Tonnerre de Brest

Reptoids Under Pittsburgh 5

2026-07-21T07:26:00.000+02:00

Session 5: Blue Lights & Red Flags

Posted by The Game Master | Category: Campaign Playthrough

The diner door jingled loudly as Danny and Sally burst inside, gasping for air and pale as ghosts. The warmth of the diner smelled like stale grease and coffee beans, a stark contrast to the sewer stench. They ran straight to the booth where two Pittsburgh police officers were spliting a basket of fries.

“Officer, you have to help us!” Danny yelled, his hands shaking. “A giant lizard... a seven-foot reptile man just crawled out of the manhole in the alley! It tried to kill us!”

The older cop paused with a fry halfway to his mouth. He exchanged a weary look with his partner, then sighed, setting the food down. “Look, kid, I know those Primanti sandwiches can hit your stomach heavy, but you can’t be running into shops screaming sci-fi stories. If you two are pulling a prank or smoking something you shouldn't be down by the rivers, beat it before we write you up.”

“We aren't lying! Look at his legs, it hit him with a tail!” Sally insisted, but the officers just shook their heads, pointing toward the exit. It was clear: the authorities weren't going to save them.

🎲 Danny's Intellect Check (Level 1 - 3d6)

Target: Danny's Intellect (IT) is 9. He needs to remember his uncle's old stories.

The Dice: [1] + [4] + [3] = 8

Modifiers: Danny applies his Pittsburgh Lore (Lv1) talent, letting him subtract 1 from the total.

Final Total: 8 - 1 = 7

Result: 7 is less than 9. SUCCESS! Danny connects the dots perfectly.

Experience Gained: Target (9) - Final Roll (7) = 2 EP earned for Danny.

Pulling Sally away from the unhelpful cops, Danny’s face suddenly lit up under the dim lights of the diner's back hallway. “Wait. My Uncle Morty... everyone says he’s crazy, but he’s been talking about 'The Fourth Underground River' and the 'Scaled Intruders' for ten years. He lives right over in Troy Hill and keeps a bunker full of weird military surplus gear because he thinks the city is going to get invaded.”

Sally looked back out the window. Down the street, the wooden pallets in the alleyway rattled violently. The creature was breaking free. “Right now, crazy sounds exactly like what we need. Call him!”

Danny dropped a few coins into the greasy payphone and dialed from memory. After four rings, a gruff, paranoid voice picked up: “Who is this? They monitor the lines after midnight!”

“Uncle Morty, it’s Danny! One of them crawled out of a manhole in the Strip District! It’s seven feet tall, yellow eyes, and it tried to eat us!”

There was a sharp gasp on the other end, followed by the metallic click of a shotgun racking. “I knew it! The convergence has begun! Stay in the light, don't look them in the eyes, and get to the old warehouse by the 16th Street Bridge. I'm loading up the truck. Don't let them mark you with the spit!”

Reptoids Under Pittsburgh 4

2026-07-20T07:34:00.000+02:00

Session 4: The Pallet Press & The Sprint

Posted by The Game Master | Category: Campaign Playthrough

Direct confrontation was a terrible idea—Danny realized that the second his ribs hit the asphalt. These things weren't just big; they were built like tanks. While Sally’s phone flash had the monster blindly tearing at its own face, Danny saw his chance to make sure it couldn't follow them immediately.

Leaning on his high school football conditioning, Danny ignored the throbbing ache in his shins. He scrambled over to a massive, heavy stack of heavy oak shipping pallets leaning against a restaurant backdoor right next to the thrashing creature. Planting his cleats against the pavement, he drove his shoulder into the wood, letting out a guttural roar as he tried to tip the entire heavy wooden stack directly onto the blinded Reptoid.

🎲 Danny's Heavy Lift (Level 1 Skill Check - 3d6)

Target: Danny's Skill (SK) is 11. He needs to roll an 11 or less to successfully tip the heavy load.

The Dice: [2] + [3] + [4] = 9

Result: 9 is less than 11. SUCCESS! The massive stack of wood topples right on target.

Experience Gained: Target (11) - Roll (9) = 2 EP earned for Danny.

With a thunderous crash, the heavy stack of oak pallets collapsed perfectly over the flailing monster, pinning its torso and slamming its snout against the open iron manhole rim. The creature bellowed in rage, wood splintering under its claws as it struggled against the sudden weight, temporarily trapped under the heavy timbers.

“Go, go, go!” Danny gasped, grabbing Sally’s hand. They turned tail and ran like their lives depended on it—because they absolutely did.

They sprinted down the dark alleyway, bursting out into the neon-lit, bustling corridor of Penn Avenue. The contrast was dizzying. Behind them was a prehistoric nightmare; in front of them were passing cars, open bars, and the comforting hum of late-night Pittsburgh traffic.

🏃‍♂️ The Great Escape Sprint (Level 1 Skill Check - 3d6)

They need to run fast enough to reach safety and find help before the creature breaks free of the pallets.

Sally's Skill Check (Target 13): Rolls [4] + [1] + [5] = 10 (Success! 3 EP gained)
Danny's Skill Check (Target 11): Rolls [3] + [5] + [2] = 10.
Modifier: Danny subtracts 1 for his Sprinting (Lv1) talent → Final Roll: 9 (Success! 2 EP gained)

Result: Both easily pass! They tear down Penn Avenue without tripping or losing momentum.

Breathing heavily, their lungs burning, the two teens skidded to a halt outside an all-night diner. Through the glass, they could see the bright fluorescent lights and a couple of city police officers sitting at the counter drinking coffee. Sally looked back over her shoulder; the dark alleyway was quiet for now, but a low, terrifying hiss echoed from the shadows just past the edge of the streetlights.

They had made it out alive, but the adventure was far from over. The real challenge was just beginning: how do you explain a seven-foot lizard man to the Pittsburgh PD?

Reptoids Under Pittsburgh 3

2026-07-19T07:22:00.000+02:00

Session 3: Flash and Flight

Posted by The Game Master | Category: Campaign Playthrough

Danny was flat on his back, staring up into a maw of razor-sharp teeth dripping with dark slime. The monster raised a heavy claw to strike. Seeing her date seconds away from becoming a subterranean snack, Sally didn't freeze. Her mind raced, remembering the game instructions: these creatures have glowing yellow eyes that adapt to the absolute dark of the sewers. Bright light had to be their weakness.

With lightning-fast reflexes, she snatched her smartphone from her pocket, swiped blindly to open the camera app, and set the strobe flash to maximum toggle. Stepping right into the creature's peripheral vision, she thrust the phone forward like a holy symbol.

“Hey, reptile! Smile for the camera!” she screamed.

🎲 Sally's Quick-Thinking Roll (Level 1 Intellect Check - 3d6)

Target: Sally's Intellect (IT) is 12. She needs to roll 12 or less to time the flash perfectly.

The Dice: [2] + [4] + [4] = 10

Modifiers: Sally applies her Notice Details (Lv1) talent to exploit the creature's physical traits, letting her subtract 1 from the total.

Final Total: 10 - 1 = 9

Result: 9 is well under 12. SUCCESS! A blinding white burst of LED light pierces the dim alleyway!

Experience Gained: Target (12) - Final Roll (9) = 3 EP earned for Sally.

The high-intensity flash exploded directly into the Reptoid's sensitive, dark-adapted yellow eyes. The effect was instantaneous. The creature let out a high-pitched, agonizing shriek, dropping its raised claw to clutch at its face. It reeled backward, snapping its jaws blindly as it hissed in absolute disorientation, temporarily blinded by the modern technology.

“Danny, get up! Move!” Sally yelled, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket and pulling with all her might.

Danny, nursing bruised shins but thoroughly alive, didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled backward on his hands and knees, grabbing his makeshift club from the gutter as he scrambled back to his feet. The alley was clear behind them, but the monster was already swinging its tail wildly in its blindness, starting to regain its bearings by scent alone.

Reptoids Under Pittsburgh 2

2026-07-18T07:43:00.000+02:00

Session 2: Stand Your Ground

Posted by The Game Master | Category: Campaign Playthrough

Adrenaline is a funny thing. It can make a kid from Pittsburgh think he can take on a seven-foot lizard man with nothing but a broken piece of wood. Danny didn't run. Instead, he gripped the wooden crate slat like a baseball bat, squared his shoulders, and channeled every bit of Friday night varsity football energy he had into his lungs.

“Get back, Sally!” Danny yelled, his voice cracking slightly as he stepped between her and the emerging nightmare. He swung the improvised club with a wild, desperate arc aimed right at the creature's round, finned head.

The Reptoid hissed, a spray of foul-smelling saliva jetting from its fangs as it raised its heavy claws to meet the strike.

🎲 Danny's Attack Roll (Level 1 Combat Check - 3d6)

Target: Danny's Combat Score (CS) is 10. He needs to roll 10 or less to hit.

The Dice: [3] + [4] + [2] = 9

Modifiers: The weapon is a Medium Blunt object (does 1d6 damage). No applicable talents for a weapon swing.

Result: 9 is less than or equal to 10. SUCCESS! Danny hits the Reptoid!

Experience Gained: Target (10) - Roll (9) = 1 EP earned for Danny.

💥 Damage Roll (Medium Blunt: 1d6)

The Die: 5

Result: The Reptoid takes 5 points of damage! (Reptoid HP: 13 → 8)

With a satisfying, hollow *CRACK*, the wooden board connected squarely with the side of the Reptoid's jaw. The creature staggered back a step, yellow eyes blinking in sudden confusion as blackish fluid leaked from its lip. It hadn't expected the prey to bite back.

But the victory was short-lived. Incensed by the pain, the monster lunged forward, letting out a guttural roar that rattled the windows of the nearby shops. It swiped its massive tail across the pavement, trying to sweep Danny off his feet!

🦖 Reptoid's Turn: Tail Attack!

The Reptoid strikes with its tail. If it hits, it causes 1d6 damage, and Danny must make a Level 1 Skill check or be knocked down.

The Reptoid's Attack Roll (vs CS 13): GM rolls 3d6 → [2] + [5] + [4] = 11 (Hit!)

Damage to Danny: Rolled 1d6 → 3 points of damage. (Danny's HP: 12 → 9)

🤸‍♂️ Danny's Knockdown Save (Level 1 Skill Check - 3d6)

Target: Danny's Skill (SK) is 11. He needs an 11 or less to stay on his feet.

The Dice: [5] + [4] + [4] = 13

Result: 13 is higher than 11. FAILURE!

The heavy, muscular tail caught Danny right across the shins with the force of a swinging log. He cried out as his legs were swept out from under him, slamming hard onto the cold concrete. The makeshift wooden club clattered out of his hands, rolling into the gutter.

The Reptoid towered over him, jaws open, ready to finish the job. Sally knew she had to act right now, or Danny was history.

Reptoids Under Pittsburgh 1

2026-07-17T07:25:00.000+02:00

Session 1: Terror on Primanti Way

Posted by The Game Master | Category: Campaign Playthrough

Danny was sure glad that Sally finally said yes to a date. She just moved to town, and from the moment he saw her, Danny thought she was very special. Wanting to give her the authentic local experience, he took her down to the Strip District.

“That sure was something,” Sally said, wiping a stray bit of oil from her fingers. “I've never had french fries and coleslaw on a sandwich before.”

“Yeah, next time you should try an egg on it,” Danny smiled, feeling pretty good about how the evening was going.

“An egg? Really?” Sally laughed, her eyes bright under the dim streetlights.

But the laugh died in her throat. The noise they suddenly heard stopped them dead in their tracks. It was a long, heavy scraping sound—like massive iron teeth grinding on cold pavement. They spun around to see a heavy manhole cover just ten feet away push violently upward, sliding across the asphalt with a horrific screech.

What they saw next had them completely frozen in fear. Piercing through the darkness of the open street drain were two bulbous, glowing yellow eyes. A man-sized reptile, easily seven feet tall with scales the color of stagnant river sludge and a thick, sweeping tail, crawled heavily out of the manhole. It hissed, its wet jaws snapping as it fixed its gaze directly on them and started to move forward.

Danny (High Schooler)

A local kid trying to look cool on a first date.

Hit Points (HP):	12
Combat Score (CS):	10
Skill (SK):	11
Intellect (IT):	9
Talents (Lv1):
• Sprinting (SK) • High School Football (CS) • Pittsburgh Lore (IT)
Pocket Money:	$110

Sally (The New Girl)

Just moved from Ohio. Fast on her feet and sharp-witted.

Hit Points (HP):	10
Combat Score (CS):	9
Skill (SK):	13
Intellect (IT):	12
Talents (Lv1):
• Gymnastics (SK) • Notice Details (IT) • Quick Reflexes (SK)
Pocket Money:	$70

The creature lunges! The stench of the sewers and rotting river fish hits the teenagers before the beast even takes its second step. Panic sets in, but adrenaline kicks their brains into gear.

🎲 Initiative Roll (1d6)

To see who acts first before the beast closes the 10-foot gap!

Danny & Sally: Rolled 5
7-Foot Reptoid (CS 13, HP 13): Rolled 3

Result: High roll wins! The teenagers react just a split second faster than the subterranean predator!

Danny reaches blindly into a nearby pile of debris outside a closed storefront, his fingers wrapping around a discarded, heavy wooden crate slat—a crude club. Sally looks wildly for an escape route, her heart pounding against her ribs.

La fábula de la garduña y la eriza

2026-07-16T21:43:28.572+02:00

Había llovido intensamente durante tres días en el corazón del bosque, convirtiendo el suelo del sotobosque en un lodazal resbaladizo. Una garduña, un mustélido ágil y cazador, perseguía a su presa con demasiada confianza. Al saltar sobre un tronco podrido, este cedió bajo sus patas y la garduña cayó rodando hasta el fondo de una antigua zanja cavada por los neveros, un pozo de barro arcilloso del que le era imposible salir. Cuanto más intentaba trepar por las paredes empapadas, más se hundía en la masa pegajosa.

