style. As soon as he could, he left home and joined a pirate crew. While he learned a lot and it was exciting, he found the life of a space pirate to be too violent for his tastes. He took to smuggling and has never looked back.

Character Creation Challenge - Day 13

Today's definitely not a Transformer was made for Valor Knights: The Electrocube War.

Firestorm

Evade: 15
HD: 1
HP: 17
Armor Points: 4/5 (with shield)
Level: 1 

Class: Warrior

Vehicle Form: Formula One Car

STR: +3 INT: -1 WIS: -2
DEX: +4  CON: +1 CHA: +0

Luck: 4
Attack Damage: 1d10

Abilities: 

• Double Attack - once per combat, Firestorm can make an additional attack after a successful attack, this attack must be the same kind of attack as the previous (such as ranged or melee)
• Plasma Melee Axe - +2 damage with this weapon
• Generate Ion Shield - can generate ion shield that negates 1 point of damage and increases Armor Points by 1
  
  

Background 

Firestorm is an extremely young and eager Valor Knight that only recently arrived on Earth. While he is a formidable fighter he often finds himself rushing in and getting in over his head. 

Character Creation Challenge - Day 1 (A Day Late)

 I'm a day late and already playing catch up, but I'm going to take part in the character creation challenge. I'm going to try to make characters using different systems, though I can't guarantee I have 31 different systems.

For my first I'm going The Monsters Are Our Heroes, currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. 

Source

El Monstruo Enmascarado 

Evade: 11
HD: 1
HP: 15
Armor Points: 2 (tough skin)
Level: 1 
Class: Monster

STR: +4 INT: -1 WIS: +0 
DEX:  CON:  +2 CHA: -2

Luck: 4

Abilities: 

• Overcoming Lonliness - When encounting another golem like himself, he gains Advantage on all tasks for the next hour.
• Unusually Strong - Advantage on all feats of Strength tests. 
• Call Lightning - Once per gaming session (at GM's approval), he can call down lightning upon himself. He takes no damage from being struck. For the next 4 rounds, all damage he does to enemies is at max damage. Must be outside to call lightning.

Weaknesses: 

• Fire - Takes double damage from fire,
• Crowds - Disadvantage on all action rolls when in large crowds.  

Description: El Monstruo Enmascarado is a flesh golem created by La Hija Del Frankenstein (who may or may not be Frankenstein's actual daughter). Created from the bodies of Mexico's greatest luchadors, he was created to be the ultimate fighter. However, the inherent nobility of the technicos used to create him infused the monster will a desire to protect humanity. While he's not the most personable or intelligent creature, he is kind and has a heart of gold (well actually he has two of them).

The Monsters Are Our Heroes Is Live!

The Monsters Are Our Heroes limited print run is live. You can back it here. I was ecstatic to see that it funded in the first 30 minutes! Read my review and then pledge for a copy of your own.

Coming Soon - The Monsters Are Our Heroes Print Version

I'm happy to share that my friends at Bloat Games are doing a limited print run of The Monsters Are Our Heroes. If you remember, I reviewed the game at the beginning of the month. If you're interested (and you should be), you can go here and click to be notified when the project launches. 

Champions of the Electrocube War Volume 3

Fainting Goat Games has released a third volume of Champions of the Electrocube War. Mike has shared the latest volume with me. You can read my reviews for Volume One and Volume Two.

Here's what you're going to find in this volume:

• Swarm (Class) - This unorthadox class is actually made up of 20+ identical smaller robots, it has some very interesting tactics and defenses
• Fusillade (VK) - an aged hero and unshakable warrior, he has become enamored with the pop culture concept of the American Cowboy
• Beta-Decem (VK) - the this fearless mini-bot serves the Valor Knights a spy
• Manticore (CL) - this selfish engineer and warrior is a bitter rival of Sextus-Null (described in the last volume)
• Voracicon (CL) - These low level warriors are Manticore's primary forces
• Voracicon Swarm (CL) - Voracion's can come together to create a devastating swarm

This is another spectacular addition to the Valor Knights game. Fainting Goat Games has knocked it out of the park again. You can grab the pdf here.

