Prepare For A Long Winter, Quarantine, Or Another Disaster (By Grabbing Some Modules Now!)

2026 has not been a great year, as far as years go. We've had worse ones, like in the middle of the plague (Covid or Bubonic, take your pick), or maybe whatever year the Battle of Somme took place, but when you've got to compare it to some of those truly dark times things aren't looking good. Forecasts are saying the economy is going to get worse before it gets better, we're likely to have shortages of fuel, and businesses might have everyone go back to working remotely again just out of practicality. Even if we manage to avoid those horrors, and dodge the next half dozen food recalls, we're supposed to have a particularly nasty winter on the horizon.

And while I'll be the first to tell folks to make sure you've got a deep freezer full of essentials, backup batteries, and kitchen staples, don't forget how necessary entertainment was the last time you were trapped at home. So if you haven't picked up some of my modules to run for your regular group (or just for your roommates or family if you get snowed in or your Internet goes down), I'd definitely recommend grabbing them now rather than later!

If nothing else, a lot of them fit the spooky season theme, too!

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 What I've Got On Offer (In Case You Missed It)

While my opening sales pitch was a bit facetious, it is a good idea to keep a slew of modules on-hand to make sure you've got some stuff to play when the weather is bad, or when you want to do something with your friends when you can't afford to go out, but you can all get together in the living room (or online) for an evening of rolling dice and fighting monsters.

And I had the unique experience of running The Curse of Sapphire Lake by candlelight during a power outage, so I can definitely say that adventure holds up under the emergency test!

But before I get too far off-track, let me break it down by system, and give you a brief sales pitch of all my available modules.

Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

The system that has been most in-demand over the years, it's also the one I've written the most modules for. Chances are good you have at least the base book laying around your house, and if you don't, the basic rules are available for free online. So consider snatching the following adventures from yours truly!

- Ghosts of Sorrow Marsh: The first adventure module I ever published, this is a brutal slog through the dark, dank marshes surrounding an isolated town. The true villain of this piece is a horrifying monster, and it sets a grim tone early on... especially because your players' actions can have serious consequences on how hard this adventure is to complete.

- False Valor: When a young woman is murdered in a way that seems consistent with a war that's been over for nearly a century, hostilities begin to flare up once again. If the populace gets angry enough, though, will the truth of who is responsible even matter? A murder mystery with an edge of danger, this one is relatively simple to run.

- The Curse of Sapphire Lake: The hate-child of Friday the 13th and Beowulf, this module takes place in an abandoned town that new settlers are trying to reclaim. A terror in a white mask is causing havoc, though, and people will abandon this town all over again if the menace isn't stopped. A dark little drama that's perfect for Halloween, for folks still looking for a module to play on spooky night.

- The Price of Iron: A simple warehouse guarding job turns into something far deadlier. Dark fey creatures begin crossing the boundary, and only the courage of those holding the gate can push them back. A module with several twists and turns, this one is ideal for those who like a couple of surprises by the time the dice stop rolling.

Pathfinder Classic

My main system when I want a fantasy RPG, it's taken a long time for me to finally get a module out for Pathfinder. This module is technically for my Sundara: Dawn of a New Age setting, but it can be played without any of the other supplements for Sundara, if you just want a fun little mystery to solve of an evening.

- A Night At The Slaughterhouse Inn: When a handful of travelers are caught by a storm, they all find themselves taking shelter under the roof of the Slaughterhouse Inn. A simple roadside inn, secrets lurk within this place... and at least some of those secrets will prove deadly if guests don't discover them in time!

Victorian Gothic

 

This game is actually something I designed for by pure chance. Victorian Gothic is something I'd describe as classic gothic horror but using a Call of Cthulhu-esque system. I'd never heard of it before I saw they were looking for a freelancer... and though it's been several years, I'm still quite proud of my contribution to this game.

- Dreadful Tales: A collection of 3 short modules, each of these dark little dramas sucks one in deeper to the world of Victorian Gothic. My own tale, The Broken Man, combines inspiration from the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson... but that's the only clue you'll get regarding the solution to my mystery!

Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic

For folks who are new around these parts, Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic was my first full RPG, so of course I've written several missions for it! While the base game comes with an adventure to run for your table, I've also put together 2 additional missions for your troopers to be sent out on... which, according to the rules of the game, would make everyone rank 2 by the time you need to send them on a fresh outing of your own creation!

