48 Hours to Go on THE SENSE OF THE SLEIGHT OF HAND MAN!

We’re at 245% on the Kickstarter for my Dreamlands campaign, THE SENSE OF THE SLEIGHT OF HAND MAN. About 375 people have pitched in, and nearly 250 hardcover books have been ordered. Unless some extraordinary breakthrough occurs, the book will not be available after this Kickstarter closes.

Even better, I’ve wrapped the cover image of the campaign. This acrylic painting took me ~20 hours, and was a heck of a lot of fun, especially the Man from Leng in the upper right hand corner.

So, those of you who haven’t pitched in, get out there and Kickstart the project a little more. Those of you who have, do what you can to promote it. Every dollar that goes to the project is another buck that keeps me working on RPGs and books and the things I love to do (and thanks for that!)

Delta Green: Science and Intel

Delta Green is an odd organization. It employs a sort of Orwellian double-think when it comes to science, intel on Mythos creatures and “hyper-geometry” — the science of “magic”. When something anomalous is recovered, there is a limited inquiry by the group, not the kind of fascination such oddities would usually garner. The information is run up the flagpole to A-Cell.

Has the group seen it before? Are its methods, or methods to eliminate it known? If so, the specimen is discarded at the soonest opportunity. If not… many things can happen. A specialist (usually a Friendly) can be brought in, the specimen can be moved to a secure location for later study, or A-Cell can fear the recovery so much, they immediately order its destruction. Often, the motives of A-Cell are difficult to discern and their orders, though clear could mean so many things.

The ‘Sense’ Kickstarter is Successful (Also, a Print Edition!)

My new Call of Cthulhu Dreamlands Campaign, The Sense of the Sleight of Hand Man has made the base Kickstarter goal thanks to your kind support. The initial $5,500 will pay for the monstrous amount of work needed to finish it up to proper standards.

But! We still have 19 days to go, and now, print editions of the book (black and white, 128 page hardcovers) are up for pre-order on the site as well. Visit and contribute or up your contribution now!

Even if you’ve contributed, there’s some more you can do:

1. Visit the page.
2. Promote it via Twitter/Facebook.
3. Tell your friends (who might be interested).

Controlling the Game, Scenario Creation and Seat of the Pants RPGing

Contribute to the Kickstarter for this project now: The Sense of the Sleight of Hand Man, a Call of Cthulhu Dreamlands Campaign by Dennis Detwiller

I receive a lot of email about my gaming methods in Call of Cthulhu. It’s nice to be known as a heartless killing machine when it comes to Keeperdom; I take it as a compliment. Many people have praised/complained about my style of scenario creation as well. In any case people are talking about it, so I figure, I must be doing something right.

I will say something to the people who say the way I run games is “too cruel” or “keeps the gamers from having fun”;

The Secret of the Black Galleys

Contribute to the Kickstarter for this project now: The Sense of the Sleight of Hand Man, a Call of Cthulhu Dreamlands Campaign by Dennis Detwiller

The Black Galleys

These huge Galleys are the Moonbeasts’ vessels, the source of legend and intrigue in all lands of trade. When in foreign ports, only the Men from Leng interact with Humans, and then as quickly as possible, as the ways of Humans do not agree with the Satyrs. It is not known to the general public exactly where the men who pilot these ships come from, nor that they are Satyrs at all, as they wear voluminous robes and turbans to cover their inhuman features.

The ships rowers are the source of much speculation, as the tireless rapid movement of the oars is the envy of every sea captain.

The City of Lhosk on the Cerenarian Sea

Contribute to the Kickstarter for this project now: The Sense of the Sleight of Hand Man, a Call of Cthulhu Dreamlands Campaign by Dennis Detwiller

In the high west there burns a furious star.

It is for fiery boys that star was set.

-Wallace Stevens, Le Monocle de Mon Oncle

Lhosk

A well traveled Human city on the coast of the Cerenarian sea, it has enjoyed a prosperous existence as a trade center for many surrounding lands, due to its low levy and easy going economic policies.

Delta Green: The Dreamlands

Is there another realm beyond that of earth, but counterminious with it? A realm of thought, formed by the dreams of humans and other creatures? If there is, in Delta Green, you can be certain it is composed primarily of nightmares. If we say that, yes, beyond the waking world, certain minds can travel through a barrier and experience what some have called the ‘shared hallucination’ of the Dreamlands, then we must also say the the minions of the Mythos can do so, as well. There is no escape, just another field of conflict; even in the world of dreams.

Travel to this ‘hallucination’ is accomplished in many ways, but in the world of Delta Green, it is mostly accomplished through drug use. Such drugs are difficult to come by, nearly impossible to make, and addictive.

The Sense of the Sleight of Hand Man, Up for RANSOM NOW!

My new Call of Cthulhu Dreamlands Campaign, The Sense of the Sleight of Hand Man is up for Ransom now on Kickstarter. Please:

1. Visit the page.
2. Contribute, if you can.
3. Promote it via Twitter/Facebook.
4. Tell your friends (who might be interested).

Thanks a lot. If you are a fan of Delta Green or my other work, contributing to this Kickstarter will help me continue to create in the RPG space, and, in turn, will keep me working on other RPG projects. Without this lifesblood, making time for RPGs is difficult.

Here’s to Call of Cthulhu!

Delta Green: Carcosa

Fighting the forces of the Cthulhu Mythos is one thing, confronting the roiling insanity that is Carcosa is another. The otherworldly madness and horror the Old Ones spread is due to their impossible nature and unknowable methods. Carcosa, the horrific realm of Hastur the Unspeakable appears different, but may simply be another manifestation of this impossibility.

Few Agents can feature the differences between an inhuman monstrosity loping at them from the sea, and a house that seems to bend and warp around them, changing as they observe it. One seems separate from humanity, a monster, the other seems to warp and change the deepest and most coveted concepts of humanity — thought, ideas, order.

Why We Create

I thought I’d take a minute to speak about why I do this. All of this. Role playing games.

I am lucky enough to make video games for a living. This is wonderful, rewarding work. The people I work with are great, the projects are fantastic. To be in control of such a thing as a game franchise is humbling and awesome and amazingly fun. However…

…it just can’t hold a candle to the world I found in pen and paper RPGs and board games, in the properties I made for myself and with others. Delta Green, GODLIKE, Wild Talents. The fun and amazing feeling of creation I’ve experienced there dwarfs anything that has come after it.