Classes
Page of Nechrubel
Concept: “These sacrificial creatures are born covered in scars that contain the whole of the Calendar of Nechrubel.”
Content: A class that gains physical and supernatural features based on the current Misery count
Writing: Efficiently expresses the core concepts with sharp style and appropriate imagery
Art/design: Fills the page with text and a fairly detailed central image that elaborates on the class concept
Usability: Accumulates more features than most classes, but none are complex or difficult to remember or use
Paladimwit
Concept: “Once individuals with a will, they sacrificed their selfhood for the sake of an evil deity parading its atrocities under the guise of morality.”
Content: Standard class profile with 4 optional features befitting its sobriquet
Writing: Ruthlessly satirical (and really good at it)
Art/design: Stylish use of color and texture to break the text into manageable halves with color for emphasis/navigation and a strange but weirdly appropriate illustration
Usability: So easy, even a caveman could do it
Content: Standard class profile with 4 optional features befitting its sobriquet
Writing: Ruthlessly satirical (and really good at it)
Art/design: Stylish use of color and texture to break the text into manageable halves with color for emphasis/navigation and a strange but weirdly appropriate illustration
Usability: So easy, even a caveman could do it
Paladimwit and the Living Book of Goodness and Chivalric Truth
Concept: “The ultimate and inevitable evolution of the Paladin” / “Rife with lore and absent of power, it is an object of great importance to many.”
Content: A cursed tome and its witless minion
Writing: Provides a nice mix of flavor with in-game substance
Art/design: The Book in particular is a lively tessellation of text and color
Usability: The pervasive, distressed blackletter can be difficult to read, especially at small sizes
Content: A cursed tome and its witless minion
Writing: Provides a nice mix of flavor with in-game substance
Art/design: The Book in particular is a lively tessellation of text and color
Usability: The pervasive, distressed blackletter can be difficult to read, especially at small sizes
Paladin That...
Concept: “Paladin that isn’t scvm and saves the world, and is not weak and is real strong and good at fighting and is like real cool and they isn’t gross and has some like cool armor or a shield and is totally the hero with like a big sword or like a power…”
Content: Relatively lean and perpetually plagued by inquisitors
Writing: Mostly devoted to explaining how kewl you are
Art/design: Very brightly colored, but still readable
Usability: Really very kewl
Content: Relatively lean and perpetually plagued by inquisitors
Writing: Mostly devoted to explaining how kewl you are
Art/design: Very brightly colored, but still readable
Usability: Really very kewl
Pale One
Concept: “You are fundamentally other, and belong nowhere.”
Content: Adapts the Pale One NPC into a playable class
Writing: Artfully unnerving with many strange images and concepts
Art/design: Illustration conveys a strong sense of alienness
Usability: Includes a table for generating an appropriately bizarre name
Content: Adapts the Pale One NPC into a playable class
Writing: Artfully unnerving with many strange images and concepts
Art/design: Illustration conveys a strong sense of alienness
Usability: Includes a table for generating an appropriately bizarre name
La Paleur (French translation)
This entry was sponsored by Ryan D Wymer as part of the Ex Libris RPG crowdfunding campaign.
This entry was sponsored by Ryan D Wymer as part of the Ex Libris RPG crowdfunding campaign.
Pallid Jailor
“The world is dying, but justice is immortal. You hunt those who have escaped bondage and will return them to their rightful place: inside a cold, dark cell.”
Path of Doom
Concept: “You awake in an unknown location and realize that you are in a body that is not yours.”
Content: An inspirational campaign generator from the plague years. Complete with locations, quests, lords, encounters, and magic items. Best of all, it’s all metal.
Writing: Full of flavorful narrative prompts to inspire improvisational play, with mechanics to structure them into a mountain hex-crawl.
Art/design: Dark and gritty line art in a concert poster of a layout.
Usability: Compact and flexible design is suited for experienced groups comfortable with improvisation. Can be easily utilized with multiple fantasy OSR systems.
Content: An inspirational campaign generator from the plague years. Complete with locations, quests, lords, encounters, and magic items. Best of all, it’s all metal.
Writing: Full of flavorful narrative prompts to inspire improvisational play, with mechanics to structure them into a mountain hex-crawl.
Art/design: Dark and gritty line art in a concert poster of a layout.
Usability: Compact and flexible design is suited for experienced groups comfortable with improvisation. Can be easily utilized with multiple fantasy OSR systems.
Perfidious Protoplasma
Concept: “An expansion that gives the humble ooze its due”
Content: A roster of oozes with rules for the creature type, an ooze-symbiote character class, and an ooze-centered dungeon
Writing: Efficiently presents information in each section
Art/design: Subtle and relatively traditional but still effective in visually reinforcing the concept; dungeon features clean, efficient layouts and design for easy use by GMs
Usability: Class is more powerful and versatile than some other classes, but balanced by the monetary and/or inventory cost of feeding the ooze
Content: A roster of oozes with rules for the creature type, an ooze-symbiote character class, and an ooze-centered dungeon
Writing: Efficiently presents information in each section
Art/design: Subtle and relatively traditional but still effective in visually reinforcing the concept; dungeon features clean, efficient layouts and design for easy use by GMs
Usability: Class is more powerful and versatile than some other classes, but balanced by the monetary and/or inventory cost of feeding the ooze
Pernicious Pissant
Concept: “Who is this guy? He's out of control that's for sure. One more scum for the scumpile if you will.”
Content: Impotent rage embodied.
Writing: A hammer-blow to the illusion that rage is anything other than infantile privilege.
Art/design: Angry adolescent journal with a heavily graffitied classic illustration on concrete.
Usability: Easy to read when you aren’t seeing red.
Content: Impotent rage embodied.
Writing: A hammer-blow to the illusion that rage is anything other than infantile privilege.
Art/design: Angry adolescent journal with a heavily graffitied classic illustration on concrete.
Usability: Easy to read when you aren’t seeing red.
Petulant Peasant
Concept: “You will be no one’s servant any longer. After all, you have nothing to lose except your life and limbs.”
Content: A mechanically minimalist class
Writing: Bitterly, cheekily humorous
Art/design: Simple, straightforward design and layout reflects the character’s humble, defiant nature
Usability: Strongly oriented on roleplaying; defined by its concept rather than mechanical features
Content: A mechanically minimalist class
Writing: Bitterly, cheekily humorous
Art/design: Simple, straightforward design and layout reflects the character’s humble, defiant nature
Usability: Strongly oriented on roleplaying; defined by its concept rather than mechanical features
Apocryphal draft: Anarch Bog Farmer
Pharmagothica
Concept: “Roleplaying In A World Of Bioweapons”
Content: Complete rules for bioweapon fueled modern survival horror, with a swamp crawling starter scenario.
Writing: A detailed alternate history setting with mechanics emphasizing resource management, body horror, and tactical dismemberment.
Art/design: Neoclassical & romantic oil paintings and biological illustrations juxtapose a partially collapsed 2080 setting in single column layout.
Usability: A robust table of contents, utilitarian layout, rules reference, and character sheet aid in reference to this slightly more robust ruleset.
Content: Complete rules for bioweapon fueled modern survival horror, with a swamp crawling starter scenario.
Writing: A detailed alternate history setting with mechanics emphasizing resource management, body horror, and tactical dismemberment.
Art/design: Neoclassical & romantic oil paintings and biological illustrations juxtapose a partially collapsed 2080 setting in single column layout.
Usability: A robust table of contents, utilitarian layout, rules reference, and character sheet aid in reference to this slightly more robust ruleset.
Pirate Borg
6 contributors
Concept: “Inspired by history, fantasy, horror and rum. Your cutlass & flintlock won’t save you from the hordes of skeletons, the Kraken, or even your own crew.”
Content: A standalone game for nautical scvm. A complete ruleset with 8 classes, naval combat rules, 18 vessels, over 80 monsters & NPCs, suitably scvrvy equipment, and a substantial introductory sandbox adventure.
Writing: A rich grog blending history, fantasy, and horror. As doomed as the Dying Lands... but with more drowning and animated skeletons.
Art/design: Crisp richly colored and strongly contoured illustrations, lovingly textured maps, and full-color spreads.
Usability: Larger, slightly crunchier, but with ample built-in references and tools bookended for ease of reference.
