Author and RPG Designer Alice Liddell Is Moving, And Really Needs Our Help To Make It Happen

First and foremost, I wanted to apologize to folks. Things have been truly hectic on my end of the screen, with a lot of people in my circles having to pull stakes and get out of their current situation in a hurry. And one of those people is my partner and co-creator Alice Liddell. She is facing a serious uphill battle, she needs to move quickly, and could really use some help to make the ends meet on this rope trick.

I know money is tight for everyone right now, so let me say this up front. If you have money you can lend to the cause, please do that. But if your belt is tight, there are things you can do that don't cost a single red cent that will help. The full list is below, but please, if you've read this far, we need as many hands on deck as possible, and in whatever capacity you can.

Thank you in advance to everyone out there. It really means a lot to us.

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

Here's How You Can Help

 

I'll get right to the point this week. We are facing a lot of expenses, and a lot of bills to make this happen. And while Alice and myself are cranking out as much content as we can for folks' enjoyment, it hasn't made us wealthy. And if you want to help get her settled in a safe place of her own where she can keep writing books, streaming, and recording more audio dramas for folks' enjoyment, please take a look at the following list.

If You Just Want To Donate Money

 

This is the most direct way to help ensure that Alice has cash in-hand to pay bills and cover costs. If you just want to give Alice a little extra money to cover costs (even if it's just a couple bucks), then go to her Ko-Fi page, and send a small donation.

If You'd Like To Buy Some Coffee

 

In addition to a Ko-Fi page (which is a place that people can go to just give Alice a tip), she also has a partnership with Bones coffee. Given that massive layoffs were just announced in the trucking industry, and the fact that the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, it might be best to have enough bags of brown joy on-hand to last you a month... or two... or six.

 

So go through Alice's link, buy some Bones, and you'll get tasty coffee, while she gets her affiliate payment.

If You'd Like To Buy Some Books

Alice writes a lot of books, and she's got a little something for every taste. From Succumb To Darkness, which is about vampires during the French Revolution, to Geisha Hands, which is a historical novel which she also illustrated about a geisha's life in Japan, there are a lot of options. Check out her main Amazon author page (as well as her secret Little Alice author page which has even more books) and grab something for your next read. Kindle is good if you don't mind digital, but if you get a physical copy she can sign it for you if you run into us at an event!

If You'd Like To Check Out Her RPG Supplements

Like myself, Alice has also published several titles through Azukail Games. So if you're one of the regular RPG folks who come to this blog, I'd recommend taking a look at her titles:

- 100 Stat Boost Potion Recipes (this one goes deep, and I'd highly recommend it)

- 100 Flowers and Trees Sure To Boost Your Stats

- 100 Avian Beasts

- 100 Witches

- 100 Dangerous Plants

While I can recommend each of these titles, I will say that if you want to get all of them we should have a bundle deal coming out for them soon. If you just want one or two, though, it's a good idea to pick them up sooner rather than later!

Free Things You Can Do To Help

The previous sections are all things that are guaranteed to put cash in Alice's hands relatively quickly, and in a lot of circumstances you also get a tasty bit of merch. But if you want to go the extra mile (or you just don't have the extra money to spare for the other options right now), then please do the following things:

- Subscribe to Alice's gaming YouTube channel KHR Arts (she needs 17 more subscribers to cross the monetization minimum, and then all she has to worry about are the watched hours before it starts paying her every month).

- Subscribe to The A.L.I.C.E. Files (this is the ongoing audio drama series she and I have been working on. We're only 109 subscribers and 1,000 hours of watched content away from unlocking the initial monetization options, which would allow us to start earning with that channel).

- Subscribe to Alice The Author (this is Alice's channel where she talks about being an author, and you could subscribe to all 3 of her channels for the hat trick. This one is only 43 subscribers away from the initial payout level, and only needs 1,000 hours and change to cross that goal, thanks to a recent semi-viral video).

- Follow Alice on Instagram, and interact with her posts (Instagram is one of the only social media sites where she was/is monetized, but she's been effectively shadow banned for being too LGBTQ+ friendly. So let's boost her numbers, and force the algorithm to give her the exposure she needs to get paid)!

- Follow Alice on Twitch (she hasn't been streaming since the basement flooded, which was the inciting incident that has led to the current troubles... but she'll be back to it as soon as she's in a space where she can, and having a bigger audience waiting for her would be pretty nifty).

All Your Help Is Deeply Appreciated

It feels like every time we turn around there's another creator, artist, or community that's in desperate need of help. So if you've read this far (especially if you did at least a few of the things I listed above), thank you. Every little bit helps, as the old saying goes, and we're just doing our best to roll with the punches... but this one is an uppercut, and it's got us seeing stars.

So again, thank you.

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

A New Worldbuilding Supplement Just Dropped... What Should I Add Next?

