Monday, January 31, 2011

[LPJ Design] Ultimate Spell Decks: Domain Spell Cards (PRPG) released


Louis Porter Jr. Design, has released a new deck of spell decks for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Ultimate Spell Decks: Domain Spell Cards.  Here is information on the Ultimate Spell Decks: Domain Spell Cards (PRPG):

Wish you didn't have to flip through books or searching PDFs every time you want to cast a spell?  You can't see to remember the range, duration or Save of a spell off the top of your head?  Wish you could introduce unique and new spells to your campaigns in an easy format.  Help is coming for you in the form of Ultimate Spell Decks: Domain Spell Cards. For use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game players and GMs!  Ultimate Spell Decks: Domain Spell Cards are printable forms for players and GMs alike which makes managing a spellbook simple and easy.  Now your storehouse of magical power will fit right in the palm of your hand with these easy to use, convenient spell decks. Each card contains the significant and relevant rules and description of a different spellcaster's arsenal for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.  If you play a Cleric, then you have to have this product.  Created by LPJ Design.


Save money by picking up the Cleric and Domain Spell Cards in one bundle: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=88012

Pathfinder and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under license. See paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Is LPJ Design's CwF + RtB=$$$ as strong as it really should be?

For those that don't know, CwF + RtB=$$$ means Connect with Fans (CwF) and give them a Reason to Buy (RtB) equal Success ($$$), but I have to wonder am I doing enough CwF?  I mean, I know I have RtB section covered.  That is something I personally think I excel at.  When I make products for LPJ Design, I am always making things that I would use specifically for me.  Obsidian Twilight is my vision of how I would do a survival horror and post-apocalyptic setting.  Pirates of the Bronze Sky is my vision of a steampunk and pulp setting.  NeoExodus: A House Divided is my version on a neo-modern influenced fantasy setting. Here is a little secret about me that you might not know, but I am horrible at doing and designing game mechanics.  No really, I suck. No bullshit.  Game balance has no meaning for me.  I just make things I like, rules be damned.  But since I want to actually make balanced races, classes or what ever I usually ask people to help me with the gaming mechanics on my work.  Hell, the main reason I created the original Race Creation Cookbook and the Pathfinder edition is because I NEEDED a book to help me create races.  Same thing with the Prestige Class Creation Cookbook.  These products are my RtB books.  But when it come to CwF, am I doing enough?

My friend Steve Russell over at Rite Publishing is a grand master at CwF.  His business model is based off of CwF.  The same thing can be said about Wolfgang Baur with Open Design and Kobold Quarterly.  Gareth Skarka of Adamant Entertainment has been doing CwF for the last 10 years and he has proven it works ands works well.  Some people are very good at this and these are all people that I emulate when I want to do thing to help me connect better.  I am a better in-person, one-on-one kind of person.  Over the internet some of the nuance is lost and that is where I suffer the most I think.  Now don't get me wrong I can and HAVE been an ass. Sometime with reason and sometimes just because I need to be a ass. As with the personal mantra I use, "When I have to decide which is mightier the pen or the sword, I let the situation dictate;" it all depends. The internet has made it possible for the message that people want to get out to be heard by millions if not billions, I just don't want to what I do be just more "noise versus signal". So my focus this year will to become more CwF.  What does that mean for those who are not out fans yet? I guess you will have to wait and see what we do. But as always if you have some good ideas, let me know.  Talk to you later...

The January ONE DAY SALE going on Sunday!


This Sunday, January 30th, we are having our monthly ONE DAY SALE.  The majority of Louis Porter Jr. Design and Devil’s Workshop products will be on sale at 20% OFF their normal cost at RPGNow.com.  If you put any of our products on your Wish List from us, then Sunday is the day to buy it. Only this Sunday! Only at RPGNow.com! See us here: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com

Friday, January 28, 2011

[LPJ Design] Races of NeoExodus: Sasori Preview

Resources wax and wane, weapons and spells become obsolete, the master craftsman of one era is displaced by the industry of the next, and even land becomes worthless with the shifting ages - information, say the sasori, is the one commodity that is always in demand.  These scorpion-like creatures are brokers of information, by turns the greatest secret-keepers and the supreme spies of Exodus.  Sasori are also known for their willingness - and ability - to kill to protect their secrets.

Personality: Sasori are excellent listeners; they prefer to hear than to be heard, and what they hear, they never forget.  A Sasori can be surprisingly personable, wheedling information from an unsuspecting informant.  Sasori are fiercely independent of outside control, and just as fiercely loyal to their clans.  Most are extremely honorable, never breaking a confidence, risking their lives for a few words on a contract - yet, their honor does not prevent them from turning on a long-time associate if someone else contracts their services.  Sasori do not understand concepts like fidelity or friendship outside the bonds of family; they are loyal to the death to their kin and the agreements they bind themselves to, but any and all outsiders are fair game.  Sasori value information above all else; to learn something from a Sasori, one must tell him something he does not know.

Physical Description: Sasori resemble humanoid scorpions.  Their hands are claws, their jaws mandibles.  Their bodies are covered with a dark, rust-colored carapce and small, fine hairs with which they ‘smell’ the surrounding air.  Sasori ‘eat’ by vomiting forth acidic digestive juices to melt their prey and lapping up the result, a process that can take several hours in the case of a large meal.  Sasori rarely wear clothes (except for concealing robes when moving about in public), instead painting elaborate clan, rank and religious symbols on their exoskeletons.