Kangorous and Kango

Rising from the depths just off the Australian coast, this ancient reptile-marsupial hybrid is the "Destruction Down Under."

Kangorous
HD 7d12
HP:  65
Level: 8
Damage: 3d6+4
Evade: 15
AP: 5
STR: +4 INT +0 WIS +0 DEX +4 CON +2 CHA 0
Luck: 5

• Enemies have Advantage on attack rolls against Kangorous.
• Kangorous has Advantage on all checks and saving throws related to Strength and Intimidation
• Roo Kick - Anyone hit by a Kangorous kick must make a CM + STR vs DC 15 check or be knocked back and lose their nest action. Mini-Bots make this roll with Disadvantage.
• Mother's Love - If anyone attacks Kango, Kangorous gains advantage on attacks versus that target on her next turn.

Kango
HD 3d12
HP:  24
Level: 3
Damage: 2d4+2
Evade: 17
AP: 3
STR: +2 INT +0 WIS +0 DEX +4 CON +2 CHA +1
Luck: 3

• Roo Kick - Anyone hit by a Kango kick must make a CM + STR vs DC 10 check or be knocked back and lose their nest action.

------------------------
Kaiju for Valor Knights

• King Kow
• Kong of Skull Island

King Kow!

You can thank (or blame) this post by my awesome friend, Tim Knight, for this one (and the follow up later today). What is the origin of King Kow? Know one knows for sure, but since his initial rampage in Wisconsin, people have feared the behe-moo-th.

King Kow
HD 8d12
HP:  78
Level: 8
Damage: 3d6+4
Evade: 13
AP: 5
STR: +4 INT -1 WIS +0 DEX +2 CON +3 CHA 0
Luck: 4

• Enemies have Advantage on attack rolls against King Kow.
• King Kow has Advantage on all checks and saving throws related to Strength and Intimidation.
• Death Moo! - 1/combat - CM + WIS vs DC 12 check or suffer or take 1d12 damage. This damage can't be reduced by AP.

------------------------
Kaiju for Valor Knights

Kong of Skull Island

Champions of the Electrocube War Volume 2

Fainting Goat Games is back with another volume of Champions of the Electrocube War. I've already reviewed Volume One and Mike was cool enough to share Volume Two with me. If you want to see the actual play series this and the first supplement are based on, you can find it here.

Here's what you're going to find in this volume:

• 11 Adventure Hooks
• Red-Line (VK) - heroic support bot that spends his spare time helping humans in need, his description mentions "impostor' mini-bots, which I'm assuming look human (this is an awesome idea)
• Ultra-Bomber (CL) - the villainous leader is expanded from his appearance in the Valor Knights core. 
• Sextus-Null (CL) - this conniving warrior and second in command to Omega-Zed (who was described in the last volume), unlike many Chaos Lords, he sees value in allying with humans
• Sonic Assault (CL) - expanded from the core book, this overcompensating and trash talking mini-bot is the rival to my favorite Valor Knight, Nitro-Strike (though she probably doesn't even know he exists)
• Chaos Lord Drone (CL) - the dastardly Chaos Lords have found a way to fight the war without risking their lives, there are three variations: Average, Elite, and Heavy

If you play Valor Knights, you're going to want to pick this one up. You can snag it here.

Plutonian Mimic (Valor Knights)

I stopped at an antique store this week and found a Happy Meal toy that I used to have and love. It's a little plane from Hot Wheels Attack Pack. I used to love those, even though I never had the big ones and only had the Happy Meal versions. It is about the size of the recent Transformers minis I picked up from Dollar Tree and I decided it would be a cool mini for the game.

