The Dice Man Cometh

Gamers love dice. I'm a gamer so, ergo, I should also love dice. And I do...kinda.

Not gonna lie, these are beautiful.

Rant incoming...

Recently, I've been on the look out for a Fantasy RPG and a lot of new Anime/Manga/JRPG inspied ones have been promoted via Kickstarter, Backerlit, and Gamefound. Last Arc: Tactics Analogue, Legends of Akeroth, and Twilight Sword spring immediately to mind. Unfortunately, nearly all of these games share one element in common that really turns me off. I've been disappointed when I look past the pretty pictures and nifty settings and into the mechanics; a lot of them use multiple die types. 

I have grown to dislike games that use all the different polyhedrons. I prefer it when a game uses just D6s, or just D10s, or even just D20s (though that tends to be my least favorite die - too swingy). Pools of the same die are fine by me (preferred in fact) but using six or more different types just feels unnecessary and inelegant.

I know this isn't the case but I equate using all the dice with the clunky, limiting, inefficient games of yore. Given the many and varied ways I've seen the idea of 'only D6s' used to create systems from the complexity of Champions to the simplicity of Smurfs, my gut reaction to those developing a game with six different shaped dice is, 'Why? It isn't needed. There are easier ways to go about this.'

It's not just Fantasy games either but I did starting thinking about this more and more as I went on a quest to find a game to go on a quest with. The upcoming Superhero RPG from Free League, 'Invincible', based on the Image comic book and animated streaming series of the same name, uses only 6-sided dice but the recently announced Justice League Unlimited RPG uses all of the [basic] types. This instantly put a little frown on my face. I really like Invincible but I don't want to like more than my beloved DC Comics and from a cursory glance at both...I do!

Frustrated by the dynamics of this situation I did the unthinkable, though more as an experiment than anything else, and put a host of very specific criteria into an AI language program, asking essentially, 'Can you make a Fantasy Tabletop Roleplaying Game with no Classes or Levels, Rules-Lite but suitable for Long Term Campaign play, that utilizes only 6-Sided Dice in its mechanics?' I expected to get junk but thought it might inspire me to create my own from scratch once I saw how bad the result was.

To my utter shock and dismay, the AI created a damn good, playable game. It was almost perfectly what I wanted. I did have to make a tweak here and a modification there but overall I was very impressed. I thought, 'so an AI can make a really cool D6s only Fantasy RPG but no creative person in the gaming industry can?'. Now I know I'm being hyperbolic and I don't mean that literally but...well...its not completely unfounded either.

Most of the D6 only games lean towards Science Fiction or Superheroes: ALIEN, Champions, Star Wars, Tales from the Loop, Traveller, and the various incarnations and variations of Ghostbusters from the original to InSpectres to my kitbashed hybrid. While I am sure there are Fantasy TRPGs that use D6s, few seem to hold the kind of charm for me that any of the aforementioned games (except the Smurfs that is). 

My favorite Medieval Fantasy experience has come from Ars Magica, traditionally using only D10s. I think Modiphius's 2D20 System might make for a good Fantasy game but I have yet to test that theory. 

Anyway, those are just some thoughts that have been on my mind recently so I thought I'd shout them into the void. If you stayed to actually read through this you are a true Barking Alien fan and/or should probably seek professionally help. 

Talk again soon,

AD

Barking Alien

Where My Head Is At

First, my apologies for the long delay between posts and what appears to be my own RPG internet challenge left uncompleted.

It appears to be that way because, as of this writing, it is indeed, incomplete. I haven't finished the RPG Campaign Tour Challenge I created back in February of this year and while there are a variety of reasons for both this, that's not [exactly] what this post is here to address. 

It is related though. It's more to discuss why I haven't blogged at all. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time I didn't finish an internet challenge. Surely I could just post my apology and move on, right? Well...no.

I have had a lot on my mind lately, both personally, professionally, and in the area of Tabletop RPGs. Unfortunately, my combination of ADD, Anxiety, and a connected Task Paralysis state meant that I could not start writing about anything else if the challenge wasn't fully done. I couldn't post at all due to the RPG Campaign Tour Challenge being unfinished but my brain being full of other subjects and ideas such that I couldn't focus on the subject at hand to complete the challenge.

