Category: Swords & Wizardry

Posted on by — 2 Comments

ENnies 2021

The close date for submission to the ENnies 2021 is for packages post-marked 1st May 2021. My ENnie performance in previous years has been as follows:

  • 2018 – Gold ENnie for Best Cartography for The Midderlands
  • 2019 – Nomination for Best Cartography for The Midderlands Expanded.
  • 2020 – Nothing

I deliberated on whether to enter this year on account of not finding time to do the leg work to get the correct submissions in, and also the increasing costs of submission.

Six copies of each of the submitted products have to be sent off, and the judges are NEVER in the United Kingdom, so the cost to send the packages by a tracked service is not for the feint-hearted. This year’s postage cost alone was £181.55 (just over $250 USD). Adding on the cost of the products, I need to ensure that enough sales are generated by the publicity to at least cover the postage, product cost, and my time. That’s going to be around $400-$500 USD. If it doesn’t, then there’s not much point in submitting.

I recall last year that based on the analytics, sales generated via the ENnies website were less than a product review by Ben over at Questing Beast… Sales via the ENnies is a bit nebulous to interpret though.

As the reminder for entering came in, I realised that the products we release are the work of a team, and that I wanted to allow the great folks in the team that supports me to also get a chance to have their efforts rewarded in an industry-acknowledged way.

Richard Marpole, Jim Magnusson, Pookie, and all those fine people in the credits deserve to have their work recognised, and I can help that along, and hopefully reward them with a medal.

I sent off three sets of products last week. They were:

  • The Bats of Saint Abbans
  • Chewer of Fingers
  • Folk Magic of the Haven Isles

I say this every time the ENnies come around, but if you are a fan of MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing, AND we get nominated for anything, then the support of fans like yourself is invaluable.

So, fingers and toes are crossed for a result in 2021.

Take care, Glynn

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Two New Products in Webstore

Two new products have hit the UK webstore today!

The Bats of Saint Abbans written by Richard Marpole and Dancing with Bullets Under a Neon Sun by Apollyon Press. Check them out on the webstore here:

Check out all the juicy pics!

Dancing With Bullets Under A Neon Sun

The Bats of Saint Abbans

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Last 48 Hours for Chewer of Fingers

The Chewer of Fingers Kickstarter is going strong, but you’ll need to be quick to get these Kickstarter Special Editions as we are into the last 48 hours.

  • 100% Funded in under 5 hours.
  • Over 200% funded so far…
  • Stretch Goal 1 (more page content) unlocked.
  • Stretch Goal 2 (additional seperate pregen character cards) unlocked.
  • Stretch Goal 3 (player handouts)…. soon to be unlocked.

Check out the Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monkeyblooddesign/chewer-of-fingers?ref=d1qpzd

Chewer of Fingers is a grim, old-school introductory adventure intended for The Midderlands setting. The adventure is written for Swords & Wizardry and therefore can be used in all retro-clones and old school role-playing games with little or no work.

The encounters in the adventure take place in and around the small hamlet of Fetterstone—a depressing place on the edge of a stinking marsh near the border between the Western Midderlands and Staffershire.

The PCs are heading to Fetterstone because there is a 20-gold quid reward for the capture of an escaped criminal called ‘The Finger Chewer’. He absconded from Middlemoor Gaol five days ago and is believed to be hiding out in the surrounding oft-foggy marsh. The marsh is notoriously dangerous and even the lure of 20 gold quids isn’t enough to entice the locals into its fetid clutches.

  • The adventure is in a handy A5-sized format.
  • The adventure features 4 encounter areas.
  • Four pre-generated adventurers.
  • Six beautiful hand-drawn and scanned maps.
  • The adventure is littered with extra details (game-juice) and adventure hooks that make this suitable for additional future adventures. Any Game Master could take the information contained and use it for their own campaigns.
A picture containing text, map Description automatically generated

Check out the Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monkeyblooddesign/chewer-of-fingers?ref=d1qpzd

Many thanks,

Glynn (MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing)

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Chewer of Fingers KS Coming Soon

Follow the Kickstarter here to get notified on launch:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monkeyblooddesign/chewer-of-fingers

Chewer of Fingers is a grim old-school introductory adventure intended for The Midderlands setting. The adventure is written for Swords & Wizardry (Free pdf here) and therefore can be used in all retro-clones and old school role-playing games with little or no work. The book contains swear words and mature themes.

