itch.io

I have completed my proofreading of the POD version of Midwest Fantasy Wargame: The Primeval RPG. I am happy to report, I literally found hundreds of small errors!!! It's incredible what happens when you wait a few weeks and also read something in print with pencil in hand. Fortunately, none of these errors are going to require renumbering the pages. Inconsistent capitalization, repetitive words, minor grammar changes are all present. A few math mistakes, inconsistent table naming, and other nitpicks are also in play. But on the bright side, the product is as good as I can make it at this time. I'll be revising the digital version and then getting a final proof from Amazon before putting it in the wild.

Flip through video posted to YouTube and Rumble.  Will premier in about 30 minutes.  

I think you're still on a discord with me.  Will PM you the message / link.  Thanks for reaching out!

A flip through of the Amazon print on demand proof of version 2 is now up on YouTube and Rumble:

https://rumble.com/v74zqua-midwest-fantasy-wargame-print-on-demand-flip-through....

Soon! 

Updated: Link sent!  Thanks
Original: Sorry for my delayed response.  Can you shoot me an email? rodney dott hampton att <REDACTED> ?

The link to the FREE file has been sent out to everyone who purchased version 1 via itch.  If you did not receive the email, please let me know.  It came from my personal gmail account and you are on the bcc line.

I have published version 2 of Midwest Fantasy Wargame: The Primeval RPG.  My suspicion is that I will have a much larger audience on that platform.  However, I will look through my mailing list (based on the email associated with your itch account) and get a download file out to everyone who has purchased version 1 on this platform.  If you want to share the new version of the game with friends -- or even kick in another $7.50 for the work cleaning up typos, converting the combat system away from Strategos, and adding the index (a huge slog to create!) -- the link is below--v

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/553613/midwest-fantasy-wargame-the-primeval-rpg?affiliate_id=2658330

If you do not receive an email by Monday evening, please contact me here and I'll get it sorted out.

Thanks for the shoutout.  I look forward to reading this through tonight.  Version 2 of Midwest Fantasy Wargame is almost polished up with the simpler system instead of the Strategos-based approach I tried in version 1.

This is the last day to get Dragons Beyond before the sale ends. 5 bucks! And I put the GM screen on sale too. Get it while you can. Links below.

Dragons Beyond

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/464791/Dragons-Beyond?affiliate_id=2658330

Game Master's Screen

https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/470325/Dragons-Beyond-Game-Masters-Screen?affiliate_id=2658330

I'm making both Dragons Beyond and the GM Screen 50% off from tomorrow through New Year in honor of Dragons Beyond getting an advertising slot at the front of Cirsova #25 (a Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense) https://www.amazon.com/Cirsova-Magazine-Thrilling-Adventure-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0...

Trouble Aboard Station Brown is now free.  It was previously posted for $5.  Any donation is appreciated.  This is a turn-based -stein.  It is possible to run this -stein with more than one group of players.  There are elements the Referee can randomize before playing, though the secret identity of one character cannot be easily changed.  One player from a previous session could re-play the game as this particular character without spoiling the fun.

I have just been made to realize the Leonard Patt (not Pratt) was the author of a medieval fantasy wargame designed to emulate Tolkien.  This is on the long list of errata now.  

Check out this 4 part series on reconstructing the original Blackmoor combat system and where I went wrong with Totten.
https://rhampton.substack.com/p/the-robot-is-the-key
https://rhampton.substack.com/p/a-tale-of-two-characters

After considerable additional research by numerous people during and after Arnecon this year, I am scrapping the idea of using Totten's Strategos as the basis for the combat system for Midwest Fantasy Wargame.  Math nerds will cry.  Normal people will rejoice. 

Also received confirmation that I largely got it right with how Hoyt played the Medieval Fantasy Braunstein at DaveCon. 

"But what will the new combat system be? "  Stay tuned.  I think I have figured it out -- finally.  It's a lot closer to Chainmail than Strategos.  Keep those d6 dice handy!

