Ancient evils sleep beneath the Egyptian sands...

... and the six tales within the pages of NUELOW Games' latest comics/rpg hybrid book reveal what happens when they are awakened!

Horrors of Egypt present spine-tingling tales of terror from the Golden Age of Comics by great talents like Joe Kubert, Al Camy, and "Barclay Flagg." These classic tales can be enjoyed on their own, or they can serve as inspiration for GMs and players who want to use the new OGL Modern rules by Steve Miller (contributor to the Ravenloft gothic horror fantasy setting) to bring the mysteries of ancient Egypt to life at the gaming table.

Click here for more information, to see previews, and to get your own copy of Horrors of Egypt. And please let us know if you enjoyed the book, either with comments here or at the listings page.

Bronze Terror ala d6xd6 CORE

As I post this, there are roughly nine hours left before the d6xd6 CORE Roleplaying Game Kickstarter ends. The book will contain at least 20 settings, and all backers who pledge more than $21 will receive complimentary copies of Judy of the Jungle: Death Goes Native and Newshounds #1 from NUELOW Games (in addition to an already generous assortment of goodies). These are the first published products to feature support for d6xd6 CORE.

There will also be a countdown party during the final couple of hours at this link. I hope to pop in for a few minutes, but it's not a sure thing for me, as I have a prior engagement. However, I am putting up one more character adapted to the d6xd6 CORE RPG system -- the Bronze Terror, the first Native American superhero to grace the pages of comic books. (The Masked Avengers setting that I was slated to write is not going to be come to pass, as the pledges did not support it. That is the usual outcome for any Kickstarter that I am part, however... which is among the reasons I've never tried to do one on my own. I'm just not talented enough nor famous enough to produce anything that there's enough interest in.)

Art by Dick Briefer

THE BRONZE TERROR
Legendary spirit of justice, fighting for Native Americans in modern times.
Real Name: Jeff Dixon • Gender: Male • Age: 30
Attributes 
   Focused: Brawn
   Unfocused: Will, Wits
   Unknown: Grace
Occupation: Counselor (Attorney-at-Law)
Focused Skills: Bargain (Occupation Bonus), Athletics, Persuasion
Unfocused Skills: Navigation, Ride Animal, Shooting
Focus Rating: 3

You can read four "Bronze Terror" stories in NUELOW Games' Real American #1, which includes ROLF! game stats and a battle scenario. I've also concocted an original back-story for Bronze Terror, which will probably show up here on the blog some day.

For more information on the d6xd6 CORE RPG, check out this site where designer Lester Smith has made a draft of the rules public.

Ace and Foggy ala d6xd6 CORE

There's a Kickstarter for a very cool game with some very generous rewards for backers in its final few days. It's Lester Smith's d6xd6 CORE Roleplaying Game. It's a slick, rules-light multi-genre system that I think will take a place among your favorites once you play it.

As of this writing, the funding level is such that the book will be published in electronic and hard-copy formats and it will include the core game and 12 different settings written by (among others) Douglas Niles, Bruce Heard, Timothy Brown, Matt Forbeck, and Lester Smith himself. For me, one of the main attractions is the World of Dragon Dice as an RPG setting.

Additional backers can bring additional settings to the book, however. If an additional $12,000 gets raised over the next five days, I will get to contribute a setting, as Im in the wings as a Stretch Goal. Click here to read more about the d6xd6 CORE RPG Kickstarter and where it presently stands.

Lester Smith has posted a preview of the d6xd6 CORE system here. NUELOW Games published the first supplement to the game (even before it was officially published, which won't happen until December 2014) in Judy of the Jungle: Murder Goes Native, because that's just how excited we are about it.

Here on the NUELOW blog, I also wrote up the Black Cat and Zaza the Mystic using d6xd6 CORE by way of further previewing the system. Now, here's news photographer Ace Williams and his assistant Foggy (stars of the upcoming NUELOW book Newshounds #1) to the d6xd6 CORE character line-up. I've also included a new occupation and a couple new skills.

Ace Williams and Jessica "Foggy" Gibbons. Art by Matt Baker.

ACE WILLIAMS ("The Ace of the Newsreels")
Globetrotting news photographer who always gets to the truth and brings home the shot.
Real Name: Ace Williams • Gender: Male • Age: 31
Attributes
   Focused: Will
   Unfocused: Brawn, Wits
   Unknown: Grace
Occupation: Reporter (Photojournalist)
Focused Skills: Photography (Occupation Bonus), Navigation, Persuasion, Sneaking, Tracking
Unfocused Skills: Athletics, Bargain, Writing
Focus Rating: 5

FOGGY
Former Olympic athlete turned Girl Friday.
Real Name: Jessica Frances Gibbons • Gender: Female • Age: 26
Attributes
   Focused: Grace
   Unfocused: Brawn, Will
   Unknown: Wits
Occupation: Servant (Girl Friday)
Focused Skills: Bargain (Occupation Bonus), Driving, Swimming
Unfocused Skills: Athletics, Photography, Writing
Focus Rating: 3

NEW d6xd6 CORE OCCUPATION
   Reporter: You are dedicated to bringing the truth to the public, whether those in power (or even the public) want it or not. Alternatively, you are bring the world news about the lighter side of life, such as covering high society functions, reporting on the latest plays or movies in theaters, and so on. You could be on-staff with a newspaper, television station, or major online news website, or you could be a roving freelancer, covering whatever stories you feel are important. Bonus skills for this occupation can be Photography, Sneaking, Tracking, and Writing.

NEW d6xd6 CORE SKILLS
   Photography: You can capture the mood and reality of a moment with a click of your camera... or you can create the reality of a moment by properly framing an image. You can also make the ugliest baby look cute, and most disastrous wedding look romantic. (Artisans and Reporters might select this as their Occupation bonus skill.)
   Writing: While a picture may be worth a thousand words, the right words can change the world. You are skilled at choosing those words and putting them in fixed form.