Relations: Few like the Sasori, but almost all depend on them.  Sasori are welcome at the back doors of the houses of the mighty of all races, who require their services to maintain power; cyneans and prymidians regularly partake of the Sasori’s immense stores of knowledge.  Sasori are considered a necessary evil by most people on Exodus; the common folk, who have less need and desire for information, sometimes omit the ‘necessary.’  Despite this, Sasori can be pleasant conversationalists and many find themselves treating the creatures as close confidants almost without realizing it.

Alignment: Most Sasori cleave strongly to tradition and contract - and their morals end there.  The typical Sasori is Lawful Evil.  Lawful Neutral, Neutral Evil and True Neutral Sasori are not uncommon, and a few are even Lawful or Neutral Good.  Chaotic Sasori are generally considered mad by their fellows, and are usually exiles.

Sasori Lands: Sasori can be found anywhere in Exodus.  They have few physical needs and can survive in most environments.  Sasori rarely gather in groups larger than a single clan, and even a clan may be dispersed over an entire region.  The largest concentrations of Sasori dwell in the Wildlands of Bal, leading many scholars to suggest these may be their place of origin.  If the Sasori know where they come from, they certainly aren’t telling.

Religion: Like much about the Sasori, their religion is an intensely private affair.  Outsiders are not welcome at Sasori ceremonies, and even the names of Sasori gods are closely guarded secrets.  In their own enclaves, the Sasori are deeply religious and worship a vast pantheon.  These gods preside over all aspects of ‘the long night,’ as Sasori call life, and the rituals and customs dedicated to them establish the rhythm of Sasori existence.

Language: Sasori communicate amongst themselves with a complex series of sounds, gestures and pheromones.  Other humanoids have difficulty deciphering this language, much less reproducing it.  Sasori also speak common, and many learn other languages as well.

Names: All Sasori possess both a clan and a given name.  These names are closely guarded secrets, as the Sasori believe a true name can give power to magicians and witches - and, as they are the premier brokers of information on Exodus, perhaps they are right.  Sasori use nicknames outside their clans, favoring those that reflect shadows, knowledge and the desert.
Clan Names: C’kat, Dar’rat, Kr’rt, T’kart, Za’tar
Male Names: Hd’bol, Kn’lod, Tak’fc, Ws’dm,
Female Names: Ch’ot, Mek’tal, Nki’ol, S’stal, Ut’al

Adventures: Sasori adventure either as part of their information-gathering activities or because they have been severed from their clans.  By far the majority of Sasori adventurers are spies or assassins in good standing, the only difference being that they seek information held mostly by those already dead rather than brokering it among the living.  Sasori cast out from their clans usually have few skills applicable outside the adventuring life; they may be out for no one but themselves, or they may adopt their adventuring companions as a surrogate clan.

ComiXology Selling DIGITAL Comics Through RETAIL Stores ... What does this mean for RPGNow?

I just saw this article on Newsarama, ComiXology Selling DIGITAL Comics Through RETAIL Stores, and the first thought that ran through my mind was why hasn't One Book Shelf looked at how to do this. If they don't do this, some one else will and they will be left out in the cold.  This is a game of speed. I hope OBS doesn't wait to long and maybe miss out in a good opportunity.

Just a few question that you should ask yourself when you are thinking about the future of the RPG industry.  Talk to you later...

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Coming February 4: NeoExodus Chronicles - Races of NeoExodus

Here is the final cover for NeoExodus Chronicles: Races of NeoExodus. This PDF contains all the information needed to play these seven all new races from the upcoming NeoExodus: A House Divided campaign setting or incorporate them into your own home game.  Players can choose to play either: Cavian, Cynean, Dalrean, Enuka, Prymidian, P’Tan or Sasori. Cavians are psionic humanoid rats who have a hidden agenda. Cyneans are crystalline skinned powerful arcane spell casters with a thrist for more arcance knowledge. Dalreans are humanoid mobile plants with a great ecological connection to Exodus. Enuka are beast like creatures that have evolved to adapt themselves to various harsh environments. Prymidians are crimson skinned humanoids who are master in communication and language. P’Tans are shadow created feline humanoids who were former slaves of the First Ones. Sasori are humanoid scorpions that hold all the deepest and darkest secrets of Exodus. In addition there are feats, spells, equipment and much more which only helps expand on these already interesting races.  Arriving next Friday, February 4, 2010 at a cost of only $6.99.  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

What I am working on: Dragons of NeoExodus

Question for the Pathfinder RPG by Paizo and Paizo fans other there, if I told you that you had to fight a dragon that had a breath weapon that was one half acid and one half the effect of a blade barrier spell used offensively, would you be worried? 

First Official Thundercats Image Released by WB

All I can say is I be waiting and watching.  Talk to you later...

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Things you need to know and understand about NeoExodus: A House Divided Campaign setting Part 6

All Game Masters and every player should bear in mind and take into consideration these important facts about the world of Exodus and the setting of NeoExodus: A House Divided.

6. NeoExodus is full of all new unique races due to the uniqueness of this world. The seven new races that the setting of NeoExodus are very unique in direct contrast to the standard fantasy races individuals might be used to. Each race has a unique and interesting creative background and design to them that reflect the setting of NeoExodus: A House Divided well. In NeoExodus players can choose to play Cavian, Cynean, Dalrean, Enuka, Prymidian, P’Tan or Sasori. Cavians are psionic humanoid rats who have a hidden agenda. Cyneans are crystalline skinned powerful arcane spell casters with a thrist for more arcance knowledge. Dalreans are humanoid mobile plants with a great ecological connection to Exodus. Enuka are beast like creatures that have evolved to adapt themselves to various harsh environments. Prymidians are crimson skinned humanoids who are master in communication and language. P’Tans are shadow created feline humanoids who were former slaves of the First Ones. Sasori are humanoid scorpions that hold all the deepest and darkest secrets of Exodus.