Una eriza común, que buscaba refugio tras la tormenta, se asomó al borde de la zanja. Al ver a la garduña, su depredador natural, atrapada y desesperada, se detuvo. En lugar de ovillarse por miedo, la eriza evaluó la situación. Su anatomía, cubierta de púas, no parecía útil para el rescate convencional, pero recordó algo fundamental: la fuerza de su mandíbula, diseñada para roer raíces duras y caparazones.

Con gran esfuerzo, la eriza comenzó a arrastrar con su hocico y a empujar con su cuerpo un tronco pequeño pero nudoso hasta colocarlo en el borde del foso, inclinado como una rampa improvisada. Luego, se deslizó con cuidado hasta el fondo, se acercó a la garduña y, usando sus fuertes dientes, enganchó firmemente el grueso collar de piel más laxa del cuello de la mustélido. Con un tirón sorprendente para su tamaño, y sirviéndose de la rampa de madera que había preparado, la eriza logró izar a la garduña hasta el suelo firme del bosque.

Una vez a salvo, la garduña se sacudió el barro con furia, tosió y se quedó inmóvil, mirando a la pequeña eriza con una mezcla de incredulidad y desconcierto.

—¿Por qué has hecho eso? —preguntó la garduña, lamiendo el barro de sus garras—. Sabes perfectamente que soy tu enemiga. He intentado cazarte en el pasado y, cuando recupere el aliento, mi instinto volverá a decirme que eres alimento. No tiene ninguna lógica que me hayas salvado la vida.

La eriza, manteniendo una distancia prudente, se desenroscó ligeramente para mostrar su rostro.

—Cuando no hay peligro inminente, somos solo criaturas del bosque compartiendo el mismo territorio —respondió la eriza con calma—. Hace un momento, no eras más que un ser vivo sufriendo, y mi naturaleza no me permite ignorar una vida que se apaga si tengo la capacidad de evitarlo.

La garduña bajó la cabeza, perturbada por aquella filosofía que no encajaba con la ley de la espesura.

—Pero nuestras naturalezas son opuestas —insistió la garduña—. Yo necesito carne para vivir. Es lo que dicta mi ser.

—Lo entiendo perfectamente —dijo la eriza—, y es por eso mismo que, si mañana vuelves a acecharme a mí o a los míos, no dudaré en erizar mis púas y defenderme con todas mis fuerzas. Si tengo que luchar para sobrevivir, lo haré, incluso si eso significa causarte daño o acabar con tu vida. Pero debes entender que una cosa es la defensa propia y otra muy distinta es la enemistad absoluta y permanente.

La garduña guardó silencio, asimilando la distinción.

—Lo que me resulta más difícil de comprender —admitió la garduña— es cómo puedes trazar esa línea entre ayudarme ahora y atacarme después.

—Es sencillo —explicó la eriza—. Existe una cortesía básica, un respeto por la vida que debemos mantener en los momentos de tregua. Sin embargo, la contienda, la lucha ciega por la supervivencia, es lo que nos corrompe. Cuando entramos en ese estado de guerra, perdemos la capacidad de ver al otro como un ser vivo y nos convertimos en meros instrumentos de destrucción. Esa alienación, o pérdida de nuestra conexión con el resto de la vida, es lo que debemos evitar a toda costa. No debemos permitir que la única forma de relacionarnos sea la aniquilación del otro.

—Me has salvado hoy —dijo la garduña—, pero cuando el hambre apriete, mi instinto volverá a despertar, sea justo o no.

—Y cuando ese momento llegue, yo lucharé con uñas y dientes para salvar mi vida cuándo quieras cazarme —concluyó la eriza—, exactamente con la misma determinación que puse hoy para salvar la tuya. La diferencia fundamental es que yo elijo la empatía y la cooperación mientras sea posible, porque prefiero habitar un mundo donde la compasión tenga un lugar, en lugar de uno regido únicamente por la depredación constante. No olvides que yo también cazo insectos y animalitos pequeños. Y entiendo cómo pueden llegar a sentirse cuándo yo los cazo. A pesar de eso, no dudaría en salvarlos si en ese momento no me puede el hambre.

La eriza se dio la vuelta y se perdió entre la hojarasca húmeda, dejando a la garduña sola bajo la luz que comenzaba a filtrarse entre las copas de los árboles, obligada a reflexionar sobre una realidad mucho más compleja de lo que su instinto le había dictado siempre.

Road Hogs 12

2026-07-16T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 12: The Final Ride

Adventure 12: The Citadel of Spire Rock

Eleven milestones lay behind them, paid for in sweat, chrome, and unyielding virtue. Now, at the dead-end of Highway 666, the Road Hogs faced the ultimate reckoning. The sky above Spire Rock bled a terrible, crackling violet as Morwen channeled his cataclysmic world-curse. The final generator tables locked in the ultimate climax:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Desolate or ruined	Spire Rock, a shattered obsidian fortress surrounded by roaring lightning storms.
Noteworthy Feature	Unstable Magic Storm	The warlock's vortex creates a swirling hurricane of raw, transformative arcana.
The Scenario	Defeat the Arch-Nemesis	Storming the central altar to interrupt Morwen's spell and shatter his dark power.
The Location	The Apex Storm-Chamber	A high, open-air stone arena atop the peak, surrounded by a bottomless void.
The Objective	Total Redemption	The twelfth deed: risking everything to save the realm, sealing their human forms forever.
The Complication	The Ultimate Choice	Morwen's vortex can either be reversed to heal their faces, or grounded to save the world.

The three custom choppers screamed up the winding, vertical asphalt track of Spire Rock. Lightning arc-flashed off their handle-bars. Reaching the open-air summit, they tore into the ritual circle. Floating at the center of a swirling vortex of purple fire was Morwen himself, his robes billowing, clutching a jagged obsidian staff.

Morwen: You fools! Look at you! You spent months groveling across the territory, playing the heroes just to shed my curse! But your precious twelfth deed ends here! The world-vortex is fully charged. I am casting the spell into the earth's crust—every living soul will become twisted monstrosities under my command!

Perry: We didn't just learn how to be heroes to break a curse, Morwen. We learned because we actually give a damn about the people on these roads. You're out of track, warlock.

Morwen: Ha! The vortex cannot be stopped by simple steel! If you attempt to reverse the machine, the magical feedback will consume the power that would have restored your faces! You will be stuck as pink, scarred drifters forever! Choose: your humanity, or your world?!

Brawny Buster grinned, his knuckles whitening on his grips. Crafty Perry adjusted his leather vest. Agile Mac looked down at the exposed arcanomechanical conduits anchoring the ritual stone.

Buster: I never did like standard cosmetics anyway. Mac, drop the anchors!

🎲 Challenge: Slideway-drifting through a barrage of arcane lightning to sever the vortex fuel lines

GM Designations: Agile Challenge | Difficulty: 6 (Extreme Climax)

Player Dice Pool: Mac takes the handlebars for the final, legendary stunt. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Agile Trait). Driven by his Impulsive quirk, he ignores the protective energy shields entirely, executing a vertical wall-ride along the ancient amphitheater stone! He spends his last Resolve Token to ensure maximum focus!

Dice Result: [6, 6, 4]

Outcome: Exceptional Success! Two 6s shatter the difficulty threshold! Mac's rear tire grinds straight through the central glyph line, disrupting Morwen's floating platform and exposing his mystical core!

Mac: *YANK!* The lines are blown! Buster, Perry, he’s grounded! Take him down!

The Battle for Highway 666

Morwen screamed as his levitation failed, dropping onto the stone floor. Desperate, he raised his obsidian staff, conjuring a massive, multi-headed dragon of pure, crackling violet magic to blast the riders into ash.

⚔️ Climax Encounter: Defeat Morwen and ground the world-vortex

GM Designations: Ultimate Boss Encounter | Effort Tokens Required: 8

Round 1: Buster charges head-first into the magic dragon's maw!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 6, 3] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Buster slams his chopper's solid front wheel right through the construct's jaw, shattering the magic! (Remaining Effort: 6).

Round 1: Perry uses his final Karma to outwit the Warlock's defensive barriers!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [4, 2, 5] — Success!

Action: Perry tricks Morwen into casting a shielding spell in the wrong direction, spending his final Karma Token to drop the difficulty to 4. Both the 4 and 5 count as successes!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. (Remaining Effort: 4).

Round 2: The entire crew executes a synchronized triple-throttle charge!

Dice Pool: Combined Team Pool (4 dice). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 6, 1] — Overwhelming Success!

Outcome: 3 successes remove the remaining Effort Tokens. Morwen's staff is shattered, and the vortex is definitively collapsed!

With a final, earth-shaking roar, the three choppers struck Morwen's obsidian barrier simultaneously. The impact echoed across the canyon like a thunderclap. Morwen’s dark staff fractured, exploding into a million harmless, non-magical glass shards.

The roaring purple vortex overhead immediately reversed its rotation. The Hogs stood fast, watching the magical energies that could have perfectly restored their human skin siphon downward into the open fault line, stabilizing the earth, cleansing the air, and permanently locking the realm's safety into place.

Morwen, now stripped of his magic and reduced to a pathetic, frail old man, stared up at them from the cold stone floor, trembling in fear.

Morwen: You... you chose the world over yourselves! You're ruined! Look at your skin! You're permanently altered!

Perry rolled his chopper forward, the exhaust bubbling warmly. He looked down, catching his reflection in his chrome mirror. His face was entirely, perfectly human—handsome, sharp, and clear. But his skin retained a permanent, faint, undeniably cool, sun-kissed **neon pink glow**, laced with thin silver tattoos where his bristles used to be. Mac and Buster looked exactly the same: human, but proudly, beautifully distinct.

Perry: We aren't ruined, Morwen. We’re original models now. And the world knows exactly who we are.

A New Horizon

The magical storm clouds parted, revealing a glorious, golden sunrise over the vast territory. Down below, from Scrap City to Apex City and Dust Junction, the bells rang out. The realm was safe, the dark age averted, and the curse of the warlock broken by the very men he sought to degrade.

Morwen was taken away by the regional Marshals, destined to spend the rest of his days sweeping the very highways he tried to corrupt. But for the Road Hogs, the journey was far from over.

"They entered this road as cursed outlaws, seeking only to save their own skins. They leave it as brothers of the blacktop—protectors of the helpless, icons of redemption, and the finest riders the world has ever seen."

They stood at the edge of the cliff, looking out over thousands of miles of fresh, open highway. Their engines hummed a steady, perfect rhythm. They didn't need to hide behind bandanas anymore. Their glowing pink skin was a badge of honor, a sign to every traveler that help was always just a throttle-twist away.

Mac: So, Mr. President... twelve deeds are done. The ledger is clean. Where to now?

Buster: I hear there's a new trading route opening up past the western badlands. Lots of folks needing escorts, lots of roads needing mapping.

Perry: *Smiles, kicking his chopper into first gear.* Sounds like an adventure to me, boys. Let's ride.

The three heroes kicked their starters, and with an unmistakable, triumphant roar, they dove down the mountain track, disappearing into the beautiful, endless horizon, chasing the dawn together...

THE END

Thank you for riding along for all 12 adventures of the Road Hogs! This complete campaign showcases the fast, cinematic, and incredibly fun mechanics of the Tricube Tales system.

Now it's your turn to gather your crew, customize your choppers, and create your own unforgettable stories on the blacktop.

👉 Get the full game here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Road Hogs 11

2026-07-15T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 11: The Ancient Arcana

Adventure 11: The Crossroads Sanctum

Ten noble marks stood on their tally. Only their jagged, protruding tusks remained of Morwen's hideous curse. The open road gave way to a twisted, surreal landscape where the asphalt cracked open to reveal veins of raw, pulsing ley-line energy. The generator tables rolled up a mystical dilemma:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Magical or supernatural	Omen Hollow, a misty village existing halfway between the mortal realm and the ether.
Noteworthy Feature	Ancient ruins nearby	The monolithic Stones of Destiny cast long, reality-bending shadows over the highway.
The Scenario	Defend a location or person	Protecting an ancient temple guardian holding the final key to the curse's origin.
The Location	The Sunken Obelisk	An subterranean temple exposed by a recent, magical earthquake.
The Objective	Divine Intervention	Stopping a radical cult from siphoning the shrine's ancient power to summon an old evil.
The Complication	Morwen’s Vengeance	The warlock Morwen has sent his elite Shadow Stalkers to eliminate the Hogs before they break his spell.

The air in Omen Hollow tasted like ozone and old parchment. The Hogs guided their choppers into a gaping chasm in the center of the road, down into the glowing chambers of the Sunken Obelisk. There, an elderly, blind avian mystic named Elder Zephyr lay pinned beneath a fallen magical pillar, surrounded by robed cultists chanting in dark tongues.

Elder Zephyr: Hogs of the road! You have come... just as the prophecy foretold! The cultists are siphoning my life force to charge the Gateway of Oblivion! But worse... Morwen knows you are close to breaking your bonds! He has sent his personal wraiths to make sure you never perform your eleventh deed!

Perry: Morwen is panicking. That means we are right on schedule. Hang on, old-timer, we are about to lighten your load.

Elder Zephyr: Wait! The pillar holding me down is bound by an unstable gravity rune. One wrong touch and it will collapse, crushing the subterranean foundations of the town above!

Mac: A magical gravity lock? That is just an inverse kinetic grid. Perry, keep those cultists talking. Buster, prepare to catch the weight when I invert the poles!

🎲 Challenge: Reversing the arcane polarity of the gravity rune to lift the stone pillar

GM Designations: Crafty Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Mac uses his technical knowledge to hack the magical inscription using a copper wire ground-loop. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Crafty Trait). Driven by his Impulsive quirk, he scratches out the main glyph with a screwdriver instead of waiting for a proper diagnostic, bumping the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [3, 1, 6]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the high difficulty exactly. The rune flashes bright blue, momentarily making the multi-ton pillar weightless so Buster can hurl it aside! Mac recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Mac: *Phew!* Magic is just science with flashier lights! Get up, Elder, the perimeter is about to get messy!

As Elder Zephyr scrambled to safety, the shadows along the temple walls lengthened, twisting into terrifying, faceless silhouettes with glowing violet blades. Morwen’s Shadow Stalkers had arrived to execute the final judgment.

Shadow Stalker Leader: The Warlock’s curse is eternal, swine! You will die in the dark!

