Infernal Titans Battlemaps

I know that fantasy novels and gaming go hand in hand, so I have decided to plug my friend's business who makes Battlemaps for any RPG. They are the 1" square maps that we all have seen if we play any type of table top RPG.

Since I had some traffic coming here from other gaming sites and blogs, I wanted to re-post something here for Nick about his Battlemaps, especially since I talked about them last week here. So. without further ado, here is the post and the link to Infernal Titans TWITTER, BLOG and RPGNOW spot!

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I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with. 

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics.

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers

I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with.

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics. 

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers!

*************

I've got poster maps for sale on my website. We're doing a pre-print sale to see what kind of interest there is in the community. Four full color 36"x24" battlemaps for $10. They'll be available at that price until we go to print. I know I want more battle maps, hopefully many of you do also.

Check out the pics in my photos for a preview, and check out the website HERE

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Thanks all for checking this out and I will see you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted. 

Realm of Ashenclaw, A Brief History

I thought I would share a brief history here on my blog about the Realm and give the reader a bit of information on the history and flavor of the world. I was intending to post something here on the city of Oakhaven, but that may have been putting the cart before the horse. So, in an effort to give you information in a logical order, I give you this...first.

The Realm of Ashenclaw~

Before the attack of the Scorching Drakes and their queen, known as Ashenclaw, the continent of Wothlondia was a growing populace and the only land in which there were civilized, intelligent races on the world known as Krotto. 

These races intermingled and traded peacefully, communicating and living in coexistence. The trading methods used by the people were many, but the coinage remained the same throughout the land as bronze, silver and gold coins were the main currency. 

Many of the races contributed to keeping the whole of Wothlondia safe. The elves were plentiful in and around the forests, keeping them clean and secure, while the humans built villages outside the forest, while both races harvested food on the soil. Dwarves lived in peace in the uppermost portions of the subterrane as well as the edges of the surface world, mining and building their magnificent kingdoms. They all traded with one another and developed routes of travel. The gnomes, halflings, orcs, goblins and other races kept to themselves at first, trading sporadically when the need arose, until a century prior, all were happily exchanging goods and services, unique to their own kin or land. These races came to be known as the Races of Order collectively by the people of Wothlondia. There was a common language that emerged for trading that each race learned and taught their own in order to communicate. The language was referred to as trade-speak, or Wothlondian, and is still practiced and taught by each and every race to each subsequent generation as to never forget.

In the years preceding the scorching drake attacks, trade between the races began to slow.  Trade routes and caravans were frequently attacked by trolls, slagfell, ogres, succubi and other creatures emerging from the subterrane.  Many demons and other evil creatures also conspired to interfere with the racial harmony. Through varying means of manipulation, both verbal and supernatural, they influenced many into treacherous acts against the good folks of the realm—especially the succubi! 

The year is 66 PA (Post Ashenclaw) and the general order of the land is still in a flux, with several cities rebuilt to their former glory, some yet in the process and still many more lay in ruin. There are many scavengers and dangers roaming the land, trying to find food, shelter and the like. Travel is generally treacherous, but is still undertaken with armed escorts, as many cities have resumed trade and need to import/export goods in order to continue or to start rebuilding.

  

Cosmology~

Ø  Central plane (Krotto)

Ø  Plane of shadow

Ø  Arcadia (heavens)

Ø  Pandemonium (hell)

Ø  Elemental planes: fire, air, water and earth   

Ø  Regenerative plane (holy/healing)

Ø  Degenerative plane (necromantic/harmful)

Ø  Arcana (supernatural power)

Ø  Feyfields (magic of nature)

The Calendar~

Month	Month Name	Present Month
1	Winter’s Bite	January
2	Winter’s Heart	February
3	Winter’s Fade	March
4	the Deluge	April
5	Nature’s Call	May
6	Sun’s Burn	June
7	Mid-Summer	July
8	Summer’s Fade	August
9	The Calming	September
10	Nature’s Fall	October
11	The Chilling	November
12	Winter’s Veil	December

Days of the Week~

The days of the week were named after the moon and the sun first, then each of the remaining five days were named after a glorious and righteous king from several races, including the humans, elves, dwarves, orcs and half-elves. This was agreed upon centuries ago and has remained constant, regardless of any conflict or ill will there has been between any of them.