A self-inflicted Catch-22. A vicious cycle.

So what about this post here? This is a post and its not an installment of the RPG Campaign Tour Challenge. You're correct and that is how I'm planning to get around my own mentally induced hurdle. It's just Part 1 of my plan though.

Part 2 is the trickier bit; I will be posting some other RPG thoughts I've been having, and there are a lot of them, but I do intend on getting back to and completing the challenge. When I do, when all 28 entries are totally finished, all the related posts will be dated for February 2026, including the two entries I did in March. For me, this enables my to 'Start Fresh' but also feel like I did what I set out to do. It will also make it easier for both you the reader and for me myself, to locate the challenge entries for any future reference. 

Does that make sense? Probably not but it makes sense to me.

Thank you for your time, your patience, and your continued interest and viewership. 

We'll talk again soon,

AD

Barking Alien

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 25

Day 25-Where can I do some shopping?

"While not an alien custom to me, shopping as a pleasurable activity wasn't something I was intimately familiar with prior to joining the Prosperity's crew. 

Growing up on Cheron, shopping was an essential action performed in order to get the goods you needed and that was that. It was only very rarely that my parents would take me shopping for a treat, a toy, or an article of clothing I would choose for myself. 

In the post-scarcity-of-essential-needs-society of the Federation, where everyone is guaranteed to get what they need to live comfortably, shopping seems to be a pastime or hobby to many. It is something they enjoy but it isn't a necessity for life.

*Whispering* Unless you're Lt. JG Kepna Theph, one of Prosperity's top shuttlecraft pilots. How many 'cute' pairs of boots does one being require?" 

Lt. Kepna Theph

Andorian 'Popular Girl'

Apparel and Accessories [Fashion]

Each species and culture has identifying aspects to their fashion; certain elements of their clothes that go beyond practicality and become a mark of their native identity. This then collides with the creativity, philosophy, and aesthetics of the individual. Fashion is a reflection of a people but also a reflection of one person's individuality. 

The design, fabrication, and wearing of particular styles of clothing is considered an artform by many sentients across known space. Shopping for apparel and matching accessories allows one to participate in that art. 

While it seems clothing styles would be a less popular interest out here on the frontier, where survival trumps a nice looking dress, fashion is more prevalent then I ever expected. Out here, what you wear defines who you are. A wealthy merchant and one scraping by are not going to be dressed the same. The prestigous governor of Mozinphar's Planet will surely look more daper than the chief coordinator of New Cheron's struggling new colony.

Andorian fashion is especially interesting in the Tango-9 Sector at present. Lt. Theph is well-versed on the subject and explained it to me in great detail. I will address the highlights here. Apparently, Andorians out here are trying to make one of two statements with their fashion. Some are trying to embrace modern times and welcome Starfleet and other newcomers into the area by wearing clothing reminiscent of Human styles and other widespread, popular designs. Others are doubling down on old Andorian styles, wearing traditional Andorian garb as a way of acknowledging and even reinforcing their cultural identity. 

Lt. JG Kepna Theph, Andorian Fashionista

Old and New combined!

As for Theph herself, always a trendsetter [according to her], she is combining the looks in order to set herself apart and show how mixing the new and the old can result in an overall better outcome. *Whispers* And she's right. She looks amazing. Please don't tell her I said so. I'll never live it down." 

Delicacies and Treats

There are numerous small and portable candies and other edible luxury items that make excellent gifts for friends and family back on the core member worlds. 

One of the most popular and somewhat controversial indulgences are 'The Melting Stars of Enning'. These star shaped 'chocolates', often known simply as Melting Stars, are the invention of a Human confectioner and his Andorian partner, combining centuries of candy-making skill and knowledge with ingredients native to the planet Andor (as well as Mozinphar's Planet).

