Wednesday, December 31, 2014

This is me... begging for art... for Expanded Petty Gods.

Now that the base layout for the "petty gods" and "minions" sections of Expanded Petty Gods is done, I'm going to beg profusely to the OSR community for art help. (This is a community project and I am seeking donated contributions.)

There are currently 60+ gods entries and 30+ minions entries that have not yet been assigned to artists (in addition to the 2 dozen things which are currently assigned and still in-progress).

New to Expanded Petty Gods? Check out these links:
- Original Petty Gods
Expanded Petty Gods

If by some stroke of luck I could get 90 volunteers to each contribute 1 piece of grayscale or line art (or 45 artists to each contribute 2 pieces, or 30 to contribute 3 pieces) in the next couple of weeks, then 97% of the art for the entire Expanded Petty Gods book would be complete (and the book would be weeks away from being complete)! [All interior art for this book is B&W/grayscale.]

I do have a list of art needs, which are mostly single-figure images (but see below). As artists volunteer their services, I'm asking their preferences as to content type (e.g., odd/weird, dark or humorous, no females, prefer animals, etc.), then I'm going through the needs list with an editor's eye on tone of entry vs. artist's prefs, then throwing out 3 or 4 possibilities, and the artist can choose from those (or pass, if they prefer). Generally, unless I describe the image need otherwise in the offerings, the format for each piece is an individual w/out a background (this allows me to make the image as large as possible in the limited space the layout offers; putting backgrounds on these figures severely limits how large I can make them). Additionally, I'm trying to keep these on 2-week turnaround before considering re-assigning them. I know people have other jobs and/or commissions, but I also know that this stage is the pitfall that could force this project into eternal 'languishment'.

If you have existing illustrations that could be used as a minion, I'll consider accepting those. These are being used as "filler" to assist page breaks, so there are limitations as to what this kind of minion will be named, and how long the copy for that minion will be (at editor's discretion).

The only other "open" submissions I'm taking right now are cult images. (You can provide any input you want for the cult image you provide, even going as far as to write it up, or you can just send a pic and I'll find a writer to create a cult around the image.)

Anyone kind enough to offer up their talents for this daunting project can email pgart(at)newbigdragon(dot)com with their preferences and links to samples (as a reference for what fits your personal style).

This is a great opportunity for people who are trying out new styles or working on spec stuff for themselves as experiments. (E.g., I noticed Jez Gordon was trying to find a new personal style that wouldn't be so labor/time/computer-intensive; this is a great opportunity for everyone to try something out for themselves while simultaneously contributing to a community project.) This is also a great opportunity for people who are trying to expand their profiles as artists and illustrators (e.g., many of you may know Josephe Vandel as a kick-ass map-maker, but the image above is his illustration (and a very cool one, at that).

Any writers that have contributed to this project who would prefer their entry not appear with a blank space next to it, please add your begs and pleads in the comments section below. [Cue Sarah McLachlan music along with pictures of writers in cages, staring up at the camera with puppy-dog eyes.]

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

d30 Sandbox Companion 1-year Anniversary

It was 1 year ago today that I released the d30 Sandbox Companion.

If you would have told me then that 1 year later it would still be bouncing around the Top 20 at RPGNow, I'd have thought you'd failed your save vs. insanity. But there it is, still hanging in there.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to offer the entire OSR community a huge "THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" I've continued to be humbled by the love this oddity has found, not only with old-school RPG'ers, but those outside in the larger RPG community as a whole who've put up with the convention of its odd dice usage, and accepted it on their bookshelves as well.

Also, thanks again as well to Welbo, who helped me polish and polish this thing to be the best it could absolutely be.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Petty Gods "Call for Cults"
(DUE BY MIDNIGHT THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 2ND!)

Have you written a cult that you'd like to see included in Expanded Petty Gods? Send the text by Friday, January 2 to cults(at)newbigdragon(dot)com. If you have not written a cult, do not tell me you'd like to write a cult or that you have an idea for a cult. Only email me if you have a completely written cult for inclusion. If I do not receive it by Saturday morning (January 3) when I check my email, it will NOT be included.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU SHARE THE EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE, PLEASE POST IT AS IT APPEARS AND DO NOT ADD A "mailto:" LINK! The robots are awful about scouring blogs for email addresses and sending spam.

There's no real format for what a cult listing does/doesn't include (or the order in which it is presented). Generally, the cult entries have an overview of the god(s) (or lack of deity) the cult worships, the organization and practices of the cult members, and there are usually stats for key personnel (treated as monster encounter listings... e.g., stats for priests of various levels, stats for initiates, etc.), and sometimes the addition of new spells and/or magic items (spells and magic items will be moved to a different part of the book, so treat them as separate listings, but within the same document; stats for cult members will stay with listing so feel free to work them in as you see fit).

