Middle Earth House Rules Document

I have compiled my character creation rules into a pdf for public consumption. These rules require the use of the Holmes edition of D&D for spells and other non-character related rules. You can find the rules here, or in my download sidebar.

Another 2 Kill Bots for The Resistance...

Two more bots for my Resistance setting, these will be in the pdf available in my download sidebar too.

RAPTER_BOTS / RAPTR200
Armor Class: 3 [16]
Hit Dice: 6
Attacks: Mini-Gun (1d6)
Special: Fly
Move: 24 (fly)
HDE/XP: 5/240
Created by the COMPOR Systems (Computer Overlords), the Raptor bots patrol the skies looking for signs of human life. They hunt primarily at night when their infra-red sight becomes a great asset. They are armed with a mini-gun capable of 12 shots before it needs to return to base for a reload.

TANK_BOTS / TNK100
Armor Class: 2 [17]
Hit Dice: 6
Attacks: Mega-Laser (3d6)
Special: None
Move: 9 (tracked vehicle)
HDE/XP: 7/600
Created by the COMPOR Systems (Computer Overlords), the Tankbots were early versions of human hunters. They are small tracked vehicles with a humanoid-like torso with a mega-laser for its right arm. These bots roam the wastes looking for their human prey, but have trouble navigating through rubble and rough terrain.

Two new bots for The Resistance

OK, a couple of new bots this morning to throw at the Resistance (or any S&W White Box party for that matter). Both have been added to the Monsters document in the download section (and I have removed the art for now).

HARVEST-BOT / HARV
Armor Class: 1 [19]
Hit Dice: 9
Attacks: Mega-Laser (4d6) or Fists (2d6)
Special: Cages
Move: 12
HDE/XP: 10/1400
Created by the COMPOR Systems (Computer Overlords), the giant 30 foot tall Harvest-Bot is used to collect human subjects for slave or test subjects by the COMPOR systems. This giant bot has a large mega-laser attached to its torso. This laser can only fire every other round (as it requires a round to charge). The sound of the charging laser sounds like a loud horn and is a dead give-away that it is about to fire. Fitted to both hips are cages that the bot uses to contain any humans it can grab. These cages will fit 20 humans comfortably, however the bot does not care much for comfort and will fill the cage until no more humans will fit (sometimes killing those stuck on the bottom of the pile). It is unknown what becomes of those taken captive by the Harvest-Bots, but it can't be good.


AQUA_BOTS / H2OB
Armor Class: 5 [14]
Hit Dice: 1
Attacks: Spike (1d6)
Special: None
Move: 12 (swim)
HDE/XP: 1/15
Created by the COMPOR Systems (Computer Overlords), the Aqua-bots patrol rivers, lakes, and oceans looking for human prey. These small sleek bots are fast swimmers, but cannot move on land. They attack by lunging head-long at prey with a large spike-like appendage.

Cykill-Bot

OK, so I feel compelled to churn out more of the cyborgs for The Resistance. Next up are the awesomely fast cykill-bots. I have an updated "monster" file in the download section.

CYKILL-BOT
Armor Class: 5 [14]
Hit Dice: 2
Attacks: Mini-Gun (1d6)
Special: None
Move: 24
HDE/XP: 2/30

Created by the COMPOR Systems (Computer Overlords), the cykill-bot was built onto a motorcycle frame. These fast kill-bots roams the wasteland bi-ways and hi-ways looking for their human prey. The Cykill-Bot has a Mini-Gun mounted on it's left side, which is capable of swiveling from the front to the rear to cover any firing arc needed.

Kill-Bot 100

Designed by the COMPOR Systems (Computer Overlords), this was the first humanoid looking Kill-Bot. Feel free to throw this in your next Swords & Wizardry white box adventure.

KILL-BOT 100 (KB100)
Armor Class: 3[16]
Hit Dice: 3
Attacks: Mini-gun (1d6) or Fists (1d6)
Special: None
Move: 9
HDE/XP: 3/60

Created by the COMPOR (Computer Overlords) systems, this cyborg was the first humanoid looking kill bot. It's right arm is actually a mini-gun (medium machine gun with 12 shot capacity). These cyborgs are slow but methodical. They hunt the ruins for their human targets.

