Exploring RPG Options Past the D&D Gateway
As far as role playing games go, Dungeons & Dragons has always been a gold standard. People jump into it and play for months or years, or sometimes try it out for just one game. Many of us here at Nerdarchy have grown up on D&D, having played everything from the original Dungeons and Dragons, to the new fifth edition powerhouse that’s bringing everyone back to the table. Many people ask how people can just play D&D and not get burnt out. The fact of the matter is you can’t. I’ve played and tinkered with D&D since 1989. I’ve delved into each edition and each of it’s variants, but there have been times even I have said, “Lets see what else there is.”
Paizo Friday Night Twitch with Jason Bulmahn and Dan Tharp
As of March 30, 2018, Paizo officially launched a new show on their Twitch channel. While the title of the show is still being tossed around it is hosted by Paizo’s Director of Game Design Jason Bulmahn and Marketing Manager Dan Tharp. They’ve worked time into a schedule that I wouldn’t even dream of trying to handle, to sit down once a week to bring us some updates and have a bit of a Q&A with the fans. Paizo’s Pathfinder and Starfinder news and entertainment live streams on Fridays at 7 p.m. eastern on Twitch.
Frog God Games Getting Superheroic with MegaHeroes RPG
Recently Nerdarchist Dave welcomed our good friends from Frog God Games to the daily live chat on our YouTube channel. Zach Glazar, Bill Webb, and Jim Wampler to talk about the the Rappan Athuk Reborn Kickstarter and let us know that there would be a new Kickstarter coming before the dust even considered settling on the current Rappan Athuk. From the brainchild of Jim Wampler, in conjunction with Frog God Games, looming up from the corrupt city streets of Cincinnati comes MegaHeroes superhero RPG.
Limitless Encounters 2: A helping hand for the time challenged Game Master
Every now and then, as a Game Master you hit a speed bump. Either you hit writer’s block, or you have an off night where players couldn’t make it and you need a quick one shot. What do you do? You haven’t had any coffee in a while and you’re in a slump. No worries, the Limitless Adventures Team has you covered. Off the success of the original Limitless Encounters, the team has come back strong with Limitless Encounters 2.
New from Paizo: StarFinder Pact Worlds!
It’s out of this world!
With Starfinder gaining as much popularity as their fantasy brother Pathfinder, Paizo has broadened your horizons. Released March 28, Paizo brings Pact Worlds to the vast reaches of outer space. This gazetteer will bring you 14 new realms, new alien species, new star ships to explore vast expanses as well as critters you may have wished you left in the airlock. Don’t worry, that’s not all. There’s new archetypes, NPCs for the Game Master, weapons, armor, techno-baubles, monsters and some interstellar cover art from Remko Troost. It’s on sale now in the Paizo store for $9.99 for the PDF. You can also get a copy on Amazon. Time to reach for the stars folks, there just became a whole lot more of them.
Pathfinder Second Edition Preorders Are LIVE!
Pathfinder Second Edition preorders are live!
Less than a day off huge news from Paizo and their new weekly Twitch show, they give us the heads up once again! As of March 27, Paizo playtest sets are officially available for preorder. Everything you need to explore and get a leg up on the cool swag that is Pathfinder Second Editino is available from now until May 1.
Paizo TV Goes Live with a New Pathfinder Show
Breaking news!
Paizo announced in a press release on March 26 the start of a weekly live stream Fridays at 4 p.m. Pacific on their Twitch channel beginning March 30. The live stream will help answer fans’ Pathfinder Second Edition questions and provide news and entertainment based around both Pathfinder and Starfinder. Paizo has been cranking out the blog posts over at the playtest site, providing sneak peeks at leveling and different class features. The team has also been globetrotting to different conventions to showcase the playtests and get people involved.