 

Day	Name	Present Name
1	Sun’s day	Sunday
2	Moon’s day	Monday
3	Tous’ Day	Tuesday
4	Weena’s Day	Wednesday
5	Thurin’s Day	Thursday
6	Frya’s Day	Friday
7	Sartur’s day	Saturday

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.

Map of Wothlondia in the Realm of Ashenclaw

Inspired by maps that I have seen recently, especially from @infernaltitans and his battlemaps, as well as the map I saw on William Kenney's blog, I drew a map over the weekend from a model I had been using for the last few years in an attempt to improve it. Then I handed it over to Nicholas of Infernal Titans, who is my creative help and business partner and had him add the names, text, etc. This is the black and white version and it is inspiring to say the least! I was extremely excited to see it and we are now working on a color version. I am extremely satisfied with what we have come up with.

Below is the map I had done showing a closeup of the area detailed in Covenant of the Faceless Knights and below that is the most current version of a larger scale version of most of the continent of Wothlondia. I hope it is 'eye candy' for you as well!

Ashenclaw Map in Covenant of the Faceless Knights

Newest Version: Continent of Wothlondia

Next week, I am going to share some info about Oakhaven, the main city in Wothlondia (aka. The Realm of Ashenclaw) in order to shed some light on some things and to give the realm a solid foundation and setting upon which to build. It will also continue to give the reader (yes, you) an extended reading experience with some visuals. My next step will be to map out the city of Oakhaven, possibly within the next few weeks I will have that to share...only time (and my work schedule) will tell.

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.

Which version of D&D do you play?

I was going to do a post about different gaming attractions and such, but then I decided to break it down into different versions of Dungeons & Dragons specifically. Reason being is that I have several friends who play older versions of Dungeons and Dragons as well as the more current 3.0, 3.5 and 4^th editions as well as the DDO MMORPG. (Eberron? Really?!)

I have been staying current, albeit reluctantly at first, as I generally fear change! Actually, not really, but, I saw no good reason to move forward as I thought that 3^rd edition was pretty good and advanced D&D as far as it could go. I may have been right! Current 4^th edition D&D is a far cry from your older versions and really mirrors the feel of an MMORPG, which I assume it feels as its competition.

Again, these are my opinions, so feel free to disagree. I love a good debate.

I think each of the versions has 'good' and 'bad' characteristics and I wanted to touch on a few of the good and bad. Let me preface also by adding that I think all of them have their place and they are meant for you to have fun in whatever form that may take.

Older versions of D&D were fun, simplistic and a bit generic. Role-playing was the key as well as the imagination of the DM and players both. Managing your inventory is another factor as it added a ‘realistic’ quality to the game. I personally did not enjoy this as I felt it detracted from the overall game-play and felt more like homework than actual fun! In addition, I felt that there was nothing heroic about an average guy picking up a sword and shield to go adventuring—it’s just silly. Add in the fact that all classes were basically the same. (ie. all characters have the same statistics, hit points, etc, like your fighter is made in a production line like a car or a piece of equipment), detracted from it further as more modern versions became available. But, it was an older representation and sometimes classic is the way to go. It was very dependent upon the story and the environment to move the game along. I personally enjoy the character that I play and want him to be a bit more…heroic? But, I digress--to each his own--que sera sera.