Perry: We are down to our last teeth, shadow-boy. And we bite hard.

Banishment of Shadows

The wraiths lunged forward, moving like liquid darkness across the illuminated stone tiles of the ancient sanctum.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Banish Morwen's Shadow Stalkers and protect the Elder

GM Designations: Brawny/Crafty Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Buster uses his chrome tailpipes to reflect the temple's magical light beams!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. The reflected light sears through the wraiths! (Remaining Effort: 4).

Round 1: Perry uses his roaring engine to disrupt the dark cultists' chanting!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [4, 3, 1] — Failure.

Action: Perry uses his Gift of Gab to scream an insulting counter-chant over the exhaust notes, spending 1 Karma Token to lower the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. The portal's energy begins to fluctuate wildly! (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Mac uses his customized magnesium flares to blind the entities!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 5, 4] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. (Remaining Effort: 1).

Brawny as ever, Buster wheeled his chopper directly into a beam of pure ethereal light pouring from the ceiling, using the polished chrome of his custom exhaust shields to redirect the beam like a laser cannon. The light tore through the front rank of the Shadow Stalkers, vaporizing them into harmless mist.

Mac pulled two high-intensity magnesium road flares from his saddlebag, struck them against his handlebars, and hurled them into the center of the dark mass. The blinding, mundane white fire shattered the magical dark, sending the remaining cultists running for the exits as their spell unraveled completely.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Purging the Last Shadow (1 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Perry executes a crushing tire-burnout across the shadow leader!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 2, 3] — Success!

Outcome: The final Effort Token is removed. The shadow vanguard is completely destroyed!

Perry popped his clutch, spinning his rear tire over the stone altar and spraying a wave of sparks that dissolved the Shadow Leader into nothingness. The Sunken Obelisk fell completely silent, the ancient energy returning to a peaceful, golden glow.

Eleven Down, One to Go: The Final Climax Approaches

Elder Zephyr leaned heavily on his staff, his sightless eyes welling with tears as he looked toward the three exhausted riders.

Elder Zephyr: You have done it. The eleventh deed is fulfilled! But listen to me closely—Morwen has retreated to his ultimate stronghold, the **Citadel of Spire Rock**, located at the absolute dead-end of Highway 666. He is currently weaving a cataclysmic spell that will lock the entire realm into a permanent curse, ensuring no one can ever challenge him again!

Perry: Then it is a good thing we are fast drivers, Elder. We have a date with a warlock.

As they walked out to their choppers, a monumental wave of golden light tore across their faces. The sharp, protruding tusks—the very last remnants of their bestial transformation—snapped and dissolved into glittering stardust. Their faces were now entirely human, smooth and unblemished. Except for one final detail: **their skin still bore a faint, glowing pink hue**, a lingering signature of the curse that would only break when Morwen himself was defeated.

Mac: Look at us! No snout, no ears, no tusks! Eleven deeds down! We are one single victory away from being completely human again!

Buster: This is it, boys. The big one. No more small-town disputes. We are riding straight into the heart of the storm.

Perry: Load up everything you’ve got. Check your oil, check your ammo, and tighten your vests. Next stop: Spire Rock. Let's go finish this story.

The three choppers thundered to life with an apocalyptic roar, shaking the ancient stones of Omen Hollow. The Road Hogs opened their throttles wide, tearing down the cracked asphalt of Highway 666, racing straight toward their twelfth, final, and greatest battle of all...

The stage is set for the epic finale! Road Hogs balances fast-paced, high-stakes action with the brilliant, rules-light Tricube Tales system.

Will the crew defeat Morwen and claim total redemption? Prepare your dice for the final showdown in this remarkable universe by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

The Usborne Book of World History Dates

2026-07-14T10:37:48.744+02:00

If you’ve ever felt that history books can be a bit dry, or perhaps too focused on just one corner of the map, I’d like to introduce you to a real treasure: The Usborne Book of World History Dates.

What makes this volume stand out is its truly global ambition. It is a wonderfully comprehensive resource that manages to step away from the traditional Eurocentric lens. Instead, it invites us to explore the breadth of human experience by highlighting civilizations from every corner of the globe, giving equal weight to the fascinating stories that have shaped our world.

Despite being packed with an incredible density of facts, this book is never boring. It masters the art of brevity—presenting information in a way that is incredibly concise and easy to digest, whether you are flipping through for a specific date or diving deep into a new era.

And, of course, no Usborne classic would be complete without its signature visual style. The illustrations are truly wonderful, turning what could be a static list of dates into a vivid, colorful journey through time. It is the perfect companion for anyone who wants to see the big picture of history without getting lost in the weeds.

Road Hogs 10

2026-07-14T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 10: The High-Speed Hostage

Adventure 10: The Train Robbery

Nine victories were secured, leaving just three good deeds between the Road Hogs and total restoration. Descending from the high peaks of Apex City, they reached a sweeping desert transit corridor where massive mag-trains sliced through the sand. The adventure generator tables clicked into place for a true highway crisis:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Industrial or polluted	Dust Junction, a gritty refueling station choking on soot and sand.
Noteworthy Feature	Lots of non-humans	Goblin scrap-merchants and orc laborers operate the transit rail lines.
The Scenario	Stop a heist or robbery	Intercepting a ruthless gang looting a moving overland cargo transport.
The Location	A moving freight train	The Iron Leviathan, an armored locomotive speeding across the flatlands.
The Objective	Proud But Penniless	The train cargo belongs to an orphanage charity, but the public thinks it is corporate gold.
The Complication	A rival biker gang	The Steel Phantoms are pacing the train on heavily armed sand-skiffs.

The desert heat mirage twisted the horizon as the Hogs idled near the main platform of Dust Junction. A panicked goblin rail-conductor named Barnaby sprinted down the track toward them, his long ears trembling.

Barnaby: Travelers! You have to move! The Iron Leviathan just blew past the station checkpoint—it has been boarded by the Steel Phantoms biker gang! They think they are stealing a cache of luxury bullion from a corrupt megacorp, but that cargo is actually a massive shipment of winter clothing, medical supplies, and food funding for the regional non-human orphanages! If they dump the crates in the deep desert, hundreds of kids will suffer!

Perry: A bunch of modern-day desperados stealing from kids because they cannot read a cargo manifest. Classic.

Barnaby: The train's manual brake controls are locked in the rear caboose, but the Phantoms are pacing the locomotive on rocket-powered sand-skiffs, shooting out the external couplers! You have to match the train's speed and leap aboard!

Mac: Moving at ninety miles an hour over unstable sand dunes? That is a textbook high-speed interception. Buster, Perry, throttle up!

The three custom choppers roared onto the desert flats, kicking up massive plumes of yellow dust as they drew parallel to the roaring iron undercarriage of the speeding train. A sleek sand-skiff driven by two armed Steel Phantoms veered toward Mac, attempting to wedge him under the heavy steel wheels of the locomotive.

🎲 Challenge: Executing a precision motorcycle jump onto the train's side maintenance ladder

GM Designations: Agile Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Mac takes the lead on the dangerous stunt. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Agile Trait). Giving in to his Impulsive quirk, he hits a shifting sand dune to catch maximum air without calculating the train's lateral sway, boosting the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [4, 2, 6]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the high difficulty exactly. Mac abandons his bike perfectly, grabbing the rusted ladder handle while his chopper slides safely into a soft sand dune below. Mac recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Mac: Woohoo! My chopper's going to need a serious carwash after this, but I am on board! Dropping the exterior cargo ramp for you guys now!

Mac kicked the manual emergency release button on the side of the flatbed car. A heavy steel loading ramp dropped with a metallic crunch, scraping the desert sand and allowing Perry and Buster to ride their choppers straight up into the moving train car.

They parked their bikes next to the targeted charity crates just as four heavily armed Steel Phantoms scrambled down from the roof of the next car, guns drawn and masks locked.

Phantom Boss: Get away from the corp gold, you pig-nosed freaks! This haul belongs to the Phantoms!

Buster: Gold? Check the label on the boxes, genius. That is baby formula and blankets. And you are going to leave it right where it is.

Showdown on the Fast Track

Wind howled through the open flatbed as the train rocked violently across the desert canyon bridge. The Phantoms opened fire, their rounds pinging off the heavy iron cargo bracing.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Overpower the train robbers and secure the emergency brake

GM Designations: Brawny/Agile Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Buster uses a heavy cargo chain to swing the thieves into the side walls!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 3] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Buster whips the high-tensile chain, wrapping up two shooters simultaneously! (Remaining Effort: 4).

Round 1: Perry exploits the train's swaying momentum to unbalance the boss!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [1, 2, 4] — Failure.

Action: Perry uses his Gift of Gab to call out a fake structural failure on the bridge ahead, spending 1 Karma Token to drop the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. The boss hesitates and looks out the window! (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Mac maneuvers along the top roof line to flank the caboose!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. (Remaining Effort: 1).

Buster grabbed a loose structural cargo chain, spun it over his helmet like a lasso, and let it fly. The heavy iron loops caught two Steel Phantoms right around their leather vests, pinning them together before Buster yanked them hard into an empty steel container bin. Sit tight, boys, your stop is coming up! Buster bellowed over the roar of the wind.

The Phantom boss scrambled toward the coupling lock, trying to decouple the flatbed to steal at least one crate. Perry pointed dramatically through the open side door toward the iron bridge supports.

Perry: Hey, boss! You might want to hold onto something! This old bridge hasn't been serviced since the goblin wars, and we just hit the structural resonance point! Look at those rivets pop!

The boss gasped and leaped away from the coupling to grip a structural safety rail in absolute terror. His hesitation allowed Mac to drop down from the roof directly behind him, executing a swift sweep of his legs to send the leader sliding across the slick metal floor, straight toward the caboose interior.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Bringing the Leviathan to a Halt (1 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Mac yanks the primary emergency brake handle!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 3, 4] — Success!

Outcome: The final Effort Token is removed. The brakes engagement sequence is successful!

Mac lunged into the control cabin, grabbed the massive, bright red emergency brake lever, and pulled it down with all his body weight. The undercarriage of the Iron Leviathan erupted in a massive blinding cloud of white sparks and screeching metal friction as the massive mag-train ground to a shuddering, definitive halt right on the edge of the Dust Junction boundary line.

Buster marched up behind the groaning Phantom boss, lifting him by his collar and tying him to a brake valve handle with a heavy bungee cord.

Buster: This train does not make stops for thieves. Hope you like walking in the sand.

Ten Down, Two to Go

By the time the regional marshals arrived to transport the captured Steel Phantoms, Barnaby and a team of grateful orphanage volunteers were already cataloging the untouched charity crates, cheering for the three road heroes.

Barnaby: You three are magnificent! You saved the supplies for hundreds of kids across the basin. The town council is commissioning a bronze statue of your club to stand in the main junction square!

Perry: Skip the statue, Barnaby. Just make sure those kids get their winter coats before the cold desert nights hit.

As they stepped off the train platform to retrieve Mac's buried chopper, a sudden, blinding flash of pure crimson and violet magic exploded directly across their faces. Perry gasped, dropping to his knees as his nose began to tingle and shift. When the light cleared, Buster looked at him in total shock. The long, prominent pig snouts were gone. Their noses were completely, normally human. Only their sharp, protruding tusks remained from Morwen's original curse.

Buster: Well, look at that! Ten good deeds down! I can actually smell the desert sage without a snout in the way, boys!

Mac: We are practically human again! Ten down means we only need two more selfless acts before this spell breaks entirely and we can show our real faces to the world.

Perry: Two more, fellas. Let us get these bikes cleaned up and hit the road. The final stretch of asphalt is calling our names.

The three choppers roared back to life, their exhaust echoing across the desert flats as the Road Hogs tore off into the expanding afternoon sky, hunting for their eleventh path to ultimate redemption...

The end of the road is in sight! Road Hogs mixes cinematic, fast-paced storytelling with the elegant, narrative-focused rules of the Tricube Tales system.

Buckle your helmet and build your own crew of legendary highway riders in this wonderful universe designed by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Road Hogs 9

2026-07-13T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 9: The Skyline Swindle

Adventure 9: The High-Rise Heist

Eight good deeds were marked in their ledger of redemption, leaving only four remaining before Morwen’s curse would be shattered forever. The highway climbed into the clouds, leading the Road Hogs to a sprawling, high-tech metropolis built on sheer mountain peaks. The adventure generator tables configured their next target:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Bustling or busy	Apex City, a vertical wonderland of glass towers and flying transit tracks.
Noteworthy Feature	High-tech or futuristic	Holographic billboards and automated delivery drones dominate the sky.
The Scenario	Recover stolen goods	Reclaiming a stolen hard drive containing the city's life-support codes.
The Location	The Zenith Penthouse	A luxury top-floor apartment accessible only by glass elevators.
The Objective	Corporate Espionage	A corrupt corporate executive has stolen the data to sell to a rival cartel.
The Complication	Automated Security Lockout	The building's defense AI goes haywire, trapping everyone in the penthouse.

The Road Hogs parked their choppers in an underground transit bay at the base of the Zenith Tower. As they adjusted their jackets, an anxious elven technician named Janice intercepted them near the express lift.

Janice: You have to help me! My boss, Director Sterling, just stole the master encryption drive containing the environmental grid codes for the whole upper district. He is up in the Zenith Penthouse finalizing a sale to an illegal cartel. But something went wrong—he activated a corporate security override, and now the tower's defense AI has gone rogue, locking down the top floors with deadly automated security drones!

Perry: A rogue AI and a crooked executive. That sounds like a very expensive mess, Janice. Why not just cut the power to the building?

Janice: If the power drops completely, the atmospheric stabilizers fail, and the city suffocates! Someone needs to get up to the penthouse, bypass the defense grid, and take that drive back before the cartel's stealth transport arrives at the roof pad!

Buster: Automated drones mean we do not have to hold back our punches. Let us take the express elevator.

Mac: The main elevator shaft is completely shut down by the security grid. We will have to climb the maintenance crane on the exterior of the building and hotwire the penthouse window washing platform to sneak inside. Buster, get ready to manipulate the heavy counterweights manually.

