Would You Like To See Books From Golarion? (A Meta Game Project Proposal)

Folks who've been following my blog for a while know that, in addition to writing straight-up rules content and GM supplements for RPGs, I have a soft spot for tie-in fiction. Given that The Irregulars was my first professional credit with an RPG company (a short story about a team of black ops saboteurs working for Andoran in the Golarion setting), that shouldn't really surprise anyone. While I've written my share of other stories, such as the Silver Raven Chronicles that details my group's journey through the Hell's Rebels adventure path, as well as Warhammer 40K short stories like Blackest Knights and The Emperor's Hand (stories about Deathwatch black shields, and a new Gav and Bob adventure respectively), I had an idea for a new project that might grab some folks' interest.

In short, rather than writing stories about fictional settings, the idea would be to write books found within those fictional settings... and Golarion is where I'd specifically start this proposed project.

Also, seriously, grab a copy of this if you haven't yet!

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly 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!

Lastly, to be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree!

A Little Piece of The Setting in Your Hands

For folks who haven't checked it out yet, 100 Books To Find Across The Inner Sea dropped this past weekend. It's my second Pathfinder Infinite supplement, and while it's a little more general than my first piece 150 Sights To See (And Rumors To Hear) in Absalom, it also gave me a weird idea as I was putting it together.

What if I actually wrote some of the books on this list, and made them available through the Pathfinder Infinite platform?

It's a little unconventional, I'll admit.

For anyone who's played Skyrim, the basic idea would be do what that game did and actually write books players could find in the setting in their entirety. While fun to read on their own, they would also act as examples of the books that characters might have read growing up, or which they might wile away the hours wtih on long journeys as they pursue the objectives of their various quests. Whether folks wanted to grab one of the Dark Tales volumes, which contain gothic horrors and romances in the style of Ustalavian author Ailson Kindler, stories from The Lion's Quiet Roar which are basically a fantasy version of James Bond's tales told with Taldor as the heroes, or even a novel like Love and Blood: A Romance in Gray which tells the tale of a young noblewoman hiding her bloodline in Galt who's new lover is actually one of the nation's infamous Gray Gardeners.

On the one hand, I'm the first to admit this is kind of a silly idea for a project. It would also be extremely time and energy intensive, even if I managed to get other creators in on it to make the project go a little faster, much like I did with the Tales From The Moot collection of short stories for Werewolf: The Apocalypse. And, much as it pains me to say this, the rules of platforms like Pathfinder Infinite are quite clear; products made through them are digital only, so these wouldn't be novels like the Pathfinder Tales that you could buy at cons, or down at your local bookstore. They'd be ebooks only under the current rules.

Unless someone reading this happens to have the ear of Paizo's publishing team, in which case have them shoot me an email and I'll work up a full proposal for any of these books!

But that's my question for my readers this week. Is this the sort of project you think you'd be interested in? If so, which of the titles in 100 Books To Find Across The Inner Sea would you like to see expanded into a full meta book? Or if you're more interested in more game materials, what other supplements would you like to see me add to Golarion in the future? Are there any particular nations, cities, classes, or topics you want to see covered?

Toss it all in the comments below!

Lastly, There's The Possibility of a Podcast

If you've been watching my updates, then you know that I've been making a lot of audio dramas over the past year or so. I've even considered finishing out the Silver Raven Chronicles (which only 4 parts at time of writing) in an audio format. However, if folks would like a series of tales told round the campfire, stories of the Baba Yaga, the adventures of legendary figures that may or may not have happened in Golarion, etc., that is also a possibility if it's something folks would tune-in to listen to.

Speaking of ongoing narrations, I also wanted to remind readers that right now I'm putting together a series of crossover stories between Geist: The Sin Eaters and Mage: The Awakening. The above story is taken from my 50 Geists supplement, and it tells the story of how former mob hitter Johnny Hammer came to be the right hand of the creature called the Six Gun Saint. In 100 Shadow Names (And Their Meanings) we find out that Johnny's former boss, Tony Gracchus, awakened as a newly-minted Moros. Young and arrogant, he took the name Cyprian, and the necromancer has been using his power in ways that have alienated a lot of the community. It's likely that behavior is one reason the Saint chose Johnny as his new triggerman, and the two of them are set on a collision course for one hell of a reckoning.

So if that's something you'd like to see me add to in the coming months, consider grabbing copies of the supplements so I can convince the publisher that these game lines are worth making more material for, subscribe to the Azukail Games YouTube channel, and help me spread the word!

And, of course, if you have any particular supplements you'd like to see for those game lines, leave those in the comments as well!

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 Daily Motion channel!. 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 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!

