Updating my GM notebook

     Some time ago, I watched/listened to Glenn Hallstrom explain how he put his GM notebook together. Basically it is a place to put any important tables and lists you may need, as well as holding dice, index cards or whatever ephemera you can fit in there. Here is mine, of course I picked pale blue.

With my dog for contrast

     I have some pregens stuck in the front pocket, index cards and extra pencils (and a couple of dry erase markers) in the pouch.

     From there it gets a bit chaotic, I have plastic sleeves to protect papers from wear and I can use the dry erase markers to make notes. I need to go back through and organize/swap out the pages.

     It starts off with dungeon/ruin environmental hazards, a few more ruins related pages (from Aeons n Auguries) as well as page on generating random terrain. Then some d30 random tables (courtesy of New Big Dragon Games) and then it descends into several bits and bobs including the Labyrinth Lord equipment table and copy of the YE Fast Pack page from B4 Lost City. At the end, we have my copy of Everyone Everywhere and Shady Dragon Inn.

     What happens is I end up not using it, so my new goal is to take it apart and put it back together so that it has an ease of use. Anyone out there have their own GM notebook, or your own idea of what it should contain? Leave a comment below and we'll see what we can come up with.

Deathworld! (and game inspiration in literature)

     So later on my anchorcast, I will be talking about finding inspiration for your games using Deathworld (by Harry Harrison) as an example. First I want you to see the cover.

     The art is by Richard Corben of Heavy Metal magazine fame, the book is a collection from 1968 (original story was released in 1960). I recommend this series if you want adventure without over thinking the plot. I will be back later, hopefully tomorrow, with  stats and expanded thoughts.

     The big thing that needs sorted out is what story to try out next? I have have a plethora of titles to choose from, though many are Appendix N and those are being covered already. Maybe I will check and see what folks thinks. In the meantime, feel free to leave comments and thanks for checking my blog out!

I have a Podcast! (plus my top 3 fave dice)

    And just like that, he had no more need for a blog. Wait a mo, I still do. My anchorcast (as I prefer to say) is my thoughts on different things game and book related, but my blog can show you things. Oh, we have such sights to show you! This will operate in concert with the 'cast so that you can see some of the stuff I talk about. To start off...

Top 3 Fave Dice!!!

Coming in at number 3, we have the amazing D30!! This is my favorite of mine with it's red translucence (and a slight cream swirl that you can't see in this pic) and gold numbering. My others are serviceable Impact d30's but some day I wish to own an Armory or Game Science one.

Number 2 is my big old D20!! Here is a pic for size comparison.

If I am not gentle rolling it, there can be a lot of noise. I mainly use it when I am running games, and sometimes it will start rolling high. Therefore I like to swap between this and my most favorite...

... is Game Science dice! The solids, translucent, and transparent lines. The crisp edges and corners and the fantastic Col. Lou Zocchi is such a wonderful character that it is just nice to say hello and strike up a conversation. The dice though, the dice are just amazing!! Here is a link to check it out!

     I am hoping to operated to operate this in tandem with my anchorcast to provide a complete experience. well, as complete as this can get. You can find my 'cast on Pocket Casts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more, as well as good old Anchor. The cool thing about Anchor is the ability to leave voice message with other Anchorites.

     I am going to leave that there, if you have any questions feel free to leave my a message. I hope to hear from you all soon!

New Appendix N Books?

     Made a trip to the bigger of the two local used bookshops, and could not resist finishing off my Fritz Leiber books. Also found Jack Vance's Eyes of the Overworld, woot!

     Just finished the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser book Swords and Ice Magic last night, what a read! The climax was fantastic, with lasting consequences for the duo. I enjoy when there is a bit of continuity in a series (too much can be obstructive, just ask Marvel and DC) and Leiber threw references to their past experiences, but not to the point of losing a reader who had skipped some stories.

     In terms of things to use at the game table, there seems to be different types of will o the wisps. It could be something to stat up for a session to make things interesting.

     I am thinking that the next book I read will be Burroughs Tarzan of the Apes, mainly to get a feel for a jungle setting that I can use for a region I am working on for a game. Plus, somehow I have never read any Tarzan, so there you go. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think, have you read any of these stories? Any opinions about them?

Fritz Leiber's Swords and Ice Magic!

      My current book is Swords and Ice Magic, the sixth Fafhrd and Grey Mouser book. I have read the first book and part of the second, but a part of me decided to just go ahead and read this one.

     It starts off with a short (fourteen pages I think) story involving Death with each subsequent story getting longer. It is all to set up what comes later, as all good stories should. I am midway through the next to last story and it really seems to have built up to some serious shenanigans and skulduggery.

     I'm wondering what I should follow it up with, any thoughts? Until next time, take care!

King of Elfland's Daughter!

     So I recently jumped back into reading Appendix N literature, since I have a backlog of books I own but have not read. Her is what I think of Lord Dunsany's King of Elfland's Daughter, published in 1924.

What a read! The style of prose was a change of pace, along with the use of vocabulary that was refreshing. I have read of HP Lovecraft singing his praises, stating his dream cycle stories were Dunsanian. There is a faerie tale quality that is a break from the hack and slash of Howard or action adventure of Burroughs. If you have a chance to read this, and you want something a bit different, give it a shot. I have one other of his books, but decided to read something different.

     Good ole Manly Wade Wellman! This is the second Wellman novel (Also the second Silver John) that I have read, the first being The Hanging Stones (published in 1984. After Dark, published in 1980, was a bit more confrontational than I recall Hanging Stones to be. It has John and his friends confronting and ancient race that wants to subvert humanity. Silver John uses his knowledge of folk lore and a book called The Long Lost Friend to great effect. Once you get used to the way characters speak, ie nair is never, hair is hear, hark is to call out, the pages zip along. Well worth searching used bookstores or even the internet.

Diving back into Appendix N Literature!

     Just started reading Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter, which is also my first time reading any of his work. I first heard of Dunsany in relation to HP Lovecraft, who had a fondness for Lord Dunsany.

     What first struck me was the prose, a bit flowery but it does not get in the way of the story unlike some other more well known authors. I am reminded that this was first published in 1924. The DCC patron King of Elfland comes from this book and from what I have read so far, they did well emulating him.
"Master of the verdant realm glimpsed only through sun-dappled groves, the mist of great waterfalls, and the moments of dusk and dawn,the King of Elfland rules all elf-kin from his throne of mist and ice. Fierce once roused, the white-bearded regent keeps watch over the dreaming land,protecting against incursion."
Yep, that sounds like Dunsany's King.

     There are more bits that I would like to share, but only after I have finished. There will be more Appendix N literature to come, as I have a backlog of them to read. It seems silly to continue to pick up books and not read them. Downright irresponsible if you ask me. Anyone out there read this yet, leave a comment, did you like it? Take care and have fun everybody!