He only has nine stalks; I'll bet all the other beholders make fun of him. Tough to get an expression out of one giant eye, makes it look like his face is melting a bit.
Showing posts with label Dungeons and Dragons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dungeons and Dragons. Show all posts
Saturday, March 04, 2017
Eye Tyrant
He only has nine stalks; I'll bet all the other beholders make fun of him. Tough to get an expression out of one giant eye, makes it look like his face is melting a bit.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
I Take Photos of Drawings now
Much faster and easier for stuff that's so rough it's not really worth taking the time to scan.
I didn't even shrink the files, so the pictures are annoying and unwieldy. Really starting to join the21st century.
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| Everyone loves Spidey. |
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| A few love the lesser known but still famous Garruk Wildspeaker. |
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| Chandra Naalar is reasonably loved, depending on to whom one is speaking. |
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| Non-specific Elf Adventurer is widely admired. |
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| This guy just makes me laugh. |
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Chroma Dwarf
It's obvious I haven't done much colour lately. So bucking the trend, here's a dwarf that I've actually taken the time to splash some virtual paint on.
Snazzy. And because I happen to have them kicking around, and because it's important to understand creativity doesn't just pop fully formed out of the void, but mostly because I care, dammit, here's some other pictures that lead up to this one.
I don't know about the rest of you, but most of the things I make start like this: a cruddy little scribble with the germ of an idea I like and I think I might want to pursue further. As a rule not very big or involved so I can do lots and pick something out of the flotsam that may be worth monkeying with a bit.
So then a rough pencil. If this was for an official gig I probably would have noodled it some more, but as it was just for fun it's more or less what I just dropped on the page. The exception, of course, being the shield. Didn't like the first version, so I just drew a new one and scotch taped it on top. At this point, I should probably note that I'm not one to work fancy. Yellow HB pencil on photocopy paper.
Then a very light photocopy and an inked line with a black Bic ballpoint. Did I mention I don't often work fancy?
Photocopied again, did some big black areas with a sharpie. I tend towards heavy inks on my drawings, they're fun and I like how they look.
To Photoshop! Color flats.
Aaaaaand highlights, shadows, gradients, what have you. Colour. Like I said.
So if you like to see some steps, there you go. If you don't like to see the steps, well now you're at the bottom of the post so it's probably too late.
Snazzy. And because I happen to have them kicking around, and because it's important to understand creativity doesn't just pop fully formed out of the void, but mostly because I care, dammit, here's some other pictures that lead up to this one.
Aaaaaand highlights, shadows, gradients, what have you. Colour. Like I said.
So if you like to see some steps, there you go. If you don't like to see the steps, well now you're at the bottom of the post so it's probably too late.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Map versus Map
I'm usually the mapper in our gaming group. I like drawing maps, I like knowing where we are relative to where we were, and no one else seems to have the slightest interest in doing it. A couple of the other folks seem to be able to keep at least a vague idea of the layout in their heads, but not me. I gotta have it in front of me.
The thing is, I'm really not very good at it. I don't use graph paper (the DM doesn't usually give exact measurements of rooms anyway, usually just "large" or "small"), I tend to get my East and my West mixed up for some reason, and OK, I'll admit it, sometimes my attention wanders a bit during room descriptions. It's not that my head isn't in the game, it's just that if an interesting feature gets mentioned it tends to draw my focus towards it. For example, if the DM says "There is a large altar with a demon head carved into it," my mind immediately starts running through all the things it might be for and what I want to do with it, and I don't really hear anything he says after that.
So just for fun, I've got here a few of the maps I drew while we were running through the 5th edition starter set. I've found the actual maps from the adventure on the internet for comparison, and wow, they do not make me look good.
Now, we didn't explore the whole Cragmaw Castle, we found what we needed pretty quickly and then got out. If the notes on the maps seem cryptic, don't worry; I can't remember what I was trying to say either.
You may also note that I still doodle that stupid goblin after all these years. I know what you're thinking, and I don't care. He's my pal.