Zaza the Mystic ala d6xd6 CORE

One of the characters that we have tapped for the NUELOW Games comics/rpg hybrid treatment is Zaza the Mystic. We haven't quite scheduled her yet, but we will be making the decision as to when one of these days. We find her interesting, because she has all the skills of a con-artist spiritualist, but she uses her "powers for good" by busting phony mystics and exposing other crimes.

While we decide how and when to present some of her best adventures, here she is as seen through the lense of Lester Smith's d6xd6 CORE RPG.

ZAZA THE MYSTIC, GYPSY DETECTIVE
Name: Zaza the Mystic (Zaza Kamlo) • Gender: Female • Age: 27
Attributes   Focused: Wits
   Unfocused: Grace, Will
   Unknown: Brawn
Occupation: Performer (Fortune Teller/Con Artist)
Focused Skills: Persuasion (Occupation Bonus), Pickpocketing, Sneaking, Swimming
Unfocused Skills: Bargain, First Aid, Lockpicking
Focus Rating: 4

Steve Miller is slated to write one of the stretch-goal expansions if it reaches high enough of a funding level. (He comes into play at the $18K funding level... and we're hoping that Lester will be able to put him to work. We're tired of watching him with his feet up, watching episodes of the 1960s Batman show on DVD.)

Click here to read more about the d6xd6 CORE RPG Kickstarter. You can pledge as little as $1 to get a PDF copy of the game and four settings. All the rewards past the $25 pledge level are insanely generous if you want our opinion. (But seriously... we need this one to get to the $18K. We are sick and tired of hearing  Steve sing NANANANANANANANANA--BATMAN! offkey every 25 minutes of so.

A new comics/rpg hybrid for 'new comics day'!

Comic readers all across the land know that Wednesday is tthe day new comics arrive at the store. Well, we actually got our act together here at NUELOW Games, and we've released a new comic book on New Comics Day!

Feary Tales is our latest addition to our line-up of comics/rpg hybrid books. It contains six short horror stories, all twisted adaptations of fairy tales, and most of them from the brilliant mind of Steve Ditko (in his pre-Marvel Comics days).

For RPG gamers, it presents an all-new race of monsters--the Faery Ghouls. They can be dropped into pretty much any d20 System game you like, although, like most NUELOW OLG material, they are designed foremost for OGL Modern. The book also contains Tom Thumb is lost, a single-player mini-game.

Feary Tales is available at all the usual outlets. You can click here to see previews, or to get your own copy. It is presently on sale for 25 percent off the usual price, as part of the ongoing Christmas in July celebration! (The discounted price is good until August 1.)

The 'official' OGL d20 Feather Charms is now out

Regular readers of the blog have already seen the content of this product, but if you would like a copy of it nicely typeset and illustrated, you can download OGL d20: Feather Charms from RPGNow.com for next to nothing.

For more Native American-inspired OGL d20 material, you can also check out Warrior Maiden Starlight. The book features the complete "Starlight" series by Ann Adams and Ralph Mayo, collected in one book for the first time, as well as notes and rules for running a d20 System game drawing inspiration from pre-European contact Native American civilizations.

It's Christmas in July!

It's the annual celebration of the halfway point between last Christmas and the next Christmas at the various Onebookshelf.com websites that carry NUELOW Games releases! As in past years, our entire selection of titles is 25 percent off! Take a look! Find a new favorite!

The sale runs this whole week!

Black Cat ala d6xd6 CORE

A new love here at NUELOW Games HQ is Lester Smith's d6xd6 CORE RPG. This slick, infinitely pliable game system may well become a regular element of our comics projects going forward, appearing along-side ROLF! and d20 OGL Modern.

I'm also hoping that the current Kickstarter to fund the Popcorn Press release of the game picks up some steam, because I'm is slated to present the superhero setting that's been coming together in our books over the past year using the d6xd6 CORE system. That's assuming the project reaches a funding level of $17,500, as my contribution is part of the Pulp Adventure bonus pack that gets added to the line-up at that point.

Meanwhile, and in the hopes of inspiring you to go take a look at the Kickstarter and maybe contribute--every reward for the pledge level beyond $24 is very, very cool in my opinion. And well worth the money--is NUELOW Games' favorite woman of mystery, Black Cat, presented via dt6xd6 CORE.

BLACK CAT, HOLLYWOOD'S MOST GLAMOROUS DETECTIVE

Name: Black Cat (Linda Turner) • Gender: Female • Age: 23

Attributes

  Focused: Grace

  Unfocused: Brawn, Wits

  Unknown: Will

Occupation: Performer (Actress)

Focused Skills: Athletics (Occupation Bonus), Martial Arts, Motorcycle, Persuasion, Ride Animal, Sneaking, Swimming

Unfocused Skills: Lock Picking, Throwing, Tracking

Focus Rating: 7

The book and a total of 12 settings have already funded, so you really can't lose even if you contribute just $1, as it will get your the core book and four settings. The rewards for supporters in this Kickstarter are all extremely generous! There are two weeks left on the Kickstarter window. Won't you help get it to $17.5K, so Black Cat can offically join the d6xd6 Core line-up of characters?

Get the Complete NUELOW 'Judy of the Jungle'

One of the more popular offerings from NUELOW Games has been our "Judy of the Jungle" series. It presents the best stories of a girl who, after being raised by her misanthropic father to feel more kinship with nature and animals than other humans, becomes a self-appointed guardian of justice in the wilds of Africa.

Along side the reprints of classic pulp adventure comics illustrated by Ralph Mayo, the Judy series offers OGL d20-compatible and d6xd6 CORE roleplaying game rules for use in creating your own jungle adventures with your game group. The books also feature Judy of the Jungle short stories, and the classic landmark comic book tales from Matt Baker "Voodah" and "South Sea Girl," which star rare non-white jungle heroes.

Art by Alex Schomburg

We have recently released the third and final volume in the series -- Judy of the Jungle: Murder Goes Native. It's getting good reviews, and fans are picking it up... but to make life easy for those who have come late to the party, we are offering it and the other Judy books in a one-stop download as The Complete NUELOW Judy of the Jungle bundle.