More to come. Talk to you later...

Ultimate Combat Playtest from Paizo hits the internet and Wayne Reynolds newest iconic images hit the RPG stage...

Maybe you didn't hear or know, but Paizo has just released the Ultimate Combat Playtest that  includes three all new classes for Pathfinder, Gunslinger, Ninja and Samurai.  Since these are playtest rules, I will let other people debate the ins and outs of them until the release of the actual product, but I will talk about one thing people seem NOT to be talking about. And that is the artwork by Wayne Reynolds.  Once again proving he is the most talented artist currently in the RPG industry, his three images in this product almost come to life with excitement.  The amount of detail that he does on these pieces of artwork, rally any piece of artwork he does, is astonishing.  Don't waste time hearing me brag about the artwork, go get a copy of the Ultimate Combat Playtest and see for yourself.  Talk to you later...

Monday, January 24, 2011

Wyoming, South Dakota, Vermont, North Dakota and Hawaii apparently don’t like LPJ Design and In The Mind of a Mad Man…


Looking at Google Analytics, I noticed that these five states (Wyoming, South Dakota, Vermont, North Dakota and Hawaii) are in the bottom the states that have visited this blog. WTF?!?!?!?!? Wyoming, South Dakota, Vermont, North Dakota AND Hawaii! Ok I mean I understand Wyoming, North and South Dakota on this list. That is because there is NO WAY I am ever going there to visit there, especially during winter. Sorry for our fans out there but I live in South Florida of a reason. 74 degrees in December is quite nice. Barren and cold is not what I am looking for in a place to live. Hot and scantily clad women are what I am looking for in place to live (One day Brazil, one day).

Vermont, well the farthest north I have been on the East Coast, is Massachusetts and I just don’t see Vermont in my future. I don’t ski so that will not help. It is not looking good for my Vermont visitation.

But Hawaii? Hawaii and I should be great friends. I like Hawaii, surfing, sun, swimming, bikinis, exciting night life, lots of sexy, tan bodies….oh now I see why there are not a lot of gamers there. Ok now I understand. Sorry Hawaii. Well thank god for Florida (A lot of those are me), California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan and New York. I love you all deeply. Talk to you later…

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Changing our email address from AOL to GMail...


This is just a little email to notify everyone after my recent hacking of my AOL email account I am changing my email from AOL with LMPjr007 to Now at Gmail with the same old LMPjr007. No huge change but just enough.  I will be closing down my AOL account on January 31, 2011. Please note of this update in your files and our contact information.

LPJ Design is going to PaizoCon 2011...what should do as an exclusive...

I asked this over at Paizo message boards:

Since LPJ Design is going to PaizoCon, I think we need to do something special for our first time to PaizoCon. Maybe a exclusive limited edition hardcover full color book? Maybe $25 - $30? Maybe something you can only pick it up exclusively at PaizoCon? What do you think?

By then the Pirates of the Bronze Sky release will be a month away and NeoExodus: A House Divided campaign setting will be two month away from release.   So I wanted to know what you though about it? I have a "vague" idea but tell me what you would want.  Talk to you later...

Saturday, January 22, 2011

LPJ Design is going to PaizoCon 2011

Just got my tickets for the the convention and dinner and now I have to get my flight.  This will be my first time to Seattle and I can't wait. (I am a East Coast boy don't you know!)  I am hoping JP Chapleau will be able to come out also so you could actually meet two members of the LPJ Design staff in the same location (which is a minor miracle itself). I plan to have some books there for sale including Obsidian Twilight, A Place Beyond Hell, and previews for Pirates of the Bronze Sky and NeoExodus: House Divided.  So come on by and say "hi!" take a look at stuff and better yet, try to swing a freelance gig with us, you know we are always looking for good people. This is going to be a fun time, don't miss out.  Talk to you later...

Friday, January 21, 2011

[LPJ Design] Races of NeoExodus: Prymidian Preview

Prymidians are regal, red-skinned humanoids with their stately demeanor and formidable build impress other races, and their learning follows suit.  The prymidians are a communication and language-inclined race, dedicated to scientific reason, research, expansion of knowledge and discovery.  Their culture seeks to know all there is to know in Exodus, plus be able to communicate that knowledge to others.  None know better than the prymidians that knowledge truly is power.

Personality:  Although Prymidians pride themselves on logic, communication and reason, they rarely fit the stereotype of the shy scholar.  The typical prymidian possesses a forceful, even arrogant personality.  A prymidian’s knowledge of communication and language is unequal to any.  Prymidians skills in the area of communication and language so extraordinary, they have found ways for it to effect and manipulate eldritch and arcane magic at a basic level.   A prymidian is contentious, skeptical, always questioning and probing the opinions and thoughts of those around him and arguing with anyone who disagrees.

Prymidians strive to be objective and insist that argument is merely the crucible in which understanding forms, and certainly many of them hold to this ideal.  To a prymidian, one who grasps the truth is truly wealthy; generous prymidians seek to increase the understanding of all and how to communicate that knowledge and information to others, while greedy members of the race hoard knowledge and lost languages or even attempt to impose their truth, whatever it might be, on reality.