- A Night At Breckon's Beacon: When several troopers disappear during a routine patrol, a fresh squad is sent to track them down. However, while the squad picks up their trail, there's no guarantee they won't fall victim to the same lurking threat in the ruins of Breckon's Beacon.

- Assault On Outpost 13: The hinterlands of the Styric Republic are a place ruled by graft and grift. When a raid takes the prominent son of a crime syndicate prisoner, though, it becomes a race against time to hold him. The squad is sent as reinforcements, but things may not be what they seem at Outpost 13.

Grab Your Modules Today!

As the saying goes, it's better to have and not need, than to need and not have! And whether you want a few modules for the spooky season, or just to keep on your shelf for a rainy (or snowy) day, I'd highly recommend grabbing some of the ones on offer today!

Lastly, if you want more information on Army Men or Sundara, make sure you subscribe to the Azukail Games YouTube channel, because I've got two separate shows dedicated to both of them over there. So stop in, and let me give you all a walking tour of these settings!

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 Newest Supplement "Finishing Touches - 100 Character Quirks" Hit The Bestseller List On DTRPG!

I've been writing gaming supplements for something like 10 years now, and in that time I've wound up on the front page of Drive Thru RPG on more than one occasion. However, since the "updates" and the deluge of AI slop swept the Internet, it's been hard as hell to get noticed over there. This past week, though, some higher power decided I'd been working hard and deserved a treat.

Which is my way of saying that my newest release, Finishing Touches - 100 Quirks For Your Characters, made it to the #3 slot on the Most Popular Under $5 tab!

Seriously, grab yourself a copy 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 Solid Comeback For My Broken Ice Books

 

It's a bit of a weird name, but I refer to this particular series of TTRPG supplements as my broken ice books, largely due to the cover design. And while it started off with the twin supplements 100 Tips And Tricks For Being A Better Game Master (largely collecting the best advice on this very blog) and 100 Tips And Tricks For Being A Better RPG Player, I eventually stretched out to giving players (and GMs to a lesser extent) advice on filling in the blank parts of their characters. This included supplements like 100 Dark Secrets, 100 Fantasy Professions (That Aren't "Adventurer"), and 100 Character Goals and Motivations, all of which are meant to help players dig into the corners of character building that often get overlooked.

People are complicated, and it takes work to figure them out.

There are two things I'd like to request for readers who've made it this far, though. First and foremost, go pick up your copy of Finishing Touches today! The Internet black out really broke my flow, and I could use all the help I can get to push it up to Silver status. Secondly, though, if you'd like to see more supplements released for this series, consider some of the following titles:

- 100 Hooks For Your Characters (which would allow players to hand their GM options for story hooks)

- 100 Family Members (for players who need some help fleshing out their family tree)

- 100 Mentors (for players who want someone important, but not a family member, to fill that role)

These are just a few of the potential titles I've come up with, but I figured I'd open the floor to readers who'd like to see others join the list. So tell me, what would you like to see from me in the future? Because this list has had a couple of popular titles so far, and I'd like to keep it going if I could.

If one of these catches your attention, let me know down in the comments below! Or if you have a different topic you'd like to see me cover, mention that instead. My ears are open, and I'll keep listening as long as folks want to see new titles come out for this series... or really any series I've been working on. But I would prefer to get it straight from the horse's mouth.

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!

What Are Restaurants Like In Your Game World?

Food is an often overlooked part of any RPG setting. I can tell you this with at least a bit of authority, since my supplements 100 Fantasy Foods and 100 Sci Fi Foods are two of the better sellers in my catalog (and it's stretching up toward the 220-title mark). However, even if you have specific images in your head for what food looks like in your setting, take a moment to consider what restaurants (or just food vendors) look like in this world.

And, if you want to get really creative, how widespread have certain practices or styles become over the years?

Do you have a reservation?

As always, 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! 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!

From Greasy Spoons To White Tablecloths

For most fantasy games, the closest things we have to a restaurant are the taverns and inns the party stay at on their travels. Not only that, but for the most part the party just receives the "standard" fare; hearty stews, brown bread, and every now and again some roasted fowl or boar if they happen to be in the right area during the proper season. And... well, that's really it.

However, when it comes to restaurants, there's a couple of questions you need to ask:

- What kind of food is being offered?

- How is that food cooked?

- How is that food eaten?

- What are the standards and culture around eating out?

Just applying these to a fantasy setting (or a sci fi one) can start to change the shape of your world, while also giving some real form and feeling to particular places.