The encounters in the adventure take place in and around the small hamlet of Fetterstone—a depressing place on the edge of a stinking marsh near the border between the Western Midderlands and Staffershire.The PCs are heading to Fetterstone because there is a 20 gold quid reward for the capture of an escaped criminal called ‘The Finger Chewer’. He absconded from Middlemoor Gaol five days ago and is believed to be hiding out in the surrounding oft-foggy marsh. The marsh is notoriously dangerous and even the lure of 20 gold quids isn’t enough to entice the locals into its fetid clutches.

  • The adventure is A5-sized (148mm wide x 210mm high OR Approx. 5.8″ wide x 8.3″ high) containing 24 interior pages.
  • The adventure features 4 encounter areas: Old Lady Harris’ Farm, The Village of Fetterstone and the Gloombug Tavern, Middlemoor Gaol, and The Marsh.
  • Four pregenerated adventurers are provided: Solomon Pilkington (Level 2 Human Cleric of Gael), Dergal Pock (Level 2 Wart Goblin Fighter), Norris Hitchcock (Level 2 Half-elf magic-User), and Elspeth Fallows (Level 2 Human Thief).
  • 6 beautiful hand-drawn and scanned maps. These will also be provided as separate unlabelled VTT versions with the PDF download.
Pregenerated Characters
The Border Marsh Region

This will be a Kickstarter Special Edition version (limited to 500 copies). Any later printings (post-Kickstarter) will feature a different cover, cost a bit more, and be unsigned.

Here are some 3D mock-ups (unedited and not final) showing what the print-version should look like.

3D Visualisation (not final, subject to change)
3D Visualisation (not final, subject to change)
3D Visualisation (Unedited. Not final, subject to change)
3D Visualisation (Unedited. Not final, subject to change)
  • The adventure is A5-sized (148mm wide x 210mm high OR Approx. 5.8″ wide x 8.3″ high) containing 24 interior pages.
  • The PDF version will be an A5, 24-page bookmarked PDF.
  • The Softcover PRINT version will be a stapled A5, 24-pages of 130gsm silk paper, with a full colour/ matt laminated cover with the green text and logo in spot UV.
  • This Softcover PRINT version of the book will be signed by Glynn Seal.

We have the following stretch goals…

  • £5,000 – I’ll add additional appendix information for making the adventure more useful taking the interior page count from 24 pages to 28 pages.
  • £6,000 – I’ll provide the pregenerated characters as four separate 250gsm sheets with blank rear, printed on uncoated paper for ease of writing upon. They will also still appear in the book itself too.
  • £7,500 – I’ll provide a separate 250gsm sheet with relevant game handout to both sides (one will be a list of old by-laws, the other is TBC).
  • £10,000 – I’ll upgrade the interior of the book to full colour with subtly textured background, colour art, and colour maps. This will only be available for the Kickstarter Special Edition version.

That’s it for now! Thanks for looking, Glynn

Follow the Kickstarter here to get notified on launch:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monkeyblooddesign/chewer-of-fingers

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Just 48 Hours Left for Folk Magic of the Haven Isles!

Hi Everyone!

If you are already a backer, thank you so much for your support.

If not, don’t worry, we are in the closing hours of the Folk Magic of the Haven Isles Kickstarter so there is still time to get onboard.

We are over 200% funded and still going strong, and the project is in a position to deliver on schedule.

Checkout the campaign page here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monkeyblooddesign/folk-magic-of-the-haven-isles?ref=drb8ap

Here’s a taster…

We hope you enjoy looking at the project and we would welcome your pledge and support.


