World War III has destroyed much of the world, and what's left is forever changed. Your characters are survivors of the war, and now they must try to survive in a world filled with radiation, mutant animals, mutant plants, and mutant people. Do you try to restore the world, or do you try to take whatever you can? The choice is yours...
Now is your chance to start playing Rocks on the Other Side, with all of the titles available for 33% off.
From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:
How are you doing, man? No, I mean how are you really doing? Like the real you, man?
My name’s Rainbow, and this is my House of Herbs. Just by looking at your aura, I can tell that you’re in need of some of what I sell. You name it, I have it. Pick me ups, strength boosts, aura enhancements, stuff to treat radiation, yeah, I have it all. So, hey man, please feel free to look around, but I have to ask that you don’t touch anything.
I know it’s a real bummer and all, and I know it’s not like peace and love and everything, but I’ve got a pistol and I’ll have to shoot you if you try to steal anything.
Yeah, sorry dude. I know it’s a real downer, but that’s how it has to be.
Welcome to Rainbow’s House of Herbs, a supplement for the Rocks on the Other Side RPG. Here you will find all kinds of herbs that can give your character a short term boost that they might need. You can enhance attributes, health, even help fight off radioactive contamination. All of this from some tiny little plants.
Order from DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/442659
Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NL5WvR
Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1412962
Today's deal of the day at DriveThruRPG is Disharmony of the Spheres. You can download it today for just $2.00 at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/224315
Mental illness is very common in our society, but it’s also very misunderstood. Many view those with mental illnesses as being weak, but there is a great deal of strength in those that must battle their own minds on a regular basis.
Disharmony of the Spheres focuses on characters with mental illnesses that are still able to be successful. They may not completely overcome their illnesses, but they are able to beat them back and succeed.
In this volume, you will find the fiction of Ian Brazee Cannon, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, MH Bonham, David Lee Summers, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Kate Runnels, Michael Morgan, L.J. Bonham, Carol Hightshoe, Francis W. Alexander, and Terrie Leigh Relf.
For many years now, people have been asking me to write a sequel to my first contact novel A Problem in Translation. Well, I started working on the new novel today. So, in a year or two, all of you will get your wish, and you'll be able to find out what happens to now Ambassador Shiro Takahashi, the crew of the Astrid, everyone's favorite alien from the book, Grisan, and they pesky and annoying Lemec. Hopefully I'll surprise you with where this one ends up going...
In the meantime, if you haven't read the first book, please feel free to grab a copy at any of the following:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46c702W
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1010399
DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/306999/A-Problem-in-Translation
Everyone likes the surprise of a blind pack, or the surprise of the mystery boxes where you don't know what science fiction item, or Harry Potter trinkets, or whatever you might be getting that month, right? Well, what about a surprise e-book in your mail box every month?
That's right, for just $2 a month, you can get a random e-book delivered from me every month. This could be a novel, an RPG, a short story collection, or even an anthology I've edited. Sounds like a great deal, right? So head over to https://app.gumroad.com/products/bsdkq/edit and start your subscription today.
I've decided to start posting about books that have had some kind of influence on me. They might be novels, short story collections, non-fiction books on writing, politics, or books that have just had some kind of emotional impact on me. These will be posted at infrequent intervals...just pretty much whenever I feel like posting them...but it might be a nice break from all of the promotional posts.
This is a book that is an almost must-have for any science fiction authors that want to write about aliens, because let's face it, science fiction readers love to catch authors up in mistakes they might make. There are other books on this subject, but this one is written by Stanley Schmidt and edited by Ben Bova...and any science fiction author should know that they are giants in the field, and so the book deserves some respect just for their names being on it.
The book looks at developing aliens and their societies starting with evolution and moving on from there. The book is a bit science and math heavy, but most science fiction writers should be able to understand it, since let's face it, if you're writing SF, you need to know your science.
Throughout the book, Schmidt uses examples in fiction that demonstrate the concepts he's talking about, and the book features an extensive reference listing at the end that will allow writers to dive even deeper into some of the subjects. The book was written in 1995, so some of the science is a bit dated, but that doesn't take away from the great information that the book will give you.
As a curious aside, you all know that I'm an editor as well as an author, so it shouldn't be a surprise that when I read something, I also read it with my editor's hat on, and I did catch several typos in the book. It does nothing to take away from the book, but if these can get past the likes of Stanley Schmidt and Ben Bova, then it makes me feel better about some of the typos I've missed over the years.
