Friday, February 29, 2008

The Destroyer ... in FULL COLOR

Well you saw his stats, now see him in full color with the incredible art by fan favorite and NeoExodus: A House Divided artist, Anthony Cournoyer. Enjoy. Talk to you later...

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Three Sides of the Truth

About 9 months, Tim Hitchcock of the Werecabbages did and adevnture for NeoExodus: A House Divided called Three Sides of the Truth. The adventure was very intersted with a lot of twists and turns in the adventure. I though it would definately help sell the NeoExodus: A House Divided setting to more people. But all it needed was new cover art (we were using a variation of this cover art for placement) and the maps done. So I plut this on the "back burner" until I could find art and maps. Fast forward 9 month, well it finally looks like I found an artist for the cover (see the image here), and I have done the majority of the maps myself. So it looks like FINALLY, Three Sides of the Truth will be released in March some time. Here is a quick write-up on the adventure. Enjoy:

Throughout the civilized nations of Exodus, the Imperial Alliance provides a neutral forum for political negotiations, diplomatic relations, and international trade. While they have made incredible steps towards keeping peace and unifying the empire, breaking down longstanding racial and political tensions between the varied nations remains a difficult task.

To placate social unrest in its most volatile regions, the Alliance initiated an outreach program based on the construction of protasylums, independent settlements governed by Alliance consulates and mostly occupied by Alliance troops. Protasylums have become crucial in Alliance efforts to bring resolution to the war-torn nations of Abbaddon, Cordel, and Sametia. These three vehemently opposed nations border along a fertile and heavily populated stretch of land divided by the Abbaddon River known as the Axis Region. To help ease hostilities, the Alliance built one of their largest protasylums to date, known as Protasylum-Six. The settlement has grown rapidly and spawned several large ghettos representing the region’s vast ethnic diversity.

Recently, resource shortages caused by the repeated caravan strikes of desert clan raiders has caused industry to suffer, and the settlement is wallowing in wake of unemployment and increased criminal activity. Hardest hit were the hundreds of disenfranchised youth who came seeking jobs under the Alliances free-trade edicts. Anti-Alliance gangs solicit many of these youths to serve as frontline terrorists and street soldiers opposed to foreign occupation or participants in century old rivalries between the Armanian Protectorates and Dominion supporters still loyal to the Khagan.

Alliance chancellors are at odds over current proposals to cope with these rising threats. Most of the senior council members remain supportive of House Senator push to further nonviolent, open negotiations, though few support those initiatives that would permit Armanian Clans to join or even represent themselves within the Alliance. In direct opposition, chief military chancellor Vassim Isylar’s push for temporary martial law is gaining popularity. Upon his orders, police forces have doubled and dozens of arrests seem to have slowed some of the criminal activities. In truth, his aggressive policing only drove dissenters underground, and if anything, increased the fervor of ethnocentric insurgents who martyr arrest victims.

As a result, political rivalry between the remaining chancellors has weakened the overall authority of the Alliance, spinning Protasylum-Six precariously towards political implosion. Now the shadows quell with Dominion warlords and hungry splinter-cells of Protectorate insurgents, all waiting for the collapse of the Alliance leadership and poised to seize control of the strategically located settlement.

nfrom here it only get crazier. Look for Three Sides of the Truth available soon at RPGNow and Paizo.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Modern Adventure Weekly

Since Sidetrek Adventure Weekly (SAW) has been selling SO WELL I am thinking we might have to do a D20 Modern version, Modern Adventure Weekly (MAW as it would be called). I am enjoying SAW (since all the "heavy lifting" is being done by Greg and the Werecabbages) but I am not sure about doing MAW.  My buddies at Skortched Urf Studios are going to be doing a modern adventure series and I don't want to cause problems with them (we are friends after all), so for now, most likely no MAW.   Maybe Pulp Adventure Weekly. PAW.  I know someone who would love that. Talk to you later...

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

They Killed Omar...

The Wire killed my favorite character, Omar. WOW! This show only gets better and better. Talk to you later...