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Lightning Round" BONUS EDITION!

****** ENTRIES CLOSED ******

VERY IMPORTANT! THIS IS A LIGHTNING ROUND! I WILL ONLY ACCEPT THE FIRST FIVE SUBMISSIONS THAT ARE SENT TO ME (VIA EMAIL NOTED BELOW)! I WILL UPDATE THIS POST TO ANNOUNCE WHEN SUBMISSIONS HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

BTW, There's no need to claim this image or claim a spot. The order in which I receive the emails will stake your claim!


General Description: I got some really great entries the other day for a particular image (the image at left that I re-inked from the Byam Shaw original). So I decided to include all of the various entries in Expanded Petty Gods under the same image. The challenge today... write your own entry for the same image!

Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

Send your descriptions in .rtf, .txt, .doc or .docx format only. DO NOT SEND PDFs!!!
Mail your entry to: pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com

IMPORTANT: IF YOU HAVEN'T PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED FOR "PETTY GODS" PUBLICATION, INCLUDE YOUR NAME AS YOU'D LIKE YOUR CREDIT TO APPEAR WITH YOUR ENTRY!

CONTINUED RULE FOR THIS ROUND: The minion you write up has to serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc.), rather than serving a particular petty god.

BTW, if you've submitted an entry before for this image, you're quite welcome to submit another, but please give it a new name.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Final Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round" Challenge

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON A WRITE-UP UNLESS YOU FIRST CLAIM IT HERE (VIA COMMENTS), AND I OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE CLAIMANT!

REVISED RULE FOR THIS ROUND: The minion you write up has to serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc.), rather than serving a particular petty god.

TIME CUTOFFS FOR THIS CHALLENGE....
GMT+1 (Sweden/Germany) - Tuesday, December 16, 7:00 a.m.
United Kingdom, Greenwich Mean Time - Tuesday, December 16, 10:00 a.m.
United States, Easter Time Zone - Tuesday, December 16, 3:00 a.m.
United States, Central Time Zone - Tuesday, December 16, 2:00 a.m.
United States, Mountain Time Zone - Tuesday, December 16, 1:00 a.m.
United States, Pacific Time Zone - Tuesday, December 16, 12:00 a.m. (Midnight tonight)
United States, Alaska Time Zone - Monday, December 15, 11:00 p.m.
Australian Capital Territory - Tuesday, December 16, 5:00 p.m.

Here are the rules... (UPDATED RULES; PLEASE READ)
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim at a time per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #4 below.)

2. You have to complete the write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by the time noted above (per your time zone).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have approximately 12 hours from the time they claim it to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

5. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #1
(illustrator: Arthur Rackham)
[completed/received]

Kash-Kash
by James Spahn
The Kash-Kash is a cursed, pathetic creature who drifts across the planes of reality eager to serve a divine master as their cupbearer and court jester. Unfortunately, it is a horrible, clumsy, yowling thing that appears to be a cross between a kobold and a coyote that somehow prances about awkardly on its hind legs.


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2
(illustrator: Anne Merriman Peck)
[completed/received]

Augenwinkel
by Christopher Stogdill
Augenwinkel are servitors to petty gods of small areas like a home or frequently used campsite. Their primary function is to serve and guides and intermediaries between the petty gods and mortals.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3
(illustrator: Richard Heighway)
[completed/received]

Ghostly Lecher
by Matthew W. Schmeer
The ghosts of ancient mortals who were enamored with death when they were alive, Ghostly Lechers serve the gods of death merely as
rubbernecking hangers-on. Wherever a gristly death has occurred, a Ghostly Lecher is sure to be found, feeding on the deathwave
vibrations that emanate from the corpse.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #4
(illustrator: William H. Robinson)
[completed/received]

Arbitrator of Sphere
by Eric Potter
These wise sages are entrusted by each and every petty god to help settle disputes arising from conflicting spheres of influence. Revered for their wisdom and experience, Arbitrators have the final say should one petty god’s dominion be shown to overlap another’s.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Lightning Round" Challenge

VERY IMPORTANT! THIS IS A LIGHTNING ROUND! ANY AND ALL SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED IN TIME WILL BE INCLUDED! BUT YOU ONLY HAVE 4 HOURS TO FINISH THIS CHALLENGE! NO SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE CUT-OFF TIME!

TIME CUTOFFS FOR THIS CHALLENGE....
GMT+1 (Sweden/Germany) - Monday, December 15, 12:00 a.m. (midnight)
United Kingdom, Greenwich Mean Time - Sunday, December 14, 11:00 p.m.
United States, Easter Time Zone - Sunday, December 14, 6:00 p.m.
United States, Central Time Zone - Sunday, December 14, 5:00 p.m.
United States, Mountain Time Zone - Sunday, December 14, 4:00 p.m.
United States, Pacific Time Zone - Sunday, December 14, 3:00 p.m.
United States, Alaska Time Zone - Sunday, December 14, 2:00 p.m.
Australian Capital Territory - Monday, December 15, 10:00 a.m.