Many thanks, Glynn & Richard

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Folk Magic of the Haven Isles is LIVE on Kickstarter!

Hi Everyone!

We have just launched Folk Magic of the Haven Isles over on Kickstarter! It’s a 14-day campaign, so be sure not to miss it.

Pledge Now!

What Is It?

It’s an inspiration book for fantasy role-playing game magicians based on British folklore. It is 100% The Midderlands-compatible, and written for old school rules fantasy rules, specifically Swords & Wizardry.
There are PDF, softcover and signed hardcover pledge options, and we are fulfilling worldwide.

Do you need The Midderlands or Swords & Wizardry to use it?

Not at all. It’s a great book for inspiration to play and run your magicians. If you know what HD and Saving Throws are then you can get something out of this book. There is also a glossary of any Midderlands-specific terms, so you can change anything to suit your own campaign/setting.

Here are some pictures…

Layout & Art

We hope you enjoy looking at the project and we would welcome your pledge and support.
Many thanks, and we are looking forward to seeing you onboard,

Glynn & Richard

Midderzine Issue #5 Out Now!

Midderzine Issue #5 is here. Head on over to the webstore to check it out.

Buy It Now!

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Meet the Midderlander: Juan Ochoa the Pixel Wizard.
  • Rumours from The Haven Gazette.
  • Abbots Bream: A merchant’s town in Staffershire.
  • The Town Market: An Abbots Bream market complete with stalls.
  • More Slightly Less Shit Tables.
  • A New Class: The Scrottish Immortal.
  • March Woodkin, Silver Hand Rings, Legendary Turnips and more…
  • Front
  • Interior
  • Rear
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Some Juicy Kickstarters

It seems like the brakes are coming off on Kickstarter projects, and with fulfillment for most now seemingly a couple of months down the line, it seems safe to do so.

I wanted to plug some Kickstarters from friends and colleagues and announce one of my own…

If you haven’t got AS&SH yet, you really should (head over to the North Wind Adventures website). You may also want to get these dice because Xathoqqua demands it. Jeff is a true stalwart, a gentleman, a scholar, a hunk o’ love. Back with total confidence.

Disclaimer: I have no commercial involvement in this project. I have worked with Jeff previously on many projects.

Doug Cole over at Gaming Ballistic is a machine and a legend. I’ve worked with Doug on a pile of projects and every one has been a pleasure and a joy. Check out his store and this campaign and feast at the marvels that await.

Disclaimer: I believe I will be handling cartography on these projects. I have worked with Doug previously on many projects.

If you love DCC, then this 0-Level Funnel by the master of ‘grabbing your game by the scruff of the neck and shouting “PLAY ME, PLAY ME!”, Sean Richer of Orbital Intelligence is here. If you love worms and moths and funnels, check it out!

Disclaimer: I hope to be doing layout/design work on this project. I have worked with Sean previously on many projects.

Levi Combs over at Planet X Games is doing some proper old school, grindhouse, pulpy, RPG stuff, and it rocks. Levi is also a goddamn hero.

Disclaimer: I have no commercial involvement in this project, and have never worked with Levi.

The frogs over at Frog God Games look to have an interesting town project in the offering… Back it. Keep it secret, keep it safe.

Disclaimer: I have no commercial involvement in this project. I have previously worked with both Frog God Games and Necromancer Games.

Diogo Nogueira at Old Skull Publishing is a robot. A robot programmed to create great RPG stuff. He has teamed up with Alan over at Gallant Knight Games to bring us a kid/family-centric RPG. Check it out. Looks juicy.

Disclaimer: I have no commercial involvement in this project. I have never worked directly with Diogo or Alan.

Are you still with me? Goodo.

Richard Marpole and I have put together a book for people that love old school roleplaying games, magicians, and British folklore. Richard has written it, and I’ve done the art and graphic design. I think it might be the best thing MonkeyBlood Design has ever created…

Coming to Kickstarter very soon…

It will be a quick 14 day campaign. Please keep an eye out for it, so you don’t miss out.