A small pdf of this "monster" has been added to my download section.

The Resistance

Yesterday I watched Terminator Salvation, and while I was totally disappointed in the movie, there were some really cool elements in there. I will not go into any rants about the film, like how surely Skynet would have radar and would certainly be tracking any aircraft other than their own. No, I won't talk about the chance of walking away from not 1, but 2 helicopter crashes. (I know, it's a movie, but my suspension of disbelief can only carry me so far.) I like some realism in a gritty future apocalypse sprinkled with bits of fantasy.

Now there were some moments when I loved the movie, the entire scene in the ruins of L.A. with Reese were excellent. I also loved shots of the resistance fighters huddled around radios. This perked my interest back in my "The End" setting. I started working on that idea again, however instead of just a zombie apocalypse, why not support any kind of future calamity which pits men against some invader (dead or domestic).

So I have revamped my work on a Swords & Wizardry white box supplement and titled it "The Resistance". Characters can be one of three core classes, the Resistance Fighter, the Medic, and the Techno-Rat. You can plop these classes in the middle of any modern/futuristic setting overrun with bad guys. Be they evil machines, alien invaders, or a plague of zombies. The Resistance are small cells of guerrilla soldiers, fighting as insurgents against whatever foes you can throw at them.

I have written up a modern weapons document based heavily on the Best of Dragon Vol 1 article entitled "Sturmgeshutz and Sorcery". While this article was written as a world war II add on to D&D, it should work well enough with modern/futuristic rules. The biggest change for S&W is that to hit with a modern firearm is not based on AC, but on a base 8+ to hit. There are Situational Modifiers to this base that is explained in the document. Also, all classes can use firearms (though R.Fighters get a +1 bonus to hit and +2 to damage).

So, download the 2 documents (both are available under my "Downloads" section of the blog), and send some killer robots after your friends. If you can hear this, you are THE RESISTANCE.

100 Bujin

I have written up 100 Bujin to use as NPC in the Ruins & Ronin white box edition game. This table was inspired by Steven Page's 140 NPC's for Swords & Wizardry. (Which you can find in the download section of the S&W site).

You can find 100 Bujin, here. Enjoy.

--Mike D.

More of the end...

I have been working on more of my character classes for my "The End" setting - though I am not sure I will keep that name. Anyway, this is my zombie apocalypse setting (based heavily on my love of the Romero zombie genre and too much playing Left 4 Dead on the PC).

I have been tinkering with the scholar class, which is my tech wizard. They are able to build and repair tech based on their level. I have also changed the S&W Saving Throw, to the new "Scavenging Throw". This is the target number you must roll on 1d20 to find items you are scavenging for (be it bullets, medicine, or tools). Each class has a bonus based on the items they scavenge for.

I have also updated my previous classes (Gunslinger and Medic), all can be found at the below links or on my sidebar.

Gunslinger (v1.1)
Medic (v1.1)
Scholar (v1.1)

Updated version of R&R uploaded...

I have just uploaded my version 1.2 of the Ruins & Ronin white box version. This is probably the last I will do for this version other than some clean up. I need to start working on the core rules version that has languished these last few weeks. It has suffered from neglect after the character classes started to bloat a bit. I plan to cut that down some too. Stay tuned for further core rules news. Meanwhile, enjoy the mostly completed white box version of Ruins & Ronin!

The download can be found here, or on my sidebar to the right.

Ronin & The Ruined Monastery

I have been working on a conversion of James Maliszewski's (Grognardia)excellent Fight On! #1 adventure, The Ruined Monastery. With his kind permission of course. I do not really have to change too much to make it suitable for the Ruins & Ronin setting, but I will change out some monsters and some of the history of the ruins to make it more in line with the local area of Katsushiro's Castle (megadungeon).



So far, I have converted the 1st level map in DungeonCrafter (v1.41 for those playing at home) so I don't have to rip out the map of my magazine to put it into my binder. I will eventually put my conversion up for download (though not right away - as I may use it as the first adventure in my play-by-post game - which is still recruiting if you are interested).

