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The Gonzo Book
When titling this book, we had to find an appropriate phrase, and “gonzo” was the only one that gave us a perfect fit. This book looks at the Pathfinder system as being more malleable in terms of inspiration and tone; that is to say, designers and players can use this book to inject a heavy dose of other genres and aesthetics into what would normally be a traditional (somewhat Tolkien-inspired) fantasy game. That being said, these classes are a bit “out there.”
Over the years we’ve all played or ran (or thought of playing/running) a quirky game that did not quite mesh with the established tropes and deviated from the standard source material. Maybe you played a spelljamming quasi-scifi magic punk game, a dying earth game, a lovecraftian mystery game, an anthropomorphic post apocalypse game, a solo hyborian inspired adventure, or something we have never heard of before. Ever ran ‘80s-ish “heavy metal” inspired dungeon crawl where music is all-powerful while Blue Oyster Cult’s "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" plays in the background? How about a punky post-apocalypse rebellion game? While our games often start out as Lord of the Rings but end up more like Monty Python, why not embrace the comedic aspects? This book includes classes and sources of inspiration for your next Pathfinder game in an attempt to shock the traditional system.
The rule of thumb when using this book is player enjoyment and engagement. The classes and variant rules presented in this book should only be utilized with both GM and player buy-in. If not everyone is onboard with your tongue-in-cheek romp through famous works of fantasy literature, you (as a GM) might want to rethink your approach to the game and the allowed material.
-Little Red Goblin Games
Included:
This section focused on how to make your game more "dramatic" with rules for rewarding adherence to theme/tone plus a dozen variant rules.
This book also added new feats and equipment in support of the material in the book itself.
Long ago, in the desolate Halls of Legends, a thriving warrior-cult practiced symbolic plays and rituals to satiate their rebellious spirits and the spirits of anyone who wanted to watch. They sang songs of bittersweet social revolution, composed painful melodies for the lost loves of their lives, and danced with all the passion of their generation. Driven by nothing other than their counter-cultural ideas and free spirits, they led a revolution that promised social change. They took up arms, rocked out, and clashed with the forces of order for the freedom of the human spirit. Though their hearts swelled and their steel was strong, they were defeated by The Man and repressed for generations. They practiced in secret and played the mournful melodies of their glory days - passing their ideas and symphonies to the next generation.
This new generation did not live in fear and soon exposed themselves as the true inheritors of the rock-and-roll souls of their predecessors. Part warrior, part musician, and all revolutionary, these “rockstars” became more and more literal in their ritual performances. Armed with weapon-instruments and the supernatural strength their passion grants them, rockstars are regional icons who rock as hard on the battlefield as they do in concert.
Highlights: Rock so hard someone’s head explodes.
Example: Gene Simmons as a Pathfinder Character
The First Laugh: Many say when the first laugh escaped mortal lips it gave birth to all mirth, levity, comedy, sarcasm, joy, and sorrow within the universe. There is a power in smiles, in riotous laughter, and in comedy; a power few truly tap into. Toons are the masters of such energies and can tap into it to bring forth more glee. They are empowered by the laughter of others and know just how to make someone smile (even while twisting a knife into his gut).
Toons rarely study their art; it is a natural gift that few possess. When combined with an understanding of The First Laugh and an adherence to an absurdist or dada philosophy (see the works of Søren Kierkegaard, Albert Camus, Malaclypse the Younger, and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst, or even the likes of Jean-Paul Sartre or Friedrich Nietzsche), they become “unglued.” Toons who are unglued (or becoming unglued) can warp and manipulate the rules of reality, so long as they do so unconsciously. As toons progress in level, they becomes more and more unglued until they are finally freed of all constraints of logic, order, and reality.
Highlights: Pull off ever prank from the Looney Toons
Example: Bugs Bunny as a Pathfinder Character
Each person has an influence from which they draw their wealth of power. Some of these influences can be innate psionic knacks, intense academic studies of arcane mysteries, harmonious relationships with nature, services to a patron deity, or martial trainings. However, cravens take more direct routes to their goals. They pay for their power quite literally. By sacrificing objects of value, they can pay the universe for boons. Most often, this comes in the form of coin and other kinds of currency. This power is a literal manifestation of cravens’ greed and imbues them with supernatural abilities.
