itch.io

Hi, thanks - just updated!

Hi, yes, these rules have been used with my group - so I guess they are playtested. I agree that the killing blow for XP is arbitrary, but that was by design to add additional tension. You can easily not use that rule and divide up XP otherwise - remember that they don't get XP for weaker monsters, so even of they kill a horde of 0 level Kobolds it doesn't count. I'm also not worried about power creep like in 5e  since Shadowdark has a different level progression and HP system -- basically its fatal enough combat that I don't worry about power creep as a GM.

Simple, yes! That's exactly it. I wanted keep in line with OSR and Shadowdark design, which is simple and straightforward. No cluttery byzantine rules, let's get right to the point.

Arbitrary? No, at least that's not the intent. I had a couple of design ideas in mind with these rules.

1. Add flavor to Shadowdark by rewarding monster kills but not to distract too much from the core idea of Loot XP.  So you get some, but not more XP than the Loot will get you.
2. Don't encourage players to become Murder Hobos, so you don't get XP for killing monsters that are weaker than your PC.
3. Avoid book keeping. When you reward XP at the end of a 5e game, it's like going over the restaurant bill to add everything up right -- "OK, who killed the Kobolds? And was it really 11? OK, carry the one from Column A to Column B...divide by Party size,...do I want to multiply by CR for extra XP?"  Give out simple points with simple math.
4. Add in some old fashioned party contention with a Keep What Ya Kill rule. That's the only arbitrary rule you can easily do away with, but it is designed to add party tension. In the ODD and early RPG days, even our long-time group of gamer friends could compete for XP and treasure. I forget which game, but there was an Old School RPG that rewarded XP only for personal kills and personal treasure. Boy did that make for some interesting games! 

Thanks again for reading it over, I hope this helps explain why the rules are the way they are.

A/B test for DriveThruRPG vs itch.io using the "pay what you want model".

DriveThru: x70 downloads, zero payments!
itch,io: x15 downloads x2 payments. 

So itchi.io browsers are infinitely more generous than DTRPG-ers!

You can consider Lulu, but DriveThru has a large user base, multiple print options and can do cardstock components (which Amazon cant do). 

No reason why you can't release on multiple platforms and see which one does best for you.

You can self publish through DriveThruRPG and Amazon, they take care of printing and shipping for a piece of the action.

Posted this jam to my game blog and to some other TTRPG/game sites - Writing Challenge – the OSR RPG Jam! | (wordpress.com)

Love to get feedback on Milk and Blood for Dark Albion, any comments appreciated.

Milk and Blood - an OSR Adventure for Dark Albion by EasyEight (itch.io)

Milk and Blood is a low level, introductory adventure for play in Dark Albion: The Rose War. It is intended for 1st (or possibly 2nd) level characters, and occurs mostly in the village of Bacton in Herefordshire. The PCs are called upon to investigate the disappearance of a child amidst a rising tide of pranks and odd goings-on that has caused the local priest to beg for help.

Milk & Blood is more of an investigation, involving mostly non-confrontational interactions with various NPCs, until solving the mystery. Then, at the conclusion of the adventure, the PCs should be able to uncover what has been happening -- possibly aiding one powerful faction, and alienating another. Either path may provide useful plot hooks for future adventures.

Never mind, I needed to change a setting -- first timer on this!

Once you submit a project, what's the typical approval time? I uploaded the Dark Albion adventure yesterday.

Thanks!!

Greetings, I'm working on an introductory adventure for the Lion & Dragon "Dark Albion" setting called "Milk and Blood," in which the PCs are tasked to investigate the disappearance of a child. The players must stop the rise of a potential Chaos Cult while walking a fine line between Lancastrian and Yorkist interests. If folks like the adventure, there's a hook for "The Secret Wardrobe" in which players could be an investigative team for the Crown or other patron. How do I get permission to use this setting? Thanks!