🎲 Challenge: Forcing the frozen mechanical gears of the exterior maintenance rig eighty stories up

GM Designations: Brawny Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Buster tackles the frozen winch mechanism. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Brawny Trait). True to his Stubborn quirk, he refuses to wait for Mac to hack the digital brake, hauling the raw steel cables with pure muscle, increasing the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [1, 6, 4]

Outcome: Success! The 6 hits the maximum difficulty line. The gears snap into place with a shower of sparks, lifting the platform to the penthouse ledge, and Buster recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Buster: *Ugh!* Who needs a digital override when you have got arms like these? Watch your step, boys, it is a very long drop down to the lower highway.

They smashed through the reinforced glass balcony door, stepping right into the opulent, white-marble living room of the Zenith Penthouse. Red emergency lights flashed across the ceiling, and three levitating defense drones equipped with laser apertures immediately turned toward them, humming with lethal energy. At the far side of the room, Sterling and two cartel agents were cowering behind a bar counter, holding the glowing data drive.

Perry: Looks like the welcoming committee is automated. Let us clean the room before the tech salesman skips town.

Laser Grid Lockdown

The Hogs fanned out across the marble floor as the rogue security drones opened fire, burning lines into the expensive furniture.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Dismantle the rogue defense drones and secure the encryption drive

GM Designations: Agile/Crafty Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Mac slides across the slick marble to slice the drone power lines!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 3] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Mac clips the internal wiring of the first drone, causing it to crash and explode! (Remaining Effort: 4).

Round 1: Perry uses his wits to hijack the cartel agents' communication frequency!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [1, 2, 4] — Failure.

Action: Perry uses his Gift of Gab to broadcast a fake evacuation announcement through their earpieces, spending 1 Karma Token to lower the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. The cartel agents flee toward the emergency stairs! (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Buster swats the remaining drones with a luxury sculpture!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 6, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. (Remaining Effort: 1).

Mac rolled behind a leather sofa, came up spinning, and launched his heavy wire-cutters straight into the sensory lens of the lead drone. The machine sputtered sparks, veered wildly out of control, and smashed face-first into a large holographic aquarium, shorting out instantly.

Meanwhile, the two cartel agents took one look at Buster lifting a massive abstract bronze statue over his head and decided the paycheck was not worth the medical bill. They scrambled past Director Sterling and bolted straight down the fire escape stairs, leaving the executive completely alone.

Sterling: Wait! Come back! You can't leave me with these... these monsters!

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Shuting Down the Final Threat (1 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Mac executes a technical shutdown on the primary console!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [2, 5, 4] — Success!

Outcome: The final Effort Token is removed. The defense system is disabled and Sterling is cornered!

Mac lunged across the main executive desk, tapping a rapid diagnostic sequence into the master override pad. The red emergency lights instantly flickered over to a calm blue, and the final defense drone dropped harmlessly to the carpet, its engines powering down completely. Buster stepped up behind Director Sterling, plucking the glowing encryption drive out of his trembling hand like a grape.

Buster: I believe this belongs to the citizens of Apex City, slick. Your corporate career just reached its final floor.

Nine Down, Three to Go

By the time the Apex City corporate security squads arrived via flying transports to take Director Sterling into custody, Janice had the encryption drive safely re-installed into the main grid terminal, stabilizing the city's air supply.

Janice: You three are absolute legends! You saved the entire upper district from environmental collapse. The municipal board has authorized a lifetime supply of high-grade synthetic fuel credits for your bikes!

Perry: Free fuel is the best kind of fuel, Janice. Keep those AI systems on a shorter leash from now on.

As they stepped back onto the window-washing platform to head down to their bikes, a powerful, swirling current of violet magic enveloped their heads. Mac gripped his ears as they began to itch furiously. When the light faded, Perry looked at him and grinned. The long, floppy pig ears were entirely gone, replaced by normal human ears. Only their prominent pig snouts and tusks remained from Morwen's original spell.

Mac: Look at that! Nine good deeds down! We can actually hear the wind without all that flapping, boys!

Perry: Nine down, three to go. The finish line is practically in sight. Just a few more wrongs to right, and we can finally look in a standard mirror without laughing.

Buster: Then let us get back down to the asphalt level. The engines are cool, the tanks are full, and the highway is waiting.

The three choppers roared to life in the mountain air, their exhaust echoing through the high canyons of Apex City as the Road Hogs dove back onto the open road, tracking down their tenth path to full redemption...

The journey approaches its climax! Road Hogs combines high-octane action with the fast, narrative-driven rules of the Tricube Tales system.

Grip the handlebars and forge your own destiny across the blacktop in this fantastic setting created by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Children's Encyclopedia of Prehistoric Life

2026-07-12T21:25:37.359+02:00

The Children's Encyclopedia of Prehistoric Life presents an expansive overview of Earth’s biological history, originally published in the 1970s as a three-volume series before being collected into a single edition.

The first volume establishes the fundamental framework for understanding deep time, defining the concept of prehistory and the scientific study of fossils. It traces the origin of the Earth and the subsequent emergence of life, detailing the transition from early marine environments to the colonization of land. This section focuses on the rise of reptiles and the subsequent dominance of dinosaurs, examining their evolution into birds, their dietary habits, and the physical evidence preserved in the fossil record.

The second volume transitions to the era following the dinosaurs, concentrating on the development of prehistoric mammals. It describes their evolutionary paths and environmental interactions, with particular attention given to the Ice Age and the factors contributing to the extinction of various species.

The final volume shifts the focus to human evolution. It explores the lineage leading to Homo sapiens, beginning with primate-related species and moving through successive hominid ancestors. This narrative tracks the biological and behavioral progress of early humans, highlighting significant technological and survival advancements, from the controlled use of fire to the manufacturing of the first stone tools.

Road Hogs 8

2026-07-12T07:11:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 8: The Radioactive Rustlers

Adventure 8: The Haunted Highway

Seven milestones lay behind them, but five good deeds were still required to banish the warlock's curse entirely. The Road Hogs pushed through a rugged pass into a stark, dry desert landscape dotted with old mining rigs. The generator tables spit out a hazardous scenario:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Industrial or polluted	Scrap City, a desolate junkyard settlement choked by toxic smog.
Noteworthy Feature	Extreme weather	A scorching heatwave makes the desert asphalt radiate like an oven.
The Scenario	Stop a heist or robbery	Intercepting high-tech thieves striking an environmental transport.
The Location	Toxic Waste Dump	A hazardous chemical landfill protected by high chain-link fences.
The Objective	The Wrong Crowd	The thieves are running an underground weaponization lab using stolen waste.
The Complication	Mutated Wilderness	Glowing, irradiated scorpions have swarmed the facility perimeter.

The shimmering heat waves rising off the road made the neon signs of Scrap City look like a hallucination. The Hogs rolled past hills of crushed scrap metal and pulled up next to a disabled, heavy-duty armored tanker truck. A frantic engineer in a hazmat suit ran over, waving his arms.

Engineer: Help! Please help! A high-tech scavenger gang called the Rust-Rats just hijacked our shipment of stable plasma-coolant. They dragged the containers inside the toxic waste dump down the road. They are trying to combine it with raw waste to build an experimental chemical bomb to blackmail the entire county!

Perry: A chemical bomb? That is going to ruin the local real estate values, friend. What is stopping you from going in there with your company security?

Engineer: The leak! The chemical spill has attracted a colony of giant, mutated scorpions from the deep desert! Their tails are glowing with green radioactive energy, and they have surrounded the main refinery building. Security won't go anywhere near it!

Buster: Giant glowing scorpions and a bomb-making gang. Sounds like we need to clear a path and do some structural dismantling.

Mac: The scorpions are highly sensitive to seismic vibrations. If we try to ride our choppers through the main gates, they will swarm the tires instantly. Buster, we need to manually disable the electronic security fence from the side substation to fry their nesting ground with a localized shock wave.

🎲 Challenge: Rerouting the power cables to trigger a non-lethal sonic blast

GM Designations: Agile Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Mac handles the high-voltage panel. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Agile Trait). Driven by his Impulsive quirk, he bypasses the safety breaker and cuts the live wire directly with his wire-strippers, bumping the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [3, 6, 5]

Outcome: Success! The 6 hits the maximum difficulty. The substation hums violently and lets loose a high-frequency pop that sends the scorpions scurrying away, and Mac recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Mac: *ZAP!* Whoa, that almost took the bristles right off my knuckles! But the frequency worked—the bugs are heading back to the deep sand!

The path to the main refinery door was open, but the sound of heavy pneumatic tools echoed from inside. The Rust-Rats were actively welding the stolen plasma-coolant tanks into a crude missile framework.

Perry: The chemical cocktail is almost mixed. Let us go crash their science project before they find a match.

Breaching the Fallout Zone

The Road Hogs kicked open the rusted steel doors of the refinery. Inside, four scavengers in spiked leather armor and rebreather masks spun around, dropping their torches as the hog-faced bikers stepped into the green-tinted smog.

Scavenger Boss: You are too late, road trash! The unstable compounds are already locked in! Fire up the defense turrets and recycle these porkers!

Buster: I have got your recycling right here, pal!

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Overpower the Rust-Rats and deactivate the bomb mechanism

GM Designations: Brawny/Crafty Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Buster uses a literal steel beam to smash the automated defense turrets!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 1] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Buster swats the robotic turrets straight out of the ceiling! (Remaining Effort: 4).

Round 1: Perry uses psychological warfare to freeze the bomb tech!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [2, 3, 5] — Success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Mac slices the auxiliary fuel lines to starve the missile's engine!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [1, 4, 3] — Failure.

Action: Mac uses his Ace Driver instincts to slide under the missile carriage, spending 1 Karma Token to lower the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 2).

Buster grabbed a loose structural I-beam that had fallen from the ceiling, swung it like a baseball bat, and completely flattened two automated laser turrets that were dropping from the rafters. No machine is tougher than a genuine chopper rider! Buster roared, spitting out a speck of grit.

The scavenger boss scrambled toward the main detonation terminal. Perry slammed his boot onto a nearby chemical valve, venting a harmless cloud of pressurized white steam directly across the console.

Perry: Hey, boss! You see that pressure gauge redlining? If you enter that password now, the back-pressure is going to drop this whole roof onto your fancy mask. Step away from the keyboard!

The boss froze, terrified by the pure authority in Perry's voice, hesitating just long enough for Mac to slide under the steel platform and yank the primary ignition cables straight out of the missile's base, rendering the chemical payload completely inert.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Wrapping up the Refinery Fight (2 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Buster pins the remaining scavengers!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 5, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove the final Effort Tokens. The syndicate is entirely subdued!

Buster corralled the remaining thieves into an empty steel cargo container, slamming the heavy bar lock down with a resounding boom. Mac verified the safety valves on the stable plasma-coolant, ensuring the hazard was completely neutralized.

Scavenger Boss: You absolute lunatics! We were going to rule Scrap City!

Eight Down, Four to Go

By the time the Scrap City environmental clean-up crew arrived to secure the facility, the stolen cargo was fully accounted for, and the Rust-Rats were safely locked away.

Engineer: You three are saviors! You stopped an absolute ecological disaster today. The city council is going to clear all highway toll fees for your club across the entire territory!

Perry: We like the sound of free tolls, Doc. Just invest in some better locks for these gates.

As they walked out to their bikes, a sharp sensation of crackling magic zipped across their cheekbones. Mac looked into his rearview mirror and gasped. The thick, bristly pig skin on their cheeks had melted away, leaving smooth, normal human skin behind. Only their noses remained as pig snouts, and their ears were still long and floppy.

Mac: Look at that! Eight good deeds down! Our actual faces are showing through the cracks, boys!

Perry: Eight down, four to go. We are officially in the home stretch. A few more regular human acts, and we can finally drop these bandanas for good.

Buster: Then let us get back on the asphalt. There is another town on the map, and the road does not wait for anyone.

The three choppers thundered to life, their exhaust cutting through the chemical haze of Scrap City as the Road Hogs sped off into the desert sunset, hunting for their ninth victory...

The asphalt calling! Road Hogs mixes action-filled narratives with the fast, streamlined mechanics of the Tricube Tales system.

Grab your leather vest and build your own crew of wandering heroes in this stellar universe designed by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Road Hogs 7

2026-07-11T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 7: The Starlet's Secret

Adventure 7: The Celebrity Snatch

Six victories were notched into their leather vests, leaving six more to go before Morwen’s curse would finally release them. The open highway guided the Road Hogs into a glittering mountain valley that looked like a postcard for the ultra-rich. The adventure generator tables laid out a high-stakes rescue operation:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Rich and flourishing	Silver Hills, an upscale community of luxury estates and manicured lawns.
Noteworthy Feature	A resident wizard	A famous, retired sorcerer acts as the local community council president.
The Scenario	Rescue a hostage	Tracking down a kidnapped victim before a ransom deadline expires.
The Location	Ranch or commune	An abandoned, rustic agricultural estate hiding a criminal cell.
The Objective	Proud But Penniless	The victim's famous parent is secretly bankrupt and cannot pay the ransom.
The Complication	A rival biker gang	The Heavens Demons are acting as guards for the ransom exchange.

The pristine silence of Silver Hills was shattered by the deep rumble of three chopper engines. The crew pulled over near a lavish estate gate where a famous, faded elven pop star named Gloria Vance was pacing around an empty fountain, sobbing hysterically into a silk handkerchief.

Gloria: Oh, thank goodness someone responded! My daughter, Melody, was snatched by a brutal syndicate! They are holding her at the old abandoned commune ranch across the valley. They want five million gold credits by midnight, or they'll send her to the underworld!

Perry: Five million? Well, for a grand elven diva of your stature, that should be pocket change. Why haven't you called the authorities or paid up?

Gloria: Because it is all a sham! I am completely broke! The mansions, the fancy clothes, the floating sports cars—it is all leased! I don't have a single credit left to my name. If the kidnappers find out I can't pay, they will terminate my sweet Melody! You have to rescue her secretly!

Buster: Extortionists who prey on kids. That really chars my tailpipe. Let us go pay this commune a friendly visit.