General Description: I got some really great entries the other day for a particular image (the image at left that I re-inked from the Byam Shaw original). So I decided to include all of the various entries in Expanded Petty Gods under the same image. The challenge today... write your own entry for the same image!

Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

Send your descriptions in .rtf, .txt, .doc or .docx format only. DO NOT SEND PDFs!!!
Mail your entry to: pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com

IMPORTANT: IF YOU HAVEN'T PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED FOR "PETTY GODS" PUBLICATION, INCLUDE YOUR NAME AS YOU'D LIKE YOUR CREDIT TO APPEAR WITH YOUR ENTRY!

CONTINUED RULE FOR THIS ROUND: Unlike the last few rounds, this round the minion you write up may serve a particular petty god (that rule has been off the table the last couple of rounds), but they may also serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc., instead of serving a particular petty god). If the minion serves a particular petty god, please make sure that god is already included in the book (I'd rather not have to work a new god entry in to justify a minion); you're also welcome to ask me to recommend a god based on your concept. If you make them serve a particular type of petty god, and I know there's an entry for that type of god, I may connect the minion with that petty god when the minion copy gets put into the layout.

BTW, if you've submitted an entry before for this image, you're quite welcome to submit another, but please give it a new name.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round"
Challenge #7 (Jason Sholtis Edition Part II)

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON A WRITE-UP UNLESS YOU FIRST CLAIM IT HERE (VIA COMMENTS), AND I OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE CLAIMANT!

CONTINUED RULE FOR THIS ROUND: Unlike the last few rounds, this round the minion you write up may serve a particular petty god (that rule has been off the table the last couple of rounds), but they may also serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc., instead of serving a particular petty god). If the minion serves a particular petty god, please make sure that god is already included in the book (I'd rather not have to work a new god entry in to justify a minion); you're also welcome to ask me to recommend a god based on your concept. If you make them serve a particular type of petty god, and I know there's an entry for that type of god, I may connect the minion with that petty god when the minion copy gets put into the layout.

Today's speed round (as yesterday's speed round) is brought to you courtesy of Jason Sholtis. With today's round, and hopefully 1-1/2 more rounds (I'll explain the half-round later), the content for the "Minions/Knights/Servitors" section will close in a few days having just topped 100 entries. I would be REALLY happy with that number!

Here are the rules...
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim at a time per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #4 below.)

2. You have to complete the write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by midnight PST tonight (Saturday night).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Sunday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have until midnight PST Sunday night to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

5. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #1
[completed/received]

Venous Exsanguinator
by Eric Potter
Utilized by the Lords of Bloodshed to seek revenge against survivors of battle, these tiny leeches strike in the dead of night, carefully using long, slender legs to burrow slowly and unnoticed into any exposed orifice, such as open wound, ear, anus, or most often – nostril, while a victim is sleeping.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2
[completed/received]

Milduitic
by Vance Atkins
The Milduitic are found impassively guarding remote desert tombs and temples in honor of various insectoid gods and godlets. Created for, and tasked with, this role, they are above bribery and will resolutely defend their responsibility with force of arms.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3
[completed/received]

Ouster Apes, AKA Jungle Cyclops
by Christopher Stogdill
Ouster Apes serve as protectors for petty gods located in a sub-tropical environment. These large creatures are distinguishable from other apes by their shaggy, almost mangy, unkempt fur and their prominent large single eye.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #4
[completed/received]

Ggiyy, Eidolon Knight of Hate
by Matthew W. Schmeer

It is little known that the Jale God employs twelve knights to protect the 12 Eidolons scattered across the world and ensure their separation. Ggiyy, the Eidolon Knight of Hate, may be one of the only knights whose identity is fully known, as he is a frequent visitor to magical academies and royal courts throughout the realms.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round"
Challenge #6 (Jason Sholtis Edition Part I)

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON A WRITE-UP UNLESS YOU FIRST CLAIM IT HERE (VIA COMMENTS), AND I OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE CLAIMANT!

ADJUSTED RULE FOR THIS ROUND: Unlike the last few rounds, this round the minion you write up may serve a particular petty god (that rule has been off the table the last couple of rounds), but they may also serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc., instead of serving a particular petty god). If the minion serves a particular petty god, please make sure that god is already included in the book (I'd rather not have to work a new god entry in to justify a minion). If you make them serve a particular type of petty god, and I know there's an entry for that type of god, I may connect the minion with that petty god when the minion copy gets put into the layout.