One of the primary joys for a lot of folks who sit in the big chair is crafting their own world, and building a sandbox for their players to explore. However, even the best Game Masters sometimes need a bit of a push in the right direction to grease the wheels, which is why a while back I released the supplement 100 Worldbuilding Questions To Ask For A Fantasy City, since I've spent so much time the past several years putting together cities and figuring out all the little tricks to make them feel truly organic.

Well, that supplement received enough positive attention from readers that I thought it deserved a sequel... so I decided to follow-up on one of the other ideas I originally posed with 100 Worldbuilding Questions To Ask About Fantasy Faiths!

Which you should absolutely pick up if you haven't, yet!

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

What Worldbuilding Topic Should I Cover Next?

For folks who read my older post, My First Worldbuilding Supplement Just Dropped... Should I Make This A Series?, this might feel a bit like Second Verse Same As The First. After all, in that post I was asking you all, as my readers, what kind of topics you'd like to see me cover in future supplements in this vein. However, I wanted to add a bit of a twist with this update... especially since I haven't decided where I'm going to go just yet, so the floor really is open!

The questions I have for you as my readers are short and simple:

- What topic would you like to see? (legends, nations, outposts, noble families, etc.)

- What genre would you like to see? (more fantasy, some sci fi, perhaps even a horror supplement?)

That's it!

The first two entries in this series have been fantasy, but that's mostly because fantasy is the genre that a lot of RPG ideas get tested in for me before I port them to other genres. And I know there are a lot of sci fi and horror lovers out there who follow my work, but I also know there might be folks who want to see me tackle something else... worldbuilding questions to ask about a noir mystery, for example? Just to change things up?

Mostly, I'm just looking for your input. So if you have thoughts, leave them in the comments below with your answers to the above questions. Or, even better, buy a copy of 100 Worldbuilding Questions To Ask For A Fantasy City or 100 Worldbuilding Questions To Ask About Fantasy Faiths, and leave a comment in the review of that supplement! Because if you do that my publisher will see it, and I'm certain to hear about it!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

My First Adventure For Sundara Is Finally Out!

As regular readers know, I've been putting out supplements for my own fantasy setting Sundara: Dawn of a New Age for years now. The setting is available for both Pathfinder Classic and Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, and while I've covered species and cities, towns, gods, cults, and guilds, I hadn't actually written any adventure modules for it. Because... well, at the end of the day, adventures take more work and resources than any other kind of supplement I've made, and they almost always sell worse than anything except for tie-in fiction.

But the stars aligned, and I wanted to take a moment to tell folks about how my adventure A Night At The Slaughterhouse Inn came to be!

Also, I make certain to call it my first adventure for Sundara... Isaiah Burt actually beat me to the punch on writing the first adventure set in Sundara with The Invocation of Bael-Kharn, which I'd recommend for folks who are looking for a mid-range, level 7-8 adventure to run for folks!

And if you haven't picked up a copy yet, grab one for your table today!

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

How This Adventure Came To Be

Rather than being something that was just put together in the past few months, I actually wrote this adventure module several years ago. I won't name names for who was supposed to release it, but after inquiring as to when it was supposed to release (and then if it was supposed to release), I finally got word back from my contact that the time had expired on it, and I could place it somewhere else if I had someone who might be interested in it.

I, of course, reached out to Adrian Kennelly, since Azukail Games handles the bulk of my gaming supplements. He was definitely interested, but wanted to know if I could gear it for Sundara, rather than just releasing it as a stand-alone module. So I broke out the red pen, and added the town of Hag's End to my setting... while also taking care to file off the alignments that had been given to various characters, as that was something that I did away with back when the setting was first conceived.

Which raises the number of smaller towns in the setting to 11.

And that, as they say, is that. This adventure that was once a stand-alone piece now invites players inside my setting, and it can act as a jumping off point to an entire campaign! An oncoming storm causes people to seek shelter at the one inn Hag's End has to offer, and it's while they're within its heavy walls that they have a chance to rest, eat, and get to know the people they're trapped with. And when something bizarre begins happening, they'll have to band together... if they don't want this to be their last night at the Slaughterhouse Inn, of course.

A Challenge That I Need Your Help With!

I mentioned in the above section that adventure modules require the most work, and they typically make some of the fewest sales. It's for that reason that I had to negotiate with Adrian as to the costs of A Night At The Slaughterhouse Inn. I accepted a higher royalty rate for it than I normally get, but that was because my per-word rate for it was much lower than I would normally receive. This was doable for me because the adventure was already written, but I would not have been able to put together something this involved from scratch under those circumstances.

However, Adrian did offer me an additional incentive. You see, most adventures don't even reach Copper status (51 copies solid), much less Silver status (101 copies sold) on Drive Thru RPG. So he made me a deal... if I can get this supplement up over those humps, he'll give me a little bonus, in addition to my royalty for managing to kick those numbers up!

