Hi everyone! Day 7’s question is How can a GM make the stakes important? I have a couple of ways I do this and it actually features in one of my demo sessions, which I run regularly at conventions. The stakes that most players care about are their character’s survival and prosperity. In Era: Survival and…
Hi everyone! I have some fantastic news for you today, because Free Trader, the first of our Wave 2 expansions, has just been released on DriveThruRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/247173/Era-The-Consortium–Free-Trader Some of you may be familiar with this book already, but for those who aren’t, it provides the rules and information for trading and piracy within the Consortium!…
Hi everyone! With Nara rescued, the team proceed to the CEOs office. Join me (Ed) as the GM and the rest of the crew as they enter the world of Era: The Consortium: https://youtu.be/ffcoFS6z1o8 But when the lift does work “properly”, they are forced to improvise and adapt. How well will the team cope with this…
Hi everyone! Onto week two, and the list asks How can players make a world seem real? I think that players can make the world seem real by immersing themselves into it. I am running a playtest for Era: Lost Legend at the moment and, although the world is a little ridiculous at times, I think…
Hi everyone! Day 5 asked probably the easiest question this month (for me): (What is your) Favourite recurring NPC? Keelah. Okay, I cheated a little, she began as a player character – my first one, as a matter of fact. Her backstory and character became a lot more refined when she became the Unit Commander…
Hi everyone! The print and play version of Champion of Earth is now available from our store! https://www.shadesofvengeance.com/product/champion-of-earth-core-deck-digital-print-and-play/ If you’ve always wanted to try defending the Earth from an Alien Invasion, there’s no better way than with Champion of Earth… and now you can do it without even waiting for the shipping! If you want…
Hi everyone! Day 4 asks: (What is your) Most Memorable NPC? That’s actually a really tricky one. There have been some real characters over the years. I think, however, that there’s no measuring up to Monolith on this score. The wingbeat of this character shapeshifted into a giant dragon has scared Empowered senseless more times…
Hi everyone! We’re still working through the remaining images at the moment, so the “only” thing I have to show you is the latest awesome artwork from Keith! The text is now completely finalised, but the artwork, as I said, is taking a little longer than we had initially hoped to get it looking amazing. I’d…
Hi everyone! Onto the third day, and we have: What gives a game staying power? I think that staying power stems from adaptability within a game. Eventually, all groups tire of playing exactly the same thing every time. I think if you want a game to stay, you need to have the adaptability that you see…
Hi everyone! Today, I’m sharing some information about the Nakamura Clan. Although they only join the Chosen in Harbour City in the second era of the war, they have been fighting the Anonassi for generations. Even exiled from their homeland, they had no intention of stopping and it was inevitable they would eventually run into…
Hi everyone! I wanted to take a moment today to speak with you about conventions in the UK. As many of you already know, we do quite a few conventions here, as it’s where I live and I hate travelling! We have just finished an amazing weekend up in Manchester, exhibiting at MCM July. If…
Hi everyone! I’m back for more: What do you look for in an RPG? I’m sure it will come as a huge surprise that I look for an expansive, detailed world with plenty of room to play whatever type of game I want. Okay, well, maybe not…! I love the ability to create details within a…
Hi everyone! I was told last year’s #RPGaDAY entries caused amusement and insight into the way I work and why, so I thought I’d continue that this year! So we come to Day 1: What do you love about RPGs? I actually get asked this question a lot in slightly different words – “Why make…
Hi everyone! As a Lyre, one of the “big damn heroes” of the kingdom of Yarnolth, you’ve definitely travelled all over the Kingdom of Yarnolth, right? Right? Okay, so you aren’t actually a hero, so you didn’t do the travelling thing, but you still need to know every detail, in case someone asks. Enter the…
Hi everyone! They managed to board Britannia! Now what? Join me (Ed) as the GM and the rest of the crew as they enter the world of Era: The Consortium: https://youtu.be/7iOt9lRuAEU After throwing Nara under the bus for the “docking errors”, the team approached the quartermaster for new gear. But how will they convince everyone they…