The thing is, I'm really not very good at it. I don't use graph paper (the DM doesn't usually give exact measurements of rooms anyway, usually just "large" or "small"), I tend to get my East and my West mixed up for some reason, and OK, I'll admit it, sometimes my attention wanders a bit during room descriptions. It's not that my head isn't in the game, it's just that if an interesting feature gets mentioned it tends to draw my focus towards it. For example, if the DM says "There is a large altar with a demon head carved into it," my mind immediately starts running through all the things it might be for and what I want to do with it, and I don't really hear anything he says after that.
So just for fun, I've got here a few of the maps I drew while we were running through the 5th edition starter set. I've found the actual maps from the adventure on the internet for comparison, and wow, they do not make me look good.
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| The published Cragmaw Hideout |
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| My Cragmaw Hideout |
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| Published Cragmaw Castle |
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| My Cragmaw Castle |
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| Published Redbrand Hideout |
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| My Redbrand Hideout |
You may also note that I still doodle that stupid goblin after all these years. I know what you're thinking, and I don't care. He's my pal.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Somebody say back to D&D?
That's right. I did.
A dwarf fighter may not be very inspired, but I happen to like hitting things while speaking in a bad Scottish accent.
What I dislike is drawing chain-mail, but you can probably already see that.
What I dislike is drawing chain-mail, but you can probably already see that.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Vargouille, Keepin' It Real
In most depictions of varguoilles, they tend to look, if not exactly smart, at least cognizant enough to know they're evil. They seem to be getting a certain level of enjoyment out of their villainy. But what if they were basically the same thing, with the head and the tentacles and wings, but now they look like they're not so much thinking as obeying a inscrutable set of instincts impelling them to horrible acts? Like they have maybe a dim realization that their very existence is a kind of torture, but they don't have the ability to properly comprehend it and so fall back upon obeying only their terrible appetites?
Bit creepier.
Drawing's a bit rough, but headed in the right direction, I think.
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
The God Maker
If you or someone you love has ever played a Cleric or a Paladin, then you know the moment: the time when you must Choose Your God. You can try to make one up out of thin air, or you can choose one from the setting. Unless you already have something in mind thin air can be tough, while the setting ones tend to be straightforward but not too compelling. "Minolalsa, Goddess of nature. Her symbol is a Tree. Borkorud, God of War. His symbol is a sword," and so forth. Gods like that are fine, of course, but tend to be forgettable; I've played many a game where the god barely comes up, and the cleric has to check his sheet to even remember what he's supposed to be worshiping. You can always go for the "I worship an ideal" option, but for my money if you're going to be running around quaffing mysterious potions and battling dragons and giants, you might as well go the whole nine yards and have the name of an incredibly powerful yet fickle being you can yell when things get crazy.
So with all that in mind, here's a God Maker table. It's a d20 four times,(one each for A, B, C, D) and by the end I'm hoping you'll have a deity whose name you'll be proud to invoke while bashing in someone's head with a mace. May also be useful for DM's who don't feel like coming up with a whole pantheon out of nowhere. The table will be followed by my long winded explanation.
All you need now is an impressive sounding name, and you should have "(Name) the (A), god of (B) and (C), whose followers wield the symbol of the (D)"
Now, the first thing you may notice is your god makes no sense.
That's OK, that's a good thing. Here, lemme introduce you to this fellow over here. His name is Apollo. He's the god of the Sun and Prophecy, and his symbol is a bow and arrows. This other fella, Poseidon, is the god of the ocean and horses, and his symbol is a fork. Thor over here is a weather god, his symbol is a hammer, and this Son of a Hebrew desert god has a Roman method of execution for his symbol.
Point is, making sense is not something actual religions strive for, at least not without the context of the stories involved. Actual religions are built up over time, with gods accruing additional "domains", names, and stories as the culture changes. In addition, they spread and move into other cultures, assimilating other gods as they go. Obviously one table isn't going to give you all this texture, so the idea is to make a jumping off point to get some texture by working backwards. It'll give him a title, a natural phenomenon, a cultural aspect, and a symbol.
For example, you roll the dice, you get Borkorud the Confined, god of Insects and Battle. His symbol is the Jug.