It's a long way to the top, but I would appreciate some help getting there!

If you're one of my regular readers, or just someone that's wondering what I'd put out for a Pathfinder Classic adventure instead of one of the other systems I've worked in, please do the following for me:

- Buy a copy of A Night At The Slaughterhouse Inn

- Rate and review it on DTRPG

- Share the adventure on your social media pages, and tell your friends about it

I've said this before, but the only way that writers of any stripe can put out new work is if people actually consume what they make. And after at least 3 years of not being able to scrape together the time, energy, and resources for modules set in Sundara, this adventure (as well as The Invocation of Bael-Kharn) is kind of a shot in the dark, hoping to hit the bullseye.

So if you're one of the folks out there who wished that Sundara would get some adventures to help give people a taste of the setting, I could really use your help now. If you're one of my regular readers who wished I'd write more adventures, don't sleep on this one. And if you're someone who wants to have a fast adventure module you can run when the power goes out and everyone wants to gather round by candlelight while there's a storm outside, this is definitely a game you should print out and keep in a three-ring binder like an old school GM would.

And if you're one of those people who has already bought your copy of this new adventure... well, consider grabbing one of my other adventure modules! There's not a lot of them, and only a few have even earned a Copper rating for sales. If I could change that for some of them (or all of them, if I want to get crazy optimistic) that would be a pretty solid achievement to skate toward the end of the year on!

- False Valor: A murdered girl might be the spark that reignites a war that's been over for nearly a hundred years... but the elves of the dark woods have long memories, and they don't reckon things the way a man would. (DND 5E)

- The Ghosts of Sorrow Marsh: An isolated town along the Old Swamp Road is beset by horrors that come when the sun sets. Mercenaries and crusaders alike have come to free the town from its fate... but will they be able to? (DND 5E)

- The Curse of Sapphire Lake: An old settlement seeks to rebuild, but they are beset by a phantom that's destroying roads, smashing homesteads, and driving off people who'd hoped to put down roots. Something from an old and terrible myth, will those summoned to the north lands be able to stop this threat? (DND 5E)

- Dreadful Tales: A collection of three short adventures, my dark little drama involves a doctor that's gone missing. The only one with a clue to his whereabouts is a scarred, violent criminal who won't say what's happened. Those who dig, however, might find the answer curdles their dreams, and keeps them awake at night. (Victorian Gothic)

- The Price of Iron: A simple job guarding a warehouse takes a dark turn when terrible fey monsters are unleashed within the structure. The only thing standing between them, and the unsuspecting city, are the ones who gave their word to stand their ground. (DND 5E)

- A Night At Breckon's Beacon: A squad went missing while out on maneuvers, lost in the rugged country along the Polymerian frontier. You and your fellow troopers are charged with finding what happened to them... but will you survive a Night at Breckon's Beacon? (Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic)

- Assault on Outpost 13: A dangerous scion of a crime family has been taken prisoner, and your squad is called up to help hold him until reinforcements arrive. Corruption runs rampant through the Styric Republic, though, and you will need to figure out who you can trust if you want to get out of this alive. (Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic)

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

Going Electrum on Storyteller's Vault... Can We Make Gold? (Breaking Down Trends)

In the past I have been a regular contributor to Storytellers Vault, and I've created supplements for a variety of games in both the World and Chronicles of Darkness. However, as I've talked about previously, one of the reasons I stepped back from doing as much with that platform as I had previously was that it just wasn't financially feasible for me. I take a 50% up-front pay cut whenever I write something for the platform (1 cent instead of 2 cents per word) and when you're writing tens of thousands of words, that adds up.

However, the other day I noticed something... several of my supplements have actually crossed the line into Electrum metal sellers (meaning they've moved at least 251 copies through the One Bookshelf websites). It was actually a surprising number of them. And since folks seemed to enjoy the break down I put out in An Autopsy On My Recent Deal Of The Day, I figured I'd take a moment to talk about what the numbers are telling me, and what this may mean for future supplements from me in the future.

And if you have opinions, there's going to be a way for you to contact me directly!

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

What Do People Respond To?

This is the question that every creator asks when they put something together, and throw it out into the void to see if it can find an audience. More specific aspects of this for Storytellers Vault include:

- What game line gets the best response?

- What format do people respond to?

- Do people prefer mechanics over flavor, or the other way around?

- Is there a particular subject that seems to be more popular than others?

Well, let's see what the numbers say, shall we?

To begin at the beginning, Werewolf: The Apocalypse has the most Electrum sellers for me. Whether it's the 101 Savage Kinfolk collection I wrote for the Savage Age, or the more "normal" kinfolk supplements I wrote many years ago, it's one of my most popular games. However, interestingly, only the 100 Kinfolk supplements for Glasswalkers, Get of Fenris, Silver Fangs, Bone Gnawers, Shadow Lords, and of course the Black Spiral Dancers have made it over that Electrum line. And while I've written supplements for things other than NPCs, those seem to be the supplements that have moved the most copies for this game.