I have also been plugging away at the White Box version of R&R diligently, and have uploaded the latest corrected version (v1.1 now available on my downloads). This version has page numbers so if you are looking to correct me (and believe me, I need more eyes on this doc) now you can do so easily.

I will be out of town for much of next week (starting Tuesday evening) and will not have access to the internet, so it will be a light posting week for me.

The End

I have been playing too much Left 4 Dead lately, and being the big zombie fan that I am I have been tinkering with a S&W WB rules variant for some modern gunslinging zombie killing action. Obviously zombies would get real boring real quick for some - and they need more "monsters" to fight. So I have been toying with the idea of a road-warrior - meets-- 28 days later -meets- resident evil -meets- terminator - meets- war of the worlds kind of game.

The basic setup is "The End" has happened, be that zombie apocalypse, nuclear war, world famine, pandemic, alien invasion, or robot revolution (or all of the above), and the players are playing the survivors. The classes as I am thinking about them are Gunslinger (the fighter variant), Medic (the new cleric/healer), and the Tech (the clinker, builder/repair man). I don't want the game to be set in the future - but modern day. So no ray guns*, or hover tanks* (this is not Gamma World).

I have not gone much past that yet, except to build a quick gunslinger class which can be found here. Just something fun to do as a break from Ruins & Ronin.

*unless the aliens brought it with them

Quick ninja edit, to post my Medic class too. Can't stop when I am on a roll...

Ruins & Ronin White Box Edition

I have just compiled the most up to date list of monsters with my player's version of the Ruins & Ronin rules (WB edition) and made it available for download here. It is also available in the download section of my blog.

I still have open spots available for my play-by-post game if anyone is interested. Just send me an email or better yet - login to the Swords & Wizardry forums and respond in the recruitment post.

A brief history and Katsushiro's Castle level 1D.

I have outlined a very brief history of the Mad Shugenja's castle, and uploaded level 1D of the castle here.


For over 200 years, the Mad Shugenja Katsushiro ruled over the western mountain valley and it's people. He conducted strange experiments on the local inhabitants and twisted them for his cruel purposes. They dug out his vast underground crypts and laboratories, and quarried the stone used to build his extensive castle. Many foul and dangerous beasts came to serve under this wicked master, further terrorizing the local populace.

As Katsushiro continued to grow his domain, he came into contact with the western reaches of the Mifune Shogunate. Initially these meetings were small border clashes, however as the Shugenja grew in power he began regular raids and incursions into the Shogunate's realms to gather slaves and fodder for his experiments. These actions caused the local Daimyo to request assistance from the Shogun who sent a large force to deal with the Mad Shugenja.

The armies clashed in the valley below the twin peaks of the Mad Shugenja's Castle. The fighting lasted for 3 days and was so fierce that the creeks that flowed from the mountains ran red with blood. (These mountains are now called Blood mountain and Slaughter mountain). In the end, the Shogun's forces prevailed with the aid of the hero Ito Matsumura and his holy sword “Burning Mist”. He led the last charge of the forces against the Mad Shugenja himself deep in the pits of the castle. He was killed as he struck the final blow against Katsushiro, and his body was lost in the route of the evil forces, never to be recovered.

The son of Matsumura, then 13 year old Juro was given permission to build a castle in the mountain valley in recognition of his father's feats. In time Juro became the leader of the Goma Castle town and the village that grew up around it. He is a man of peace and the peasants love him for it. He is now 86 years old and still runs the castle.

Lately there have been sightings of evil creatures in the mountain forests at night, and the only son of Juro Matsumura (Menzo aged 41) has gone missing. There are rumors that the bones of Katsushiro are restless and he is calling a new army to serve him.

Katsushiro's Castle Level 1C (the stalking shadows)

I have just uploaded level 1C of my Ruins & Ronin megadungeon to my download section. This area is dominated by a small tribe of Oni-kage (Shadow goblins), and is available for download here.

White Box Edition of Ruins & Ronin

I have just whipped up (well, slaved over) a rough draft of a player's handbook for Ruins & Ronin via the white box edition. Anybody interested in taking a look? This has the classes, and equipment updates for R&R along with the spells needed to create characters. It is not "pretty" yet, but with some work it can get there.