Why is he confined? Dunno. Maybe he was held prisoner by some other gods at some point in his history. Maybe he's an ascetic who confines himself to single spot due to some oath. Insects and Battle? Maybe it's a reference to flies and maggots on the corpses of a battle field, maybe it's the warrior-like nature of ants and wasps, or maybe he started out as the god of a very warlike tribe whose totem was a bee or something. It could just as easily have happened by accident, one tribe with a bee god unites with a tribe with a war god. The Jug? Maybe it's the carved out skull of an enemy god which he uses to drink the blood of the slain. Maybe there's a story where he had to lay siege to a fortress to retrieve a Jug with magical properties. Maybe he just likes to get drunk.
Basically, you roll the dice a few times, and then you try to make sense of it by contextualizing it. Now you've got a god with a bit of personality and the germs of a mythology. If you're making a few gods you can either re-roll repeats or scratch'em off and make up your own as you use them. The only danger is if you roll something that DOES make sense. Borkorud the Enraged, god of Flame and Battle with the symbol of the sword? Dude, that's BORING.
Whoops, almost forgot about alignment there. Tell you what; make him whatever alignment you want, preferably fairly close to the cleric worshiping him. Any seeming incongruities will just add more texture. Got an evil Sun god? He's the god to the drought, the Sun burning crops and drying up wells. Got a good Murder god? She's the god of retribution, killing those whom justice and vengeance demands.
See you all in church!
So with all that in mind, here's a God Maker table. It's a d20 four times,(one each for A, B, C, D) and by the end I'm hoping you'll have a deity whose name you'll be proud to invoke while bashing in someone's head with a mace. May also be useful for DM's who don't feel like coming up with a whole pantheon out of nowhere. The table will be followed by my long winded explanation.
Now, the first thing you may notice is your god makes no sense.
That's OK, that's a good thing. Here, lemme introduce you to this fellow over here. His name is Apollo. He's the god of the Sun and Prophecy, and his symbol is a bow and arrows. This other fella, Poseidon, is the god of the ocean and horses, and his symbol is a fork. Thor over here is a weather god, his symbol is a hammer, and this Son of a Hebrew desert god has a Roman method of execution for his symbol.
Point is, making sense is not something actual religions strive for, at least not without the context of the stories involved. Actual religions are built up over time, with gods accruing additional "domains", names, and stories as the culture changes. In addition, they spread and move into other cultures, assimilating other gods as they go. Obviously one table isn't going to give you all this texture, so the idea is to make a jumping off point to get some texture by working backwards. It'll give him a title, a natural phenomenon, a cultural aspect, and a symbol.
For example, you roll the dice, you get Borkorud the Confined, god of Insects and Battle. His symbol is the Jug.
Why is he confined? Dunno. Maybe he was held prisoner by some other gods at some point in his history. Maybe he's an ascetic who confines himself to single spot due to some oath. Insects and Battle? Maybe it's a reference to flies and maggots on the corpses of a battle field, maybe it's the warrior-like nature of ants and wasps, or maybe he started out as the god of a very warlike tribe whose totem was a bee or something. It could just as easily have happened by accident, one tribe with a bee god unites with a tribe with a war god. The Jug? Maybe it's the carved out skull of an enemy god which he uses to drink the blood of the slain. Maybe there's a story where he had to lay siege to a fortress to retrieve a Jug with magical properties. Maybe he just likes to get drunk.
Basically, you roll the dice a few times, and then you try to make sense of it by contextualizing it. Now you've got a god with a bit of personality and the germs of a mythology. If you're making a few gods you can either re-roll repeats or scratch'em off and make up your own as you use them. The only danger is if you roll something that DOES make sense. Borkorud the Enraged, god of Flame and Battle with the symbol of the sword? Dude, that's BORING.
Whoops, almost forgot about alignment there. Tell you what; make him whatever alignment you want, preferably fairly close to the cleric worshiping him. Any seeming incongruities will just add more texture. Got an evil Sun god? He's the god to the drought, the Sun burning crops and drying up wells. Got a good Murder god? She's the god of retribution, killing those whom justice and vengeance demands.
See you all in church!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Morcalavir the Inscrutable
Ever see a bald elf wizard? Me neither. It seems like an Idea Whose Time Has Come.
Here's a bonus elf; more of a standard elf really:
There is so much about this picture that bothers me, don't even get me started. I've been told I shouldn't criticize my own drawing so much, so seriously, don't get me started.
Are you trying to get me started?
Well don't.