The second-largest number of Electrum sellers comes from Changeling: The Lost. And unlike Werewolf, the offerings here are a little more diverse. The high sellers include: 100 (Mostly) Harmless Goblin Fruits And Oddments To Find In The Hedge, Buyer Beware: 10 Goblin Markets, 100 Hobs To Meet In The Hedge, 100 Strange Sights To See In The Hedge, and 100 Frailties. While there's a mix of mechanics and flavor in there, what seems very clear to me is that (for Changeling, at least) my top sellers are for things that concern the Hedge. And after all, why wouldn't they? It's a huge, constantly-shifting realm that's full of possibility, and a lot of Storytellers need some kind of starting point to help the Hedge take a more concrete shape in their games. While I've put out far more supplements for Changeling than just these 6, the ones that focus more on mortal world NPCs, on whispers and rumors, or even on the True Fae themselves just don't seem to be as popular.

Lastly, while I've written supplements for several other splats, the only other one that's reached Electrum status is 100 Resources and Rumors To Find On SchreckNet for Vampire: The Masquerade. While I have a handful of other supplements for Vampire (mostly focused on ghouls, but with another providing a list of potential havens), this seems to be the only one that's remained popular. And while it seems to go against the grain of the previous two games, where the most popular supplements seemed to be widely applicable overall, this supplement seems to be doing well exactly because of how specific it is. Which, when one considers that Vampire is the largest game in terms of the sheer amount of supplements and overall content made for it, makes sense from a marketing perspective.

So What Does All Of This Mean?

Sadly, even going over the numbers and successes, there is no clear formula for writing a supplement that is guaranteed to do well. Everything is a roll of the dice, and nothing is certain when it comes to popularity or sales.

With that said, however, the trends that I've noticed are:

- Supplements that provide support for the vague other-worlds of games often do all right

- Supplements that are hyper-specific to a part of the lore can do well

- Supplements that have broad use for Storytellers and players alike often do well

- Supplements in a complete series/bundle tend to do well (once the series is complete, at least)

I'm hedging my language a bit (if you'll pardon the Changeling pun) because even following these simple findings don't guarantee good sales. After all, Dark Reflections: 50 Sights To See In The Penumbra for Werewolf never even broke Copper, even though it's functionally very similar to supplements I wrote for Changeling. Is it the format? The fact that more Werewolf games are focused on exploring the real world and its plots instead of diving deep into the Umbra? Is it there are more Umbra-based resources, whereas the Hedge was still big, vague, and largely undefined for so long? It could be any or all of those things... but there's just no telling what.

I've often compared writing RPG supplements to gazing into a crystal ball. I can see some vague shapes and patterns, but there is no clear reception. So at the end of the day, I try to follow what trends I can, and to incorporate past successes... but there's often no way to know for certain which things are flukes, and which things are actual trends. And worse, there's no knowing how long a trend will hold true before what was once a solid investment of time and energy simply stops being popular with players.

How To Make Your Voice Heard

I've often said that to make up for the loss in initial income for a Storytellers Vault supplement, every, single one I release would need to hit Gold status (501 supplements). Not a single one of the things I've written out of the 40-something supplements has done that well... yet, anyway. As such, I am taking an initial loss on writing these... I repeat this to drive home to folks how much I love these games, and how refreshing it can be to dip back into them from time to time.

But it is a lot easier to work on more of these if I actually have a definitive idea what it is folks out there want to see more of.

 

Now, if you're someone who has a strong opinion of what you'd like to see me (or Adrian) release for future Storytellers Vault supplements, here's what you need to do. Go to the video I linked above. Leave a comment telling me what you want as specifically as you can (because saying, "I want more stuff for Mage," is less helpful than something like, "I would like a supplement for running the awakening scenes for new mages in Mage: The Awakening."). Once you've left your comment, toss the video a like, subscribe to the Azukail Games YouTube channel if you haven't, and share the video around so we can get more people's opinions.

These actions accomplish several things. First and foremost, the publisher gets pings when new comments are left, so this means you're going to get a direct line to us. It lets us see at a glance what people want us to work on. Also, the more views, comments, etc. a video gets, the more likely it is that the algorithm boosts our signal, and the more people will find out about who we are, and what we do.

Because Storytellers Vault might be a relatively small pool, but I'd wager a majority of folks who play these games have no clue who I am, who Adrian is, and that Azukail Games even exists. So helping shine a spotlight on us, while also sending us clear messages about the kinds of games we should be working on, will help a lot!

