Wilds - Tomb-inated

The group continues to explore the underground complex they've discovered in hopes of finding their lost, dead companions.

Tile of the Week #67 and #68

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. Each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile #67

Tile #68

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

The Wilds - Crossroads is Under Attack!

"Be careful," says Dagmarten as he, Mordikarr, and Saurabh watch the others move toward the bowl, scouts in the lead. Ingvild nods, then he and Rawon start their careful descent. The pair circles the entire rim, then circles down, checking each of the doorways as they go. Once at the bottom they check the pool, and Ingvild tests the liquid with a branch. The pair returns to the rim, and the others gather near one of the big stone pillars.

Wilds - Where did Every-body Go?

After viewing the scene at the death camp, most party members want to follow the tracks leading away from the camp to see if they can figure out what's happened to the remains of their comrades. Several members of the group take the time to relieve the mules (and themselves) of some of the excess baggage they're carrying, caching everything beneath a rock ledge and covering it with spare cloaks and piled rocks. The scouts are already on the move. Rawon, Mordikarr and Ingvild take the lead, with Ohwatoo following. The others bring up the rear.

Tile of the Week #65 and #66

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. Each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile #65

Tile #66

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Wilds - Grave Duty

After the tension of the ambush, and the sudden loss of the camp guards, the party has little motivation to move. The scouts, Rawon and Mordikarr, are exhausted, the rest of the party variously tired, grief-stricken or angry. No one is in a mood to move, despite the potential threat of bug men looking for their dead companions. The group sets watch and settles in to wait out the rest of the day and night. "We'll decide in the morning," is all Ohwatoo says after Raúguey grumbles about a plan.

Wilds - Don't Split... Ah Nevermind

After quickly butchering the deer into manageable sections, Mordikarr and Rawon load up half the carcass and head toward base camp. It's been a while since the group has checked in with the guards, and they can grab some cold-weather gear too. The remainder of the group moves away from the main path taken by the bugs and tries to find a reasonable place to set up a temporary camp for the remainder of the night. After eating some fresh food, the spell-casters head to bed while the others keep watch by turns.

Tile of the Week 63 and 64

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. Each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile 63

Tile 64

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

The Wilds - Execute!

The bat and the well-laid ambush work, the spider things are caught completely by surprise!

Tile of the Week #61 and #62

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile 61

Tile 62

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

The Wilds - Bug Tracker

"Northeast? That's toward our camp. We should get moving quickly. If they're going to attack the guards and the mules, we'll be left without supplies."

"Slow down Maro, just because they're heading in that general direction doesn't mean the camp is in danger. The hunters we've seen are usually gone for four or five hours and camp is almost six miles away. They'd have to move pretty quickly to get there and back in that amount of time, and they'd have to know where camp is." Durego is already on his feet, ready to go.

The group falls into their usual marching order and moves out, circling the vertical cliff face. When they reach the top, Rawon and Dagmarten start looking for tracks while Mordikarr sends Ava northeast, along the creature's probable path of travel. As the scouts look for the trail, Durego and Ohwatoo poke around the top of the hill. "Hey," whispers Ohwatoo. "Look at this." Several group members gather around the wizard, who is stooped over a low mound.

"What is it?" asks Durego.

"Some kind of monument or something. There's something engraved on the face, writing maybe? Spread your cloaks and I'll expose a light."

The others huddle close and Ohwatoo pulls out his light stone. The monument is a weathered stone obelisk, a few feet across. The top is engraved with faded writing [image on web site]. "Can you make it out?" asks Durego, who is more concerned with keeping an eye on the surroundings than the writing.

"It's very faint. A pity we don't have more time to study it."

"No time at all. They have the trail. Hide the light."

The scouts quickly find signs of passage, the same odd prints they found outside Hill Hole's entrance. The group follows the trail, which leads away northeast, though not directly toward the group's campsite, which is south of the travel line. Or at least that's how the party remembers it. "Probably just a hunting party then," mutters Raúguey.

The group follows the trail for an hour, then Rawon holds up a warning hand. He scouts ahead a short distance, then returns to the group. "The trail crosses a small clearing here, and there's a big fallen tree along the near edge. Looks like a good ambush site. We're far enough from Hill Hole that noise won't carry. I say we set up here."