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| Why Inscrutable? Not sure. Perhaps he's very difficult to scrute. |
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| Classic spell, or symptom of a skin condition? |
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| Another classic. |
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| On the other hand, the more I draw him the more he reminds me of Charlie Brown. |
Here's a bonus elf; more of a standard elf really:
Are you trying to get me started?
Well don't.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Mood Yoda (and 5th Edition!)
On Valentine's Day this year, my delightful wife gave me a card that included a punch-out-put-it-together Yoda. I highly recommend obtaining such a card from one of your own loved ones, because with the application of a few green sticky notes, you can create an honest-to-goodness...
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| Mood Yoda! |
ADDITIONAL NEWS
Also topping today's event's, I only just now discovered that Wizards of the Coast has put the new 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons Basic Rules on their site as a free pdf download. They did this ten days ago, so if you care you probably already know, but still. I haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL NEWS
When viewed from the correct angle, this Kinder Surprise monster appears to have a wang.
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| Ha ha! Wang. |
I'm guessing this was done intentionally at the insistence of Nathan Fillion.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Free RPG Goodness
Role playing games are fun, but can get pretty expensive. Between books, minis, modules, maps, special dice, snacks, and other sundries, it ain't easy to do on a budget. This is especially true if you're playing the latest version of whatever, because the companies that make it wanna turn a profit and tend to favor box sets and elaborate full colour hard covers, and that stuff isn't free.
So here's some stuff I've found that is free. Most of it has been around for a while, but it never hurts to put it all in one place for my own sake as well as yours, and you may find something you haven't seen before. I don't think I'll put any random generators on here though, 'cause that a whole 'nother bag o' snakes.
Dragonsfoot: This is one of the first "homebrew" style sites I ever found. It's a whole mess o' 1st and 2nd Edition AD and D content supplied by contributors to the site, so it can be a bit of a mixed bag, but free is free and chances are you're gonna have to modify a professionally published module you paid money for anyway. There's homebrew classes, spells, modules, reference sheets, you name it.
Labyrinth Lord: Speaking of old school gaming, I've played this 1st Edition D and D clone a few times now and had some good fun with it. You can buy the books if you like (I did, it's nice to have them at the table with you), but the PDF "no-art" versions are free for download. If you look around the site a bit, you'll likely find some more free stuff as well; I just downloaded the Mutant Future rules for the game, didn't even notice 'em before.
Free Adventures: Some of the links on this Dungeonmastering.com post are dead; looks like Wizards of the Coast killed a lot of the free 4th edition stuff they had kicking around for some reason. However, looks like plenty of the 3.5 ones still work. I was going to post a link to the full 3.5 archive they used to have, but it looks like they killed a bunch of that too. But if 3.5 is your thing....
The Hypertext d20 SRD: An enterprising soul named Jans Carton has put together this speedy reference for the whole darn system, as well as some nice extras like a "dice bag" and spell and monster filters. It's not a download like the other stuff on this list, but if you use a lap top or something at the gaming table very often, holy geez would this thing be handy. God bless the Open Gaming License. And speaking of the OGL....
D20 PFSRD: Here's Paizo's version of the same thing. It doesn't have quite the elegance and ease of use of the one above, but it's got all the Pathfinder additions and alterations, and still makes a handy reference.
GURPS: This stands for Generic Universal Role Playing System. I haven't played it before, but this free download has got me interested. Which is obviously it's intent, but still. It uses only six sided dice, so that makes things a bit easier, and it can be modified to fit basically any setting, time period, planet, dimension, what have you. The PDF download in the link doesn't seem to have quite enough info to run a game (at least not easily), but it looks to be a good introduction for prospective players. Even if it's a marketing ploy to get you to buy the books, it's a darn good marketing ploy, so kudos all round.
That should be enough to keep you busy for now. I'm always looking for more, so leaving links in the comments is good.
So here's some stuff I've found that is free. Most of it has been around for a while, but it never hurts to put it all in one place for my own sake as well as yours, and you may find something you haven't seen before. I don't think I'll put any random generators on here though, 'cause that a whole 'nother bag o' snakes.
Dragonsfoot: This is one of the first "homebrew" style sites I ever found. It's a whole mess o' 1st and 2nd Edition AD and D content supplied by contributors to the site, so it can be a bit of a mixed bag, but free is free and chances are you're gonna have to modify a professionally published module you paid money for anyway. There's homebrew classes, spells, modules, reference sheets, you name it.