Lastly, I do still have a pair of supplements that haven't even hit Copper status yet. So if you have a moment, consider helping these two get their feet under them:

- Dark Reflections: 50 Sights To See In The Penumbra (Werewolf: The Apocalypse)

- Agents and Assets: 100 Personnel and Contacts For Task Force VALKYRIE (Hunter: The Vigil)

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

Urban Decay: Taking A Step Into Zombie Apocalypse Supplements

You've all heard the story. Life was grinding on with everyone paying their bills, their taxes, and as little attention as possible. People got coffee in the morning, takeout in the evening, and just tried to make it one more day... then the dead started walking! Whether it was a curse, a plague, an alien invasion, or something else entirely, the world fell apart, and the survivors now have to make their homes in the ruins of the old world while trying to avoid the shambling, hungry corpses that fill the streets, and wander the countryside.

Whether it's All Flesh Must Be Eaten, AZ: After Zombies, Survive This, or some other game, there are a lot of systems out there that have geared themselves for games set in the zombie apocalypse. However, it's only with this past weekend's release from me, 100 NPCs To Meet In The City After The Zombie Apocalypse, that I've thrown my hat into this particular arena.

My question for you all is should I keep going after this one?

Seriously, give it a look if you haven't yet!

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

A Slight Change Of Pace (That Could Grow)

I've mentioned a few times on this blog that I need to keep things fresh as a creator, and do my best to actually tread new ground from time to time. Even if something doesn't look like it's going to be a big-time bestseller, sometimes you just need a change of scenery to give your brain a break. Well, since Azukail Games had already released a lot of zombie-related supplements in the past (including pieces like 100 Descriptions For Modern Zombies, What's The Best Weapon For Fighting Zombies, and 100 Rumours To Hear During The Zombie Apocalypse) I figured that I'd see if I could supplement them a bit with my own contribution.

As with a lot of my other recent releases, though, whether this ends up going somewhere is up to all of you!

After all, there's quite a lot to see here!

What else would I add to this list? Well, a few ideas that occurred to me include:

- Concrete Castles: Survivor Communities To Find In The City After The Zombie Apocalypse

- Urban Decay: 100 Sights To See In A Zombie-Choked City

- Rotten Luck: 100 Things That Could Go Wrong After The Zombie Apocalypse

These are just a handful of ideas to get us started! However, I wanted to hear from folks out there about whether this is something they'd like to see more of, or if this is a direction folks aren't really interested in. And, of course, the surest way to make sure that you get more zombie apocalypse supplements is to pick up your copy of 100 NPCs To Meet In The City After The Zombie Apocalypse, and to leave a rating and a review with a comment of something you'd like to see next!

And, of course, you can also leave your comments on this blog, or get hold of me on social media wherever you see this post. Because it was a lovely little break from my usual fare, and I think I'd like to head back down some of those dark and dangerous alleyways... but I can't do that unless at least some of you are coming along for the ride!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

Drug Dens... Should This Supplement Follow The Same Path As My Brothels?

Regular readers around these parts know that one of my more infamous series of supplements is the World's Oldest Profession books. I figured that since there's always been some variety of brothel in our games, why not rip the band aid off and stop playing coy about it? Well, the first book sold a lot better than I expected it to, and the ones that followed in its footsteps did pretty well, also. I don't want to chase that vein so deep that the joke gets old, though, so I try to space out those releases.

However, Adrian recently came to me with a fresh idea that plays on the same taboo nature, and gives Game Masters a little more to work with in terms of unique places for players to enjoy some "recreation" while also picking up rumors, meeting NPCs, and all the other activities. That idea? A Dekas of Drug Dens, since you ask!

However, should this be a one-off supplement? Or should it follow the same pattern as the previous series I mentioned... links below, for those who are curious!

- World's Oldest Profession: A Baker's Dozen of Brothels

- World's Oldest Profession: 100 Courtesans and Concubines

- World's Oldest Profession: 100 Rumors To Hear in a Brothel

- World's Oldest Profession: 100 Titillating Titles To Find in a Lewd Library

Everything can be had... for a price.

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

An Alternative To The Run-Of-The-Mill Tavern?

The tavern is one of the major staples of most games, and they're often the centerpiece of any town. After all, it's why my supplement 100 Random Taverns is a gold bestseller on DTRPG. But sometimes you want to give your players somewhere different to go to... like a rotting hole full of psychadelic mushrooms overseen by a fungus-possessed troll, perhaps? Or maybe a former mine owned by a mad alchemist who is producing some kind of black crystals meant for smoking? A former holy site where people inhale hen bane vapors to commune with their ancestors, an underground club in a graveyard where people perform unspeakable acts, and more are all available in this supplement!

My question for you, the audience, is should we expand it, and go even further?

Temporary, or permanent, stat negatives may occur.

Whether it's to put together a list of NPCs one might find at these hives of ill repute, assembling a list of whispers and rumors to hear, or maybe even putting together a list of unique drugs for the GMs to use... though that one would likely have to be game-specific, since different games have different rules and stats for drug use, addiction, and what the short and long-term uses of the drugs are.