To pick up a copy of the book, head to https://amzn.to/42OuYhP
DriveThruFiction has selected A Problem in Translation as the deal of the day for today. A science fiction novel that is normally priced at $2.99 can be yours for just $1.50. Download it today at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/306999
Humanity's first contact with an alien species, the Lemec, is complicated by the fact that the aliens don't use an entirely verbal language…not only that, but the other aliens in their "domain" seem to worship the Lemec as some type of gods, and as they seem to anticipate every move that Captain Shiro Takahashi and his crew make, humanity begins to think that maybe the other aliens know something that they don't.
Did I just quote Obi-Wan Kenobi? Why, yes, I did. Every once in a while, I figure it's a good idea to introduce myself to some of the people that have found this blog more recently...that way they don't have to go digging through old blog posts to try to figure out exactly who J Alan Erwine is.
So, who am I? I'm a science fiction author and editor, and I'm also a role playing game designer. I've dabbled in fantasy fiction and horror fiction, but science fiction is definitely my main genre. As an author I once had a reviewer refer to me (and I'm paraphrasing) as having the voice of one of the classic science fiction authors, but without the issues of the classic authors. My guess is that they meant that my voice is similar to that of Asimov, Heinlein, or Clarke (which isn't a surprise since they were such a huge influence on me), but that I have a more modern way of writing. And this isn't meaning that they were trying to say (or that I'm trying to say) that I'm as good as those authors. I just think they meant a modern version of their style...but who am I to interpret book reviewers.
As far as my role playing games, I've created, or helped to create three different games...Ephemeris, The Battle for Turtle Island, and Rocks on the Other side. The first is a science fiction game, the second is an historical fantasy game, and the third is a post-apocalyptic game.
If you're interested in checking out my work, you can find it just about anywhere that science fiction is sold, but here are a few places you can check first...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J-Alan-Erwine/author/B0035AMA0A
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaerwine
DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/J-Alan-Erwine
Gumroad: https://jalanerwine.gumroad.com/
For the next 24 hours, Ecotastrophe II is available from DriveThruFiction for 50% off. That means you can download it for just $2.
More than a decade ago, Sam’s Dot Publishing released a small anthology titled Ecotastrophe that looked at the dangers posed by global climate change.
Now, the planet seems in even greater peril, and maybe we are facing Ecotastrophe, but is there time to save ourselves?
Ecotastrophe II features startling fiction from Tyree Campbell, Dan Rice, Melanie Rees, Robert J. Mendenhall, Gustavo Bondoni, and Mike Adamson.
Order now!: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/216111
Although I don't have access to all of my sales each month until down the road, I can usually still get a good idea of what my bestselling title in each month was, so I'm going to start posting that each month. Not sure why...just think it's fun to keep track of...The bestseller for May 2023 was my Tales of the Earth and Moon.
Seven stories from award winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine that explore the future of both the Earth and the Moon.
Stranded astronauts, intelligent dolphins being used by the government, a soldier struggling with orders he knows he shouldn’t have followed, lovers waiting for the end of the world, politics even dirtier than what we’re seeing in the modern world (maybe), a man resurrected because he wanted to see the future, but now feeling very much alone, and manipulation on the moon.
These are the stories that are waiting for you in this collection.
Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GNC59GS
Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/641482
Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313303
For the next 24 hours, you can download my novel The Opium of the People from DriveThruFiction for just $1.50. That's 50% off the usual price. Download it while the sale lasts at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/306903
The U.S. government has been overthrown! After a near-miss of a giant comet, the American people fall under the control of a radical right-wing fundamentalist Christian government, ruled by the Grand Patriarchs, that slowly strips away their freedoms and establishes a rule of law that even Hitler couldn't have dreamed up. Forced into virtual seclusion, Edward Silverberg, a former professor, finds himself on a path that will lead to either his destruction, or the destruction of the Grand Patriarchs…or maybe both.
Looking for a new role playing game? How about Rocks on the Other Side? If you like post-apocalyptic RPGs, we're pretty sure you'll like this one, and you can download all everything that has been created for the game for just $12.00. You get the core rules, Rocco's Weapon Shop, and Civilization Memorial Hospital. Rocco introduces you to all kinds of new weapons your characters can use, and Civilization Memorial Hospital gives you a low level adventure to start your characters off on. You get all of that for just $12.
Head over to https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/437580 and download everything, and you can spend Memorial Day gaming with your family.