Labyrinth Lord: Speaking of old school gaming, I've played this 1st Edition D and D clone a few times now and had some good fun with it. You can buy the books if you like (I did, it's nice to have them at the table with you), but the PDF "no-art" versions are free for download. If you look around the site a bit, you'll likely find some more free stuff as well; I just downloaded the Mutant Future rules for the game, didn't even notice 'em before.
Free Adventures: Some of the links on this Dungeonmastering.com post are dead; looks like Wizards of the Coast killed a lot of the free 4th edition stuff they had kicking around for some reason. However, looks like plenty of the 3.5 ones still work. I was going to post a link to the full 3.5 archive they used to have, but it looks like they killed a bunch of that too. But if 3.5 is your thing....
The Hypertext d20 SRD: An enterprising soul named Jans Carton has put together this speedy reference for the whole darn system, as well as some nice extras like a "dice bag" and spell and monster filters. It's not a download like the other stuff on this list, but if you use a lap top or something at the gaming table very often, holy geez would this thing be handy. God bless the Open Gaming License. And speaking of the OGL....
D20 PFSRD: Here's Paizo's version of the same thing. It doesn't have quite the elegance and ease of use of the one above, but it's got all the Pathfinder additions and alterations, and still makes a handy reference.
GURPS: This stands for Generic Universal Role Playing System. I haven't played it before, but this free download has got me interested. Which is obviously it's intent, but still. It uses only six sided dice, so that makes things a bit easier, and it can be modified to fit basically any setting, time period, planet, dimension, what have you. The PDF download in the link doesn't seem to have quite enough info to run a game (at least not easily), but it looks to be a good introduction for prospective players. Even if it's a marketing ploy to get you to buy the books, it's a darn good marketing ploy, so kudos all round.
That should be enough to keep you busy for now. I'm always looking for more, so leaving links in the comments is good.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Mal-Nuk, son of Borth
Mal-Nuk, son of Borth!
Exactly what you'd expect!
Mal-Nuk, son of Borth!
He can almost walk erect!
Mal-Nuk, son of Borth!
A jaunty sort of bloke!
Mal-Nuk, son of Borth!
The "erect" line wasn't initially a dirty joke! But it may as well be now that I've called attention to it! I mean, I just meant he can stand upright, but if you're going to take it that he walks around with an erection all the time, I suppose you can go ahead if that sort of thing amuses you!
I intended on spending some time waxing rhapsodical about the all the mechanical and flavor aspects of RPG multi-classing in general, and the Barbarian-Rogue in particular. I have some very interesting and insightful thoughts on it, that are utterly unorganized, unprepared, and very likely unoriginal. But as it turns out, I'm not in the head space for that at all today. I'm more in mood for disjointed commentary and spontaneous improvised verse.
And isn't saying "it wasn't meant as a joke" really just another kind of joke? Somewhat akin to the "no pun intended" people? Yes, yes you did mean to make a pun, I can see it in your eyes that you think you're being very clever about your pun, but you think I'm too stupid to notice it and so you say "no pun intended" to draw attention to your clever, clever pun. Am I angry or bored with you? I honestly can't tell anymore.
Maybe next time more RPG stuff. I'm also planning a rip-roaring little piece about how I think it might be nice to do a book review someday. It's going to include all my excuses for why I never actually do a book review.
Perhaps by then there will be less mind static spilling out of the spaces between the words.
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
Her Majesty's Irregulars
So it seems I've begun to post again. Shall I recount all the thoughts, feelings, and world views that resulted in my abandoning this blog over a year ago? And then shall I follow it up with an explanatory analysis of my motivations for this attempt at beginning again? Or shall I simply continue on as as though there was no interruption, like a coma patient who finishes a sentence he started five years ago right before he lost consciousness?
I agree. Reality is boring, mystery is fun.This is a boring mystery, so I should at least break even.
To business:
Some time ago I was going to try running a Dungeons and Dragons campaign where all the magic in the world had faded away, leaving only remnants of the spells and monsters that had once shaped the land. These had retreated to forgotten corners of the globe, only occasionally breaking out to threaten, raid, and kill. The PC's would be working for a secret agency of the government created to combat these creatures, at least at the start, and any demi-human PC's would be some of the last of their kind recruited into service to help defend the clueless populace from supernatural evil. Essentially, I wanted an Elizabethan Hellboy vibe.
