Beneath the Ruins Maps

Adam, the OSR ambassador to Kickassistan, made an excellent point in the comment section of my map post below.  Why not post all the maps for the published levels of Beneath the Ruins?  Why not, indeed?  Henceforth, you can click your mouse above for all five juvenile scrawlings, as well as whatever future levels get published.  Perhaps soon I'll post the sideview.

Incidentally, we'd love to hear any stories from those who've run, or played in, Beneath the Ruins.  Those I've heard so far were hilarious and I really enjoyed seeing how individual referees modified and reskinned sections.

Beneath the Ruins, Level 5 Map

 

I hate flipping back and forth to check out the map when I'm reading through a module, and if I run the module I always end up copying the map out.  Here's a copy of the map for level 5a, the Emerald Halls, for any who feel the same way and don't want to jack up their mint condition WMLP #5!

Issue No. 5

The long-delayed issue no. 5 has finally come to light!  You'll find within a creepy pumpkin patch encounter, random charts for random horrors, a strange NPC, a fully detailed dungeon level (The Emerald Halls), and a quizzical challenge for even the most diabolical DM!

 

Errata Warning: Two pages of the Monster Match Quiz were juxtaposed by our dear (sarcasm) printer, the Lightning Mage.  The continuity of the quiz isn't affected, nor is the accuracy of the Table of Contents, but we wanted to give you a heads up regardless.  Preemptive apology five! <whupa!>  

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Editorial ……………………………..…………………………   2

Alex Fotinakes

A Patch of Tentacular Jacks   ………..……………..….…  2

Venger Satanis

 

Beneath the Ruins   ……………………..……………………. 4

Alex Fotinakes

Creating a Chimera  ……………….……….……….……… 16

John?

 

Alstott Brewhammer ………………...………………….…  17

John?

Monster Match………..……….………………………..…… 18

Bob Richens

 

The Lord of the Things : Answer Sheet  ….……….… 22

Bob Richens

 

Cover Art: Dr. Brainus Mangenius, Psy D. and Frederick de Tapia

Contributing Artists: B. Mangenius, F. de Tapia, and John?

Free Giveaway!

I wanted to post this separately so that no one would miss it!

This issue your friendly, hardworking staff at WMLP is giving away a homemade Gelatinous Cube to one lucky winner.  It's made of clear resin and features an unfortunate zombie struggling to escape its jiggly mass!

Simply purchase a copy of WMLP Issue #4 on or before February 28th, 2013 and you'll be entered to win.  A random drawing will be made on March 7th to determine the lucky recipient.  Good luck everyone!

Update: Whoa! Check out Bob's blog post showing off his process and handiwork. Wicket, mon!

Issue No. 4!

Yay!  Through much turmoil, shouting and cursing, I have wrested from my laptop's clutching electronic fingers yet another mind-exploding issue of Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols!  This issue is full of fun stuff, supplied once again by the WMLP crew...John?, Bob Richens, myself, and our intrepid cover artist Dr. Brainus Manginus.  We hope you enjoy this new offering.

Table o' Contents

Editorial

Alex Fotinakes

Monstrous Addendum

John? and Bob Richens

      

The City-State of Tal ‘Azure

John?

 

Beneath the Ruins, Level 4

Alex Fotinakes

LL Character Class: TheVestigier

John?

Objets d’Occult 

The WMLP Staff

 

The Lord of the Things 

Bob Richens 

Cover Art: Dr. Brainus Mangenius, Psy D.

Updated Shipping Prices

Hello Wizards, Mutants, and Laser Pistol-wielding desperadoes!

The ordering buttons for WMLP have been updated and reorganized to reflect accurate shipping costs internationally and for multiple issues.

When ordering, choose the drop down menu for your area--US, Canada, or Internacional--and then the number of issues you'd like to order.  The last step, and a CRUCIAL one, is that you identify which issues you'd like.  We hope this makes ordering both more economical and convenient!

Game on!

Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols No 3 Available Now!

It's coming...

It had been deathly quiet for a long time.  In fact, as Steve inched his way forward in the darkness, alert to even the gentlest whisper, he wondered if he had even heard a noise at all.  He crept on, straining to distinguish any foreign sound from that made by his cloth-wrapped feet along the dungeon corridor.  He froze.  Was that the sand beneath his feet, or a manila envelope tearing open in the inky blackness? 

FLASH!  A strobe of burning light exploded in his face, blinding him almost instantly.  Almost…for in that split-second he saw a wild Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols Issue #3 lunging for his neck, then felt the cold metal of its exposed staple binding bite into his jugular.

…

Don’t be like Steve (for real, don’t be like Steve).  Be prepared when the new issue of your favorite fanzine of old school weirdness comes out this month.  

Psychedelic Fantasies presents: Beneath the Ruins Module

A greatly expanded version of the first level of Kihago, the dungeon presented in Beneath the Ruins (Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols #1) is now available as a stand alone module from Geoffrey McKinney!

Widely known for his Weird Science Fantasy Horror setting, CARCOSA, Geoffrey's current project is a line of utilitarian modules designed to deliver high doses of weirdness to your campaign.  Psychedelic Fantasies offers low-cost, highly-unique modules in a format compatible with all classic versions of the greatest fantasy RPG of all time.  Check it out!

