Sam McGurran

@sammcgurran

Read in pursuit of escape, write in pursuit of the epic⚡️ Writer, Editor and TTRPG Designer: Draw Steel: Encounters(MCDM), Silverplate(DRS), Dragonlance Companion(Splinterverse Media) and others. 📧 Samwritesrpgs@gmail.com

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Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· 29d

Hype building! #vtm

The year is 1789. You are a childe, sired within the last decade or so, just coming to terms with your life as a vampire, and there is so much to learn.
Vampire society is bound by the six traditions of the Camarilla, a feudal system in which age is synonymous with power.

“Thou shall not reveal thy true nature
to those not of the Blood. Doing such
shall renounce thy claims of Blood.”
The First Tradition: The Masquerade.

You find yourself in Paris, by chance or design, right as the mortal and immortal worlds collide. The city’s Camarilla are ruled by the Toreador, Prince Francois Villon, who has spent centuries cultivating his influence over the royal family and the nobles of the First Estate. Meanwhile Anarchs and Sabbat hiding among the common folk of the Third Estate, believe the Camarilla must fall, and perhaps the Masquerade with it.

You are but a fledgling, the least of kindred, but the choices you make may have far reaching consequences. Will you defend your elders, or take up arms against them? Will you protect the Masquerade, or break it? Or will you simply ignore the politicians and philosophers and focus on the only things that truly matter. Hunger. Vitae. Blood.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Jul 10

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Jul 9

Christ of St John of the Cross, painting by Salvador Dalí. It used to hang in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, in Glasgow.

Jesus Christ on the cross in a darkened sky floating over a body of water complete with a boat and fishermen

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Jul 9

Huan Lopec is one of my favourite characters from Nomas, and we give you plenty of tools to do him justice!

Huan Lopec
Visionary Warrior
Huan rose on his people’s darkest day to speak not for vengeance upon their persecutors but for forgiveness. That the path forward saw those same persecutors utterly destroyed has only endeared him to the Sunscales. Allying with old enemies to save the world from demons, his path eventually led him to the defence of the psionic city.
When the battle for the city was over, he asked that his people be allowed to remain, seeing no future for them in their ruined homeland. Though Merida Coralsmith retains Riam’s Tears’ seat on the Council of Equals, Huan’s popularity has spread beyond his own people, and his voice cannot be ignored, even in the halls of the naia.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Jul 8

This was their manifesto for the pictured election: 🗑️

1. I will cut your taxes, and raise everyone else's. 2. All 99 Flake ice-creams to cost no more than 99p
and Wigan Kebabs to be price-capped at £2. 3. Rephase the traffic lights on Liverpool Road
to ease congestion.
1710 5341
4. Corners to be refereed properly in football. 5. People who use speakerphones on public
transport to be conscripted.
6. Wifi on trains that works. Also trains that work. 7. The £6.6 million Ashton-in-Makerfield
regeneration scheme to be regenerated. 8. Pensions to be double-locked, with an
extra little chain on the side.
9. Cyclists who break the highway code to be forced to ride unicycles instead.
10. Elected mayors to be ineligible for Parliament until after their term of office.
11. Free parking at the Gerard Centre to be increased to 3 hours.
12. Auto-renew on all online subscriptions to be abolished immediately.
13. HS2 to be renamed FFS1 and rerouted so it ploughs through rail execs' homes.
14. Galloway Bakers' 'Full Monty Bin Lid' breakfast to be Britain's new national dish.
15. Tries in Rugby League to be increased from 4 to 5 points in line with inflation.
16. Ceefax to be brought back for the entire Greater Manchester area.
17. MPs to lose their subsidy for cheap food and drink in Parliament. 18. The hand-dryer in the gents' toilet at the Crown & Treaty pub,
Uxbridge to be moved to a more sensible position.
19. Count Binface to be the UK's entrant at Eurovision 2027. 20. I stand by my past manifestos: croissants, Brexit, Trident,
building at least one affordable house: I've got it all covered.
Published and promoted by Count Binface, The Count Binface Party, PO Box 818, Tonbridge, TN9 9YF COUNT BINFACE
PARTY MAKERFIELD
GREAT AGAIN

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Jun 22

Emissaries are all well and good when you can reason with your enemies, but what if they don’t want to talk? Then it pays to have someone practiced in the art of subterfuge… Next time we’ll check out the Explorer and find out just where they, the Emissary and the Spy belong. 💧