Mac: The commune has a heavy iron gate guarded by a couple of Heavens Demons lookouts. Perry, you need to use your gift of gab to hustle our way past the front checkpoint so we don't start a firefight right next to where they are keeping the girl.

🎲 Challenge: Convincing the gang guards that you are the emergency ransom couriers

GM Designations: Crafty Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Perry steps up to spin a web of lies. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Crafty Trait). He leans heavily into his Arrogant quirk, treating the gang guards like completely incompetent underlings, which spikes the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [2, 1, 6]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the high difficulty. The guards are totally intimidated by Perry's sheer attitude, and Perry recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Perry rolled his chopper right up to the guard shack, chewing lazily on a toothpick, looking down his snout at the two heavily armed Heavens Demons.

Perry: Hey, genius! Open the gate. Gloria Vance changed the terms of the drop. She didn't trust the electronic wire, so she hired us to bring the physical diamond cache. If you keep us waiting out here in the dust and the boss misses the midnight deadline, he is going to turn your leather jackets into floor mats. Move it!

The guard blinked, completely overwhelmed by Perry's absolute condescension. "Uh, yes sir! Sorry, sir! Right away!" He hit the buzzer, and the heavy iron gate swung open wide.

Mac: Unbelievable. You could sell air to a fish, Perry.

Buster: Save the compliments for later. Look at the main barn. They have the girl tied up in a horse stall, and there are half a dozen heavy-hitters setting up an ambush.

Rumble in the Red Barn

The Hogs kicked their kickstands down and burst through the wooden doors of the dilapidated commune barn. Melody, the young elven girl, was tied to a chair in the center stall. The syndicate leader, a scarred dwarf wearing heavy gold chains, realized instantly that they had been tricked.

Syndicate Leader: Wait, you aren't couriers! You're those pig-faced vigilantes from the news! Heavens Demons, blast them to pieces!

Buster: Let us see if your bite matches your bark, shorty!

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Defeat the syndicate guards and secure the hostage

GM Designations: Brawny/Agile Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Buster delivers a thunderous right hook!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 4, 1] — Success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 5).

Round 1: Mac maneuvers through the rafters to drop on the shooters!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Mac disarms two shooters and drops a massive hay bale on them! (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Perry creates a smoke distraction with his bike's exhaust!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [1, 2, 4] — Failure.

Action: Perry uses his Gift of Gab to loudly yell a fake retreat order, spending 1 Karma Token to reduce the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 2).

Buster went completely hog-wild, charging directly into the syndicate leader's personal bodyguards. He ducked under a swinging lead pipe, caught the thug by his belt, and flipped him over his shoulder straight into an empty water trough. This is an official eviction notice! Buster bellowed.

Up above, Mac moved like lightning across the old wooden rafters. He lined up perfectly above two Heavens Demons gunners, slicing a rope that held a massive, half-ton hay bale. The heavy bundle dropped with a thunderous *THUD*, completely burying the two shooters in itchy straw and knocking them out of the fight.

The syndicate leader panicked, pulling a heavy revolver and pointing it right at the young elven girl. Drop your weapons, or the kid gets it!

⚔️ Combat Challenge: The Final Rescue (2 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Mac executes a precision disarm strike!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 6, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove the final Effort Tokens. The leader is disarmed and captured!

Mac dropped from the rafters like a hawk, landing his heavy boots squarely on the syndicate leader's outstretched arm. The revolver flew out of his hand, spinning across the barn floor. Buster followed up instantly, scooping up the leader and tying him tightly with the very same ropes that had bound the elven girl.

Perry knelt down, using a small pocket tool to gently free Melody from her restraints. You okay, kiddo? Your mom is waiting outside.

Melody: I am now! You guys are amazing! I don't care what anyone says about your funny faces, you're real heroes!

Seven Down, Six to Go

A few minutes later, Gloria Vance arrived in a rented limousine, weeping tears of pure joy as she gathered Melody into a tight embrace. The local resident wizard, who served as town council president, arrived with the community patrol to round up the captured syndicate members.

Gloria: I can never repay you! I know I have no money, but I am going to tell every single one of my social media influencers about the incredible Road Hogs! You will be famous across the entire kingdom!

Perry: We appreciate the press, Gloria. Just do yourself a favor and start living within your budget, okay?

As they walked back to their custom choppers, a sudden, blinding flash of violet light erupted around their jaws. Perry reached up, his hand trembling. The thick, bristly pig skin around his chin and throat had completely dissolved, returning to smooth human skin. Their lower jaws were entirely human again, though their noses were still snouts, their ears were still floppy, and their tusks remained intact.

Perry: Look at this! Seven good deeds down! I can actually scratch my own chin again!

Mac: We are breaking Morwen's spell bit by bit, boys. Seven down means we only need six more selfless acts to get our real faces back.

Buster: Then let us quit admiring our jawlines and hit the gas. There is plenty of asphalt left between us and full humanity.

The three choppers roared to life, their exhaust echoing off the canyon walls as the Road Hogs rode hard into the starlit desert, searching for their eighth path to redemption...

The epic ride continues! Road Hogs delivers high-stakes, cinematic storytelling using the fast, intuitive Tricube Tales system.

Grab your helmet and create your own pack of highway vigilantes in this wonderful universe created by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

The Usborne Children's Songbook

2026-07-10T11:41:25.491+02:00

If you grew up with Usborne books, you know they have a magical way of making everything feel like an adventure. But there’s one hidden gem in their classic catalog that holds a truly special place in my heart: The Usborne Children’s Songbook.

Unlike their typical guides, this book is a beautiful treasure trove of sheet music, brought to life by the legendary illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. Whether you wanted to sing along, play the piano, or tackle both at the same time, this book made it feel entirely possible.

It covers an incredibly massive selection—from everyday childhood favorites to festive Christmas classics and traditional musical games, complete with playful drawings showing you exactly how to play them. Looking through these pages today, I can guarantee you’ll instantly recognize so many of these songs.

It’s more than just a collection of music; it’s a pure, comforting trip straight back to childhood.

Road Hogs 6

2026-07-10T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 6: The Ghostly Gunrunners

Adventure 6: The Winston Haunting

The Road Hogs had secured five good deeds, but seven more loomed on the horizon before Morwen's spell would fully shatter. Leaving the bright city lights of Iron City behind, they navigated their choppers through a dreary valley into a town shrouded in permanent gloom. The adventure generator tables laid out a chilling new challenge:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Old and run-down	Grave Creek, a neglected settlement near an ancient burial site.
Noteworthy Feature	An undead problem	The barrier between the living and the dead is dangerously thin here.
The Scenario	Recover stolen goods	Reclaiming a stash of stolen corporate tech taken by grave robbers.
The Location	Winston Funeral Home	A seedy brick mortuary with an eccentric owner.
The Objective	Business Rivals	A stolen corporate microprocessor is being hidden inside the morgue.
The Complication	Rotten Weather	An amateur ritual brings a rainstorm that awakens vegetarian zombies.

Rain began to pelt the pavement in heavy sheets as the group pulled up outside the Winston Funeral Home. The neon sign over the door hummed weakly. Out front, an eccentric Scottish woman named Fiona Winston was wildly waving a silver shovel at the ground.

Fiona: Och, praise the road! You lads look like you ken how to handle a crisis! A bunch of corporate thieves used my basement morgue to hide a stolen prototype microprocessor, but an amateur hedge-wizard down the lane just botched a ritual to stop the rain. Now the storm water is blooming with necromantic magic!

Perry: Magic rain? That sounds like a terrible forecast for our leather jackets, lass. What exactly is it doing?

Fiona: It is waking the dead in the backyard garden! But they are not normal zombies—they are ravenous vegetarian ghouls! They are currently tearing up my prize-winning pumpkin patch and trying to break into the basement to eat my organic winter squash supply! If they get inside, they will ruin the stolen tech stash too!

Buster: Vegetarian zombies. Well, I suppose that means we are the ones who look like a snack to them, being half-pig and all.

Mac: Not if we lock down the back hatch first. Let me examine the hydraulic lifts on the cellar doors to seal them tight before the horde arrives.

🎲 Challenge: Hotwiring the funeral home's broken hydraulic cellar hatch to seal it

GM Designations: Agile Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Mac works under the pouring rain. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Agile Trait). He embraces his Impulsive quirk, stripping the wires with his bare teeth in a hurry, which jacks up the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [6, 3, 1]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the maximum difficulty. The steel doors slam shut with a loud click, and Mac recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Mac: *Ptooey!* Tastes like copper and old grease, but that steel hatch is locked down tight! No zombie is getting into Fiona's squash cellar tonight!

Just then, a loud squelching sound echoed from the garden. A dozen muddy figures erupted from the soil, their eyes glowing green, groaning for fiber. Instead of coming for the bikers, they began tearing through the fence line, aggressively devouring Fiona's prize cabbages and marching toward the side windows of the main showroom where the corporate thieves were hiding.

Perry: Looks like the thieves inside are about to be overwhelmed by a very angry salad bar. Let us go secure the tech before the ghouls smash the place to pieces.

Brawl in the Embalming Room

The Road Hogs kicked open the side door, entering the sterile embalming room. Three corporate thieves in wet raincoats were frantically trying to unscrew a wall vent to retrieve the microprocessor case while the vegetarian ghouls smashed against the frosted glass windows outside.

Lead Thief: Smash the windows! Don't let those plant-eating monsters inside! Wait, who invited the biker pigs?!

Brawny: The department of sanitation, boys! And you are way past your expiration date!

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Defeat the corporate thieves and hold off the garden ghouls

GM Designations: Brawny/Agile Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Buster uses a gurney as a weapon!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 6, 4] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Buster launches a steel gurney down the hall, pinning two thieves against the wall!

Round 1: Perry uses his wits to redirect the zombies' attention!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [2, 3, 5] — Success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Mac snatches the microprocessor from the vent!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [4, 1, 3] — Failure.

Action: Mac uses his Ace Driver reflexes to leap across the room, spending 1 Karma Token to drop the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 2).

Buster grabbed a heavy steel embalming gurney, gave it a massive shove, and sent it roaring down the linoleum hallway. It struck two corporate thieves square in the midsection, pinning them harmlessly but firmly against the far wall. Stand down, fellas! Buster rumbled, snorting a cloud of dust.

The glass shattered as three vegetarian zombies tumbled through the window, groaning loudly for greens. Perry instantly grabbed a large decorative vase filled with plastic ferns and tossed it into the hallway behind the remaining thieves.

Perry: Look, boys! An all-you-can-eat salad bar right over there! Go get your vitamins!

The ghouls immediately ignored the bikers and swarmed the thieves, biting their raincoats and wrestling them for the fake plants, completely distracting the opposition. Mac took advantage of the madness, diving across the table to tear the metal vent cover free and snatching the glowing microprocessor case out of the wall.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Wrapping up the Robbery (2 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Buster clears the room!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove the final Effort Tokens. The thieves are secured and the ghouls are guided back outside!

Buster used a large wooden broom to safely herd the vegetarian ghouls back out through the broken window, where Fiona was waiting with bags of old celery to lure them back into their graves. Mac used heavy zip-ties to secure the corporate thieves to the plumbing fixtures, ensuring they would not be going anywhere anytime soon.

Lead Thief: This is a nightmare! Defeated by a bunch of pigs and some aggressive compost!

Six Down, Seven to Go

As the rain finally began to clear, the amateur hedge-wizard arrived with a counter-spell, causing the vegetarian zombies to dissolve harmlessly back into rich topsoil. Fiona Winston held the microprocessor case, her Scottish accent beaming with gratitude.

Fiona: You lads are absolute treasures! You saved my winter squash, protected my home, and caught these corporate scoundrels. The tech company will pay handsomely for this return, and I am donating half to the highway charity in your name!

Perry: Much appreciated, Fiona. Just keep an eye on that pumpkin patch.

As they stepped back out to their bikes, another wave of warm magic surged through them. Buster looked at his thick neck in the chopper's mirror. The bristly pig hair had receded down to his collarbone, and his neck was completely human again. Slowly but surely, their bodies were returning to normal, even if their faces remained uncomfortably wild.

Buster: Well, look at that. Six good deeds down. We are chip-chip-chipping away at Morwen's little joke.

Mac: Six down means seven to go before we can stop hiding our mugs under these bandanas. Let us burn some rubber, boys.

The three choppers fired up, their engines breaking the quiet of Grave Creek as the Road Hogs tore back out onto the open road, hunting for their seventh victory...

The ride never stops! Road Hogs brings fast, cinematic roleplaying to life using the elegant, rules-light Tricube Tales system.

Grab your gear and create your own legends on the blacktop in this fantastic universe crafted by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Usborne Guide to TV and Video

2026-07-09T21:24:35.377+02:00

Before streaming, smartphones, and 4K, there was this. The classic Usborne Guide to TV and Video! An out-of-print gem from a time when recording and broadcasting your own images felt like absolute sci-fi magic.

It takes you behind the scenes of massive control rooms, location shoots, and the complex world of tape editing and broadcasting. But the best part? It looks ahead to the 'promising' new frontier of... digital effects and computer assistance. Talk about cutting-edge for its time!

And in true Usborne fashion, it includes awesome practical guides on how to direct your own movies using the tech of the era.

Road Hogs 5

2026-07-09T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 5: The Rock Troll Rumble

Adventure 5: The Nightclub Siege

Four good deeds were recorded in their ledger of redemption, but Morwen the warlock demanded more. The Road Hogs rumbled across the county line into a bustling metropolitan district where the neon signs cast long shadows. The adventure generator tables determined their next mission:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Bustling or busy	Iron City, a massive hub filled with traffic and neon lights.
Noteworthy Feature	Lots of non-humans	Elves, orcs, and trolls crowd the nightlife districts.
The Scenario	Capture a criminal	Apprehending an underground arms merchant operating in secret.
The Location	The Hellfire Hole	A notorious nightclub staffed by succubi serving flammable drinks.
The Objective	Business is Booming	An illegal gunrunning ring is supplying heavy firearms to city syndicates.
The Complication	Rock and Roll and Rampage	A touring band of heavy metal rock trolls is destroying the venue.

The base frequency from the Hellfire Hole shook the pavement outside. The group parked their choppers in the VIP lane, adjusting their leather collars to blend in with the tough crowd. Before they could enter, a worried succubus bartender named Chloe ran out through the emergency exit.