There are murmurs of agreement from the others, and the group takes positions flanking the creatures' trail. Grendor, Strom and Maro take position behind the huge fallen tree. Raúguey finds a shallow crevice behind a rock to the left of the tree and covers himself with leaves. Rawon and Dagmarten take position in the woods behind the fighter, hunkered down behind a small outcropping of stones. Durego and Ohwatoo back the tree group, while Ingvild and Mordikarr split off to the right, ready to use missile weapons.

Time passes and a thin fog rises from the soaking-wet ground. Raúguey shivers as cold mud slowly creeps into his armor. A noise? Yes, a noise, a faint clickity-clack. Then movement. The three creatures enter the clearing from the northeast, moving at a quick pace [from what you can see, they probably travel faster than humans]. From this distance you can see two of the creatures are carrying something, a deer perhaps, suspended from a pole. You can also see they are armed with bladed weapons.

As the creatures reach the center of the clearing, Ohwatoo speaks the command word for the Fang of Bats, summoning a vampire bat. With a word, he indicates the targets. The bat flies up, and then swoops down at the front spider thing, which hisses in surprise!

• Visit the game index.

PBE Games - Latest Releases

Here's a quick update on the latest PBE Games releases, which include some new Dungeons in Blue geomorphs, a pair of Uncommon Ground textures, and a new Hexed Places sandbox locale. Short and sweet:

• Uncommon Ground Stonerash and Radiated are two stone-like textures. The
  first is fairly normal looking, the second includes some unnatural color
  mixes.
• There are three new sets of Dungeons in Blue geomorphs up. The tiles in
  the Big Time series (One, Two, and Three) all include at least one
  oversize hallway or cavern. All three sets are available at a discount in
  the Big Time Pack too. I've also grouped up a bunch of random one-off tile
  sets into the More Parts and Pieces Bundle. This package includes seven
  previously released tile sets.
• Two Fang Gap, a Hexed Places sandbox locale, is also out. This
  mixed-terrain, six-mile hex is split by a deep river. You could swim, or
  maybe, risk crossing the gargoyle-guarded bridge.

Here are a couple samples from the above:

Big Time One - Preview

Uncommon Ground - Radiated

I've also done a fairly broad strokes discount pass over all my older products, so if you have anything from PBE Games on your wish list, you may want to take a peek and see if it's been reduced.

Like I said, short and sweet. Thanks, as always for checking out the stuff I post up here. Happy gaming!

Wilds - Ambush?

After returning to Hill Hole, the party decides to spend a couple days trying to ambush hunting parties leaving the site. It takes a while to settle on a plan, but when they do, here's what happens.

Tile of the Week #59 and #60

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile 59

Tile 60

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Tile of the Week #57 and #58

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile 57

Tile 58

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Wilds - Sneakin'

After some grumbling discussion about scouting and spying, the party splits up. The main force retreats to the west. Their intent: find a temporary camp site where loud, armor-wearing party members can hunker down while stealthy scouts maintain watch on the entrance for the rest of the day and another night. Mordikarr and Dagmarten remain behind to keep watch. Since Rawon and Ingvild can both see in the dark, they'll take the night watch.

At dusk the night shift heads out, and an hour later the daylight scouts reach camp. They report no activity at the entrance, though there were some noises from inside as the sun set. It sounded like Stev was moving around and talking to himself.

Nothing of note occurs around the camp site for the remainder of the night. As night turns to morning the waxing moon disappears behind thickening clouds. Dawn is a gray and dreary affair. "Rain," mutters Dagmarten, as the first drops begin to fall from the lowering skies.

Shortly after sunrise (well, estimated sunrise), the scouts return and report. "It was busy last night," says Ingvild. "There are a fair number of those critters inside."

"And Stev."

"Right, and Stev. He came out right after dark, carrying that big chain of his. He didn't hang around for long. Looked around, sniffed the air, then headed off south."

"I swear he looked right at us," says Rawon.

"How could you tell? All those weirdly placed eyes..."

"Anyhow," continues Ingvild, "shortly after he left, three of the bug things came out and hung around the entrance for a while. Then five more. They all grouped up and went off to the northwest. I guess they were a hunting party. They were gone for a long time, four or five hours at least. When they came back they were carrying something, but we couldn't really see what it was. I'm guessing food."

"I think whatever it was, it was wrapped up in webs," adds Rawon.