As an example, ask what the main livestock is for a particular place. For example, if one is out in cattle country, then steaks, ground beef, and similar foods may be readily available. But cities are dense and crowded, making it difficult to keep such large animals unless they come by on cattle drives. Does this make beef cheap to get out in the hinterlands, where it's seen as the common food of working men and women, but it's considered a luxury in the city because it's so difficult to get? Is chicken more common as a protein, especially since chickens can be kept in a wider variety of settings? Or are larger animals rare and difficult to find, so this culture harvests insects, preparing them in a variety of dishes?

Once you know the plants, livestock, etc. that are offered in a given area, ask what kinds of vendors and restaurants exist in these places and cultures, and how commonly available prepared dishes are, and what form they take.

What can I get for ya, friend?

As an example, are there food vendors in the markets, near parks, or around tournaments? Do they sell pouches of roasted nuts, cooked sausages, or even broiled lizards on a stick? And are these meals meant to be eaten with one's fingers, off a skewer, or using chop sticks (which were created as a disposable utensil for street food)? What spices are readily available, and does that change the way these snacks are prepared? Is salt readily available, for instance? Or are hot peppers more common in a given region, making food a trial to eat for those who aren't used to it?

Once you know what is available in terms of the types of foods and spices, then you need to ask yourself what kind of cooking methods are available. For example, are foods boiled in a given region? Are they grilled? Is food eaten raw because most of the local diet is made up of fruits and vegetables? Are foods battered and deep fried? Are they cooked in oil, fat, or something else entirely? Because once you know how food is prepared, you can get some idea of how mobile a kitchen can be, or if customers have to come to a specific location because these foods cannot be put on a cart and sold on the street.

Lastly, consider what kind of restaurants might spring up around these foods, and their preparation methods.

For instance, are there sidewalk cafes where people sip tea and eat simple breakfast foods? Is there a performance-cooking experience similar to hibachi restaurants, but the people at the grill are sorcerers or bards who mix magic with the meal? Are there places filled with greenery that claim they prepare food in the manner of the Mosswood elves? Are there restaurants filled with bonfires that specialize in the half-raw meat eaten by orc tribes, which grew in popularity due to supposedly making one stronger and more robust?

And for a finishing touch, take a moment to ask what culture there is around a particular type of restaurant, and who the ideal clientele they're trying to attract is.

As an example, was a particular restaurant opened by a former gladiator who claims the meals they serve will help someone become a champion? Are there matches in the center pit where young and hungry fighters come to get noticed, making it a place for dinner and a show? Is there a regional chain of restaurants who are all run by a particular family, so they all boast the same menu, and their quality is reliable no matter which place someone frequents? Is it considered rude to wear weapons or armor to dinner within the culture of a particular restaurant, or is this encouraged because a particular restaurant wants a reputation as a dangerous place frequented by hard cases? For that matter, do retired "adventurers" open restaurants as a way to showcase their trophies and glories, often showing up to hobnob with their patrons, and perhaps share a few stories about where a particular blade, a noted cuirass, or a mounted head of a deadly creature came from?

In a setting with dragons, powerful wizards, roaming demons, and crazed cults, consider how strange something as common as a restaurant might be, and just what folks might find if they walk through the doors. And if you're looking for a couple of ideas to jump start your imagination, check out 100 Random Taverns, as well as 100 Space Bars.

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Fluff post. 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 dark sci fi saga of 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 October Patreon Shout Out (And A Small Favor, If You Could?)

I'm starting to think that October is cursed. For the past 2 years every time this month rolls around, people important to me have to move. Not want to. Not start looking into it. Have to, because something has gone wrong, and their current living situation is no longer workable.

This year is, sadly, no different. But before we get into that, let me get my patron shout-out in, because you all are the ones keeping my numbers up, and ensuring I can keep the bills paid!

- Chris Dundon (To Valhalla, my friend!)

- Brenton Ayres (You're doing more than your part to keep the wheels turning!)

- Tracy Bailey-Mathews (Hopefully some of what I write is helping with the campaign!)

- Joy Von Holle (One of my oldest and most appreciated supporters on this list!)

My patrons are what make these blogs possible... so if you want to make sure I keep putting out fresh posts, consider heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page, and consider making a pledge today. Or, if you don't want a subscription, consider tossing a tip into my jar on The Literary Mercenary's Ko-Fi page instead!

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day, you can sponsor a creative of your very own!

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!