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Supernatural .. might have to add that to the list

A very good friend of mine has been pushing Supernatural on me since the 2nd season. I have kind of been put it off saying, "Ok, OK I will get to it." But this week's episode was getting a little bit of press online since it was in the same vain as Assault on Precinct 13, so I decided to finally check it out. Well.... I like that. I like that A LOT. Looks like I am going to fire up BitTorrent this weekend and maybe play some D20 Modern with RPGObjects and my suppliments. Talk to you later...

Friday, February 22, 2008

Sidetrek Adventure Weekly for NeoExodus

With the success of the current Sidetrek Adventure Weekly, and the upcoming Sidetrek Adventure Weekly, I think we will have to do a Sidetrek Adventure Weekly for the NeoExodus: A House Divided setting. I am thinking of going with a LONG (read: at least 12, most likely 18 parts) sage with this one. Make it a politcal thriller (Imagine 24 and Babylon 5 mixed togther) and let the Werecabbages at it. But this most likely is going to be a summer project and event. Well something to think about. Talk to you later...

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Monte does it again!!!

Looks like Monte Cook has created another new and interesting PDF/book for D20 called Book of Experimental Might. Monte really knows how to draw interest and do great products, plus it does not hurt he help write the Player's Handbook and the Dungeon Master's Guide, but I digress. ogo check out his latest book. I am picking it up on Saturday after I get paid. Talk to you later...

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Cool Artwork...

Here is some cool artwork I found on Deviant. I think this is how RPG images should look. Talk to you later...

The Folding Circle: The Destroyer (CR 14)

Right now one of my writers turned it his write up for the NeoExodus criminal organization, The Folding Circle. The name Folding Circle is based off of the Marvel Comics Supervillain team of the same name. (I always liked that name). The basic template we were using when we created this group was The Fatal Five from DC Comics Legion of Superheroes. One of the first things we wanted to do is show the the members of the Folding Cirlce at five different CR (like 5, 10, 15, 20 & 25 for example)  so people didn't have to wait to play them only at high levels. Here is a ROUGH, ROUGH draft of The Destroyer. Think of him as the "brick" of the team. Enjoy!

The Destroyer (CR 14 version)
Barbarian 14
Size/Type: Large humanoid (Enuka)
Hit Dice (max): 14D12+112 (280)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 45 ft. (9 squares)
Armor Class: 26 (+14 natural, -1 size, +3 dex), 12 touch, 23 flat-footed
Base Attack/Grapple: +14/+27
Attack: Claw +22 melee (2d6+9+2d4 profane, 17-20 x2 and special)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +22 melee (2d6+9+2d4/2d6+9+2d4), 1 claw +17 melee (2d6+9+2d4), 1 claw +12 melee (2d6+9+2d4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft / 10 ft
Special Attacks: Greater Rage 4/day, pounce
Special Qualities: Low Light Vision, fast healing 7, improved uncanny dodge, Blood frenzy, Damage reduction 6/-, Trap sense +4, sudden mutation, indomitable will, immunities
Saves: Fort +23, Ref +12, Will +13
Abilities (54 point buy): Str 29 (+2 racial, +3 level, +6 item), Dex 16, Con 26 (+2 racial, +6 item), Int 8 (-4 racial), Wis 14, Cha 8 (-2 racial)
Skills (51): Climb +19, Handle Animal +9, Jump +19, Listen +13, Swim +19
Feats: Cleave, Combat reflexes, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Power Attack
Environment: NA
Organization: Enforcer in the Folding Circle
Challenge Rating: 14
Equipment (150,000 gp): Amulet of health +6 (36,000), Belt of strength +6 (36,000), ring of freedom of movement (40,000), tattoo of resistance +6 (36,000), potion of cure serious wounds (750), potion of enlarge person (250), potion of haste (750)

Racial Abilities

  • Vicious Claws: 2 claws for 2d6 + strength modifier. The Destroyer’s claws strike as magical, chaotic and evil weapons. They are considered to be keen. They count as two handed weapons for use with power attack. They deal 2d4 profane damage on a successful strike, this becomes 10d4 on a critical hit.