Chloe: You three look tough! You have to help me. There is absolute madness inside. A touring band of rock trolls got into the flammable liquor, and now they are smashing the entire main lounge to pieces!

Perry: We are just here for a chat with a fellow named Vance, darling. He is supposedly running a gun syndicate out of the back room.

Chloe: Vance is in the back office right now! But the trolls are barricading the halls, throwing speakers, and the local security ran away. If you stop the troll rampage and trap Vance, I will make sure the city council hears about your bravery!

Buster: Rock trolls and illegal gunrunners. Sounds like my kind of Tuesday night. Let us make an entrance.

Mac: Hold on, Buster. The front doors are completely blocked by a flipped limousine. We need to climb the fire escape and slip through the high ventilation ducts to drop right behind the stage.

🎲 Challenge: Navigating the narrow fire escape and ventilation shaft quietly

GM Designations: Agile Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Mac takes the lead with his agility. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Agile Trait). He acts on his Impulsive quirk, leaping onto the rusty ladder without testing the bolts first, which raises the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [2, 6, 4]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the high difficulty. Mac lands perfectly on his feet inside the duct work, and because he succeeded with his quirk, he recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Mac: The metal is a little tight around the shoulders for a guy with a snout, but follow me. Keep your jackets from scraping the sides!

The trio crawled through the ceiling line, popping open a large metal grate right above the main concert stage. Below them, three massive stone trolls with electric guitars were shattering tables, while panic-stricken patrons fled into the corners. At the far side of the room, Vance and his criminal crew were trying to wheel crates of military-grade rifles out the back exit during the distraction.

Perry: We have a double feature tonight, fellas. Buster, go jam with the band. Mac and I will shut down the arms deal.

Mosh Pit Massacre

The Hogs dropped from the rafters right into the center of the chaos, catching both the rock trolls and the gunrunners completely by surprise.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Subdue the raging rock trolls and capture Vance

GM Designations: Brawny/Agile Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Buster body-slams the lead troll guitarist!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Buster knocks the troll off the stage and shatters his stone guitar!

Round 1: Mac blocks Vance's escape route with mechanical precision!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [1, 4, 3] — Failure.

Action: Mac uses his Ace Driver perk to throw a heavy iron tire-iron from his belt to jam the wheel of the gun crate, spending 1 Karma Token to reduce the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Perry uses tactical wit to make the gunrunners panic!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 4, 6] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. (Remaining Effort: 1).

Buster charged across the plywood stage, his heavy biker boots splintering the boards as he dove headfirst into the lead rock troll. The impact sounded like two boulders crashing together. The troll flew backward into the drum kit, his enchanted stone guitar breaking into harmless gravel. Buster snorted loudly, shaking the dust off his leather vest. Who wants an encore?!

Vance saw the brawl and screamed at his men to move the crates. No you don't, slick! Mac yelled, launching a heavy iron tire-iron across the room. The tool jammed perfectly into the spokes of the heavy cargo cart, flipping it over and spilling illegal firearms across the floor.

Vance: Protect the merchandise! Shoot these pork chops!

Perry: Hey, Vance! Look at the green light on those crates! Your automated security system just detected a high-level magic breach. If you don't drop your weapons in three seconds, this whole room goes up in smoke!

Perry's voice was so full of unshakeable confidence that the gunrunners instantly panicked, dropping their pistols and covering their heads in terror, completely falling for the bluff.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Securing the Criminals (1 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Buster pins Vance to the wall!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 2, 3] — Success!

Outcome: The final Effort Token is removed. The encounter is complete!

Buster marched through the cowering henchmen, picked Vance up by his expensive silk tie, and pinned him firmly against the concrete wall. This concert is officially canceled, Vance. And your gun-running business just went out of business.

The remaining rock trolls, seeing their lead singer defeated and the music stopped, sobered up quickly and sat down on the floor, groaning from their magical hangovers.

Five Down, Eight to Go

When the Iron City police tactical units arrived, they found Vance and his crew tied up with heavy microphone cables, sitting on top of their own illegal weapon crates. Chloe the bartender smiled warmly at the three hog-faced bikers as they prepared to depart.

Chloe: You boys are spectacular. The owner is going to pay for all the damage, and Vance is going away for a long time. You really did a wonderful deed tonight.

Perry: Just keeping the peace, sister. Tell your friends that the Road Hogs always deliver.

They walked back out to the parking lot. As Mac gripped his handlebars, a bright flash of violet light wrapped around his arms. The coarse, pig-like hair on his forearms dissipated completely, leaving smooth human skin behind. Their hands and arms were now entirely human, though their faces, ears, and tusks remained firmly under Morwen's spell.

Mac: Look at that! We are halfway back to normal, boys! Five good deeds down!

Perry: Five down, indeed. But my face still looks like it belongs in a petting zoo. We still have eight more tasks before we can show our real mugs in public.

Buster: Then stop looking in the mirror and let us ride. The night is young, and there is plenty of highway left.

The three choppers roared to life, their exhaust pipes spitting fire as the Road Hogs tore away into the urban jungle, searching for their next chance at redemption...

The saga continues! Road Hogs features thrilling, fast-paced storytelling using the easy, narrative rules of the Tricube Tales system.

Create your own crew of cursed heroes and hit the blacktop in this great setting designed by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Road Hogs 4

2026-07-08T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 4: The Altar of the Asphalt

Adventure 4: The Missing Historian

Morwen's magical ultimatum still rang in their ears. Ten more good deeds stood between the Road Hogs and their true human faces. Rolling out of the picturesque valley, their choppers carried them into a mist-shrouded village nestled deep in an isolated forest. The air grew cold, and the generator tables spun a dark, unsettling web:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Weird and creepy	Blackwood, an isolated settlement dripping with heavy fog.
Noteworthy Feature	A mysterious cult	The locals speak in hushed whispers and wear strange amulets.
The Scenario	Rescue a hostage	A captive is being held for an impending sinister ritual.
The Location	Old Town Church	A decaying, ramshackle church with a leaking roof.
The Objective	Old Habits Die Hard	An occult con artist has fooled the town to extract an ancient artifact.
The Complication	A Demon in Sheep's Clothing	A summoning ritual goes askew, possessing a nearby farm animal instead.

The streets of Blackwood were completely empty, save for a frantic young satyr who emerged from the shadows of an alleyway as the gang cut their engines near the village square.

Satyr: "Thank the heavens! You have to help me. My professor, Dr. Marrow, was kidnapped from our research camp this morning!"

Perry: "Slow down, little guy. Who took him, and why would anyone want to kidnap a dusty old academic?"

Satyr: "The 'Preacher' at the Old Town Church! He claims he's saving the town from a curse, but he's actually a notorious occult fraud named Malakai. He found out Dr. Marrow carries an ancient amulet capable of opening an underworld gate beneath the church floor. They are going to sacrifice the professor's life-force to unlock it at midnight!"

Buster: "A phony preacher pulling a classic snatch-and-grab. I hate guys like that."

Mac: "The midnight hour is closing in. Let's head to the church, but we need to find a way inside without alerting his cultist congregation."

They crept up to the side of the decaying gothic structure. Water dripped steadily from the leaky roof into puddles below. Through a cracked stained-glass window, they could see dozens of robed cultists chanting, while Dr. Marrow was tied securely to a wooden chair near the altar.

Perry: "The side door is heavily barred from the inside, but there's a rusted drainage mechanism holding up the old iron bell tower access. Buster, think you can rattle it loose without causing a total collapse?"

Buster: "Rattle things loose? Perry, that is my absolute specialty."

🎲 Challenge: Forcing open the rusted drainage hatch quietly to gain entry

GM Designations: Brawny Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Buster handles the iron hatch. He rolls 3 dice (Matches Brawny Trait). Because he is incredibly Stubborn, he refuses to use Mac's oil spray and forces the metal purely with brute grit, increasing the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [4, 2, 6]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the maximum difficulty. Buster pops the iron lock with a muffled groan and recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Buster planted his massive boots against the stone wall, wrapped his thick arms around the iron bars of the hatch, and pulled. The ancient metal screamed silently under the tension before snapping with a clean, low thud. He smirked, wiping rust from his snout.

Buster: "There. Like a hot knife through butter. Watch your step, it's muddy in here."

They slipped into the back of the nave just as Malakai raised a glowing, jagged dagger above the terrified professor.

Malakai: "With this amulet and this sacrifice, the ancient entity shall walk the earth once more!"

Perry: "Hey, Malakai! Your sermon's running a little long, and honestly? Your delivery is completely dead!"

Chaos at the Altar

Startled by the interruption, Malakai rushed his final incantation. He stabbed the dagger directly into the ancient amulet on the floor, but his clumsy hand slipped. The summoning circle flared with an unstable, wild crimson energy that shot right past the professor and zipped straight out an open window toward the churchyard pasture!

A terrifying, demonic braying echoed from outside. A fraction of a second later, a massive, muscular farm ram exploded through the church doors. Its eyes glowed with hellfire, its horns curled with dark energy, and it was absolutely furious at being trapped in livestock form.

Malakai: "No! The ritual miscalculated! The demon possessed the sacrificial sheep! Cultists, defend the altar anyway!"

Mac: "Great, now we're fighting robed fanatics and a demonic farm animal! Buster, handle the muscle, I'm going for the professor!"

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Subdue the possessed ram and defeat Malakai's cultists

GM Designations: Agile/Brawny Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Mac maneuvers through the pews to reach the hostage!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 2, 5] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Mac dodges two cultists and slices the professor's ropes clean off!

Round 1: Perry uses his wits to misdirect the possessed ram's charge!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [1, 3, 4] — Failure.

Action: Perry uses his Gift of Gab to taunt the beast, spending 1 Karma Token to reduce the difficulty to 4. The 4 now becomes a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Buster goes head-to-head with the demonic animal!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 6, 3] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. (Remaining Effort: 1).

Mac vaulted over the wooden pews like an acrobat, sliding across the altar floor. With a swift flick of his pocket knife, he sliced through the ropes binding Dr. Marrow. "Come on, Doc! Time to exit the congregation!"

Perry: "Hey, mutton-head! Over here! I’ve seen better horns on a broken Cadillac!" Perry waved his leather jacket dramatically. The possessed ram snorted brimstone and charged, but Perry leaped aside at the very last second, causing the beast to smash face-first into a heavy oak pillar, loosening the leaky roof even more.

Before the demon-ram could recover, Buster intercepted it, grabbing it squarely by its cursed, twisting horns. His massive hog shoulders tensed as he locked in a pure trial of physical strength against the underworld entity.

Buster: "You might be a demon, pal, but you're in my pit now!"

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Banishing the Threat (1 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Perry manipulates the leaky roof to end the ritual!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 2, 4] — Success!

Outcome: The final Effort Token is removed. The battle is concluded!

Perry noticed the cracked support beam above the altar where the rain had rotted the wood. He grabbed a heavy metal candelabra and threw it like a javelin, striking the weakened beam perfectly. A massive section of the heavy plaster and wooden ceiling collapsed directly onto Malakai and the summoning circle, smashing the ancient amulet into tiny, inert pieces.

With the amulet destroyed, the crimson hellfire evaporated from the ram's eyes. It blinked sleepily, let out a completely normal, innocent "Baaaa," and trotted out of the church looking for grass to eat.

Malakai crawled out from beneath the debris, his fake vestments covered in plaster dust, only to find Buster standing over him with crossed arms.

Malakai: "Uh... can we talk about this like reasonable gentlemen?"

Buster: "Sure. Talk to the state troopers when they get here."

Four Down, Nine to Go

By the time the surrounding forest towns' authorities arrived to round up the phony preacher and his cult, Dr. Marrow was safely resting in the back of the satyr’s transport vehicle.

Dr. Marrow: "I don't know who you three extraordinary gentlemen are, but you've saved my life and prevented an occult catastrophe. If there is ever anything I can do to repay you..."

Perry: "Just keep writing your books, Doc. And maybe stay away from drafty old churches."

As they walked back to their choppers, a sudden tingle of warm, magical energy flowed into their chests. Perry pulled down his collar. The coarse, bristle hair on their upper chests had faded away, returning to smooth human skin. But their faces were still as porcine as ever.

Mac: "Well, that's four good deeds down. The warlock's curse is breaking piece by piece, but we've still got a long ride ahead of us."

Buster: "Suits me fine. The bikes are running great, and the open road is calling. Let's find the next town."

With a thunderous kick, their engines roared to life, cutting through the thick forest fog as the Road Hogs headed out once more into the unknown night...

The road stretches onward! Road Hogs blends action-packed storytelling with the fast, narrative mechanics of the Tricube Tales framework.

Bring your own biker heroes to life in this amazing setting created by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Usborne Guide to Films and Special Effects

2026-07-07T19:49:11.810+02:00

If you grew up loving movies, you might remember this vintage gem: the Usborne Guide to Films and Special Effects. It’s been out of print for decades, but it remains an absolute masterclass in classic filmmaking.

Long before CGI took over, this book broke down the tangible magic of cinema. It teaches you how cameras work, how to set up studio lighting, and how directors capture sound on location.

But the real fun is in the effects. It details camera tricks, model animation, stop-motion, and hand-drawn cells—showing exactly how the classics were built by hand.

The best part? It actually encourages you to go out and make your own movies... using a Super 8 film camera! It’s a nostalgic, brilliant piece of film history well worth tracking down secondhand.

Road Hogs 3

2026-07-07T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 3: The Horns of Dilemma

Adventure 3: The Unicorn Rustlers

The journey was far from over! While the trio had originally hoped their curse would break quickly, Morwen's magic proved stubborn. A slight softening of their skin was a sign of progress, but the road stretched out ahead with many more wrongs to right. Their next stop brought them to a picturesque territory where things were not quite as peaceful as they appeared on the surface:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Picturesque or quaint	Green Meadows, a lush valley known for its rolling hills.
Noteworthy Feature	Lots of non-humans	Centaurs, pixies, and satyrs live alongside rural farmers.
The Scenario	Recover stolen goods	Locating and rescuing highly valuable, living property.
The Location	Longhorn Ranch	A vast corporate farm that secretly breeds magical creatures.
The Objective	Business Rivals	Corporate thieves have stolen rare livestock to sell to a competitor.
The Complication	Heavens Demons	A ruthless, rival mortal biker gang has been hired as muscle.

