Accursed RPG Options

[the_dunner]

With today's post, Ross presents the tale of the Blood Witch, Sanguinara. She who created the Dhampir Witchbreed.

Sanguinara, the Blood Witch

[Grinder]

I'd like to read about magic, abilities of player characters, and game mechanics.

[the_dunner]

Hey, Grinder,

Our 6/28 post delved into Witchcraft a bit, which is the only true magic in the Accursed game setting. Did you have questions about it that you'd like us to explore further?

Game mechanics and PC abilities we've only hinted at in the Witchmarked descriptions. We're still in the design and playtesting phase on both of these, and I don't want to preview things until they're a little better nailed down. I can certainly empathize with the desire, but I don't want to give the wrong impression at this point, either.

[Grinder]

Our 6/28 post delved into Witchcraft a bit, which is the only true magic in the Accursed game setting. Did you have questions about it that you'd like us to explore further?

Totally missed that one, d'oh!

Game mechanics and PC abilities we've only hinted at in the Witchmarked descriptions. We're still in the design and playtesting phase on both of these, and I don't want to preview things until they're a little better nailed down. I can certainly empathize with the desire, but I don't want to give the wrong impression at this point, either.

Ok, that makes sense.

[the_dunner]

This morning, my blog post focuses on the nation of Hyphrates. A land tied together by blind loyalty, subservience, and mind-altering drugs.
Hyphrates - A Desert of Tombs

[Grinder]

Love the entry, but would like it even more if the culture differs from an ient Egypt in their burial rites. Something else than pyramids would give it a nice twist.

[the_dunner]

It's a fair criticism, though you'll see more types of tombs in Hyphrates than just Pyramid-shaped structures.

[Grinder]

Sounds promising. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[the_dunner]

For today's posting, we begin to explore the terrors that the Witches created beyond the Witchmarked. These are the banes; the horrific creatures that remain within their thrall. The Hunger Trolls are one of Baba Yaga's tools for terrifying the Gradniki.
On Gluttony - Hunger Trolls

[the_dunner]

In today's post, Ross presents the last of our six Witchbreeds, the Revenant. These risen dead use their intense focus to hold onto their consciousness, granting them the willpower to pursue a specific goal.

Revenants - Driven beyond death

[the_dunner]

The Accursed team recently did an interview to help launch RoleplayDNA's new supplemental podcast, RoleplayDNA U. During the course of the discussion, we did let slip a few things about our plans for a Kickstarter, since folks seem to keep asking those questions. That's now available from their site. Here's the direct link to the Episode.
RoleplayDNA U: Accursed

Today, we release a new blog post that discusses De Acosta's Workshop. Located in the Manreian capital of Palymria, this is likely the most advanced center of technology in all of Morden.
De Acosta's Workshop

[the_dunner]

Jason explores the nation of Hebron today, and how the desperate war they fought against the Grand Coven transformed it. The Witches did not conquer the Hebronites, but the defensive effort may have destroyed their culture.

An Implacable People - Hebron

[Grinder]

You should reconsider the name... http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebron

[the_dunner]

Ross explains the history of alchemy in Morden, then discusses how it has grown and some of its capabilities. Systemic and reproducible, a white witch would scoff at any who dared to call alchemy a kind of magic.
Alchemy - Supernatural Science

[the_dunner]

This morning we preview the first of the banes. These are the terrors that the Witches have unleashed upon Morden to keep the population in a state of constant subservient terror. When a plague of Scarabs sweeps across a portion of Hyphrates, it leaves no trace of life behind it.

A Plague upon Hyphrates - Scarabs

[the_dunner]

During the Bane War, the Witch armies conquered Morden, but they did not pass beyond its coast. Many refugees fled to the islands of the Discordian Sea, hoping to find freedom and salvation. Some found new lives, but many found only death.

On the Roiling Main - The Discordian Sea

[the_dunner]

In today's update, Ross explores the origins of the Armies of Light. This bold alliance tried to present a unified front against the Grand Coven's armies during the Bane War. Spoiler: It didn't quite work out the way they'd hoped.

The Armies of Light

Slightly off topic from this weeks blog update, I wanted to drop a last minute mention of our Gen Con seminars. The Accursed team is giving several seminars at the show. We'll likely talk about Accursed a little bit during each of these, and we'd certainly be happy to answer any questions or discuss matters at further length.
SEM1341269 Thursday 11AM: Professionalism in the Gaming Industry Crowne Plaza : Hay Market B
SEM1341270 Friday 9AM: Working with a Licensed Product Crowne Plaza : Grand Central Bllrm D
SEM1341271 Friday 2PM: How to RPG Freelance! Crowne Plaza : Grand Central Bllrm D

[the_dunner]

This morning's blog update delves deeper into the Enochian religion. Leaders of this faith formed the Order of the Penitent and offer some respite to the Accursed. They also risk their lives in speaking out against the tyrants and the Witches whom they serve.

The Enochian Faith

[the_dunner]

The Crone is thought to be the very first Witch. She undertook this mantle long before colonists crossed the lightning bridge to Morden.

The First Witch

[the_dunner]

We had a great time at Gen Con, thanks to all who came to our seminars or had a chance to visit! A few folks were lucky enough to get a sneak peak at some of our interior layout and even the cover art. The feedback we received seemed to be pretty positive on both of those. A few lucky folks even snagged Accursed T-Shirts. We'll give folks a chance to see those when we launch our Kickstarter.

Unfortunately, we did lose track of time a little bit at the show and didn't get a chance to update the forums about Friday's blog post. In case you didn't check the site, Ross explained a bit about three Alchemical materials that are sometimes used in constructing devices and weapons because of their unusual properties.

Technology in Morden

Today, we have another blog update as well. The Chimera's magic is focused on transforming life. She has no tolerance for stagnation.

All Must Change - The Chimera

[the_dunner]

Even among the Order of the Penitent, there are those who recognize that the Witchmarked can never truly belong among mundane society. Accursed who embrace their Witchmark often strive to find a place that they could make their own permanent homes. A few who share this goal have come together as the Adherents of Aliyah.

The Adherents of Aliyah

[the_dunner]

We hit a landmark number of likes on Facebook yesterday, when we reached 250. In celebration of that fact, we released our map of Morden - the region where Accursed takes place. That's now visible on our facebook page.

The Grand Coven swept through the nations of Morden using vast armies of mindless drones. The Morrigan created huge numbers of her cauldron-born using every corpse she could find (or quickly create).

The Cauldron-born

[the_dunner]

With her penchant for recombining life into new forms, the Chimera has devised countless horrors. Few of her banes are identical, but there are patterns that particularly interest her. One of these is the Swamp Kraken, a bane that seemingly threatens any who need access to the body of water in which it dwells.

Chimeric Banes - The Swamp Kraken

[the_dunner]

For generations, the horrors of the Darkwall Peaks formed an outer boundary to Morden, posing a barrier to exploration and expansion. Unbeknownst to the peoples of the region, it also was a defensive line, keeping the land separate from the Witches — until they finally deciphered its mysteries.
A Black Barrier - The Darkwall Peaks

[the_dunner]

The Blood Witch created the Dhampir and the vampire, but first, she created something more savage and primitive. The leech-men were the banes she led across the Darkwall Peaks, but abandoned as she mastered the Dhampir witchmark.

Leech-Men - banes of Sanguinara