The more I work on this project the more I like the simplified WB edition (I am still going to complete the Core edition - but I will most likely play the WB edition).

If anyone likes it, I may have to start up a pbp or chat based game using this version. I need to test out some creatures and rules anyway...

The file can be found here, and in the download section.

Random Pits & Occupants

While looking through some old Dragon magazines I found an article in (I think anyway) #15 called Random pits, which basically was a section of charts to see what could be found in a pit. I have taken these charts and reworked them a bit for my use, you can find my version here. Might be cool to have this one the next time someone is crawling through my dungeon. I even wrote one up with a Ruins & Ronin flavor...

Two New S&W White Box Classes

I have been taking a break from my Ruins & Ronin work to create a couple of classes for the White Box edition of Swords & Wizardry. I needed the distraction, and it was fun to work on something for the WB edition - I really think I am falling for that one. Swoon.

Anyway, here are the classes. First up is the Half-Ogre, he has been reworked from my R&R setting to fit into the OD&D mold of White Box S&W. You can find him here, and in the download section. He may also be available soon from the download section of the S&W site.

The next class was something I wanted to try from Dragon #3, and it is the Healer. He has a few new spells and I think it would be a cool class to try out. It can be found here, and in my download section (also to be posted to S&W I hope).

An Archer class...

Thanks to Edsan at the Mutant Foursome blog, I have been getting some great feedback and assistance on the Ruins & Ronin project. He posted an Archer class (the Shashu) on the S&W forums, I have added it to my Character Class document in the download section. Here are the class abilities for the Shashu.

Stance of the Archer: Shashu are so proficient in archery, that they can shoot a bow without penalty even when conditions are less than perfect (riding on horseback, while moving, crouching, etc.)

Zen Archery: If a Shashu is carrying 75 lbs or less and not wearing armor more than +5 in protection, he can gain a bonus from his WIS to his attack with bows. He receives a +1 with WIS of 13 or 14,and +2 for WIS 15 or higher. This is in addition to his DEX bonus.

Fast Arrow-Draw Technique: At 3rd level a Shashu can loose two arrows on the same round. The second attack sufferrs a -4 to hit penalty. Every 3 levels (after the 3rd) this penalty is reduced by one. At 15th level, the Shoshu gains a third arrow attack also at -4 to hit (this reduced at every three levels as well). All the arrows must be shot at the same target, or at targets which are within melee distance of each other.


Thanks againt to Edsan for his support.

Old school, new class.

I have been struggling to come up with a good non-human character class for my Ruin & Ronin supplement. I don't want to use the typical Oriental Adventures stuff, and elves and dwarves just seem to out of place for me. Then inspiration hit while watching Yojimbo, take a look at the guy in the picture, he is a damn giant - so I came up with my Half-Ogre class. This is a big brute of a guy that can fight and dish out damage. You can download the class here. He can only reach 9th level in experience, but he has a couple of cool (I think) class abilities.

Here is the class description along with it's abilities.


You are a giant, and an outcast. Most people shun you because of your heritage, but all fear you because of your size and ferociousness. You get along well with adventurers as they can see the benefit of having a person of your stature. You fight, and fight well.

Half-ogres stand over 6 ½ feet tall and weigh at least 300 pounds. You must have a Strength score of 13+ to play a Half-Ogre character.

Ogre's Ferociousness: Half-ogres are strong, and can deal massive amounts of damage because of their strength. A half-ogre character gains +2 to all melee and unarmed damage rolls (in addition to their normal Strength bonus). In addition, they add +3 to their Strength bonus (in addition to their normal Strength bonus) for any contest of Strength with humans or medium sized creatures. Half-ogres can break down doors on a d6 roll of 4 or less.

Iron Constitution: Half-ogre's resist poison and disease better than most other races, they make saving throws against these threats as if they were 4 levels higher than their current level.

Katsushiro's Castle: Level 1B The Rat's Nest

I have completed part 1B of level 1 of the Mad Shugenja's dungeon. It can be found here, and in my download section. This part is more of the same of part 1A, with Ratling's dominating this area and not much in the way of "special" encounters. I hope to get a little more creative with parts 1C and 1D.

Now I need to put some more work into R&R...