Today's speed round is brought to you courtesy of Jason Sholtis, who is searching for some more images (so hopefully we'll have a "round 2" of his work over the weekend). In the last week, the minions list has grown by about 25 entries. With today's round, and hopefully 2 more rounds, the content for the "Minions/Knights/Servitors" section will close at the beginning of next week having just topped 100 entries. I would be REALLY happy with that number!

Here are the rules...
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim at a time per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #4 below.)

2. You have to complete the write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by midnight PST tonight (Friday night).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Saturday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have until midnight PST Saturday night to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

5. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2
[completed/received]

Myrmidons of Paranoid Gods
by John Everett Till
The Myrmidons of Paranoid Gods are cyclopean android-demon servitors of evolved machine intelligences. These intelligences are always petty (in every sense of the word) gods, are invariably paranoid, and all too often entirely mad.


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2
[completed/received]

Guardians of Laam
by Matthew W. Schmeer
Descended from ruined seed of Mi-go that fused with an unnamed reptilian race in eons past, Guardians of Laam protect the incubating eggs of Pherosathoola, the Petty Goddess of Sexual Fear. "Laam" is the term for embryonic succubi; these creatures do not have a name for themselves and so are often referred to simply as "Guardians".


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3
[completed/received]

Mother of all Minions
by Eric Potter
This poor, childless servant of the petty goddesses of fertility has taken it upon herself to become caretaker to all minions everywhere.

[I received three total entries for this—the one above by Eric Potter, one by Paul Wolfe, and another by Vance Atkins. The other two have been edited slightly, and will appear as minions, but with different illustrations.]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #4
[completed/received]

Pox Knight
by Eric Potter
These unfortunate souls are devout defenders of Ogrimox, the petty god of purulent skin conditions. “Blessed” by his loving touch, these fierce warriors main intent is to spread the dominion of their god.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round"
Challenge #5 (Joel Priddy Edition Part II)

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON A WRITE-UP UNLESS YOU FIRST CLAIM IT HERE (VIA COMMENTS), AND I OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE CLAIMANT!

CONTINUED RULE FOR THIS ROUND: The minion you write up has to serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc.), rather than serving a particular petty god.

After a rousing speed round this morning, we're going to go ahead and do an "evening" edition of the "Minions Speed Round" Challenge, so that folks without flexible days can get in on the action. As this morning, these minions-to-be come courtesy of Joel Priddy.

Here are the rules...
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim at a time per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #4 below.)

2. You have to complete the write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by midnight PST tonight (Tuesday night).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have until midnight PST Wednesday night to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

5. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #1
[completed/received]

Aretia
by Vance Atkins
The Aretia appear as barefoot adolescent girls in service to Lubella (Deity of the Awkward Teen Years), as well as deities associated with whispered gossip.


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2
[completed/received]

Puddlegeists
by Eric Potter
Minions of the petty gods of folly, these pesky elemental tricksters get a real kick watching adventurers fall on their asses. Puddlegeists wait patiently for unsuspecting passersby, then as they are being stepped over, reach up and grab at ankles or feet.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3
[completed/received]

Visible Stalker
by Matthew W. Schmeer
Roughly the size of a normal swan and looking somewhat like a child's awkward attempt to create an oversized decoy of an orange-billed flaxen waxfeather, the Visible Stalker is the bane of magic-users the world over.

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round"
Challenge #4 (Joel Priddy Edition)

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON A WRITE-UP UNLESS YOU FIRST CLAIM IT HERE (VIA COMMENTS), AND I OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE CLAIMANT!

CONTINUED RULE FOR THIS ROUND: The minion you write up has to serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc.), rather than serving a particular petty god.

Well here we go again... a couple more days of speed round challenges. Today's minions-to-be come courtesy of Joel Priddy, as will tomorrow's minions-to-be.

Here are the rules...
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim at a time per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #4 below.)

2. You have to complete the write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by midnight PST tonight (Tuesday night).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have until midnight PST Wednesday night to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

5. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #1
[completed/received]

Grampajack
by Matthew W. Schmeer
Although he appears to be nothing more than an old man's head trailing his entrails behind him, Grampajack is a favored servitor of the entire petty god pantheon, serving as the Grand High Jester of the Court of the Petty Gods.


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2
[completed/received]

Polisus of the Larder
by Vance Atkins
Minion to those gods of the butcher or hearth, and those who prepare for lean times, the polisus serves as a guardian for those who have prepared well, and made the correct offerings. The polisus is typically encountered as a hog carcass (more rarely beef or goat).