Plutonian Mimic

Plutonian Mimics are shapeshifting organisms native to the dwarf planet. They can survive intense pressure and don't require oxygen. While they start life small, they can grow to be as large as a stealth bomber or semi-truck and trailer. On Earth they often take the forms of vehicles to lure prey. While they don't pose a direct threat to many Techtrillions, their hunger for flesh and vehicular appearance can lead to paranoia and fear being spread among the human population about the robots in disguise.

Plutonian Mimic
HD 6d8
Damage: 1d6+1d8
Evade: 14
AP: 3
STR: +2 INT 0 WIS 0 DEX +1 CON +3 CHA -2

Luck: 2

• Swallow Whole - An a successful attack the mimic can swallow a man-sized creature whole.
• Adhesive - Despite their appearance, mimics are are pliable and covered in a mucus that is adhesive to organic matter. While this doesn't affect Techtrillions, it can spell disaster for their human allies. 

The Smiling Man (S&S)

Check out this awesome horror short.

Who is the Smiling Man? What does he want? Here are a two possibilities.

Smiling Man (Escaped Psycho)

HP: 20

Evade: 15

Armor Points: 0

Bonus: +2 to Attack, +0 to Damage

Attack: Unarmed (1d4)

Special Traits: Advantage on Stealth related rolls (and can sneak at full speed)
Special Attack: Unnerving Smile (CM+CON vs DC 10) - Target is unable to act their next turn.
M/O: Unknown
Weakness: The Smiling Man can be kept at bay (at least temporarily) by a firm voice and having someone's full attention.

Smiling Man (Crossroads Demon)

HP: 30

Evade: 13

Armor Points: 3

Bonus: +3 to Attack, +2 to Damage

Attack: Unarmed (1d6)

Special Traits: Grant wish, teleportation
M/O: Consume souls
Weakness: Anyone that knows the Smiling Man's true nature can compel him to grant a wish (though he will always find a way to twist it).

Punluvin’, Valor Knight Librarian

I wanted to turn myself into a Valor Knight so I did. Feel free to add Punluvin' to your game as a Support npc. Note I rolled the stats and created him as a level one character and then leveled him up to four. I want to actually play this character some day and will get someone to do art, until then here's a pic of his vehicle form.

Punluvin' 

Evade: 8
HD: 4
HP: 22
Armor Points: 3 (4 with Shields)
Level: 4 Support
Vehicle: Saf-T-Liner HDX

STR: -1 INT: +3 WIS: +3
DEX: -1 CON: -1 CHA: +2

Luck: 5

Abilities: 

• Repair - Once per combat, Punluvin' can heal a bot (other than himself) 1d6 damage. He can use this ability on himself outside of combat.
• Forcefield - Punluvin' can place a forcefield around a teammate. The forcefield has 10 HP and the ally takes no damage until these are depleted. The ally cannot attack or take other actions while surrounded by this forcefield. Punluvin' can end it at any point. 
• Generate Ion Shield - Punluvin' can create an ion shield that increases his AP by +1.

Equipment: Blaster pistol (1d6 damage), tool kit, carefully weeded collection of books and materials for all ages

Description: The Valor Knight known as Punluvin' was once an archivist.on Techtrillion. However, he was drafted into the Electrocube War like his fellow Valor Knights. Disliking violence he uses his knowledge to aid his kin in their battles against the Chaos Lords. Taking the form of a Bookmobile when he arrived on Earth, Punluvin' spends much of his time among humans, transporting knowledge to those in need.

Ash Wednesday - Attack of the Helping Hand

This 1979 short film features the talents of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell and was inspiration for Evil Dead 2's hand scenes. It's fucked up, but funny.