Physical Description: Prymidians are tall, lithely built humanoids with rich red skin, ranging from smoldering near-ebon to bright crimson.  They are taller and heavier than humans on average, their bones and muscles denser.  Most prymidians have silver or white hair; the rare dark-haired examples of the race are often looked upon with suspicion by the colleagues.  Roughly one in one thousand prymidians has a most unusual feature physical feature, a throwback to their ancestral nature.  These prymidians have long, rubbery tentacle beneath the skin of each of their arms.  A prymidian with this physical feature can extend these tentacles to manipulate or strike objects at a surprising distance.

Relations: At best, prymidians look upon other races with pity.  At worst, they hold the other inhabitants of Exodus in contempt.  All consider their race a small flame of enlightenment in a benighted, even savage world.  Most humanoids look up to prymidians for their learning and regal bearing, but the scholars of other races have come to resent the prymidians’ dominance and predominance.

Alignment: The typical  prymidian is true neutral, unconcerned with morality and torn between his creative and passionate side and his reason.  Virtually no prymidian gives in to chaos, though, while many hone themselves to their concept of law.  Prymidian arrogance sometimes leads to outright evil, but most reject extremes of morality.

Prymidian Lands: Prymidians are relative newcomers to Exodus.  If they possess a homeland of their own, it apparently lies on another world or plane of existence.  On Exodus, they primarily make their homes in the Arman Protectorate and the Dominion, but few prymidians gather in one place for long.  They are usually encountered in small scholarly groups, and even these are nomadic as they scour the world for new tidbits of information to shed light on the universe.

Religion: To a prymidian, religion is a subject of logical consideration like any other.  Virtually all prymidians reject the multitudinous deities worshipped by the benighted masses, which they consider either illusory or a type of energy being.  Some prymidians do find their reason leads them to belief in a “first cause” that set the universe in motion and may have a rational plan for it.  Others are agnostic, postponing such speculation until they possess more information.  Still others are true atheists, believing in a perpetual material universe entirely without cause or direction.

Language: Prymidians have a language of their own, which they employ strictly for scholarly debate among themselves.  Because it is known only in closed scholarly circles, the prymidian language is considered a secret language, like Druidic.  Due to a quasi-magical genetic quirk, prymidians can speak and understand the language of any intelligent creature, whether it is a racial tongue or a regional dialect, and can read even magical writing with supernatural ease.

Names: Prymidians’ secrecy about their language does not extend to their names.  Unlike many creatures that often travel to new lands, they decline to adopt appropriate nicknames in the local tongue, considering these barbaric.
Family Names: Aponi, Chenoa, Eyota, Meda, Ogin, Tehya
Male Names: Gryn, Kynon, Moren, Oth, Yna
Female Names: Amser, Eys, Garan, Kieve, Talar

Adventures: Prymidians adventure to acquire new information and experience new languages.  Exodus is littered with scraps of knowledge from which a prymidian may derive new theories and make new discoveries.  Magic, particularly in the form of tomes and scrolls, interests the prymidians as a branch of the sciences they have yet to properly codify.  Language is even more important to a prymidian than magic, however; meeting isolated tribes and strange creatures who have never spoken the common tongue is a rare thrill for most members of this race.  Prymidians are naturally nomadic, and most have little fear of danger, so they find it only natural to seek the hidden secrets of Exodus in person.  Besides, few prymidians are willing to trust the safety of the legacies of ancient science to a band of unwashed swords for hire.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Clips from upcoming Young Justice and Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes





Artist Tamás Baranya of Black Hand Source is someone you need to know...

Our friend Tamás Baranya, artist for Shipships of Nova Avalon, has starting building a new line of products from his publishing company, Black Hand Source. For those that are looking for city maps, stock art or just original artwork you might want to check Tamás out.  He was very professional to work with, and does great solid work.  I just hope he will start selling color stock artwork. That is what I need.  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

RPGNow's New Print-On-Demand service books arrive at LPJ Design HQ...

Sometimes it drive me crazy when I know I am right and people think I'm crazy and then someone "respected in the industry" says the virtually exact same thing...

OK I said this: I thought the purpose was to get NEW players for the new D & D red box?!?!??! back in October 2010 and now look at the comments I received.  Now today I read this from Ryan Dancy's new column at EN WorldHere is the direct link to the whole statement but here is the important part:

Second, I have no clue what Wizards thinks it is doing with the "red box". The Intro product for D&D has one, and only one purpose: To introduce 12-14 year old kids to the roleplaying hobby and start them on the path to become purchasers of the core books. That product must be designed to sell in mass market stores where it can get the widest possible distribution outside of the hobby core (where you can safely assume that gamers are teaching gamers without the need of a special product to do it). It must be priced correctly vs. the other games it is shelved with, and it must be packaged and presented in a way that a mother would be comfortable buying as a gift for the son or daughter of a friend.

The "red box" looks like a nostalgia product designed to be sold to 40 year-olds who want to relive a moment of their childhoods. I don't get the art or the font - neither will appeal to either kids or moms in CE2011. It doesn't look like any other products in the 4E line so how will people know that it connects? Doesn't even matter what's inside the box - this is one of those things that has to sell on its presentation on the shelf.


Well I guess it is good to know that once and a while I might actually know what I am doing here at this blog and running my company.  Now I just need for Hasbro to buy me out and give me a big check.  Talk to you later...

Rough draft artwork for upcoming LPJ Design products

Here are some rough draft artwork from the upcoming LPJ Design products Enemies of NeoExodus: Crimson Hand and Obsidian Eclipse: The Well of Dead Flesh. As you can see Ean Moody has been a busy man. You can chek out mour of our cool artwork at the LPJ Design Facebook pages also. Just because we are quiet, doesn't mean we are not busy.  Talk to you later.