After all, I put together Silvertongue for Bastards of Golarion, so it's not like I'm exactly new to the idea of making in-game drugs!

But if this is something you'd like to see happen, there are a few ways you can raise your voice to be sure that both I, and my publisher, hear you.

- Buy a copy of A Dekas of Drug Dens, rate it, and in your review, tell us what sequels you'd like to see

- Leave a comment on this post, telling me what you want to see

- Make your opinion known on social media where you've seen posts about this article, or the supplement

These are in descending order of power. The publisher is always going to listen to the paying public first, but those who make a lot of noise on blogs, the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or on one of our social media pages, may end up getting their wish.

So please take the actions you feel you can if you want to see this supplement series expand!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my hardboiled gangland noir series starring a bruiser of a Maine Coon with Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

Catch The One Week Bundle For Silkgift, The City of Sails (Before It's Gone)!

I've been steadily releasing supplements for my Sundara: Dawn of a New Age fantasy RPG setting for a few years now. A world that's meant to look forward rather than backward, where the city-state is the largest official form of governance, and where the weird and the wild run rampant, it's a unique place for players and Game Masters alike to explore. And if you're a GM who prefers to make their own homebrew worlds, well, a lot of what's in Sundara is designed so that you can pick it up, and plop in down in your world like a Lego piece, helping you build something bigger without all the heavy lifting.

And while several of us are working on expanding the setting with some releases that should be dropping before the end of 2026, Adrian has a pair of One Week Bundles out for one of my personal favorite places in the setting... Silkgift, the City of Sails!

And if you haven't taken a look at it yet, now is definitely the time!

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

Invention, Alchemy, and Impossible Engineering

When I started releasing the original Cities of Sundara supplements, my goal was to make sure that each location was unique, organic, and that it had an identity that made people want to dig deeper into it. Silkgift started life as a collection of several villages who made a unique form of sailcloth that could be found nowhere else... hence the name. What made the industry truly shine, though, was a dwarven woman named Clever Elsie, whose inventions automated the process of weaving, increased the yield of crops, and led to a culture of discovery, study, and scholarship. The city draws cranks and geniuses alike, but the profits and yields generated by the creations of Silkgift goes to support the citizens, ensuring that everyone has food, shelter, and chances to learn skills and trades to better help their friends and neighbors.

And, of course, Silkgift is also the center of aether technology in Sundara, the most infamous versions being the compressed air pistols and rifles used by hunters and adventurers alike! For folks who want a deeper dive into aether weapons, as well as spellslinging firearm alternatives found in the setting, check out my older post Seeking Alternative Firearms For Your Game? Check Out "Sundara: Dawn of a New Age"!

A more fantastical version of something like this historic example.

Over the past several years quite a few supplements have been released for Silkgift (as well as for most of the Cities of Sundara line). Supplements for whispers and rumors, supplements that detail specific locales within the city, the original city book of course, and more besides! In fact, if you want to turn the City of Sails into a fully-fleshed out place to either host a campaign, or to use as a major hub, the various supplements can do a lot of heavy lifting for you.

And that is why I wanted to let people know that Adrian Kennelly now has them on-sale! You can get either the One Week Bundle: Silkgift for Pathfinder or the One Week Bundle: Silkgift For D&D 5E, depending on which engine you'd prefer to use to drive your games. Each of them contains 6 separate supplements, and overall saves folks who get them a couple of bucks.

So whether you're looking for a fresh fantasy world to explore, or you've been looking for a little extra help in sculpting places for your own setting, consider grabbing these before they're gone! And if you'd like a little more information about Silkgift than I gave above, check out the video I made about it a while back.

Catch Up On "Sundara: Dawn of A New Age"

Cities of Sundara

The setting first began with the Cities of Sundara splats. Self-contained guides to some of the larger and more powerful centers of trade, industry, arms, and magic, these unique locations provide plenty of fodder for character generation and plots. Not only that, but each one comes with unique, mechanical goodies for players and GMs alike to take out for a spin!

- Ironfire: The City of Steel (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Built around the Dragon Forge, Ironfire is where the secret to dragon steel was first cracked. The center of the mercenary trade in the region, as well as boasting some of the finest schools for teaching practical sciences, Ironfire is a place where discovery and danger walk hand in hand!

- Moüd: The City of Bones (Pathfinder and DND 5E): An ancient center of trade and magic, Moüd was lost to a cataclysm, and then buried in myth. Reclaimed by the necromantic arts of the Silver Wraiths guild, this city has once again become a place teeming with life. Despite the burgeoning population, though, it is the continued presence of the undead that helps keep the city running, ensuring that Moüd is not swallowed up once more.

