Black Tokyo Unlimited: Print on Demand

I'm going to be laying out two separate files for Black Tokyo Unlimited, a full color, on-screen PDF version and a B&W print on demand version. The two books will be similar, but not identical.

This will be our first POD release, so Black Tokyo Unlimited's print version will be fairly clean and simple. It will include as much art as the PDF version, but all this art will be in B&W. For the print version, I'll use Amanda and Anthony Cournoyer's inks, rather than the fully colored version of the same pieces I'll be using for the on-screen version. John works digitally, so there isn't an inked version. I'll end up having to go through and create greyscale versions of his images in GIMP before publication. Hopefully I can do it without losing too much detail.

After this, I want to do some other books in POD format. I have already talked to Mark about doing a compiled version of the first three Fursona books in a POD version.

Anyway, talk to you soon,
CHRIS

Black Tokyo Unlimited: Cover Art

Sorry for the relative paucity of posts this month. I've switched to the graveyard shift at my restaurant- getting better hours and more money, but I haven't adjusted fully to the vampire lifestyle.

This afternoon, before heading in, I laid out the cover for Black Tokyo Unlimited, and thought I'd preview it here. The cover illustration is by John Picot- I've had this image in my morgue for a while, and I knew I was going to use it for BTU the moment I saw it.

Font geekery: I chose the "Invisible Killer" font, as opposed to the "Flat Earth Scribe" font I initially planned on. Not only does using Invisible Killer recall Black Tokyo's first edition, for which Mark used the font, it just looks a lot stronger and punchier. I had tried a variety of color schemes and layout using Flat Earth Scribe, but none of them had the sheer visceral, movie-poster feel that using the blood red Invis. Killer font did.

Over the last couple days, I've added about 15 pages to the manuscript. Right now, the raw text file tops out at about 115,000 words, or about 290 pages, up from 275 pages at the beginning of the weekend. The new content includes more options for the Hentai Hero class, a new Modern Spellcaster archetype, and lots of cultural sidebars, on subjects ranging from how a Japanese arcade looks to how the Japanese Self Defense Forces are percieved by the public at large. Basically, one of the things I want to do with BTU is write a setting with enough depth in the text, that it will feel like Japan (or at least a cinematic equivalent) even if a 17 year old kid who's never been out of his home state is running it. I don't think I gave enough a sense of culture in the first edition, and I hope I correct that oversight with BTU.

So when can you expect Black Tokyo's second edition? I'm going to start laying the book out during mid-week sometime, and will likely have a finished book available at RPGnow within 2 weeks.
CHRIS

Update: Black Tokyo Unlimited

I'm gathering the last pieces of art for Black Tokyo Unlimited. Here are a couple of images of the setting's heroes. On top, we have a rendition of a Modern Spellcaster in the Black Tokyo world. Below, we have an image of the Chaste. Both images are by John Picot.

The Chaste were originally presented as an advanced class in Black Tokyo II: Chastity and Depravity.

I've reskinned them as a Monk archetype, because in the five years since BTII hit, Paizo introduced archetypes to the rules, and really, the Chaste works better as a monk variant than a stand alone class.

I'll go ahead and preview the Chaste's new write up. Enjoy.

The Chaste (Monk Archetype)

            The agony lasts only a moment, and than there is power.

            The Chaste Sisterhood is a warrior society older than Christianity by a  millennium; the first Chaste Sister spoke her oath and made her bloody sacrifice in a snow-shrouded Chinese monastery at the roof of the world. In the olden days, the Chaste served the Imperial Court, protecting the first Sovereign Emperor as he slept, riding into battle at the forefront of the army to unite the young and proud Middle Kingdom. The order claims its descent from the supposedly executed, Yang Kwei Fei, mistress and advisor to the first Sovereign Emperor, who was sentenced to mutilation, not death as the legends say, and who eventually found power in her mutilation.

           

            To appease his court, the First Sovereign Emperor ordered his mistress’ sex ruined, so that she could never again lay with the Emperor, nor with any other man. Yang Kwei Fei screamed until her voice broke as the Imperial surgeons cut away her clitoris and sewed her labia together with golden thread. When it was done, her hair had gone white. Her execution as recorded in the legends would probably have been a gentler fate.

            Shamed and scarred, she exiled herself from the court, exactly as her enemies hoped. But instead of dying out in the wilds, she healed. Within days, her scars had scabbed over, and she grew strong again. Soon, she was stronger than she had ever been before, stronger than any woman she knew. Yang Kwei Fei had reached enlightenment through suffering, the most profound agony any woman could ever endure. She retreated to the mountains, meditating on this and within a generation, she had welcomed the first seekers to her order.