Tuesday, January 18, 2011

[Rite Publishing] Faces of the Tarnished Souk (PFRPG)

Our friends over at Rite Publishing just sent out this press release on there newest product,  Faces of the Tarnished Souk (PFRPG):

What do you want? 

Nearly all the world dreams, so nearly everyone finds themselves in the Coliseum Morpheuon sooner or later. But plenty of evocative folk work here as well, and it's their shops, trades, and coin that keep the games flowing – and so that brings us to the market place known as The Tarnished Souk. The trick is telling friend from foe. In the Coliseum, a Demon isn’t always your enemy, and Angel isn’t always an ally.
This product provides Game Masters with details on an evocative and intriguing character found amongst the Faces of the Tarnished Souk, ready for immediate use in any campaign though specifically within the Coliseum Morpheuon. Each entry features complex stat-blocks from multiple OGL sources, history, motivation, and secrets, along with complete game statistics for low, middle and high levels of play. Within this entry you will find:
Ahnkar-Kosh, The Unstoppable: The greatest bodyguard in all the known worlds.
  • CR 21 Male dreadnaught protector quickling manimal ankylosaurus armiger 8 
  • CR 14 Male protector quickling manimal ankylosaurus fighter 5 
  • CR 7 Male manimal ankylosaurus

Things you need to know and understand about NeoExodus: A House Divided Campaign setting Part 5

All Game Masters and every player should bear in mind and take into consideration these important facts about the world of Exodus and the setting of NeoExodus: A House Divided.

5. NeoExodus is built off of a very distinctive nature and mind-set. The setting of NeoExodus: A House Divided is a mixture of classic fantasy, modern political conflict and intrigue with neo-fantasy influences. The world of Exodus has some degree of “moral flexibility” which makes people who might diametrically opposed able to work with each other for a greater reason often for good and in some extremes evil. In this world, nothing is black or white but various shades of grey making nothing exactly what it seems to be. While an individual might have the alignment of chaotic evil does not mean they cannot be honorable or even compassioned if needed to for a larger reason and vice versa.

More to come. Talk to you later...

Paizo's RPG Superstar 2011 top 32 announced today!!!

Today is the day Paizo announces the top 32 for RPG Superstar 2011 at 5PM EST. I wish everyone I know who submitted the best of luck, because with that many people entering every little bit helps.

And for you top 32 remember:

For any of the contestants that are announced as but not chosen in Rounds 2 – 4 of the RPG Superstar™ 2011, LPJ Design will offer you the opportunity to work for us on a PAID upcoming freelance project. Payment and writing credit, it could not be better. So no matter what happens, you have the opportunity to fulfill your dreams of becoming a professional RPG game designer.


So even if you don't win the RPG Superstar 2011, you still will win with your attempt to become a RPG writer.  Talk to you later!!!

Friday, January 14, 2011

[LPJ Design] Races of NeoExodus: P’Tan Preview

In ancient times, the First Ones enslaved all of Exodus; their plans were served well by countless thousands of unwilling servants.  Once their slaves rose up and overthrew them, however, the First Ones were cast into the depths - bereft not only of their power, but also of the vast majority of the very slaves who brought them low.
The P’Tan were created to replace those slaves.

The P’Tan are a created race, fashioned from elemental shadow-stuff infused into what were initially crude mortal shells.  By dark sorcery and darker worship, the First Ones made these creatures into a lasting race that could breed true without their magical influence… the better to provide them with slaves for all eternity.
Only a handful of P’Tan have escaped the crushing oppression into which their people were born, but those who have are perhaps the most determined foes of the First Ones in all of Exodus.  Other races have but dim memory of their primeval slavery; for the P’Tan, that existence is indelibly etched in living memory.

Personality:  Free P’Tan love life and freedom so ferociously they can unnerve members of more staid races.  To the P’Tan, every second of liberty is a treasure worth fighting, bleeding and dying for.  P’Tan tend to be obsessive about their passions - and one of those passions is, almost invariably, freeing the rest of their people from First One bondage.  The P’Tan saw their hated masters weave plots over the course of centuries; they will do no less to undo those plans, subtly incorporating even the smallest action into their overall goal of freeing their fellows and destroying the First Ones once and for all.  On those rare occasions P’Tan gather in groups of their own kind, they form loose packs ruled by the strongest among them; challenges to a leader’s authority are short, vicious and usually to the death - perhaps, among the passionate P’Tan, why so few gather in numbers!

Physical Description: P’Tan are tall and sleek humanoids.  They somewhat resemble humanoid cats and have a coat of short, stiff fur.  The older a P’Tan grows, the lighter the color of his fur; a young kit may be almost pitch black, while an elder near the end of his life is snow white.  Beneath their fur, P’Tan sport the hard muscle typical of a people who were created, bred and pressed into the most grueling labor; there is nothing sculpted or decorative about a P’Tan’s frame - it is pure, purposeful power.  P’Tan tend to prefer loose-fitting clothes, sometimes favoring concealing cloaks and robes that hide their nature from races who may react suspiciously toward unknown visitors.

Relations: P’Tan often face suspicion and fear from other races; their background and powers both call to mind the First Ones, who most prefer not to think about. P’Tan also have trouble winning friends among other races because their obsession with destroying the First Ones forces others to confront what they would prefer not to think about.  Only a handful of trusted companions ever learn to overcome these impediments and accept a P’Tan.  When dealing with the First Ones, of course, P’Tan have only one thing to offer: death.

