itch.io

Midwest Fantasy Wargame's Booklet 9 was the genesis of the entire RPG.  What would happen if we generate a campaign using CHAINMAIL?  Well, if you are tired of dice rolling, fret no more.  There is now an online generator to kick off the initial hexes and factions for your campaign.  Check it out here: https://www.rodneyhamptonpc.com/campaign-creator.html

This is a fantastic survey of the materials we have at our disposal to aid in uncovering the history of early gaming in the Twin Cities and Lake Geneva.  Though these volumes often cover far more ground.  There is a mix of primary sources (interviews, documents, drafts, etc.) and secondary sources amongst this group.  I wish I had them all.  The only one that doesn’t seem to have received mention is the Hawk & Moor series I stumbled into sometime in 2025.  And I look forward to the work being done by Dominic Martyne.  There are many great blogs out there, if you know where to find them.  There are also obscure interviews on youtube or amongst various podcasts that also shine some light in dark places.  Anyway, give Kevbot a follow and check out his other videos on OD&D and early gaming. 

Tune in tonight at 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central for an in depth conversation with Ross (@mythicmountainsrpg) about the lost play techniques from the early days of D&D.  We talk about faction play in Dragons Beyond.

I have taken a first stab at a character generator for Dragons Beyond (vibe coded with Claude). The Thief and Anti-Cleric are missing. Spells and equipment cannot be selected yet, but it's a start. Give it a try and let me know what you think! https://www.rodneyhamptonpc.com/dragons-beyond-character-generator.html

Announcing the Third-Party License for Dragons Beyond. https://www.rodneyhamptonpc.com/third-party-license/

Rumble link https://rumble.com/v75uesg-midwest-fantasy-wargame-character-creation-2-of-3.htm...

Here's the second video wherein I generate a Cleric.

Rumble link too! https://rumble.com/v75tbsw-midwest-fantasy-wargame-character-creation-1-of-3.html

In this video I cover character creation for Midwest Fantasy Wargame: The Primeval RPG (version 2). I will upload a second, shorter video, with another character. In the final video I cover things like encumbrance, movement, the magic system, and the two other optional experience systems.

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.