Another adventure for Tales of Gor is ready to come out. This is a game and a series of adventures set in the adult science-fantasy world of the Counter Earth, written by John Norman.
The spec is for four pieces, A6, 300 dpi, black and white. Further details available on contact. Budgeting around 100-150 USD for all four. There is also a second job of similar spec in the near/immediate future for the right artist.
A familiarity with Gor, Greco-Roman style and drawing animals/creatures is helpful but not essential.
Familiarity and comfort with bdsm themes is necessary.
Comfort drawing the naked (or semi-naked) human form is essential.
Apply via email to grim@post-mort.com, or via the usual social media or comments boxes.
[Don’t judge me man. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. When life takes a shit in your punchbowl, use it as fertiliser for your imagination].
A beaded curtain – made of bolts, tied onto fishing line – grants you access to a pod that has been converted into a robot repair shop. There are pieces, everywhere, organised by body configuration and location. Part of the workshop is closed off, off limits, behind an armoured secondary door, much tougher than the airlock hiding the pod.
A boxy robot, with tentacle arms and a viewscreen for a head is constantly indexing the parts and re-sorting them, as well as carrying tools to and fro to the man you take to be the proprietor.
Another droid, some sort of patchwork creation from bits and pieces of other, industrial robots, perches on the edge of the work table, sucking on a cigarette holder that occasionally issues sparkling smoke. Her hard angles tear through the lace and silk of her clothing here and there, giving her a strangely sexual, mechanical look. Like someone dressed a muscle car in a teddy and stockings.
He is a rangy-looking fellow, with a long, well-oiled beard, groomed into a point, a handlebar moustache and his dirty-blonde hair is pulled up into a tight man-bun. He turns from the sparking soldering he’s performing on a robot chassis and regards you with bulky, obvious, cybernetic eyes. A pair of cybernetic clamps, attached to extra arms, protrude from his sides, looking disconcertingly like yellow-and-black striped lobster claws.
“Hey! Welcome to Robot World. Can I help you?”
Lord Adama Kobol
Dispossessed from his migratory family of space-lords, Adama settled on Satana to indulge the very thing that got him exiled – klanking. Adama puts a great deal of effort into organising klanker pride events, fighting for robot rights and even making himself more and more robotic, but it all feeds his twisted perversion. He’s not just a klanker, but an auto-robophile and he particularly likes to have sex with helpless, deactivated, non-sexual robots when they come in for repair. Despite the whispering campaign, his specialist knowledge on running mods and conversions on klankers to allow them to enjoy sex with humans keeps him wealthy, and stops his perversion coming to light.
Unless R2-Me2 spills the beans.
Level: 4 Close Defence: 12 Ranged Defence: 12 Armour: 1d4 Coveralls and brown suede combat jacket. Hit Dice: 4 (30hp) Initiative: +0 Movement: 10m Attacks: 2/+0 (One attack must be with the cyber clamps) Damage: 1d4 fists, 1d8 cyber-clamps. Saves: (Charm 7, Looks 5, Tough 4, Reflexes 4, Logic 7, Power 6, Will 4) Traits: 3 – Adaptable x3 Skills: Security 2, Tinker 3, Hacker 5 Gear: Cyberspine, Quad Arm Option, two additional cyberarms with cyber-clamps, twin cyber-eyes with EM-Field vision. Weapon: ECUX69 personal shocker, D4 electrical damage, shocking, point-blank range, Ammo Save 18.
Werner the Wobot
Werner is a small robot, about four feet tall, with tentacle claw-arms and a monitor screen for a head, which displays semi-random, appropriate images or punctuation while he’s talking. He has a thick, breathless, German accent and suffers from rhotacism, the speech impediment where you pronounce ‘r’ as ‘w’. The Germanic accent also means he pronounces normal ‘w’s as ‘v’s. It’s all rather confusing. Blend Jonathan Ross with Herzog and you’re just about there.
