Cupcake Scouts: Monster Stat Block

I've been working on Cupcake Scouts like I tend to do, and I'm making mad progress. I'm really happy with how the game looks. I'm leaning towards a 48-page rulebook, but we'll see. I've made a LOT of changes from first edition, and this game is much more well-rounded, with many, many more options. As a for instance, I have broken down gems into lesser (available starting at level 1) and greater (available at level 3) gems, so there's more character progression built into the system. It's still intentionally narrow - you're building a Cupcake Scout and going on Buffy and Supernatural type adventures. There's a big bad who is always in the background. Within that framework, there is still a lot of cool stuff and variety. 

Anyhow, for today I thought I'd share a monster stat block. I've written about my love of brevity in stat blocks, and this is no different. I present the draft of the stat block for the Salamander. A few well-prepared level 2 scouts should be able to tackle this guy, but they have to be careful in doing it... and, yes, I am using a few pieces from Hack'D & Slash'D that I am coloring and adding a few flourishes to. I figure that I can't do a better salamander drawing than this one, so I may as well just go with it.

Salamanders ROAR

For the next leg of Arath's journey, I'm being a bit more intentional about stocking the dungeon he'll be exploring. I'm going to have some random encounter tables to give the place a little more structure. I want him to fight a dragon, but he's only level 2. I've always used salamanders as a 'poor man's dragon', and this is no exception. I always liked these guys - ever since I first saw fire and ice salamanders in the 1983 blue box expert rules, they've been a staple in my adventures. 

I decided to show you my drawing process. This took me a total of a bit more than half an hour. I work entirely in Paint. I use the pencil tool (thickest setting) to do the original sketch in the ugly bright lime green (my eye sees that best against the black), and then to draw over in black. I go back to the black with the curve line tool (thickest setting) to give weight to the lines. I always admired how other inkers could get such even line weights, and I rarely could - this tool solves the problem for me. I get rid of the green (Paint only has one layer, so I have to fill with green, then fill with white, then fill with green, then fill with white, until I clean out all of the green). Then I start adding shadows, going from dark to light - I do a layer of solid blacks, then dark grey, then medium grey, then light gray. Finally I go back with the pencil tool and add some noodling to give the whole thing a little more texture.

 

Abolethic Fiend

I was thinking about that Aboleth that nearly ate poor Arath in session 12, and then decided to stat it up properly... and then decided to draw a picture... and then realized that I need to get an open document going with game updates and expansions. Okay, here's the drawing at least for now. This guy came out way more nightmare-fueled than I expected he would. I don't know why there is so much synchronicity right now between my drawing and my game design, but I'll take it.

 

Resolute Archive: Spells

The complete list of all spells for Resolute includes:

(Updated March 5, 2022)

Boost. Use 1 action to grant +1 to one trait (your choice) of yourself or one ally in medium range for 1 turn. On a total Focus check of 13+, you grant +2 instead of +1. The maximum bonus is +6.

Charm. Use 1 action to check Focus against the Defense of one living foe in medium range. That foe will listen to you as if you are a trusted friend and ally for 1 turn and will fight on your behalf. You cannot charm creatures of equal or better renown.

Circumvent. Use 1 action to check Focus to open a lock, disarm a trap, bypass a small barrier, or reveal any close trap.

Counterspell. Use 1 action to cancel a spell effect. Outside of combat, attempt a Focus check to cancel a magical effect for 1 turn (this does not affect relics); in combat, use a free action to check Focus to stop a spell that has already bypassed your Defense.    

Elemental Bolt. Use 1 action to check Focus against the Defense one foe in medium range. Deal 2 hits with a success, 3 hits with a total result of 13+.

Elemental Burst. Use 1 action to check Focus against the Defense of all foes in a straight line in front of you at medium range. Any successes score 1 damage.

Haste. Use 1 action to allow yourself or one creature in close range to move quickly for 1 turn. That creature attempts 2 actions per round, may travel to close or medium range as a free action, or may travel to far range with 1 action.

Invisibility. Use 1 action to allow yourself or one ally in close range to become invisible for up to 1 turn. Others cannot see that character at all, and the character receives advantage on all Attack, Defend, and Focus checks to sneak while invisible. Invisibility ends at the end of the turn or when the character is reduced to 0 hits.

Levitation. Use 1 action to allow yourself or another creature in close range to be effectively weightless for 1 turn.

Light. Use 1 action to illuminate everything in medium range with full daylight for 1 turn. Creatures who suffer disadvantage in daylight will be affected.

Spider Touch. Use 1 action to allow yourself or a creature in close range to be able to crawl on walls and ceilings and to be immune to webs and web-like effects.

Stun. Use 1 action to check Focus against the Defense of a foe in medium range; if successful, the foe is stunned for 1 round. All actions against a stunned foe are against CR 6.

Tongues. Use 1 action to speak with any creature for 1 turn.

Vanish. Use 1 action to immediately teleport to a place you can see at long range; if in combat, the foe you have been fighting will not see you, and you can sneak away if so desired.

Water Breathing. Use 1 action to allow yourself or a creature in close range to breathe water for your Focus hours.