Content: A standalone game for nautical scvm. A complete ruleset with 8 classes, naval combat rules, 18 vessels, over 80 monsters & NPCs, suitably scvrvy equipment, and a substantial introductory sandbox adventure.
Writing: A rich grog blending history, fantasy, and horror. As doomed as the Dying Lands... but with more drowning and animated skeletons.
Art/design: Crisp richly colored and strongly contoured illustrations, lovingly textured maps, and full-color spreads.
Usability: Larger, slightly crunchier, but with ample built-in references and tools bookended for ease of reference.
Plague Bringer
Concept: “Your body is steeped in plague. You are a walking vector and the powers you bear can harm OR help...”
Content: This scvm took plague doctor literally.
Writing: A textbook of un-sterile (read: virulent) medical methods for friend and foe alike.
Art/design: Plague mask, leather coat, heavy gloves, and text obscure a coagulated scab of a backdrop.
Usability: For when you desperately need to incorporate more infection mechanics.
Content: This scvm took plague doctor literally.
Writing: A textbook of un-sterile (read: virulent) medical methods for friend and foe alike.
Art/design: Plague mask, leather coat, heavy gloves, and text obscure a coagulated scab of a backdrop.
Usability: For when you desperately need to incorporate more infection mechanics.
Plague Cart Freeloader and Rot-Riding Roadrager
Concept: “The world may be ending, but you’re enjoying the ride… and running over anyone who gets in your way of the finish line.” “You were thrown on the plague cart in what was thought to be your time of death... now enjoy the benefits of being a nearly dead (but not quite) and a free ride.”
Content: A horse driver and cart-bound companion.
Writing: Reckless cart-borne destruction and reluctant cart-bound survival. A buddy comedy.
Art/design: The balanced humors of our choleric roadrager and our sanguine freeloader could not be illustrated more clearly.
Usability: An insufferable pair of pdfs, use them wisely.
Content: A horse driver and cart-bound companion.
Writing: Reckless cart-borne destruction and reluctant cart-bound survival. A buddy comedy.
Art/design: The balanced humors of our choleric roadrager and our sanguine freeloader could not be illustrated more clearly.
Usability: An insufferable pair of pdfs, use them wisely.
Plague Pit Practitioner
Concept: “The pestilence doesn't dissuade you from your duty. This is what you were made to do, shepherd the dying and immolate the dead. Anything to stop the spread.”
Content: An enthusiastic epidemiologist.
Writing: The medieval prepper’s treatise on disease, with surprisingly little malpractice.
Art/design: Rich UV-purple sterilizes a precarious plague-doctor.
Usability: Certainly not inhumane.
Content: An enthusiastic epidemiologist.
Writing: The medieval prepper’s treatise on disease, with surprisingly little malpractice.
Art/design: Rich UV-purple sterilizes a precarious plague-doctor.
Usability: Certainly not inhumane.
Points of Light
Concept: “a simple to learn, fast playing tabletop RPG that adapts the popular and minimalist MÖRK BORG rules to a Gygaxian fantasy setting”
Content: Classic fantasy tropes, Mörk Borg ruleset.
Writing: Less fatal rules, still a fatalistic setting of traditional fantasy civilization in slow inevitable decline.
Art/design: Similarly traditional in design sensibilities.
Usability: Legible text and navigable table of contents aid reference.
Content: Classic fantasy tropes, Mörk Borg ruleset.
Writing: Less fatal rules, still a fatalistic setting of traditional fantasy civilization in slow inevitable decline.
Art/design: Similarly traditional in design sensibilities.
Usability: Legible text and navigable table of contents aid reference.
Porkin’ the Void
13 contributors
Concept: “In space, no one can hear you squeal.”
Content: Rules, classes, ships, creatures, gear, settings, tables, generators, and adventures for pigs in space.
Writing: A space opera that simply squeals parody, with rules that are fattened up and ready for slaughter.
Art/design: A grease-slicked modern layout with illustrations varying from rendered near-3D comic illustrations to positively grimy porcine character portraits.
Usability: Reference tables bookend the text, with a clear table of contents to aid in reference. Clear type faces enhance legibility.
Content: Rules, classes, ships, creatures, gear, settings, tables, generators, and adventures for pigs in space.
Writing: A space opera that simply squeals parody, with rules that are fattened up and ready for slaughter.
Art/design: A grease-slicked modern layout with illustrations varying from rendered near-3D comic illustrations to positively grimy porcine character portraits.
Usability: Reference tables bookend the text, with a clear table of contents to aid in reference. Clear type faces enhance legibility.
Powderburned Scoundrel
Concept: “BLACKPOWDER. ‘Go ahead, open the barrel.’ A crackling brimstone scent wafted out and I almost choked. ‘That’s the smell of unhinged hubris; the burning bliss of destruction long overdue.’”
Content: A powderburned scvm. Entirely too many explosives.
Writing: A lit fuse, sparkling with wit, and full of explosive potential. High risk and high reward.
Art/design: Tightly regimented text disrupted by only by the weapons of war and muzzle flashes of color. Gunsmoke haze fills the empty space.
Usability: Uses rules from Blackpowder Weapons for the Rich and Foolhardy.
Content: A powderburned scvm. Entirely too many explosives.
Writing: A lit fuse, sparkling with wit, and full of explosive potential. High risk and high reward.
Art/design: Tightly regimented text disrupted by only by the weapons of war and muzzle flashes of color. Gunsmoke haze fills the empty space.
Usability: Uses rules from Blackpowder Weapons for the Rich and Foolhardy.
Professor Locust’s Mörkédex
“Includes D66 fully illustrated monsters (organized into 6 biomes) to catch, train, and battle. It also includes a Class, several NPCs, adventure hooks, a map, a printable sheet for keeping track of your Mörkémon, and more!”
Psyber Devangelist and other Psi-Sci-Fi
Concept: “Electricity, metal, wires, chemistry, circuitry, flesh, blood, a cryptic power—all twisted together to form… you.”
Content: A dystopian cyber-horror class with special gear and 6 accompanying cosmic creatures
Writing: Combines sci-fi alienness with Mörk Borg grimness and humor
Art/design: Adapts Mörk Borg’s aesthetic with a neon future
Usability: A bit crowded in places, but overall nicely laid out with well-placed footnotes
Content: A dystopian cyber-horror class with special gear and 6 accompanying cosmic creatures
Writing: Combines sci-fi alienness with Mörk Borg grimness and humor
Art/design: Adapts Mörk Borg’s aesthetic with a neon future
Usability: A bit crowded in places, but overall nicely laid out with well-placed footnotes
Purgatory
Concept: “100 travel encounters, six new classes, skills to expand your characters, and three adventure locations”
Content: The encounters encompass a range of people, happenings, and other … things; classes bring some archetypes and novel concepts to the table; skills add additional depth and features to Getting Better; the two shorter adventures work as one-shots, and Purgatory provides a sprawling landscape for scum to explore
Writing: Not terribly text heavy with alternately descriptive and instructive prose
Art/design: Fairly straightforward layouts with a wide range of art; obligatory yellow and pink
Usability: PDF comes in HD and SD versions to accommodate user needs; also include some hex tiles for exploring Purgatory
Content: The encounters encompass a range of people, happenings, and other … things; classes bring some archetypes and novel concepts to the table; skills add additional depth and features to Getting Better; the two shorter adventures work as one-shots, and Purgatory provides a sprawling landscape for scum to explore
Writing: Not terribly text heavy with alternately descriptive and instructive prose
Art/design: Fairly straightforward layouts with a wide range of art; obligatory yellow and pink
Usability: PDF comes in HD and SD versions to accommodate user needs; also include some hex tiles for exploring Purgatory
Putrescence Regnant
9 contributors
Concept: “Targ-Dungel. A festering wound upon a dying world. Time and space warp within the malodorous miasma. … This, cursed walker, is where you must go. Into the blight. Into the cold, damp mire.”