In addition to the three Judy of the Jungle books -- Judy of the Jungle: The Lords of Memnon, Judy of the Jungle: Warriors of the Laughing Hyena, and Judy of the Jungle: Murder Goes Native -- the bundle contains The Revenge of Santos: A ROLF! Christmas Special, the product that introduce Judy to the NUELOW audience.

Art by Alex Schomburg

If you're a newcomer to the adventures of Judy, the bundle has everything... and if you've been with us since the beginning, I really encourage you to grab a copy of Murder Goes Native, as not only does it contain some of the best work of the legendary Matt Baker, but it's a good introduction to the d6xd6 CORE Roleplaying Game. (And it also has some systemless adventure generating tools that are useful for any RPG set in a pulp fiction jungle environment.)

A Kickstarter -- d6xd6 CORE RPG by Lester Smith

Lester Smith, veteran game designer, has launched a Kickstarter to publish a slick new rules-light RPG d6xd6 CORE. Character creation is quick and easy, skill resolution is elegant, and the combat system can be as tactical or as story-oriented as the GM and players prefer. In addition to Lester's sharp skills as both a designer and world-builder, the game will feature settings and adventures for use with the game created by great writers such as Douglas Niles, Steve Winter, James Lowder, Bruce Heard, Scott Hungerford, Angela ScottWilliam Massa... and yours truly, NUELOW Games' own Steve Miller. 

Over 30 different writers are lined up to contribute settings to the final product, and more are joining every day. As with all Kickstarters, however, the number of them that actually end up contributing to the final book depends on the level of support from the audience by way of funding.

I am thrilled that Lester chose to make me part of the d6xd6 CORE RPG Kickstarter project. I will be providing a pulp superhero setting titled Masked Avengers that will feature some of the characters that have appeared in NUELOW's comics projects over the past year, gathered together in a single universe. You've seen this universe hinted at in numerous books, and it will come into sharper focus when my settings chapter d6xd6 CORE RPG book is released.

Assuming it is released. You see, my chapter is part of a "stretch goal"--additional content that gets added to the book as various funding levels are reached. It's part of a secret stretch goal, no less, that will be revealed as the project is funded. 

Click here to see some of the stuff that will be in the d6xd6 CORE RPG book and to see that the Kickstarter is already well underway. The basic book with four settings, including the Dragon Dice world as an RPG environment--finally!--is already happening. Now, there just needs to be enough support to bring all the settings into play.

Lester will be unveiling more exciting announcements as funding goals are approached and exceeded. Take a look at the pledge levels and the rewards. Consider chipping in. Personally, having had the priveledge of gaming with Lester several years ago, I wish I had at least $1.666 to contribute so he could come out to WA and run for my game group. The $24 and $99 pledge rewards are pretty sweet, too. 

I hope you'll consider supporting this very worthy Kickstarter. As little as $1 can be pledged!

New OGL d20 rules: Feather Charms

This entire post is presented under the Open Game License. It may be reproduced under the terms described here. Copyright Steve Miller 2014.

OGL d20: FEATHER CHARMS

Game Design: Steve Miller 

Copyright Steve Miller 2014

Introduction
When we published Warrior Maiden Starlight, I wanted to include some Native American themed OGL d20 rules in the book... but no ideas I came up with felt right, or even worked. Eventually, I gave the impatient editor something I felt was worth publishing and we released the book. I continued to mull over ideas... and then it struck me: Feathers!
   The symbolism of feathers is central to many traditional Native American cultural beliefs and practices, and they are referred to in Warrior Maiden Starlight several times as valued badges of honor and symbols of accomplishment. Incorporating feathers as magic items and as part of the awards system seemed like a fine idea for some game rules. After a little tinkering and back-andf-forth with Hundal, it still seemed like a good idea, so here it is, presented for your consideration. (Feedback is welcomed... that's why there's an email address listed at the bottom of the page and why there is a comments section.)

OGL d20: Feather Charms
These rules are loosely inspired by traditional Native American belief systems, in which birds are generally viewed as messengers from the spirits, bringers of change, and symbols of freedom. Feathers are also important symbols, and they are worn as badges of honor by warriors and leaders who have defeated foes through strength or cleverness, and who have been of great service to their people.


General Information About Feather Charms
A feather charm never detects as magical, nor do they grant any benefit for anyone but the character to whom it was awarded. Feather charms looted from dead foes are little more than cool looking headdresses and armbands.
   Feather charms can be used by members of any class.
   When interacting with members from a culture who recognize the inherent authority of the powerful beings who grant feather charms, wearers of feather charms have instant status and respect. For each feather charm worn, the hero gains a +1 bonus to all Charisma-based skill checks, up to a maximum of +8, directed at these people. For allies, he also enjoys a one-step positive reaction adjustment. See "Using Feather Charms" for additional details.
   Feather charms must be attached to armbands, boot cuffs, headgear (such as bonnets, helmets, or masks) melee weapons, polearms, or staves. An unlimited number of feather charms can be worn or displayed on a hero's melee weapons at any time, but their game effect is limited.
   The bonus granted by feather charms varies with the type of feather. They follow regular stacking rules. See "Using Feather Charms" for details.

Gaining Feather Charms
Feather charms are not made using magic item creation rules--they are granted by the spirits and the gods. PCs acquire them as rewards at the end of adventures or key encounters, either from an NPC or directly from the GM with the feather falling to the ground near the player it is being rewarded to.
   They can replace any +1 magic item in a treasure reward, or they can be given in addition to listed items. The feather rewarded should always related to something exceptional or impactful that the PC did during the adventure or encounter.

Starlight earns her first feather in a scene from Warrior Maiden Starlight.
(Script by Ann Adams. Art by Ralph Mayo)

Using Feather Charms
Feather charms must be worn openly by the hero to whom they were granted for the benefits to be enjoyed. When not worn, the feather charms must be carefully placed in some open area where they can be viewed by all; the hero will continue to gain the benefits from them so long as he is within line-of-sight of the feather charms. If they are ever placed in a chest or a closet or otherwise locked away in a small and confined space by their owner, all magic is permanently drained from them.
   If NPCs have reasons to think a hero is wearing or displaying a feather charm that he did not earn, they may demand the character tell the tale of how it was awarded to him. The hero gains a +1 bonus to the appropriate skill check when relating his deeds, and if the check is successful, he gains the full Charisma benefit going forward.
 