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3
[completed/received]

Y'ko
by Eric Potter
Gifted with tiny Amulets of Underwater Breathing by the generous petty gods of Fortune, the Y’ko spend most of their short lives collecting wished-upon coins from the bottoms of fountains, wells, ponds, rivers, and streams, and will bestow nearly all to their petty gods.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #4
[completed/received]

Laughing Cocks of Hellish Mirth
by Rorschachhamster
These foul fowl are servants of lesser gods of witchcraft, sorcery and the hellish arts, often part of the entourage of powerful fiends. They cackle endlessly about jokes only they and their masters understand, cursing those around them in the process.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Rounds" Challenge Re-cap

So in just a few short days, you guys have risen to the challenge and written up 12 new minions/knights/servitors for Expanded Petty Gods. I know Matthew Schmeer has posted all of the ones he wrote over at RendedPress, but since the others haven't, below is just an overview of the various items submitted. There is some really beautiful stuff here!!!

FROM SPEED ROUND CHALLENGE #1
THE TWEE PHILOSOPHERS
Written by Matthew W. Schmeer
Art by Horace J. Knowles

Divine homunculi created by Uroborialis, Petty Goddess of Instinctual Wisdom, to debate the meaning of existence and the means of survival.
"SIR" JEAN-QUE HEUREQUEQUE
Written by Eric Potter
Art by Horace J. Knowles

This self-proclaimed Knight is an outcast, shunned and reviled by his Halfling race. His vengeance is boundless and he will seek to right any wrong uttered against any chaotic petty god.
THE VERDIGRIM
Written by Garrisonjames
Art by Horace J. Knowles

Dark green-skinned eldritch humanoids descended from several distinct lineages of homunculi (they adamantly deny any relation to goblin-kind whatsoever), the Verdigrim are a people not only devoted to alchemy, they were born of it—they reproduce in batches brewed-up in alembics by secret processes shared only amongst the most accomplished of their kind.
BRUJJ (MALLIKARRI)
Written by Garrisonjames
Art by Horace J. Knowles

Ruthless idolators and bandits, the Mallikarri only ever worship idols that they have stolen from other people. They never carve their own idols, never name them for themselves; no good comes from a god that was not taken in a raid upon others. They worship any and every Petty God whose idol they can steal.



FROM SPEED ROUND CHALLENGE #2
BAT-FACED STROKECHUCKERS
Written by Matthew W. Schmeer
Art by Richard J. LeBlanc, Jr.

(Minions of Thwizeviblyz, Petty God of Baby Laughter, an aspect of the Jale God)
Despite their bald-headed and bearded fearsome appearance, Bat-faced Strokechuckers are expert ticklers; they can sneak up to any child under the age of 3 and make them giggle with nothing but a soft touch across the chin, brow, or crook of knee or arm. They exist to serve Thwizeviblyz by eliciting peals of child laughter at unexpected moments, and are experts at this task.
SEPULTURAL WYRM
Written by E.T. Smith
Art by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Giant pale snakes found creeping in the wake of death gods and war demons, Sepultural Wyrms are cross-dimensional burrowing predators who feed on the despair of warriors fallen in battle. They particularly relish the anguish of defeated heroes.
SYBEVMRY AND CREQVG'N
Written by Matthew W. Schmeer
Art by Reidar Kjelsen

Sybevmry and Creqvg'n are quasi-demonic tail lice who inhabit the tangled, burr-filled tail of Cowie, the emaciated calf companion of Curdle, the Petty Goddess of Blind Milk Maids. Normally the smallest of all known demonic beings, Sybevmry and Creqvg'n spend their time hitching free rides and generally having a life of ease amongst the strands and follicles of Cowie's unkempt hide. However, during the Dark Moon Festival (held every fourteen years in honor of Ywehbobbobhewy, Lord of Waters, King of Mirrors, Patriarch of the Most Profound, Lord of Waters, King of Mirrors, Patriarch of the Most Profound) they are granted a boon: they enlarge to the size of small housecats and feed on the blood of the male sacrifices.


FROM SPEED ROUND CHALLENGE #3
DIVINE LOUSE CRAB
Written by Matthew W. Schmeer
Art by Richard J. LeBlanc, Jr.

The four-legged, hand-footed, spear-toting Divine Louse Crabs exclusively serve the gods and goddesses of sexuality, plaguing anyone who displeases them in a multitude of ways.
[Little did Matthew know when he wrote this, I'd already penned a petty god of venereal afflictions and sexual disfunction named Morbiphallugus.]

YNNYM
Written by Matthew W. Schmeer
Art by Franz Graf von Pocci w/ Richard J. LeBlanc, Jr.

Ynnym are oversized bastard chimeras, having the head of a cycloptic sea dragon, the front portion and tail of a lion, and the rear portion of a donkey. Their bodies are roughly the size of elephants, and the sea dragon's serpentine neck is comparable in size and girth to that of a young giant python. Ynnym are traditionally used by the gods of minor treasures to guard pathways to vaults hidden throughout the wilderness.
MURMUROTH
Written by Erik Jensen
Art by Arthur Rackham

The murmuroth, also known to some demonologists as the Men of Keroo, are tiny extraplanar agitators who often take contract work from deities who wish to test, motivate, or torture one of their followers.
ARFIX
Written by Darcy Perry
Art by Byam Shaw w/ Richard J. LeBlanc, Jr.