Content: A bog crawl and soundtrack filled with sludge, corpses, and brutality; also includes the Gilded Wolf character class
Writing: The prose resurrects the core book’s weird imagery and ominous tone; mechanics text is accessible and easy to use
Art/design: The Mörk Borg style we know and love, but left to putrefy in a swamp
Usability: Places three factions in explicit large-scale conflict, creating a complex backdrop for players to explore and GMs to exploit
Content: A bog crawl and soundtrack filled with sludge, corpses, and brutality; also includes the Gilded Wolf character class
Writing: The prose resurrects the core book’s weird imagery and ominous tone; mechanics text is accessible and easy to use
Art/design: The Mörk Borg style we know and love, but left to putrefy in a swamp
Usability: Places three factions in explicit large-scale conflict, creating a complex backdrop for players to explore and GMs to exploit
Soundtrack: available on Spotify
Putrid Gourmet
“You are a scholar of the sublime and delectable.”
Quarantine Defector
Concept: “You’re diseased, a walking cyst, but you’re somehow still cheating death.”
Content: Includes standard character mechanics plus a table of diseases
Writing: Concisely conveys the many maladies of the body
Art/design: Nice juxtaposition of images and overall balance
Usability: Remember to cover your mouth when you cough
Content: Includes standard character mechanics plus a table of diseases
Writing: Concisely conveys the many maladies of the body
Art/design: Nice juxtaposition of images and overall balance
Usability: Remember to cover your mouth when you cough
QVKE BORG
“Forget the spiked flail – we've got EXPLOSIVES, BUCKSHOT and LIGHTNING!”
Ratface Sewersneak
Concept: “When it’s a choice between toiling for meager coppers and fighting for scraps with alley cats and shank-wielding orphans, it’s not even a choice. Not really.”
Content: A cosmetic redesign of the gutterborn scum core class
Writing: Clearly written and punctuated with humorous ability titles and asides
Art/design: Has a sneaky ratface just like Karl Druid
Usability: Plays like the gutterborn scum but with bigger ears
Content: A cosmetic redesign of the gutterborn scum core class
Writing: Clearly written and punctuated with humorous ability titles and asides
Art/design: Has a sneaky ratface just like Karl Druid
Usability: Plays like the gutterborn scum but with bigger ears
Ravaging Plague I: Rusted Iron, Words of Power
Concept: “Ravaging Plague aims to bring Mörk Borg and its extreme metal influences into further conversation.”
Content: Extreme metal-inspired offerings across the board
Writing: Laden with metal-inspired imagery and themes
Art/design: Brutalist text layouts balanced with organic, gritty graphics all presented in stark black & white
Usability: No table of contents or index, but layouts and different deployments of positive and negative space are good visual aids for navigation
Content: Extreme metal-inspired offerings across the board
Writing: Laden with metal-inspired imagery and themes
Art/design: Brutalist text layouts balanced with organic, gritty graphics all presented in stark black & white
Usability: No table of contents or index, but layouts and different deployments of positive and negative space are good visual aids for navigation
Renegade Witch Hunter
Concept: “The vows made with the Inquisition were not enough. The world is ending, yet daemons walk among mortals that cry for help. You're here to answer their prayers... but not for free.”
Content: An almost-altruist with some spiritual baggage
Writing: A fairly standard character profile with a twist—backstory further modifies starting abilities
Art/design: Fairly traditional layout with a weathered-paper texture and a small illustration
Usability: Includes a compulsion for self-harm (flagellation)
Content: An almost-altruist with some spiritual baggage
Writing: A fairly standard character profile with a twist—backstory further modifies starting abilities
Art/design: Fairly traditional layout with a weathered-paper texture and a small illustration
Usability: Includes a compulsion for self-harm (flagellation)
Renfield
Concept: “Your Master’s deranged, fanatically devoted servant.”
Content: An obsessive andblood bug-fueled fanatic,
Writing: Mechanics which bind you devotionally to your Master.
Art/design: Intense visual elements in an exaggerated theatrical design.
Usability: Dependent on interaction with a Master figure.
Content: An obsessive and
Writing: Mechanics which bind you devotionally to your Master.
Art/design: Intense visual elements in an exaggerated theatrical design.
Usability: Dependent on interaction with a Master figure.
Reptilian Anomoly
Concept: “You were cursed, condemned to creep through the lands as an alligator.”
Content: Gator man, gator man. Does whatever a gator man can.
Writing: Mutable class features disguised as a curse that just won’t settle down.
Art/design: More gator than man. Scaley in all the right places. Plenty of green.
Usability: Combat monster, not likely to death roll.
Content: Gator man, gator man. Does whatever a gator man can.
Writing: Mutable class features disguised as a curse that just won’t settle down.
Art/design: More gator than man. Scaley in all the right places. Plenty of green.
Usability: Combat monster, not likely to death roll.
Restless Wanderer
Concept: “You can’t remember when you last slept. In times of stillness your incessant thoughts are akin to torture. The only escape is to keep moving... Your blistered feet walk paths the living have long forgotten.”
Content: I feel seen.
Writing: Witty. Ruminating. Wretched. Ranged. Wordy.
Art/design: A “class”-ic format. Overanalyzed by the hooded figure depicted here.
Usability: A flavorful and utilitarian addition.
Content: I feel seen.
Writing: Witty. Ruminating. Wretched. Ranged. Wordy.
Art/design: A “class”-ic format. Overanalyzed by the hooded figure depicted here.
Usability: A flavorful and utilitarian addition.
Retro Throwback
Concept: “A zany zine that contains some rethought OSR races/classes... creatures... spells in the form of Arcane Scrolls... [and more]”
Content: Traditional OSR classes, creatures, spells, and magical legumes?
Writing: Good-natured irreverence of older fantasy RPG tropes.
Art/design: A broad variety of textual elements, layouts, and illustrations with a hint of coarseness.
Usability: Consistency in styles within sections aid in navigation.
Content: Traditional OSR classes, creatures, spells, and magical legumes?
Writing: Good-natured irreverence of older fantasy RPG tropes.
Art/design: A broad variety of textual elements, layouts, and illustrations with a hint of coarseness.
Usability: Consistency in styles within sections aid in navigation.
Returned Skeleton
Concept: “Ever done anything necromantically sketchy? You might be entitled to a new lease on life as a Returned Skeleton!”
Content: A new lease on un-life.
Writing: The best kind of scvm fueled necro-pharmacology advertisements.
Art/design: Simple, brightly colored, and visually balanced spread centered around a characterful undead.
Usability: A template for existing classes. Make sure to read all the potential side-effects.
Content: A new lease on un-life.
Writing: The best kind of scvm fueled necro-pharmacology advertisements.
Art/design: Simple, brightly colored, and visually balanced spread centered around a characterful undead.
Usability: A template for existing classes. Make sure to read all the potential side-effects.
Robber Knight
Concept: “There are however, rumored to be a few true knights left who follow the old ways … and as long as they never show up you’ll be able to loot and pillage the defenseless.”
Content: A less-than-noble knight fit for Mörk Borg
Writing: Straightforward class features with a dose of wry humor
Art/design: Tyopgraphic choices clearly delineate class feature blocks, plus a side of Albrecht Durer
Usability: Definitely not a good guy
Content: A less-than-noble knight fit for Mörk Borg
Writing: Straightforward class features with a dose of wry humor
Art/design: Tyopgraphic choices clearly delineate class feature blocks, plus a side of Albrecht Durer
Usability: Definitely not a good guy
Rotting Recalcitrant
Concept: “Your limbs betray you, your senses decay and putrefy.”
Content: A class for characters who crave the grave
Writing: Delightfully sardonic
Art/design: Druid’s unique adaptation of Nohr’s grammar and aesthetic
Usability: Easily navigable thanks to judicious design choices
Ruined Prizefighter
Concept: “these rope wrapped hands are the instruments of your wrathful retribution.”
Content: A Scvm who works with their hands.
Writing: Brutal and defiant prose stoke the reader to greater acts ofcreativity destruction.
Art/design: Unashamed and unglamorous depiction of violence. Text confined to close quarters, but with a clearly established dominance hierarchy.
Usability: The mechanics are not quite simple enough to tattoo on your knuckles. But their flavorful enough, that you might try to anyway.
Content: A Scvm who works with their hands.
Writing: Brutal and defiant prose stoke the reader to greater acts of
Art/design: Unashamed and unglamorous depiction of violence. Text confined to close quarters, but with a clearly established dominance hierarchy.
Usability: The mechanics are not quite simple enough to tattoo on your knuckles. But their flavorful enough, that you might try to anyway.