Specific Feather Charms
Here are the specific feather charms and the bonus they grant. Similar feathers stack with other feathers to a maximum of +5. If two feathers give bonuses to the same skills, their effects stacks.
   Crow Feather: Represents skill and cunning. Grants a +1 bonus to Disable Device, Hide, Move Silently, Search, and Sense Motive skill checks.
   Dove Feather: Represents the more gentle side of humanity, such as love, kindness, and nurturing.  Love and gentleness. Grants a +1 bonus to Animal Handling, Diplomacy, and Treat Injury (Heal in some OGL d20 versions).
   Eagle Feather: Represents bravery and strength of will. Grants a +1 bonus to Will saving throws, as well as a +1 bonus to Diplomacy skill checks.
   Falcon Feather: Represents speed and agility. Grants a +1 bonus to Reflex saving throws, as well as a +1 bonus to Tumble skill checks.
   Hawk Feather: Represents strength and protection through force. Grants a +1 bonus to Fortitude saving throws, as well as a +1 bonus to Intimidate skill checks.
   Heron Feather: Represents grace and confidence . Grants a +1 bonus to all Perform skill checks, as well as a +1 bonus to Concentration and Disable Device skill checks.
   Owl Feather: Represents a mind capable of keen insights and the ability to see things as they truly are. Grants low-light vision of 12 feet (increases 10 feet for each Owl feather, up to a maximum of distance of 60 feet at five feathers possessed), as well a +1 bonus to Search, Sense Motive, and Spot skill checks.
   Raven Feather: Represents creativity and knowledge. Grants a +1 bonus to all Knowledge and Craft skill checks.

A 4th of July Safety Tip from the Fighting Yank (plus a d20 Modern Talent Tree)

Listen to the wise words of the Fighting Yank. And remember, the phrases "Hey, watch this!" and "Hold my beer!" should never be uttered when you are setting off fireworks.

From Fighting Yank #29. Art by Mort Meskin

Here's a talent tree (designed by Steve Miller, from a suggestion by L.L. Hundal) that numerous people probably will wish could apply to real life come July 5. (Everything in this post past this sentence is Open Game Content. It may be reproduced under the terms of this license. Copyright Steve Miller 2014.)

TOO DUMB TO DIE TALENT TREE
This talent tree is available for Charismatic Heroes, Fast Heroes, Strong, Heroes, and Tough Heroes,or other classes that have access to their talent trees. Whenever the character may select talent, they may choose one from this tree instead of those featured in the rules for their class.
   Feel the Burn: Damage from acid electricity, and fire is reduced by 2d6 points after all other modifiers have been applied, to a mimimum of 1 point of damage.
   Prerequisite: Intelligence or Wisdom score 8 or less. If the hero should later increase the attribute score, they retain the benefit of this talent.
   Gravity-shmavity: Falling damage is reduced by 2d6+2 points after all other modfiers have been applied, to a minimum of 1 point of damage.
   Prerequisite: Intelligence or Wisdom score 8 or less. If the character should later increase the attribute score, they retain the benefit of this talent.
   Just Drive She Said: Impact damage suffered while in a crashing vehicle, or upon being hit by a vehicle, is halved after all other modifiers have been applied, to a minimum of 1 point of damage.
   Prerequisite: Intelligence or Wisdom score 8 or less. If the character should later increase the attribute score, they retain the benefit of this talent.
   That Blowed Up Real Good: Concussion damage and other damage suffered from explosions and devices or magical spells that cause area of effect damage is reduced by 2d6+2 points of damage after all other modifiers have been applied, to a minimum of 0. The reduction applies only to the hero with this talent,
   Prerequisite: Feel the Burn, Intelligence or Wisdom score 8 or less. If the character should later increase the attribute score, they retain the benefit of this talent.
   Watch This!: Whenever the hero fails a Acrobatics skill check, Climb skill check, Disable Device skill check, or Demolitions skill check, any damage he suffers is reduced by half before any other modifiers are applied.
   Prerequisite: One other talent from the Too Dumb to Die Talent Tree.

Celebrate Independence Day weekend with Pat Patriot!

With Pat Patriot, NUELOW Games shines a spotlight on one of comicdom's earliest female costumed comic characters, as well as being one of the first and most sincerely patriotic series. Debuting in June of 1941, the series predates Wonder Woman and only slightly trails Captain America.

In addition to the four best Pat Patriot stories, the book features a complete ROLF! supplement that in which Pat meets the Bronze Terror and battles the nefarious Mayflower Man. Click here to see previews or to get your own copy.

You can see more previews of Pat Patriot at our sister blog Shades of Gray by clicking here.

NUELOW Games is observing Ramadan

It has come to our attention that we've done Christmas Specials, Barak Obama Birthday Specials, and Chinese New Year Specials, but we've never done anything to mark a time honored by billions and billions of people.

Well, before we re publicly shamed for our lack of inclusiveness, we're fixing that by offering the Ramadan Collection!

The NUELOW Games Ramadan Collection contains historical fiction set during the Crusades; comics featuring Kismet ( the Nazi-busting first Muslim superhero), and lots and lots of ROLF! rollplaying game material--including the core rulebook! It's a total of eight products--including four of our best-sellers!--for just $5 (55% off full retail price).

Click here to check out the content of the Ramadan Collection, or to get your very own copy. It's available through July 30 (or until GB joins the just-declared Califate).

It's a Party in the CIA with Madam Zero!

Some parody songs are more amusing and entertaining than the source they are based on. A perfect example of that is Weird Al's "Party in the CIA." It's got better lyrics than the original and its video even makes more sense.



It's a favorite of the NUELOW Gang, even if L.L. Hundal's Significant Other has banned it from their home, because Hundal would play it over and over while singing along as she searched through comics for us to republish.

