Converting Monsters

Behold, a vision in my scrying orb... there are brave scholars who pray for guidance as they pore through the ancient tomes. Those calls shall not go unanswered.

Read More »

The Answer to Your Prayers

I just finished editing some awesome upcoming Magician and Elf spells for our Kickstarter-funded, Zine Quest, Mordite Press presents: The Grind, a Torchbearer Zine. But what about the humble (or...

Read More »

The Turns Before The Grind

Image for The Turns Before The Grind

Reflections on the adventurer life, for soon The Grind shall hit.

Read More »

Actual Play: Floating Castle Ardmor, Part 1

Mordite Press is playing through Shane King’s adventure Floating Castle Ardmor, which is available for free under the Dungeoneers license. The adventure is still in its “alpha” playtesting phase, so...

Read More »

Journey to the Dreaded Isle

Image for Journey to the Dreaded Isle

When Luke Crane announced Kickstarter's Zine Quest back in November, we started kicking around ideas.

Read More »

The Orc Warmonger

Mordite Press presents a new Torchbearer class for heartless players and GMs: the Orc Warmonger (PDF).

Read More »

Master's Manual III: Versus Tests and Conflicts

In Part II, we discussed Obstacles and how to evaluate what obstacles were challenging for a given party. Today we're going to look at versus tests and monsters, and how to gauge just how dangerous a...

Read More »

Master's Manual II: Obstacles

In Part I we discussed how skill and ability tests against obstacles are only a part of Torchbearer’s overall flow. A lot hangs on how the GM presents information to the players and the choices that...

Read More »

Boss Monsters: They Have a Cave Troll...

Boss Monster battles offer interesting challenges for players and GMs. Players have to strategize a little differently and GMs have to juggle a few more pieces. Let's look at what these special rules...

Read More »

Master's Manual: Pacing

The Torchbearer rulebook has solid advice on running the game, and I recommend periodically re-reading it as your Torchbearer campaign unfolds. Specific headings like Describe to Live and...

Read More »

Otherworld Problems

As the Torchbearer rulebook helpfully explains, the magician is the most complicated class in the game. A close reading and mastery of the spell rules is necessary to get the most out of playing a...

Read More »

GMing Pointers: an Example Play

GMing any game is an art form - requiring imagination and creativity. But when it comes down to it, running a Torchbearer game for the first time can be daunting.

Read More »

Converting One-Page Dungeons

Most of the adventures I run in Torchbearer, both at home and at conventions, are drawn from one or two page adventures by a variety of authors. I’ve found that using small adventure locations helps...

Read More »

Iconics: Team Builds for Torchbearer RPG

I greet you, Legion of Chaons, and welcome back to Mordite Monday! This week I'm turning over command to D. Koch, author of Fearless and Freebooting and all-around classy guy. His formidable mission...

Read More »

Nature Demystified

Nature is one of the most abstract rules in the Torchbearer RPG. You could, in theory, play many sessions without rolling it at all. Even so, a lot of the other mechanics hang from it, and once...

Read More »

The Make-A-Lich Foundation

Some time ago, I presented Jared Sorensen (Memento Mori Theatricks) with a notion: his Specialist class rules should be used to enable depraved Torchbearer magicians and clerics to attain Lichdom.

Read More »

Thouls and Thoblins

The most monstrous of holidays draws near, and so this Mordite Monday is a Monster! Following on Thor's example on the official Torchbearer Blog—which introduced and reproduced stat blocks for...

Read More »

Iconoclasts

Dwarven thieves, half-orc paladins, dark elf striders; some adventurers become more than just an exemplar of their heritage. You’ve rebelled against your upbringing, taking on a profession that’s...

Read More »

A Primer for the Torchbearer RPG

It’s been five years since the Kickstarter for the Torchbearer RPG. There have been a lot of developments since then, both through official BWHQ products and the open Torchbearer Sagas License. While...

Read More »

Hail and Well Met!

Image for Hail and Well Met!

A hooded stranger stumbles into the tavern from the rain-soaked streets bearing news of a quest. It slowly draws back its hood to reveal it's the Mordite Press Blog! Every Monday we'll post an...

Read More »