This time on the Blog Graveyard we're gonna talk about Dead Cyclops! MadMoses ran this blog from 2014 all the way until 2020! The blog isn't entirely in English and I won't lie, I can't tell if my translator is working or if the blog uses more than one language. Either way there is a LOT of content here. They cover DCC and Dungeon World stuff but any OSR stuff is always transferable or at least good for inspiration.
Something he did that I kinda dig is guest posts. Not every post is from MadMoses himself! Some are from other writers and creators who came and did posts. Something I think is really cool and maybe might think about in the future.
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Dead Cyclops brings us monsters, dungeons, tables, and more! As always with these entries, I'm gonna share a few things I liked over there and hopefully get you to check them out! We're 4 issues deep on this series, you know what I'm gonna do next!
Last Resort Menu: This is a d30 table for a tavern or inn's food that can get a little weird. It provides some really weird things that will make any tavern table feel just a little off. He includes effects and side effects of the food when appropriate. Fun table to whip out on occasion just to keep your players on their toes.
Crystal Crypt of Zhool: Possibly fitting because this is the last post on the blog. This is a short adventure that includes excellent art and not a ton of prep. It suggests characters of levels 3-4 and I would probably use a third level party if I ran it. It can probably be hammered out in an evening, maybe a short 3-4 hour sessions depending on the party. Its free, the link to dropbox still works at the writing of this post, check it out!
Twisted and Bloated Ghosts: This one is just a simple monster entry. I love unique monsters. I should really roll up a few more to share... but here are a couple of unique ghosts that could throw your players through a loop, not just A ghost but unique ghosts. I really like that he doesn't just cover the stats but a bit about them, how to adjust them, and weaknesses.
Soul of The Serpent King: Another adventure, this one also pretty short and meant for level 2 characters. You could beef up the level and have less characters pretty comfortably. What I really love about the adventures is the art! this one makes use of black and white illustrations that use a single color for accenting that really make them pop. The adventure itself is good, another one where you can run it in an evening and place it as needed. The encounters feel dangerous but interesting.
Absorber Imp: Okay, it's another monster. I know it's not the most creative name but sometimes monsters are hard to name. I mean, look no further than my own blog and you'll see names like Steam-Blood of the Sandbars, Bones of balance, or The Red Promise. The name is not always the most important part and really, should your players even learn the monster's name in the first place? What I'm saying is look deeper than the name and you see this is a cool little monster that has a real chance to be annoying and interesting to encounter. As a bonus you have a rules for how they behave as familiars!
Overall Dead Cyclops feels like a genuine fan sharing the things they made out of love for the games they play. The content is varied and a lot of it feels like another Judge sharing the stuff they made to use at their table. This one has been on my list for a while but I don't go back to it very often, not because I don't like the content but because I just forget it is there. This post was a nice trip back through some stuff I really enjoyed discovering back in the day. I really think you should go check them out!
As always, thanks for reading my stuff! I hope you find something here you can take back to your table, even if it is just as inspiration!
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