Author: JOHNM

  • Mastering Your Journey:

    Mastering Your Journey:


    Experience Points in Morgalad 4d6 Fantasy TTRPG

    In the realm of the Morgalad fantasy RPG, your character’s journey is one of growth, challenge, and reward. As you explore the world, face fearsome creatures, and complete heroic deeds, your character learns and improves. The primary way this progress is tracked in this 4d6 ttrpg system is through Experience Points, often simply called XP. Understanding how to earn and use XP is fundamental to advancing your hero in this basic fantasy RPG.

    What Are Experience Points?

    Experience Points are a representation of your character’s learning and mastery gained through their adventures. They quantify the skills and knowledge acquired by facing dangerous situations, overcoming obstacles, and engaging with the world.

    Earning Experience Points

    Characters primarily earn Experience Points by completing quests and effectively using their abilities. This means that successful actions and meaningful contributions to the story are rewarded. Whether you’re attempting to sneak past a bandit encampment, using diplomatic skills to talk your way out of a hostile situation, or challenging your knowledge to research an ancient tome, using your character’s skills contributes to their experience.

    Defeating creatures is another significant source of XP in Morgalad. The sources provide examples of the experience awarded for overcoming various foes:

    • Kobold (DR 1): 50 XP
    • Adlet (DR 3): 75 XP
    • Alphyn (DR 4): 150 XP
    • Sabre (DR 5): 250 XP
    • Bashrokul (DR 8): 8500 XP
    • Balaur (DR 40): 2300 XP

    Participating in specific adventure goals, such as freeing a brainwashed blacksmith using Allure or Deception, infiltrating a temple using Stealth or Knowledge of the arcane, freeing town guards using Allure or Deception, or fighting cult enforcers and freeing townsfolk using combat, Knowledge, Allure, Perception, or Deception within a stronghold, are all actions that fall under completing quests and using abilities, and thus contribute to earning XP. Even successfully navigating challenges like disarming a trap or finding hidden treasure would contribute.

    Using Experience Points

    The main purpose of accumulating Experience Points is to increase your character’s professional level. Each profession has an experience point threshold that must be met to advance to the next level. For example, a Magi needs 1,000 XP to reach Level 1, 2,500 XP for Level 2, and so on, up to 103,000 XP for Level 20.

    When a character obtains a new professional level, they gain several benefits:

    • Character Points (CP): The character rolls 1d6 and adds the result to their total CP. CP is used to purchase new abilities and upgrades. These can include standard abilities like Ambidexterity or Reading/Writing, or more advanced options like Dual Cast or Dual Wield. Upgrades can enhance attributes, abilities, defenses, health, or energy.
    • Energy Points (EP): The character rolls 1d6 and adds it to their Knowledge attribute score, adding this total to their EP. Energy is crucial for spellcasters (like Magi) and others who use special attacks or certain abilities, as these actions have an energy requirement that is subtracted from the character’s pool. Energy is regained after an extended rest.
    • Health Points (HP): The character rolls 1d6 and adds it to their Essence attribute score, adding this total to their HP. Health is a measure of how much damage a character can withstand before being defeated.

    This system of earning and using XP directly links player actions to character growth, allowing heroes to become more powerful and capable as they successfully navigate the challenges of the Morgalad fantasy RPG. It’s the engine that drives character progression and opens up new possibilities for abilities, spells, and survivability in this 4d6 ttrpg.

    In summary, Experience Points are the key currency of advancement in the Morgalad basic fantasy RPG. Earned through completing quests and utilizing skills, they allow your character to gain professional levels, unlocking new capabilities, increasing your health and energy, and giving you the Character Points needed to tailor your hero to your desired path in this engaging 4d6 ttrpg.


  • Is Morgalad the Right Basic Fantasy RPG for You?

    Is Morgalad the Right Basic Fantasy RPG for You?