A sort of ‘frankenstein’ creation from old and recovered parts, Faer is ‘frankenhooker’ for klankers. She’s Adama’s personal creation, programmed to have the same kinks and tastes as him, but somehow it doesn’t thrill him the same way it does with other droids. She’s frequently neglected and bored and she deals with this by outrageously flirting with anyone who comes into the pod, and trying to distract Adama. She also doubles as his bodyguard.
Level: 3 Close Defence: 14 Ranged Defence: 10 Armour: 1d6 Hit Dice: 3 (27 hp) Initiative: +0 Movement: 10m Attacks: 1/+1 Damage: 1d6 h2h Saves: (Charm 7, Looks 7, Tough 5, Reflexes 5, Logic 3, Power 5, Will 3 Traits: Dead Flesh, Interface, Carapace Skills: Tinker 2, Security 2 Gear: 10 hp force-field, palm blaster (1d8, point blank, ammo save 18).
“Konichiwa! I am Doctor Science, and I have had my robots kidnap you and bring you here for one, very important purpose.
Our planet is in grave peril! Lizard Men, fleeing environmental catastrophe on their home planet of Venus, have come to Earth in a fleet of Ark ships and plan to destroy our defenses and venusiform our planet, using a series of ever-more-improbable giant monsters!
The military is helpless! I was laughed out of academia!
Only a group of radical teenagers, with precocious martial arts skills, equipped with skin-tight spandex and giant robots can hope to meet the menace! You are those radical teens, I have the giant robots. Will you answer the call?”
– Doctor Science Phd
Sentai is the name of type of Japanese action series, one that has gone on – in its main form – (with some vague sense of continuity) for a very long time. That longest-running series is what gave its name to the genre as a whole, Supa Sentai Shirizu, along with its huge number of imitators, spin-offs and re-dubs.
You may know the genre from its western form, Power Rangers, or from anime such as Voltron, or G-Force. Personally I always had a soft spot for X-Bomber (Starfleet).
Sentai means ‘task force’ or ‘squadron’, and the genre has some pretty consistent conventions that will probably be familiar to you.
A skillful team of oddballs.
Who can transform into superheroes with some unique powers and weapons.
Who are colour-coded.
Who often have mecha, or transforming vehicles.
Which can often combine into one giant robot.
It’s high camp, high adventure, full of imaginative strangeness, monsters, giants and drama. The sheer creative chaos of the whole thing is inspiring, energetic, and a lot of fun. Well worth playing in RPGs.
I’m going to suggest that you base your game off Daikaiju Die, which, while it is more geared towards Pacific Rim or Giant Robo style games, is more than capable of standing in for Sentai, and scaling from teenage martial artists, to super-suit wearers, to mecha drivers, to giant robot combat.
There’s a few changes that need to be made, however.
New Skill
Synergy replaces the Interface Skill found in Daikaiju Die. Rather than complex systems of rolling, Synergy just provides you, flat out, with a number of additional FATE points that you can tap into, while you’re occupying your personal or combined mecha.
Mecha and Skills
In Daikaiju Die, and in this game-sketch, Mecha have their own skills, as they have a sort of personality and psychic connection with their driver. However, driver and mecha’s mutual skill interrelate with each other.
When driving a Mecha, you use your FATE points (and Synergy) to empower its stents and so forth.
If a character’s skill is higher than the Mecha’s skill, then that skill counts as one higher.
If the character’s skill is lower, then the Mecha’s skill is reduced by one.
When Mecha combine, you take the average of the Mecha skills (rounding down), and modify by the highest pilot Skills from the team.
Combined Mecha can use the FATE/Synergy points of any of the pilots to power its moves and special abilities.
Characters
FATE often uses a group or team-oriented character creation method. I’m not usually much of a fan of this approach, but for a Sentai game it makes a lot of sense. There should be some sort of commonality between the team’s members, both in terms of their overt purpose as super-sentai, and their cover story.