Alignment: Having been denied their freedom in the cruelest way since the very inception of their race, P’Tan value it above all other concepts.  They tend to be passionate, determined and fierce.  Most P’Tan are Chaotic Good or Chaotic Neutral; those whose obsession with destroying th First Ones eclipses everything else in their lives sometimes fall to Chaotic Evil.

P’Tan Lands: The P’Tan were born into slavery, and not enough of their people have escaped it to ever core out a homeland of their own.  For now, at least, the P’Tan are nomads cast adrift in Exodus; they are usually found in the largest cities, selling their services as mercenaries or bodyguards.  Many dream of one day carving out a place to belong for their people, but that is a dream far in their future.

Religion: During their enslavement, the P’Tan were expected to pay at least token worship to the bloody god of the First Ones, Khayne; as this worship often involved the P’Tan being offered up as bloody sacrifices, it should be unsurprising that most abandoned the faith of their masters as soon as they could!  Free P’Tan usually adopt the predominant religion of whatever region they spend most of their time in.

Language: All P’Tan speak Exodite, the common tongue of the First Ones.  Free P’Tan understand this language but rarely use it; they quickly master modern Common and find their old language unpalatable.  Many even swear by whatever they hold sacred to never again utter the speech of their hated former masters.

Names: P’Tan were never given names during their enslavement and refer to each other only by terms of relative rank.  Once a P’Tan has interacted with outsiders long enough, he usually picks up a name or nickname in the local language and often takes it more seriously than others would.

Adventures: Most P’Tan do not adventure in the traditional sense - yet in another sense, they do little else.  The P’Tan are a race of nomadic warriors who spend most of their time honing their skills and acquiring powerful weapons to wield against a terrible evil; if that’s not an adventurer’s life, what is?  P’Tan mercenaries often join adventuring companies to hone their skills, and this race’s small population is disproportionately represented amongst adventurers.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Converting 3.5 Feats to Pathfinder for NeoExodus: A House Divided

Here is a short list of feats that I have found in various 3.5 materials that I think would work well in the new updated Pathfinder Roleplaying Game version of NeoExodus: A House Divided.  While this is NOT a complete list of the feats we are planning, you can at least get a feeling of what we are going to have in the Core Rulebook. 

Anchored Spell [Metamagic]

Arcane Affinity
Atheist
Augment Undead
Ceremonial Turning
Craft Magic Candle [Item Creation]
Craft Magic Talisman [Item Creation]
Disciplined
Divine Affinity
Divine Focus
Domain Affinity
Elemental Focus
Essence Magic [Metamagic]
Herbalist
Master Alchemist [Item Creation]
Maximize Undead Creation
Sacramental Magic [Metamagic]
Scorn of the Death God
Seductive Magic [Metamagic]
Shape Master
Sympathetic Magic [Metamagic]

Certain feats like Atheist have an unique side to them in a sietting that has a monotheist & polytheist side to it.  Just stuff you can think about.  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

13 products already done and ready to go for NeoExodus: A House Divided...

Everything is moving along better than expected.  13 products done and completed. Three more are just missing artwork to be completed and we have another nine that need writing and artwork.  So you can see by Late June we will have 25 products for NeoExodus: A House Divided not even including the Core Rulebook. Lots of stuff we are working on including a few hidden product surprises that many of you will find interesting. QR codes anyone?

Plus with all this going I almost forgot to announce that we are going to be releasing Obsidian Eclipse in April. Obsidian Eclipse is our version of Pathfinder Adventure Paths just four times a year. All the writing has been done and I have assign Ean and our other artist the artwork for this. Expect to see that we release issues of Obsidian Eclipse in April, June August and October. Keep checking here for updates on it.  Talk to you later...

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

It's not Modern Warfare 2, but for $7.99 I will check it out...

Things you need to know and understand about NeoExodus: A House Divided Campaign setting Part 4

All Game Masters and every player should bear in mind and take into consideration these important facts about the world of Exodus and the setting of NeoExodus: A House Divided.

4. NeoExodus is always on the brink of war and conflict of some type. With so many different cultures and races working together, there are issues that often will be raised between each other. These conflicts might be based on nationality, religious beliefs or even racial and these prejudices are deeply propagated in various arenas of daily life. The formation of the Imperial Allience has done much to help with the understanding with different points of views and with that individuals find ways to exist and thrive in this world of Exodus.

More to come. Talk to you later...

Now Available - GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Game

GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Game is an all-new educational entertainment card game that not only is fun to play, it teaches children grammar, syntax and sentence structure in a quick, easy and fun way.

GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Game is not only a game but an educational source where you can learn about English grammar.

The goal of GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Game is to make sentences by matching the dots on the side of one card with another card to create a grammatically correct sentence. You earn points for every sentence you finish while racing to get rid of your cards first. The person with the most points is the winner!!!

As an inexpensive teaching tool, GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Game is about providing entertainment and educating your players. The card game is playable with a general knowledge of English grammar making it very attractive to those who are learning English as a second language.

GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Game focuses on building a better relationship between parents and children or even between students and teachers by making the learning experience fun and enjoyable for all involved. A simple game of GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Game can be setup, played and completed within 20 minutes. Available at RPGNow and Wargame Vault!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Camelot from Starz Trailer

A challenge to Owen Stephens: A Spelltweet Off!!!

