Travis Morgan aka The Warlord As a Sword & Sorcery NPC for Sword of Cepheus 2nd edition

 Adapting Travis Morgan, the iconic Vietnam-era pilot turned barbarian king, requires balancing his modern military background with the high-adventure tropes of a "Dying Earth" or "Lost World" setting.

In Sword of Cepheus (2nd Edition), Morgan is a high-ranking character, likely having completed 5–6 terms before being "stranded" in Skartaris.

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Travis Morgan: The Warlord

Social Class: 9 (Officer/Minor Nobility)

Characteristics:

• STR: 10 (+1)

• DEX: 9 (+1)

• END: 11 (+1)

• INT: 8 (0)

• EDU: 9 (+1)

• SOC: 9 (+1)

Skills:

• Athletics-1

• Combat Sense-2

• Command-2

• Gun Combat (Pistol)-3

• Leadership-2

• Melee (Blade)-3

• Navigation-1

• Pilot (Fixed Wing)-2

• Recon-2

• Survival-2

• Tactics (Military)-2

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Signature Gear

Morgan’s effectiveness comes from his blend of 20th-century technology and Skartarian steel.

Item	Damage	Notes
Hellfire (Auto-Pistol)	3d6	High-tech artifact; limited ammo (9mm).
Scimitar	3d6	Forged of Skartarian steel.
Laminar Armor	Protection 6	Often worn as a breastplate and bracers.

Note on Hellfire: In a standard Sword of Cepheus game, the Warlord's .44 Magnum or 9mm pistol should be treated as a Relic. Ammo cannot be easily replaced, making every shot a significant narrative choice.

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Special Abilities & Traits

The Pilot’s Eye (Custom Trait)

Travis retains his training as a United States Air Force Colonel. He gains a +1 DM to all Recon and Navigation checks when outdoors or using high-vantage points.

Master of Two Worlds

Morgan bridges the gap between primitive savagery and modern tactical thought. When leading a unit of primitive warriors (TL 0-2) against a technologically superior or magically enhanced foe, he grants all allies under his command a +1 DM to Morale checks.

Heads Up And Update On Martin Hirchak's Batman Seventy Five Years Fanzine On Sale Now!

So I've been watching my friend Martin's Hirchek latest Batman Seventy Fanzine  and there's been a bit of an update : 

 FYI , the price with shipping , ( in the USA ) , is $11.00 postpaid . Cardstock covers , 36 Color and B / W pages , ALL BATMAN and NO ADS ! This 75 year Batman anniversary issue has contributions from fans and pros alike ! Arken Schumer , Thomas Jones Jr., Jim Johnson , Arvell Jones , Marty Hirchak and many more ! Check or money order to : Martin Hirchak , po box 44678 , Detroit , Mi. 48244. Many people have requested 2 to 4 copies , so, I have taken that into account and increased the print run so that no one will be left out on this ! The print run had been raised to 750 copies...there will be absolutely NO 2nd PRINTING. Please order soon , as every order helps pay down my printing costs ! Thanks to everyone that has supported this endeavor from the start to the finish ....this fanzine has survived a major flood and a widespread electric power blackout ! The original deadline print date was put back a few days , but, that's not bad , considering that roads and freeways were shut down for a week , crippling business and domestic activities. Long live FANDOM ! CHEERS !

You can get more details and ordering information from Martin right HERE
So why I'm I remotely excited about this fanzine? Well, Martin is a dedicated comic fan as well as well established fanzine publisher. I've watched  and read his creations for years. This Batman fanzine features some really top drawer comic book artists and with the likes of Arken Schumer , Thomas Jones Jr., Jim Johnson , Arvell Jones , Marty Hirchak and many more I know that this is going to be a solid and well done run of a comic book fanzine. This is also going to be a limited run production. So grab it while you can.There will also be some variant cover colors to choose from according to Martian : "Batman...75 years ! 3 covers to choose from ! Light blue , Ivory parchnent or white ! Take your pick.. The covers came out great...really nice cardstock !"
Given the breath and depth of Batman history that Martin has been previewing over at the Fanzine Fantasy group HERE this is going to be one hell of a book.
 Marty will be debuting the book over at the Monroe Comic Con

Here are some of the details : 

The Monroe Comic Con and Martin Hirchak debuting Batman... 75 years at our OCTOBER 4TH show !!! 

