chromeratdoom-blog - Tumblr blog

chromeratdoom-blog · 5 years

Text

Writing your own Gods for Books and RPGs

The nature of gods is a tricky thing, not all religions view their’s the same way, and with the rise of pop culture there has developed a certain amount of “Superhero God” crapola which has little to no relation to their mythological function and characterisation.

So, I’m going to break different gods down into a number of categories, those being Penultimate Gods, Gods of Dominion, Functional Gods, Gods as People, and Anthropomorphic Gods.

So number one, Penultimate Gods, anyone who is familiar with the Abrahamic religions pretty much gets what these are already. For those of you who are Hindu, or I dunno, Shinto? the Gods in this category are the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-creating personality of the universe. They are by their very nature singular, since with a God this powerful there is no theological space for any other real personalities.

Examples: Ja, El, Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, the Lord, Ahura Mazda, etc.

Secondly, Gods of Dominion, the ur-example of a God of Dominion is almost certainly Zeus, since he holds literal sway over the dominion of the sky and it is his to command, he calls the storms, he causes the thunder, and he hurls the lightning from the sky. Gods of Dominion are generally simultaneously the most powerful of the polytheistic gods, and the most shallow, since there is very little need to explain why they do what they do, they do it because they want to. They aren’t as common as you might think.

Examples: Zeus, Poseidon, the Moirai, Cupid, etc.

On to Functional Gods, these are the gods who perform important functions in their respective cosmology, often represented as a mythologised task or a story explaining why something is the way it is. A notable example of this is Apollo’s sun chariot, it is Apollo’s job to drive the sun across the sky, not what he wants to do but what he has to do. These gods are often the mechanical underpinnings of the universe and are most common in cosmologies that also feature Gods of Dominion.

Examples: Apollo, Demeter, Odin in the guise of Val (”The Chooser of the Slain”), Hel, Hades, Thoth, Anubis, etc.

Gods as People, this is the category for all you Germanic and Norse mythology buffs out there, the gods of this category are arguably the most interesting of all the different kinds of gods. These gods don’t hold any particular dominion over the world, and if they have a task it is usually a more normal kind of employment. For example Thor is the Germanic and Norse god of thunder, but he doesn’t have power over the thunder, in his resident cosmology he is Asgard’s blacksmith and one of it’s many warriors. Thor doesn’t hurl the lightning, it is merely the sparks flying off his anvil. He doesn’t summon the thunder either, despite his name’s literal meaning, it is merely his chariot rumbling through the sky. These gods are more characters then functional deities and will often lack any particular dominion.

Examples: Thor, Heimdal, Loki, Odin as Odin, Hercules, Tyr, Lugh the Long Armed, Dionysus, Hephaestus, etc.

And lastly, Anthropomorphic Gods, these are the sky and the Earth and the Sun, they might be a mountain, or even feelings. They are the anthropomorphic form of a natural entity, and as such are the easiest to explain, but the hardest to comprehend. Where does the deity stop and the object or feeling begin, who knows?

Examples: Aphrodite, Aries, Gaia, Uranus, Sol, etc.

I hope this makes interesting reading to someone, cheers.

#rpgs #tabletop rpgs #gods #writing #dnd #worldbuilding #chromeratdoom

14 notes · View notes

chromeratdoom-blog · 6 years

Text

An Addendum

In regards to my previous post about the gentlemanly accomplishments, why include a fencing art amongst Muay Thai and Brazilian Jujitsu you might ask?

To this I say, should for any reason you find yourself in danger of being stabbed, and you cannot flee, you'll find a sturdy umbrella, baton, or decently sized stick is your best bet for defending oneself. Never underestimate the persuasive voice of a solid thwack to the head or hand with a robust object. For this the singlestick is the king, but I am sure there are many arts that can be applied similarly.

#gentleman #fencing #skills #life skills #etiquette #bravery #men

1 note · View note

chromeratdoom-blog · 6 years

Text

The Gentlemanly Accomplishments

A bit of a departure from my usual stuff, but here is a list of things I think any man should be able to do, well everyone really but I don't think you can be called a man till you can do these.

1. All men should be able to sew well enough to repair or make minor alterations to his own clothes.

2. All men should be able to iron and assemble a respectable outfit appropriate for a given occasion.

3. All men should have some skill at ballroom dancing, most notably the waltze.

4. All men should be able to cook, clean, and wash their own clothing.

5. All men should have some skill at martial arts, I recommend Muay Thai, BJJ, and Singlestick.

6. All men should be able to drive a car and change a tyre if need be.

7. All men should be able to either sing, play an instrument, or recite poetry.

8. All men should be able to make a basic set of a table and chairs from scratch, as well as mount a shelf, or center a picture frame.

Now it is unfeasible for the average person to be able to do all of these, but I'd say 1, 2, 4, and 6 are the most important.

#etiquette #men #gentlemen #martial arts #skills #dance #wrestling #fencing #singing #poetry #instruments #life skills

5 notes · View notes

chromeratdoom-blog · 6 years

Text

Barbarian Warrior Generator

Appearance (d6)

1. Tall and fair, with thick arms and chest. 2. Slender and swarthy, with a tight well-formed body. 3. Bronzed and stout, with a heavy aggressive brow. 4. Pallid and dark-featured, with a bandy athletic frame. 5. Small-boned and slim, with a lithe nimble form. 6. Tough and wiry, with a pitted complexion.

Hairstyle (d6)

1. A curly cloud enveloping the head. 2. Long ropey dreadlocks tied back in a tail. 3. Complex and fraying braids worn loose. 4. A high proud top-not, writhen into an ornate form. 5. Shorn close to the skull, with the fringe worn long and silky. 6. A shock of long oiled ringlets, shining.