Hi everyone! Our second Wave 2 Era: The Consortium Expansion is now ready for you on our store! If you caught our Kickstarter, you will know all about this book, but if you missed it, then you should check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEKb3bor2-k Yes, that’s right, this book lets you build your own alien race! If…
Hi everyone! I’ve asked the Beta readers to finish by now, and am receiving feedback. Honestly, there’s nothing big, or any issues that require large changes, so I’m very encouraged! Era: The Empowered has gone really well on the writing side and I think the text is print-ready at this stage. The images still need…
Hi everyone! One more type of Anonassi today (there are so many!), again illustrated by the talented Mikhail Greuli. These are the Udzeni, “sky-demons”. They float, unnoticed, against the grey skies of the Lost Lands, waiting and silent… waiting for their chance to swoop down on the Chosen and consume them. They live to eat…
Hi everyone! I’m back, it’s been a week since I did a general update! Era: The Consortium Miniatures Update! Today, I have something awesome to show you, from the workbench of the very talented Mr Simon Parr! He’s finished painting Awuuzia and Styxtirian, and I think they look fantastic. Check out the Main Image above……
Hi everyone! You might remember that, several years ago, we worked with Wayne Brown and the Rochester Fantasy Fans to create Amazing Space Adventures in one of our first ever Kickstarters! They had been developing the idea behind it for well over 20 years and when they met us at Animé North in Canada, they…
Hi everyone! Their first field mission! Join me (Ed) as the GM and the rest of the crew as they enter the world of Era: The Consortium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O1XyVBYaDk Sent on their first field mission, the group find boarding the C&C: Colonisation and Construction space station, Britannia, to be harder than they first assumed… For audio only,…
Hi everyone! I’m pleased to announce that the first of the Wave 2 Expansions for Era: The Consortium is now available on our Store! Free Trader was inspired by an old Sci-Fi TV series from the UK. In it, one of the main characters was initially introduced as a smuggler. She quickly corrected the individual…
Hi everyone! Era: The Empowered is still making great progress! A new image came in just today from Keith, as we work through those that we have remaining. I’m hoping I’ll be able to show you some next week (this particular one was sent back for some minor changes for character consistency – the kind…
Hi everyone! In Era: The Chosen, Triggers build up for your character, but so do Trophies, as you defeat enemies! Trophies are often taken off the corpses of your enemies, and will grant special abilities. This could be anything from a tooth from a brute, or a chunk of flesh from a Fallen. Rather than…
Hi everyone! I’ve got loads for you today, so hang onto your hat! Era: Lost Legend You might have hears about Era: Lost Legend already. It’s a game inspired by JRPGs such as Final Fantasy. My aim when beginning the design of this game was to make something which would feel like these games but…
Hi everyone! The next episode with me (Ed) as the GM and the rest of the crew as they enter the world of Era: The Consortium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKXyrGcAyww The group has only a few moments to defeat the enemies they face before the cargo bay is empty of oxygen. And, beyond, the truth about this whole situation…
Hi everyone! Great news today! I’ve had several volunteers for Beta Readers for the Era: The Empowered Core Rulebook. Of course, that means that all of the proofreading and indexing is also done, and I’d like to publicly thank our QA team – Hande and Calyie – for their swift and efficient work! The Beta…
I have some more amazing art for you today, of one of the most fearsome creatures in the whole Anonassi army. The terrifying Kapavuk are known for prowling battlefields, being almost invulnerable, and for eating Chosen at random. They induce fear in more than a few Chosen, just through their presence. – Ed
Hi everyone! We’ve made some great strides since last week, and there’s loads of new stuff to tell you about! Infiltration: The Bug War #2 – Part 2 Probably the most exciting news is our latest comic! It’s a continuation of the Bug War series, which began with Hai-Xang Hayden in “Declaration”, and continued onto…
Hi everyone! Another chance to join me as the GM and the rest of the crew as they enter the world of Era: The Consortium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKmCEeR3e1o The group is stuck aboard the Orion, facing down enemies in the cargo bay. Will they be able to fight their way through and escape? Audio only (via Podbean): https://shadesofvengeance.podbean.com/e/stiletto-unit-447ce-episode-2/?token=c318e2a20281a22f235218c2e4d2be84