My book sales have increased over the last few months, and I'm really hoping that those of you that have read my books have enjoyed them. Now, I would like to ask that if you have enjoyed the books, PLEASE review them. Book reviews are the best way for an author to increase their sales, and most markets will promote the books more based on the number of reviews they've had...which also increases sales.
For the next 24 hours, you can get my Tales of the Earth and Moon for half off at DriveThruFiction. That means you can download the collection for just $1.50 and you can start reading immediately.
Head over to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313303 and download your copy today!
So far, we've released three titles for the Rocks on the Other Side RPG. The core rulebook, Rocco's Weapons Shop, and Civilization Memorial Hospital. Now you can get all three titles together for 25% off from DriveThruRPG at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/437580
Have you had your second taste of madness yet? Six of my short stories in one collection that will only be available from Amazon for a very brief amount of time...and best of all...if you're a Kindle Unlimited member, you can read it for free!
So, head over to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3Y63ZNY and start reading today.
The DriveThruFiction 25% off sale is still running, so you can download many of our titles today, and start reading immediately. You can save on novels, collections, anthologies, zines, and short stories. Head over to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/2805 and start reading today!
The search for a "real" job to replace the stupid job has been difficult. I'm looking to start working from home so that we can remove my daughter from public school...just getting too dangerous.
As I search for work, I'm still looking to line up some freelance editing or writing, so if you're looking for help with your project or projects, I'm here. You know how to reach me...
It would be great to line up enough work that I could do nothing but freelance editing and writing...but that may be asking too much...
At the edge of a small town, lies a small hospital that is now ironically known as Civilization Memorial Hospital. Before the war, it had a different name, but that name no longer matters. A Rocks on the Other Side RPG adventure designed for 4-6 characters of 1st-4th level that will take the characters into the remnants of a hospital. One section is run by medical personnel that are trying to bring back civilization, while another section has been taken over by bandits, and of course, the third section of the hospital has been overrun by undead. A definite challenge for any novice party.
Order from DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/436615
Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47YRZ93
Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1389859
For the next two weeks, you can save 25% off of all of our fiction titles at DriveThruFiction. This includes novels, anthologies, collections, zines, and even short stories. So whatever you've been waiting to buy...now's the time.
Head over to DriveThruFiction at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/2805 and start downloading today.
Due to ongoing issues at my "real" job, I will soon be leaving. I'm working on lining up full time at home work, but in the meantime, and possibly even once I start working full time again, I'm looking for some freelance editing work. So if there are any publishers or authors out there that are looking to hire a freelancer, I'm available.
I can do editing, proofreading, formatting...I think most of you know my skills. Drop me a line if you're looking for help with anything.
For two weeks, you have the opportunity to save 33% on all of the Nomadic Delirium Press RPG titles. Save on titles from Ephemeris, The Battle for Turtle Island, and the newly released Rocks on the Other Side.
Order and start playing today: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2805
The first four stories of J Alan Erwine's Solar Federation series are now available in one collection. Tag along with a crew sent on a desperate mission. Meet up with the newest graduate who is going to face some tough challenges. Get inside the mind of a captain who has lost his ship and is at risk of losing his entire crew. And finally, spend a night at Sharon's Bar and meet Sharon, the most popular character in the series…so far…
Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXG15V6G
Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1356346
The sixth set of four stories of The Divided States of America now available in one collection. You get: Fight or Flight and Return to the Wastelands? by J Alan Erwine, BKX: Tuskegee by William Landis, and Serenity's Gambit by Ian Brazee-Cannon.
Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1XWCL5F
Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1376775
If you haven't read A Taste of the Madness Volume 1, then you're running out of time. This is a limited time release, and it will soon be going away forever. So head over to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTV39CCB and download it today before it's too late, and it's free to read if you're a Kindle Unlimited member.
A collection of six previously published short stories, that are available only for a limited time. Travel to distant planets and travel to different mad visions that prize-winning sf author J Alan Erwine has come up with, but beware, you can never be sure where his weird mind might take you.
We've created four story collections of the first 20 stories that have been published in the Divided States of America series.