The Monroe Comic-Con and Card Show
at The Knights of Columbus Hall
202 West Front Street Monroe, MI 48161
October 4, 2014
9 AM to 7 PM
$2.00 PER PERSON

Mark your calendars for Monroe’s 2nd annual Monroe Comic-Con. Just $2 at the door gets you unlimited access to a full day of Pop Culture fun! Join us and meet celebrity guests including; Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean, OZ, Project X), Alloy Ash (TV personality and model), Tim Holmes (Discovery Channel's Fast N Loud, OZ the Great and Powerful), Daniel Phillips (SyFy's Face Off), and Michael Foster (Disney's Kickin' It). Comic Book Artists include; Joe Corroney (Star Wars, Star Trek, True Blood), Arvell Jones (Iron Man, Captain America, Avengers), Talent Caldwell (Red Sonja,Spider-Man, The Incredible Conduit) and many more.
Thousands of comic books, autographs, cards, toys, and collectibles will be available to purchase at the show.
Awesome panels include OZ the Great & Powerful, Nain Rouge with author Josef Bastian, The Waddling Dead creating and publishing comics with Joseph Michael and Dan Gorman plus live sketches from some amazing art talent.
Special guests include; DJ EGO, The Star Wars 501 Legion, R2D2 Builders Club, and the Dark Knight and Cat Woman characters.
Special Events include; Cosplay/Costume competition, panels, concert, art, hypnosis show, HollyWood Zombie make over, as well as a Special Charity benefit and raffle for The Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan.

So come be part of this wonderful all age friendly-community event in downtown Monroe, MI October 4th at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 202 West Front Street Monroe, MI 48161 from 9am-7pm.

DON"T MISS OUT call (734-241-6819) or go to our website http://www.monroecomic-con.com/ for more information.
 More details right over HERE 

Details On Martin Hirchak's Batman Seventy Five Years Fanzine On Sale Now!

Martin Hirchak has been a friend of mine for some time and his fanzines are top drawer. His latest creation is an all Batman related zine that will celebrate all aspects of Batman's long and storied history along with some incredible artwork.
 Martin has been active in comic book fandom for many years.
I'm familiar with the quality,professionalism, passion and research that Martin puts into his products. His work on the various Fantasy Fanzines projects over the years have inspired and kept me coming back for more again and again. So this 'Batman Seventy Five Year ' fanzine is going to be a no brainer for me.

This limited print run, over arching history Batman extravaganza is going to feature some of the top talent in comic  books today including : Arvell Jones , Jim Johnson , Arlen Schumer, and many more.  Here are some of the details for ordering : 36 color and B /W pages of art and articles all celebrating BATMAN ! Some huge fans and pros , too , have contributed....Arvell Jones , Jim Johnson , Arlen Schumer and many more ! $12 postpaid in the USA ....Send check or Money order to : Martin Hirchak , po box 44678 , Detroit, Mi. 48244. This 'zine will have a very limited print run with NO 2nd printing planned ! Order soon !

 He also maintains a great  Fanzine Fantasy / Marty Hirchak Facebook group as well. A very nice little community of fans and professionals alike who discuss the ins and outs of fanzines, their history, and much more.
You can find that right over HERE

Commentary and Review Of The Free Comic Book Download SwordQuest Mini Series From 1982 For Your Old School High Fantasy Campaigns

I was asked by a friend for a fast setting that he could use for an upcoming kids Labryth Lord game over the weekend and one that would be kid friendly but could twisted into a high end fantasy world. I thought of  the Swordquest comics from way back in 1982.