    A Celebration of Accessibility

    Are you looking to dive into the world of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs)? The landscape of fantasy RPGs can seem vast and complex, but some systems aim to offer a more accessible entry point. One such system is Morgalad, which positions itself as a basic fantasy RPG built around a unique 4d6 dice mechanic.

    What is Morgalad Fantasy RPG?

    Morgalad is a 4D6 based fantasy RPG set in the Late Iron Age. It functions as a TTRPG, where players control highly detailed characters, unlike war games where players might control factions with basic statistics. The game emphasizes imagination and collaborative storytelling between the Host (Storyteller and Referee) and the Players (Adventurers and Explorers).

    Why Might Morgalad Be Considered a “Basic” Fantasy RPG?

    Morgalad is presented as offering a blend of an “old school style crunchy system” while maintaining a heavy emphasis on role-playing. The goal is to provide a unique blend of easy to learn rules and endless creativity. This suggests that while there are detailed mechanics, the core system is designed to be approachable for newcomers or those who prefer less complexity upfront.

    A key aspect of its accessibility is the flexibility given to the Host. The rules can be applied or disregarded to promote a great storyline rather than getting bogged down in arguments. Hosts are encouraged to make decisions and move on if unsure of a rule, rather than breaking immersion to look it up. This focus on the narrative and fun over strict adherence to every rule contributes to a more fluid and potentially easier-to-start experience.

    Morgalad Gathering

    Understanding the 4d6 System

    At the core of the Morgalad RPG is the 4d6 system. This is a dice pool mechanic used for challenges. When facing a challenge, characters roll 4d6 and add any relevant bonuses against a given Difficulty Rating (DR). If a learned ability applies, the roll is made against the DR. If no learned ability applies, a +5 is added to the DR, and corresponding attributes are rolled. The game also utilizes the 4d6 system for determining hostility order in standard combat. This core mechanic is central to resolving actions in the game world. Players can upgrade and customize their dice pool using character points gained through leveling up.

    The Fantasy RPG Experience in Morgalad

    As a fantasy RPG, Morgalad includes many familiar elements. Players create characters by determining attributes, choosing a species and profession, and fleshing out their backstory. Attributes such as Power, Finesse, Essence, Knowledge, Consciousness, and Allure define a character’s physical, mental, and spiritual capacities. Species provide base Health, Energy, and Defense, along with potential attribute bonuses and advantages or disadvantages. Professions grant access to specific abilities, spells (for Magi), and skills.

    Adventuring is a primary part of Morgalad, encompassing activities beyond combat like sneaking, searching for treasure, disabling devices, and communicating with NPCs. Combat can be resolved using a Standard Combat System or a Quick Combat System, depending on the desired level of detail and pace. Magick exists as a universal cosmic force that can be harnessed by educated characters, requiring energy to cast spells. The game also includes optional mechanics such as critical successes and fumbles, and consequences like insanity triggered by traumatic events or attribute damage.

    Hosts are provided tools for generating elements like NPCs, locations, quests, traps, and treasure, aiding in creating custom adventures. There are also guidelines for planned interactions (Plot Points, If/Then) and random interactions. The game includes information on specific creatures like Adlets, Alphyns, and Kobolds, detailing their ecology, physical characteristics, social behavior, and combat statistics.

    Getting Started with Morgalad

    For those interested in trying Morgalad, the Starterbook is available for free download. This book contains essential information, including pregenerated characters, a starter adventure (like “The Cult of Bashrokul”), dungeons, creatures, and everything needed to begin playing.

    The Morgalad community can be found on platforms like Discord, which is highlighted as the first place to connect with other players, organize games, and master the system. The community is also a place for contributing content and polishing work for potential publication.

    Conclusion

    So, is Morgalad the right basic fantasy RPG for you? If you’re looking for a TTRPG that features a distinctive 4d6 system, a strong emphasis on role-playing and narrative flexibility, and offers a free entry point with its Starterbook, Morgalad might be worth exploring. It aims to be accessible while still providing depth and detail for character creation and world interaction, fitting the description of an easy-to-learn basic fantasy game.