Taking a Stab At Pathfinder Infinite (Would You Like to See More?)

As a lot of my regular readers know, the Pathfinder Infinite platform came online in late 2021. And at the time I said I had a couple of ideas I'd like to publish on it assuming progress was made regarding the ugliness that had come to light regarding Paizo's treatment of workers. And since Paizo's employees now have a union, and the company seemed to support rather than fight those efforts, I figured it was time for me to make good on that tease I'd put out.

And though 150 Sights To See (And Rumors To Hear) in Absalom dropped this past weekend, I wanted to pull back the curtain a bit to let folks know what's going on, and how they can help keep the wheels moving.

Because I can't do this one alone.

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly 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!

Lastly, to be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree!

Do Readers Want Me To Add More To Golarion?

In case some readers are confused, I'll catch you all up to speed. Pathfinder Infinite is a community use platform that lets independent and 3rd-party creators make content set in the world of Golarion (the base setting for the Pathfinder RPG), and which uses Paizo's intellectual property (as long as the project obeys all the appropriate rules set forth by the company). So rather than just making generic content that could be used with the Golarion setting if one wanted to (like my supplement 100 Random Bandits to Meet), or creating content that uses the Pathfinder rules system but which is part of an independent setting (like Gods of Sundara for my Sundara: Dawn of a New Age setting), I can just explore parts of Golarion that I enjoy, but which haven't gotten the attention that I feel they should have.

Like this one.

My supplement, 150 Sights to See (And Rumors To Hear) in Absalom is actually the second Pathfinder Infinite supplement that's been released by Azukail Games. The first was 100 Rumors and Hooks To Hear in (or About) Magnimar, and it came out a few weeks previous. However, the issue that we've run into is that neither of these two supplements has been a particularly noteworthy success. In fact with slow sales and the cost of splitting profits for the community-use platform, it seems like Pathfinder Infinite just isn't a great investment when taking these two products as examples of what one can expect.

However, I didn't want to just shrug my shoulders and walk away. As someone who contributed to Paizo products in the past, I felt this would be a solid opportunity to get some of my own ideas out for the setting that I'd never had a chance to before... but for that to happen, I need the folks out there playing these games to come along for the ride.

Because on the one hand, it's possible there just aren't a lot of people playing Pathfinder anymore. On the other hand, it might be that there are lots of players, but they don't use the Golarion setting for their games. It might be that the type of supplement just isn't what folks want, and they'd prefer something more mechanical like fresh archetypes and prestige classes, modules to play through, or lists of world-specific NPCs they might meet while traversing the setting. Or maybe there are a lot of GMs out there who want lists of weird sights and side-quest worthy rumors, but they'd prefer to find them in Varisia, or Ustalav, or one of the other nations or cities we didn't actually cover yet.

There's a lot of possibilities here, is what I'm saying.

So if you're reading this, and you would actually like to see me put out some stuff for use in Golarion proper, there are two things I'd like to ask you to do.

- Leave a comment (either here or on social media) with the kind of supplement you would be most interested in seeing in the future.

- Help boost the signal on 150 Sights to See (And Rumors to Hear) in Absalom and 100 Hooks and Rumors to Hear in (or About) Magnimar. Consider sharing them on social media, or getting copies for yourself and leaving reviews once you've read through them.

The reason I'm asking my readers to do this is, first of all, I want to make sure that folks get the content from me they want. All that talk about following your interests and drive as a creator makes for good sound bites, but at the end of the day I want to make sure there's actually a desire among my fellow players for the stuff I'm putting together. Secondly, the best way to get my publisher to agree to let me keep going down a particular vein of content is to prove there's a paying market for it. They want to sell copies, I want to sell copies, and if the stuff we produce for Pathfinder Infinite just stalls out and doesn't sell, then the company just won't sign off on further Pathfinder Infinite projects in the future.

Most products on Drive Thru RPG don't even sell the 50+ copies you need to hit Copper status, let alone the 100+ copies you need to hit Silver status, but I've had a really good track record with my Azukail Games releases. I feel confident in saying that if we can push one, or even both, of these supplements up into Copper territory, that would be enough of a sign of gamer interest to get approval for at least a couple more ideas.

So if you're not done playing in Golarion yet, and you want to see what dark corners of the world I'd like to explore, take a few moments and help me spread the word so we can build up some momentum!

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 YouTube channel Dungeon Keeper Radio. Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my cat noir thriller Marked Territory, its sequel 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 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!