Survive This

Helper aka Handy
Armor Class: 15
Hit Dice/Points: 4 (15 HP)
Move: 18
Actions: 1
Attack: Knife (1d4-1) or Choke d6-1
Special: Death Grip (if it makes a successful choke attack, it can maintain a choke hold automatically dealing d6-1 damage every turn)
Bonuses: +2 to Melee attacks, +5 to Initiative, +5 to Hide rolls
Morale: 7
Terror: 9
HDE: 3

Slashers & Survivors

Helper aka Lefty

HP: 15

Evade: 15

Armor Points: 0

Bonus: +2 to Attack, +0 to Damage

Attack: Knife (1d4-1)

Special Traits: Advantage on Hide rolls
Special Attack: Choke (CM+STR vs DC 10) - Target takes 1d6 damage and continues to do so each turn. Target can make a CM+STR vs DC 10 on their turn to end this attack.
M/O: Get handsy!
Weakness: While he can choke effectively, Handy suffer disadvantage on all other STR related rolls.  

Valor Knights vs. Kong

In the last few weeks I finally watched Bumblebee and Godzilla: King of Monsters. I really enjoyed both flicks. I also read and reviewed Fainting Goat Games Champions of the Electrocube War. In that Valor Knights supplement a new class is presented that allows players to create colossal characters. This got me thinking, why not have giant robots fight kaiju? This is my first attempt at statting an established giant monster for the system. The stats look slightly different than the ones in Valor Knights because their isn't a Kaiju class. That being said, you can still use these with no problems.

Kong of Skull Island
HD 10d12
HP:100
Level: 10
Damage: 1d10+1d12+6
Evade: 13
AP: 5
STR: +6 INT 0 WIS +1 DEX +2 CON +3 CHA 0
Luck: 6

• Enemies have Advantage on attack rolls against Kong.
• Kong has Advantage on all checks and saving throws related to Strength and Intimidation.
• Foes that can see and/or hear him must make a CM + WIS vs DC 15 check or suffer Disadvantage on all attack rolls against Kong for the remainder of combat.

Champions of the Electrocube War Volume 1

Champions of the Electrocube Wars is a new Valor Knights expansion by Fainting Goat Games. It features artwork from the talented Jacob Blackmon and presents a new class and 8 (or 13 depending on how you look at it) new Valor Knights and Chaos Lords. For a low price (currently 1.50) this is what you get:

• Gestalt (Class) - a giant robot made up of several smaller ones (like Devestator and the Contructicons), the class is strong, packs a big punch, can take a lot of damage, but is really easy to hit
• Flyer (VK) - heroic soldier and warrior, definitely has a Master Chief vibe in design
• Gearbox (VK) - inventor and warrior, wants to create something that will end the war
• Nitro-Strike (VK) - hacker, grafiti artist, and mini-bot, she's probably my favorite new Valor Knight
• Mega-Hitch (VK) - rural mechanic and support
• Victor Alpha (VK) - librarian turned leader, you know I love this combination
• Omega-Zed (CL) - former friend of Victor Alpha and Leader of a chapter of Chaos Lords
• Tiamat (CL) - the five chromatic members of the Dragon Legion make up this terrifying gestalt
• Tombstone (CL) - cruel wannabe warlord and support

If you plan on playing Valor Knights, I HIGHLY recommend picking up this pdf to help flesh out your world. The characters are all interesting, Jacob's art is great, and the new class is really fun (though I think it makes a better villain class than hero one). 

Z is for Zombie

For the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge this year I’m going to be looking at slashers and other horror character and statting them out for my free rpg, Slashers & Survivors.

While I didn't create Slashers & Survivors to be a zombie rpg, it definitely can fill that role if you want it to. 

Zombies

HP: 10

Evade: 9

Armor Points: 10

Bonus: +2 to Attack, +0 to Damage

Attack: Bite (1d4 Damage)

Special Traits: Always act last in combat, bitten foes must makes (CM+CON vs DC 15) or become infected (dying and re-animating in 1d10 minutes, unless offending wound is cut away and cauterized), a natural attack roll of 20 against a zombie automatically reduces it to 0 HP.
M/O: Consume!
Weakness: Characters can make called shots against a zombie's head. The zombies Evade becomes 16, but if successful the attack ignores its Armor Points.