By Kevin Kulp Our series on non-human heroes has so far covered Intelligent Animals, Unsleeping Advisors (secret undead), and the Considerata (humans whose souls are contractually linked to gods). This month’s Ancestry is inspired by gargoyles, golems, warforged, and clockwork creations. Be sure to read the previously published rules on Non-Human Heroes if you haven’t […]
Tag Archives: Swords of the Serpentine
by Kevin Kulp Last month we explained rules for non-humans and gave you our first Ancestry for Swords of the Serpentine: Intelligent Animals. This month’s Ancestry is originally inspired by The Serpent’s Tongue, a piece of very Eversinkish art by artist Tom Bagshaw. Unsleeping Advisor Ancestry abilities: Ancestry (Unsleeping Advisor), Forgotten Lore, Laws and Traditions, Prophecy […]
by Kevin Kulp Now that we’ve explained the rules for non-human Heroes in Swords of the Serpentine, let’s start with the first Ancestry: Intelligent Animals. Please go read those base rules if you haven’t yet, as it will make this article make much more sense. Each month’s Ancestry will follow the same format, as shown […]
by Kevin Kulp Classic sword and sorcery stories feature human heroes almost exclusively, but that doesn’t mean your game needs to look like this. If you want to use the GUMSHOE Swords of the Serpentine rules for high- or epic fantasy, you’ll want access to non-human heroes. This monthly series will feature Ancestries for non-human […]
From the rotting rooftops of Sag Harbor to the glittering ballrooms of Alderhall, the city of Eversink welcomes you – assuming you can survive it! This collection features four one-shot adventures for Swords of the Serpentine, each designed to be played in four hours with pre-generated Heroes. Featured by Pelgrane Press at Gen Con and […]
In the latest episode of their mighty-thewed podcast, Ken and Robin talk historical settings for swords and sorcery, Gwen Marshall, egregores, and free love priestess Edith Maida Lessing.
By Kevin Kulp My dining room table is covered by the Swords of the Serpentine printer’s proof, finished. Well, almost finished: we’re flagging a cropping issue on the non-color proof, there’s a handful of “we’re worried the ink won’t dry!” image saturation issues that inimitable publisher Cat Tobin will hammer out with the printer’s customer […]
By Kevin Kulp Swords of the Serpentine (abbreviated SotS, or #SerpentineRPG) is Pelgrane Press’s new GUMSHOE sword & sorcery game by Emily Dresner and Kevin Kulp. It features morale-based social combat, a freeform sorcery system, cinematic combat, a canal-strewn setting that echoes classic fantasy cities like Lankhmar and Ankh-Morpork, and an Allegiance system that let […]
By Kevin Kulp “Bookhounds of Eversink” (p. 28 of the Adventurer’s Edition) is a quick-start campaign setup for your Swords of the Serpentine game. The premise, which will be familiar to folks who have read or played in Pelgrane’s other Bookhound game Bookhounds of London, is that adventures focus on the acquisition or sale of […]