Arfix are the avenging angels of blades and bows broken on the field of battle. Despite a great deal of theological study on the subject, religious scholars are still at a loss as to which petty deities the Arfix serve.
[I have a bigger plan for this illustration (and the minion as a whole) that involves as many as a half-dozen versions of the listing. This represents only 1 of many potential versions.]


Saturday, December 6, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round" Challenge #3

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON A WRITE-UP UNLESS YOU FIRST CLAIM IT HERE (VIA COMMENTS), AND I OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE CLAIMANT!

NEW RULE FOR THIS ROUND: The minion you write up has to serve a certain type or kind of petty god (e.g., a petty god with a particular domain, a petty god of a certain race, etc.), rather than serving a particular petty god.

Thanks to the last couple of speed rounds, and the folks who rose to the challenge (Garrison James, Eric Potter, Matthew Schmeer, and E.T. Smith), as well as David Baymiller at the OSR Library for granting the use of a couple of Lovecraftian races, the "Minions/Knights/Servitors" section of the Expanded Petty Gods book is really starting to shape up. So, I figure one more "Speed Round" challenge and the "Minions/Knights/Servitors"section should be in good enough shape to start layout this week.

Today, we have a leftover illustration from yesterday, an inking I did of a PD image by Franz Graf von Pocci (because the image was too compromised to use as-is), a classic Arthur Rackham piece, an another inking I did of a PD image by Byam Shaw (also because the image was too compromised to use as-is).

Here are the rules...
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim at a time per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #5 below.)

2. You have to complete the write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by midnight PST tonight (Saturday night).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Sunday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have until midnight PST Sunday night to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If no entry is received from the first backup by the time I check email Monday morning, I may or may not pull the option off the table.

5. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

6. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #1:
Who are these four-legged, hand-footed, spear-toting dudes? Who do they serve? Abilities? Defenses?
[completed/received]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2:
What in the hell is this? How are they used? Guardians? Steeds? Something else entirely? Do they speak? If so, what language(s). How does the single eye affect their combat abilities?
[completed/received]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3:
What are you going to do with this rather generic looking impish creature to keep it from being a bland minion?
[completed/received]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #4:
Who are these angelic (demonic?) archers? Who do they serve? What do their arrows do? Is that a short sword or a long dagger? You know the drill.
[completed/received]

GAUNTLET THROWN!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round" Challenge #2

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE DO NOT WORK ON A WRITE-UP UNLESS YOU FIRST CLAIM IT HERE (VIA COMMENTS), AND I OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AS THE CLAIMANT!

Since I think the "Minions/Knights/Servitors" section of the Expanded Petty Gods book could use a few more entries, and I don't want to have to struggle with getting artwork, I'm going to throw out a few more pre-done illustrations and issue another "Speed Round" challenge to write them up. 2 of the image below are by me, and the other 2 are from Wikimedia Commons.

Here are the rules...
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #5 below.)

2. You have to complete write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by midnight PST tonight (Friday night).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Saturday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have until midnight PST Saturday night to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If no entry is received from the first backup by the time I check email Sunday morning, I'll go to the second backup (third claimer) who has until Midnight PST Sunday.

5. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

6. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #1:
Who are these four-legged, hand-footed, spear-toting dudes? Who do they serve? Abilities? Defenses? [holding for speed round #3]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2:
What are these four-fingered, muscle-bound behemoths? Who do they serve? Abilities? Defenses? Do their eyes do anything special?
[completed/received]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3:
Who is this serpent-killing ronin drawn by Utagawa Kuniyoshi? What makes him so special that he is worthy to serve a god (or gods) directly? What are his accomplishments? Are there any special magic items he possesses?
[completed/received]


MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #4:
Who are this couple illustrated by Reidar Kjelsen? Are they unique? Or are they just one example of a group of minions that come in pairs? Who do they serve? Honestly, I'd rather not ask too many more questions about this one, for fear of limiting the creativity to be had with it!
[completed/received]

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Petty Gods "Minions Speed Round" Challenge

Since I think the "Minions/Knights/Servitors" section of the Expanded Petty Gods book could use a few more entries, and I don't want to have to struggle with getting artwork, I'm going to pull a few public domain images out of the archive and issue a "Speed Round" challenge to write them up. The illustrations below are all by Horace J. Knowles (who I need to feature some time as part of my "Really Old Old-school Artists" series).

Here are the rules...
1. The first person who claims an image via a comment below (one claim per person, please) gets to write it up. (But additional claimers will be considered "Backups" per #2 below.)

2. You have to complete write-up and email it to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com by midnight PST tonight (Thursday night).