The Small Favor (Which Is Sort Of Time Sensitive)

I talked about this a little while back in Author and RPG Designer Alice Liddell is Moving, And Really Needs Our Help To Make It Happen, but apparently there's been some confusion regarding that post, so I wanted to clear that up for readers. I thought I was clear at the time, but to re-iterate, Alice is not moving because she wants to. Her life circumstances have taken another downturn, and she has to move... worse, this move is happening unexpectedly, and without a lot in the way of preparation, so she doesn't have the budget saved up to just get new housing with a snap of her fingers.

She's working hard, but the math simply isn't mathing. As such, I'm asking folks who read my blog to please consider pitching in to help her land on her feet so she can get through this crisis.

The post I linked above has the exhaustive list of ways folks can help (both paid and free), but I wanted to narrow that list for this week to focus on 3 distinct things people can do.

 

- Buy her a Ko-Fi to help her pay for necessities (moving truck, administrative fees, etc.)

 

- Subscribe to The A.L.I.C.E. Files on YouTube (we need 95 more subs to start getting monetized)

 

- Pick up one of her existing supplements from Azukail Games (100 Stat Boost Potion Recipes, 100 Flowers and Trees Sure To Boost Your Stats, 100 Avian Beasts, 100 Witches, 100 Dangerous Plants)

Again, there are more ways you can help in the original blog link at the beginning of this section, but I wanted to narrow things down, and sharpen the call to action. Our hope is that we'll be able to handle this situation quickly, and get things settled into some kind of normalcy... but any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated in getting her through this unexpected challenge!

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!

Dungeon Design Tips: Ensure There Are Ways To Deal With Environmental Challenges and Penalties

In one of the earlier installations of this series, Pay Attention To The Environment, I mentioned that a lot of the time Game Masters forget that there are actual environmental hazards that exist in a lot of the dungeons we create. Everything from toxic air, to deadly temperatures, to inclement weather is a possibility, and all of these things provide a unique flavor and challenge to a particular dungeon.

However, I wanted to provide a late caveat to this advice. Namely that these hazards and difficulties should have some way for player characters to deal with them, and that they shouldn't just exist as a blanket middle finger. Because giving players the chance to do something clever (or to find the resources to deal with the hazard in the dungeon itself) will let them feel accomplished, and like they earned something. If they can't do anything about it, they'll just feel like they're being punished.

There will still be times where there's not much to be done... but those should be used sparingly whenever possible.

Anyone else's lungs tingling? I feel like there's something in the air down here...

As always, 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! 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!

Hazards Need Solutions (So They Don't Feel Like Punishments)

Let's take a moment to present a concrete example of what I'm talking about here. Your party needs to cross a room. A low fog bank hides the floor, as well as the places where there's weak spots, or outright holes. The idea is that the party cannot see the places they're treading on until it's too late. Whether this is meant to be a tense room to cross, or there are monsters they have to fight while dealing with this hazard, it's meant to represent an area of challenge.

Now, players could just bite the bullet, rush in, and hope they pick the proper path through the mist, trusting on their reflexes and abilities to save them from serious harm. But there should be some way to dispel the mist, even if it's for a limited period of time. When it comes to solutions, there are usually a couple of options... but most of them boil down to:

- Player Abilities: One or more of the characters has a feature that allows them to bypass a particular obstacle or hazard.

- Environmental Off-Switch: There is something in or near the hazard itself that allows the player characters to either reduce the penalty, or remove it either entirely or for a period of time.

- Loot-Based: There is a piece of gear or loot somewhere in the dungeon that will allow players to overcome the current hazard, or greatly reduce its efficacy.

Now, ideally, a Game Master should have some combination of all three solutions present to ensure there's always a way to deal with the obstacle in front of them.

I wonder if the pocket watch we found has something to do with this...

Let's return to the example of the mist-covered floor, and the hazards it's concealing. I'm going to use Pathfinder examples because it's the system I know best.

 

Now, for the first solution, let's say someone is playing a Burn Rider barbarian archetype, which gives them the extraordinary ability Cindersight. This allows them to see through smoke, fog, and mist as if it's not there, provided they have enough light to see otherwise. So at least one character can just see where the holes in the floor are, as well as the enemies who are lurking within the mist. Now, that character could just dictate to the other members of the party where the hazards are, and what routes are safe, which partially solves the problem, but it doesn't negate the concealment for enemies like iron cobras (or just regular cobras) lurking in the fog... for anyone other than the barbarian, at least. Alternatively, a spellcaster could use something simple like gust of wind to blow away the mist, revealing what's beneath it... for a time, at least.