Collection 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZJSJ6TB
The Dustbin by Tyree Campbell, The Wall is Beautiful by Mike Morgan, Green in 2110 by Debby Feo, and It's in the Water by J Alan Erwine
Collection 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZJSXM5D
What Lies in the Wastelands, Can't Go Home Again, and Where Do You Go From Here by Ian Brazee-Cannon, as well as Calivada Dreaming by Debby Feo
Collection 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZJSD4QQ
A Cavallo and Alaskan Everglades by Debby Feo, Back to the Old Ways by J Alan Erwine, and Delivery by Lorelei Suzanne
Collection 4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZJTDHPV
Trial of Payne, Behind the Scars, and Path to a New Life all by Ian Brazee-Cannon, and you also get Frozen Ambitions by J Alan Erwine
Collection 5: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZJVGJW1
Tested by Lorelei Suzanne, Mission Alternate by Dana Bell, A Game of Disruption and Revelation by Ian Brazee-Cannon, and Die With Dignity by Tyree Campbell
Rocco was a man of the streets before the war, selling whatever people needed. Now he’s gathered together the best weapons he can find and opened his own shop. He’ll sell to anyone, but make sure you don’t shoplift…Rocco is packing.
Rocco’s Weapon Shop features new weapons that can be added to your Rocks on the Other Side game. All kinds of guns, and assorted other weapons. Add a little variety to your game, and arm your characters for all of the perils of the post-apocalyptic world they now find themselves in.
Order from DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/430715
Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1364769
Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYTR6M15
Since I started blogging, I've talked about the fact that the two-party system currently in power in the United States is the biggest enemy to the American people. The sad truth is that since I first started talking about this, the situation has only gotten worse.
Let's face it folks, if you really believe that the Democrats or the Republicans have the best interest of the American people on their minds, you're deluding yourself. The simple fact is that both parties are only interested in maintaining whatever power they have, and hopefully expanding upon that power. This is basically just a different type of monarchy, and the American people continue to fall for it. The only solution is the destruction of the two-party system. I can't say that I exactly know how to do this because the simple fact is that the two parties already have too much control. In order for other parties to get the kind of funding the big parties get, they have to go through an organization that is run by the Democratic and Republican parties. Kind of a nice little setup they have going there.
It is possible for parties to get federal funds if they can gain enough votes in a presidential election, but the two parties have us on this treadmill where we're constantly forced to vote against one party. Rarely do people really vote FOR a candidate. They're usually voting AGAINST another candidate. I honestly can't remember the last time we actually had a decent candidate from either party...and remember, they are really the ones that decide who is going to run for president. Yes, their are primaries, but the parties have already pretty much decided who will be able to win. If the party doesn't like a potential candidate, they won't let them run, or they will make sure they can't win.
I once had a friend tell me that they vote Republican because of the Republican stance on gun control, but they agree with Democrats on most other issues. They told me that they would vote for a Democrat that supported the Republican stand on gun control. That will never happen. The Democratic party will make sure that candidates line up with what they believe.
The only real solution is too campaign for third party candidates and vote third party. The two-party system must be taken down. Neither party really cares about you...they only care about themselves...
Now, do I believe that one party is worse for the country than the other? Yes, I do, but the simple fact is that both parties are driving down the highway to hell, only one is driving faster. The ultimate destination is the same, and that destination is the destruction of the America that we know. One will get us there faster than the other, but the simple fact is that they're both going to get us there...
The first four stories of my Solar Federation series are now available in one collection.
The first four stories of J Alan Erwine's Solar Federation series are now available in one collection. Tag along with a crew sent on a desperate mission. Meet up with the newest graduate who is going to face some tough challenges. Get inside the mind of a captain who has lost his ship and is at risk of losing his entire crew. And finally, spend a night at Sharon's Bar and meet Sharon, the most popular character in the series...so far...
Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1356346
Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXG15V6G
The first volume of my limited edition A Taste of the Madness series is still available at Amazon, but only for a limited time...and if you're a Kindle Unlimited member, it's available for free.
So, what are you waiting for? Head over to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTV39CCB and start reading right now!
Have you played Rocks on the Other Side yet? No??? Why not?
Download your copy today from DriveThruRPG, and you can be playing in no time. Download it now at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/417789
And there will soon be a new supplement for the game as well...
So, what are you waiting for...start reading today at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTV39CCB
So, if you'd like to read six of my stories for either $2.99 or for free, please visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTV39CCB and download your copy today. But remember, this collection is only available for a limited time!
Looking for a new RPG to play? Have you tried Ephemeris yet? No???
Head over to DriveThruRPG and you can download a starter bundle for just $7. Go to: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/64002 and start playing right away.