In some campaign settings, cravens may have to make deals with a devil or other greedy outsider to gain power, but traditionally, cravens are fueled by their own unnatural avarice.
Highlights: Literally pay for your abilities.
Punks are students of the streets: part unloved urchins, part acrobats, and part heralds of things to come. They are most at home in the hustle and bustle of major metropolises where the power of the “Spirit of Civilization” can be strongest felt. They are chosen from among the countless huddled masses who possess a certain skill set to champion the causes of Spirit of Civilization. The Spirit is a formed entity made from the concepts of progress, change, industry, discovery, and community. Their chosen few, the punks, are typically destitute and fighting a battle they cannot possibly hope to win alone. Some start out as beggars, drunks, or vagrants; while others are given the power as young orphans or disenfranchised youths. Regardless of where they come from, they always have a touch of destiny about them after their interaction with the Spirit of Civilization. They find themselves in the middle of social unrest, wars, power struggles, criminal enterprises, and many other things they would not typically be inclined to just serendipitously find themselves in the middle of. There are hundreds of these agents in the world, and the Spirit of Civilization guides them, pulling cosmic strings behind the scenes to bring about its own ends.
There is a second kind of punk. These are the the ones who train to become one, making themselves the perfect candidate for the Spirit of Civilization to manipulate. These are typically found in quasi-religious orders in large (mostly human) cities. Externally, they look like vagrant camps, but they are actually skilled warriors fighting for revolution and social change in the world.
Highlights: Live the thug life, spit spray-paint, pull off sweet moves with your parkour
Example: A playtester described their character as an “acrobatic murder hobo”.
A mime is traditionally just an entertainer. While many are street performers, others are practiced actors, part-time skit artists, or young adults exploring their options. Some mime as a job, a hobby in their off-time, or as a means of sustenance; even fewer search for a greater connection to the art.
The search for connection may come as desperation, passion, or curiosity. Often times, many search to embolden and develop more intrinsic performances for greater wealth and fame. Others get inquisitive and become so passionate about miming they get lost in it.
Through practice and determination, a mime develops a connection to the 7th veil, the cosmic envelope of trickery, madness, and knowledge. The mime’s mundane performances begin to take on a life of their own. While the mime still acts on her own, her acts begin to become a part.
Some people are so full of energy, hope, love, or whatever else that they could just explode! Living bombs take this idea literally and can spontaneously combust by overloading their bodies with arcane energy.
Highlights: You... can explode.
Technical
- Page Count (Projected): 64 pages
- PDF Optimized & Bookmarked
- Original Art From: Andrew “Viking Wanderlist, Jack Holiday, Meg Stevens, and Peter Saga
- Showcase Designer: Thomas Lee Hornyak Jr (Mime)
- Launch Date: Aug 2nd
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All of my want! This had better be out on time or I might just explo- OmNom just gained a level in living bomb.
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OMG, OMG, OMG! THIS LOOKS AMAZING! WE WANTS IT! :D
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But where's the Gonzo Journalist base class?
Nice one LRGG. Looking forward to some out-there mechanics like Necropunk's phase rounds or Magpie...
And let's hope the Punk comes with straight-edge, anarcho-, diesel- and other variants. Or we just reskin as needed.
Dot!
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those that loved kingdom hearts 2 may wanna consider homebrew keyblade stats when reading over some of punks available options.
Nice one LRGG. Looking forward to some out-there mechanics like Necropunk's phase rounds or Magpie...
And let's hope the Punk comes with straight-edge, anarcho-, diesel- and other variants. Or we just reskin as needed.
if this sells well enough to warrant a follow up then i will personally write up a counter-paladin archetype.
But where's the Gonzo Journalist base class?
It was too weird to live, too rare to die.
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But where's the Gonzo Journalist base class?
I was looking for the Gonzo the Great base class, myself.
Baron Geddon approves.