The premier of a true flip through of Move Out and Draw Fire. The rules for insurgency and counter-insurgency seem very relevant to today. If you'd like to participate in a play through with me, let me know. https://youtu.be/TkJtJP7poDA

Men in Metal is a Copper Best Seller on DriveThruRPG. You can purchase it here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/437767/men-in-metal?affiliate_id=2658330

Kindle eBook https://www.amazon.com/Men-Metal-rules-medieval-miniatures-ebook/dp/B0F5QTWQBV

Print on Demand (POD) version https://www.amazon.com/Men-Metal-rules-medieval-miniatures/dp/B0F5RM23CC

QRS https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/438368/men-in-metal-quick-reference-shee...

Token Sheets https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/439358/men-in-metal-token-sheets?affilia...

Discussion board: https://rhampton.itch.io/men-in-metal

I have just realized I completely misread the saving throw stuff in Aketon for character generation and will need to issue a corrective video.  But yes, I'm enjoying the whole system.  Dungeon generation was fun . . . spent all morning building out enough material for 4 sessions (20d6).

Campaign setup and character creation.  Coming at this cold.  Was on a work trip this week and had not looked at the rules in a week.  Hopefully you will consider the use of the Aketon compatibility badge to be acceptable.  If not, I'll remove it as the thumbnail.  https://rumble.com/v6z76pw-aketon-gambeson-livestream.html?e9s=src_v1_mfp

Awesome....thanks for pointing me to this page!

Is a book of monsters in the works, or is that left to us to create?  Easy enough to convert OD&D monsters (I have a comprehensive list of stats through all the OD&D supplements including a few stuffed in Gods, DemiGods, and Heroes.  

Hoping to give this a solo play soon.  Very condensed.  Looks fun.

Since I'm an OD&D geek, I'm taking a look at these rules.  They are def succinct and inspired by OD&D.  Look good for solo play.  I will have to give that a shot before I do a full write up.

On twitter (X) I made the claim yesterday that the situation in this picture could really happen.  How you might ask?
This is quite simply a mage who has been polymorphed into Great Ape.  The mage also happens to be the owner of a Revolving Wand along with a leather bandoleer (containing pellets that "recharge" his wand) and a holster for it.

For anyone who has read Blackmoor Foundations, the inspiration for the Revolving Wand is found on pages 45, 52-53 and the drawing on page 60.  Essentially, a party of adventurers arrive at an island in the Lake-in-the-Heavens via raft.  There is a castle on the island.  The castle's master is Oleg, Protector of the Mountain Wizards.  Oleg is also a giant who is hostile to the approaching party and attacks them by hurling a giant arrow.  The members of the party happen to be from our world and are armed with 2 pistols (a Griswal[d] & Greer horse pistol and a .22 with a 3" barrel).  In the ensuring combat, they manage to bring down the giant with a lucky shot to the head.  May all your adventures be just as gonzo as those Dave Arneson, David Wesely, Dale Nelson, Ross, and Dan Nicholson embarked upon sometime in April - June 1971.

Check it out here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/437767/men-in-metal

There is also a set of token sheets to paste onto blocks, also a QRS.  Enjoy!  The print on demand is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Men-Metal-rules-medieval-miniatures/dp/B0F5RM23CC

Thank you soulbryd.  I am a constant victim of my own ADHD.  Currently working on Boot Hill but will circle back to this soon.

I am down to just 24 errors to get Dragons Beyond printed as a proof. Changing the inside and outside margins fixed a lot of the trouble.

Too many to name.  Here are a few influences:  Bath (scouting game, NPC personalities, family and aging), Featherstone (matchbox method, higher level siege warfare), and Arneson's FFC (the investments and structure of the Blackmoor army campaign),  AD&D 1st edition for the assassin and spying stuff, Barker (weather & siegecraft).

Gotta love waking up to a review like this. #DragonsBeyondRPG

Men in Metal in print should be just fine to purchase. It is available now on Amazon under my name Rod Hampton. Links in the description for this video.  

I've just re-published this set of medieval wargaming rules after some additional play testing and polishing. I've got a series of YouTube videos which cover some of these refinements. More coming soon (Army lists, etc.). There are already token sheets and a QRS available on DriveThru and WargameVault. Just today, I've made a Kindle eBook version available. Due to exclusivity requirements, this means I had to take down the DriveThru version of the rules.  The POD is going to be proofed and available on Amazon soon too. If any of you have interest in the earliest WRG rules from 1969-1970, check out Men in Metal.

