Mapping Monday - Strahd & Transylvania

With the release if the Fifth Edition Ravensloft supplement, The Curse of Strahd, cartographer Mike Schley has done what's he's been doing since 5E began and released high-resolution version of his WotC maps for sale on his own website here.

But what if we wanted to utilize what they've created without using the common setting?  Perhaps we even want to re-file off the serial numbers and turn this right around into an Eastern European setting.  Well, to assist with that, over on contur.ro, you can find a Transylvania map with all of the towns and counties one would find here.

Finally, on bergbook.com, the "Antique Maps of Johann Baptist Homann" includes a wonderful map of Transylvania can be had here.

Mapping Monday on GRYMVALD.com

Cartography and Mapping are the order of the day,
from setting maps to battlemaps, it's all good.

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Setting & Society Sunday - Language Evolution & Spread

Over on thevintagenews.com, they ask "How far back in time could you go and still recognise English language?"   See their answer here.

Also, on babbel.com, they give us "139 Old Norse Words That Invaded The English Language" here.

Finally, on techinsider.io, chcek out an "Animated map shows how the world's first written languages spread" here.

Setting & Society Sunday on GRYMVALD.com

Looking closer at Setting and Society

as a part of what is presented by GMs.

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Saturday in Space - Exploration & Colonization

Over on washingtonpost.com from a couple of years ago, "This is the amazing design for NASA’s Star Trek-style space ship, the IXS Enterprise" is featured here.

Also, on popsci.com, they ask "Should Mars Be Independent, Or Just A Colony Of Earth?"  Find out what they think here.

Finally, on qz.com, they suggest "It’s completely ridiculous to think that humans could live on Mars" here.

Saturday in Space on GRYMVALD.com
What's happening in Space and

what can it mean for our tabletop RPGing?

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Flora & Fauna Friday - Ancient Trees

Over on theguardian.com, sad news from a couple of years ago when "Wales's oldest oak tree blown down" here.

Also, on npr.org, we were told of "A Grass-Roots Rally To Protect South Carolina's Massive 'Angel Oak'" here.

Finally, on greece.greekreporter.com, they detail how "Scientists Search Wood Used for Ancient Triremes" here.

Flora & Fauna Friday on GRYMVALD.com

Examining animals, plants, and the

environments we use for our tabletop RPGing.

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Historical Thursday - Ides of March & More

Around this time of year, for obvious reasons, folks trot out the "Beware the Ides of March" memes and most folks know enough about it to associate it with the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Roman Senate floor in the year 44 BC, by modern reckoning.  However, according to historyextra.com, there's more to the death of Caesar than we generally know, and they tell us so here.

Also, on smithsonianmag.com, they explain "What You Don’t Know About Ancient Rome Could Fill a Book. Mary Beard Wrote That Book" here.

In fact, the folks at smithsonianmag.com even gave us the "Top Ten Reasons to Beware the Ides of March" here.

Historical Thursday on GRYMVALD.com

Sifting through History to
enhance our tabletop RPGing.

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Worldbuilding Wednesday - Ancient Gods

Over on medievalists.net, they give us "A Quick Guide to Norse Gods" here.

Also, on irishcentral.com, they share "The top ten gods and goddesses from Celtic mythology" here.

Finally, on stumbleupon.com, they show us the "Family tree of the Greek gods" here.

Worldbuilding Wednesday on GRYMVALD.com
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.

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The Tuesday Sundries - GM's Day Sale Finale

As the GM's Day Sale winds down for 2016, I thought I would make mention of three items that have been very popular this year.  The first is "30 Things Can Happen!" which is on sale for just one dollar here. "Never be at a loss again with these thirty tables of random Medieval Fantasy events and findings in urban, rural, and underground locations. Each thirty entry table is divided into three ten entry categories, some with additional sub-options, making for nearly one thousand random results including the fun and fantastical. Use these pages to help flesh out locations during prep or to perk up a flagging game session. This invaluable resource is system-free and ready to help with any fantasy roleplaying game."

Also, have a look at the "Superstitions" sourcebook for one dollar as well here.  "Can you steer your ship by the albatross? Do you dare to wear the Boar's Tusks of Goblinoid Slaying? Will casting the Shark's Feeding Frenzy on your companions save their skins?  This new 32 page pdf takes many real world superstitions and gives you tips on how to use them in your game. Nearly one hundred Magic Items, Spells, and Advanced Creatures are included."

Finally, the "Fighting Fire - Ernie Gygax Benefit Adventure" is still helping Ernie cover those bills that piled so high a couple of years ago.  It can be had here.  One-third comes right off the selling price and is directed to the fund set up by his brother Luke.  "The adventure takes place in and around the town of Gamington on the shores of Gentle Lake. An arsonist's fire destroys the Tower of Ernesto, a famous wizard, but a band of heroes rallies to right the wrong, rooting out the evil in the nearby Fire Peak. A GM can set this up as a campaign addition or one-shot, in any Medieval Fantasy RPG system. There are plenty of tips to help do either. Included are some character backgrounds for the heroes noted within as well as an epic poem extolling their exploits. I hope it is as much fun to read as it was to write."

The Tuesday Sundries on GRYMVALD.com
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on GRYMVALD.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.

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