If you’d like to completely dive into the game, you can get the Complete Ephemeris Bundle for just $35.45. Head over to https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/364674 and download everything today.
The year is 2185. The human race has gone to the stars, and found that they’re not alone. Local space is teeming with civilizations, some hostile, some friendly, and some indifferent. This is the universe of Ephemeris.
Ephemeris is a game of galactic trade and galactic conquest; of
inter-species conflict and cooperation. Ephemeris is a science fiction
role playing game. Here you will be able to take on the role of your
favorite alien species and your favorite class. You will be able to
trade, fight, negotiate, conquer, whatever you’d like to do with your
fellow players. You can play the role of an Althani Trader, or maybe an
Arbonix Cyber Wizard, or maybe even a Human Nanist. You can create a
party made up entirely of one species and set out to upset the trade
routes of a rival species. Or maybe you want to create a party with a
variety of species that preys upon the trading routes of the various
civilizations. Or maybe you want to explore the ancient ruins on long
dead planets, ruins that clearly show that there were other species
roaming the spaceways in the past…but where are they now? You can fight
in great wars, negotiate grand peace treaties, and explore sections of
the galaxy that no sentient has ever explored. Or maybe your party has
joined with one of the interplanetary corporations; corporations whose
motives are never entirely clear. These are just some of the
possibilities open to you.
The universe of Ephemeris is yours to do
with as you please. What you now hold in your hands are the basic
guidelines for the games. Here you’ll find the races, classes,
abilities, skills, weapons, and ships that allow you to create your own
Ephemeris universe.
Now, step inside for the greatest science fiction adventure you’ve ever been on…
Many of our titles are still available from Smashwords for 25% off. You can download novels, collections, anthologies, RPGs, RPG supplements, even a few short stories. So, head over to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nomadicdelirium and you can start reading many of our great titles in just a few minutes.
Has it been a while since you've visited The Divided States of America? Or maybe you've never visited...
Imagine an America that has been divided by political turmoil and civil war...not really hard to imagine anymore. Check out the stories in this series of stories. Many are disturbing, some are optimistic, but all of them will have you thinking that we should be able to create a better future for ourselves...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HLWYBT9
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/28436
DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse.php?keywords=The+Divided+States+of+America&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=
For the next month, you can save 25% off of a wide variety of our titles. Novels, anthologies, short story collections, RPGS, RPG supplements, even a few short stories...they're all available for 25% off.
Head over to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nomadicdelirium and order today.
In case you're new to my writing and editing, or in case you just need a refresher, here are some important websites to learn more about my work...
My website: http://www.jalanerwine.com
My Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J-Alan-Erwine/author/B0035AMA0A
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jalanerwine
DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/J-Alan-Erwine
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaerwine
Gumroad: https://jalanerwine.gumroad.com/
For just $2 a month, you can receive an e-book delivered to your e-mail. This could be a short story collection or novel I've written. Or it could be an RPG I've created, or maybe even an anthology that I've edited. So, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today at https://jalanerwine.gumroad.com/l/bsdkq
We’ve made all of our core rulebooks available in one bundle at DriveThruRPG. For just $10, you get Rocks on the Other Side, The Battle for Turtle Island, Ephemeris, and The Ephemeris RPG Rule Changes. You can pickup three games for just $10…that’s a hard deal to beat. Head over to https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/422488 and order today.
And to make things even more fun, I've added a few short stories to the sale that you can download for free. All I ask is that if you enjoy the stories, please review them, since reviews are the best way for an author to grow their audience.
Hope you enjoy the downloads. I'm looking forward to releasing several new titles in the new year.
From the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
Happy New Year from everyone at Nomadic Delirium Press. To help you start out the new year, we're offering 75% off of all of our RPG titles at DriveThruRPG. You can download and play any of our games...Ephemeris, The Battle for Turtle Island, or Rocks on the Other Side for the next week at the huge discount of 75% off, so head over to https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2805 and download everything you'd like and start playing today.
This includes novels, short story collections, and even individual short stories, which you can download for just 50 cents.
So, head over to DriveThruFiction and start reading today.
Many of you use Amazon's Author Central to follow author's you like, and I know a few of you even keep track of my page. Well, I've updated it, so go ahead and check it out at https://www.amazon.com/author/jalanerwine.
And while we're talking about pages to visit, please feel free to visit my Patreon page as well at https://www.patreon.com/jalanerwine
Hope you all have a great holiday season!