Issue #2 Update

The second issue of Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols! is off to the printers and we should be mailing the first copies out by Friday.  This issue was a bit more of a challenge, as summer is not the ideal time for writing and layout in the life of this wizard.  Having willingly entered into a powerful geas, most waking moments have been spent protecting a magical flying princess, rather than completing layout, etc.  Nevertheless, it was great fun putting together this issue.  We hope you enjoy it and find something rad for your game table!

Issue No 2!

Issue No 2 of Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols will hatch from gelatinous egg sacs this week!  The Fanzine of Old School Weirdness is BACK!

Introduction to Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols

[If you've already purchased your copy of WMLP #1, you'll recognize the text below as the introduction.  I thought it might be a good idea to post it here, so that those who might miss the first issue (you know, if they come along in a year's time or something) will still have a vague idea of the philosophy behind what we're doing.]  

When I was twelve I got a job working at the Cypress Swap Meet.  It was, and is, a sprawling grid of booths and stalls hocking everything from auto floor mats to handtools to used clothing.  The front half of it was occupied by your average commercial stalls, each with a particular theme.  Well towards the back, however, was where things got really interesting.  These were the cheap spots.  The merchants in the back lot dealt in all manner of junk, obtained from abandoned storage units, estate sales, and most likely, a few rubbish bins.  There was a constant turn over of every conceivable item—undergarments, double-knit polyester shirts, autographed photos of barely celebrities, etc. ad infinitum.  Valuable items next to what was basically trash; Plato lying out under the sun next to Dianetics.  It was disorganized and junky, but it was also where the magic happened.  You always had a sense that if you just looked hard enough, you could find almost anything in that crazy mix.

It was in a stall in the back that I first encountered the comic reprints of the old pulp horror and fantasy stories.  And after rummaging around in boxes week after week, finally came upon a strange game book emblazoned with a lady wizard and a warrior with a crazy helmet.  I looked at it again and again, and finally bought it.  I’d heard of D&D, of course—this was a bit after the fad stage—but I’d never played it.  Something in the images, though, struck a chord deep within me and I read it over and over, struggling to understand the concepts.  (Here is where the story gets sad, but don’t choke up over me, friend)  I spent the next couple years dreaming about D&D, of strange monsters and dark chambers, and sneaky thieves stealing treasure.  But I didn’t find anyone with whom to play.  My younger cousin tried his best, but was too little really to get into it.  My friends preferred video games and who knows what else.  It was frustrating, but it led to a time of ferment that was very important.  I owned only Mr. Moldvay’s basic book, nothing else.  But the openness led me to feel that all could be included.  Perhaps the environment in which I found D&D even helped to cement this vision, for among the piles of random used pots and pans, Atari cartridges and pulp sci-fi books, I dreamed of adventures where my hopelessly fragile footpad explored martian caves and befriended ninja turtles and Thundarr the Barbarian.  My love of the random assortment solidified, because that was where the magic happened.  Random disjointed elements integrated, becoming something new and cohesive, still dripping with weirdness as it crawled forth from its protoplasmic vat.

Eventually, I found others who knew D&D and played often, and I entered into some great friendships and played in many strange campaigns.  Years passed, and again as an adult I discovered the joy of Mr. Moldvay’s edition of the greatest game ever made.  I even found that a fantastic clone of it was available for free online, thanks to the generosity and labor of Dan Proctor (Labyrinth Lord!).  New friends joined me around the table and again we explored twisted ruins inhabited by weirdness that was decades in the making. 

Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols is a zine that belongs on a blanket at the back end of the Cypress Swap Meet, among the He-Man action figures and Snorks videos.  It will be weird and quirky, mixed up and cross-genred, but with the help of my awesome contributors, I hope it will be a place for the magic to happen again.

Alex Fotinakes

Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols #1 Out Now!

Do you like mutants?  How about wizards?  Oh, really...laser pistols? Sweet!  Have we got the zine for you!  Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols is about to blast radioactive plasma straight through your brain!  This exciting first issue offers:

• A new spellcasting character class, complete with unique spell lists and descriptions!
• The first level of the dreaded megadungeon Kihago!
• Old school pen and paper RPG trivia!
• The Web Walker, Carnivorous Yeast Puddle, Chitinous Monstrosity, and a slew of other fierce   creatures from the deep!
• All compatible with Labyrinth Lord or your favorite Old School Fantasy RPG.

Issue #1 in Layout

Issue #1 of Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols is shaping up nicely!  As I'm doing the layout for issue number one my excitement keeps growing.  We have some really cool content that looks even better finalized than it did when we first spitballing.  There's certainly a good deal of trial and error as I learn to modify layout and insert art, but the issue will be done before you know it.  I'll be posting instructions on ordering a copy just as soon as I finish the issue.

Changes are coming.

I'm happy to announce that a new project is finally in the works.  Wizards Mutants Laser Pistols, the fanzine, will be exploding into mailboxes in about one month's time. 

Though I have had a lot of fun, I've found that my taste for blogging has diminished quite a bit.  Information moves so quickly that its richness is lost and I find myself gorged on many ideas but unable to sit with them long enough to bear fruit.  I think my processing speed is too slow to keep up with the blogosphere.

Zines, on the other hand, are quite slow.  Meditatively so, in fact.  And this is what I'm excited about: the chance to sit with ideas and develop them, and finally to create something concrete with them that I can keep, use, and enjoy.  If you're interested, you can get a copy to keep, use, and hopefully enjoy as well. 

So, more to come in the near future!

For those of you who are fans of the Lost Continent, new content will begin to appear in the zine. The old posts will continue to live here on the blog in their new apartment on the sidebar, "Lost Continent Archive."