3. If there's no entry in my inbox when I check email tomorrow (Friday) morning, I will take the entry away and give a chance to the first backup (i.e., second person who claimed an entry) and they will have until midnight PST Friday night to complete the write-up and email it.

4. If no entry is received from the first backup by the time I check email Saturday morning, I'll go to the second backup (third claimer) who has until Midnight PST Saturday to email the entry. (BTW, I'll be up by 6:00 a.m. both Sat. and Sun. this weekend, due to a volunteering obligation, so I'll be checking email bright-and-early.)

5. If no entry is received from the second backup by the time I check email Sunday morning, I'll go to the second backup (third claimer) who has until Midnight PST Sunday.

6. If you have already completed an entry, you are eligible to be a backup (please express that interest when making your first claim). Otherwise, you may only be working on 1 claim at a time. If you want to be considered for more than 1, please list them in order of preference.

7. Use the Lab Lord format for entries as described in the previous Minions/Knights/Servitors post.

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #1:
Who are the 6 academic minions represented here (assuming person on right is a messenger or similar). How are they known collectively (group name)? What are their individual names? What kind/type of gods do they serve? What is the expertise of each?
[complete/received]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #2:
Who is the three-headed "knight" pictured here? Whom does he serve (or is he a freelance)? Did he always have three heads? Does his sword have a name? What are the sword's powers?
[complete/received]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #3:
Who is the alchemist/brewer/apothecary pictured here? Is he an individual? Or is he part of a larger group of alchemists/brewers/apothecaries that serve gods? What kind of abilities does he/do they have?
[complete/received]

MINIONS SPEED ROUND OPTION #4:
What is this race of medusal giants called? (I say "medusal" because, well... look at his hair.) What kind of gods do they serve? Attacks? Defenses?
[complete/received]

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

COMPLETE PETTY GODS
MINIONS/KNIGHTS/SERVITORS LIST

Here is the complete list (as I have it) for the "Minions, Knights and Servitors" section of the Expanded Petty Gods book. THIS POST INCLUDES ONLY MINIONS/KNIGHTS/SERVITORS AND DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY "GODS" (for the list of gods, go here).

If you see a credit that's wrong, or know that one that you've already written/submitted is not listed here, please email copy immediately to pgcopy(at)newbigdragon(dot)com. (PLEASE NOTE: If you share this email, please share it as it appears here and do not add a "mailto:" link; I want to be able to keep this address up as long as possible for this project, and would prefer that the spam-crawlers not find it; thanks for understanding. I'm already getting spam to the pgart email address.)

I will also accept new minion entries IF AND ONLY IF you can finish writing them by this Sunday (December 7th) and have them to me by the time I check my email Monday morning. After that, there is no guarantee they'll be included.

Provide stat blocks as outlined here...
No. Encountered: (as #d# die notation; e.g. 1d8, not 1-8)
Alignment: (single-axis/simple alignment: Lawful, Neutral, or Chaotic)
Movement: (as you feel comfortable by your edition; I'll convert)
Armor Class: # (descending; if you list as ascending, please note that)
Hit Dice: #
Attacks: attack type(s) or Special
Damage: #d# per attack type or Special
Save: X# (class and level equivalent; e.g., F12)
Morale: # (LL uses a range from 2 to 12, with 12 being "never fails morale check")
Hoard Class: X, #gp (per LL: AEC system)
XP: # (per LL:AEC system)