  • Quills: Range increases to 60 feet. This requires a ranged attack, launched as a swift action. The quills deal 6d6 damage + 1.5*strength modifier, and may be used 8 times per encounter. If the quills strike an opponent, he suffers a -10 penalty to movement from excruciating pain; this can be remedied with a DC 22 heal check made as a full-round action.

Special Attacks

  • Greater Rage (Ex): +6 to strength and constitution, +3 bonus to will saves. -2 to armor class. Standard rage restrictions. Lasts 14 rounds.

  • -Pounce (Ex): The Destroyer may make a full attack on a charge.

Special Qualities

  • Blood Frenzy (Su): The frenzy bonus to damage increases to +3. This effect stacks with itself, and lasts for the remainder of the encounter. Additionally, when the destroyer lands a hit in melee combat, the struck opponent must make a DC 26 reflex save or be knocked prone. The save DC for this effect is strength-based.

  • Immunities (ex): The destroyer is immune to polymorph effects and ability damage.

  • Indomitable Will (ex): +4 saves versus enchantments when raging.

  • Sudden Mutation (ex): The Destroyer’s unstable blood allows him to adapt to incoming assault extremely rapidly. If struck with any type of energy damage, the Destroyer gains energy resistance 20 versus that energy type for the remainder of the encounter. His form visibly adapts to the stimulus, with glowing nodes lighting up on his spikes in colors specific to the energy type he absorbed.
And remember this is the CR 14 version of him; the mid powered version.  Wait to you see the tougher versions of him.  Talk to you later...

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Inch by inch...

No real big news. Everything is moving along at a regular pace. Sidetrek Adventure Weekly is a hit with fans at RPGNow and Paizo. NeoExodus: A House Divided is moving along well waiting for some new material like the Enemies of Exodus: The Folding Circle and Lexicon Chronicles: Arcane Intelligence. So today is just a good day to relax. Talk to you later...

Monday, February 18, 2008

Work in progress...

With the release of Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #3: The Bloody Dog's Den, we are working on the release of Monsters of NeoExodus: Wyrms of Wrath. As you see here is the new artwork form artist, Ryan Orosco. Ryan's portfolio has really impressed me since he first contacted me. These are the rough sketches of the Bile Crawler and I can't wait until I get the final verion of the art.
Also I am waiting for the outline for the next Sidetrek Adventure Weekly series. Greg really pitched a great idea and got some of the more well known Werecabbages interested on working on this one. Plus, I am working on the new layout on this series; to keep it similar while at the same time being seperate enough to know they are different. Back to work. Talk to you later...

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Another New One...

Well it looks like I have found anther new artist. This one has done professional work, so he seems to want to do the best job possible. I just can't wait to see what he does for me. Talk to you later...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Deadlines. Can't anyone hit their deadlines????

It looks like my cover artist has hit a rough patch AGAIN and most likely will not be able to get the cover for Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #3: Bloody Dog's Den until this Sunday, February 17. You know the part that really pisses me off is that everything else is done in Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #3 and Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #4: Enlightenment at the Dim Spire EXCEPT for the cover. Hell I just started the layout on Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #5: Attack of the Trigga Noir. But once again the cover is the delay. Well at least I have done something to help stop that issue from coming up. Talk to you later...

Monday, February 11, 2008

Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 2.0

Well since this first Sidetrek Adventure Weekly has been doing so well I (with the help of Greg) have decided to start working on the second volume of Sidetrek Adventure Weekly, written by several members of the Werecabbages. This time around there are going to be a few minor changes with S.A.W. (as we call it) that we think will help you enjoy the series even more.

1) Adventure Numbering: Starting with the second volume, we are going to change the numbers of the series. Instead of just numbering the next number in the line (like #1, #2, #3, #4 and so on) the second and future numbering will be base on the volume and standard number (like this #2.01, #2.02, #2.03, #2.04 and so on). The reason being that many of those involved have had an interest to re-visit some of the settings, characters and adventures they have created or worked on after the S.A.W. volume has ended and this makes it easy to do without having a break in the numbering. Plus, on sight you know what adventures will belong together.