RŌNIN Playtest Materials
Concept: “an art-lite version of the rulebook with everything you need to play the game”
Content: An honorably complete ruleset with the full assortment of classes, enemies, and equipment. Not lacking in flavor, only lacking in setting.
Writing: Rules emphasizing the social consequences of actions, balanced against the needs of survival in a doomed land.
Art/design: Crisp enemy illustrations are provided, with a colorful cover illustration. Otherwise unadorned.
Usability: Organized, navigable, and legible.
Content: An honorably complete ruleset with the full assortment of classes, enemies, and equipment. Not lacking in flavor, only lacking in setting.
Writing: Rules emphasizing the social consequences of actions, balanced against the needs of survival in a doomed land.
Art/design: Crisp enemy illustrations are provided, with a colorful cover illustration. Otherwise unadorned.
Usability: Organized, navigable, and legible.
Sacrilegious Songbird
Concept: “Your soul may be screaming, but your throat sings sweetly.”
Content: A bard befitting Mörk Borg
Writing: Provides a vain, acquisitive characterization alongside brutal imagery and standard mechanics
Art/design: Illustration features three whole colors; a bit of a chromatic departure, but atmospheric and fitting
Usability: Definitely not your grandad's minstrel
Content: A bard befitting Mörk Borg
Writing: Provides a vain, acquisitive characterization alongside brutal imagery and standard mechanics
Art/design: Illustration features three whole colors; a bit of a chromatic departure, but atmospheric and fitting
Usability: Definitely not your grandad's minstrel
Sanguine Onomancer
Concept: “From commoners to kings, most expose their greatest weakness openly, not unlike blood spilling from an open wound”
Content: “loathsome practitioners of blood magic” and the fundamentals of their art.
Writing: A treatise on true names and the bloody art of manipulating your subjects through them.
Art/design: A darkly crimson collection of prints, illustrations, carvings, and bloodstains.
Usability: Designed for use by any scvm.
Content: “loathsome practitioners of blood magic” and the fundamentals of their art.
Writing: A treatise on true names and the bloody art of manipulating your subjects through them.
Art/design: A darkly crimson collection of prints, illustrations, carvings, and bloodstains.
Usability: Designed for use by any scvm.
Scum’s Guide to Kergüs
Concept: “Want to get a bit deeper into the dreary wastes of Kergüs? Want to investigate the dream-plagued snow? This guide will give you many helpful tips, and get you well on your way.”
Content: Includes new gear, weather, finds, injuries, scrolls, variants for core classes, rules and encounters for arctic travel, monsters, and a dungeon generator
Writing: Well written with on-brand grimness and humor
Art/design: Relatively conservative but still stylized enough to be distinctly Mörk Borg
Usability: “Author is not responsible for symptoms of frostbite, hypothermia, or insanity caused by Kergüs's (un)natural environment.”
Content: Includes new gear, weather, finds, injuries, scrolls, variants for core classes, rules and encounters for arctic travel, monsters, and a dungeon generator
Writing: Well written with on-brand grimness and humor
Art/design: Relatively conservative but still stylized enough to be distinctly Mörk Borg
Usability: “Author is not responsible for symptoms of frostbite, hypothermia, or insanity caused by Kergüs's (un)natural environment.”
Seven Hells and a Dead Paradise
Concept: “in this book you will find Seven Hells to inflict upon your players, and one Dead Paradise. Tie them all together with a Hellish table-crawl, the Eightfold Crypt of the King Orzog”
Content: Seven hells, a lost paradise, a tormented class, body parts, and a dread king’s crypt.
Writing: The history and cosmos of dead gods conveyed in 13 spreads worth of tables and dungeon.
Art/design: Excellent use of public domain imagery as inspiration for the various locals. Tortured sketches of divine punishment.
Usability: Enough material here to flesh out many settings. With an index to use them piecemeal or whole.
Content: Seven hells, a lost paradise, a tormented class, body parts, and a dread king’s crypt.
Writing: The history and cosmos of dead gods conveyed in 13 spreads worth of tables and dungeon.
Art/design: Excellent use of public domain imagery as inspiration for the various locals. Tortured sketches of divine punishment.
Usability: Enough material here to flesh out many settings. With an index to use them piecemeal or whole.
Seven Strangers II
Concept:
“A stranger waits outside.
Uncertainty on the threshold.
Herein lie eight more Classes.”
Content: Seven more strangers for Cthork Borg, plus one uninvited guest.
Writing: A collection of archetypes that further refine the tone of your investigations.
Art/design: A single-column class presentation with a brooding collection of curated mixed media from the public domain.
Usability: A functional and consistent class format and table of contents make for quick reference.
Uncertainty on the threshold.
Herein lie eight more Classes.”
Content: Seven more strangers for Cthork Borg, plus one uninvited guest.
Writing: A collection of archetypes that further refine the tone of your investigations.
Art/design: A single-column class presentation with a brooding collection of curated mixed media from the public domain.
Usability: A functional and consistent class format and table of contents make for quick reference.
Shroom Barge
Concept: “From north to south, barge pilots … carry mushrooms. Dense, heaping bargeloads of mushrooms.”
Content: An assortment of shrooms, variant Shroomic Powers (and consequences), rules for barge racing, rules of barge building, ready-made barges, and a barge-based class
Writing: Clear and easy to read prose with some obligatory conceptual weirdness
Art/design: Traditional layout and design with color, illustrations, and typographical variance lending visual variety
Usability: Simple in itself; an interesting way to lend some background color or focused variety to campaigns
Content: An assortment of shrooms, variant Shroomic Powers (and consequences), rules for barge racing, rules of barge building, ready-made barges, and a barge-based class
Writing: Clear and easy to read prose with some obligatory conceptual weirdness
Art/design: Traditional layout and design with color, illustrations, and typographical variance lending visual variety
Usability: Simple in itself; an interesting way to lend some background color or focused variety to campaigns
Sinful Meatcage
“Deity or demon - once you were a mighty superhuman force. Until you angered the sorceress Nis. She imprisoned you in a human body using a dangerous dark ritual, and stripped you of all your powers.”
Slapping Bastard
Concept: “Though lumbering and unable to make a closed fist or grip anything smaller than a stout branch, you slap like a burlap sack full of rocks.”
Content: An open-palm brawler class
Writing: Descriptive with a dryly humorous streak
Art/design: Colors help text stand out against background image in a well-organized layout
Usability: A bit difficult to read when printed in black & white; if you’re using it on the screen or in color, you’re good to go
Slasher Victims
Concept: “In the worlds of slasher horror movies, victims are archetypal and there is only one of each.”
Content: A toolkit for building slasher-movie player characters
Writing: Concise and descriptive as content dictates
Art/design: A bloody mess, but in the good way
Usability: Also includes a table for giving a special slasher-movie power to an adversary
Content: A toolkit for building slasher-movie player characters
Writing: Concise and descriptive as content dictates
Art/design: A bloody mess, but in the good way
Usability: Also includes a table for giving a special slasher-movie power to an adversary
Slasher Zine / Jam Compilation
18 contributors
“Slasher Jam was a jam I ran over the course of October 2021 that got 20 entries. I have compiled those entries into 2 volumes. Volume 1 contains classes, items, and monsters. Volume 2 contains the adventures of Slasher Jam.” – Michael Mars, ed.
Smörgasbörg
10 contributors
Concept: “Grab your bibs and bone saws you’re in for a treat…. ”
Content: A filling 120-page harvest of human meat (and how to use it).
Writing: Sefl-indulgent self-injury, masticatory mutilation, and gratuitous gluttony.
Art/design: Sharp sketches, gruesome graffiti, and a not-inconsiderable quantity of red.
Usability: Organized and occasionally explicit body horror abounds. You have been warned.
Content: A filling 120-page harvest of human meat (and how to use it).
Writing: Sefl-indulgent self-injury, masticatory mutilation, and gratuitous gluttony.
Art/design: Sharp sketches, gruesome graffiti, and a not-inconsiderable quantity of red.
Usability: Organized and occasionally explicit body horror abounds. You have been warned.
Soul Burner
Concept:
“You are dead
but death doesn’t want you”
Content: Ill-omened ashen wasteland adventures as hands of fate. A standalone game system that’s compatible with Mörk Borg.
Writing: A cogent fictional world with compelling themes and history. A mechanical hybrid of Mörk Borg and Necronautilus.