Outfit (d6)

1. A tunic and trousers, girded by a leather belt, birch-bark sandals adorning their feet. 2. A broad kilt, girded with a braided rope, and constructed from the hide of a predatory mammal. 3. Nought but a woollen cloak, and laced leathern sandals. 4. Tight parti-hue trews, with a chain-link girdle and a bare chest. 5. A cloak of sheepskin, and small beaded girdle. 6. A strange assortment of iron bangles, adorning the neck, biceps, and ankles.

Weapons and Armament (d6)

1. A vicious looking dirk, and several javelins made of carved wood, their points fire hardened. 2. A long slender sword in an ornate scabbard, with a tall wooden shield. 3. A spear with a painted shaft, and a small leathern shield. 4. A broad-bladed axe, the blade decorated with pierce-work. 5. A long cleaving knife, with an ivory hilt. 6. A heavy club, it’s head like a grinning skull.

#OSR #generator #rpg #ttrpg #randomgenerator #chromeratdoom #dnd

4 notes · View notes

chromeratdoom-blog · 6 years

Text

Interesting Swords from History

The Sickle Sword

Shotels and Romphaia, are common examples of what could more accurately be described as sickle swords, weapons with a forwards curve to bring the point perpendicular to the hand. These weapons are often used in such a way that the point can reach past the opponents shields for a non-linear thrust.

#Swords #RPG #OSR #TTRPG #HISTORY #chromeratdoom

2 notes · View notes

chromeratdoom-blog · 6 years

Text

Random Sword Generator

Length (d3)

1. Long: Around 120cm/47inches

2. Average: Around 80cm/31inches

3. Short: Around 60cm/24inches

Blade Style (d6)

1. Sabre: Curved single edged blade, sometimes with a short false edge

2. Backsword: A straight single edged blade, sometimes with a short false edge

3. Falchion: A straight or curved single edged blade, broader at the top then at the base

4. Broadsword: A straight blade with two edges and a vicious point

5. Estoc: A straight blade with no edges and a bodkin like point

6. Executioner: A double edged straight blade with a rounded or square point

Hilt Style (d3)

1. Cross-hilt

2. Knuckle-bow

3. Complex-hilt

Number of Fullers (d6)

1. Five

2. Four

3. Three

4. Two

5. One

6. None

Decoration and Finish (d6)

1. Acid Etched Figures

2. Gold Damascene

3. Blue and Gilt

4. Jewelled Hilt

5. Utilitarian Bluing

6. Munitions Grade Manufacturing

#osr #swords #chromeratdoom #rpg #ttrpg #dnd

1 note · View note

chromeratdoom-blog · 6 years

Text

Random Religion Generator

Base Premise (d6)

1. Polytheistic: Worships a pantheon of godlike entities

2. Animistic: Worships the power of nature directly

3. Monotheistic: Worships a singular totalitarian god

4. Shamanistic: Worships spirits from another plain of existence

5. Pantheistic: Worships reality as the face of God

6. Gnosticism: Worships people as the face of God

Religious Mechanism (d3)

1. Reincarnation

2. Ascension

3. Paradise

Main Mode of Worship (d6)

1. Song

2. Idolatry

3. Prayer

4. Ritual

5. Dance

6. Contemplation

Priestly Garb (d6)

1. Elaborate Headdresses

2. Ornate Breastplates

3. Simple Wraps

4. Opulent Robes

5. Coats of many Colours

6. Nudity

Religious Imagery (d6)

1. Zoomorphic: Animal designs

2. Vegetal: Plant designs

3. Mytho-Poetic: Stories of Heroes and Monsters

4. Ascetic: Little to no religious imagery

5. Geometric: Tessellating mosaics and architecture

6. Iconic: Grand pictures of religious figures

#OSR #RPG #DND #random generator #chromeratdoom

7 notes · View notes

chromeratdoom-blog · 6 years

Text

Random Fantasy Warriors

Roll a D6 (Six-sided Die) for each

Defining Armament

1. Elaborate partisans, in blue and gilt

2. Wicker shield and wedge headed axes

3. Long spears with gilt damascene heads

4. Slender sabres with painted scabbards and iron bucklers

5. Long hewing knives and a tall ox skin shields

6. A tall crudely carved peasant staves, with a spike driven into the top

Upper Body

1. Full gown, bloused about the waist with a belt

2. Bare chest, with elaborate zoomorphic tattoos

3. Straw rain coat, with braided decoration

4. Long coats with full pleated skirts, and colourful sashes

5. Mantles of colourful prayer ribbons

6. Padded tunics with embroidered cuffs tied at the waist with tasselled ropes

Lower Body

1. Baggy embroidered trousers that drop to mid-calf

2. Tight hose and gaiters tied with ribbons

3. Kilts with many pleats and horse hair tassels

4. Long socks and beaded loin cloths

5. Full translucent skirts adorned with animals

6. Naught but elaborate floral tattoos

Headwear

1. Conical helmets, with elaborate plumage

2. Mail coifs with reinforced forehead plates

3. Elaborate turbans, rich with adornment

4. Fearsome hairstyles and nothing else

5. Opulent headdresses rich with flowers

6. Enclosed helmets adorned with grotesque monsters

Carriage

1. Proud and cocksure

2. Slinking and secretive

3. Aggressive and arrogant

4. Calm and composed

5. Stoney and stoic

6. Malicious and crude

#OSR #TTRPG #chromeratdoom #boredom #DnD #Campaign #random generator

1 note · View note