Third edition was pretty unique in that it diversified from the norm and really brought old school D&D into the modern age. It felt like an amazing leap in game mechanics while still keeping the familiar names, spells and abilities we all knew and loved. You could custom build your fighter, rogue, barbarian, etc. so that he or she was different from the others. Multi-classing, prestige classes and customizations were its strengths. Third edition was also ground-breaking in that they opened the game up to the community and made it essentially an open-source product (think Linux) which enhances the overall game experience as the consumer has a vested interest in the end product. However, as supplements became more and more available, power-gaming eventually put an end to this version and the market was saturated with over-the-top classes/variations/prestige classes. Sometimes, we experienced that a player accidentally created an overpowered character! Yikes! 

In 4^th edition, I kind of miss the skill selection or separation as I think they may have lumped too many of the individual skills into one overall skill. That being said, simplification has its place, I suppose. DM’ing has seriously gotten easier, encounters can be extremely easy to prepare and balance and the monsters are quite easy to manage now. As opposed to third edition where a significant monster may have two pages of spells, abilities and powers of which would send your head spinning when it was the monsters turn to go! Balance I think is the key to 4^th edition and it is very clear that they wanted combat to be very gripping and encapsulating to the point of making the battles a bit more epic. It certainly has become a tabletop game for the most part.

I have also heard grumblings on the internet that 4^th edition loses the RP feel, which I disagree with totally. This is completely up to your DM as it is his or her job to add that element. I have also heard that 4^th edition isn’t deadly enough. Wrong again…I have gotten my derriere handed to me several times and have been in one TPK (total Party Kill.) It was vicious! 

I am the DM! Whatever I say-goes!

All in all, I think you can take each framework of the game and add whatever style you like to it as they all have their own charm and ambiance. The bottom lines is that we are having fun, exploring dungeons and slaying dragons…After all, this is what it’s all about!

My question to you is: What version do you like best and why?

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.  

Races of Ashenclaw: Slagfell Dwarves

I have decided to share a few things that will probably be in a supplement of some kind sooner or later describing races that are unique to the Realm of Ashenclaw. So, without further ado, I give to you a sub-race of dwarves called...

Slagfell Dwarves~

This once common subrace of dwarves is referred to as slagfell dwarves by the populace of Wothlondia. They are pale-skinned dwarves that have descended far beneath the earth in search of treasures. They showed an exceptionally powerful greed, even for dwarves, and willingly plunged deeper into the subterrane a thousand years ago and remain there today, embracing it as their home.

They are completely obsessed with treasure and feel shunned by their brethren, the common dwarves, who actively scolded them, thinking them unwise to dangerously pursue their deepest of desires in the first place. The slagfell have spent many centuries beneath the earth’s surface and have slightly mutated to adjust. They have adapted to the darkness and the lack of sunlight over the last hundred years, evolving their nightvision into something keener, while at the same time, are extremely sensitive to the rays of the sun.

Their bodies are similar to the dwarves, but their skin has turned pale and grey in color. They are also slightly less stocky than the common dwarves found on Wothlondia as their diet is more restrictive, which lends itself to a more natural maneuverability and agility instead.

Slagfell brand themselves, mostly on their heads and necks and chest, which represents a family hierarchy or rank within their own clan. The more markings they have, the higher rank they are. This is an accepted and well known feature amongst their own kind.

Shadowmere is the premier city of the Slagfell Clan and harbors the most of their kind, ruled by King Dolgrath Bloodstone. There are further offshoots of Clan Shadowmere and speculation from King Dolgrath is that he believes several of them defected decades ago, but none have been seen since. As far as he knows, they could be anywhere.

Shadowmere is a large civilization hidden deep within the subterrane of the Dragon Fangs Mountains, where there are many dark and deadly dangers that would end a surface folk’s life very quickly. The city is vast and well-protected, surrounded by hundreds of areas, rich with ore for mining and all within several miles of the city. It is located deep within the subterrane on its lowest levels and is essentially dull and dreary, as they avoid reflective surfaces.


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my home page to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

(Photos from Stock.XCHANG) 

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted. 

