so a while ago Shoe Skogen mentioned that she needed a skellyman character class and it set me thinking 2 things:

so a while ago Shoe Skogen mentioned that she needed a skellyman character class and it set me thinking 2 things:

1. there is now such a big back catalogue of OSR bloggery out there, it’s actually quite an onerous task to go through even a subset of it to find out if someone has already written up the exact idea I’ve just had. This makes it just like my day job.

2. it would be nice if skellymen had some unusual reasons to want to go adventuring. Because they can’t really use their winnings to support their base appetites. How do the undead level up? What does that mean for them in the general undead hierarchy?

So without doing that critical research, here’s a thought:

The magic that binds reanimated skeletons together needs continuous replenishing. Better magic means more binding (more HP), higher status (cha among undead) and ultimately more powers (like at name level you might be able to bootstrap your way to becoming a lich or at least an Eye of Fear and Flame or something).

To charge your skellyman up with potential either:
a. bathe in the blood of creatures that were at least 3 levels higher than you (grotty metal necrofetish undead – you can make this more gruesome with wearing their skins etc if your group is into that)
or:
b. fix magic stuff to your skellyman to charge up the thaumaglue (glittery tomb guardian undead, probably Egyptian or some other charismatic ancient civ). That is, use up magic items permanently to convert them into xp.
This requires some sort of grading of magic power but surprise: not all magic is equally compatible with your own special juju. So say beating a +1 sword into spine armour or soaking in a potion gives you 1d10 x 100xp. A flying carpet (stripped and rerolled as mummy wrappings) 1d10 x 1000xp.
One use items (scrolls and potions) are always on the low end of potential, magic jars and wands of fireballs and swords are generally on the high end.

And just like that you have to spend your treasure, trade in all your gold for more magic, and labour continuously in dungeons to keep body and animating principle together.

The legendary art thief, smuggler and dealer-to-the-greats Michel van Rijn deserves a place in your game research, whether you believe in him or not.

The legendary art thief, smuggler and dealer-to-the-greats Michel van Rijn deserves a place in your game research, whether you believe in him or not.
Sadly I cannot recommend the rambling, repetitive and frustratingly vague documentary about him, Iconoclast, even though it looks like the only footage of him giving the story in his own words. I have no idea how to treat van Rijn’s claim in the film that he took part in the assassination of Josef Mengele. So that’s why I’m linking to his 1994 book instead, and the synopsis/intro at this page.

Zak Sabbath is he in #demoncity ?

https://web.archive.org/web/20070707043557/http://www.michelvanrijn.nl/finish/hacc.htm

When we got in, the mind flayer database was just one huge denormalized table. The wizard wanted to scribe out the column names.

When we got in, the mind flayer database was just one huge denormalized table. The wizard wanted to scribe out the column names.

“There’s some kind of trick to it!” he insisted.

“Obviously there’s some kind of trick to it,” said Thurrg.
‏
The counter-attack came ten minutes later. Ellwies and Cassan died immediately, Thurrg died holding off the enemy in the turquoise hall. They drove us up for half a mile, all the way back to the well room, before the pursuit petered out.

Now the wizard is sitting in the corner, hugging his knees and staring into the distance. He still wants to go back. Well, fuck that guy.

Research for two projects at once: loading pipes onto a rabelo, some time before 1960.

Research for two projects at once: loading pipes onto a rabelo, some time before 1960.
cf:
https://pt.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barco_Rabelo#/media/Ficheiro%3AVinho_do_Porto_-_barco_rabelo_no_Douro_-_cropped.jpg

Multitool magic item: look through the lens to detect ethereal radiances, swing by the base to inflict spike-and-fire damage, tilt the head and use as a cup-rest to detect poisons.

Multitool magic item: look through the lens to detect ethereal radiances, swing by the base to inflict spike-and-fire damage, tilt the head and use as a cup-rest to detect poisons.

Also usable as a container for blessed relics.

The most effective binding spells are the ones people choose for themselves.

The most effective binding spells are the ones people choose for themselves.

Or you can simply bind a wizard, Han-style, into your grimoire.

Or you can simply bind a wizard, Han-style, into your grimoire.

…..actually this one’s not a book. It’s probably a door for the wee cupboard where the Host is kept. So… components for transubstantiation.

Some spellbooks come pre-loaded with trap spells, either to keep the unlearned out or to defend the owner in a pinch. This one has Entanglement, Bleeding Pelican (cure serious wounds), and Suit of Knives.

Some spellbooks come pre-loaded with trap spells, either to keep the unlearned out or to defend the owner in a pinch. This one has Entanglement, Bleeding Pelican (cure serious wounds), and Suit of Knives.

Enchantment: material component 100sp, melted down and carefully wrought by an artist into appropriate designs.