Download Issue #1 Right
HERE

So here you go Peter, a quick setting that you can play with the girls and your older players. Welcome to the world of Swordquest. 
SwordQuest is one of those dimly remembered  and really strange cross over comic products that came with Atari video game cartridges way back in 1982. The comic property never had a chance but the artwork was great in it. This comic book project happened right in the middle of the DC implosion action and hasn't been heard from since. There were three comicbooks and the artwork is very typical of DC during this time pre Crisis On Infinite Earth's. So what does this have to do with retro clone gaming? If you need a generic high fantasy setting for your old school gaming, this one might be for you.
I've read through the series and this might make a great setting to introduce the kids to the table top gaming world.
The plot of the comic books goes something like this according to the DC wiki: 

The story of the comic book series follows the adventures of twins Torr and Tara, children of the noble knight Tarr who was killed along with his wife at the command of the evil king Tyrannus, who feared a prophecy that the children would someday take over the throne. They stumble across a crystal that contains the spirits of Mentorr and Mentara, who lead them on a quest to find the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Tyrannus and his sorcerer Conjuro. The quest takes them (so far) to three of four different worlds, each based on the four primal elements: earth, fire, water, and air. On each of the worlds, Torr and Tara encounter various forms of dangers, weapons, items, and treasures. Their final journey, to Airworld (the intended final game of the series), remains unwritten to this day.

Down load Issue #2 

HERE 

Download Issue #3 

HERE 

SwordQuest Video Game Melt Down 

According to wiki the SwordQuest affair was part of the meltdown of video games back in the 80's: 

Swordquest is an unfinished series of video games produced by Atari, Inc. in the 1980s as part of a contest. Each of the games came with a comic book that explained the plot, as well as containing part of the puzzle that had to be solved to win the contest. The series had its genesis as a possible sequel to Atari's groundbreaking 1979 title Adventure, but it quickly developed a mythology and system of play that was unique. The comic books were produced by DC Comics, written by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, and drawn and inked by George Pérez and Dick Giordano.

The games of the Swordquest series (along with Atari 2600 Raiders of the Lost Ark) were some of the earliest attempts to combine the narrative and logic elements of the adventure game genre with the 'twitch' action gameplay of the action genre, making them some of the very first 'action-adventure' games. However, the series was unable to hold the last two contests, the grand finale contest and release the final game in the series due to Atari's financial problems leading up to and being a part of the Video Game Crash of 1983.
More Information right over HERE
The history of table top gaming, comicbooks, and video games are tragic as well as sad. Broken friendships, betrayals, and sin seems to follow in wake of these hobby's developments throughout the early 70's and 80's.

Using The World and Mythology of Sword Quest For Your
Old School Gaming Campaign The twins are dead and the worlds need new heroes. Your PC's must take up the gauntlet and continue their journey. They're mythological journey is now your PC's quest. The worlds have been plunged into darkness and only real heroes are needed to heal the schism that plagues these worlds. 

The balance must be restored and the tyranny of the villains broken upon the mantle of elements.
The worlds of Swordquest can be used as a high fantasy campaign that will challenge a small party of PC's or a very large one. Because of the nature of these comics and games the can be used and dropped as needed for a campaign. They make great fodder for a retroclone game because of the very nature of the elements of the worlds. I love the artwork and back drop of these comic books. Because they were never finished these comics make an excellent way of bridge gapping your party and the older twin adventurers of the comics actions.
Most of the monsters, items, etc. are all available through OD&D or AD&D editions or retroclones. This is going to be a high level fantasy campaign but the body count is also going to be high as well. The NPC villains are going to play for keeps and the DM is wise to remember this. Even though this might look like an unholy blend of pseudo Greek mythology and high fantasy, SwordQuest is really its own animal and should be treated as such.
 All in all SwordQuest is one of those generic setting that with the right DM can become a solid and interesting setting that players will talk about in years to come.

Once again this blog post is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a challenge to the copyright or trademarks of DC comics, Atari, or the holders or makers of the artwork of this comic. Thank you for your patronage and there's more to come. 