  • Update from the Blackwater Swamp: VTT Conversion in Progress!

    Update from the Blackwater Swamp: VTT Conversion in Progress!

    Greetings, brave adventurers and valued backers!

    We wanted to give you a quick but important update on the progress of The Song of the Swamp Witch and its transition to the virtual tabletop (VTT).

    First and foremost, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your incredible support in bringing this adventure to life. Your enthusiasm fuels our efforts every step of the way!

    We know you’re eager to explore the murky depths of the Blackwater Swamp from the comfort of your favorite VTT platform. We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes to make this a reality. While our campaign adventures are already 100% complete and the preliminary art is ready, the process of converting everything into a seamless and engaging VTT experience requires careful attention to detail.

    We are now focusing our efforts on the finalization of the VTT conversion process. This includes integrating the maps (including those fantastic stretch goal maps within the swamps!), encounters, and all the necessary elements to bring the adventure to your virtual tabletop.

    Our goal is to have the finished VTT modules available to you in mid to late May. We are working diligently to meet this timeline and will keep you updated if any adjustments become necessary.

    Thank you again for your patience and continued support. We are incredibly excited for you to experience The Song of the Swamp Witch in its VTT format soon!

    Stay tuned for more updates!

    McNabb Games

  • Unlocking Your Potential in Morgalad 4D6: The Power of Ability Scores

    Unlocking Your Potential in Morgalad 4D6: The Power of Ability Scores

    Welcome back to the world of Morgalad! In this post, we’re diving deeper into what makes your characters unique and capable: their ability scores. Understanding these scores is fundamental to navigating challenges and shaping your character’s journey in this exciting tabletop role-playing game.

    In Morgalad 4D6, your character’s capabilities are defined by two main categories: Attributes and Base Abilities.

    The Six Natural Attributes: Your Character’s Core

    Every character in Morgalad possesses six natural attributes, representing their inherent physical, mental, and spiritual capacities. These attributes are assigned a numeric value ranging from -3 to +3 during character creation. You determine these scores by rolling 1d6 for each attribute, and then consulting a table to find the corresponding attribute score. Here’s a breakdown of each attribute:

    • Power: This reflects your character’s brute force and strength. A high Power score will influence your carrying capacity and damage output.
    • Finesse: This encompasses your character’s malleability, dexterity, and ability to adapt under pressure. Finesse contributes to your defense and attack bonuses, as well as your Reflex and Stealth scores.
    • Essence: This measures your character’s internal fortitude and constitution. A strong Essence score bolsters your Fortitude.
    • Knowledge: This represents your character’s intellect and inherent problem-solving skills. Knowledge influences your Search, Listen, and Spot scores.
    • Consciousness: This reflects your character’s spiritual awareness and potential wisdom. Consciousness affects your Will bonus.
    • Allure: This encompasses your character’s natural leadership abilities, charismatic representation, diplomatic potential, and physical beauty. Allure directly influences your Diplomacy bonus.

    The Base 8 Abilities: Fundamental Skills

    Alongside the six natural attributes, every character starts with eight standard abilities, known as the Base 8. These represent fundamental skills that most individuals possess to some degree:

    • Will: Your character’s mental strength.
    • Reflex: Your character’s reactionary instincts.
    • Fortitude: Your character’s internal constitution.
    • Diplomacy: Your character’s mannerisms and social skills.
    • Search: Your character’s perspective reasoning skills when surveying a specific target.
    • Spot: Your character’s perspective reasoning skills while at rest.
    • Listen: Your character’s auditory skills.
    • Stealth: Your character’s ability to move silently and unseen.

    Ability Scores in Action: Facing Challenges

    When your character attempts an action that has a chance of failure, you’ll likely face a challenge. Morgalad features two main types of challenges: attribute challenges and ability challenges.