That's the problem.  It's pulling from many inspirational sources from early wargaming as well as reconciling early RPG systems such as OD&D, Holmes, Moldvay/Cook, and AD&D 1e and 2e.  Too many to list out.  Bath and Featherstone and Barker will all be part of the DNA.  I still need to dig into Diplomacy variants too.  A lot of D&D founders were part of that movement and culture.

My first POD coming soon to Amazon. If this works out, Dragons Beyond and Midwest Fantasy Wargame will soon follow.

Learning some new skills. Publishing Men in Metal on Amazon as a Kindle and POD file. The Kindle formatting was very painful because you can't just use your own pdf. The POD does use your pdf. Hoping the formatting comes out ok. Setting up the cover was not bad. Men in Metal is much smaller than Dragons Beyond and Midwest Fantasy Wargame. So if I can figure this out for my miniatures game, I should be able to figure it out for a larger publication. Itch is probably best for pdf delivery though. Dead easy compared to DriveThru.

Entitled has been long delayed.  Development began in early 2022 and led to a multi-year delve into early wargaming and RPG history.

I think this will be the final edition of these rules.  I will focus on the Army Lists and Scenarios booklet.  

v2.03

Put 2nd edition on front cover.

Loose order formation should be represented with figures in a checkerboard pattern or with 0.5" between them.

Once a unit is tasked to skirmish, it will never forget its role.

A Square has a zone of control in all directions as does Schiltron.  

Elephants and Chariots require flat ground for a charge.  

Charging figures may overlap prior to melee.  All other overlaps are done post melee.

A formation change is used to fill gaps in the ranks.  Center of front rank must remain stationary when making a formation change. 
Clarified that every time a unit comes to grips with the enemy it must make a mandatory Reaction Test.

Changed the Reaction Test results table to remove grades.  Instead, grades are simply another modifier: Grade E -3; Grade D -1; Grade B +1; Grade A +2.

For a unit reduced to 50%, per WRG missile fire can destroy such a unit, however surrender only occurs if the unit was in melee.

Combat Procedure: Upper die represents the attacker and the lower represents the defender.  This differs from WRGv1 and v2 where the full 1-6 range of results only applied to the lower (negative) die for irregular or barbaric troops.

Added advice to have one person do RF, one TF, one WF in the QRS

Elephantry acting without supporting footmen are treated like mounted troops when they attack solely footmen.

Risk to Leader is now adjusted to handle removal by figure instead of raw casualties like in WRG.  This dramatically increases the risk faced by a leader when he is attached to a unit.  An alternate rule is given more in the spirit of the leader being the last man standing thanks to his bodyguard.

Clarified that Retreat only occurs due to a failed Reaction Test or pre-arranged order.

Added Running Amok for Elephants to the post-melee results

It is unknown why an Organ Gun's Weapon Factor is based on the number of crew (two is typical unless reduced by combat loss).  Likewise, Chariots and Elephantry make it clear in the Weapon Factor table that the WF is per rider.  The driver can only attack to the front but the remainder the riders may attack in any direction.  These things require some play at the table to understand.  I will try to make a video soon on these topics.

I plan to turn this into a POD.  Personally, I just print things out spiral bound at the nearest UPS store.

Minor edits to the text with the exception of the QRS where I consolidated the melee factors and missile factors onto the Weapon Factor sheets.  

This week, I'll be posting the remainder of the videos playing the Battle of Mortimer's Cross using Men in Metal v1.43-1.44. I'll also upload the testing of the CRT changes that took us from Men in Metal v2.00 to 2.01 to 2.02.

The EP example for Hazel has been corrected. 

The abbreviation FFC is now consistently italicized

Helms prevent a catastrophic blow to the head.

Minor layout issues

Men in Metal version 2.01 is available.  This brings the CRT roughly in line to inflict a comparable number of casualties to Chainmail(TM).  I videoed the playtesting yesterday!  The QRS has been trimmed down by moving some Tactical Factors under the Weapon Factor tables.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/437767/men-in-metal?affiliate_id=2658330

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/438368/men-in-metal-quick-reference-shee...