I have known Owen Stephens for a while since he has done work for me in the past on NeoExodus: A House Divided. I know he is always innovative in what he works on, but recently he did something on twitter that got me reall excited. He has been doing Spelltweets.  What are Spelltweets you ask? Here is a sinple write up of one

Ooze form, wiz 7. As gaseous form w/o sentences 3-5. No flight. 30 ft. swim and climb rates, make all such checks. #Spelltweet #Pathfinder

A whole new spell based off of another spell in only 140 characters. Simple, elegant and interesting all at once.  I like what he did so much that I am issuing a challenge to Owen, A Spelltweet Off!!!  If you would like to see this happen, comment in my Twitter feed or facebook page or in Owen's Twitter feed or his facebook page.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Episode One of the new web series Throwing Stones


I saw this episode one for this new web series and the first thing I thought was, "I want to see more!" That is how you get some one interested in something.  Talk to you later...

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Clone Wars 3.5 Preview

[LPJ Design] Two Dozen Discoveries: Spells (PFRPG) for The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Released

Louis Porter Jr. Design, has released its all new product line for use with The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game called Discoveries: Spells at RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com.  Here is information on this product:

Magic shapes the world, and lets glamorous sorcerers fly and bold wizards blast their enemies with fireballs and elemental lightning. Magic is the first language of the gods, but it also a convenience for the wealthy and the clever. Not every spell is designed for use on the battlefield, and the twenty-four new spells below are designed for use by farmers, craftsfolk, artists, parents and others. These spells form the basis of a magical economy, and a skilled hedge wizard or local witch will know many of them. This supplement details 24 new spells, a new feat: Half Caster, and introduces The Utility Spell School all for use in the Pathfinder Game Mastery Guide. Written by Chris Field. 

Pathfinder and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under license. See paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Dragon Age II's Exiled Prince DLC is Coming Soon

[LPJ Design] Races of NeoExodus: Enuka Preview

The most primal and barbaric of the savage humanoids have nothing on the enuka.  Enuka are ferocious creatures of the wild lands, animalistic predators blessed with humanoid form and intelligence.  This combination has not softened their instincts for battle and the hunt, but it has given them a fatalistic warrior culture well suited to their savage natures.

Personality:  Most enuka are fierce, dour creatures, observing the world through the lens of predator and prey and seeing themselves at the top of the food chain.  They are capable of surprising kindness and mirth toward to their own, and shocking brutality to rivals.  An enuka does not understand concepts such as mercy or pity, but nor is he actively cruel; he kills for food, honor, or to send a message, not with the relish of the sadist but with the terrifying practicality of nature.

Physical Description: Enuka are massively built humanoids, covered in thick, tough fur and with animalistic features.  Only their apish faces are bare. Curling, ram-like horns sprout from males’ heads.  In addition, individual enuka have greatly varying features, as though the entire race were a sort of testing ground for savage gods.  Powerful claws, armored exoskeletons - even gills are not unknown among the enuka.

Relations: Other races are wary of the enuka, and with good reason.  Enuka in their own land are fiercely territorial.  Most tribes are willing to allow strangers passage, hunting, or other resources, or even to trade - provided the outsider comes openly to the enuka and asks them for these boons.  In enuka territory, it is difficult to ask permission, but impossible to ask forgiveness; anyone who, through ignorance or malice, fails to appeal to the creatures before entering what they consider their lands faces only death.  Enuka abroad are rare, but when they travel they are at turns mystified and disgusted by the civilized world.

Alignment: Most enuka are True Neutral, Chaotic Neutral or Chaotic Evil, but they run the gamut of chaotic and neutral alignments.  Few are lawful.

Enuka Lands: Enuka dwell in the remote wilderness of Exodus.  Most inhabit the undeveloped lands of Koryth, as far from cities and farms as they can get - or perhaps the citizens and farmers settled far from them.

Religion: Enuka are fatalistic regarding life and death.  They acknowledge no higher power than the greatest predator, no life beyond the short, passionate existence on the mortal plane.  While this nihilism would crush most other races, the enuka hardly seem to care.

Language: Enuka speak their own tongue.  Those who leave their tribes or deal with outsiders also speak common.  Occasionally, enuka learn the tongues of minotaurs or the savage humanoids.

Names: Enuka names are descriptive, and they prefer to have outsiders address them by the meaning rather than the sound.  When in foreign lands, an enuka translates its name into the local language.  Enuka may go through several names as they achieve new heights of prowess: Lizard-Leaper as a child, Elk-Gnasher as a hunter, Troll-Killer after a victory in battle, and so on.

Adventures: Enukas are well suited to a life of adventure.  If choice or circumstance pushes an enuka from his tribe, he will often gravitate toward adventuring circles, finding in the life-and-death play of sword and claw the closest analogue to his life in the wilderness.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

A year later, Sounds like the 4E gravy train has Died: Goodman Games to do Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG

A year ago I wrote this: Sounds like the 4E gravy train has slowed: Goodman Games may support The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game? Now I hear about Goodman Games is doing this: Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG. What can I say about this? Simple: The truth is always revealed in time. Thank you Paizo and Pathfinder for existing and doing the products I want to support because I love what you did. Do I wish bad things from Mr. Goodman? No.  I want more people in this industry, not less. But he made the choice he wanted and got his results. I did the same. I guess we are both in the same place, just with very different roads that brought us here.  Talk to you later...

[LPJ Design] Coming Soon - Obsidian Eclipse Quarterly Sourcebook

It is only the 6th day of the new year and do you see what kind of year this is turning into? More information to come about Obsidian Eclipse; our quarterly sourcebook for the Obsidian Twilight campaign setting; will be coming later but I though you might be interested in seeing this cover. It is going to be a busy year.  Talk to you later...