Minion/Servitor NameServesWriter FirstWriter Last
Abomination of SkaalSkaalCharlesTurnitsa
Aeshek gods of lost/misplaced thingsPaulWolfe
Ahuizotllake and river godsJohn EverettTill
Angelic Servitor: Antlerfooted Archerpetty gods of the forestEricPotter
Angelic Servitor: Arfixwar gods and gods of battleDarcyPerry
Angelic Servitor: Dianusimmalesser spirits/gods of justiceE.T.Smith
Angelic Servitor: Inflammable ServantVariesMatthew W.Schmeer
Angelic Servitor: Sadepetty gods of the Nine HellsEricPotter
Angelic Servitor: Shaft of Erospetty gods of love, lust, obsessionChristopherPaul
Angelic Servitor: Tanumaru AnyMatthew W.Schmeer
Angelic Servitor: Vedelris Valkayne gods of the fire planesVanceAtkins
Arbitrator of SphereAnyEricPotter
AtacornAtanuweMatthew W.Schmeer
Augenwinkel (Glimmer Faerie)petty gods of small areasChristopherStogdill
Bat-faced Strokechuckers Thwizeviblyz Matthew W.Schmeer
Being of IbBokrugNicolasSenac
Behni the ImpVariesChrisTamm
Blue MaidenAny deity seeking balanceJonasMustonen
Bob the CatYwehbobbobhewyMatthew W.Schmeer
BoglingsClaytonian JP
BranersPorky
Brujj (Mallikarri)VariesJamesGarrison
Child of NeubNeubMarkBober
Child of SertettiSertettiEricFabiaschi
Child of the UnderworldUnderworld deitiesRichard J.LeBlanc, Jr.
Child of YeolnumaYeolnumaJamesGarrison
CowieCurdleMatthew W.Schmeer
Cubic DroneHexadronColinChapman
Deiphagous MaggotAny deity of decayLoganKnight
Deus Ex MachinaAnyJonasMustonen
Divine AuditorsWicked SkeinJohn EverettTill
Divine Louse CrabsGods/goddesses of sexualityMatthew W.Schmeer
EditaurVariesRichard J.LeBlanc, Jr.
Elder ThingVariesDavidBaymiller
Eye ImpAnyBoricGlanduum
Favored of YeolnumaYeolnumaJamesGarrison
Flying PolypVariesDavidBaymiller
FreaklingUrgluTerjeNordin
FruggarKing Shroom, fungi-related deitiesJamesGarrison
Fyre FaeNoxTimBrannan
Ggiyy Jale GodMatthew W.Schmeer
Ghostly Lecher Petty gods of deathMatthew W.Schmeer
Giant Space Baby VariesJonasMustonen
Glimmer PaladinDerral-OrthTBDTBD
Grampajack Entire pantheon of petty godsMatthew W.Schmeer
Gray Messenger Gods of death and destructionTBDTBD
Guardians of LaamPherosathoolaMatthew W.Schmeer
GurgimSpecial (Clerics)JamesGarrison
Heartless DeadAny necromantic deityShadrac MQ
Hedel-manXinraelGregGorgonmilk
Hound of TindalosVariesDavidBaymiller
InsectmanAny insect-related deityCaseyGarske
Kash-KashAny who'll have itJamesSpahn
Knights of the Carmine IcosagramDiit’WentiiLegion
KthoimVarious unnameable powers probably best left unnamedJamesGarrison
Laughing Cocks of Hellish MirthLesser gods of witchcraft, sorcery and the hellish arts Rorschachhamster
Merkor the ShamblerHas no allegiancesStevenDanielson
Minon of SkaalSkaalCharlesTurnitsa
Miri-NigriChaugnar FaugnDavidBaymiller
MonitorDiit’WentiiLegion
Mook of VerthishVerthishMatthew W.Schmeer
Mother of all MinionsVaries (incl. goddesses of fertility)EricPotter
Mouthless TongueTonyaMatthew W.Schmeer
MurmurothAnyErikJensen
Myrmidons of Paranoid GodsEvolved machine intelligences John EverettTill
NipletethCurdleMatthew W.Schmeer
OkkinCorotus ThallianPaulBrinkmann
Petty ImpAny chaotic petty godJamesMishler
Polisus of the Larder Gods of the butcher or hearth VanceAtkins
Pox KnightOgrimox EricPotter
Puddlegeist petty gods of folly EricPotter
SandmanHlinjassaSimonForster
Scarabic Horde (Member)YeolnumaJamesGarrison
Schmetterlinge lawful petty gods and nymphsEricPotter
ScuttlerYeolnumaJamesGarrison
Sepultural Wyrm Death gods and war demonsE.T.Smith
Servant of Mosht Al BloppMosht Al BloppCharlesTurnitsa
Shadow CreatureCult of the White ShadowCharlesTurnitsa
Shadow SnakeCult of the White ShadowCharlesTurnitsa
Sir DaraneolusChel-KlothDavidHaraldson
Sir GroltDavidHaraldson
“Sir” Jean-Que HeurequequeEricPotter
Sir ZohanAtteMustonen
Space Baby, GiantJonas Mustonen
Sybevmry & Creqvg'nCurdleMatthew W.Schmeer
SylaNoxTimBrannan
TaartkinDark forces of failed bakingVanceAtkins
Temple HyenaAny chaotic deityJonasMustonen
TetskuizeFormer minion of CurdleMatthew W.Schmeer
TithonoidAny insect-related deityErikJensen
Twee Philosophers Uroborialis Matthew W.Schmeer
TzitzimineAny chaotic celestial deityJohn EverettTill
Venous Exsanguinator Lords of bloodshedEricPotter
Verdigrim VariesJamesGarrison
Visible Stalker AnyMatthew W.Schmeer
Voormi TsathogguaJamesMishler
Wälläkatütün VerthishMatthew W.Schmeer
Winged MonkeyCorotus ThallianPaulBrinkmann
XinDeath gods and chaotic moon godsRichard J.LeBlanc, Jr.
XulChthonic gods and demon princelingsAlanBrodie
Yeth HoundGods of death and destructionRichard J.LeBlanc, Jr.
Y'koGods of fortuneEricPotter
YnnymTreasure godsMatthew W.Schmeer