Sentai teams have been many things in the past. You might be able to draw some inspiration here for the theme of your team. This is just a handful of examples, including both their cover identities, and the themes of their outfits and abilities.
Athletes, Cards, Countries, Cyborgs, Dinosaurs, Elements, Fashion Models, Gemstones, High School Students, Inventors, Martial Arts Team, Ninjas, Olympians, Planets, Predators, Race Team, Rhythmic Gymnasts, Rock Band, Scientists, Secret Heritage, Siblings, Special Police Unit, Students.
It’s also a good idea to take this opportunity to define the source of the threat that they are coming together to fight. Some examples include:
Example: Inu Burasage is the Black Ranger in Science Ninja Team Matsukaze. The team is made up of three Science Ninjas, who are also stuntmen – their cover identity. The Black Ranger is joined by the white and grey rangers, who combine their Mecha to form Robo-Matsukaze to take on larger threats. Together they battle alien infiltration and terrorism conducted by Tokage No Ō and the Lizard Men from primeval Venus.
Making Your Character
Creating your character proceeds as normal, though you should try and make sure your character fits, at least minimally, into the group theme.
One Concept Aspect, one Trouble Aspect, three free Aspects.
20 skills. I prefer free-spend, with a limit of +4 for a starting character, but you could go 1×4, 2×3, 3×2, 4×1 if you prefer a more forcefully rounded persona.
3-5 Stunts. These typically provide special, permanent bonuses of +2, allow the automatic invocation of aspects, or the manifestation of new capabilities.
Refresh is 5, minus the number of Stunts that you have.
Characters typically have 2 Mental and Physical Stress boxes, and three Consequences in each category. Sentai tends to be combat heavy, and while it’s not shy of killing off characters I’d still suggest upping the base Stress to 3. Additional Stress boxes (and Consequences) can come from Skills and can come from Stunts.
You’ll also get your colourful, skin-tight Sentai suit and helmet, that counts as Armour +1 (Skintight) by default, and can be summoned from your ring/belt-buckle/watch. You also get a basic sidearm that’s Weapon +1 (Laser Accurate). Special Sentai weapons will have to be paid for with Stunts or gained during the game – you have to have room to grow.
You’ll also need to create your personal Mecha!
Individual Mecha
Your Mecha is just as important as your character. When you’re creating your Mecha you need to also consider how it fits in with the other characters and their Mecha. Sentai Mechs typically have a running theme, like a type of animal, or fit together as different aspects of the same thing.
Scale: A personal Mecha is usually Scale 1 (Motorcycle), 2 (Car), 3 (Tank) and not bigger.
Concept Aspect: Just like a character, but portraying the Mecha’s true essence.
Trouble: A drawback that the Mecha has, such as ‘slow to turn’ or ‘weak underbelly’.
Bonus Aspect: A free extra aspect for the Mecha.
Stunt: Mecha start with a single Stunt.
Skills: You have 20 points to buy Skills for the Mecha, but these can only be spent on Athletics, Fight, Notice, Physique and Shoot. You can, however, also spend from this pool to buy additional things from the list below.
Bonus Items: Armour (1-4), Weapons (1-4, each weapon has a free aspect), Extra Stunt (3 points), Bonus Aspect (1 point per Aspect or weapon Aspect), Independent FATE Pool (3 points per point).
Stress: Mecha only have Physical Stress, but besides the Skill bonus you also get to add the Scale as additional Stress boxes.
Combiner
Combiner Mecha have to have ‘Combine’ as a Stunt, if it’s a major theme of the campaign you might want to let the players have it for free.
Mecha combiners are typically comprised of five mecha (two arms, two legs and a body-head), but they can be less (Dai-X: legs/body/head) or more (Super Turbo Robo: Legs, arms, body, armour). Combination Mecha can consist of as few as two, or as many as sixteen Mecha. Player groups are best kept at 4-6 players, so you may either want to be flexible, or plan around that.