I'm bringing it up here, because it also seems like a perfect theme song for the most recent release for ROLF!: The Rollplaying Game of Big Dumb Fighters...

ROLF!: Zero vs. One is a full-fledged ROLF! supplement with two battle scenarios, four pre-generated characters, and a number of new Battle Maneuvers and Traits. In addition, it features the complete run of Madam Zero, an obscure back-up series from Fiction House's Fight Comics that featured one of comicdom's most mysterious heroines. And Madam Zero is exactly the sort of character that "Party in the CIA" is about.

Click here to see previews of ROLF!: Zero vs. One, or to get your own copy.

It's the First Day of Summer AND Free RPG Day!

To celebrate the first day of summer and Free RPG Day, we're offering three of our roleplaying games for free!

Until Midnight when June 21st turns into June 22nd, you can download Fists of Foolishness, which contains The Violent Worlds of Robert E. Howard RPG and a dozen short stories to get you the proper mood to run adventures with it; You vs. Me, a  crazy two-player, GM-less RPG by L.L. Hundal;; and Dyvil: First Edition by the legendary game designer and author Jeff Grubb, free of charge!

Additionally, the NUELOW Games Summer Special is still on sale at a reduced price. In addition to half a dozen summer-themed comics, it features a scenario compatible with both The Violent Worlds of Robert E. Howard and You vs. Me.

Check out the free games and summer deals before they are gone!

Planning a trip to the Underdark?

You're going to need some maps... and the NUELOW Map Pack #2: Underdark has just what you need!

Cover by Andrew Pavlides & Lee Elias

This new set of maps by Andrew Pavlides includes six different maps of tunnels and cavern systems. They can be used individually or joined at the edges as player characters move through the monster-infested underground. All the maps are indexed in an easy-to-reference PDF booklet and presented in both color and printer-friendly black-and-white formats.

As a special treat, we've included some drawings next to the maps in the index book to help give you some inspiration about what players may encounter in that area.

Click here to see previews or NUELOW Map Pack #2: Underdark, or do download your own copy (And, as always, we invite your feedback!)

Now Available: Character Portraits for Your Home Game or Publication!

The latest in NUELOW Games' series of stock art collections is the NUELOW Fantasy Character Stock Art #1: Spellcasters & Sorcerers. As with past stock art releases, your purchase and download of this product grants you a generous license to use the artwork in any personal or commercial product you choose. The only real restrictions are that may not resell the stand-alone illos individually or as part of a clip-art package, and when you use the art in products or public websites, you need to acknowledge the copyright of the artist in a way spelled out in the license.

Cover art by Darrel Miller (compiled using illos in the set)

 NUELOW Fantasy Character Stock Art #1: Spellcasters & Sorcerers contains 14 different character portraits (12 by artist Darrell Miller), 12 of which are presented both in color and grayscale. As always, individual jpg files are included, but this time around they're at 300dpi so you can use them in print products if you like.

Click here to check out previews of the set, or to download your own copy. (Be sure to let us know if you use the art in any publications or websites... we will give you a link here on the blog!)

Available Now: NUELOW Games Summer Special!

The NUELOW Games Summer Special continues our ongoing project of unearthing interesting material from the Golden Age of Comics and bringing them to modern audiences. This book documents entries in the teen comedy comics genre which thrived from the early 1940s until the mid-1970s, tracking roughly with the rise and fall of romance comics. In fact, there is much overlap between the two, with the teen comedies often involving romantic entanglements of some sort or another.

Artwork by Harry Sahle

The NUELOW Games Summer Special presents half-a-dozen summer themed stories, in which comic book teens hit the beach, and Black Cat hits the bad guys. It features work from such industry legends as Harry Sahle (one of the artists who established the look of Archie, the sole surviving teen comics character from those days), Al Feldstein (who went on to be a celebrated satirist and editor of MAD Magazine), Lee Elias (one of the Kings of Good Girl Art), and others.

In addition to classic comics, the book features a full-blown ROLF! supplement... although if you are a regular visitor to this blog, you've already seen much of it, since it's an expanded version of the "Kathy" battle scenario that was presented here earlier this month.

Click here to check out previews of the NUELOW Games Summer Special. It's currently on sale for half of its regular price. The sale price will remain in effect through June 21, the first day of summer.

Coming Soon: Warrior Maiden Starlight

We're currently putting the final touches on our biggest book yet -- a color collection of the complete "Starlight" series by writer Ann Adams and artist Ralph Mayo. Mayo was also the primary artist on NUELOW's Judy of the Jungle books, as well as being a collaborator of Frank Frazetta on Kathy.

Warrior Maiden Starlight collects all six Starlight episodes for the first time between two covers. The series debuted in Indians #2 and lasted through Indians #8, appearing and disappearing during the second half of 1951. Set during the mid-16th century, in a time prior to contact with European settlers, the series follows the adventures of a a rebellious Huron girl who is out to prove that she can out-hunt, out-fight and outsmart any warrior, any day. She was the last of the strong female lead characters that were a staple among Fiction House's anthology titles, with the premiere among them being Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.

A number of critics have said that the only reason Fiction House published comics with female leads was so they had an excuse to present page after page of T-and-A, as their "strong female characters" usually appeared in very skimpy outfits. However, Starlight puts a lie to that theory in every way. She is always fully clothed, even in scenes that provide a perfect opportunity for her to strip down and provide some "fan service," so there's no question that this character exists to be a strong and positive leading lady figure. In Mayo's drawings, she's always beautiful but never turned into a sex object... something contemporary comic book artists should try. If they really were interested in presenting "strong female characters" (as the claim so often goes) they'd draw their female characters more like Starlight and less like Hustler Magazine centerfolds.

Warrior Maiden Starlight will be the biggest RPG/comics hybrid product from NUELOW Games so far, with a pagecount clocking in around 70. We hope you'll decide to check it out when it becomes available. In the meantime, here are ROLF! stats for Starlight, and a draft of the cover. The final cover will feature the full logo, as well as slightly different artwork.