Art/design: Deconstructed visual and textual elements fit themes of consumption and recollection.
Usability: For solo and group play. Can be played in conjunction with Mörk Borg characters.
“You are dead
but death doesn’t want you”
Content: Ill-omened ashen wasteland adventures as hands of fate. A standalone game system that’s compatible with Mörk Borg.
Writing: A cogent fictional world with compelling themes and history. A mechanical hybrid of Mörk Borg and Necronautilus.
Art/design: Deconstructed visual and textual elements fit themes of consumption and recollection.
Usability: For solo and group play. Can be played in conjunction with Mörk Borg characters.
Soul-Stitched Abomination
Concept: “The Shadow King’s stitchers grow ever desperate to make a perfect being before the end of all things - you are the flawed product of trembling fingers and sweating palms”
Content: A class embodying the rejected creation.
Writing: Powerful and pitiable in equal measure.
Content: A class embodying the rejected creation.
Writing: Powerful and pitiable in equal measure.
Art/design: Abominable imagery recounts the folly of human notions of perfection.
Usability: Physical characteristic-based abilities and complimentary random tables make for some entertaining mechanical and narrative interplay.
Spheretical Hermetic
Concept: “The forbidden books and scratchings of your study SCREAMthe indisputable truth.”
Content: An Esoteric Hermit but rounder
Writing: Seems vaguely familiar …
Art/design: Now with 100% more olifants
Usability: Beware pointy tusks and grabby nose
Content: An Esoteric Hermit but rounder
Writing: Seems vaguely familiar …
Art/design: Now with 100% more olifants
Usability: Beware pointy tusks and grabby nose
Splatterborg
“An expansion that adds hollywood-style slashers to the Dying World”
Stiff Sorcery
“The scent of rotting flesh, the cloying sweetness of fresh blood, and a thick miasma of bodily odors permeate the air around them, alerting all who know of Stiff Sorcery to their nature.”
Storm-tossed Lepidopterist
Concept: “All it took was a butterfly's wing beat, one beat and your life was changed.”
Content: A butterfly-effect collector.
Writing: Decorative lepidopteran descriptions with entropy-inducing mechanics.
Art/design: A portrait of butterflies, nets, disorder, and death in a familiar class format.
Usability: Honestly too legible for a class focused on entropy.
Content: A butterfly-effect collector.
Writing: Decorative lepidopteran descriptions with entropy-inducing mechanics.
Art/design: A portrait of butterflies, nets, disorder, and death in a familiar class format.
Usability: Honestly too legible for a class focused on entropy.
Stranded Time-Traveler
Concept: “Something went horribly wrong, you’re stranded in an ancient world on the brink of destruction. Now you must get back, back to... when was it again?”
Content: A time-traveler who picked the wrong destination.
Writing: Mechanical restrictions reinforce the characters outsider status. Abilities that allow for engagement with many tropes of time travel fiction.
Art/design: Illustration deconstructs the violent emergence of a time traveler in the dying world.
Usability: Opens the door for visitors from other games and settings.
Content: A time-traveler who picked the wrong destination.
Writing: Mechanical restrictions reinforce the characters outsider status. Abilities that allow for engagement with many tropes of time travel fiction.
Art/design: Illustration deconstructs the violent emergence of a time traveler in the dying world.
Usability: Opens the door for visitors from other games and settings.
STRANGE OUTWORLDER
Concept: “⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⊑⍜⋔⟒⏚⍀⟒⍙ ☊⊑⏃⍀⏃☊⏁⟒⍀ ☊⌰⏃⌇⌇ ☊⍜⋔⌿⏃⏁⟟⏚⌰⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ 𝕸ö𝕽𝕶 𝕭𝕺𝕽𝕲 ☊⍜⋔⟒⌇ ⌿⏃☊☍⟒⎅ ⍙⟟⏁⊑”
Content: A close encounter of the third kind.
Writing: Gut-wrenching alien descriptions for one out-of-this-world scvm.
Art/design: A violent, colorful, and strangely recognizable figure with an impactful visual design.
Usability: Surprisingly un-alien. Thoroughly legible. Human printer-friendly option.
Content: A close encounter of the third kind.
Writing: Gut-wrenching alien descriptions for one out-of-this-world scvm.
Art/design: A violent, colorful, and strangely recognizable figure with an impactful visual design.
Usability: Surprisingly un-alien. Thoroughly legible. Human printer-friendly option.
Sudden Scum
Concept: “...accelerate the character creation process and get you on to what matters most: dying at the hands of a blood-drenched skeleton.”
Content: Character creation in a deck of cards. With simple rules and bonus quest hooks.
Writing: The clever combination of abilities and character features makes for unique and memorable scum.
Art/design: Bold color, crisp design, and grim illustrations.
Usability: Separate, shuffle, write, and enjoy.
Content: Character creation in a deck of cards. With simple rules and bonus quest hooks.
Writing: The clever combination of abilities and character features makes for unique and memorable scum.
Art/design: Bold color, crisp design, and grim illustrations.
Usability: Separate, shuffle, write, and enjoy.
Suitor-Knight of Kergüs
Concept: “YOU know love, and her name is ANTHELIA.”
Content: A chivalric knight in service to the Blood Countess; creative trait tables
Writing: Captures and conveys the affect of an infatuated courtier
Art/design: Good use of color to add emphasis and direct focus; modest by effective typographic choices
Usability: Class features are more complex than baseline but perfectly manageable
Content: A chivalric knight in service to the Blood Countess; creative trait tables
Writing: Captures and conveys the affect of an infatuated courtier
Art/design: Good use of color to add emphasis and direct focus; modest by effective typographic choices
Usability: Class features are more complex than baseline but perfectly manageable
Sun Scorched Zealot
Concept: “You reject the coming end of all; instead you shall help herald in the birth of a new dawn.”
Content: A solar-empowered but still-bleak class
Writing: Diction and imagery convey and support the class’s enraptured character
Art/design: Judicious and effective typographic choices; simple but well-executed illustration
Usability: SPF 666 recommended
Content: A solar-empowered but still-bleak class
Writing: Diction and imagery convey and support the class’s enraptured character
Art/design: Judicious and effective typographic choices; simple but well-executed illustration
Usability: SPF 666 recommended
Svampätare: The Mushroom Eater
Concept: “You wander the world, gathering and consuming the sacred fungi.”
Content: A character whose foraged mushrooms grant special effects (but not always the ones you want)
Writing: Mechanics-focused and efficiently so
Art/design: A variety of ’shrooms and an impressive ’stache
Usability: Probably safe for consumption
Content: A character whose foraged mushrooms grant special effects (but not always the ones you want)
Writing: Mechanics-focused and efficiently so
Art/design: A variety of ’shrooms and an impressive ’stache
Usability: Probably safe for consumption
SVMP
7 contributors
Concept: “These wetlands of acidic sludge and SVMPs of sickening secretion will, no doubt, fester upon your mortal coil - even your soul will not go untainted.”
Content: A wetlands setting complete with monsters, gods, scvm, and treasure.
Writing: As dark and rotten as DEADSKIN. With black humor creeping into its horror.
Art/design: A variety of filthy illustrations, in both style and substance. Bold headings contrast generally restrained body text. Adds neon green to the palette.
Usability: Table of contents, categorized index, and navigable spreads. With an emphasis on clarity in the scenario and classes section.
Content: A wetlands setting complete with monsters, gods, scvm, and treasure.
Writing: As dark and rotten as DEADSKIN. With black humor creeping into its horror.
Art/design: A variety of filthy illustrations, in both style and substance. Bold headings contrast generally restrained body text. Adds neon green to the palette.
Usability: Table of contents, categorized index, and navigable spreads. With an emphasis on clarity in the scenario and classes section.
Swarm Sworn Stooge
Concept: “Horrifying undead marionettes absorbed into the hivemind of a swarm of creepy-crawlies”
Content: Features four different swarms with two optional “gifts” from each
Writing: A strong blend of information and attitude
Art/design: Text is arranged for easy reading with the empty space filled with images of aforementioned creepy-crawlies
Usability: A creative array of appropriate class features
Content: Features four different swarms with two optional “gifts” from each
Writing: A strong blend of information and attitude
Art/design: Text is arranged for easy reading with the empty space filled with images of aforementioned creepy-crawlies
Usability: A creative array of appropriate class features
Sword & Sorcery… and Solo Hero minizine
Concept: “We did a little Conan-like campaign with Mörk Borg rules and wanted to share the results to another F, our Friends :P.”
