What an astonishing week for Autarch! The ACKS II Treasure Tome Kickstarter blew past $60,000 in its first 24 hours and ended the week at over $85,000. We’ve unlocked every stretch goal save the final goal, the Treasure Tome module for the ACKS II Virtual Tabletop System on Foundry. Given the support so far I’m hopeful we’ll hit it.
If you want to learn more about the ACKS II Treasure Tome, please join us tonight at 9PM ET for ACKS TO GRIND, as I’ll be joined by TT co-creator D. McGrane (Unshaven).
The ACKS II Treasure Tome Meme Contest
To celebrate the success, and keep the momentum going during the mid-month lull, we’re running a meme contest.
To enter the contest, create a meme about ACKS II, Autarch, Archon, Treasure Tome, and/or all of the above and post it on X. Include the hashtag #ACKS2 and #OSR in the post. You can but don't have to post a link to your Meme in @ACKS General Discussion.
The preliminary round will be determined by X Likes. All X posts that get at least 10 Likes will qualify for the final round.
The final round winner will be determined by Mrs. Archon based on whatever strange and subjective criteria women use to evaluate the achievements of men. She doesn't know who you are so she will be unbiased with regard to your posting history.
The winner will get to select the chapter image for one chapter in the ACKS II Treasure Tome.
All memes must be submitted by no later than November 5th. Judging will be held and results announced on the last Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
No purchase necessary and void where prohibited.
Some early entries…
Now how about a little sneak preview of the Treasure Tome?
Appendix C: Potion Miscibility
Fantasy role-playing games have often presented a chance of disastrous or entertaining consequences following from the ill-advised combination of magical effects.
ACKS II, in part to limit the extent to which characters may benefit from the expenditure of stockpiled magic resources, does not allow a character to benefit from the effects of multiple potions at the same time, with the character instead left queasy and the effects negated for the duration.
This section provides an optional alternative for determining the results of consuming multiple potions, with a chance each potion functions as it would separately but also chances for complications and deleterious effects.
Determining Miscibility Result
When a character is under the effects of a potion and drinks from another potion, the Judge should secretly roll 1d100 on the Potion Miscibility table to determine the results. The character does not necessarily know the result of potions reacting internally. He will know which effects, if any, are active, and will know any side effects (such as death, dismemberment, or queasiness) he suffers, but not changes to the potion effect such as duration, permanency, or the ability to be dispelled.
A successful Alchemy proficiency throw by the drinker or an observer will identify the specific outcome, with a +2 bonus applied to the throw if it is made by the drinker himself. If a result indicates that one potion effect fails to function, is doubled in duration, etc, the Judge should determine which potion is affected randomly, without regard to potion strength or type. Potions mixed before drinking are simply ruined, with no chance of miscibility.
If further potions are drunk while multiple effects are ongoing the Judge should roll one additional d100 per potion and apply the Miscibility results. Effects already removed by prior rolls cannot resume function due to subsequent rolls, and all other changes are applied cumulatively.
EXAMPLE: Ulrand, a pirate captain preparing to attack a treasure ship under substantial guard, drinks a potion of freedom (duration 6+1d6 turns). When he drinks a potion of blast ward (duration 6 turns) the Judge secretly rolls for miscibility, rolling a 30: the duration of the potion of freedom is shortened to 6 turns. Pushing his luck, he drinks a potion of flight (duration 5 turns). The Judge rolls a 22 for miscibility and one random potion, the potion of blast ward, fails to function. Stripped of one protection, he tries for another, drinking a potion of deflect ordinary weapons (duration 3 turns). The judge secretly rolls a 70, indicating that all potions function normally. Ulrand benefits from the potions of freedom, Flight, and Deflect Ordinary Weapons for 6,5, and 3 turns respectively, but the Blast Wardeffect remains lost.
Effect Duration
Many miscibility effects extend, shorten, or set the duration of one or more potion effects. Most potions with an instantaneous duration are either healing potions or cursed potions, intended to harm or heal the drinker with no ongoing effect. An effect that already has an instantaneous duration cannot be halved, doubled, or made permanent; if it would become a different duration it instead remains instantaneous. If an effect of any other duration would be shortened or set to an instantaneous duration it effectively has a 1 round duration beginning when the change occurs; in most cases, the user having drank a potion, he will have only his movement action with which to benefit from the effect. Any change to duration is applied to the potion’s current duration with no regard for prior expended duration: halving the duration of an effect with 2 turns remaining results in a duration of 1 turn, whether the potion was drunk at that moment or an hour prior.
EXAMPLE: Ulrand is fleeing the sinking of his ship under the effect of a potion of flight (2 turns remaining of 5) and a potion of freedom (3 turns remaining of 6). Grievously wounded, he needs magical healing within the next turn or he will die. He drinks a potion of cure light injury. The judge secretly rolls a 62, determining that the potions’ durations will be exchanged. Freedom receives the duration of Flight, Flight that of Cure Light Injury, and Cure Light Injury that of Freedom.Freedomwill last for only two more turns, the healing potion functions instantaneously as it normally would and saves his life, but the Flight effect functions for only a single round before he plummets into the cold sea below.
Support the Community
Once you’ve pledged for the crowdfunding campaign, head on over to these community links:
Autarch Discord with one of the smartest, nicest gamer communities around
Autarch Reddit with a sub-set of the aforementioned smartest, nicest gamers
Ascendant Patreon with a new character and story hook every month
Autarch Facebook page with news and updates about our projects
Autarch Twitter channel with brief comments and witty quirks
Ascendant Comics Facebook page with sneak previews of the upcoming comics
Ascendant Comics Instagram page with tons of art and cosplay
Ascendant Comics Twitter channel with short messages and quirky wit