STARLIGHT (Female)
Brawn 20, Body 17, Brains 7
Traits: Dead Eye, Nimble
Combat Maneuvers: Basic Attack, Castrate, Dodge, Double Strike, Sure Shot, Run Away
Important Stuff Worn/Wielded: Bow (Medium Ranged Weapon, deals 2 points of damage). Knife (Small Melee Weapon, deals 1 point of damage).

Where NOT to 'Tangle With Romance'.... A Battle Scenario starring Kathy and her Boyfriend Hank

NUELOW's lead editor and creator of the ROLF! game, L.L. Hundal, has been on a Golden Age teen comedy kick since we produced the Ginger and Snap book earlier this year. In recent weeks, she's sent me about two dozen teen humor stories that we're going to be doing collections of. Some will be along the lines of the Ginger and Snap collection, others will end up as part of an entry in the Complete Golden Age Oddballs series (like we've already done with Martin Filchock's "Teen Toons").

One book that we're set on is a collection of the "Kathy" stories drawn by Ralph Mayo and Frank Frazetta from the pages of Thrilling Comics. And even if all the stories were badly drawn and unfunny--which the Mayo/Frazetta ones aren't--we would at the very least be doing SOMETHING with this splash page:

That picture and the blurb that states that Kathy "tangles with romance" immediately made me think "choosing a graveyard as a place for that wasn't very smart"... and then a ROLF! battle scenario came to mind. A couple, actually...

Since it's been a while, here's a complete ROLF! battle scenario, with everything you need to play but rules. It's one of the ones inspired by that splash page, but drawing upon the "Kathy" series in general.

KATHY TANGLES WITH ROMANCE AND NECROMANCY

A ROLF! Battle Scenarios for 2-3 Players

By Steve Miller

BACK STORY 

On a balmy summer eve, as the full moon beams from a clear sky, Kathy suggests to her boyfriend Hank that they leave the soda shop and head for the picturesque cemetery off Old Church Road. 

   "It's such a beautiful place, and the full moon... it's so romantic," she says. "It's a perfect night for something I've been wanting do with with you for a long time.".

    Hank, barely able to contain his excitement, immediately agrees. The teens steal into the cemetery, and Kathy heads of a bench on a slight rise that is bathed in moonlight. The two sit, and she squeezes Hank's hand, smiling and looking into his eyes. "This is going to be something special," she tells him. "I've never done this with anyone else before."

   "Of course not!" Hank says emphatically.

   "This is going to be something very special." Kathy turns away to get something from her purse. She feels his hand on her shoulder, and she turns to smile at him... but her smile freezes on her lips, her eyes grow wide and her mouth drops open. During the brief seconds was reaching into her purse, Hank had managed to take off all his clothes! She gasped, she gulped, her gaze slid down his torso and then snapped back to his face as she shouted: "What are you doing?!"

   "Getting ready... I've wanted to--"

   "I wanted to read poetry with you!" She holds up a book. "I come out here some nights and read poetry. Oh my Gosh! You thought--"

   "Oh my Gosh," Hank says at the same time as her. He is mortified, horrified, at his mistake, and he reaches for his clothes--and find them floating in midair, suspended in what appears to be a wisp of fog. A skull-like face takes form in the mist and a hollw-sounding voice, that seems to make Hank and Kathy's very bones vibrate, says, "You care disturb this place with your carnal activities?!"

   "Jeepers!" Kathy says.

   The ghost throws Hank's clothes at him, and then attacks.

PRE-GENERATED CHARACTERS

These characters are used in the battle scenarios above. Kathy and Hank The traits and combat maneuvers not in the ROLF! core game are drawn from ROLF!: Bullets to the Head or ROLF!: Creature Feature. If this were an actual published products, they would be repeated here for each of reference.

ANGRY GHOST (Spooky!)

Brawn 20, Body 5, Brains 3

Traits: Dead, Natural Weapons (Claws)

Combat Maneuvers:: Basic Attack, Hypnotize, Slime (S

Important Stuff Worn/Wielded: Claws (Small Natural Weapon, deals 1 point of damage. Cannot be disarmed).

KATHY CRANE (Female)

Brawn 16, Body 18, Brains 5

   Traits: Comic Relief, Improv Master, Irrepressible Optimist

   Combat Maneuvers: Basic Attack, Dance Move, Dodge, Strike Pose, Walking Disaster Area

   Important Stuff Worn/Wielded: Cute blouse and skirt (clothes), Book of poetry titled Romantic Verse for Moonlit Nights (Small Melee Weapon, deals 1 point of damage OR One-shot ranged weapon that deals 2 points of damage). Purse (Small Melee Weapon, deals 1 point of damage)..

HANK DANIELS (Male)

Brawn 17, Body 18, Brains 5

   Traits: Nimble

   Combat Maneuvers: Basic Attack, Dance Move, Disarm, Dodge, Murderous Mitts

   Important Stuff Worn/Wielded: Literally nothing... he's in his "birthday suit."

HARUMON THE NECROMANCER (Male?)

Brawn 7, Body 6, Brains 7

   Traits: Coldhearted, Dour, Too Sexy for My Shirt

   Combat Maneuvers: Basic Attack, Debate Philosophy, Disembowel, Spellings (After Me, Die Die Die!, You'll Only Hurt Yourself), Strategic Bleeding

   Important Stuff Worn/ Wielded:  Necromancer Robes (Armor, Absorbs up to 1 point of damage). Ceremonial Knife (Small Melee Weapon, deals 1 point of damage).

THE BATTLE SCENARIOS

These scenarios can be played by two or three players, with one player controlling Kathy and Hank, and the other controlling the ghost and Haruman the Necromancer. If three gamers are player, Kathy and Hank are each controlled by a different player, while the third plays Haruman and the ghost.

Battle Scenario One

Kathy and Hank must defeat the angry ghost attacking them in the cemetery. The battle continues until either both Kathy and Hank are defeated, or the ghost is. If the teens win, they are restored up to one-half their starting health (if applicable), including if one should have been defeated, at the start of Part Two. If the Ghost wins, see "Aftermath" below.