The Oath of Her Majesty's Irregulars:
We are the secret invisible shield
That ne'er will buckle, splinter nor yield
We strike from the shadows 'gainst all that is feared
The Eldridge, Unholy, and Unspeakably Weird
My thoughts on how they would hide and disguise themselves (intended for 4th Edition, which may not have been the best choice for this sort of chicanery):
Disguises: Every member of the HMI is trained in the deceptive arts, so all PC’s get Bluff as a bonus skill. Thus, disguises will always hold up to a cursory glance; the PC’s need only make a bluff check if they’re interacting with someone or they’ve drawn attention to themselves in some way. Checks can be made against passive insight, or a DC of the DM’s discretion (+2 bonus to check for half humans). Also left up to the DM’s discretion is whether a particular disguise would work, eg. a hat covering the ears will work fine for an elf, but not so much for a dragonborn. Circumstances will also grant bonuses and penalties, such as whether the lighting is good or bad, the PC is drunk, etc. Success means the target buys the disguise, and the PC may interact with them normally. Failure (or not being in disguise) against any random NPC’s that aren’t already involved means we roll on the table:
1. Target is shocked, and is unsure of how to proceed. You may make an Intimidate attack vs. Will as a free action (-2 for half humans). Hit: If Non-com or bloodied, will retreat, screaming hysterically. If combatant, grants combat advantage (save ends). Miss, or no check made: Will stand up to you, and call for help. May attack, if not already fighting.
2. Shrugs it off, thinks he is seeing things. May swear off drink for a while.
3. Thinks you’re deformed human, and is put off by it. -2 to Cha. Based checks.
4. Thinks you’re a deformed human, and is moved to pity. Will try to do something nice for you.
5. Fear leads to anger; immediately attacks you.
6. Recognizes you for what you are, and is a fan of the old tales; very happy to discover they are true. Will keep the secret quiet, but will otherwise act “fan boy”, following you around, asking questions, and trying to be your friend.
7. Recognizes you for what you are, and is a conspiracy theorist. 50% chance he thinks you work for the government, 50% chance he thinks you work against the government. Either way, will tell everyone he knows about you. Only 5% chance they believe him. May try to follow you.
8. Assumes you’re in costume. May direct you to the nearest theatre, or advise you of the correct date of Corvusnox.
9. Wasn’t really paying attention, just caught a glimpse; you may make another Bluff check, but at -2.
10. Just plain scared. Non-com is mute and immobilized with fear, combatant grants combat advantage against only you for rest of encounter.
11. Is familiar with all things supernatural, and will take you in stride. May have non-human friends. If shop keep, may secretly trade in magic items.
12. Turns out is also non-human, and will reveal it to you. Roll on “non-human” table. If a shop keep, may trade in magic items.
13. Was on edge of madness, and has been pushed over by you. Roll on insanities.
14. Terrified. Turns into a wailing, gibbering mess. Surrenders immediately.
15. Enemy spy. Know exactly who you are, and who you work for. Will pretend he doesn’t notice or will feign fear (makes a bluff check against your insight) but will report you activities to his superiors at earliest convenience.
16. Doesn’t know what you are, but is strangely attracted to it. Will hit on you. +2 to Cha. based checks.
17. Not sure what’s happening but knows he doesn’t like it. Will keep quiet now, but will try to attack you when you’re back is turned. May try to get reinforcements.
18. Sees what you are, claims also to be of that race, but isn’t.
19. Immediately bolts.
20. Devoutly religious, and assumes you are some sort of devil. Will attempt to banish you with chants, prayers, holy water, etc.
When I finally ran my first session, it ended up being a variation of the Fool's Grove Delve, heavily amended to suit my own tastes. Feedback to that one was mixed, but I still wouldn't mind trying out Her Majesty's Irregulars one day.
I think it would likely work better as an AD and D campaign, though.
I agree. Reality is boring, mystery is fun.This is a boring mystery, so I should at least break even.