Content: Rules for survivable “heroic” solo scvm, complete with an example sword and sorcery barbarian class.
Writing: Informal, conversational, educational and friendly. Like a discussion with your DM (I hope).
Art/design: Fun character notebook sketches in a basic practical layout.
Usability: Designed for paired play. DM + 1.
Content: Rules for survivable “heroic” solo scvm, complete with an example sword and sorcery barbarian class.
Writing: Informal, conversational, educational and friendly. Like a discussion with your DM (I hope).
Art/design: Fun character notebook sketches in a basic practical layout.
Usability: Designed for paired play. DM + 1.
Südglan Leadmaster
Concept: “When Südglans sank, the world lost a marvelous artifice for handling water and waste, known only as the guarded art of the Leadmasters.”
Content: A feature-laden class inspired by a certain 1993 work of cinematic art; also includes monsters inspired by a certain 1983 piece of videogame history
Writing: Presents a useful class while still keeping its inspiration visible
Art/design: Incorporates iconic graphic elements to emphasize its source material
Usability: “This is an unfinished class, but it is a playable one.”
Content: A feature-laden class inspired by a certain 1993 work of cinematic art; also includes monsters inspired by a certain 1983 piece of videogame history
Writing: Presents a useful class while still keeping its inspiration visible
Art/design: Incorporates iconic graphic elements to emphasize its source material
Usability: “This is an unfinished class, but it is a playable one.”
Taldus' Tavern
Concept: “As Foretold, Here Ye Finds All Content Related to Mork Borg”
Content: A webpage of collected Classes, Monsters, and Gear for Mörk Borg.
Writing: Suggestive dark fantasy incorporating a horror element. Descriptive classes, and concise monsters and gear.
Art/design: A heavily shaded comic style, with a splattered monochrome palette in each entry. A cohesive visual style amongst entries.
Usability: An organized and hyperlinked webpage provides smooth navigation. Images optimized for digital viewing.
Content: A webpage of collected Classes, Monsters, and Gear for Mörk Borg.
Writing: Suggestive dark fantasy incorporating a horror element. Descriptive classes, and concise monsters and gear.
Art/design: A heavily shaded comic style, with a splattered monochrome palette in each entry. A cohesive visual style amongst entries.
Usability: An organized and hyperlinked webpage provides smooth navigation. Images optimized for digital viewing.
Tales from the Gutter - MÖRK BORG
Concept: “Inherit a vicious baby wyrm. Die during character creation. Become a contortionist. Get mocked by your fellow players. Get an objective and hidden motivations. Wield strange new powers. Beg, cheat, and steal.”
Content: A life path character generator for scvm like us.
Content: A life path character generator for scvm like us.
Writing: Dramatic (and strange) scenarios provide texture for player improvisation at the table.
Art/design: Colored lithographic print backgrounds provide a consistent visual style across the life path. Text boxes, visual guides, and color coded text allow for creative elements of the layout to remain easily navigable.
Usability: Clear visual indications for instructive text establish clear session 0 expectations. Requires the group to be present and engaged to be utilized fully.
Usability: Clear visual indications for instructive text establish clear session 0 expectations. Requires the group to be present and engaged to be utilized fully.
Tannsowan
Concept: “When monsters die, you are there […] ready to bloodily wrest teeth from skull.”
Content: A necromancer who raises skeletons from sown teeth
Writing: Straightforward and direct; includes suggestions for skeletons’ dialogue
Art/design: Linear organization with public domain art that supports the concept
Usability: Only provides one class feature but offers variability within it
Content: A necromancer who raises skeletons from sown teeth
Writing: Straightforward and direct; includes suggestions for skeletons’ dialogue
Art/design: Linear organization with public domain art that supports the concept
Usability: Only provides one class feature but offers variability within it
Tarnished Strumpet
Concept: “You entertained and serviced the highest echelons of society and royalty. But the fun & games had to come to an end.”
Content: A class for those seeking to explore the sensual side of Mörk Borg
Writing: Eloquently establishes character without being gratuitous; punctuated with some snide humor
Art/design: Supports the concept at subtle and explicit levels; incorporates the standard Mörk Borg palette
Usability: Oriented more toward social conflict rather than physical
Content: A class for those seeking to explore the sensual side of Mörk Borg
Writing: Eloquently establishes character without being gratuitous; punctuated with some snide humor
Art/design: Supports the concept at subtle and explicit levels; incorporates the standard Mörk Borg palette
Usability: Oriented more toward social conflict rather than physical
Tenderfoot Chirurgeon
Concept: “You try your best to uphold the oath of not inflicting severe bodily harm, but no one is perfect.”
Content: Part surgeon, part butcher, all Mörk Borg
Writing: Includes a table of prior professions and tools of the trade along with some visceral imagery and grave humor
Art/design: Mostly text, but clearly delineated and arranged for easy use
Usability: Probably as close to a medic as we’re going to get in Mörk Borg—hush and be grateful
The Amalgamation
Concept: “You were getting by, in your own way […] until the event.”
Content: A cobbled-together character class (but not in a bad way)
Writing: Concise without sacrificing grim humor
Art/design: Ergonomic typographic and organizational choices
Usability: Has the potential to gain multiple features
Content: A cobbled-together character class (but not in a bad way)
Writing: Concise without sacrificing grim humor
Art/design: Ergonomic typographic and organizational choices
Usability: Has the potential to gain multiple features
The Bastard of the Badlands
Concept: “Whoever claims the Bastard will have the power to rule over the land. Or to destroy it.”
Content: A frozen-wasteland-themed dungeon; also includes the badlands ranger character class
Writing: Nice descriptions but not as grimly humorous as Mörk Borg’s standard
Art/design: Also a departure from the standard, but does evoke a sense of place
Usability: Occasionally substitutes D20 terms like “check” and “AC”
Content: A frozen-wasteland-themed dungeon; also includes the badlands ranger character class
Writing: Nice descriptions but not as grimly humorous as Mörk Borg’s standard
Art/design: Also a departure from the standard, but does evoke a sense of place
Usability: Occasionally substitutes D20 terms like “check” and “AC”
The Black Emperor
Concept: “Once an Emperor, you are now just a shadow of what you once were.”
Content: A would-be conqueror, conquered.
Writing: A troubled history. Conveyed in rumor, legend, and imperial ephemera.
Art/design: Layered tapestry of prints, photography, corpse paint, and ghostly blue highlights.
Usability: Blackletter style, lean san-serif body.
Content: A would-be conqueror, conquered.
Writing: A troubled history. Conveyed in rumor, legend, and imperial ephemera.
Art/design: Layered tapestry of prints, photography, corpse paint, and ghostly blue highlights.
Usability: Blackletter style, lean san-serif body.
The Blood Knight
Concept: “The blood is your curse. The blood is your blessing. Since you were made, blood is the only thing that matters.”
Content: A blood-themed warrior class
Writing: Laden with vivid imagery and lean, straightforward mechanics
Art/design: Relatively conservative with typefaces and visual elements
Usability: Bring a mop
Content: A blood-themed warrior class
Writing: Laden with vivid imagery and lean, straightforward mechanics
Art/design: Relatively conservative with typefaces and visual elements
Usability: Bring a mop
The Book of Sanguine Onomancy
Concept: “true-naming blood magic!”
Content: The history of true-naming and blood magic. With a class, magic system, additional rituals, relics, a follower, and npc onomancers.
Writing: A secret history of the art of true naming and a complete collection of the bloody rituals for power-hungry onomancers.
Art/design: An expanded collection of darkly crimson prints, illustrations, carvings, and bloodstains.
Usability: Designed for use by both scvm and game master.
Content: The history of true-naming and blood magic. With a class, magic system, additional rituals, relics, a follower, and npc onomancers.
Writing: A secret history of the art of true naming and a complete collection of the bloody rituals for power-hungry onomancers.
Art/design: An expanded collection of darkly crimson prints, illustrations, carvings, and bloodstains.
Usability: Designed for use by both scvm and game master.
The Catacomb Saint
Concept: “These richly-adorned skeletons watch over the holy resting places and sacred relics of the One True Faith.”