Interlude

How did this ghost come to be in the cemetery? Well, Haruman the Necromancer was also enjoying the full moon while practicing a little black magic. Attracted by the shrieks and screams of the teens vs. ghost fight, he finds Kathy and Hank over the dissolving remains of his latest summoning.

   "Meddling kids," he cries. "It was made clear that I have the cemetery on the full moons in months with 31 days--you damn druids need to keep your naked moon-dancing to your own time!"

   "Wait," Kathy says. "This isn't what it looks like. At all."

  "Yes," Hank says. "We're not doing naked dancing!"

  "You want me to believe you came all the way out here just to fornicate?" Harumon snarls.

  "Yes!" Hank exclaims.

  "No!" Kathy shouts, smacking him on the head with her book of verse.

  "You will not make the fool of me," Harumon says, the black energy of evil magic crackling on his finger tips. "You will be taught respect and the meaning of keeping to an agreed-upon schedule."

   With that, he attacks.

Battle Scenario Two

Kathy and Hank must defeat Haruman. The battle continues until one side is defeated.

Aftermath

If Hank and Kathy are defeated in either scenario, they wake up on the ground in front of the bench as dawn is breaking, cold and sore and confused. Hank is still naked.

   Hank quickly gets dressed. He says, "Let's never mention this to anyone, okay? And I'm really sorry."

  "You should be," Kathy says coldly, remaining turned away as Hank dresses, but still stealing a glance. "I can't believe you thought--"

  "I'm really, really sorry!" Hank wails.

  "This place is great for reading poetry, but that other sturff? Too creepy."

   "What?"

   "You need a car, Hank Daniels. Don't you know anything? Now, how are we going to keep from getting grounded for life?"

In Memory of the Great Lee Elias

On this day in 1920, May 21, Lee Elias, one of the great Good Girl artists of the Golden Age of Comics was born. He was the primary artist on the original Black Cat, and he was the first to give form to amnesiac Indian Princess Firehair... and as adept as he was at drawing beauty, he drew horror just as well, as shown by the man horror covers he drew.

In memory of Lee Elias, we are offering Black Cat Shows You How to Do Judo Tricks at half of the usual price. It's a book showcasing both Elias' Good Girl art, as well as his faithfulness to realism when it came to drawing martial arts moves in the Black Cat comics.

And even bigger treat is the fact that we're giving away NUELOW Stock Art Collect #1: The Black Cat in Action for free. This package of art adapted primarily from Elias's art is a treasure trove of Black Cat illos that you are able to use for whatever purpose you like, so long as you follow a few simple licensing restrictions.

These special prices are good through the end of Memorial Day, May 26, 2014.

Free stock art (through Memorial Day)!

Black Cat and RPG martial arts rules!

More Golden Age Oddballs Unearthed... and In Color!

We've just released Complete Golden Age Oddballs: Fire-Man & Buzzard through all the usual outlets. Unlike previous entries in the series, the book consists entirely of comics written and drawn by a single creator--Martin Filchock, who, when he passed away at the age of 100 in 2012 was still working as a professional cartoonist.

By way of a preview, here are a couple of splash-pages from the book. (You can see more previews, or get your own copy, at DriveThruComics. If do decide to download Complete Golden Age Oddballs: Fire-Man & Buzzard, which in addition to the Filchock comics contains a small expansion for NUELOW's OGL d20 Modern superhero rules and a publication history for all the comics in the book.)

Second Judy of the Jungle book now available

The next installment in NUELOW's Judy of the Jungle series has just been released through all the usual outlets.

Judy of the Jungle: Warriors of the Laughing Hyena features three comics illustrated by Judy's creator Ralph Mayo, and one by the legendary Frank Frazetta, as well as two short stories by Charles S. Strong. The book also contains all-new OGL d20 Modern game material geared for use with jungle adventures.

 Click here to see previews of the book, or to get your own copy.

Mother's Day Sale!

All NUELOW Games fiction collections (and some of our comics collections as well, since they have fiction in them) are 50% off through Mother's Day! See if Mom has a DriveThruFiction or DriveThruRPG wish-list and if a NUELOW Games release is on it!

Here's a link to the the titles are are on sale! Get Mom something fun to read while she is relaxing or serving lunch. to your little sister!

It's Free Comic Book Day!

While we dont;' have anything made specifically for Free Comic Book Day, we are offering those poor souls who can't make it to a comic book shop (or who got there after all the good stuff was one), our two color comics/rpg hybrid products for FREE until Midnight May 3rd, 2014.

The free offerings are New Adventures of Frankenstein (by Dick Briefer and Lily Renee, with additional material by L.L. Hundal & Steve Miller) and The Unholy Three & OGL Trickery (by Bill Madden and Al Plastino, with additional material by L.L. Hundal & Steve Miller). Click on the titles to see previews and to download your very own copies. Enjoy! (And if you have the time,  let us know what you thought of the books!)

Art by Dick Briefer

Art by Bill Madden

Z is for Zaza the Mystic

I'm closing out A to Z April with a character who I love the idea of, but whose series left a lot to be desired in its execution.

Zaza the Mystic graced the pages of two issues of her self-titled series, starring in six short stories between them. She was a type of character who is the villain in hundreds of pulp fiction and comic book stories--a gypsy con artist tricking people into believing she has the ability to foretell the future. Zaza, however, uses her  highly honed powers of observation, deductive reasoning skills, and talents in delivering cold readings in pursuit of stopping crime rather than committing it. Together with her police detective boyfriend, she stops jewel heists, stock swindles, murders, and more.

The image that introduced Zaza the Mystic. Artist Unknown

The series was written by the great Jerry Seigel and illustrated by a rotating roster of interchangeable artists with bland, mid-1950s romance comics art style. It's a shame publisher Charlton didn't have more unique talent on the strip, as I think the concept deserved a far better presentation than it got.