2) Shorter Arcs: After seeing some of the initial comments we decided to keep the size of the series arcs down to 6 to 8 episode/issues in length. We will keep the 12 or longer arcs for very special and unique events (like the 18 part Cross of Fire S.A.W. we have planned). Plus it makes it possible to keep the price of the S.A.W.s subscriptions down. And who doesn't like to save money.

So when everything is finalized we will have a press release on who is doing what and when. So stay tuned. Talk to you later...

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Houston, We have a problem....

A "slight" problem has seemed to arise. Remember that new artist I spoke about back here, Well for some reason, I have not heard from him in two weeks. Now sometimes this happens and it is no big issue. Normally when I don't hear from an artist I am working with after a week I write him a little e-mail, just to make sure everything is OK (Which I did in this case back on February 2 and today). But now with another full week gone and no contact, I have to go with the worst case scenario and think this guy might be a flake. Now officially, I can't call him a flake until 21 days of not hearing from the person and after 3 emails attempts asking is everthing is going OK. He still has one week and one email more to respond. This is the part I hate the most.

But just in case, I have been over at DeviantART looking for new artist who can take over for this guy (Just in cause. Better to be safe than sorry.) Here is a list of artist that I think would be good replacements: admira wijayadi, Chris Stevens, Guillaume Bonnet, Phil Bourassa or Kizer. I just hope this does't fall apart. Guess I will have to wait and see. Talk to you later...

Friday, February 8, 2008

Avatar of Kaga

All those who play NeoExodus: A House Divided know that we have our version of arcane super computer / Think Tank called Kaga. But since Kaga is made of of over 300 lifeforms that are connected in one large vat, it does not really move around a lot. Kaga is made up of so many people with so much arcane and divine power you could say that it boards on the realm of god or demi-god, but definately Epic Level entity. With that I new I would have to create a Avatar for Kaga, which I did and the I needed a visual idea of what the Avatar would look like. The visual ideal of what Kaga was to look like was based on DC Comics The Thinker (Currently in the comic book Checkmate) and Marvel Comics Widget. So the artist took what I gave hime and came up with this! Hope you enjoy. Talk to you later...

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Romans, friends, countrymen ... look at my cool art!

OK I am just bragging on my artist's newest work. And wait until you see it in color. Talk to you later...

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Porter Financial Group

A lot of you may not know that I have a few "side businesses" on top of LPJ Design. One of my more successful businesses has been Porter Financial Group. Porter Financial Group is based off of the service Prosper.com. Prosper.com is a peer-to-peer lending website that I have been a member of since May 2006. So far on Prosper.com, I have been a lender and I have made a loan from Prosper.com (Took 7 days for me to get a loan for $5,000 at 11% interest. Try that with your bank with no collatoral.). I think Prosper.com is a great way to get a small loan for those looking to start their own RPG PDF business or even grow their business. Just something you might want to think of to help get you started in the RPG Publishing Game. Talk to you later...

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Test image page & Sketches

Here is a page of images that "The Artist" (You know the one whose name I don't use) is working on. Really rough sketches, but you get and idea of what we are looking for. I thought some of you might be interested in what goes on when I am decided on what type of image to use. Hope you enjoy.

PS: What project would I need images for? Could it be for NeoExodus: A House Divided or Sidetrek Adventure Weekly? Guess you will have to wait and see. Talk to you later...

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #2 preview

This is simple: Go to this link and download a sample of the upcoming The Blood Stained Trail. See how simple that was. Talk to you later.

Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #3: The Bloody Dog's Den

Well I finished the layout on Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #3: The Bloody Dog's Den. And once again all we are waiting for is artwork. This has been a fun series and I think people are going to REALLY enjoy were this is going. Plus we are creating a few new creatures that we think will help make this adventures more unique. I hope that we can have the "teaser" up as soon as we can get the artwork. Talk to you later...

Friday, February 1, 2008

Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #2 Cover ..almost here

I was told by the artist that he would be working on the cover for Sidetrek Adventure Weekly #2: The Blood Stained Trail and I would have it by tonight. Let's keep our fingers crossed that he can come through with that. I would love to have the "teaser" up over the weekend. Talk to you later...