Another aspect of the DCC RPG I enjoy is the varied, dangerous nature of magic. There’s nothing cookie-cutter or generic about spells in Dungeon Crawl Classics:

Every spell is powerful. No one tempts the greater powers by using spells for mundane purposes like lighting a hallway, since any casting can result in some nasty side-effects if the dice are against you. As the rules say, if you need light: “use a torch fool!”

Every spell is unique. When a wizard gains a new spell he rolls to determine special traits that apply only to that particular spell. Your version of fireball isn’t necessarily the same as the mage in the next valley.

Spells aren’t ‘pass/fail’: Spells results grow in power the higher you roll, leading to a huge variety of outcomes.

It’s a dangerous world: As wizards grow in power, they’ll need to seek out powerful magical patrons to further their pursuits – but of course the sort of help these powers provide brings dangers and obligations. Role-playing opportunities abound.

Some have wondered if each spell having it’s own table of results will slow down play, but I’ve found the reverse is true. A mage’s spell book is not particularly large (it’s difficult and arduous to master new spells) so it’s simple to print out each spell for easy – and quick – reference and results.

I believe mercurial magic is one of the strengths of the DCC RPG, and I’ll be including a new spell or two in each M-series adventure to add to the fun!

One aspect of the DCCRPG I really enjoy is the concept of unique monsters. There are no ‘generic monsters’ – just simple guidelines to create unique foes. One valley’s ‘orcs’ might be completely different than those who dwell over the hills, and if there is a dragon in those hills, it isn’t ‘a’ dragon, it is THE Dragon: at least as far as the local inhabitants are concerned!

I remember my earliest gaming memories involved the thrill of encountering beasties completely unknown to me… at least until I memorized the Monster Manual. Over the past  10 years I’ve tried to return the mystery to my players by never running any monster ‘straight’ – and I’m sure many GM’s do the same. This thinking is hardwired in the DCCRPG, and I think the system is stronger for it.

DCCRPG adventures will rock in this aspect: I know I’m working hard to pack each Sunken City and M-Series adventure with unique and mysterious creatures to bedevil your players.

I don’t think it’s giving away to much to show you two new creatures found in the Sunken City Adventures: the pesky SnapDragon, and the ‘not-so-terribly-fearsome’ Opposumen!

The release of the Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG has now slipped a bit – to April – which of course pushes back the release of our adventures to coincide with the new launch. I’ve seen the ‘final polish before print’ draft from Goodman Games, and it looks AWESOME, so I think the wait will be well worth it!

Regardless, it gives us more time to polish our SC adventures, and we’ll push to see if we can get our first M-series adventure “Against the Vortex Temple” for 1st level characters ready for the April launch date as well!

Ahh, the years continue to mount for the purple sorcerer… and over the decades he has experienced it all. As he heeds his compulsion to share his knowledge, rest assured, Nardgrog loves those most that he playfully teases…
(And if you DO like your magic mercurial, untamed and downright dangerous, check out The Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG.)

We’re now up on Facebook and Twitter – added links from the home page. Just starting to add things:  stop by and ‘like’ or ‘follow’ or whatever else strikes your fancy!

The Purple Sorcerer Games website is now up and running… welcome and thanks for stopping by!

Our goal is to create exiting, affordable, fun-to-play adventures compatible with the Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG from Goodman Games. In addition, we’ll continue to create useful online utilities to enhance your DCC experience. If you haven’t already, check out our 0-level Party Generator and Funky Dice Roller – both due to get an update as the final DCC rules approach completion in early 2012!

The Sunken City 0-level Adventures
Our first three adventures (available at the launch of the DCC RPG) are set in the crumbling ruins of the Sunken City. Each is designed to make it easy to introduce waves of beginning characters to your world and provide a great place to kick off extended campaigns. Each  adventure will help game masters winnow 0-level mobs down to bands of hardy explorers!

SC-1: Perils of the Sunken City
Most find death in the crumbling ruins that stretch beyond sight into the mists; once rich districts now claimed by swamp and dark denizens. But for the desperate few, the ruins offer treasures the Great City denies them: fortune, glory, and a fighting chance! Learn about the Sunken City and explore the deadly dangers of Madazkan’s Court.

SC-2: The Ooze Pits of Jonas Gralk
Once again the mysteries of the sunken city have called to the desperate souls of the Great City. Adventurers will find themselves calf-deep in muck on the borders of a rustic village. The local folk seem friendly enough, but the relentless croaking issuing from the swamp eats away at any sense of calm. One begins to wonder: Why does every home show signs of mourning? And who is this Jonas Gralk that all seem to mention with dark suspicion?

SC-3: A Gathering of the Marked
Rich and poor, bond and free: every midwinter an unsuspecting few awake to find a ragged circle of midnight black scrawled on their foreheads; a dark summoning whispering on the edge of their consciousness. All who live in the shadow of the Great City know to ignore the call of the mark is to invite madness and a lingering and horrific death, so each will find his way to the sending stones, and the unspeakable peril that waits beyond!

Once your players are ready to move beyond the 0-level experience, the M series of adventures (beginning with Against the Vortex Temple, available in spring 2012) will take your players on a journey from local obscurity to legendary renown!

Again, thanks for stopping by, and check back for updates as we draw closer to the DCC launch.

In the coming months, information will be released here about the exciting adventures we’re creating for the Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG.

In the meantime, download the DCC RPG Beta Rules from the fine folks at Goodman Games and see what all the fuss is about. Create a starting party using our quick-as-lightning party generator, and get in the game!

Keep checking back, lots more info will be added soon!