Last week we introduced you to the Walking Tree from the Rocks on the Other Side RPG. This week, we introduce you to its evil cousin, a tree that will do everything it can to kill everyone...
TWISTED TREE
INT: 20
CS: 16
CHA: 10
STR: 28
AGIL: 12
END: 26
AB: +37 (+26 hand to hand combat skill, +6 Str, +1 mutation, +4 bark)
DB: +34 (-1 Agil, +1 mutation, +10 bark, +24 level
Health: 10d8+50
Type of Att: Limbs X2, Hurled fruit X2
Damage: 3d10+6/1d6 + contamination
Skills: Animal Handling 10, Appraise 5, Bluff 9, Concentration 18, Direction Sense 16, Etiquette 4, Gather Information 12, Herbalism 10, Hide 8, Interrogation 6, Intimidate 12, Listen 14, Negotiation 8, Search 3, Sense Motive 10, Spot 5, Tracking 11
Special Abilities: Hold, stun
Experience: 1750
Description: The twisted tree is a horrible mutation of a normal tree. Unlike the walking tree, the twisted tree is angry about its mutation, and they want to mutate the rest of the world. A twisted tree is normally about the size of a fruit tree, but its trunk and branches are twisted and full of knots and are often oozing sap. Twisted trees love to fight, and they will look to attack anything that they think they can destroy or mutate. In combat, the twisted tree attacks with two limbs trying to strike opponents. At the same time, it hurls radioactive fruit at other opponents. Although the fruit doesn’t do much damage, getting hit by it or by the branches will require a character to make a check against a severe radiation exposure.
Twisted trees are often not encountered alone. They don’t associate with other trees, but they are able to exert a mild mind control over other contaminated creatures. When encountered, there is a 50% chance that they will be encountered with other contaminated creatures. These creatures could be mutated animals, mutated ants, giant centipedes, giant spiders, giant flying spiders, strangle vines, mutated wasps, or even skeletons or zombies. These creatures will fight to the death to protect the twisted tree.
Twisted trees are highly susceptible to fire based attacks, and suffer triple damage from any attacks using fire.
Order your copy of the game today at:
DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/417789
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1184819
It’s time to meet another creature you might meet in the Rocks on the Other Side game, the Walking Tree
WALKING TREE
INT: 22
CS: 20
CHA: 20
STR: 28
AGIL: 10
END: 28
AB: +41 (+30 hand to hand combat skill, +6 Str, +1 mutation, +4 bark)
DB: +34 (-1 Agil, +1 mutation, +10 bark, +24 level
Health: 12d8+72
Type of Att: Limbs X2
Damage: 4d10+6
Skills: Animal Handling 10, Appraise 5, Bluff 9, Concentration 18, Diplomacy 8, Direction Sense 16, Etiquette 4, Gather Information 12, Herbalism 20, Hide 8, Interrogation 6, Intimidate 12, Listen 14, Negotiation 8, Search 3, Sense Motive 10, Spot 5, Tracking 11
Special Abilities: Hold, stun
Experience: 2200
Description: The nuclear mutations caused some trees to gain sentience and the ability to move. These trees normally won’t be aggressive, preferring to tend to other plants and animals in an effort to restore the Earth to what it used to be. However, if attacked, or if they see someone damaging the planet, they will fight. It is important to note, however, that they will not attack characters that they see attacking mutated plants or animals, because they see these as an abomination, and they want to rid the world of them.
If forced into combat, the walking tree will try to attack with two of its limbs. If their attack roll beats the character’s defense roll by 10, the tree has stunned the character for a number of rounds equal to the difference between the attack and defense rolls. If the tree’s attack roll exceeds a character’s defense roll by 15, the tree has grabbed the character and immobilized them. If this stops the attacks, the tree will then lecture the character on its mistakes and then set it free. If combat continues, then on the next round the tree will raise the character high into the air and drop it, causing 4d10 damage. There is no risk of contamination from an attack by a walking tree.
Walking trees are highly susceptible to fire based attacks, and suffer triple damage from any attacks using fire. However, if the walking tree survives the attack, the characters have made a lifetime enemy, and the tree will plot their downfall until they or it die.
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It's time to learn about a new creature that you might encounter in the Rocks on the Other Side game...the Intellifungus. They can be dangerous, they can be helpful...you can never be quite sure...