- Silkgift: The City of Sails (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Built on the cottage industry of Archer cloth (an extremely durable material used for sails, windmills, etc.), Silkgift is a place that prizes invention and discovery. From gravity batteries that store the potential of the wind, to unique irrigation systems, to aether weapons, the city positively churns out discoveries... and then there's the canal they cut through the mountains that makes them a major center of trade across the region.

- Hoardreach: The City of Wyrms (Pathfinder and DND 5E): A center of power across an entire region, Hoardreach is ruled over by a Cooperation of five different dragons. A place for refugees and outcasts of all sorts, Hoardreach boasts some of the most unusual citizens and creations from across Sundara. Infamous for their sky ships, which require the cast-off scales and unique arcane sciences of the Dragon Works to take to the air, one never knows just what they'll find in this city built atop a mountain.

- Archbliss: The City of The Sorcerers (Pathfinder and DND 5E): A floating city in the sky, Archbliss has been a refuge for sorcerers for thousands of years. It's only in relatively recent years that the city has allowed those from the ground below who lack the power of a bloodline to join them in the clouds. However, while there are certainly amazing wonders to behold, there is a darkness in Archbliss. Something rotting away at its heart that could, if not healed, bring the city crashing to the ground once more.

Gods of Sundara

- Gods of Sundara (available for Pathfinder and DND 5E): In a world with no alignment, and where the gods are often genuinely mysterious forces that are far too large for mortals to truly comprehend, the divine feels genuinely strange and unknown... something that really does have to be taken on faith. This supplement provides a sample pantheon for Sundara, but also provides instructions on how to easily make your own gods in a world where you can't cast a spell and tell whether someone is good or evil.

Species of Sundara

Sundara is filled with creatures that many of us recognize, but I wanted to give greater depth to their cultures, and a wider variety of options. After all, humans always get 15+ ethnicities, languages, and unique histories, while elves, dwarves, orcs, halflings, etc. are almost always left with footnotes, or maybe with a handful of offshoots. So, in short, I wanted to give all the fantastical creatures the treatment that humans usually get in our games.

And there is no human book yet. If readers demand to know more, then I may sit down to pen one... but I figured that humans didn't need to be front-and-center in this setting just yet.

- Elves of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Elves are one of the most quintessential fantasy creatures... but if you want to see more than just high elves, wood elves, and elves of the sun and moon, then this supplement has you covered!

- Dwarves of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): The children of the primordial giants who were meant to fill in the details of the world they'd made (or so the myths say) there are as many kinds of dwarves as their are kinds of giants... and possibly more, depending on who is keeping count.

- Orcs of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Supposedly a creation of the elves, none can say for certain exactly how or why orcs have been made. What most agree on is that these creatures are far more than most may think at first glance.

- Halflings of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Little cousins to the dwarves, halflings are tough, clever, and not to be underestimated. From living beneath the hills, to taking up residence in the deep forests, halflings in Sundara come in quite a variety!

- The Blooded (Half-Elves and Half-Orcs) [Pathfinder and DND 5E]: When orcs and elves mix their bloodlines with other creatures, the result is one of the Blooded. This inheritance takes many forms, and it can even wait generations before manifesting when the right combination of individuals come together to have a child.

- Gnomes of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Gnomes are strange creatures, found in places where the spirit of the land has coalesced and made children of its own. The sons and daughters of the ancient nymphs, they are the stewards of these places, and they change as often as the weather and the land.

Organizations of Sundara

Phase 3 has been going strong, but there's still a few titles left in it! So if you haven't seen them, consider checking out:

- Sellswords of Sundara: With power structures being smaller in scale in Sundara, standing armies aren't often maintained for long. As such, soldiers of fortune are quite common! This supplement contains 10 mercenary companies, their history, uniform, sample members, whispers and rumors, as well as either an archetype or subclass for playing these unique warriors. Grab your copy for Pathfinder of DND 5E.

- Cults of Sundara: Faith comes in many forms in Sundara, and there are as many gods in the Prim as there are dreams in the minds of people. This supplement contains write-ups for 10 cults, their histories, sample members, rumors about them, their beliefs and tenets, and a unique magic item for each. Get your copy for Pathfinder or DND 5E.

- Guilds of Sundara: While cities and villages may be relatively local, guilds are spread across the length and width of Sundara. From professional orders of skilled miners and dredgers, to monster slayers and bounty hunters, this supplement has 10 guilds with histories, sample members, rumors, as well as unique feats one can take to represent the skill and benefits of joining this order. Available for Pathfinder as well as DND 5E.

- Merchants of Sundara: While city states might be the largest form of government you find in the setting, merchants hold an outsized amount of power. From huge mercantile houses, to small brands infamous for their quality as much as for their price, there are a lot of options listed in this particular world building supplement.

Rumors of Sundara

The newest series of supplements in the setting, these are meant to add to the cities, and to give GMs ideas for plots, or just to provide a little extra grist for the mill in terms of what people are gossiping about!