But say there's an environmental off-switch. Perhaps there are grates that could be forced open with a high Strength check (once they're found), and they will suck the mist away. Perhaps smashing out a boarded up window would naturally allow in sunlight and wind, dispersing the mist. Or if the mist is being generated by a magic item like an eversmoking bottle, capping it would naturally cut off the mist and allow what already exists to dissipate. Ideally an environmental off-switch is something any character should be able to interact with, but it likely requires some variety of danger to accomplish, or a particular ability (like the high Strength to flip the switch) in order to make the arena safe.

Lastly, there's a loot-based solution. Ideally an item will exist somewhere else in the dungeon before the hazardous room, and players should face some kind of difficulty in order to acquire it. As an example, say there was an encounter with several cultists, and their cult leader in a previous room. Players who slay them might find their enemies were wearing Goz masks, which among other things allow the wearer to see through smoke and mist (it's also a heinously expensive item, but it will work for this example). Alternatively, the party might find scrolls of spells like gust of wind, ensuring that even if that spell is not on the casters' lists, or they didn't prepare it today, they still have the resource needed to deal with this hazard.

Don't worry... I've got this.

Incorporating this design philosophy does several things for you as a Game Master. First and foremost, it makes your dungeons feel more like a puzzle that needs to be solved, and players who go in prepared may find that they can save themselves a lot of time, energy, and effort... but if it turns out they don't have the abilities to bypass a particular challenge, they can still choose to brute force it (likely risking serious harm to their characters in the process), or they can examine the area to find a solution to the problem.

Ideally, you want your players to be thinking, observing, and treating your arenas like organic parts of the world, rather than as pass/fail locations where you either brought the correct solution with you, or you have to pay a pound of flesh to get past. Also, as a bonus for players who are willing to get really stuck in, it's also possible that denizens of the dungeon may know of ways to get past difficult areas, or they can turn off particular hazards for the party, assuming the party bribes, threatens, or performs the proper social interaction. As I said in Monsters Don't Have To Be MONSTERS, encouraging social interactions with various creatures can really keep your players on their toes!

Also, for those who would like to see this philosophy at-work, consider checking out my own adventures A Night At The Slaughterhouse Inn (for Pathfinder) and The Price of Iron (for Dungeons & Dragons 5E).

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Crunch post! 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 dark sci fi channel I contribute stories to, 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!

You Have My Permission To Play How You Want (In Case You Need It)

When people first get into roleplaying games, it can feel like diving into a deep and chaotic sea. There's all the rules, builds, combinations, and mechanical options, but there's also the lore, roleplaying, history, and setting. It can all feel like one giant mishmash, and that can be overwhelming for a lot of players. And it's for that reason that a lot of players (and a lot of Game Masters) tend to stick to archetypes, stereotypes, and classic interpretations. It's sort of like strapping on a life preserver... you're still in the sea, but you've got some support to help stop you from getting lost in the sauce.

However, a lot of the time we can cling to these interpretations, even when the frameworks we were using to support our ideas instead start limiting our ideas. Which is why I wanted to take a moment to do something sort of silly, but which might be helpful for some folks.

You have my permission to be weird. To be creative. Anything you come up with that doesn't violate the letter of the rules, or your GM's edicts for the campaign, is fair game. So go, and be free!

The only limitations are your mind, and the consent of your table.

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!

Who Am I (And Why Does My Permission Matter?)

First and foremost, I am just a guy on the Internet who writes about games. I have also been writing for RPGs for something like 14 years or so now, and a lot of the titles I've put out on the market like 100 Tips For Being A Better RPG Player or 100 Questions To Ask About Your Characters are meant to help players make the most out of their time at the table. However, it's my Unusual Character Concepts series (and the reactions to it) that reminded me to reach out to players who might be hesitating this week.

For folks who haven't checked out my articles like The Hedge Knight or The Janissary, the basic idea of this series is to come up with unusual or unexpected twists on character classes and stories to create something new, unique, and fun. And a lot of folks comment that they hadn't thought of a class in those terms before, or how this background makes something they thought was boring and buttoned up into a much more interesting concept.

There are some players, and even some Game Masters, who aren't used to swimming without that life preserver on. Because while it keeps you safe, it also limits you in a lot of ways. Creative freedom can feel risky, but it can also feel liberating... but sometimes you just need a little reminder of your power. A little push in the right direction.

And I'm happy to give folks a pressure valve.

Because you have always had the power. You can do anything you want when you explore your imagination. However, it can sometimes feel like you're doing something wrong when you step off the well-trodden path. Whether you want to make a Beer Brewing Witch, or a Fire and Brimstone Cleric, you can do all that without even twisting the rules of the game.