As previously noted, Andorian cuisine is often perceived as either very bland or overly sweet by non-Andorians, so the couple leaned into the latter to inspire this rather ingenious creation. Each star is a chocolate shell filled with either a honey-like substance made from the wooly moths of Andoria or, less often, a type of paste made from crushed nuts, miteberries, or a combination of the two. The exterior chocolate container is subtly bittersweet and most of the sugary flavor comes from the filling. They are delicious in my opinion but that isn't what makes them so special. They are produced using a rather unusual freeze-drying process that makes them solid and long lasting [without spoiling] but allows them to practically dissolve on contact with the tongue [of most species]. 

A popular beverage is made from warmed or room temperate milk into which a few of the Melting Stars are dropped, quickly flavoring the drink with a mix of chocolate and whatever the interior contains as they breakdown. in addition, a recent variation uses a smaller amount of chocolate mixed into a paste made from nuts, similar to what Humans tell me is called 'Marzipan', to produce Melting Stars of a cream or ivory-white color. It adds a sweet, nutty flavor to the confection that is surprisingly subtle. Absolutely excellent! 

What makes it controversial is that the particular method of freeze-drying used to make these Melting Stars is a time honored Andorian tradition important to various spiritual rituals and holiday foods and many Andorians look down on its use in this way. 

Souvenirs

I once met a Denebian Trader who told me, "Wherever there is commerce, there are people willing to waste their money".

The purchasing of small trinkets and momentos isn't something that ever made sense to me. That doesn't mean I don't have my own modest collection of objects I've gathered over the years that have sentimental value. I didn't buy them though; I came across them in my travels and held on to them for one reason or another.

Considering this, I think I get the idea behind 'Souvenirs' a little better in retrospect. It helps to have some physical proof of where we've been for both our own satisfaction and to share with others. These items say, 'See? I was there.' As we get older it can even help to remind us of great moments of the past, less we forget them. 

Among the keepsakes I've seen that I might recommend looking into:

A shop display on Deep Space Station K-12

Khelayan 'Cracked Crystals': Dark, dull blue rocks with veins of burnished gold running through them that are sold all across the sector. Each merchant hawking these interesting if unimpressive looking stones claims they are authentic pieces of burned out 'Precursor' technology, rendered inert by the Prosperity's crew at the close of the Vault War. The problem with these rocks is, of course, that the vast majority of the crystals are simply fakes. Some are similar looking but not structurally equivalent elements, while others are poorly painted forgeries. Actual pieces of Janissary technology are currently illegal to possess. The entirety of these artifacts are under the jurisdication of the United Federation of Planets Science Council and Starfleet Command. 

That said, if you participated in and/or were effected by the war, you might find this all a bit ghoulish. Others I have spoken to have picked up a stone to remember friends and allies who fell during the conflict. We all grieve in our own way I suppose. 

Mazzulan Welcome Blanket: Beautifully woven blankets, each hand-made and unique, regarded as symbol of hospitality, friendship, and safety. These are given to visitors staying over at a Mazzulan home, inn, or other lodging establishment and the recipient is encouraged and expected to take the blanket with them when they leave. I've heard that some very traditional Mazzulans will actually be offended if you don't take the blanket with you. 

Mozinphar's 'Bright Winter Moon' Andorian Ale: A rare beverage only brewed once every three years and only in limited quantities. Drink it or not but keep the bottle. It notes the location, brewer, and the year it was made. 

Uthaden Luck Puck: In their native language, an 'Uthoo Toose', this is a disc about 5.75-6 cm in diameter and about 2.5 cm thick, carried on ones person, that is made of old fur, claw shavings, and other organic material from an individual combined with a clay from the owner's homeworld. This is super-heated and hardened and then carried around as it is thought to protect one from misfortune and bring good luck. Yes, the idea might be seen as kind of off putting to some but its kind of a fascinating item, no? You cannot just purchase one by the way. You can only get one by having one made for you. Get a haircut, save some of the hair, add a few nail clippings, and some cast off skin cells and you have yourself a very unusual and special memento.

"With that, I think its time we starting heading towards our last leg of the tour and...I hope I used that phrase correctly. There are a few more things to do and tales to tell, so let's all freshen up and meet back here for dinner. Is that acceptable to everyone? Great!".

