Bucket-Crown of Goblin Esteem - Weird Magic Item #21

Inspired by the incredibly excellent Weird Magic Item generator over at Donjon.bin.sh, I've been coming up with a few of my own system agnostic weird magic items to put in the many games I run, be they 13th Age or Beyond the Wall...

Eventually I want to try and put them into a randomizer, but I need to generate a few first. I'm going to try and post one every other Wednesday. Please let me know if you end up using an item I've created in your own game. You can find the entire series here...

Antagonist Relations Weird Magic Item Generator Presents...

Bucket-Crown of Goblin Esteem

This stained and rusted bucket holds an irresistible allure for Goblins. When worn on the head as a hat, it gives the wearer friendly encounters with all goblins (but not other goblinoids, like bugbears or hobgoblins). Goblins will not attack the wearer until they attack them first and will treat the wearer with great deference, as though they were royalty. Dwarves of all kinds are unable to wear the bucket as a hat and the rusted holes in the bottom prevent it from being used to hold liquids of any kind.

Antagonist Relations Podcast 47 - It Was Not Grave Robbing (It Was)

Antagonist Relations Podcast 47 - It Was Not Grave Robbing (It Was)

The party continues to explore the Crypts of the Slain Princes, as they discover the ancient ruins in the swamp may not be as related to Orlane as they expected. Featuring light grave robbing.

Starring Ben as Hugen Coldhands, the New Watchman, Christy as Ziska Forespark, the Student of the Dark Arts, Mike as Jasper (Jape) Sweetberry IV, the Gifted Dilettante and Cassandra as Tulip, the Village Bear.

• Player created maps
• GM Hex Map (not for player eyes)
• Trapped in the Tomb of the 14 Imperial Princesses (not for player eyes). The Dyson Logos map I'm using for this complex.

If you want to know more about Beyond the Wall, check out the Antagonist Relations reviews:

Antagonist Relations reviews Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures

Antagonist Relations reviews Further Afield.

Please take our listener survey here.

Music to Game to: Harvestman - Music for Megaliths

I listen to a lot of music (over 40 days worth in 2017 according to last.fm) and I find that few things help me keep the mood of a game foregrounded in my mind like a good soundtrack. Plus, I’ve discovered that when I’m playing music to a speaker via Bluetooth, I’m less likely to be on my phone, lest my players hear any stray sounds, letting me better model engagement during a game. To that end, I want to share some of my favorite music to game to; the albums that inspire and inflame my imagination and that I’ve found work well as background music for games as well. I’ll do a mini-review and cover the basics of what mood it helps me set.

HARVESTMAN - MUSIC FOR MEGALITHS

Steve Von Till of metal stalwarts Neurosis is the force behind this moniker, but this album is not one of furious riffs and rock. Instead, synths and acoustic instrumentation mix together wonderfully, create a dark and ghostly palate conjuring moonlight forests where ancient standing stones wait for sacrifices to be offered up once again. This rich and resonant music will fit right in place as the soundtrack to many a fantasy game, especially those with a slightly darker edge.

• Vocals?...Yes, on the closer “White Horse” only.
• Music Genre(s)… Avantgarde, Ethereal, Experimental, Drone
• Perfect for… Any game where you want to add a subtle and dark foreboding atmosphere, like dark mist banks rolling through an ancient forest.
• If you only grab one track, make it... The haunting opener “The Forest is Our Temple” which brings an ancient Celtic feel with droning pipes and psychedelic guitar.

Antagonist Relations Podcast 46 - Coffin Books are the Worst

Antagonist Relations Podcast 46 - Coffin Books are the Worst

After a snafu with the recording equipment, we return to Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures with the Antagonist Relations Actual Play Crew. The party returns to the ruins in the swamp where they were previously thwarted by skeletons and take their revenge and then enter the ancient grave complex beyond.


Starring Ben as Hugen Coldhands, the New Watchman, Christy as Ziska Forespark, the Student of the Dark Arts, Mike as Jasper (Jape) Sweetberry IV, the Gifted Dilettante and Cassandra as Tulip, the Village Bear.

• Player created maps
• GM Hex Map (not for player eyes)
• Map of Orlane

If you want to know more about Beyond the Wall, check out the Antagonist Relations reviews:

Antagonist Relations reviews Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures

Antagonist Relations reviews Further Afield.

Please take our listener survey here.

Minotaur's Clew - Weird Magic Item #20

Inspired by the incredibly excellent Weird Magic Item generator over at Donjon.bin.sh, I've been coming up with a few of my own system agnostic weird magic items to put in the many games I run, be they 13th Age or Beyond the Wall...

Eventually I want to try and put them into a randomizer, but I need to generate a few first. I'm going to try and post one every other Wednesday. Please let me know if you end up using an item I've created in your own game. You can find the entire series here...

Antagonist Relations Weird Magic Item Generator Presents...

Minotaur’s Clew

When the correct command word is whispered, this ball of yarn unrolls itself and one end floats at waist height of the holder, slowly weaving its way to either the center or exit of a maze, user’s choice. The yarn cannot be cut, burnt or otherwise destroyed, but if the user does not hold the ball of yarn in their hand it will drop to the floor and cannot be re-activated until the next dawn. If there is a minotaur present in the maze, the yarn will always lead the user to minotaur instead of the intended center or exit, though it will function normally if the minotaur is dispatched. Additionally, each time it is used there is a 5% chance (1 on a 1d20) that the Minotaur’s Clew will summon a minotaur, placing the beast in the maze half-way between the user and their intended destination (either center or exit).