It Came From The Dollar Comic Bin- Slash Maraud Issue #2 From DC Comics Commentary For Your Old School Post Apocalyptic Campaigns

Issue #2 of Slash Maraud finds our hero & female companion/love interest dealing with events at the club from last issue and heading deep into the wasteland of 'Shaper Earth' the terraformed alien dominated Earth And run smack into the Damazons. A bunch of neo feminist resistance fighters who have had dealings with Slash's lady love. The Damazons ride around on hopped up classic hot rods and off roaders with military hardware and alien tech built into the dashes.

Don't even get me started on the 'Family Unit' a cannibal cult straight out of a Texas chain saw massacre that Damazons, Slash, and his lady love run into. Seems that the alien tech, terraforming viruses, etc. have fried certain parts of humanities brain. Law is gone and the humanity is preying on itself. The Shapers don't care what the humans do to each other as long as they can move in after five years.

Slash and co finally escape at the end of this whole mess with an alien scientist in tow and head deeper into the wastes of this weirdly 80's inspired world. All in all its a pretty good issue that would make a great little intro into an old school post apocalyptic campaign. 

This post is meant for entertainment purposes only and is not a challenge to DC comics or the trade marks or copy right, artwork, etc of any of the properties mentioned in this blog post. The artwork,comic panels,etc. are all for the article.
Thank you 

It Came From The Dollar Comic Bin- Slash Maraud Issue #1 From DC Comics Commentary For Your Old School Post Apocalyptic Campaigns

Set the way back machine to 1987 and DC comics was trying to find a bit more of its own identity. The really important comic book series were coming out and it was a time of a great deal of experimentation. This was a limited run six issue series on that new paper that was all the rage and it was by Doug Moench
and Paul Gulacy. I kept seeing adds like the ones below in other D.C. comics at the time.

It wasn't until about  90 something that I actually got my hands on the comic series. At the time I was working in that infamous video store in a back street of Boston. I was renting  a ton of science fiction bargin basement movies at the time. It was the second part of the golden age of the rental back then. The comic series takes it cues from everything awesome in the 80's and a throw back to those old time science fiction films with a good dash of the pulp thrown in for good measure.
Issue one of Slash find us looking into the world of  Slash Maraud and co. The Earth has been terraformed by a race of aliens known as the Shapers. A race of shape shifters who can assume the appearance and form of anyone. Imagine that the dopplegangers of AD&D first edition  monster manual had super science and bad attitude then you'd get the Shapers. They look like a Jim Henson muppetoid on steroids.

 
Slash Maraud is a combination of every bad Eighties hero stereo type rolled into one character who is trekking across what remains of the United States to a human resistance cell. Issue one ends on a cliff hanger.
The terraform Earth is a perfect example of what you can do with Mutant Future. Gene spliced mutated dinosaurs are just some of the elements that waiting for PC's, man eating plants, and much more is just waiting in the background of this comic.
I've read that this comic didn't age well, actually I think that its got everything that was awesome from the 80's put into a blender set on weirdness. Mutant Future has about 90% of what we find between the covers of this limited six issue series.
There are quite a few post apocalyptic old school systems that can handle this setting. Mutant Epoch can also handle this setting.
Imagine the PC's as a party of resistance fighters as a cell. Mercenary work is also another option for this type of campaign.

This post is not a challenge to DC comics or any of the copyright or trade mark  holders. This post is for entertainment purposes only. Thanks. 

Review and Commentary On DC Comics Graphic Novel 'Warlords' For Your Old School Sword and Sorcery Campaigns

Today we reach way back into the fifty cent bins for one of the first sword and sorcery graphic novels!
Strap yourselves in as we look at 'Warlords' From 1983
 Right over 
HERE

Beowulf The Dragon Slayer (DC Comics) For Your Old School Sword And Sorcery Campaign On The Dark Corner Blog

 Experience it right over
HERE

Way back in 1975 in the middle of DC comics experimenting with Sword and Sorcery Comics. Beuwulf The Dragon Slayer came out. This was a full throttle heavy metal sword and sorcery journey down into a hell the likes of which has never been quite equaled. Strap on your sword, grab your skull helmet, come with us now to an age undreamted of!