Fiction - Tyranny of the Stars, Part IV: Marshal

Tyranny of the Stars by Robert Brookes

The response to the Encounter Table's first Spotlight article has been overwhelmingly positive. You may notice now that there is a disclaimer at the bottom of the site detailing the Encounter Table's compliance with Paizo's Community Use guidelines. If you're interested in developing your own blog like the Encounter Table and using Paizo's intellectual property, I highly recommend checking out the links there. I was also reminded by Paris Crenshaw, organizer of the Wayfinder Fanzine that issue #11, due to come out in July (in time for Paizocon) will feature a bevy of information about Cheliax designed by fans, for fans. If you enjoyed our spotlight on Senara, I highly recommend you check out Wayfinder!

Today, the Encounter Table's serialized fiction continues with Part IV of Tyranny of the Stars, advancing the story of adventurers in the dangerous Mana Wastes and the wasteland city of Alkenstar. Also, in today's Between the Lines article at the end of the story, we unveil the drunken gunslinger archetype.

Let us know what you think about Tyranny of the Stars and the drunken gunslinger archetype in the comments section!

Spotlight - Senara, Cheliax

Today marks the first in the Encounter Table's monthly "spotlight" series, focusing on a settlement or site of interest in Golarion that has not received an official gazetteer entry. This series is designed to provide Gamemasters with all the information they need to run adventures at the spotlight site and to integrate the spotlight location with any established lore.

This month's spotlight, the city of Senara, comes to us courtesy of fan commentary and request. Take a look below and let us know what you think of this article series and what you'd like to see explored next in the Encounter Table's spotlight!

System Shock - Magic Corruption

Hawke from Dragon Age 2 utilizes blood magic—one example of the
ways magic can be a corruptive force.

While the approach of summer means vacations for many people. The Encounter Table, however, is gearing up for a busy summer of new Pathfinder content. In just a few days we're launching our Golarion Spotlight article that presents a full gazetteer of a location on Golarion not yet touched in published products. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for the Encounter Table's upcoming live Paizocon coverage the week of July 4th as well!

This week's System Shock article presents the Encounter Table's take on the iconic notion of magic as a force of corruption, presenting an alternate magic system where magic can twist the mind and body of those that attempt to harness it's power.

Let us know in the comments what you think of this article!

Fiction - Tyranny of the Stars, Part III: Forthright

Tyranny of the Stars by Robert Brookes

Today on the Encounter Table we continue following the adventures of Aribessa and Patris in Tyranny of the Stars. The Between the Lines section after the story includes rules for a new model of clockwork construct designed for simple, manual labor with a skillful twist. This option presents a low-cost and low-power construct for PCs interested in having clockwork companions at lower levels of play.

Let us know what you think of Tyranny of the Stars in the comments section!

Interview - Owen K. C. Stephens

Owen K. C. Stephens

It's been an exciting week at the Encounter Table and I'm proud to showcase our newest industry interview today. May has a lot of new developments in store for this site and I can't wait to get them all out to you. Next weekend will be the first installment of the Golarion Spotlight feature, showcasing a fully detailed gazetteer of a site on Golarion with color maps, NPC stat-blocks, and more. So keep an eye out, and don't forget to like the Encounter Table on Facebook.

This week the Encounter Table is thrilled to be joined for an interview by the new lead developer of Paizo's Pathfinder Module line, Owen K. C. Stephens! Owen talks with us about getting into the RPG industry, offers up advice to prospective freelance writers, talks about the future of Super Genius Games, and teases a Starstone Cathedral megadungeon.

Read on to find out more!

Pop Creature - Xenomorph

The xenomorph from Aliens vs. Predator

May 12th marks the passing of visionary artist H. R. Giger, renowned for his groundbreaking design of the titular creatures from the Alien franchise. As a fan of both Giger's work and the Alien series, today's Pop Creature article is dedicated to bringing these horrifying creatures into the Pathfinder system. Many others before have tried their hand at adapting these monsters to tabletop games, but this article is more about commemorating a beloved creator than breaking new ground.

Let us know what you think about the xenomorph in the comments section!

Fiction - Tyranny of the Stars, Part II: Feint

Tyranny of the Stars, by Robert Brookes

Given the positive response from yesterday's introduction to the Encounter Table's new fiction serial, I've decided to share a second installment from Tyranny of the Stars today, which also includes a Pathfinder game mechanic pulled directly from the story. Let us know what you think of the Encounter Table's fiction in the comments below!

The Encounter Table is also looking for feedback on its Pop Creature articles. Is there a specific creature from popular media (television, books, video games, etc.) that we haven't covered and you'd like to see? Let us know in the comments!

Fiction - Tyranny of the Stars, Part I: Contract

Tyranny of the Stars by Robert Brookes

There's a lot going on behind the scenes at the Encounter Table this week. Among which I'm working on our next interview which should run next week if all goes according to schedule. But more importantly, today the Encounter Table introduces its new fiction feature!

This weekly article will feature serialized stories set in the Pathfinder Campaign Setting. At the end of each installment is a new game mechanic or rule for Pathfinder either seen or referenced in that week's serial. The first story, Tyranny of the Stars, will take us across the Mana Wastes in a journey to uncover secrets lost during the war between the kingdoms of Nex and Geb. 

If you are interested in getting your own Pathfinder fiction serialized on the Encounter Table, please reach out to the Encounter Table at submission@encountertable.com with your pitch.

Pop Creature - Sandman

The Sandman, from FOX's Sleepy Hollow

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, as evidenced by the lack of an update last week. I'm in the process of developing special project for Raging Swan Press, putting the finishing touches on Aspects of Axis, prepping for a new interview to be featured here soon, and some other things I can't quite yet talk about. But, I've dusted off one of my long-standing "to-do" entries for Pop Creature for you!

This week's Pop Creature delves back into my love for FOX's Sleepy Hollow TV show. Full of humorous writing, just the right mix of drama and camp, and—most relevant—fantastic creatures! Today I'm focusing on the Sandman, a fiendish servant of the demon Moloch from episode 3 of Season 1, "For the Triumph of Evil." Modified for Pathfinder, the Sandman becomes a mythic devil in service to Hell, punishing those who dare break Hell's infernal contracts. To use this creature you'll need Paizo's Mythic Adventures, so be sure to get yourself a copy or check out their PRD.

Let me know what you think of the Sandman in the comments section!