fragments of a blue ruin
Lots of exciting news this month at Vaults of Vaarn towers. Firstly, The Shrike, my enormous Hell-bound OSE adventure module, has been shortlisted for an ENNIE Award! This is a total surprise to me, but a nice one. I spent a lot of writing time feeling that the project was totally out of control creatively… Continue reading Ennie Nomination and Other News
https://www.youtube.com/embed/TQvCU3CM86U?si=uci3Xf0fwteEhUvM I had the pleasure last week of running Vaults of Vaarn 2E live on Twitch for the Weekly Scroll Podcast hosts and Chris P Wolf of Offworlders fame!1 There's now a video of the session on YouTube and an audio podcast version on Spotify. We also talk about the creative direction that I've taken… Continue reading VAULTS OF VAARN 2E: ACTUAL PLAY
As we get closer to the launch of the Vaults of Vaarn: Second Edition crowdfunder campaign, I'm going to share a few more extracts from the upcoming book. I've been working hard over the past year to expand the material on offer for players and GMs, without the book becoming overwhelming. Something I've noted from… Continue reading CAMPAIGN SCOPE: 2E PREVIEW
Autarch Cults The Autarchs were gods in flesh, bearers of the polychromatic Peacock Crown whose dominion over other men was as natural as taking breath. Small wonder that they remain objects of veneration long after the Autarchy fell. Autarch cults can be found across the Urth and beyond it, the statues and relics of the… Continue reading MAJOR FAITHS OF VAARN
It's been quiet on the blog recently. The reason is that I'm busy beavering away on Vaults of Vaarn: Second Edition, which I'm hoping to bring to crowdfunding this year. To give you a preview of some of the expanded content I'm creating for the new edition, here's an unfinished draft of the settlement creation… Continue reading VAARNISH SETTLEMENTS: 2E PREVIEW
My enormous infernal OSE adventure module is now available for purchase at my online store, Antipode Zines. For those who need a reminder, The Shrike is a modular sandbox adventure setting in an abandoned fragment of Hell- a colossal blade dedicated to punishing a nameless God. The Shrike itself is a heaven-harrowing thorn, a black… Continue reading The Shrike Is Now Available For Purchase
Greetings wanderers, just wanted to update you on the progress of my projects and the future of Vaults of Vaarn. Specifically I want to address an issue of much discussion: the availability of the Deluxe Edition hardback. Having spoken with Games Omnivorous, I've made the decision to part ways with the publisher. There's no hard feelings… Continue reading VAULTS OF VAARN: SECOND EDITION
I dreamed of ranks of human beings, dreamed of their remote and ancient faces over which the faintest expressions of love and rage flickered like hints of light from a distant fire. None spoke. The figures were bent to their tasks, each shackled to a desk of fine hard wood on which parchments and stylus… Continue reading HESYCHIAN CONFESSOR
I am pleased to announce that Jacob Marks's entry to the 2024 Vaarn Summer Jam, Penumbral Oasis: Part One, is now available in print format from Antipode Zines. Penumbral Oasis is a three-level dungeon suitable for starting PCs. It contains plenty of new monsters and Exotica, as well as a hook for a second installment… Continue reading PENUMBRAL OASIS: PART ONE
Trade goods are common units of exchange in the blue wastes. The worth of trade goods is measured in an abstract stat called Value, which generally correlates to an item slot’s worth of the good. Therefore 100 grubs can be exchanged for a single bottle of wine, or for any other item or tool that… Continue reading VAARNISH TRADE GOODS
VAULTS OF VAARN 