The scent of fresh-cut hay and manure filled the air as the Road Hogs idled at the perimeter of the Longhorn Ranch. An elderly minotaur rancher named Barnaby was pacing by the fence, wringing his massive hands in distress.

Barnaby: "They took 'em right out of the pasture! Three prize-winning silver unicorns. A corporate extraction squad from tech-rival bio-labs slipped in under the cover of dusk. I tried to stop them, but they brought in a whole pack of vicious mercenaries on choppers!"

Buster: "Mercenaries on bikes, huh? Did they happen to have flaming wings painted on their fuel tanks?"

Barnaby: "Yes! The Heavens Demons! They're holding the unicorns in the main corporate barn at the center of the ranch until the transport choppers arrive."

Perry: "Don't you worry, my bovine friend. If there's one thing we know how to handle, it's overcompensated motorcycle clubs. Let's see if we can locate their lookout."

Perry crept up to the ridge overlooking the valley, adjusting his binoculars. A lone Heavens Demons sentry was sitting on his bike by the main road, smoking a cigar and looking entirely too bored.

Perry: "Watch and learn, boys. I'm going to convince this fine gentleman that he needs to check the southern perimeter."

🎲 Challenge: Confusing the sentry into abandoning his post using a radio distraction

GM Designations: Crafty Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Perry rolls 3 dice (Matches Crafty Trait). He relies on his Gift of Gab perk to mimic an authoritative gang boss on the radio frequencies, but his Arrogant nature makes him mock the sentry's intelligence during the call, raising the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [3, 6, 2]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the maximum difficulty. Perry tricks the guard beautifully and recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Perry intercepted the gang's unencrypted radio channel, clearing his throat and adopting a rough, demanding voice.

Perry (on radio): "Sentry Unit 2, you absolute potato! We've got movement down on the southern fence line. Move your lazy tail down there right now before the boss catches you slacking!"

The guard jumped on his seat, dropping his cigar. "Right away, boss! Heading south!" He kicked his bike into gear and sped away, leaving the northern entrance wide open.

Buster chuckled, his tusks gleaming in the moonlight. "Smooth talking, Perry. Now let's go liberate some livestock."

Showdown at the Longhorn Barn

The Road Hogs slipped inside the high-tech corporate barn. Three magnificent unicorns with glowing, incandescent silver horns were locked in reinforced titanium cages. Surrounding them were half a dozen heavily armed Heavens Demons, alongside a suit-clad corporate extraction agent.

Corporate Agent: "Excellent. The buyer is paying millions for the horn marrow. Load them into the trucks!"

Buster: "The only thing getting loaded tonight is you guys—into the back of an ambulance!"

The rival bikers spun around, pulling heavy chain whips and silver-plated mag-pistols. "It's the pig-squad! Shred 'em!"

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Drive off the Heavens Demons and secure the unicorns

GM Designations: Brawny/Agile Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6

Round 1: Buster engages the rival brawlers!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 4, 1] — Success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 5).

Round 1: Mac uses his wrench to sabotage their parked choppers!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [2, 3, 3] — Failure.

Action: Mac spends 1 Karma Token to lower the difficulty to 4, using his Ace Driver understanding of bike mechanics to target fuel lines. The 3s are still failures, but he avoids a critical failure.

Outcome: Failure! Mac loses 1 Resolve Token as a stray chain whip clips his shoulder. (Remaining Effort: 5).

Round 1: Perry provides strategic tactical cover!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 6, 4] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Perry hits the emergency cage-release valve! (Remaining Effort: 3).

Buster roared, absorbing a heavy punch from a rival gang member before grabbing him by the leather vest and hurling him over a stack of hay bales. "You call that a punch? My grandma hits harder than that!"

Mac ducked under a hail of bullets, trying to slice the fuel lines of the enemies' getaway vehicles, but a swinging chain forced him to roll away into the dirt, bruising his shoulder. "Ouch! Watch the leather, pal!"

Perry: "Hey Mac, look up! The main control console!" Perry bolted up a catwalk, smashing his fist into the master override switch. "Let's see how you guys handle a little magic!"

The titanium cage doors hissed open. The silver unicorns, sensing allies, charged out with a majestic, defensive fury. Their horns flashed with blinding light, disorienting the corporate mercenaries.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Finishing the Fight (3 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Buster and the unicorns combine forces!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 5, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. (Remaining Effort: 1).

Round 2: Mac redeems himself with a spectacular tire-burn!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 1, 4] — Success!

Outcome: The final Effort Token is removed. Victory!

Buster lined up alongside the lead stallion. Together, they charged the corporate agent and the gang leader, sending them diving out of the barn windows into the muddy corral outside. Mac followed up by riding his chopper straight through the doors, executing a massive burnout that filled the barn with dense smoke, forcing the remaining rustlers to flee in terror.

Corporate Agent (running away): "Forget the animals! This project is a total loss!"

The Long Road Ahead

Barnaby the minotaur jogged into the barn, tears welling in his large eyes as his prize unicorns nuzzled his snout affectionately. "I don't know how to thank you, boys. You saved my family's legacy."

The Road Hogs gathered outside, checking their gear. Perry looked at his hands, expecting the curse to completely vanish—but only his forearms returned to normal human flesh. Their pig faces, ears, and tusks remained firmly in place.

Perry: "Wait... what gives? We saved the magical creatures! Why are we still looking like wild boars?"

A magical, shimmering projection of Morwen materialized in the air above them, holding a magical ledger. The male warlock looked down his nose at them with an amused smirk.

Morwen (Projection): "Oh, did you think a mere three good deeds would wipe clean a lifetime of reckless, arrogant driving? You endangered half the county with your stunts! Your karmic debt is deep, boys. You've barely scratched the surface. Come back to me when you've done ten more!" With a cackle, the projection dissolved into sparkling dust.

Mac: "Ten more?! You've got to be kidding me!"

Buster: "Well... nobody ever said the highway to heaven was a short drive. Saddle up, boys. We've got a lot of asphalt to cover."

The Road Hogs kicked their starters, the thunderous roar of their engines echoing across the valley as they set out toward their next adventure...

The journey has just begun! Road Hogs delivers fast, cinematic tabletop action using the acclaimed Tricube Tales system.

Grab your dice and your motorcycle gear for an unforgettable campaign designed by Richard Woolcock.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Usborne Audio and Radio

2026-07-06T14:24:00.000+02:00

Ever wondered how sound travels through thin air? The classic Usborne book Audio and Radio takes us on a brilliant retro journey into the invisible world of frequencies.

It starts with the magic of transmission—showing exactly how radio waves leave a giant antenna and travel straight into our homes. You'll step inside a bustling radio station to see how programs are built from scratch, and explore the analog glory of vintage recording studios. This was an era when music was captured on physical tape before being mastered onto vinyl and cassettes.

From portable transistors to the ultimate crown jewel—the beloved home stereo system—this book covers it all. But it doesn't just stop at theory. In true, brave Usborne fashion, it challenges you to roll up your sleeves and build your very own working radio from scratch, complete with its own motherboard, chips, and transistors. Talk about a classic!

Road Hogs 2

2026-07-06T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 2: Mayhem at the Motown Motel

Adventure 2: The Neon Ambush

The rumble of three choppers echoed off the canyon walls as the Road Hogs crossed into a bizarre desert oasis. They were still cursed by Morwen, the ill-tempered male warlock who had transformed them for their reckless driving. Every passing glance in a rearview mirror reminded them of their snouted faces and protruding tusks. But redemption called, and the generator tables spun a new web of trouble for our hog-faced heroes:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Weird and creepy	Dusty Ridge, a town swarming with strange magical energy.
Noteworthy Feature	A magical landmark	The town sits around a glowing blue sulfur spring.
The Scenario	Protect the innocent	A target needs safe harboring from an elite threat.
The Location	Palms Motel	A seedy, neon-lit building sitting on the edge of town.
The Objective	Wrath of the Gobfather	A legal witness hiding from the goblin mafia’s hitmen.
The Complication	The Best Laid Plans	The syndicate has prepared a brutal ambush at the motel.

The Palms Motel was a rundown U-shaped building with flickering pink neon and doors peeling from the desert heat. The gang parked their bikes in the shadows just as a young elven woman in a frantic panic bolted out of Room 104, nearly tripping over Mac’s front tire.

Elven Woman: "Please, don't look at me! Wait—what are you... monsters?!"

Perry: "Whoa, easy there, sister. Monsters is a bit harsh. We prefer 'aesthetically challenged motor-enthusiasts.' I'm Perry, this is Mac, and the large gentleman scraping a bug off his tusk is Buster. What's got you running like you've seen a ghost?"

Elven Woman: "I'm Lyra! I was a bookkeeper for the Gobfather's casino. I slipped a flash drive of their illegal accounts into my bag and ran, but his hitmen are everywhere. They intercepted the police transport. If they find me, I’m a goner!"

Mac looked around, his floppy hog ears twitching at a low, mechanical hum in the distance.

Mac: "They already found you. Hear that? Blacked-out SUVs, heavy engines. They're surrounding the block. We need to hide her in the motel maintenance closet, fast!"

Buster: "The lock on that door is rusted shut, Mac. Move aside, let me give it the shoulder."

🎲 Challenge: Bypassing the heavy maintenance door without alerting the approaching hitmen

GM Designations: Agile Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Mac steps up to use his mechanical skills. He rolls 3 dice (Agile Trait match). However, he acts on his Impulsive quirk, rushing the job and making a racket, which increases the difficulty to 6!

Dice Result: [1, 6, 4]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the high difficulty. Since Mac succeeded despite his quirk, he recovers 1 Resolve Token!

Mac: "No time for muscle, Buster! Just let me—*SNAP*!" Mac impulsively jammed a screwdriver into the lock tumbler, twisting it with raw force. The metal gave way with a loud pop, but the door swung open perfectly. "Get in there, Lyra. Keep your head down!"

No sooner had the door clicked shut than three sleek, dark vehicles tore into the gravel parking lot, kicking up a storm of dust. Doors slammed open, and a dozen goblins dressed in sharp, pinstriped suits stepped out, carrying heavy, enchanted submachine guns. At the head of the pack was a scarred goblin wearing a diamond pinky ring.

Goblin Enforcer: "Well, look what we got here boys. A couple of stray pigs away from the farm. Tell us where the elf girl went, or we turn you into bacon."

Perry stepped forward, adjusting his sunglasses with an arrogant smirk.

Perry: "Bacon? My dear green friend, you are talking to the royalty of the highway. As for a girl? The only thing we've seen out here is a severe lack of fashion sense. Pinstripes in the desert? Really?"

Goblin Enforcer: "Cut the chatter! The Gobfather wants no witnesses. Eliminate them!"

Battle under the Neon Lights

The quiet desert night exploded into a symphony of gunfire and squealing tires as the mafia's ambush commenced.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Fend off the Gobfather's Hitmen

GM Designations: Agile/Brawny Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6 (3 players x 2 effort)

Round 1: Perry uses the environment to turn the tables!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 2, 5] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Perry tricks a goblin squad into shooting the motel's main power transformer, blinding them!

Round 1: Mac unloads with his custom heavy shotgun!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 4, 1] — Success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Buster charges into melee range!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [2, 3, 4] — Failure.

Action: Buster uses his Muscular perk and spends 1 Karma Token to lower the difficulty to 4. The 4 now counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 2).

Perry: "Hey, fellas! I bet you ten grand you can't hit that shiny metal box over there!" Perry shouted, diving behind a concrete ice machine. The goblins blindly unleashed a volley of enchanted rounds right where he pointed. The motel’s main transformer exploded in a magnificent shower of blue sparks, plunging the parking lot into near-total darkness, save for the eerie blue glow of the nearby sulfur springs.

Goblin Enforcer: "I can't see! Where are they?!"

Mac: "Right where the sparks fly, fellas!" Mac roared, utilizing his night vision to fire his custom non-lethal beanbag rounds, knocking two goblin gunners flat onto their backs.

Buster: "Get ready for a hog-wild beatdown!" Buster bellowed, sprinting through the dark. A goblin tried to pistol-whip him, but Buster's thick hide and muscular frame absorbed the blow easily. He grabbed the thug by his suspenders and tossed him clean into the glowing blue sulfur spring with a loud *SPLASH*.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Clearing the Parking Lot (2 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Mac coordinates a tactical getaway strike!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 3] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove the remaining 2 Effort Tokens. The syndicate hitmen are soundly defeated!

Mac hopped onto his chopper, revving the engine until the rear tire spun furiously against the gravel. With a expert clutch-release, he executed a perfect sweeping drift, spraying a massive wall of desert sand and heavy rocks directly into the faces of the remaining mobsters, sending them scrambling back into their damaged SUVs.

Goblin Enforcer: "Retreat! Retreat! These pigs are completely unhinged!" The remaining vehicles sped out of the parking lot, their tires screeching in defeat.

Karmic Shifts

Lyra cautiously stepped out of the maintenance room, clutching the flash drive to her chest. She looked at the beaten mob cars, then back at the three imposing, pig-faced bikers who had just risked their lives for her.

Lyra: "You... you actually saved me. I don't care what you look like, you're absolute heroes. I'll make sure the federal marshals get this data, and the Gobfather goes away forever."

Buster: "Just doing our job, ma'am. No innocent person deserves to get cornered by a bunch of green-skinned goons."

As Lyra waved goodbye from a safe taxi ride out of town, a sudden, strange warmth washed over the Road Hogs. Perry gasped, looking down at his hands. The rough, leathery hide on his arms had softened back into normal skin up to his wrists, and his tusks shrunk just a fraction of an inch.

Perry: "Hey, look! The curse is weakening! Morwen's magic is slipping because of what we did here tonight!"

Mac: "We're getting closer, boys. One more good turn ought to break this spell completely. Let's ride!"

The engines roared to life once more, chasing the desert horizon into their next destination...