Many thanks, Glynn

Posted on by — 3 Comments

The Bats of Saint Abbans : Playtest

Richard Marpole and I have been working on a new adventure called The Bats of Saint Abbans. Richard has written it (and it’s great!!), and I’ve been doing the cartography, art, graphic design and layout. It’s just over 100 pages (A5) and it’s ready to inflict on people.

  • Rules: Swords & Wizardry Complete, but any OSR/retroclone system should be fine.
  • Character Levels: 1 to 3
  • Setting: The Midderlands, specifically Saint Abbans in Hertshire on The Haven Isles map. Can be tacked into any fantasy setting without too much trouble though.
  • The players aid the abbess in ridding the working abbey of a bat problem. Involves exploration and climbing/falling, etc.

If any groups would like to playtest it and provide feedback, feel free to contact us using the form below. Include a comment as to why you would like to be considered for the playtest and to help us whittle down any applicants if we get too many requests.

Those players and game masters that are involved in the playtest will receive a playtesting credit in the book (available via DriveThru RPG in PDF and print on demand), and also when it’s released, a free PDF and as many at-cost print copies as you like.

A playtest pack will be sent digitally (via download link), which will include;

  • The adventure as a bookmarked PDF
  • Separate .jpg files of all maps (can be provided without grids/note for online/VTT use).

Thanks all! Glynn & Richard

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Sea King’s Malice

Following on from the successful Kickstarter campaign by Frog God Games, Alex Kammer’s underwater escapade is bought to life in Swords & Wizardry and 5E versions.

I had the pleasure to create the map of Tzar’Grandula, and my S&W copy of the book arrived today. It looks fabulous, and I can see me taking my group into its murky depths 🙂

You can still grab a copy here: https://froggodgames.com/product/sea-kings-malice/

Thanks to Alex and the Frogs for having me onboard the project!

Posted on by — 2 Comments

I Love Swords & Wizardry

Disclaimer: I’m not getting paid for this. I’m not involved in the project, but I have done work for Frog God Games in the past.

You know I love Swords & Wizardry, right?

I enjoy it so much, I created a entire trilogy of settings books for it, and other supporting materials with over 700 pages of content – The Midderlands. I made them A5 format (6x 8.5-ish”), so they are more easily used at the table.

So, when Frog God Games decided to launch a Kickstarter for a small-form factor, digest-sized boxed set of the Complete version of the product – my favourite, I nearly did a joy-poo. Separate books, Collector’s Edition boxes, it’s got it all.

Hot on the heels of the Old School Essentials success, this product is just what I wanted! Check it out: Swords and Wizardry: Limited and Collectors Edition Box Sets

8002d275ea44074816d59738d890b6b1_original285f2e9ed48a70a856a847ad54ca6810_original41f61212869a7a38720c5616855c680e_originalbf4006f665e4768325e4a9a1a38550a6_original

What do I like about S&W so much?

For me, it feels like AD&D used to back in the day, although it’s rules are based in the OD&D traditions. It encourages ‘theatre of the mind’ play, it’s not complicated with myriad rules, and its perfect for beginning players as well as veterans. If third edition was a crunchy bag of pork rind, S&W is a velvety chocolate delight. You can almost run the rules without the book after a few sessions. it’s simply, old school gaming at its very best. Matt Finch has blended together a perfect combination of old school feel and play ability from the beginnings of the hobby, and it deserves to be sitting on your shelf, if not sitting on your game table.

As of this post, you’ve got 20+ days left and it’s already at over $64k. It’s burning through highly-achievable, almost zero risk stretch goals. Christmas is only 10 months away, get yourself an early present!

1c04236fad81c45ea56ee99dd9565ed1_original

Check it out: Swords and Wizardry: Limited and Collectors Edition Box Sets

Many thanks, Glynn