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But where's the Gonzo Journalist base class?I was looking for the Gonzo the Great base class, myself.
We probably should have made the muppet archetype, but you could totally do it as a toon ;-)
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Are there teamwork feats that let you play Statler and Waldorf?
I meant in your book, but I'm definitely marking this. Thanks!
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Oh jeez, I want this so bad. It'd be perfect for my home campaign.
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...Malaclypse the Younger, and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst...
Oh hey I know those guys
...Malaclypse the Younger, and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst...Oh hey I know those guys
Then you have wonderful tastes.
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Hey guys! Just wanted to give you all a little sneak peak at the Gonzo book!
Just a reminder, we are launching on Saturday!
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I get a very 'Brutal Legend' vibe from the rockstar.
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I get a very 'Brutal Legend' vibe from the rockstar.
as you should
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I get a very 'Brutal Legend' vibe from the rockstar.as you should
Decapitation!~
You could totally rock as Eddie as a rockstar.
You could also pull stuff like Dazzler, Midvalley the Hornfreak, or even some Noise Marine style thing.
It all works as long as you rock out and have a mix tape ready to go for game ;-)
You could totally rock as Eddie as a rockstar.
You could also pull stuff like Dazzler, Midvalley the Hornfreak, or even some Noise Marine style thing.
It all works as long as you rock out and have a mix tape ready to go for game ;-)
Wow! Slow down for sec; you're saying I can make beasts of pure destruction like the jazzy-cool Midvalley and melt-your-face-with-sound Noise Marines? I mean I always imagined Eddie from the moment you announced this- a psudo-palabard combo who incites magic through riffs and is a hardcore brawler in a fight. But now i am getting images of barbarians manipulating sounds for explosive effect. I... I really want this book. I don't care I'll be wearing pink, MAKE ME A GNOME NOISE MARINE NOW!
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Totally.
Good morning!
Gonzo is now live Link
Gonzo now has a 5/5 review!
It is on the list of things we are working on.
Dayton Johnson (Dragon Tiger Ox) is re-working a lot of the base mechanical aspects into a very different, but still familiar, picture. I (Scott) am working with Dayton on a lot of things and developing the lore and overall direction of the product. I'll probably be bringing in the usual crew (Caleb, Zerby, and Christos) on it once it becomes a clearer picture. A lot of folks are tasked with the Necropunk APG and a few other books rolling out (Races of Darkness, Non-Traditional Race Book, etc) so they need to finish up development on that stuff first before we move onto anything LL related.
It is far and away the biggest single book we are working on (or ever have). Initial estimates put it at between 350-500 pages because we are basically combining LL1, LL2, LL: Magic, LL: Bestiary into a single book (possibly 2). That being said, I am hesitant to give a timeline on things but my IDEAL projections will have it begin production in the fall. Possibly a Kickstarter? Possibly something related to our Patreon.
We have a few artists in mind for the project and have talked with Jack Holiday about possibly doing some of it again like we did with Dragon Tiger Ox. We have some AWESOME in house folks so we may be doing it all in house.
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Cool.
I'm not sure I would ever use it as intended, but a lot of RPG books that I get I pull the stuff inside apart, throw the pieces on the table, do the same with a bunch of other books, and assemble all the "good bits" into some sort of Frankenstein-like abomination of awesomeness. The legendary levels books were a good source of "good bits".
You can do whatever you want with our products. If it gets used at your table, in any part, we've done our jobs well and it'll put a smile on our faces. :-)
I do that myself for home games.
This one should have some a lot of good Frankenstein-ready bits ;-)
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So this book was a huge success and we got a lot of fantastic feedback/praise on this book. We would be very excited to do another Gonzo style book and I’ve love to get feedback from you guys on what we intend to include. Nothing is set in stone and we don't have a release date (we have at LEAST 3 products we are releasing prior to it).