            As the ages wore down, and the idea of China expanded, the Chaste Sisters rode with it. They landed on Japanese soil, waging war and brining trade, and in time, they became as much a part of Japan as they were of China. The Chaste Sisterhood endures today, still offering the same ancient path to power through pain. Following the strictures laid down by Yang Kwei Fei, the Chaste protect women, both from supernatural predators and from the mortal men who would use and discard them.

             Today, their monasteries are found in the cities and in the country, and their teachings are hidden in plain sight, because the need for the Chaste is greater than ever before. Mountain top temples have given way to penthouse dojos and skyscrapers, and more women have been allowed to hear the order’s call, though only the strongest and most indomitable ever take their vows, shed their blood. The Chaste Sisterhood still exists today. They simply call it the Sisterhood, these days. The Chaste are the best and most committed of the Sisterhood, the guiding force behind the movement, and the protectors of all women.

Entry Requirements: Only female Monks may accept the Chaste archetype.

            Unchanging Hand Technique (SU)

            Chaste are absolute masters of a form of kung fu that is especially effective against shapeshifters. Any creature damaged by the Chaste’s unarmed strike loses the ability to change its shape by any means (such as Polymorph or similar spells, wild shape, or innate racial abilities) for one round after the injury. At higher levels, additional effects become possible when a creature is damaged by the Chaste’s unarmed strike. The Chaste must decide which ability to apply to her unarmed strike at the moment she makes the attack.

            At fourth level, a creature damaged by the Chaste’s unarmed strike cannot benefit from effects from the Transmutation school or effects that duplicate Transmutation spells for one round, though existing Transmutation effects are not affected.

            At eighth level, a creature damaged by the Chaste’s unarmed strike is affected as if by a targeted dispel magic cast by a wizard of the Chaste’s total Monk level.

            At 12^th level, a creature affected by the Chaste’s unarmed strike is slowed as if by a wizard of the Chaste’s total Monk level.

            At 16^th level, a creature affected by the Chaste’s unarmed strike loses all unusual movement modes (Climb, Burrow, Fly) for one minute.

            At 20^th level, a creature affected by the Chaste’s unarmed strike is transformed into a helpless form. The creature is affected as if by Baleful Polymorph cast by a wizard of the Chaste’s total Monk level.

            Unchanging Hand Technique replaces Stunning Fist. 

            Iron Chastity (SU)

            The Chaste becomes completely immune to harmful sexual effects. She cannot be affected by hentai feats or spells with a sexual component or transmission method. If charmed or otherwise mind-controlled, she cannot be compelled to perform sexual actions; such actions provoke a new saving throw at a +5 morale bonus. Even if the new save is unsuccessful, rather than carrying out the sexual command, the Chaste simply takes no actions.

            Iron Chastity replaces Still Mind. 

            Iron Root Stance (SU)
            The Chaste practices a hard martial arts style focusing on strength, willpower and supernatural endurance. She refuses to be moved if she does not wish to be. The Chaste receives a +1 bonus to her CMD score for every two Monk levels (maximum +10 bonus).

            Iron Root Stance replaces Fast Movement.

           

            Iron Body (SU)

            At 19^th level, the Chaste gains the ability to transform her body into living iron for one minute. While in her Iron Body, the Chaste gains Damage Reduction 30/+5, becoming virtually indestructible. Using this ability is a move action that consumes 3 points from her ki pool.

            Iron Body replaces Empty Body.

TOP FUCKIN' TEN

Hey, Expanded Occupations: Geisha just hit #10 on the RPGnow top ten seller's list. Awesome! Nice thing to see after the day I've had today.
CHRIS

Reality Intrudes

Since 2008, I've worked at Whataburger, first one in Corpus and now one in Kerrville. Pay's crap, but better than most service industry jobs. No benefits, no respect from either coworkers or the general public, and tons of stress and responsibility without any actual authority to back it up. Anyway, I'm tired of it.

Life's been getting progressively harder, and it seems like it gets harder to live on what I'm making every month- add to things like computer repairs, bike repairs and a week off due to a workplace injury, not to mention another week closure to remodel the store and it gets even rougher. All those things happened in the last 6 months or so, by the way. Fuck, I'd like to go a month where I'm not turning in rent late, and where I can go get dinner in an actual restaurant once in a while without having to plan 3 weeks of finances around the excursion.

So I'm actively looking for another job. I just applied and turned in a resume for an assistant manager job at a CVS Pharmacy in town, and hopefully I'll get it. I sucessfully navigated their fucked up hiring website and did their online personality test-thingy, and I made good contact with the local hiring manager. I also applied for an assistant manager gig at a near by Pizza Hut. Things went less well. Not 30 seconds after I turned in my online app and resume, I got an email from the company saying they 'didn't have any positions that matched my qualifications'. Thanks, fuckers, that shit does wonders for the old self esteem. So Pizza Hut can go fuck a piping hot deep dish.