I also wish the strip had a bit more of an edge to it. However, in 1954, Zaza the Mystic #10 and #11 were among the first publications to sport the Comics Code Authority logo, so you can bet every eggshell was left intact as these stories unfolded. Zaza was a completely "domesticated" gypsy, living in a completely white world where even the bad guys had good manners. As much as I like the concept of the character, I couldn't help but think of Dick Briefer's fantastic Bronze Terror strip (the best of which I compiled in Real American #1). Here was a character who was a modern-day Native American, whose ethnicity was part of who the character was and how the stories unfolded. Racism and bigotry came up several times in the course of the Bronze Terror series... because, well, racists exist and they made great villains even in the 1940s. But, with the self-censorship brought on by the Comics Code. even if Siegel had considered including bigotry against Zaza because of her heritage, it probably wouldn't have passed muster. (And what about the lesson it would teach kids--reminding them that the blondhaired, blue-eyed police officer was dating outside his race?)

We planning to put out a collection of the four best Zaza stories, along with the usual game material in support of it. When exactly we'll do that remains to be seen... there are soooo many great characters that we think need to be brought to the public again, and that we want to play with and create new material for--however meager some of our creations end up being. We hope some of you will want to get to know.these characters and that you'll choose to pick up some of our comics/rpg hybrid e-books.

And with that plug and bit of hopeful thinking. A to Z April comes to a close. I hope some of you out there had as much fun with as I did.

See you in a funny pages!

(PS: Due to foolishness on my part.. R (Rex the Seeing Eye Dog) and W (White Princess of the Jungle) well through the cracks. Look fo rthem soon!)

Y is for Yankee Girl

Among the obscure superheroes that came out of Harry "A" Chesler's production studios perhaps Yankee Girl is the most obscure--but also among the most well-known. She had two appearances, none of which were in titles Chesler himself was involved with publishing and one of these sat undistributed in a warehouse from around 1947 until 1964. However, she was revived by AC Comics in the 1990s, and she was most recently seen in a 2012 graphic novel titled Stars and Stripes Forever. I don't know anything about the AC version, other than they seem to have explained where her magic powers came from.

Yankee Girl takes flight. Artist ID uncertain, but maybe Ralph Mayo

Yankee Girl is secretly socialite Lauren Mason, who, when she utters "three magic words" of Yankee Doodle Dandy, is transformed into a flying, super-strong defender of truth and justice. The source of the magic she draws upon, and the extend of her powers are unknown, but it is established that she is not invulnerable, as she knocked unconscious by bad guys in her first appearance. Or maybe she is invulnerable in some cases, as she seems sturdier (perhaps even bullet proof) in her second appearance.

Yankee Girl first took flight in Dynamic Comics #23 (from Superior), with her second adventure showing up in Danger #16 from I.W. Publishing where she was featured on an excellent cover by Ross Andru and Mike Espostio.

The writer and artist on the Yankee Girl stories is (are?) unknown. Ralph Mayo is credited as the writer and aritst on both her appearances by some sources, but I think someone else whas doing the inking when I compare the on Yankee Girl to his many Judy of the Jungle stories, especially the ones we're including in Judy of the Jungle: Warriors of the Laughing Hyena..

Our discovery of Yankee Girl was the final piece we needed to firm up our plans for volume of Complete Golden Age Oddballs to coincide with the Fourth of July this year. She'll be joined by Major Victory, and we'll be revealing the REAL source of her magic (at least in the NUELOW Heroes and Villains universe.)

And, just for fun, here's a totally off-the-cuff Talent Tree for use with the OGL d20 Modern superpowers system featured introduced on this blog, and expanded upon in Madden's Boys and the Complete Golden Age Oddballs series. This hasn't been play-tested and it amounts to little more than me typing thoughts as they occur. If someone DOES have an opinion on this talent tree and its playability (or lack thereof), please speak up; That's what we have a comments section for! (The rest of the post is Open Game Content and may be reproduced in accordance with this license.)

NEW SUPER TALENT TREE: MAGICAL TRANSFORMATION
You have transformative powers!
   Prerequisite: Any one Minor Power Feat.
   Simple Transformation: When you utter a magic phrase, your clothes become your superhero costume. The transformation lasts until you say the magic word again.
   Minor Transformation: Same as above, but you gain +1 increase to two stats of your choice (determined when this talent is chosen).
   Prerequisite: Simple Transformation
   Major Transformation: Same as above, except you gain an additional +1 increase to your chosen stats, as well as two Minor Power feats (determined when this talent is chosen).
   Prerequisite: Minor Transformation.
  Total Transformation: Same as above, but all attributes are increased by +2, you gain 2 bonus talents, and two bonus feats, Minor Power feats or any others available in the campaign).

X is for X of the Underground

"X of the Underground" was a short-lived series that ran in Military Comics 8 - 13 from Golden Age giant Quality Comics. Edited by Will Eisner and created by Vern Henkel (who wrote and illustrated the first 3 episodes), the series was about a mysterious femme fatale who roamed Nazi occupied Europe, building a network of women underground resistance fighters and helping Allied agents when she could. She frequently operated in disguise, often cross-dressing as a German military officer to accomplish her mission.

X swings into action. Art by Lee Ames.

The "X of the Underground" series consists of fast-paced war-time espionage stories, with X inspiring the oppressed to fight back and engineering poetic (or just plain lethal) justice for loathsome Nazis. She also spends her time dodging an American war correspondent who has identified her and who wants to write her story, help in her efforts, and probably get her naked in a hayloft somewhere. The series is of high quality throughout, with the best episodes being drawn by the aforementioned Henkel, and by Lee Ames and Bob Hebberd. We will be publishing five or six of the "X of the Underground" stories in an upcoming book... we just need to decide on the presentation.

In our minds here at NUELOW Games, X is the same person as Lady Satan, even if X may be a little less coldblooded. We imagine that after she became too well-known around Paris, she gave up the red mask and cloak, honed her disguise skills, and widened her activity base. The "X of the Underground" serve as a nice bridge between the Lady Satan stories in this book, and the Lady Satan fiction and comic story we published here.