Thus far we have:
Deep in the Lollipop Forest, past the Soda Sea, and beyond the reaches of the Confection Connection, lives an order or warriors who fear no sticky evil. Having survived in the nightmarishly deceptive plane of Sugarland, a sinister twisted world created by devils meant to lure wayward children to their doom, the sparkle princesses have honed their bodies and killer instincts like the sharp edges of their lollipop axes. They constitute the only survivors of the children who were seduced by the promises of sweets onto the hellish demiplane. They live off the land, draining the “sparkles” from the innocent looking savage creatures who reside in Sugarland, and use it to fuel their unending war against the Chocolate King and his minty minions. Includes a loyal Teddy Bear race.
Summary: Think a hard-edged, battle-worn, fierce Disney princess from a sugary Hellscape.
We are looking to do a sentai/tokusatsu style melee character complete with hissatsu waza (finishing moves), transformation trinket, and even a magic girl archetype. (Name is a working title by the way)
Summary: Kamen rider, power rangers/super sentai, etc
Sometimes words are not enough. You need a man. A man of action. A man of class. A man with a license to kill. At home in both the shadowy underworld and high-class social scenes an agent uses his wet-work skills as well as his charm to complete any mission his agency orders him to do.
Summary: Inspired by suave fictional secret agents like James Bond, Charlie’s Angels, and other “men of action” (or women).
This section details “goblin battle clowns” (a rogue archetype) as well as the “kaspar” (horrific evil clown) enemy, and tops it off with a “Goblin Joke Book” so depraved it’ll be a banned book in no time!
Hey! Listen!
Are your players thick as rocks and unable to figure out the OBVIOUS plot you laid out for them? Do they CONSTANTLY walk past the secret door (It’s only a DC 15 to spot it!) and tell you your game is WAY too hard? Well, fret no more! We’ve got “The Guide”, a class for small fey (and other such supernatural creatures) that makes both a great GMPC, NPC, or player class. They are the ultimate utility character- able to perceive things, warn against enemies, and help provide insight to their party. They are quick squishy but can still help out in combat in a pitch.
Summary: Think Tinkerbell, navi, mixed with a fairy godmother.
The masked vigilante is a self-made hero that has risen above a painful past. While vengeance is what drives his motivations, the good of his actions is what defines him. Hidden behind a mask to protect his name and source of power, the masked vigilante threatens the corrupt and the cruel with an arsenal of seemingly magical tools and skills.
Summary: Scarlet Pimpernel, Zorro, Batman, the Lone Ranger, V (V for Vendetta), the Shadow
Elvis lives... and is wearing plate armor. So this came about because of a documentary on Elvis impersonators. Some believe they are literally “channeling” Elvis and gain a deeper connection to him by being more accurate. In the same way a Scarlet Impersonator attempts to emulate Duke “The Saber” Scarlet. Duke Scarlet was a soldier of the highest caliber, a wildly popular musician whose songs influenced the world of music to this day, a dashing swordsman, a powerful political figure who revolutionized modern values though counter-cultural activities, a painter without equal, and a sex symbol to a generation. This prestige class includes rules for creating impersonators of other famous individuals (or even custom ones for your game). Hail to the King baby.
Summary: Warrior Elvis impersonators?
So this book was a huge success and we got a lot of fantastic feedback/praise on this book. We would be very excited to do another Gonzo style book and I’ve love to get feedback from you guys on what we intend to include. Nothing is set in stone and we don't have a release date (we have at LEAST 3 products we are releasing prior to it).
Thus far we have:
Sparkle Princess** spoiler omitted ** ”Sentai Hero”** spoiler omitted ** Agent** spoiler omitted **...
Want it!
Well it's underway. It's a little ways back in the pipeline but it is there. Some of the stuff is more done than others and we even have a bit of art ready for it. :-)
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...you mean I can have Sailor V and V for Vendetta on the same adventuring team?
PRE-SOLD! :D
(Senshi should not be afraid of their Neo-Queens. Neo-Queens should be afraid of their Senshi.)
I just picked this up (Mainly because I enjoyed the racial guide.)
I can't wait for the next one to come out.
Also: I think The picture for the Craven is meant to be Wario. I think it fits him.
Glad you enjoy it. It looks like Gonzo 2 is 3rd in the third round in the chamber. We have two other fantastic products coming out before them but are actively working on that one.