Want to run your own high-stakes road encounters and break mystical curses? Road Hogs offers simple, fast-paced cinematic action using the Tricube Tales framework!

Created by acclaimed designer Richard Woolcock, it's the perfect system for pick-up-and-play sessions with maximum fun.

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Road Hogs 1

2026-07-05T07:30:00.000+02:00

Road Hogs: Chronicles of Redemption

Chapter 1: The Curse and the Crooked Town

Meet the Crew

Perry Temple

Trait: Crafty
Concept: Con Artist
Perk: Gift of Gab
Quirk: Arrogant

"Mac" MacCready

Trait: Agile
Concept: Mechanic
Perk: Ace Driver
Quirk: Impulsive

Buster "The Brick"

Trait: Brawny
Concept: Enforcer
Perk: Muscular
Quirk: Stubborn

Every member started with 3 Karma Tokens and 3 Resolve Tokens.

Prologue: The Reckless and the Ruined

The asphalt burned under the midday sun as our trio tore down Route 66, their custom choppers roaring like dragons. They were reckless, proud, and completely unconcerned with the world around them. That was their first mistake.

Their second mistake was cutting off an old, battered sedan driven by a notoriously short-tempered local warlock named Morwen. As Mac swerved dangerously close, sending Morwen's car veering into a ditch, the warlock didn't just honk his horn. He stepped out with eyes glowing in a terrifying violet light.

"You think you own the blacktop?!" Morwen's voice echoed with magical thunder, halting their bikes mid-stride with a wave of her hand. "You act like absolute road hogs! If you want to behave like beasts, then beasts you shall be! Until your karmic scales are balanced by selfless deeds, hide your faces in shame!"

A blinding flash of purple lightning struck the trio. The agonizing transformation was swift. Their helmets cracked under expanding skulls. Bristly hair erupted across their arms, noses flattened and hardened into round, snorting discs, and sharp tusks pushed past their lips. When the smoke cleared, they were still hardened bikers—but with the literal faces and mannerisms of wild pigs.

Shunned by society, living on the run like the heroes of old television shows, they vowed to roam from town to town, using their unique talents to help those who couldn't help themselves, hoping desperately to break the curse.

Adventure 1: The Poisoned Factory

The rumbling of three heavy engines signaled the Road Hogs' arrival at their first destination. The adventure generation tables determined their fate:

Element	Result	Description
Town Type	Old and run-down	Oakhaven, a faded industrial town.
Noteworthy Feature	Corrupt local cops	The local law enforcement looks the other way.
The Scenario	Infiltrate a group	Investigate the town's primary employer.
The Location	Shabby Factory	A sprawling manufacturing plant active at night.
The Objective	Dirty Money	The factory is a front for illegal operations, with the Sheriff bought out.
The Complication	Don't Shoot the Sheriff	Sheriff Ironwood wants the Hogs gone or dead.

Pulling up outside a greasy diner on the edge of Oakhaven, the trio adjusted their bandanas to hide as much of their porcine features as possible. Inside, a tearful waitress was pleading with a stone-faced local deputy.

"Please, Deputy! My brother worked the night shift at the chemical plant and hasn't come home," she cried. "There are strange trucks moving in and out at midnight!"

The deputy pushed his coffee cup away carelessly. "Keep your nose out of the plant's business, lady. The CEO runs a tight ship, and the Sheriff says it's off-limits."

Perry Temple smoothed down his leather vest and sauntered over, a confident grin flashing past his tusks.

Perry: "Excuse me, officer. My associates and I couldn't help but overhear. We're logistics experts passing through, and we just love a good mystery. Surely a fine lawman like yourself wouldn't mind us asking a few friendly questions around the plant?"

Deputy: "Beat it, freak show. We don't like your kind in Oakhaven. One wrong move and Sheriff Ironwood will lock you in a cage where you belong."

🎲 Challenge: Smooth-talking the Deputy to get the guard rotation details

GM Designations: Crafty Challenge | Difficulty: 5

Player Dice Pool: Perry rolls 3 dice (Matches Crafty Trait). He invokes his Arrogant quirk to brag about his criminal insight, increasing the difficulty to 6, but allowing him to bank future karma/resolve if he succeeds!

Dice Result: [2, 5, 6]

Outcome: Success! The 6 matches the increased difficulty. Because he used his quirk and succeeded, Perry recovers 1 Resolve Token (bringing him to maximum).

Perry: "A cage? Oh, my dear deputy, I’ve been thrown out of much finer establishments by much bigger men than your little local squad. In fact, I happen to know exactly how your night guards operate—they’re lazy. Let me guess, they take their coffee break right at midnight when the big shipments arrive?"

The deputy blinked, flustered by Perry's unshakeable arrogance. "How did you... I mean, that's none of your business! Just stay away from the north gate at midnight!" He shoved past Perry and stormed out of the diner.

Buster rumbled from the corner booth, cracked his massive knuckles, and snorted. "North gate. Midnight. He just gave us the keys to the castle, Perry."

Mac: "Let's roll. I want to see what kind of hardware they're running in that old factory."

Midnight at the Shabby Factory

Under the cover of darkness, the trio slipped through the cut wire fence of the Oakhaven Manufacturing Plant. Massive green barrels were being loaded onto trucks by heavily armed thugs. Standing at the center of it all, counting a thick stack of dirty money, was Sheriff Ironwood himself.

Sheriff Ironwood: "Get these crates moving! The CEO wants the illegal narcotics shipment across the state line before sunrise. And if those pig-faced bikers show up, shoot to kill!"

Buster: "I don't think we need to hear any more. It's clobberin' time!"

Mac: "Wait, Buster! It's a trap, look up!"

Before they could leap from the shadows, floodlights flickered on, blinding them. Armed corporate thugs and deputy cars surrounded the yard. Sheriff Ironwood laughed, drawing a heavy shotgun.

Sheriff Ironwood: "Fell right into it! Take 'em down, boys!"

⚔️ Combat Challenge: Defeat Sheriff Ironwood and his corrupt deputies

GM Designations: Brawny/Agile Battle | Effort Tokens Required: 6 (3 players x 2 effort)

Round 1: Buster charges the front line!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 5, 1] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove 2 Effort Tokens. Buster narrates an extra benefit: he smashes two guards together, disarming them completely!

Round 1: Mac provides covering fire from his custom bike!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Agile). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [3, 4, 2] — Failure.

Action: Mac spends 1 Karma Token to reduce the difficulty to 4, justifying it with his Crack Shot perk. With the difficulty lowered, the 4 counts as a success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 3).

Round 1: Perry uses tactical distraction!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Crafty). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [6, 1, 4] — Success!

Outcome: 1 success removes 1 Effort Token. (Remaining Effort: 2).

Buster squealed with warlike fury, his massive hog-jowls shaking as he bowled through a line of corrupt deputies like bowling pins. "You call yourselves lawmen? You're just bullies with badges!" he roared, slamming two guards' heads together with a resounding CRACK.

Meanwhile, Mac revved his engine, drifting his chopper across the gravel. He pulled a specialized flare gun from his tool belt, shooting a blinding streak of light directly into the path of a deputy car, forcing it to crash harmlessly into a stack of empty pallets.

Sheriff Ironwood: "Hold your ground! They're just overgrown pork chops!" Ironwood aimed his shotgun right at Perry.

Perry: "Hey, Sheriff! Look over there, is that the FBI?!" Perry yelled, pointing dramatically. Ironwood instinctively glanced away for a fraction of a second—long enough for Perry to hurl a heavy wrench right at his hand, knocking the shotgun away.

⚔️ Combat Challenge: The Final Push (2 Effort Remaining)

Round 2: Buster delivers the finishing blow!

Dice Pool: 3 dice (Brawny). Difficulty: 5.

Dice Result: [5, 6, 2] — Exceptional Success!

Outcome: 2 successes remove the final 2 Effort Tokens. The encounter is won!

With a thunderous charge, Buster tackled Sheriff Ironwood right into a pile of dirty money sacks. The corrupt lawman groaned, completely knocked out, as crisp hundred-dollar bills fluttered through the air around him.

The remaining deputies threw down their weapons and raised their hands in surrender. Within an hour, Mac had used his mechanical know-how to wire the factory's mainframe, broadcasting the CEO's hidden ledger and smuggling logs directly to the federal authorities. The missing night shift workers were found locked safely in a back room and promptly released.

An Unsatisfied Hunger

As the flashing lights of the state police appeared on the horizon to clean up the mess, the Road Hogs stood on a hill overlooking the town. They could hear the cheers of the liberated townsfolk below.

Perry looked down at his hooves and sighed. "Well, we saved the town, exposed the dirty money, and locked up the bad guys. But... my face still looks like a holiday ham."

Mac: "The warlock said we need enough good deeds to balance our karma, Perry. One town down. Who knows how many more to go?"

Buster: "Then let's stop flapping our jaws and hit the road. There's more folks out there who need a few hogs in their corner."

With a kick of their starters, the engines roared to life once more. The Road Hogs rode off into the sunset, leaving Oakhaven a little safer, their long journey toward redemption just beginning...

Did you enjoy the high-octane, porcine adventures of Perry, Mac, and Buster? Road Hogs is a thrilling standalone tabletop roleplaying game powered by the rules-light Tricube Tales system!

Both the system and this fantastic adventure setting were created by the brilliant game designer Richard Woolcock (the same mastermind behind Maidenstead Mysteries).

👉 You can find it here: DriveThruRPG - Road Hogs

Someplace in Time 21

2026-07-04T06:24:00.000+02:00

ORUS Mission Log: Final Chapter - The Banishment of CthulWho

Mission Log: The Deimos Showdown

Timeline: Deimos Moonbase, 2145 | Status: Final Anomaly Neutralized

🔥 Old-School Heavy Ballistics

Before stepping into the breach, the agents sweep the futuristic lounge. While Dr. Pfennig snatches the advanced medical kit to run a quick diagnostic scan on the squad, Corporal Morgan Osprey and Lucy head straight for the vintage weapon rack. Ignoring the high-tech, non-lethal equipment, Osprey structure-grips the classic sawed-off double-barreled shotgun in one hand and fires up an industrial gas-powered chainsaw with the other, the engine roaring to life in the thin 0.1 G atmosphere. Lucy lifts the massive BSG9000 "Big Splat Gun," locking a balloon-sized payload into the chamber with a satisfying mechanical clank.

They burst through the airlock door in a full-scale, synchronized frontal assault. The low gravity turns their advance into an incredible display of kinetic theater. Lucy fires the BSG9000, launching a massive, dense gel-pack that impacts CthulWho squarely in his octopoid chest, covering his striped shawl in heavy containment fluid and staggering him backward. Seizing the opening, Osprey leaps a full twenty feet through the air, bringing the roaring chainsaw down in a terrifying arc that cleaves straight through CthulWho’s overcoat, forcing the cosmic entity to drop his silver-tipped acoustic auger onto the grated metal floor with a resounding clang.

🌀 Portal Sabotage & Spatial Collapse

While CthulWho frantically flails against the roaring teeth of Osprey's chainsaw, Dr. Steven Stevens and Dr. Stella Pfennig sprint toward the primary power grid of the 15-foot magnetic donut-ring. Leveraging their deep expertise in temporal mechanics, they bypass the base’s fried mainframes and wire their electronic pads directly into the copper coils wrapping the portal framework.

"The frequency is fluctuating! We need a localized anchor!" Pfennig calls out over the din of battle. Stevens pulls the recovered golden thread spool and the double-bladed Minoan bronze axe from his tactical pack, placing the ancient, paradox-laden time tokens directly across the primary magnetic conductors. The raw, concentrated chronal energy bleeding from the artifacts creates an instantaneous technical feedback loop. The blinking lights on the magnetic ring flare into a violent, blinding violet spectrum. Instead of ripping open a tear to R’lyeh, the counter-hack forces a beautiful, contained spatial collapse. A localized prismatic singularity blooms right inside the ring, generating an inescapable gravitational suction field.

🎲 SYSTEM MECHANICS: THE FINAL TAKEDOWN (CR 50)

By masterfully coordinating a high-impact ballistics diversion with a precise quantum overload, the team crushes the final boss challenge on their first attempt.

Base Challenge Difficulty: CR 50

Frontline Strikers: Osprey & Lucy (+1 Heavy Weapon Boon)

Tech Hackers: Dr. Stevens & Dr. Pfennig (+1 System Boon)

Time Token Paradox Bonus: +2 Boons Applied (Thread & Bronze Axe)

Total Combined Strategy Roll: 54

Result: Absolute Success!

Outcome: CthulWho is ripped completely from his footing by the localized vortex. He does not die, but his 12-foot form stretches, distorts, and is cleanly sucked backward through the prismatic field, banishing him into a harmless alternate dimension for several centuries. The portal snaps shut with a quiet pop, leaving nothing behind but his floppy hat floating slowly down in the low gravity.

🛸 Mission Complete: Heading Back to Bergen

As the alarms across Area M23 gradually wind down to a steady, rhythmic hum, Sergeant Guy lowers his rifle and lets out a long whistle. He carefully retrieves the stasis equilibrator jars containing your collected biological samples, walking them over to a high-tech refrigeration unit labeled “Biological Specimens” and sliding them in alongside dozens of other jars filled with anomalous, multi-limbed creatures.

The square-jawed Marine turns around, extending a gloved hand to your squad. “You should probably head back to your timeline, it isn’t prudent to stay out of your spacetime for too long.” He smiles, pointing at the face of your wristbands. “Looks like your presets have kicked in.”

Glancing down at your spatiotemporal extrapolators, you see the blinking crimson warnings have completely cleared, replaced by an orderly, green-lit line of destination text:

“Bergen, 2026, unknown, unknown.”

With a sense of profound relief, you reach down and tap the flashing green 'GO' icon next to the prompt. Instantly, your knees go weak, a familiar, deep pulling sensation tugs at your core, and the rotating frame of the Deimos Moonbase blurs away into a warm, comfortable rush of chronological light.

🎉 CHRONO-STABILIZATION ARCHIVED: Reality preserved. Earth saved from millennia of misery.
Current Coordinate: Bergen, 2026

The End ... Someplace In Time ...