Roleplaying games from historical research
This week we round out the year with our final episode from the life of Benvenuto Cellini. This one is terribly cut about from his entire biography so I can’t thank individual readers. Thank you to everyone who read anything in either of the two volumes and their production teams. It contains each time that…
Read More
We had some Lear last Christmas, so let’s make it a tradition. A new will-o-the-wisp. *** When awful darkness and silence reignOver the great Gromboolian plain,Through the long, long wintry nights; —When the angry breakers roarAs they beat on the rocky shore; —When Storm-clouds brood on the towering heightsOf the Hills of the Chankly Bore:…
Read More
In this episode Cellini gives birth to his masterpiece, the bronze Perseus. It almost kills him and I’d argue that – if it’s because he is a Verditus magus – this process draws on his life energy so that he is in risk of death to get this final piece of work done. I would…
Read More
I’ve been loking forward to reading this for you, because it’s a lovely example of an infernal regio for Ars Magica. Clearly its the work of Architectus from Realms of Power : the Infernal. It also works for Magonomia, but as a particular creature, not a thing that a Realm of Power does as a…
Read More
This poem, which the author claimed as autobiographical, contains angels or demons of the hours, which are progressively more terrible as the night continues. They sap the man’s ability to sleep, such that he becomes like a ghost. Death in life is one of Thomson’s core artistic preoccupations. One note on the contents: “Malebolges” mentioned…
Read MoreI’ve put the transcripts for the Magonomia Bestiary episodes into a single pdf. Please be aware it hasn’t been laid out, edited or playtested by professionals, so it is far lower in quality than the finished book.
Read MoreThree creatures that I considered pitching didn’t make it as far as me offering them for the Magonomia Bestiary. They’re still suitable for your table, but not right for the tone of this book. This is the last episode for the Bestiary Kickstart: it ends on November 24 at 9:00 (US) EST. George, the Minotaur…
Read More
I took over the unicorn and basilisk after another author had to step aside from this project, and initially I wrote them both closely tied to folklore. The unicorn needed a serious rework after I’d finished it. I didn’t get past our sensitivity reader because I was working the “virginity” angle as a plot hook.…
Read More
I took a few liberties with the history of street cries here. Let’s step back for some context. The biggest market in London during the reign was Stocks Market. If you’re looking for its historic site, due to one of those twists of history, it is underneath Mansion House, the formal residence of the Lord…
Read More
Satyrs are a problem. We wanted them for Magonomia., because they turn up in the folklore. They are, however, really rapey. That’s also considered a bit humorous in some period work. So, we wanted satyrs, but without any of the baggage. I took it three ways to get there. Satyrs change form over time. The…
Read More
Games From Folktales 