I'm also looking into a job in the kitchen of the local VA hospital- same job I do now, but they pay between $13-15 an hour and have excellent benefits. I'm not up to the challenge of the federal hiring online portal tonight though.

Anyway, wish me luck.
CHRIS

Geisha, Dhampir and Other Strange Things

Expanded Occupations: Geisha just hit at RPGNow. It's a short PDF exploring both modern and historical geisha. It's illustrated purely by awesome photos from Wikimedia Commons- though it was a very quick and simple book to put out, it's great looking.

If you pick it up, take a look at the layout and formatting. I'm thinking of using the same font and layout choices for Black Tokyo Unlimited. The font used is "flat earth scribe" and has a nice faux-Asian look to it, and I liked the mostly brownish layout. It contrasted well with the vibrant photos, and will work well, I think with the similiarly vibrant BTU.

Having taken a look at the old D7 Species Update file, I'll be releasing several of the races as short PDFs, in the vein of True Halflings or Noble Succubi. The Dhampir is first up, and I'll finish the book tonight. After that, I'm going to do a fallen angel type race and maybe a few other concepts, some of which will be very applicable to Black Tokyo or Otherverse America.

Speaking of Otherverse America, after I finished up with EO: Geisha, I did EO: Block Mothers. It's a 10-pager focusing on the Block Mother segment of Lifer culture- basically street vigilantes with Uzis who protect the Lifer Enclaves at the same time they're raising huge families. Interesting character type, really, and I like to switch up between doing Choicer and Lifer sourcebooks.

Anyway, hope you like what I've got for you this month,
CHRIS

Vapor Ware

A couple of posts ago, one of my fans left this in the comments.

"I have recently started a d20 Modern Black Tokyo game with my wife and a couple of interested friends and I have a question for you about races. In the Black Tokyo book, you mention races found in Species: Udates:

Celestial Exemplar, The Cityborn, The Crowfolk, Daughters of Stone, Forest Smile Humans, Fur Choice Humans, Brimstone Humans, Dragonscale Humans, Mageborn and Prime Humans, Kitsune (originally creatures of Japanese myth), Lie Spawn, Monster Brothers, Primordial Champions, Spider Souled, Succubi Kin, Living Toys, Unbreathing, Dhampirs and Wild Fawn.

Where do I find these species updates? My wife really wants to play a dhampir."

The answer is unfortunately, no where. The Department Seven Species Update was an early project I think I last worked on it during 2007 or 2008, but officially the project has been canceled. Several of the creatures in the book found their way into other settings. A less supernatural version of the Neverborn migrated to Otherverse America, the Cityborn found their way into the Psi-Watch campaign, and the Species Update's version of Tankui and Kitsune are pretty similar to the version of the races that appeared in last year's Races of the Tatakama.

That said, Kevin, if you and your group want a copy of Species Update, email me at chrisfieldotherverse@hotmail.com. The manuscript is a little rougher than a published work, and probably isn't fully compatible with the modern PFRPG rules (as I'm aiming for my most recent stuff to be), but it'll be an interesting read.

Also, if anybody wants some rough, alpha-playtest Black Tokyo material, let me know at the same address. I'll be glad to send some stuff along.

Finally, I pulled the Dhampir stats from the D7 Species Update and I'll post 'em up here, unchanged. (Though I might end up releasing some of the better creatures from the Species Update as standalone racial PDFs, after thoroughly re-editing them, of course.)

Damphir

Medium Humanoid

            Damphirs are the descendants of powerful vampire bloodlines. A handful are cursed by their ancestors actions, their pseudo-vampiric abilities a dim shadow, and unwelcome reminder of an ancestor’s depredations. No tie of blood binds these damphirs to their ancestors, they weren’t bit, the curse wasn’t passed genetically…. Instead the curse of vampirism is an unwelcome part of their family heritage, a mysterious curse that afflicts a few children in each generation. Other damphirs are the offspring of children convieved by vampire lovers, or the fruit of a vampiric womb.

·        Spot Check DC: DC 18. Damphirs resemble their human parents closely, but share some vampiric visual traits: elongated canines, oddly shaped or colored eyes or a lean and hungry look to their facial features. In most cases, Damphirs attempt to pass for humans with a deformity or congenital defect rather than normal humans, hiding their fangs and light sensitivity in plain sight.

·        Size: Medium. A damphir’s base land speed is 40 ft. Damphirs are far quicker and deadlier than their human counterparts.

·        Ability Score Modifiers: +2 DEX, +2 CON. Damphirs are incredibly fast and agile, and most share the physical gifts of their vampire ancestors.

·        Racial Skills: Damphirs receive a +2 racial bonus on the following skills: Bluff, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot. Like true vampires, they are natural superpredators, capable of bringing down dangerous humanoid game. 