Why Digital Domain is one of the best special effects house in the world...

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Ten questions Every Game Changer Must Answer...


Fast Company.com had a real interesting post today that I thought many of you who are looking at getting into or already in the RPG industry should ask themselves if they are looking to bring their business to the next level. Go here and check out the full article, but here are the Ten questions Every Game Changer Must Answer:
  1. Do you see opportunities the competition doesn't see?
  2. Do you have new ideas about where to look for new ideas?
  3. Are you the most of anything?
  4. If your company went out of business tomorrow, who would miss you and why?
  5. Have you figured out how your organization's history can help to shape its future?
  6. Do you have customers who can't live without you?
  7. Do your people care more than the competition?
  8. Are you getting the best contributions from the most people?
  9. Are you consistent in your commitment to change?
  10. Are you learning as fast as the world is changing?

Can you answer some these questions? Better yet can you answer them all? Better yet still are you actually doing what you answered? Talk to you later…

Things you need to know and understand about NeoExodus: A House Divided Campaign setting Part 3

All Game Masters and every player should bear in mind and take into consideration these important facts about the world of Exodus and the setting of NeoExodus: A House Divided.
3. NeoExodus is setting of unified empires and nations with their own sovereign rights, power and issues. While each nation and empire; Arman Protectorate, Caneus Empire, the Dominion and the Reis Confederacy; has joined and believes in the unity of the Imperial Alliance old adversaries and bitter rivalries has caused much turmoil to this world. Many of these nations and empires have had long term conflict with each other that still influence the decisions of the modern day. Other influence groups like the Sangiune Covenant and Section Omega influence can be felt in the backrooms and dark alleys of any of these nations and empires. All of this in addition to such global threats for the Janus Horde, the Quicksilver Virus pandemic and even the criminal terrorist organization of the Folding Circle threatens to destabilize this fragile peace.

Monday, January 3, 2011

How to maket a positive / negative change...

DC Comics is drawing the line at $2.99 for their full line of comic books. That is a great marketing images makes you feel all warm and fuzzy....

...until you realize they are removing 2 pages worth of story and reducing it from 22 pages to 20 pages of content to do it. Positive idea with negative reprecussions. Well come to business.  Talk to you later...

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: A Response to Richard Curtis

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: A Response to Richard Curtis is just golden! If you are a publisher of online content you HAVE to read this. Talk to you later...

Sunday, January 2, 2011

LPJ Design 2010 Business Year in Review

The Short Answer: A great year even in the middle of a recession!

The Long Answer: Very interesting and great year. OK here are the interesting facts that you might like to see

LPJ Design Sales 2009 (Sales & Units) Breakdown
Paizo: 26%
RPGNow: 74%

LPJ Design Sales 2010 (Sales & Units) Breakdown
Paizo: 15%
RPGNow: 85%

Well as you can see, RPGNow is where I make the most sales of our products.  Not really a surprise there, but I was surprised to see that only 15% of my sales can from Paizo.  I wanted 2010 to be the year where I would have an even split between RPGNow and Paizo.  I guess that is something I will have to work on in 2011.

RPGNow Percentage change from 2009 to 2010 (Sales): +54%
RPGNow Percentage change from 2009 to 2010 (Units): +63%

Paizo Percentage change from 2009 to 2010 (Sales): -16%
Paizo Percentage change from 2009 to 2010 (Units): -31%

Total Percentage change from 2009 to 2010 (Sales): +36%
Total Percentage change from 2009 to 2010 (Units): +45%

As we see from the number above, RPGNow is a powerhouse location for my sales. Paizo has really fallen off as my source for sales.  This just reaffirms what I already know.  As much as I like RPGNow, I think Paizo could become a great way to increase my overall sales.  But better yet, looking into developing my own website store (something I can focus on this year) and created exclusive product to only release there.  

I have been looking at the American action figure market for a few cool ideas that I have though that might work out very well in the PDF RPG industry.  The Hasbro Marvel Legends series idea of Build-A-Figure add on was a great marketing idea that could be adapted to PDF RPG industry. My main goals for 2011: Increase sales & units by 350% which means I could hire a full time employee. That percentage sound crazy? Well back early on I increased the sales & units of 2002 to 2003 by over 400% and then increased sales & units of 2003 to 2004 by over 300%.  But back then I was releasing a product a week.  I wonder what that means for LPJ Design? Two products a week release schedule? That sounds crazy.  Guess we will have to see.  Talk to you later…

Follow these simple rules to be the BEST RPG publisher in the industry!!!



You ordered the wrong drink....

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Coming this week - Skyships of Nova Avalon (PFRPG

Here is information on the Skyships of Nova Avalon (PFRPG):

The skies are filled with Skyships of all kinds and conflict between the powers is most often fought in the skies between their lands. Pirates and privateers swoop down upon merchantmen and warships alike to destroy and plunder all that they can, to build their own fleets and carve out their niche in the world. Power stems from the thunder of your cannons, the skill of your crew and the reputation of your vessel The rules here will provide for aerial combat – using the usual rules-set – and for the design and building of your own vessels. The rules allow for treating these Skyships as "characters", as well as vessels. The truly famous ships are able to become named and feared in their own right regardless of who is at the helm. This sourcebook contains:

·         Skyship Basic Combat, Critical Hits and Movement
·         Building you own custom Skyships
·         Skyship Weapons & Equipment
·         Sample Skyship Creation, Ships as Characters and Ship Feats
·         Skyship Wreck Scenario Generator

Written by Chris Field.

Pathfinder and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under license. See paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.