- Whispers and Rumors For Ironfire, The City of Steel!

- Whispers and Rumors For Moüd, City of Bones!

- Whispers and Rumors For Silkgift, The City of Sails!

- Whispers and Rumors For Hoardreach, City of Wyrms!

- Whispers and Rumors For Archbliss, City of The Sorcerers!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my hardboiled gangland noir series starring a bruiser of a Maine Coon with Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

"Sundara: Dawn of a New Age" Is Finally Getting Some Adventure Modules!

It's been several years since my fantasy RPG setting Sundara: Dawn of a New Age debuted with the first supplement, Cities of Sundara: Ironfire for Pathfinder. Since then there's been dozens of supplements covering cities, species, gods, cults, mercenary companies, and more, and well over a quarter million words have gone into building up this world (and that's just my contributions). One of the things we haven't released, though, has been adventure modules.

Until today, that is! Which is why I wanted to write this little update to let folks know that Isaiah Burt's module The Invocation of Bael-Kharn is now live on Drive Thru RPG and ready for you to play!

So check it out, and give this setting a look for yourself!

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

A Call To Adventure in The City of Steel!

To begin at the beginning, this module is for a party of characters ranging from level 6 to level 8, and it uses the Pathfinder Classic system. According to the preview, an elf who has been working for centuries to bring down the vaunted City of Steel may be moving closer to her goal. And while there are enough mercenaries and alchemists in Ironfire to win most wars, all the weapons in the world will do one no good if you can't see the threat coming, and you don't understand where to aim them.

I don't want to give more than that away, because I want as many folks as possible to discover the world of Sundara, and this adventure, as they explore what's been presented. However, with that said, I would recommend checking out some of Isaiah's other contributions to the setting that will be great supplements to have on-hand for this module (at least for the Game Master): Settlements of The Dragonsbreath Mountains, 100 Lizardfolk of Sundara, and his novella Legacy of Flames, all of which provide solid support right alongside the initial Cities of Sundara: Ironfire book, and the companion piece 100 Whispers & Rumors For Ironfire, The City of Steel.

And for folks who want a rapid rundown, I talked about the City of Steel a few years back when I was in exile at a hotel. So consider checking out the video to see if this is something that will perk your interest!

Why Did It Take So Long For Modules To Start Dropping?

Folks have been trying to get me to write modules for Sundara almost since it started releasing going on 3 years ago. So why is this adventure the first one that we're seeing? Well, there are a lot of reasons for that, and I wanted to explain them to folks here so you all know the score.

First and foremost, adventure modules are overall one of the worst-selling types of supplements on the market. There are modules that do well, and there are writers out there who move a lot of copies of them... but that's like saying that because there are a few bestselling novelists that everyone who wrote a book is paying their bills. A lot of GMs outright refuse to use modules, so a majority of them languish, unseen, and unplayed.

Secondly, modules are hard as hell to write. You're basically writing a short story, with math, and you have to try to provide a wide list of things that individual players may choose to do so the GM has alternate paths available to them.

Thirdly, modules require more supplemental material than other kinds of RPG products. There's the interior art, the maps, the covers... all of that adds up over time. And while most writers have the ability or resources to some of the things a module requires, most of us do not have the ability to do all of those things.

And when you spread minuscule profits across a team of people... well...

Now, I will be the first to tell you there is another adventure module for Sundara coming down the pipe from yours truly... however, it comes with a catch. Because the publisher doesn't want to take a loss on producing modules (again, I do not own Azukail Games, they just publish a lot of my work), I'm accepting a smaller, up-front fee to get this thing published. However, if you want to see more modules for Sundara (or just more modules in general from Isaiah and myself), then make sure the numbers are doing some serious talking! Because if these modules sell a hundred copies (or even a few hundred copies) that is saying a lot in the TTRPG world... and a product that has a proven audience is a lot more likely to get approved in the future.

Lastly, if you've already picked up Isaiah's adventure, consider checking out some of the following from myself:

DND 5E Adventures

 

- The Ghosts of Sorrow Marsh - A trudge through a swamp full of terrors to save a small town

- False Valor - A murder mystery where the party must solve a killing to prevent a war

- The Curse of Sapphire Lake - Beowulf meets Friday the 13th in a frontier settlement to the north

- The Price of Iron - A single night watching a warehouse turns deadly when dark fey arrive

Army Men Mission Modules

 

- A Night At Breckon's Beacon - The search for a missing squad gets deadly on a stormy night

- Assault On Outpost 13 - Can the squad keep hold of a prisoner when an entire gang wants him freed?

Victorian Gothic

- Dreadful Tales - A collection of 3 short adventures for this percentile-based system for Victorian horror

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or my additional audio dramas over on The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my hardboiled gangland noir series starring a bruiser of a Maine Coon with Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!