Adventures Don't Often Go As Planned

Some time ago I discussed the future releases for the product line of The Hero's Journey, Second Edition. Let me begin by saying this game line will continue and that I love it as much now as when I began writing it in 2018. But real life takes us off on unexpected adventures of its own and Barrel Rider Games is only a small press. The Covid-19 pandemic has played and continues to play merry hob with the publishing industry, especially small presses. In addition, and on a more personal note, my wife and gave birth to a healthy baby boy in March named Sam and you can imagine the amount of time that takes up in one's life. Finally, and again on a personal note, I also work a full time day job. 

So, I wanted to discuss again the future releases for The Hero's Journey, Second Edition. The following releases are products we're hoping to release digital versions of the following products before the end of 2022, with print versions to follow shortly thereafter. Some of those print products may be released in 2022 and some may not, again the publishing industry (particularly when it comes to printing) is still in a bit of a state of chaos in the aftermath of a worldwide pandemic.

So, without further adieu, here's what's coming...

By Feather and Coop: This short supplement will include Bantams, a new playable Lineage that is quite literally a chicken. But in addition to this slightly silly new option, this book will include new Heirlooms, a new spell, new monsters, a new Aspect, and several new options for both Bantam and non-Bantam player characters.

Beard of Silver, Bell of Brass: Another short supplement will include Bucca, a new playable Lineage that is quite literally a goat. But in addition to this Lineage new option, this book will include new Heirlooms, a new spell, new monsters (including Krampus!),  a new Aspect, and several new options for both Bucca and non-Bucca player characters.

Burrowing Under Briar-Roses: A final short supplement will include Brocs, a new playable Lineage that is quite literally a badger. But in addition to this Lineage new option, this book will include new Heirlooms, a new spell, new monsters (including the Green Man!), a new Aspect, and several new options for both Broc and non-Broc player characters.

I am informally calling these three books The Farmland Trilogy and you've probably seen hints of what these products will bring on this very blog!

On a larger scale, we're aiming to release in digital format in time for Halloween CASTIGANT: GOTHIC ROLEPLAYING IN A WORLD OF INQUISITION. This gothic-horror fantasy roleplaying game is a stand alone product based on the rules set found in The Hero's Journey, Second Edition. However, it operates completely independently of that game and is going to be used to tell different stories than those for which THJ2e was designed. It includes eight new classes, a new method for character advancement, a completely new magic system, new monsters, modifications to the traditional THJ2e combat, movement, and skill systems, and is completely customized to tell stories of gothic heroism and horror. Whether you're a Reliquary using a holy weapon to defend people against a horrid vampiric threat, a Pilgrim using truth and compassion to show that not all who serve a bloated and corrupt Hierarchy have abandoned the truth of their faith, or a forever damned Dhampir drawing upon the powers of darkness to defeat a greater evil than the bloodlust that stirs in your soul, Castigant will use a familiar rules set to tell entirely new stories.

 But wait, there's more! In 2023 we've got at least two products we're hoping to get out. This includes the long-awaited Betwixt & Between: A Book of Fairie Lore which will include new Lineages, new Archetype variants, new magical spells, a small army of new fey adversaries, complete rules for entering and traveling across the many realms of Fairie, wards against the fey, how to deal with fairy curses, and what to do when a player character becomes fey touched! This is in addition to new Heirlooms and Aspects.

Finally, we have a still Untitled Book of Villages and Festivals that will introduce a new way to play The Hero's Journey, Second Edition. With this supplement you'll find rules for running legendariums that focus on a single small town over the course of many seasons. Using these rules you can tell more personal, localized stories in a community that the players and Narrator build together based on the characters they play! In addition, you'll find rules for participating in seasonal and celebratory festivals that can grant permanent and temporary benefits to your character. On top of all that you'll find  five new Lineage variants, four new Archetype variants, an entirely new Archetype, new monsters and adversaries, new spells, new Heirlooms and Aspects in this book!

Like the future itself, things can be unpredictable, so the release order here may change. I know it's been a long, strange adventure for all of us and I look forward to more grand tales of heroism for years to come for both Barrel Rider Games and The Hero's Journey, Second Edition.

Wyrd of the Week: The Universal Rule

We're a bit behind on Wyrd of the Week because I've been focused on new content for upcoming produicts. More on those products soon, I promise! This time it's not truly new content per say - but instead a simple formula you can use so you can spend less time pouring over your books at the table and keep the legendarium going. Though helpful to Narrators in particular, players should also keep this in mind. Special thanks to Mark P. for putting the idea in my head of codifying this kind of thing.

The Universal Rule

The core rulebook for The Hero’s Journey contains over 200 pages of rules. Really, the entire game can be boiled down to a single rule which can be used to resolve nearly every situation. Using this as a guide, Narrators can quickly and easily make a decision when it comes to rolling and modifying dice. It’s really simple:

1. Roll a d20 (or a d6 in the case of abilities like Acrobatics, Forestry, Lore, and Thievery).

2. If the character making the roll has a minor benefit to their roll they receive a +2 bonus to that roll, or +1 in the case of d6-based abilities. If they have a minor penalty, they receive a -2 penalty to that roll, or a -1 in the case of d6-based abilities.

3. If the character making the roll has a major or significant benefit they receive Advantage to that roll, regardless of whether it is a d20 or d6-based ability. If the character making the roll has a major or significant penalty they receive Disadvantage to that roll, regardless of whether it is a d20 or d6-based ability.

4. Compare the results to the Defense of the target (in the case of combat-based rolls), the character’s Saving Throw (in the case of non-combat rolls), or special ability score (in the case of abilities like Acrobatics, Forestry, Lore, and Thievery) to determine success.

That’s it. Using that simple guideline, the Narrator can determine the success or failure of nearly any action attempted by a player character. Sure, other modifiers may come into play like a character’s attack bonus or attack modifier - but using this simple method they can confidently keep the game moving at a brisk pace without the need to flip through a book searching for a specific rule.