Content: A class that guards (and wields) powerful holy relics
Writing: Clear and characterful; contains some fun Easter eggs for the faithfvl
Art/design: Clean text layout with a piece of colorful (but not too colorful) art
Usability: Relatively restrictive character creation balanced by guaranteed good armor and some impressive relics
Content: A class that guards (and wields) powerful holy relics
Writing: Clear and characterful; contains some fun Easter eggs for the faithfvl
Art/design: Clean text layout with a piece of colorful (but not too colorful) art
Usability: Relatively restrictive character creation balanced by guaranteed good armor and some impressive relics
The Contender
Concept: “Having made your mark within the pugilism circuit in... you have decided to retire and become an adventurer (Scvm)”
Content: A pugnacious pugilist with self-esteem issues.
Writing: You probably have a shady reputation, but you still dish out the old one-two.
Art/design: The classic, old-school, bare-knuckle boxer.
Usability: Easy to follow two-column structure.
Content: A pugnacious pugilist with self-esteem issues.
Writing: You probably have a shady reputation, but you still dish out the old one-two.
Art/design: The classic, old-school, bare-knuckle boxer.
Usability: Easy to follow two-column structure.
The Cult of the Iron Golem
Concept: “Your god is the †ron Golem and you will shatter all the sinful flesh in his name.”
Content: Construct-inspired class with interesting features
Writing: Mostly mechanics but weaves in plenty of flavor
Art/design: Muted ground colors keep text readable; variation in typeface adds emphasis and character
Usability: Roll your background first to avoid re-rolling base abilities
The Deluge
Concept: “No longer is the sea just an impassive viewer of the Dying World's slow demise; it is coming up to hasten the end.”
Content: A flood of aquatic content.
Writing: A collection of flotsam and jetsam. Sometimes humorous, often abysmal.
Art/design: A minimalist layout with woodblock prints alongside modern renditions of fish-folk.
Usability: Fluid but with the occasional bit of detritus. Available in storm-tossed gray or eye-numbing yellow.
Content: A flood of aquatic content.
Writing: A collection of flotsam and jetsam. Sometimes humorous, often abysmal.
Art/design: A minimalist layout with woodblock prints alongside modern renditions of fish-folk.
Usability: Fluid but with the occasional bit of detritus. Available in storm-tossed gray or eye-numbing yellow.
The Desperate Farmhand (and Other Rural Jolities)
Concept: “Brings some roughly farm-related things to your bleak adventures in the Dying World”
Content: A class, 6 monsters, an almost-monster, and new hirelings
Writing: Clear and with a predominantly humorous
Art/design: Text is arranged and styled for readability against the illustrations
Usability: All good choices for breaking the tension of a dying world
Content: A class, 6 monsters, an almost-monster, and new hirelings
Writing: Clear and with a predominantly humorous
Art/design: Text is arranged and styled for readability against the illustrations
Usability: All good choices for breaking the tension of a dying world
The Despondent Demihumans
Concept: “Ancestral memory fills you with dread and sorrow.”
Content: 3-in-1 mini-classes adapting high fantasy races
Writing: Lives up to the concept; strong characterization
Art/design: Typographic and color choices organize content and add emphasis
Usability: A thematically fitting way to incorporate traditional RPG races
Content: 3-in-1 mini-classes adapting high fantasy races
Writing: Lives up to the concept; strong characterization
Art/design: Typographic and color choices organize content and add emphasis
Usability: A thematically fitting way to incorporate traditional RPG races
The Devil’s Reject
Concept: “Hell itself spit you back out. Is this your chance for redemption or merely an opportunity for more wickedness?”
Content: A real rat-bastard with some underhanded features
Writing: Clear, concise, and full of snark
Art/design: Varied typefaces and color make for quick navigation
Usability: Even less heroically inclined than typical scvm
Content: A real rat-bastard with some underhanded features
Writing: Clear, concise, and full of snark
Art/design: Varied typefaces and color make for quick navigation
Usability: Even less heroically inclined than typical scvm
The Disgruntled Innkeeper
Concept: “You lost it all and now you find yourself wandering the Dying Lands.”
Content: Who knew innkeepers could be so well-suited to adventuring?
Writing: Clean and clear with a wry undertone
Art/design: Efficient typographical choices with an entertaining bit of art
Usability: Adapts mundane activities into beneficial features
Content: Who knew innkeepers could be so well-suited to adventuring?
Writing: Clean and clear with a wry undertone
Art/design: Efficient typographical choices with an entertaining bit of art
Usability: Adapts mundane activities into beneficial features
The Dragon Ships
Concept: “From the barren wastelands to the towers of Grift, all have come to quake at the sight of the Dragon Ships.”
Content: Melodramatic dragon ship marauders, a raid scenario generator, and a fury-filled class.
Writing: Presented with gonzo enthusiasm and punctuated brutality.
Art/design: Runes, round shields, and longships invade blocks of organized (and occasionally highlighted) plaintext.
Usability: Legible, organized, and accessible.
Content: Melodramatic dragon ship marauders, a raid scenario generator, and a fury-filled class.
Writing: Presented with gonzo enthusiasm and punctuated brutality.
Art/design: Runes, round shields, and longships invade blocks of organized (and occasionally highlighted) plaintext.
Usability: Legible, organized, and accessible.
The Girls of Gold
Concept: “They will live out their days, getting into comedic situations, pestering one another and encountering increasingly ludicrous plot hooks”
Content: Four of the baddest old ladies in the Dying Land.
Writing: Sitcom grandmother tropes, in my Mörk Borg!
Art/design: Four golden girls, sketched comedically on yellowed parchment. Wrapped in gold foil lettering.
Usability: For your Mörk Borg sitcom program.
Content: Four of the baddest old ladies in the Dying Land.
Writing: Sitcom grandmother tropes, in my Mörk Borg!
Art/design: Four golden girls, sketched comedically on yellowed parchment. Wrapped in gold foil lettering.
Usability: For your Mörk Borg sitcom program.
The Gluttonous Dreg
Concept: “We are what we eat, but Few have taken it as literally.”
Content: A model consumer
Writing: Standard class profile with ability adjustments and tables for features and origins
Art/design: Color and typeface differentiate text sections, which are arranged to provide a clear view of the illustration
Usability: Cutlery optional
Content: A model consumer
Writing: Standard class profile with ability adjustments and tables for features and origins
Art/design: Color and typeface differentiate text sections, which are arranged to provide a clear view of the illustration
Usability: Cutlery optional
The Great Fighting Pot
Concept: “The former soul of a warrior or scholar, infused with a living jar body.
Hardened external armour and a hardy spirit!”
Content: Scvm in a pot.
Writing: Cinematic class abilities make for one surprisingly engaging crock.
Art/design: A jar that’s pumping iron, and it’s ready to smash. Easy to print layout with textual elements that encourage a kinematic reading experience.
Usability: Scvm like a warrior pot, rule with an iron fist, die like a crackpot.
Hardened external armour and a hardy spirit!”
Content: Scvm in a pot.
Writing: Cinematic class abilities make for one surprisingly engaging crock.
Art/design: A jar that’s pumping iron, and it’s ready to smash. Easy to print layout with textual elements that encourage a kinematic reading experience.
Usability: Scvm like a warrior pot, rule with an iron fist, die like a crackpot.
The Hideous Wyrm Blood
Concept: “Your veins run with the FOUL BLOOD of GROTESQUE, PRE-HUMAN SERPENTS.”
Content: A wyrm-”blessed” scvm.
Writing: Somewhere between anti-wyrm and pro-basilisk.
Art/design: Single depiction of man/wyrm contact. Three columns describe the results.
Usability: Not Bethesda’s Dragonborn.
Content: A wyrm-”blessed” scvm.
Writing: Somewhere between anti-wyrm and pro-basilisk.
Art/design: Single depiction of man/wyrm contact. Three columns describe the results.
Usability: Not Bethesda’s Dragonborn.
The Illusionist
Concept: “Então tomou uma medida drástica: fez um pacto com um patrono vil em troca de habilidades que lhe ajudassem em combate. Às vezes, parece que não foi uma decisão acertada.”
Content: Prizefighter to a dark patron, with a will to live, and a few tricks of their sleeve.