To business:
Some time ago I was going to try running a Dungeons and Dragons campaign where all the magic in the world had faded away, leaving only remnants of the spells and monsters that had once shaped the land. These had retreated to forgotten corners of the globe, only occasionally breaking out to threaten, raid, and kill. The PC's would be working for a secret agency of the government created to combat these creatures, at least at the start, and any demi-human PC's would be some of the last of their kind recruited into service to help defend the clueless populace from supernatural evil. Essentially, I wanted an Elizabethan Hellboy vibe.
The Oath of Her Majesty's Irregulars:
We are the secret invisible shield
That ne'er will buckle, splinter nor yield
We strike from the shadows 'gainst all that is feared
The Eldridge, Unholy, and Unspeakably Weird
My thoughts on how they would hide and disguise themselves (intended for 4th Edition, which may not have been the best choice for this sort of chicanery):
Disguises: Every member of the HMI is trained in the deceptive arts, so all PC’s get Bluff as a bonus skill. Thus, disguises will always hold up to a cursory glance; the PC’s need only make a bluff check if they’re interacting with someone or they’ve drawn attention to themselves in some way. Checks can be made against passive insight, or a DC of the DM’s discretion (+2 bonus to check for half humans). Also left up to the DM’s discretion is whether a particular disguise would work, eg. a hat covering the ears will work fine for an elf, but not so much for a dragonborn. Circumstances will also grant bonuses and penalties, such as whether the lighting is good or bad, the PC is drunk, etc. Success means the target buys the disguise, and the PC may interact with them normally. Failure (or not being in disguise) against any random NPC’s that aren’t already involved means we roll on the table:
1. Target is shocked, and is unsure of how to proceed. You may make an Intimidate attack vs. Will as a free action (-2 for half humans). Hit: If Non-com or bloodied, will retreat, screaming hysterically. If combatant, grants combat advantage (save ends). Miss, or no check made: Will stand up to you, and call for help. May attack, if not already fighting.
2. Shrugs it off, thinks he is seeing things. May swear off drink for a while.
3. Thinks you’re deformed human, and is put off by it. -2 to Cha. Based checks.
4. Thinks you’re a deformed human, and is moved to pity. Will try to do something nice for you.
5. Fear leads to anger; immediately attacks you.
6. Recognizes you for what you are, and is a fan of the old tales; very happy to discover they are true. Will keep the secret quiet, but will otherwise act “fan boy”, following you around, asking questions, and trying to be your friend.
7. Recognizes you for what you are, and is a conspiracy theorist. 50% chance he thinks you work for the government, 50% chance he thinks you work against the government. Either way, will tell everyone he knows about you. Only 5% chance they believe him. May try to follow you.
8. Assumes you’re in costume. May direct you to the nearest theatre, or advise you of the correct date of Corvusnox.
9. Wasn’t really paying attention, just caught a glimpse; you may make another Bluff check, but at -2.
10. Just plain scared. Non-com is mute and immobilized with fear, combatant grants combat advantage against only you for rest of encounter.
11. Is familiar with all things supernatural, and will take you in stride. May have non-human friends. If shop keep, may secretly trade in magic items.
12. Turns out is also non-human, and will reveal it to you. Roll on “non-human” table. If a shop keep, may trade in magic items.
13. Was on edge of madness, and has been pushed over by you. Roll on insanities.
14. Terrified. Turns into a wailing, gibbering mess. Surrenders immediately.
15. Enemy spy. Know exactly who you are, and who you work for. Will pretend he doesn’t notice or will feign fear (makes a bluff check against your insight) but will report you activities to his superiors at earliest convenience.
16. Doesn’t know what you are, but is strangely attracted to it. Will hit on you. +2 to Cha. based checks.
17. Not sure what’s happening but knows he doesn’t like it. Will keep quiet now, but will try to attack you when you’re back is turned. May try to get reinforcements.
18. Sees what you are, claims also to be of that race, but isn’t.
19. Immediately bolts.
20. Devoutly religious, and assumes you are some sort of devil. Will attempt to banish you with chants, prayers, holy water, etc.
When I finally ran my first session, it ended up being a variation of the Fool's Grove Delve, heavily amended to suit my own tastes. Feedback to that one was mixed, but I still wouldn't mind trying out Her Majesty's Irregulars one day.
I think it would likely work better as an AD and D campaign, though.
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