Historical European Martial Arts Documentary

Surprise, surprise. Hollywood has it wrong.

Here’s a documentary showing how historical swordfights really happened.

Dwarf Fortress Computer Game

Dwarf Fortress is a free video game with two primary modes: Fortress mode, in which the player takes control of a group of dwarves and attempts to construct a successful and wealthy subterranean fortress in a mountain, and Adventurer mode, which places the player in the shoes of an adventurer as they wander the world and do battle with various creatures.

The game is implemented in text-graphics, and is donationware, so you can download and play for free, while the developers ask for donations to continue their work.

Space Age Sorcery Spells For Lovecraftian and Eldrich Gaming

Space Age Sorcery is a free supplement of spells for Lovecraftian and Eldrich gaming. The authors write:

If you’re looking for some wicked-twisted spells that a cyborg sorcerer from a shoggoth-haunted nuclear wasteland might have on-hand or you want to give the next bunch of foul cultists something with a little more oomph than a few magic missile spells, we’ve got you covered.

Here is a collection of over 100 strange new spells that combine magic and technology in bizarre, unsettling and often horrific ways best suited to Lovecraftian Space Opera, Eldritch Cyberpunk, Post-Apocalyptic Sword & Planet campaigns, settings or games.

Want to build a memorable villain or NPC spell-caster? Just switch the spells of a typical Magic User, Cleric or Lich with some of the more blasphemous or insidious spells contained in this book.

But beware; these aren’t the usual run of the mill spells you might be used to. Many of these spells carry a terrible cost. Others are gonzo-batshit terrifying, and a few are so gross that we all know that someone is going to insist on having their character attempt to cast one of them just to see what happens. Not all of these spells are appropriate for every world, setting or campaign. Some of these spells have really drastic consequences, others run the risk of exposing the caster to Dread Powers only fools or those suffering from insanity would ever consider casting (making them ideal for rivals, opponents and hirelings). It’s up to you whether any of these spells are available to player characters or only to NPCs, or not at all. It’s your world, your game and your decision.

Basic Fantasy Free RPG, Modules and Supplements

Basic Fantasy is a free RPG system, complete with dozens of modules and supplements. The author writes:

The Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game is a rules-light game system based on the d20 SRD v3.5, but heavily rewritten with inspiration from early role-playing game systems. It is intended for those who are fans of “oldschool” game mechanics. Basic Fantasy RPG is simple enough for children in perhaps second or third grade to play, yet still has enough depth for adults as well.

This is a major work.

Quest For The Open Tavern

Quest For The Open Tavern is a free print-and-play game:

In Generic Fantasy Adventure: the Quest for the Open Tavern, players engage in a competitive worker placement game that embraces DIRECT player interaction. This ain’t your dad’s Euro! One player takes the role of the Wayfarers of Devastation – an adventuring party that recently slew a Great Wyrm Red Dragon (or so they claim) and now wants to celebrate with booze. But they’ve come to the wrong town! Governor Xaggy of Hommlette has heard about this band of ne’er-do-wells, and he’s ready for them. Complicating the issue is that the land is under siege from a demonic invasion AND a zombie plague, not to mention the emergence of a Thieves’ Guild.

One player controls the Wayfarers of Devastation, seeking to get drunk and destroy the town, while the other player controls Governor Xaggy who wants to uphold order and keep the town safe through a night of destruction.