    For a challenge, you typically roll 4d6 and add any relevant bonuses. This total is then compared against a Difficulty Rating (DR). Difficulty Ratings can be a specific number or fall into categories like Easy (10), Standard (13), or Hard (15), and these difficulties increase as characters gain levels.

    • Ability Challenges: If a learned ability (either a Base 8 ability or a professional ability gained through your chosen profession) is applicable to the action, you roll your 4d6 plus any relevant bonuses directly against the DR.
    • Attribute Challenges: If no learned ability applies, you roll your 4d6 plus any relevant bonuses against the corresponding attribute, and a +5 penalty is added to the DR. The Attribute Ability Table outlines which abilities correspond to which attributes. For example, if you try to swim and don’t have the Swimming ability, you would roll against your Power attribute with a +5 penalty to the DR. Similarly, if you attempt to use diplomatic skills without the Diplomacy ability, you would roll against your Allure attribute with a +5 penalty.

    Understanding your character’s attributes and base abilities is crucial for determining how you’ll approach different situations in Morgalad. Will your strong Power help you overcome a physical obstacle? Will your high Knowledge aid you in deciphering an ancient text? Will your Allure allow you to persuade a stubborn guard?

    As your character adventures and gains experience, they can even improve their abilities and attributes using Character Points (CP). This allows for further customization and specialization, making each character’s ability scores a dynamic reflection of their experiences.

    So, when you create your Morgalad character, pay close attention to those ability scores! They are the foundation of your character’s strengths and weaknesses, and they will shape the stories you tell together. Download the free Morgalad Fantasy RPG Starterbook and begin your adventure today! Don’t forget to join our Discord Server to connect with other players and learn even more.

  • Rolling 4D6 Against Tarriffs

    Rolling 4D6 Against Tarriffs

    Our Official Response To Tariffs

    For our customers:

    We manufacture a majority of our products in the U.S. Many who believe this protects us from the ramifications of Tariffs are mistaken. Even though our goods may be manufactured in the U.S. many U.S. manufacturers source materials from other countries. We are doing everything we can to lock in prices and at the moment do not foresee any price increases on you the consumer yet. However Tariffs do affect everything from materials to supply chains. Even if materials and manufacturing do not increase, supply chains and delivery costs could increase in the near future. That being said we will continue to absorb as much in manufacturing costs as possible and plan to not increase prices for the remainder of 2025. We also offer print-on-demand (POD) to help protect customers from cost increases and remain available in most countries.

    For TTRPG Creators:

    We have made available a System Open License that requires no royalties and protects your IP in perpetuity. You can find our 4D6 System Open License for free on our website at www.morgalad.com the free starter book serves as the SRD for our license and can be used to bring your products to life. I also encourage you to look at our free Tabletop Tips deck on site to look at possible alternatives to help protect your creations from AI scraping software.

    For Content Creators:

    We are always open to interviews, podcasts, or AMAs if you are a content creator in need of guests. We are always open to collaborate on fun projects as they appear so feel free to reach out on anything from game and modules to audio video and animated projects we are all open to opportunities to work along fellow creators.

    For Game Store Owners:

    We are compiling options for in store organized play to help promote in store events. In times like these third spaces focused on community are paramount for survival so we would like to offer various modules for free at no cost for organized play in your store.

    What else can you do to help out?

    Visibility is our number one hurdle and promotions are always appreciated for Morgalad Fantasy RPG. To help out make sure to tag www.morgalad.com in social media posts to help maximize reach.

  • Mastering Morgalad: A Guide to 4d6 Adventures

    Mastering Morgalad: A Guide to 4d6 Adventures

    Gearing Up: A Guide to Equipment in Morgalad

    Welcome back to “Mastering Morgalad”! In this sixth article of our series, we’re equipping players with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about equipment in the Morgalad Fantasy TTRPG. Selecting the right equipment is essential for survival and success in the game world.