Writing: Mechanics lend a sense of power and powerlessness, of a fate that’s no longer your own.
Art/design: Lightly stylized and structured two-column layout.
Usability: Print-friendly with a hint of yellow. Portuguese Language.
Content: Prizefighter to a dark patron, with a will to live, and a few tricks of their sleeve.
Writing: Mechanics lend a sense of power and powerlessness, of a fate that’s no longer your own.
Art/design: Lightly stylized and structured two-column layout.
Usability: Print-friendly with a hint of yellow. Portuguese Language.
The Inheritor
Concept: “No heroes walk this world. And it’s your fault.”
Content: The causes and consequences of a derelict squire
Writing: Concise mechanics and 3 background tables
Art/design: Effective use of color and typography, and an expressive illustration
Usability: Not the kind of inheritance left to you by Aunt Mildred (unless she was a Mörk Borg enthusiast)
Content: The causes and consequences of a derelict squire
Writing: Concise mechanics and 3 background tables
Art/design: Effective use of color and typography, and an expressive illustration
Usability: Not the kind of inheritance left to you by Aunt Mildred (unless she was a Mörk Borg enthusiast)
The Jackanapes
Concept: “You bear one thing against the odds, a special talent.”
Content: A fairly variable class for players who want more of a challenge
Writing: Standard class description and rules with a d66 feat table
Art/design: Primarily devoted to usability and navigability
Usability: "Jackanapes" is singular (if you were wondering)
Content: A fairly variable class for players who want more of a challenge
Writing: Standard class description and rules with a d66 feat table
Art/design: Primarily devoted to usability and navigability
Usability: "Jackanapes" is singular (if you were wondering)
The Jüggler In Exile
Concept: “A forsaken figure, thrown from the comfort of life amongst the higher class, wrapped in tattered motley silk and haunted by memories of past merriment.”
Content: A greater fool.
Writing: A fine collection melan-comic memorabilia for a clown who took things too far.
Art/design: A frolicking joker’s card, blemished and disgraced. Tattered banners over two-column text.
Usability: Comes with banner illustration and juggling clubs.
Content: A greater fool.
Writing: A fine collection melan-comic memorabilia for a clown who took things too far.
Art/design: A frolicking joker’s card, blemished and disgraced. Tattered banners over two-column text.
Usability: Comes with banner illustration and juggling clubs.
The Knight Errant
Concept: “From giant shields to next-to-useless squires, everything an armored clad lad could need is rusting away right here, ripe for the taking.”
Content: Errantry without a cause.
Writing: The trappings of knighthood left unvarnished and raw.
Art/design: A quartered, text-focused layout of black and white.
Usability: Serviceable and weighty.
Content: Errantry without a cause.
Writing: The trappings of knighthood left unvarnished and raw.
Art/design: A quartered, text-focused layout of black and white.
Usability: Serviceable and weighty.
The Knight of the Unclean Light
Concept: “You have been corrupted by sickening powers you may never understand.”
Content: A particularly foul character class
Writing: Decisively derisive, but in good humor
Art/design: Designed for easy reading; an especially grungy illustration
Usability: Contains some intense imagery and concepts but not particularly graphic
Content: A particularly foul character class
Writing: Decisively derisive, but in good humor
Art/design: Designed for easy reading; an especially grungy illustration
Usability: Contains some intense imagery and concepts but not particularly graphic
The Lost Keeper
Concept: “For centuries, you have kept your post, standing guard before a single soul had even heard of HE or SHE. Yet now you are the only one that remains.”
Content: A highly variable class with features cleverly adapted from the image
Writing: Descriptions are fairly brief but express the concepts well
Art/design: Text on the top, basilisks on the bottom, pink all over
Usability: A good choice for someone who likes the core concept but wants a surprise or challenge in the class particulars
Content: A highly variable class with features cleverly adapted from the image
Writing: Descriptions are fairly brief but express the concepts well
Art/design: Text on the top, basilisks on the bottom, pink all over
Usability: A good choice for someone who likes the core concept but wants a surprise or challenge in the class particulars
The Lost Messiah
“There were prophecies, your mom said. Songs written about you and your future sacrifice to save the world from apocalypse. Whatever.”
The Lost Soul
Concept: “Fit for battle, eager for revenge, afraid of confrontation? Play the crybaby you always wanted to be!”
Content: Inspired by The Binding of Isaac, this pint-size scvm ready to take on the Dying World
Writing: Standard character profile with two tables of special features (boons and blessings); overall arrangement is different from the standard organization, but at this scale, usability isn’t significantly affected
Art/design: Facilitates reference during character creation and features a pretty expressive illustration
Usability: A very particular starting loadout; slightly more special features than standard, but still manageable
Content: Inspired by The Binding of Isaac, this pint-size scvm ready to take on the Dying World
Writing: Standard character profile with two tables of special features (boons and blessings); overall arrangement is different from the standard organization, but at this scale, usability isn’t significantly affected
Art/design: Facilitates reference during character creation and features a pretty expressive illustration
Usability: A very particular starting loadout; slightly more special features than standard, but still manageable
The Necromancer
Concept: “A fragile, yet powerful class with the literal powers over life and death... if they can survive long enough.”
Content: A versatile and potentially powerful/short-lived class
Writing: Clear descriptions of abilities with plenty of grim diction & imagery mixed in
Art/design: Revised version visually separates text from illustration, making it easier to read
Usability: Also gains a particular advantage when using items made of bone
Content: A versatile and potentially powerful/short-lived class
Writing: Clear descriptions of abilities with plenty of grim diction & imagery mixed in
Art/design: Revised version visually separates text from illustration, making it easier to read
Usability: Also gains a particular advantage when using items made of bone
The Negligent Necromancer
Concept: “Send your legions to their doom, then do it again. It's not like they have anything better to do.”
Content: A commander of the un-loyal dead.
Writing: A powerful but doomed necromancer, most likely to be killed in the night by their own unwilling servants.
Art/design: A simple two-column layout with good bones.
Usability: Print-friendly and mostly plaintext.
Content: A commander of the un-loyal dead.
Writing: A powerful but doomed necromancer, most likely to be killed in the night by their own unwilling servants.
Art/design: A simple two-column layout with good bones.
Usability: Print-friendly and mostly plaintext.
The Occult Ossuary
28 contributors
Michael Mars
Johan Nohr
Greyson Yandt
Brian Yaksha
Bracken MacLeod
The Eldritch Tomb
I. McClung
Matthew Neff
Max Verbludenko
Federico Pagliardini
machinic
Dom Cohen
Djuun
Kevin B.
Adam U.
Martin Gehrke
Jesse Davenport
Maceo the Escher
Rugose Kohn
James M.
Christopher Betancourt
Owen McGauley
Tupac Zuleta
Pablo Dapena
Naomi Rådmark
Vagabundörk
Chalkdown
Jared Barnes
Concept: “27 pieces exhumed from the depths of lavish graves, themed around skeletons, bones and skulls.”
Content: “Classes, items, companions, monsters and encounters created by sacrilegious mind.”
Writing: A variety of styles, all appropriate to their content
Art/design: Worth downloading just to check out the range of art and layouts
Usability: Complexity varies by entry but consistently easy to use
Content: “Classes, items, companions, monsters and encounters created by sacrilegious mind.”
Writing: A variety of styles, all appropriate to their content
Art/design: Worth downloading just to check out the range of art and layouts
Usability: Complexity varies by entry but consistently easy to use
The Outlandsknecht
Concept:
“His armure blacke, his swerde alighte
With powere, from the starres, so brighte,
He rode forth, on a stede of nighte
To vanysshe alle who darst to fighte”
Content: A blacke knecht.
Writing: Ye olde sufel traht, present-day mechanics, and parodic armament.
Art/design: Stained glass depictions of knights and surreal structures, artifacts for text boxes.
Usability: Outlined text with colors drawn from the background hinders legibility.
“His armure blacke, his swerde alighte
With powere, from the starres, so brighte,
He rode forth, on a stede of nighte
To vanysshe alle who darst to fighte”
Content: A blacke knecht.
Writing: Ye olde sufel traht, present-day mechanics, and parodic armament.
Art/design: Stained glass depictions of knights and surreal structures, artifacts for text boxes.
Usability: Outlined text with colors drawn from the background hinders legibility.
Tags: 3pl, Bugs
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