Rare Elements Foundry Makes Amazing Fantasy Coins

As any long-time reader knows, I love conventions. The gathering of geeks in one place allows me to meet folks from all across the spectrum of interests, and to discover all kinds of glorious things I had no idea even existed. From the dragon heads of David Lee Pancake, to the art of illustrator Brent Chumley, there is something around every corner.

It was a few years ago while I was at C2E2 (which gives away free 1-day Friday passes to industry professionals if you apply early enough, by the by) that I discovered Rare Elements Foundry. So I thought I'd share their work with you today... because look at this damn thing!

What would you even buy with that?

Just imagine, for a moment, that you're running a game. The party comes across the body of a man who's been horrifically mummified in what looks like a few moments. His clothes are fresh and wealthy, his skin dusty and dry to the touch. Holding down the scrap of his tongue is a coin. When the players ask about it, you flip them this from behind your screen.

That's going to make an impact.

Serious Props, For Moderate Money

The model pictured above is called the Smoke Behemoth, and it costs a pretty penny. $22 for a single coin. However, not everything Rare Elements does is quite that pricey. The same cost, for example, could get you a 10-count of the Wraith, or the Gnoll. In some cases you can get even more coins for the cost of a Jackson, and two Washingtons.

The Wraith, in case you were curious.

These coins are useful for tabletop games, but where they really shine is in a LARP setting. Do you want to make your players carry around their in-game wealth in a meaningful way? Get a big bag of the multi-denomination coins to add in a touch of realism. Do you want to have a mysterious prop in your murder mystery? Put a pair of these coins over the eyes of a murder victim. Do you want to mark someone for death? Have the old fortune teller force a Wraith into someone's hand, and every time the player throws it away, or tries to leave it somewhere, make the coin return to their belongings somehow.

The possibilities are endless! And with the high-quality metals used by Rare Elements in all their designs, these coins can last for years. Not only that, but a little wear and tear might make them look even stranger, and more authentic. In some cases, they might create a whole new legend... especially if a figure's features grow smudged, or the numbering becomes difficult to comprehend. Hell, you could turn that into an entire plot point, if you were of a mind.

So, check out Rare Elements Foundry today, and take a look around. You never know what strange adventures await, freshly minted and ready to go.

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday post. If you want to keep getting updates like this, then follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter. And if you want to support Improved Initiative so I can keep bringing you content just like this week after week, why not head to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page? If you become a patron, and pledge at least $1 a month, then I'll send you some sweet swag to go along with my undying gratitude.

Authentic, Handmade Calligraphy Tools From Green Man Calligraphy Supply

As folks know, my Monday updates are where I like to big up cool things I've found, and signal boost geeky folk I think my readers would get a kick out of. That's why, in the past, I've talked about the Dungeoncrate subscription box service, as well as Gargoyle Forge, which sells some of the highest quality boffer gear you'll ever find, along with dozens of other products and services the geek nation should know about.

That's why, this week, I want to tell you about Green Man Calligraphy Supply.

Now this is rocking it old school!

What you're looking at there are some of the genuine, no frills quills that Green Man Calligraphy Supply makes. A real scribe's pen that's meant for business, it's been stripped, scraped, trimmed, and made ready for your use. Made from only the finest goose feathers, these quills are ready for use right out of the box, though you can still trim and shape the tip if you find it not quite to your liking. Whether you're bent over your gaming table at home, or recording your latest adventures in-character at your favorite LARP, these pens won't fail you.

Of course, what good is a pen without ink? That's why, in addition to these fine quills, you can also buy hand-mixed iron gall ink. This ink, which is safe for all papers, and which won't damage a quill pen, or a metal-nibbed one (as long as it's cleaned after every use), is made using a personal recipe that gives you dark, smooth ink every time. Not too thick, not too watery, you'll find it's just right. Whether you're a fan of historical re-enactments, or you just want to make your handouts a little extra authentic at your table.

These are, of course, just the basics you'll need when it comes to hand-written, homemade calligraphy. They also offer Medieval-style reed pens, as well as red ocher pigment. With that said, though, you should regularly check back with Green Man Calligraphy Supply's Etsy store to stay up on the latest offerings. After all, if they get popular among a new wave of DMs who want to get some old-fashioned writing done, chances are good they'll expand their lines to include even more diverse products. Also, if you're truly interested in the history and art of calligraphy, check out Scribe Scribbling, the owner's blog all about how scribes did it back in the day.

As always, thanks for stopping by and checking out this week's Moon Pope Monday update. If you'd like to help support Improved Initiative, then stop by The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to toss a little bread in my jar. $1 a month is a huge help to me, and it gets you some sweet swag as well! Lastly, if you haven't done so already, why not follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter?

Gargoyle Forge is Your New Destination For LARP Gear

Live action roleplaying is not a cheap hobby, especially if you're a regular attendee in boffer games. From your boots to your cloak, your bedroll to your backpack, you find yourself constantly trying to find gear that fits your persona, but which will also hold up to long days and nights of adventure. Some of the biggest costs you're going to have to deal with, though, are your weapons and armor. They need to be up to a certain standard, and if you want to maintain your persona you have to invest in the good stuff. Even high-quality items from some of the best names in the boffer world, though, can give out after a year or so of regular use, meaning you're faced with the difficult decision of whether or not you shell out another C-note for a new blade.

Dara Williamson, though, decided to take on an art project. An art project which quickly grew into a very notable name in LARPing circles.

After all, where the hell else can you buy boffer torches?

Gargoyle Forge is Your One Stop LARP Shop

What Dara found was that she had a knack for making high-quality LARP gear that lasted several times longer than even the most well-known products on the market. That was when she started crunching the numbers, and seeing how fast she could create new products without sacrificing an ounce of handmade quality. Which is why everything from spears and torches (which hold glowsticks, making them ideal off-hand blockers for nighttime ambushes), to longswords and katanas can be found at her company Gargoyle Forge. With reasonable prices, and a quality guarantee that makes most LARPers eyes widen a little bit, they've been in business since 2012. Not only that, but a lot of the gear they've sold is still in use by their initial customers, and most of it's looking nearly as good as the day they bought it.

They also do custom commissions as well... in case you were wondering.

In addition to practical gear for boffer warriors, though, Gargoyle Forge also creates cosplay-quality props. That's particularly useful for serious cosplayers who don't want to deal with the sheer weight of a wooden prop, and who can't bring live steel to an event. Gargoyle Forge's gear is lightweight, keeps its finish, and can take a hit while dishing out a riposte or two.

What more could you ask for?

If this sounds like the sort of thing you'd like to get on, check out Gargoyle Forge's Facebook page to get a load of some of their past work and convention appearances. If you're in the market for serious props today, though, stop by The Gargoyle Forge store.

Hopefully folks enjoyed this Monday's highlight. If you'd like to help keep Improved Initiative going, then consider dropping by The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a patron. As little as $1 a month is enough to keep content flowing week in, and week out! Lastly, if you want to make sure you don't miss out on any of my other updates, then make sure you follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, too.