See you then,

AD

Barking Alien

Hey all, sorry this has been delayed so long. I've been extremely busy with Real LifeTM and a dozen additional TRPG projects. I'm working on so many things, things I REALLY want to discuss, but I also feel driven to finish this first. Does that contribute to the delay?

The frustration in not being done yet can slow my ability to get things done; I know this. I've been down that road before. That said, I can't give up now. I don't want to and I am and have been having a lot of fun doing this Challenge so...I'll see it through. 

Thanks for listening and for sticking with me. We're almost finished.

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAYS 23 and 24

Day 23 and Day 24-What are the major exports and imports of the region?

As you can see, I am running over in March. February was just such a wild month for me that I didn't have the time or energy to complete my own Challenge within the 28 day period, regardless of how much I really wanted to. I will be completing it however, hopefully within this first week of March. 

I had originally planned to make this one post but as I tried to fill out the entire 28 days of the month of February, I found I was short an idea for an entry and so I separated exports and imports into two sep

arate posts. As I am already running into overtime on the Challenge, I thought it best to combine them once more. 

"The Tango Super Sector is unusual in that it is considered the frontier; a wild and untamed place far from the civilized ways of the Federation's core member worlds, yet even out here trade and commerce are a vital and powerful aspect of the lives of those who dwell in the region. Whether you find yourself in Sector 001, the Old Colonies of Romulus, or Sector Tango-9 at the edge of known space, an exchange of goods and services remains the lifeblood of sentient society."

The most commonly encountered civilian and commercial

starships in the Tango-8 and Tango-9 Sectors.

Here are the key exports and imports that matter most to the Tango Sectors and its people:

Major Exports

Andorian Ale

As mentioned already, Mozinphar's Planet, orbiting Mozinphar's Star at System GL 667, is an agricultural marvel that raises, among a number of other crops popular with the Andorian people, Thaldrisil - the light blue barely-like grain used to make Andorian Ale.

In addition to the many farms established by the families of the Clan of Provisions, including the nobile and extremely wealthy Endilev Family, there are a least a dozen breweries producing, packaging, and shipping their famous beverage back to the UFP. 

Mined Materials

Metals, minerals, natural chemicals, and gases from minig operations are both the most common and the most lucrative products to be found, sold, and traded. This is in spite of the fact that Dilithium finds are very rare. Instead, more common materials are far more abundant and easy to extract. There are some rarer elements that have been found in notable amounts but their retrieval often requires extra effort and specialized equipment. 

Miners from the Janus Mining Corporation at Asteroid M3 in the Maw Asteroid Field

The Janus Mining Corporation, the second largest such operation in the region after the Andorian Mining Consortium, has brought a number of Horta with them to assist in the excavation of key claims in the Maw Asteroid Field. This is part of a 'Pilot Program' to expand the working relationship between Federation Miners and the Horta of Janus VI. 

One additional note; While Dilithium is difficult to locate out here, Dilithirite much less so. Dilithirite is an inferior form of Dilithium often found in and around Dilithium deposits. In fact, when cutting away impurities in a Dilithium Crystal formation, those impurities are, very often, largely composed of Dilithirite. 

(L) Pure Dilithium and (R) Dilithirite

For the most part the material has few commercial uses. Under normal conditions, the more energy applied to Dilithirite the more unstable it becomes, eventually building to critical mass and exploding. Not a very good stand in for the traditional Dilithium Crystals used in Warp Drive mechanics if they can potentially blow up your ship. It probably comes as no surprise that Dilithirite is sometimes used in the construction of low-yield explosives, mostly by mining corporations funny enough. 

In theory, while you can not recrystalize burned out Dilithium, many theorize there might be a way to filter out the impurities of Dilithirite, repeatedly, and compress the remaining crystals into a Dilithium substitute. My own people, the Cheronians, have a process by which the structure of Dilithirite can be modified by bombarding it with nuclear radiation, resulting in a low-grade Dilithium alternative that they use in their starship auxillary batteries for back-up and emergency power. Recently, with the difficulty in developing and maintaining their New Cheron colony, the survivors of Cheron have resorted to trying to perfect this process so as to be less dependent on imported Dilithium.