"Any sign of the little ones?" asks Ohwatoo.

Rawon shakes his head. "Nothing else came out, and Stev didn't come back either, so he's still out here somewhere."

"Eight of those things? That's not good," mutters Durego.

"So what's next?" asks Raúguey.

• Visit the game index.

Wilds - I Spy

After a night and day of scouting [and a brief interruption caused by annoying email server issues], the party has a plan. Set an ambush near Hill Hole and try to sucker a few 'bug mans' out for a little party. I took advantage of the the email interruption to switch over my campaign wiki to Tiddlywiki 5, the latest version.

Tile of the Week - 55 and 56

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile 55

Tile 56

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

They Call it a Mine

Here's a quick WIP look at a new set of Dungeons in Blue tiles that are in the queue. I started messing around with a rough-hewn look for corridors and walls so I can do mines and new construction. This set is all ten-foot halls and chambers, but the next couple will also have some different connection sizes. This is a one-third scale preview.

I'm not sure when this will come out. I want to get the other two sets done, and I've been busting my hump on some freelance writing to pay the bills, so mapping time has been a bit limited. Don't worry, I have a bunch of stuff in the queue.

The Wilds - Moving Again?

With potential bug mans pursuit on the minds of some of the party, the majority wants to move camp and try to make it more difficult for the enemy to find the potentially vulnerable mules and guards. As the others pack, Mordikarr and Ingvild, two of the three characters against the move, decide to take action. "We're going to go back and set watch on the hole for the night, and see what goes on there. Send someone to relieve us in the morning and to tell us where camp is, and we'll report what we've seen."

Wilds - Stop Picking at That!

With the spidery foes out of sight or fleeing, Ingvild comes up with a cunning (or suicidal) plan involving sneaking, invisibility, and fire. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Tile of the Week - 53 and 54

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile 53

Tile 54

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

The Wilds - Stuck Up

The party split up, with three members trying to convince mutant-giant Stev to help the party. With a threat to the main group, everyone reunites in chaos...

Tile of the Week - 51 and 52

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is another pair of tiles from the ongoing corridor set I'm doing. each pair of player tiles contains a corridor piece with a tileable pillar layout, so you can make long passages that look right. No tricks or traps here, unless you add your own.

Tile 51

Tile 52

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Wilds - Together again!

Well the party split up for the last couple turns, so I held off on putting together a public report until they reformed. For my players, this contains a few spoilers between the group. Nothing super secret, but you've been warned... Here goes...

Save or DIE!

Saving throws are one of those subsystems that provoke a lot of discussion, sometimes heated discussion. One of the hot-button features of saving throws is the save or die mechanic. Some people like the risk-all nature of a deadly saving throw. Others, not so much. In my opinion the best save mechanic is the one that works for your table, but that's not the main point here.

Tile of the Week - #49 and #50

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is the first in a series of simple hallway tiles with various pillar configurations. I did these so you can lay out long hallways and corridors with consistent pillar layouts at the breaks. Because these are basic corridors there are only player versions of these tiles. There are no secret doors, tricks, or traps here. Of course if you want tricks and traps, feel free to add your own. I'll be posting these up in pairs, so... here you go.

Tile 49

Tile 50

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Wilds - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

"What do you mean, 'let's see what this thing collects for toys?' Are you completely mad?" Maro stands gape-jawed at the portcullis as Raúguey follows Stev through the double doors. Mordikarr pauses long enough to let Suren catch up, then he follows the fighter.

Ingvild slips out of the shadows, glances back, and says, "Tell Dagmarten to hurry up!" He slides around the door frame into the space beyond.

"What happened?" Asks Dagmarten from his position at the entry.

"Oy laddie, I'm not sure you want to know, but..." says Strom.

"The madmen are following that brute into its lair, that's what," finishes Grendor.

"That's nuts," mutters Ohwatoo.

"What's going on? I can't see a thing out here," calls Durego from the trees.

"It seems some of them have gone in to see Stev's toys," says Rawon.

Yeah, they did follow the human-flesh-wearing giant into his lair voluntarily. Well, some of them did.

• Visit the game index.

PBE Games Update

Looking back over my product spreadsheet for PBE Games, I see I've been in Dungeons in Blue mode for the first month of 2015, publishing a trio of Small Dungeons, and five new Mega Tiles. Here's the latest stuff.