Worldbuilding: Where to Begin with a Homebrew Campaign Setting
You’ve been playing roleplaying games for a bit now. It might be Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons, Savage Worlds, or untold countless possibilities. The problem is you don’t like the setting. It almost fits the image in your mind but not quite. You’ve looked around, found some old campaign setting material at secondhand stores or eBay but no luck. So, what do you do? How do you make the world you want too? Don’t worry — Nerdarchy is here to help. Over the past month or so you’ll have seen some changes in the Nerdarchy landscape. We have Nate the Nerdarch and Kienata running the Nerdarchy After Dark late-night build sessions. We’ve posted some articles for items like World Anvil and Realm Works to help you organize things. However, none of these really give a starting point. Why not fix that now? Let’s look at how to start.
Pathfinder Second Edition – The Revision of Paizo’s Giant
Big news is a bit of an understatement – this week Paizo has come out saying that a new edition of their beloved Pathfinder will be out for test play by August 2. I had always wondered when this would come. Pathfinder has run first edition for a staggering teb years. I’m not 100 percent on this but I don’t know of another game company that has had an edition run that long. Many have asked why now? Is the company in trouble? Is fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons 5E rising to be too much of an RPG juggernaut?
Worldbuilding: World Anvil is a Haven for Writers and Homebrew Content
Last month I looked at three realm worldbuilding and homebrew programs and websites and among those was World Anvil. In the article I had looked briefly on the site and looked at it impressed with what was there but said it need a few other options. After the article was posted Dimitris from World Anvil reached out to me and said that those features where there and I had missed them. The reality of it is, that from the time I had sent the article Nerditor Doug to when it was posted the site had doubled in content and functionality. Doubled in less than 2 weeks. I have dealt with campaign software and programs and sites for at least 5 years now in creating homebrew adventures and world settings and never has one expanded this rapidly. Having spoken with Janet and Dimitris from World Anvil and given that they are celebrating World Anvil’s four month anniversary, I thought it more than fitting we revisit this fantastic site and give the proper attention it deserves. So, sit back, relax, and let’s look at the gasworks that is World Anvil.
Eldritch Lairs: Adventures for 5th Edition
New from the design minds of James J. Haeck, Jerry Leneave, Mike Shea and Bill Slavicsek, is Eldritch Lairs! This is a 5E supplement from Kobold Press designed with eight short adventures for characters level 4-8. The adventures are built as standalone arcs but can always be worked into existing homebrew campaigns. Eldritch Lairs contains Pit of the Dust Goblins, Crypt of Green Shadows, Under the Devil’s Thumb, Blood Vaults of Sister Alkava, Carrion Shrine of Qorgeth, The Leystone of the Indigo Star, Palace of the Wind Lords, and the Undying Tournament. Creatures featured in the adventures can be found in the fifth edition SRD, except where noted as referenced to the Tome of Beast from Kobold Press.
Worldbuilding: The Nerdarchy United Live Chat Evolution
An inside look at worldbuilding and Ulthe-Gana
Over the years geeks and nerds have flocked to the Heralds of Nerdarchy for answers and clarity. New to the call of the people are Nate the Nerdarch and co-host Kienata as they take the Nerdarchists into the realm of worldbuilding. Nerdarchy built and conceived a campaign called Chimes of Discordia based in their world of Ulthe-Gana which many of their characters have journeyed in over the years. Now with fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons gaining further momentum Nate the Nerdarch and Kienata have taken the masses with them as the world evolves and develops. The new Nerdarchy Duo hope to inspire people and let them explore what Nerdarchy has built through three new streaming shows with live chat participation.
Era of Digital D&D Homebrew and Worldbuilding
Over the last few years Dungeons & Dragons has started to evolve into the digital landscape. It started briefly with fourth edition D&D with the hope people could game over farther distances but the project was never completed. Games can now be played online with people across the globe thanks to programs like Fantasy Grounds and websites like Roll20. Today I want to look some of the tools that have come to us for worldbuilding and designing homebrew games. Since Critical Role has become a flagship for geekdom, homebrew games have become more and more popular. Here are a few sites and programs that can really help ease most burdens in the world building process.
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