Major Imports

To continue with the conversation we were just having, Dilithium Crystals are much in depend, hard to come by, and especially rare in the Sectors of Tango-8 and Tango-9. Dilithium is a vital component of starship operation and Warp travel and there really isn't any way around that. 

Another very necessary mineral that needs to be imported into the region is Ryetalyn, the only known cure for Rigelian Fever and a number of other, similar bacterium based illnesses. 

Nurse Santos displays Ryetalyn raw and in liquid form.

Ryetalyn is incredibly rare in the Tango-9 Sector and much in demand by the Blue Orions, Federation Colonists, and New Cheron Colony at Xices. Blue Orion Pirates often attack medical shipments bringing Ryetalyn into the area in hope of reselling some of it while keeping the majority portion for themselves. 

Starfleet has stepped up convoy escorts and is investigating potential new local sources on as yet unexplored planets in the sector.

"All this talk of commerce; imports, exports, and free trade for all! Hmm...that gives me an idea! Let's go shopping!"

AD

Barking Alien

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 22

Day 22-Tell us about notable Flora and Fauna.

"I've had more than my fair share of encounters with dangerous wildlife and perilous plants while living on my own all those years ago.

Even so, I am by no means an authority on the subject. You know who is? Ensign Salar, a Xenobiologist in Prosperity's venerable Science Department. One might even say he is 'passionate' about the subject."

"You are attempting to make a humorous comment at my expense. I do not appreciate your teasing attitude regarding my emotional disposition. *Lets out...a sigh?* Nonetheless, I am deeply fascinated by animals, plants, and how they develop and fit into a planet's ecosystem. Therefore, I shall assist you in giving this informative address about the creatures and vegetation we have catalogued in the Tango Super Sector. 

You 'owe me one' as the Humans say."

Thaldrisil - Andorian Blue Barley

 

Originating on the Andorian homeworld of Epsilon Indii VIII A, more commonly known as Andoria or simply Andor, this light blue colored grain is common across the farmlands of the planet, both North and South of the equatorial regions. 

Known as Thaldrisil in the Andorian language of Graalen, the grain is a vital component in the production of Andorian Ale, a major export of the Andorians in this area of space. While the Thaldrisil was brought to Mozinphar's World from Andor, it has thrived in the remarkably similar climate and soil. 

The Creatures of Dinom II 

(Season 8, Episode 10 'Across he Bright Face')

For a very hot and dry planet, not unlike my native Vulcan, Dinom II has a very diverse selection of animal life. What makes Dinom II's biodiversity even more intriguing is that the world is tidally locked, meaning one side is constantly being bombarded by the rays of its relatively close sun.

All of the animal life on the planet seems to include features similar to sauropods and/or theropods and mammal. This is in addition to whatever other categories it's biological make-up may place it in. For example, a number of creatures seem to incorporate a degree of arthropod-like DNA even though they are clearly not traditional arthropods. Even the avian Crueldactyl or 'Bloody Axe Beaked Flyer' is more closely related to flying mammals and reptiles than it is any sort of bird. 

Serving in Starfleet has taught me that category distinctions are often...complicated. 

Some of the more notable species encountered by the Command Crew include (Left to Right):

Animal Biodiversity on Dinom II

Caesordorsalis or 'Armored Head Slasher': A massive creature with heavily armored backplates, elbow 'spur' talons, and a pair of hard ridged bones on either side of its head that it can use to both cut down prey or deflect incoming attacks to its face and head. The creature's armor is so tough it can ignore a Type II Phaser set for Stun and the slasher ridges on either side of its head can withstand the 'Heavy Stun' setting. 

Laceruda or 'Scorpion Tailed Pincer Lizard': a vicious and fast moving predator with pincher claw forelimbs and a poison stinger equipped tail. It can close distance in record breaking time for similar lifeforms but it is an ambush predator, saving up its energy for the eventual charge and sting. Consider it similar to an Earth Cheetah crossed with an Zaranite Dune Springer.