• Mega Tile Six - a large natural cavern crossed by an underground river. Several cliffs and crevices create natural elevation changes and obstacles in the cave.
• Mega Tile Seven - is a large temple complex with tombs and crypts nearby.
• Mega Tile Eight - depicts a trio of sewer lines running into a large natural cavern and the river therein.
• Mega Tile Nine - is a traditional dungeon area with several large chambers and multiple stairways. It's a great level transition piece as it depicts three separate elevations on one tile.
• Mega Tile Ten - is a huge lava-filled cavern with several elevation changes. Red dragon lair anyone?
• Small Dungeons #13 - a fortified complex with several large chambers.
• Small Dungeons #14 -  a very long hallway connecting a natural cavern complex to a traditional dungeon area. Both areas have exits to the outdoors.
• Small Dungeons #15 - A classic dungeon with a mix of features and some curved corridors to befuddle your mappers.

And as usual, there are deals to be had. Mega Tile Five Pack #2 bundles Mega Tiles six through ten into a discount package. Small Dungeons Map Pack #5 does the same for Small Dungeons #13, #14, and #15.

Small Dungeons #13 Preview

There's a little more variety in the queue for the next month: a few new Uncommon Ground textures; two more Hexed Places sandbox regions, Two Fang Gap and Ash Wood; plus a trio of tile sets featuring over-sized corridors, and more Mega Tiles. I also have a whole bunch of Tile of the Week posts queued up too. Stay tuned.

Uncommon Ground - Stonerash Preview

Wilds - Say Hello to my Little Friend

The party has gotten past the heavy portcullis, but now they face a new large and smelly challenge. Reactions are... mixed.

Tile of the Week #48

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is the fourth of four multi-level tiles, and, well, it's a trap! The stairs on this tile are unmarked, so you can treat it as both up, both down, or one up, one down as you like.

Tile 48 - Player version

Tile 48 - GM version

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Wilds - Breach the Gate

With a dark, stench-filled hole in front of them, the party tries to figure a way past the heavy portcullis that blocks the passage.

Wilds - Ruinous

The night watch rouses the others at first light. "Rise and shine Stumpy," says Ingvild, nudging Strom with his toe.

"Don't call me Stumpy," growls the dwarf as he rolls out of his blankets onto the cold frost-covered ground. Strom looks at the sky, a few stars still show overhead, and then sniffs the air. "Looks like a nice day."

"Clear and calm," agrees Dagmarten. "Should be nice all day."

Tile of the Week #47

The latest Tile of the Week entry. This is the third of four multi-level tiles, and it features a 30-foot wide corridor joining up with standard 10-foot passages.

Tile 47 - Player version

Tile 47 - GM version

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Wilds - New Roads to Follow

After a short rest and review of the map compared to the party's position, the group *thinks* they're at one of two possible locations on the map. Ohwatoo and most of the group is interested in checking out the area to see if they can prove a correspondence between the map and reality, and to see if the markings on the map indicate ruins. Profitable ruins. Maro is resistant, intent on getting back to Blackpool to face down the necromancer, but in the end, the voice of the majority outweighs his plea. The group heads southwest along the roadway, intent on a few hours travel before nightfall.

Wilds - Road Trip

The party can't figure out if they're exploring or returning to Blackpool. Grumble grumble.

Tile of the Week #46

Here's the latest Tile of the Week entry. This is the second of four multi-level tiles, and it includes a sewer connection too. See the surprise level transition in the GM's version.

Tile 45 - Player version

Tile 45 - GM version

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.

Wilds - Fateful Paths

Indecisive party. Impatient GM. The dice decide.

The Wilds - Post Holiday Blues

The game is ramping back up after the holiday break, and this is a first short turn to get things moving again. The wily beastmaster managed to avoid the clever trap set by the GM, and realized the bear the party encountered was not hostile.

New Year, New Tile of the Week #45

Here's the first Tile of the Week entry for the new year. This is the first of four quarter-sized tiles, each with a transition to a different elevation within the tile.

Tile 45 - Player version

Tile 45 - GM version

All Tile of the Week images are free for private use. You can download the images above using right-click / save as. Each tile is a 100px per five-foot square image, sized for compatibility with Dungeons in Blue geomorphs. The entire Tile of the Week Collection is also available as a pay what you want bundle, if you're feeling lazy.