    The Importance of Equipment

    After determining your character’s attributes, species, and profession, the next crucial step in character creation is selecting equipment. Equipment can greatly enhance a character’s abilities, offering bonuses to attacks, defenses, and other essential stats.

    Starting Currency

    Each character begins their adventure with a specific amount of currency to purchase equipment. The starting currency is determined by the formula:

    [(4d6 + Allure) x 10 Gold Coins]

    This means a character’s Allure stat directly impacts their starting wealth.

    Purchasing Equipment

    Chapter 5 of the “Morgalad Fantasy RPG Revised” is dedicated to equipment. Players can spend their starting currency to acquire weapons, armor, adventuring gear, and other items necessary for their adventures.

    Types of Equipment

    • Weapons: Weapons are essential for combat. The source lists a variety of weapon types, such as shortswords, longswords, greatswords, rapiers, battle axes, warhammers, short bows, longbows, and maces. There are also ranged weapon options like throwing stars, caltrops, and throwing knives.
    • Armor: Armor provides protection against attacks.
    • Adventuring Gear: Adventuring gear includes items that are useful for exploration and survival. Examples of such gear includes torches, whetstones, wineskins, dried food, and compasses.

    Weapon Material

    The material a weapon is made from affects its properties. Weapons can be made from bronze, iron, steel, blue metal, black metal, or adamantine.

    Upgrading Equipment

    The “Morgalad Fantasy RPG Revised” includes options for upgrading weapons to improve their effectiveness. Upgrades include:

    • Improved Attack: Adds a +1 bonus to attack rolls.
    • Improved Damage: Adds a +1 bonus to damage rolls.
    • Focused Attack: Grants an extra attack roll per round with the weapon.

    If an upgrade is applied to a bronze weapon, all weapons of the same type made of better materials also gain the bonus. The reverse is not true.

    Other Equipment Considerations

    • Carrying Capacity: A character’s Power attribute determines how much they can carry.
    • Significant Loss of Inventory: The significant loss of inventory is any loss exceeding 50 gold coins in value. Purchasing equipment does not count as a significant loss of inventory.

    Crafting Equipment

    Characters with the Smithing ability can craft their own weapons and armor from various materials. The Smithing ability has different levels for different materials, such as bronze, iron, and steel. Each recipe must be purchased to craft an item.

    Characters with the Woodcrafting ability can craft wooden items.

    Store Name Tables

    When stocking a town with stores, the source provides tables for quickly generating store names.

    Magickal Items

    Magickal items can be found as treasure. Examples of magickal items include a Stone Cloak, Gauntlet of Hope, Obsidian Dagger, Shield of Honor, Woodman’s Axe, and Crystal Longsword.

    Making the Choice

    When selecting equipment, consider these points:

    • What is your character’s profession and fighting style?
    • What is your character’s Power score and carrying capacity?
    • How does this equipment synergize with your character’s abilities and upgrades?
    • Does the equipment align with your character’s background and personality?

    Conclusion

    Selecting the right equipment is crucial for any adventurer. By understanding the available options and how they interact with your character’s abilities, you can ensure they are well-prepared for any challenge. In our next article, we’ll delve into Non-Player Characters!

  • Basilisk: Petrifying Serpents in Your Basic Fantasy Game

    Basilisk: Petrifying Serpents in Your Basic Fantasy Game

    In the world of basic fantasy RPGs, the creatures that populate your world can make or break the immersion and challenge for your players. One such creature, perfect for a basic fantasy setting, is the Basilisk. This article dives into the Basilisk, providing you with everything you need to know to incorporate this monster into your campaigns effectively.

    What is a Basic Fantasy RPG?

    Before diving into the details of the Basilisk, it’s important to define what we mean by “basic fantasy RPG“. A basic fantasy RPG typically focuses on straightforward gameplay, classic fantasy elements, and accessibility for new players. These games often emphasize adventure, combat, and character progression without overwhelming complexity.