The combined Mecha generally has a Scale of one higher than the individual Mecha that came together to form it. When it is beaten, it dissolves into its individual Mecha, but they’re no more damaged than they were when the Mecha combined.
Scale: Constituent Mecha scale +1
Skills: Take the highest Skill level in each skill from each constituent Mecha and count that, once, for the combined Mech, modified by the Skill of the leader (typically the guy in the head).
Aspects: Aspects equal to the average of the Mecha making it up, rounded down. Give it new Aspects.
Weapons: Re-Spend half the constituent Mecha’s weapon investment as new weapons.
Armour: Take the average of the constituent mecha and round down.
Stunts: Total and halve the number of Stunts from the constituent Mecha, and choose new ones.
The Combination Mecha can use FATE points from any of its pilots.
Example: Inu Burasage is the Black Ranger in Science Ninja Team Matsukaze. The team is made up of three Science Ninjas, who are also stuntmen – their cover identity. The Black Ranger is joined by the white and grey rangers, who combine their Mecha to form Robo-Matsukaze to take on larger threats. Together they battle alien infiltration and terrorism conducted by Tokage No Ō and the Lizard Men from primeval Venus.
Concept: Daredevil Motorcycle Stunt Man Trouble: Hey baby, how you doin’? Aspect: Grew a Thick Skin from a Tough Past Aspect: Unfailingly Loyal to his Friends Aspect: Freakish Level of Agility. +4 Skills: Drive +3 Skills: Synergy, Athletics +2 Skills: Physique, Fight, Shoot +1 Skills: Notice, Provoke, Stealth, Resources Stunt: One with my Bike – +2 on Drive checks when using his motorcycle Stunt: Ladykiller – +2 on social checks with women Stunt: Silent Communication – Burasage can convey a great deal of meaning with a look, an eyebrow and hand gesture, without having to speak Refresh: 2 Mental Stress: OO Physical Stress: OOO Gear: Black Sentai Suit +1 Armour (Skintight), Blackblaster sidearm +1 (Laser Accurate).
Mecha: Onyx Mecha Bike Scale: 1 Concept: Fast as a Bullet Trouble: High Maintenance Aspect: Flip Out, Like a Ninja Stunt: Transform – Motorcycle to Battle Suit (Free Stunt). Stunt: Combine to form Robo-Matsukaze Stunt: Summonable. +4 Skills: Fight (+3) +3 Skills: Athletics (+3) +2 Skills: Shoot (+2) +1 Skills: Notice (+1), Physique (+1) Weapon: Darkblade +3, Armour Piercing Weapon: Fire Breath +1, Burning Blaze Armour: 2 Physical Stress: OOOO
Robo-Matsukaze Scale: 2 Concept: Hot-Rod Mecha Trouble: Mind of its Own Aspect: Loud as Fuck Stunt: Clouds of Exhaust – Can blast out an obscuring cloud of -2, choking exhaust Stunt: Quick off the line – +2 to out accelerate, or rapidly change speed Stunt: Wheels – Can move as fast as a car or motorcycle on roads, as though having giant rollerskates +4 Skills: Fight +3 Skills: Athletics, Shoot +2 Skills: Notice, Physique Weapon: Fire Katana +3, Razor Sharp, Flaming Weapon: Ice Wakazashi +2, Razor Sharp, Freezing Weapon: Heat Ray Gaze +3, Burning, Melting, Sustained Beam Armour: 2 Physical Stress: OOOOO
I might work this up into a longer version with more details and examples for Autopsy, and if there’s sufficient interest, into a more full game for FATE like Daikaiju Die.
I’ve been doing giveaways since the beginning of this year, sending physical items and gifts out to people to help with promoting my store and games. With the whole pandemic thing, visits to the Post Office are a bit trickier and more time consuming, and you have to be careful in general.
Even to, I really would like to still give some things away, so this month – and for as long as we have to avoid contact – I’ll be doing electronic giveaways.