The Sound of Pages Turning

The Sound of Pages Turning

As a writer, I am trying to get you interested in my book enough to entertain the thought of purchasing it…crazy business plan, I know. That much is true, but more importantly, I am attempting to engage you enough so that you might feel a certain level of empathy for the characters. This is not necessarily caring about ‘what’ they do or what spells they can cast, or even how effectual they are in battle, but more of ‘who’ they are and what motivates them to do what they do in the Realm of Ashenclaw. 

She seems to be enjoying herself

What drives their decision making process? Can you relate to their issues and problems? Have you ever gone through something similar?

My characters are archetypical of the sword & sorcery genre for sure and I admit that I am not trying to reinvent the wheel in that regard. That being said, I would hope that their individuality and sense of purpose would shine through, making them ‘real’ enough in the reader’s eye in order to relate to them or what they are going through. This sort of emotional attachment to my characters is exactly when I know that I am doing my job, otherwise you are reading about soulless automatons! This, too, is fine, mind you…but is not what I was shooting for.

If you can relate any character of mine, protagonist or antagonist, with an event that transpired in your life or the life of someone close to you, I have achieved my goal. If my character has emotional baggage that you understand or recognize or faces a problem with which you can relate, then my goal was achieved…. If this is done properly, then I will hear the sweet sound of pages turning.

I ask you this -- 

Is emotional relevance and character depth important to you as a reader, or do you just enjoy the mayhem and detailing of a combat scene instead? Feel free to respond under comments. Looking forward to hearing from you!

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my home page to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

(Photos from Kozzi) 

 

The Faceless Knights... Who Are They?

Several of my friends have asked me this question, so I thought I'd address it here for any and all that are interested! Hope you enjoy it! *

The Faceless Knights of Order are simply one of the many factions that the Inquisition uses in order to exact their own brand of justice and order on the face of Wothlondia. The Faceless Knights are a fairly well known and officially sanctioned branch of the Pantheon of Order, which originates from the city of Safehold, keeping the churches and temples of each of the gods safe under their watchful eye.

Garius Forge by Justine Babcock

The Inquisition is a broad term that encompasses many leaders and elders of the Pantheon of Order, who gather in secrecy to exchange information and maintain a firm grasp of what happens within their temples and places of worship. These men and women uncover heresy and the dealings of those who walk the dangerous line between the benevolent gifts of their own gods of Arcadia and the foul temptations of the demon lords of Pandemonium who entice them with dark powers beyond their imagination. Their sole purpose is to weed out the heretics and supplant them as quickly and as quietly as possible, restoring order to the Realm of Ashenclaw.

The Faceless Knights exist as both a source of intelligence gathering upon the surface of Wothlondia, and more so as a very real militant order of warpriests with exceptional skills and abilities. This branch is out in the open, remaining unhidden, and employs priests, warpriests, paladins, knights, warriors and full-fledged Inquisitors.

Inquisitors are the chosen few--the dominant persons amongst their organizations--knights, paladins or warpriests mostly, who can manipulate divine energies as well as having established a background that involves martial competence. Once attaining the esteemed status of Inquisitor, these few men and women have access to any and all divine realms or spheres of influence of all of the gods. They are able to use any power, ability or spell that they see fit and often use whatever means necessary in order to keep the demons of Pandemonium from spreading across the face of Wothlondia. They are typically well-tempered, charismatic and decisive individuals who show exceptional qualities that make them the masters of the pantheon that they are. 

Heretics beware the Order of the Faceless Knights!

"Heresy is what the minority believe, it is the real name given by the powerful to the doctrine of the weak" ~ Robert Ingersol

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit: www.ashenclaw.com to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!


(*This one is for you, Lee...)

(PS. Faceless Knight is a conceptual term, not a literal one...FYI!)

Sketch of Inquisitor and Faceless Knight, Garius Forge, by Justine Babcock