    Basilisk Origins: King of Serpents

    The Basilisk’s origin story is one of deadly mystique. According to the Morgalad Fantasy RPG, the basilisk is a large reptile reputed to be king of serpents and said to have the power to cause death with a single glance. The basilisk is called “king” because it has on its head a crown-shaped crest.

    Physical Traits of a Basilisk

    • Appearance: For the most part, the basilisk is indistinguishable from other small, common snakes, appearing in shades from muddy greens to brown.
    • Size: It reaches a typical length of 25-37 inches, with some particularly large specimens reaching four feet.
    • Crown: What distinguishes the basilisk from other snakes is its “crown,” a grouping of small, pointed spines in a diamond formation on top of its head.

    These features make the Basilisk a subtle yet terrifying monster for your basic fantasy RPG.

    Behavioral Traits

    • Nocturnal: Basilisks are nocturnal and, while hunting, solitary.
    • Hunting: They pursue rodents and small reptiles and amphibians.
    • Deadly Gaze: The basilisk is able to kill with a glance. Should their primary means of attack, that is, their deadly glare, fail, the basilisk also produces a potent venom which causes near instant paralysis.

    Social Habits

    Basilisks live in dark, heavily wooded areas in temperate climates. Nests typically contain between six and fourteen individual specimens and can often be found among decaying flora. Basilisks are nocturnal and, during the day, sleep closely together, entwined.

    How to Incorporate Basilisk into Your Basic Fantasy RPG Campaign

    • Petrified Victims: Players come across petrified victims, and must investigate the cause, leading them to the basilisk.
    • Hunting the Basilisk: A village is plagued by a basilisk, and the players are hired to hunt it down.
    • Basilisk Trade: The party uncovers a trade in basilisk teeth, bones, and skin, and must decide whether to shut it down.

    Conclusion

    The Basilisk is a versatile and compelling monster that fits seamlessly into any basic fantasy RPG setting. Its unique origin, subtle appearance, and deadly abilities make it a memorable foe for players of all levels. By understanding its lore, behavior, and stats, you can craft engaging encounters and storylines that will enrich your basic fantasy campaigns.

  • Mastering Morgalad: A Guide to 4d6 Adventures

    Mastering Morgalad: A Guide to 4d6 Adventures

    Choosing a Profession

    Welcome back to “Mastering Morgalad”! In this fifth article of our series, we’re guiding players through the crucial step of selecting a profession for their characters in the Morgalad Fantasy TTRPG. Your character’s profession defines their skills, abilities, and role within the game world.

    Character Creation Steps

    The “Morgalad Fantasy RPG Revised” outlines a clear process for character creation, with profession selection as a key element. The character creation steps are:

    1. Determine Attributes
    2. Choose a Species
    3. Select a Profession
    4. Flesh out your character
    5. Select Equipment

    Understanding Professions

    A character’s profession tells the player what abilities their character has and/or is capable of learning as well as information such as Spells, Abilities, Skills, etc.

    Magi

    As an example of a profession, the source describes the Magi, who are academics who have learned to tap into cosmic energies and use themselves as a conduit for arcane power.

    How to Read a Profession Block

    The “Morgalad Fantasy RPG Revised” provides a specific format for presenting information about each profession:

    • Level Progression: This section explains how each profession progresses as their level increases. Some professions have specialized rules that can change the way each character grows and adapts throughout the game.
    • Available Abilities: Following each profession is a full list of available abilities specific to only that profession. Alongside each ability name will be a number which represents the Character Point (CP) cost to learn said ability. Full descriptions and details on each ability can be found in chapter 8.

    Level Progression

    Characters start out at level 0 and are completely inexperienced. As characters complete quests and use their abilities they obtain experience points. Once characters obtain enough experience points their professional level will increase.

    When creating a new character each will roll 3 six sided dice (3d6).