INTELLIFUNGUS
INT: 14
CS: 11
CHA: 9
STR: 17
AGIL: 12
END: 24
AB: +9 (+7 hand to hand combat skill,+1 Str, +1 mutation)
DB: +11 (+1 mutation, +2 fungal quality, +8 level bonus)
Health: 4d8+16
Type of Att: 2 spore punches
Damage: 1d6+1 and spores
Skills: Appraise 3, Balance 2, Bluff 4, Climb 5, Concentration 2, Diplomacy 3, Direction Sense 9, Gather Information 2, Herbalism 5, Hide 10, Interrogation 2, Intimidate 8, Jump 2, Listen 4, Move Silently 11, Negotiation 2, Search 6, Sense Motive 3, Spot 4, Stealth 9, Tracking 7
Special Abilities: Spores
Experience: 700
Description: Some fungal colonies gained sentience from their exposure to the radiations of the war. Each individual colony that gained sentience now forms one creature, and these creatures can differ greatly in size and shape just as normal colonies of fungus can. The biggest difference is that these colonies will generally try to imitate the bipedal mannerisms of humans or the quadrupedal mannerisms of animals. Intellifungus are very smart and can even rival many humans on intelligence, and just like humans, intellifungus can differ greatly in the way they lead their lives. Some can be openly hostile to humans, while others can be friendly with humans, and still others might just want to be left alone. Intellifungus can be found living alone, or like-minded fungi might choose to live together.
If an intellifungus engages in combat, they will strike with two pods that resemble arms. Each hit will do 2-7 points of damage, but there is also a chance that they can infect the victim with spores. Each time a character is hit, they must make an endurance check against a score of 14. If they fail the roll, they have become infected. One week after the infection, they must make another endurance check against a score of 16. If this roll is failed, the character permanently loses two points of endurance. After two weeks, the character must make another endurance check (with their new endurance score) against a score of 18. If they fail this check, they devolve into a fungus, with a 1in 6 chance of becoming an intellifungus. If the character succeeds on the second or third roll, their immune system has beaten back the fungus and they are normal again, although if they failed the second roll, they have still lost their endurance points. Anyone with 20 points in medicine can treat and heal a character infected with spores but this treatment must happen before the two weeks are up.
Although an intellifungus can engage in hand to hand combat, their preferred method of fighting is to release a 20’ sphere of spores. Anyone within this sphere must make an endurance check against a score of 12 or they become infected with spores. As with the physical attacks, infected characters must make a second check after one week against a score of 14, and a third check after two weeks against a score of 16. Failing the second check will cause a loss of two endurance points, and failing the third check will cause the character to devolve just as the physical attacks will.
As intellifungus are evolved from regular fungus, they seem to have adapted to the radiation that caused their mutation, and as a result, there is no danger of contamination from coming in contact with an intellifungus.
At this time, intellifungus do not form civilizations, nor do they use tools, but evolution can always change that.
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One of the worst fates that can befall any creature in the Rocks on the Other Side universe is to mutate into a Jabbering Mutant. Let us introduce you to this creature...
JABBERING MUTANT
INT: 4
CS: 12
CHA: 2
STR: 20
AGIL: 18
END: 28
AB: +3 (+2 str, +1 mutation)
DB: +18 (+1 Agil, +2 mutation, +10 level, +5 amorphous)
Health: 5d8+30
Type of Att: mutant strike
Damage: 3d10+6
Skills: varies
Special Abilities: amorphous, contamination, confusion
Experience: 900
Description: When a person, animal, or plant suffers the most severe mutation that doesn’t actually kill them, they become a Jabbering mutant. These creatures don’t actually have a shape, because their shape constantly changes as the poor creatures continually mutate, thus they can have multiple limbs at one time, multiple faces, multiple of anything that the creature originally had.
When a Jabbering mutant attacks, and they always will because they are not very smart and very angry at the form they now take, they will strike with whatever limbs they currently have. At the start of the encounter the game master rolls 1d6 and this determines how many attacks the creature gets each round. Every fifth round of combat, a 1d6 is rolled again, as the creature will have mutated.
The Jabbering mutant is constantly making annoying noises that can cause confusion. Every round, each character must make a common sense check against a score of 12. They roll 1d20 and modify this with their common sense modifier. If the roll is not 12 or higher, they are confused and cannot take any action for 1d6 rounds.
Finally, every hit from a Jabbering mutant runs the risk of a severe radiation exposure and characters must roll on the appropriate table to determine if they have become contaminated.
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