So go forth, be weird, and if you'd like even more suggestions, then check out the rest of the Unusual Character Concepts list for yourself!

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!

"The A.L.I.C.E. Files" Had Our First AMA, And We're Gearing Up For Season 2!

We're coming up on a year since I started putting together the trailer and first episode for The A.L.I.C.E. Files, the audio drama series I launched on YouTube in partnership with Alice Liddell which is best described as Alice in Wonderland pushed through the filter of The X-Files. It's been a year of learning a bunch of new audio and video editing tricks, writing scripts, plotting the overarching story, and trying to reach out to find an audience who is willing to dive into the world of these strange stories to see where it is we're going.

We recently finished Season 1, and we're digging into episodes for Season 2, I wanted to let folks know that we put together an Ask Me Anything to wrap up our initial collection of stories. I also wanted to take a moment to talk to folks who made it this far, because we really need your help in keeping this project going right now.

Don't worry, we aren't asking for money. We just need you to click a few buttons on our behalf... shouldn't take more than 30 seconds or so, and it would make a huge difference to us!

So come on in, and let's see if our tales can entice you!

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

Answering Some Questions (And Making A Simple Request)

To begin at the beginning, after the Season 1 finale we first put out a video from Director Harrington, asking as many folks to give us their questions and curiosities as possible. And while we did have to prod a couple members of our audience, we did get quite a selection of queries when all was said and done!

And once we had all of those questions (and we collected a few others from social media posts and the comment sections of our other videos) Alice and I sat down in front of the camera and decided to give our viewers what they wanted... as best we could, at any rate!

While we're making good progress (in my opinion, at least), we've got a long way to go before YouTube actually starts sharing revenue with us... and that is where the favor I have to ask comes in.

For folks who don't know, when I proposed this YouTube collaboration between Alice and myself about a year ago, my hope was that we'd be able to get the YouTube channel monetized, and that we could turn it into a legitimate source of income. These things take time, but my hope was that after a season of stories we'd have built up some momentum, and we'd be close to hitting a couple of goals. If it took us a little longer, well, that was okay, because we had plenty of time and ideas to go through.

Well... it turns out that time is something that isn't actually on our side anymore.

First and foremost, to get a channel partially monetized (which gives you access to super fan tips, subscriptions, etc.), YouTube requires you to have 500 subscribers, and 3,000 watched hours in a single 365 day span. To get a channel fully monetized (which is all the previous stuff and you now get a cut of the ad revenue on your videos) YouTube requires you to have 1,000 subscribers, and 4,000 watched hours of content in a single 365 day span.

At time of writing we have 396 subscribers, and somewhere around 2,100 watched hours. So if we keep a steady pace, we should clear that first hurdle by the end of 2026... unfortunately, things are changing in January 2027.

And it is giving us a MASSIVE headache...

I wrote about this over on my sister blog The Literary Mercenary in the post Thanks To YouTube's Recent Announced Changes, The A.L.I.C.E. Files Needs Your Help!, but if you didn't see it, the short version is that YT is doubling the amount of watched hours it takes to get fully monetized. So instead of 4,000 hours (which already takes something going at least a little viral to actually clear), you'll now need 8,000 hours in a single 365 day span... or 22 hours a day, every day, without fail, for an entire goddamn year!

If that sounds like they're just trying to avoid ever paying smaller creators a part of the revenue the site rakes in from advertising... yeah, that's basically what's going on.

And while that is bad enough, there's even more difficulties on our horizon. Because the real Alice is being forced to relocate herself rather rapidly, and moving on practically no notice is expensive. I gave the details on how folks can help in Author and RPG Designer Alice Liddell Is Moving, And Really Needs Our Help To Make It Happen!, however, the short version is that she needs as many income streams as she can possibly get to try to land on her feet.

So if you want to make sure this project gets to at least finish the second season, and that we can keep the lights on and food in the cabinets, please go to The A.L.I.C.E. Files on YouTube, subscribe to the channel, and give Season 1 a watch! Because if we can get at least 104 more subscribers, and just under 1,000 more hours, we'll at least be able to eke out enough to keep telling more stories in the short-term.

Thank you in advance to everyone who can help. We're strained to our seams over here at the moment, but I'm hoping that if we call the banners we can get enough folks to rally behind us that we can storm YouTube's battlements, and actually make them share the bounty that we're earning!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Table Talk. 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 more involved 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!