    • 1 of the dice will be added to the characters Character Points total, which can then in turn be used to purchase new abilities and upgrades.
    • 1 of the dice will be added alongside the characters knowledge score (1d6+Kno) will be added to the characters Energy Points total.
    • The final dice will be added alongside the characters essence score (1d6+Ess) will be added to the characters Health Points total.

    Subsequently, this pattern will continue each and every time a character obtains a new professional level.

    Available Professions by Species

    Non-player Characters follow the same character creation rules as player characters except for one limitation: certain species are limited to the level progression charts of particular professions according to a table of available professions by species.

    Character Points

    Character Points (CP) are spent to learn abilities. The cost of abilities can vary based on the tier of the ability. For example, for a Magi, Tier 1 spells cost 5 CP.

    Multiclassing Considerations

    It may be possible to choose multiple professions for a character. If multiclassing is allowed, consider these things:

    • How does XP get split or allocated?
    • Are there any restrictions on which professions can be combined?
    • How are Character Points handled?

    Making the Choice

    Consider these points when selecting a profession:

    • What kind of role do you want to play in the party?
    • What kind of abilities do you want your character to have?
    • Does the profession align with your character’s background and personality?
    • Does your chosen species have any impact on your profession choice?

    Conclusion

    Choosing a profession is a pivotal moment in character creation. It sets the stage for your character’s journey and defines their capabilities within the world. Take the time to explore the available options and select a profession that aligns with your vision for your character. In our next article, we’ll delve into equipment selection!

  • Balaur: Poisonous Underworld Drakes in Your Basic Fantasy Game

    Balaur: Poisonous Underworld Drakes in Your Basic Fantasy Game

    In the world of basic fantasy RPGs, the creatures that populate your world can make or break the immersion and challenge for your players. One such creature, perfect for a basic fantasy setting, is the Balaur. This article dives into the Balaur, providing you with everything you need to know to incorporate this monster into your campaigns effectively.

    What is a Basic Fantasy RPG?

    Before diving into the details of the Balaur, it’s important to define what we mean by “basic fantasy RPG“. A basic fantasy RPG typically focuses on straightforward gameplay, classic fantasy elements, and accessibility for new players. These games often emphasize adventure, combat, and character progression without overwhelming complexity.

    Balaur Origins: Chthonic Denizens of the Underworld

    The Balaur’s origin story is steeped in dark magic. According to the Morgalad Fantasy RPG, the Balaur is called forth from the underworld by dark magick. These ancient serpent-like beasts have poisonous breath and blood so virulent that even their tracks are deadly.

    Physical Traits of a Balaur

    • Multiple Heads: Balaur are polycephalous, possessing multiple serpent-like heads.
    • Aquatic Adaptations: They have overly large fins instead of wings, indicating their aquatic nature.
    • Size: Balaur hatch from small eggs and grow to heights between 5’9” and 6’9” ft. tall.
    • Acidic Saliva: The acid from their mouth is so corrosive it turns the very earth it touches to precious stones.

    These features make the Balaur a visually striking and memorable monster for your basic fantasy RPG.

    Behavioral Traits

    • Aggression: They are stocky and one of the most ferocious of dragons.
    • No Need for Complete Sleep: While sleeping, at least a couple of heads are always awake and focused.
    • Territorial: Balaur are immensely territorial, with one male living amongst all the females he can muster. Any new males are devoured the moment they reach maturity.
    • Opportunistic: When first summoned into this world they are small slimy younglings and serve the dark powers that called them forth from the underworld, but they will strike when the opportunity arises.

    How to Incorporate Balaur into Your Basic Fantasy RPG Campaign

    • Underworld Guardians: Players must navigate a treacherous underworld environment guarded by a Balaur to retrieve a powerful artifact.
    • Poisoned Lands: A Balaur’s lair is causing the surrounding land to become poisoned due to its virulent blood and poisonous breath, and the players are hired to stop it.
    • Cult Summons: The party discovers a cult attempting to summon a Balaur to serve their dark purposes, and they must prevent the ritual from succeeding.