The Android Barbarian

Typically on Table Talk I will share a story about something that I, or one of my generous readers, has done in game. Sometimes these table top tales serve as an object lesson, showing what can happen when either DMs or players make poor decisions. Sometimes they're just fun, sharing a touch of creativity and letting readers see what other players are up to. This week I'd like to try something different, though. I'd like to tell you, my readers, about a character concept I have not yet played (but would like to).

That concept, as you've likely guessed, is...

The Android Barbarian

Nuts and Bolts

Androids, along with other examples of highly advanced technology from Numeria, have gradually made their way into the Inner Sea region. Investigated by the Pathfinder Society, sought out by powerful wizards, and recruited by armies and adventuring parties alike, androids are regarded as curiosities by some, and dangerous war machines by others. These artificial creations may look like people, move like people, and even bleed like people, but they aren't human.

Androids, like any other race in Pathfinder, can choose any class. Being what they are androids are immune to sleep and paralysis effects, as well as to fatigue and exhaustion. They cannot receive morale bonuses either (unless you take the empathy feat from Pathfinder Player Companion: People of the Stars), which may make barbarian a strange choice. However, even if your DM bans you from taking empathy you still gain access to Rage powers, damage reduction, fast movement, uncanny dodge, and any archetype abilities, even if you wouldn't gain the bonus from the Rage itself. And, as the icing on the cake, you never get fatigued from your Rage.

It does not feel pain... or fear... or remorse... and it absolutely will not stop.

That's the mechanical side of the equation, and the idea certainly seems over-powered to many people. Fatigue is how you rein in low-level barbarians after all, even though at mid to high levels the number of rounds of Rage they have means their fury is going to last through even a drawn-out combat slog.

That's nowhere near the fight you'll get over the flavor side of this choice, though.

Heart and Soul

One of the arguments that crops up over and over again in fantasy RPGs is that this is a no sci-fi allowed club. So if we have to let android characters in, then they have to take roles that make sense for them. Fighter? Sure, that makes sense. Wizard? Of course, walking, talking computers should be masters of the arcane if that's how they're programmed. Rogue, alchemist, cavalier? Sure, no problems there.

As soon as you mention barbarians, though, DMs will start shouting about how you're not a person, and you don't have emotions. What would an android know about the fires that burn inside a barbarian, fueling their fury?

That isn't armor... that's actually an android.

I'd ask you to set that preconception aside for a moment, and to picture an android that looks like a fairly average human. He's strong, tireless, and has a curiosity that drives him toward the adventuring lifestyle. Perhaps he feels compelled to seek out dungeons, constantly examining ancient armors for reasons even he doesn't understand. Except for the bio-circuitry tattoos along his back and arms, and the sheen in his eyes at just the right angle, you'd never even know.

Until he glitches.

Fighting doesn't trouble him, and he is more than capable. Swords, axes, maces, they're all equally comfortable in his hands. But when the enemy poses a genuine threat to him, or to his allies, his eyes flicker, and the emotion drains from his face. His eyes snap open and glow red, and his empty voice echoes with three, blood-chilling words.

Omega Protocol Initiated

Once the Omega program comes online his tattoos glow, and he alters. His blows are brutal, terrible things, delivered with precision and power that leaves a trail of bloody bodies in his wake. He attacks without remorse, without hesitation, and without fear until all his enemies are dead. Then, once the threat is over, he twitches, blinks, and the emotion bleeds back into his face. He's confused, wondering what happened. The terrible strength he wielded, and the strange powers he displayed, gone as if they'd never been.

The Questions

This setup is interesting all by itself, but it asks a lot of questions. Was your android a war machine whose true programming is battle and destruction, and whose moments of compassion and sentience are actually the malfunction? Was the Omega Protocol simply programmed into him as a means of self defense, in the event he was threatened? How much of the person he thinks he is actually exists, and how much is just a product of what he was made to be?

I... am not... a gun...

The end result is that you have a character with a unique race, who can endure some hardcore adventuring, and who has a unique theme. Where you choose to go with the idea from here is up to you!

You might also want to check out 5 Tips For Playing Better Barbarians, as well as 50 Shades of Rage: Tips For Flavoring The Barbarian's Signature Power if you're looking for additional inspiration.

Thoughts, Feelings, Opinions?

So, what did you guys think of this feature? Would you like to see more unusual character concepts mixed in with gaming stories? Would you like to see this kind of post get its own section on the blog? Or should I stop doing this entirely and go back to what I've been doing? Leave a comment, or if you'd like email me your opinions on the topic.

That's all for this installment of Unusual Character Concepts. Hopefully this one gave you something to chew over, whether you're a player, or a dungeon master.

For more of my work, check out my Vocal and Gamers archives, and stop by the YouTube channel Dungeon Keeper Radio. Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on 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!