Crueldactyl or 'Bloody Axe Beak Flyer': a flying predator/scavenger with a rather cunning and effective means of hunting and eating prey. The creatures will flying down from the sky, strike a prey animal in the hind quarters or legs if possible, and then wait until the victim follows behind its pack. They then circle overhead and once the creature dies of blood loss, heatstroke, or even starvation, the horde of them descend upon the carcass to consume it. They travel in groups of three to a dozen individuals of varying ages and sizes. A group of them has been dubbed a 'horde'. 

Mantigris or 'MantisTiger Lizard': Also called the 'Scythe Mantis Cat', this is the second fastest moving creature on Dinom, right behind the Scorpion Tailed Pincher. In fact, this animal has a considerably faster response time to outside stimuli and can strike almost twice as quickly at close range. The Pincer Lizard is faster is a dedicated run/chase. 

Tonivacca or 'Desert Thundercow': This herbivorous animal feeds on 'Succulent Moss' and similar plants that grow near and in the few watering holes on Dinom. When the entire herd of 10-12 beasts has had a sufficient amount of hydration and food, no more and no less, they instinctively migrate to the next body of 'fresh' water. Most herds follow a seemingly nomadic route that has been passed on to the next generation for centuries, changing only when environmental challenges mandate it.  

These are the main prey of the Crueldactyls and Armored Head Slashers and we wondered, 'how have they survived such vicious and powerful predators?'. For one thing, they are extremely tough, like most lifeforms on Dinom II, with remarkable levels of endurance and resistance to physical damage. They are also capable of creating two different sounds that intimidate and confuse predators. One is an incredibly loud, rumbling bellow. The other is the heavy footsteps of the herd in motion. When the Thundercow runs from an attacker the very ground below them shakes and the air is filled with a thunderous pounding [, hence their name].

The Great Wetland Cephalopod of Yed Prior

(Season 8, Episode 3 'Dinner and a Show')

Forced to participate in gladitorial combat in the 'Arena of Yed' by the planet's robot custodians, the world's stranded inhabitants and eventually the Prosperity's Command Crew had to face such dangerous opponents as the Great Wetland Cephalopod. 

A species of large cephalopod dwelling in the massive, unusually deep, tropical swamps of Yed Prior I's Southern Hemisphere. A type of algae or mossy grass grows on the creature, forming a symbiotic relationship that keeps the animal's skin moist while its on land. In exchange, the cephalopod moves the algae into more sunlight or nutrient rich waters and providing other benefits thanks to its mobility. 

The creatures are carnivorous, with a vertical mouth behind an outer rim of flesh consisting of its front tentacles. The sharp, sometimes jagged 'teeth' along the creature's tentacles are actually chitinous hooks for grasping, holding, and tearing at prey. Because the base of the forward limbs surround the mouth, these hooks are indeed used as teeth, in a fashion, slicing up what it consumes into pieces small enough to be crushed by the muscles of its inner jaw. 

The Great Cephalopod is able to travel on land quickly, if clumsily, using its tentacles and the twin-taloned claws at the end of some of them (others have a single claw). Its aquatic movement combines the use of its tentacles with carefully released discharges of stored water and air. 

"Thank you so much for your help Salar and I apologize for teasing you. Please don't be mad."

"I appreciate...Mad? Are you...joking again?"

Well, here we are at the 28th of February and I am by no means finished with the Campaign Tour Challenge. I am way behind on yet another Challenge, only this one is mine. I made it myself and I'm still behind. Good grief. 

I'm going to finish it. I am honestly having too much fun doing this to stop now. My slow down was due to Real LifeTM stuff, not a lack of interest or enthusiasm. Please stick with me until the end.

Thanks. 

AD

Barking Alien 

It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Robert 'Rob' Grant, the British Comedy Writer and Television Producer best known as one of two Co-Creators of the English Sci-Fi TV Series 'Red Dwarf'. 

Mr. Grant passed away suddenly on Wednesday, February 25th, at the age of 70. 

A huge Red Dwarf fan, I am sorry for this loss to his family, friends, fans, and the entertainment industry.