• Enhanced Senses: All damphirs receive darkvision with a 60 ft range, low light vision and the scent special quality.

• Urban Predator (SU): Damphirs can move across walls and cielings as adroitly as any true vampire. The damphir can always climb sheer surfaces as if under the effects of the spider climb spell.

• Unnatural Weapons (EX): The Damphir possesses a natural bite attack which inflicts 1d6 HP, and threatens a critical hit on a roll of natural 20. The Damphir is always considered proficient in this natural attack mode, and is considered armed when attacking with his or her fangs.

• Fast Healing 1 (EX): The Damphir always heals 1 point of damage per round, so long as it has at least 1 HP remaining. When the Damphir is reduced to 0 HP or fewer, this regenerative ability is suspended. The Damphir’s fast healing abilities cannot negate damage based upon the creature’s racial weaknesses.

• Blood Feeder (EX): The damphir’s metabolism is tied to blood. At least once every three days, the Damphir must drain the blood from any medium or larger living creature, killing it in the process. A damphir can attempt to use its fangs to inflict a coup de grace on any living creature to satisfy this craving. The creature need not be sientient; Damphirs can choose to feed on animals instead of humans.

If the Damphir does not feed, it suffers 1d4 points of WIS and CON drain per day, and loses the Damphir’s racial fast healing ability until he or she finally feeds. This damage cannot be healed until the Damphir finally feeds.

           

• Racial Weaknesses: Damphirs share many of the weaknesses of their vampire ancestors. All Damphirs are light sensitive, suffering a –2 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks and saving throws when in sunlight or bright artificial light.

In addition, the Damphir must select an additonal racial weakness from the following list. Once chosen, the racial weakness cannot be changed.

            Daylight Mortality (SU): The touch of the sun does not burn the Dhampir. It does something worse: it makes the Dhamphir an ordinary man. The Dhaphir loses access to all racial traits, enhanced senses and racial attribute modifiers during daylight hours. These traits are supressed, and recover instantly at sundown. The Dhamphir also suffers the typical –2 morale penalty, in addition to becoming mortal. Sunlight utterly destroys the Dhamphir’s strength.

Dhampiric Fury (EX): If the Dhampir is ever reduced to ½ HP or less in battle, it immediately frenzies, entering a berzerk rage state, seeking to avenge the injury at all cost. While berzerk, the Dhampir will attack indiscriminately, killing anything that moves as quickly and efficienctly as possible. While raging, the Dhampir cannot attempt any skill or tactic involving patience or concentration.

Once the target of the Damphir’s rage is slain, the vampire spawn will turn on any one, even friends or civilians. If all targets in the area are slain, the Dhampir will actively search out new prey. Each round, and immediately prior to attacking an ally or non-combatant, the Dhampir can attempt a WILL Save to end the berzerk state. The WILL Save is initially DC 40; the DC is reduced by one until either the berzerk state ends or the Dhampir’s rage eventually ‘times out.’

            Hydrophobic Nature (SU): The Dhamphir cannot abide the purity and ever changing mystic nature of running water. If exposed to trace amounts of water (a household shower, a rainstorm, being hit with a squirt gun or having to cross a stream or lake) the vampire suffers a –2 morale penalty on attack rolls, skill checks and saving throws. A high pressure stream of water (from a firehose, for example) inflicts 2d6 points of damage per hit, as the flesh literaly peels from the Dhampir’s bones. The Dhampir’s fast healing ability can negate this damage.

            Ultraviolet Instability (EX): The Dhampir is as vunerable to sunlight as its vampire forebears. Each round the Dhamphir is exposed to sunlight or UV intense artificial light, it suffers 1d6 points of HP damage per round. The Dhampir’s fast healing ability cannot regenerate this damage; it must heal normally. If the Dhamphir is fully covered (thanks to clothing, shade or armor) the HP loss is reduced to 1d2 points of damage per round.

            Vampiric Curse (SU): The Dhampir may or may not be evil, but it is an unholy, demonic creature, despised by God and mistrusted by man. The Dhampir suffers a –2 morale penalty on any creature prominently wearing or brandishing any holy symbol. A holy symbol’s touch deals 1d4 points of damage; a dhampir reduced to 0 HP  by the presence of a holy object is destroyed completely. The Dhampir may be turned as an undead of its total hit dice/character level by a cleric or acolyte.

           

            Vampire Law (SU): The Dhampir is bound by the restrictions common to true vampires. The Dhampir cannot enter a private residence unles invited in by the rightful owner or tenant. The Dhamphir cannot enter any 5 ft square warded with garlic, and suffers a –2 penalty on attack rolls against anyone wearing garlic or garlic essensce. The Dhamphir does not have a reflection and cannot be seen in a mirror.