    Conclusion

    The Balaur is a versatile and compelling monster that fits seamlessly into any basic fantasy RPG setting. Its unique origin, imposing appearance, and deadly abilities make it a memorable foe for players of all levels. By understanding its lore, behavior, and stats, you can craft engaging encounters and storylines that will enrich your basic fantasy campaigns.

  • Mastering Morgalad: A Guide to 4d6 Adventures

    Mastering Morgalad: A Guide to 4d6 Adventures

    Gamemastering 101: Difficulty Ratings & Challenges with 4d6

    Welcome back to “Mastering Morgalad”! In this fourth article of our series, we’re shifting our focus to the Gamemaster (Host) and their role in creating engaging challenges in the Morgalad Fantasy TTRPG. A key aspect of this is understanding Difficulty Ratings (DR) and how they interact with the 4d6 system to create balanced and exciting gameplay.

    Understanding Challenges

    In the Morgalad fantasy role-playing game there are two separate but equally important types of challenges:

    • Attribute challenges
    • Ability challenges.

    To understand these adequately, it is important to understand the difference between attributes and abilities. Each character has six natural attributes that are measured and assigned a numeric value between -3 and +3 during character creation. Alongside these 6 natural attributes each character starts out with 8 standard abilities known as the Base 8.

    Difficulty Ratings (DR): Setting the Stage

    Difficulty Ratings (DR) determine how challenging a task is for the players. The “Morgalad Fantasy RPG Revised” uses two types of Difficulty Ratings: given numbers and categories.

    Difficulty Categories:

    These provide a general sense of difficulty, which is expressed numerically. Here’s a breakdown of the standard Difficulty Categories:

    • Easy: 10
    • Standard: 13
    • Hard: 15
    • Difficult: 17
    • Extraordinary: 19

    Scaling Difficulty:

    It is important to remember that difficulties progress as characters increase in level so what is difficult for a level 1 character becomes easy for a level 15. Difficulty Categories increase by 5 for every 10 levels a character has obtained.

    Rolling Against the DR: 4d6 + Bonuses

    When a player attempts a challenge, they roll 4d6, add any relevant bonuses, and compare the total to the DR.

    The formula is simple:

    4d6 + Relevant Bonuses ≥ Difficulty Rating

    If the total equals or exceeds the DR, the character succeeds. If it falls short, they fail. The GM determines the consequences of success or failure based on the situation.

    Applying Attribute and Ability Challenges

    The player must roll 4d6 + any relative bonuses against a given Difficulty Rating. If a learned ability applies, the player rolls against the Difficulty Rating. If no learned ability applies, the player must add +5 to DR and roll corresponding attributes.

    Example:

    Juniper attempts to pick a lock to escape an old abandoned mine. This would be an example of an ability challenge, and would use Finesse as the corresponding attribute.

    Braditz uses his diplomatic skills to talk his way out of a hostile situation. This would be an example of an ability challenge, and would use Allure as the corresponding attribute.

    Designing Encounters

    When designing encounters, consider the party’s level and abilities. Use DRs to create a mix of easy, moderate, and challenging situations. Remember that player skill and creativity can overcome even the most daunting odds.

    Tools for the Host

    The “Morgalad Fantasy RPG Revised” provides tools for GMs to generate content on the fly. The Host’s toolbox provides them with all the necessary tools required to generate interactions and rewards on the fly. Some of these tools include:

    • NPC Generation Tables
    • City Generation Tables
    • Treasure Generation Tables
    • Random Trap Generation
    • Antagonist Generation Tables
    • Quest Building Ideas

    Conclusion

    By mastering Difficulty Ratings and the 4d6 system, you’ll be well-equipped to create thrilling and memorable experiences for your players. Remember to balance challenge with opportunity, and always reward creativity and ingenuity. In the next article, we’ll delve into character professions!