This month’s giveaway will be sent out in about two weeks from now. To go into the draw all you have to do is one of the following…
Tweet something nice about Postmortem Studios and include @Grimsaur, a link to Post-Mort.com and the hashtag #RPGsToDieFor.
Make a post to Facebook, adding me (James Desborough) in the comments or ‘who I’m with’ section, and include the hashtag #RPGsToDieFor and a link to Post-Mort.com
Post a review of one of my games or books to Youtube, your blog or anywhere else you can and then drop a link to it for me in the comments below this blog.
Bish bash bosh, you go into the draw, and Robert’s your mother’s brother.
‘Ello lovelies, I messed up by forgetting to do this update last month, so we’re already off to a fantastic start. However, the reasons to have this email list remain extremely strong, those being that social media is a shit-show where nobody gets to see a damn thing you talk about. Facebook keeps trying to get me to pay to let people see my posts, which strikes me as a little bit of extortion. Anyway, I promise to try and do better, and if it gets to the second of the month and you haven’t seen an update, feel free to nag me.Here’s your update for the last month.
Work:
Last month was pretty good for work, I managed to release two products, Satana Station for Machinations of the Space Princess and the restart of my ‘zine ‘Autopsy’.
I will be looking for submissions in the future and will be paying $10 a pop for articles or doodads 500-1500 words. So if anyone’s interested, you might want to get in on that.
I’m also looking to support artists, in particular, who are affected by the Coronavirus. So if you have any friends in need, who have a bit of talent in that regard, send them my way and I’ll see what I can manage.
The virus is, obviously, having a fairly dire effect on many businesses, including mine. I have actually done OK, two releases and a big stock art sale (go to DrivethruRPG, select Postmortem Studios and select ‘Clipart’) along with my various ‘side gigs’ mean I almost made minimum wage last month.
A lot of people are hurting though, and if you can afford to give them your support, please do. Authors, game designers, artists, cosplayers, LARP stores etc are all especially harmed because they have all become so reliant on the convention and event circuit, so spare them a thought.
I’m knocking out a bunch of small projects and blogs at the moment, to maintain a steady release schedule. A lot of people are playing games online or finding themselves with a lot of time on their hands, so providing tools to help people stave off boredom and to give them something to do seems like a good idea.
I have been doing promotional giveaways, but they’ve been hit and miss and now, with the virus, obviously I want to stay away from the Post Office, so I’ll be doing them electronically.
Self:
I’ve been ill. With no tests there’s no way to know whether it was The Dreaded Lurgy or not, but I’m starting to feel better. It’s stopped me doing videos and recordings for about a week because of a terrible sore throat and a dry cough.
I live rurally and naturally self isolate anyway, which is a pretty good thing as I’m fairly high risk (bad lungs from childhood asthma). So far the only real impact on me has been a lack of groceries, and my missus being underfoot all day, which isn’t ALL bad.
I was trying to run RPG sessions online to provide something for people to do who are forced out of work or self-isolating at the moment. The uptake was disappointing, but I want to try and keep that going. Watch my social media for updates on when sessions are – it can be fairly short notice. I aim to do them around 7:30-8pm UK start, and keep them to short, convention-style slots of 3-4 hours.
If you have a group or can get together a group of 3-6 people I’m happy to bend that time to meet your demand, and run during the day or late in (my) night. Just get in touch.I also have a Facebook group for people who are interested: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grimstream
Depression seems to have backed off a bit, which is nice. I’ve been doing this ‘gratitude journal’ thing, that was recommended by Kurzgesagt, I’ve found it somewhat useful, but not as much as they suggest. Unlike a lot of this stuff, there’s some actual science behind it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPPPFqsECz0
I’ve been playing the ever-loving shit out of Mechwarrior 5 and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which I wish I could stream, but the Switch is shit for that. Perhaps when I’ve completed it, I’ll play something I can stream from the PS4 again.
Postmortem Studios 