Spies are espionage experts who can contribute to your research and crafting projects. A spy can contribute one project roll per day to a downtime project you choose, whether you spend those days in respite, adventuring, or other activities. They must remain at your stronghold or at the site where the project is undertaken and must have access to the necessary materials.
When you recruit a spy, choose four skills from the intrigue skill group that they know. A spy has an Agility score of 1 and an Intuition or Presence score of 1(your choice), and a 0 in all other characteristics. They know Caelian and two other languages of your choice.
When you would be caught while undertaking the Going Undercover downtime project (see Chapter 12 of Draw Steel Heroes), a spy can intervene. You are not caught, and the spy cannot intervene again with that organisation.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· May 30

As the Gloom waxes, its effects grow more intense! #drawsteel

Gloom Level 2
At level 2 the Gloom begins to influence the collective subconscious and make minor physical interventions.
d6 Manifestation Effect
1 Conflicting Visions All creatures have a bane on crafting skills.
2 Fatigue All creatures have a bane on exploration skills.
3 Hallucinations All creatures have a bane on lore skills.
4 Lesser Gravity Whenever a creature or object is force moved, the forced movement distance gains a +1 bonus.
5 Paranoia All creatures have a bane on intrigue skills.
6 Suspicion All creatures have a bane on interpersonal test.
Gloom Level 3
At level 3 the Gloom begins to affect the waking minds of the populace and interfere with the physics of the city.
d6 Manifestation Effect
1 Bad for Business All shops and public buildings close to the public.
2 Dread All creatures treat their Presence as 1 lower for the purpose of resisting potencies.
3 Greater Density All creatures and objects gain a bonus to their stability equal to their size.
4 Greater Gravity All creatures move at half speed while flying and cannot hover.
5 Mirage All creatures treat their Intuition as 1 lower for the purpose of resisting potencies.
6 Frictionless Surfaces All creatures move at half speed while climbing. If a creature ends their turn while climbing, they must make a medium Might or Agility test to avoid falling.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· May 29

In the Psionic City, even a stray thought can be dangerous. Who knows what form the Gloom might take? (Unless you have these handy tables!)

Optional Rules
The Gloom
The Gloom is a manifestation of the city’s collective subconscious. Generated by the city’s ambient psionic field, the Gloom reflects the emotional state of the populace, responding to periods of fear, unrest, and despair. As tension within the city grows, the Gloom intensifies, becoming increasingly dangerous and beginning to influence both the minds of the citizenry and the physical reality of the city itself.
Manifestation of Gloom
The Gloom is tracked in levels. When a new level of Gloom is reached, roll a d6 or choose an appropriate manifestation.
Gloom Level 1
At level 1, the Gloom begins to influence the weather, reflecting the mood of the population.
d6 Manifestation Effect
1 Clear All creatures have a bane on tests that use the Hide skill.
2 Foggy All creatures have a bane on tests that use the Search or Navigate skills.
3 Heatwave All creatures have a bane on tests that use the Endurance skill.
4 High Winds All creatures have a bane on tests that use the Alertness or Eavesdrop skills.
5 Overcast All creatures have a bane on tests to use the Track skill.
6 Precipitation All creatures have a bane on tests that use the Sneak skill.
If a censor or conduit uses the Blessing of Fortunate Weather feature, they must roll a d10. On a 6 or higher their chosen weather effect replaces the existing one. Otherwise, it remains the same.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· May 27

Artisans and sages are all well and good, but when you need something a little more interpersonal in your Draw Steel game, you need an Emissary 🇺🇳

Followers
Three new types of followers are included across the Refugee’s Guide to Nomas.

Emissary
Emissaries are diplomatic experts who can contribute to your research and crafting projects. An emissary can contribute one project roll per day to a downtime project you choose, whether you spend those days in respite, adventuring, or other activities. They must remain at your stronghold or at the site where the project is undertaken, and must have access to the necessary materials.

When you recruit an emissary, choose four skills from the interpersonal skill group that they know. An emissary has an Intuition and Presence score of 1, and a 0 in all other characteristics. They know Caelian and three other languages of your choice.
Having an emissary also allows you to undertake the Discovering Motivations downtime project.

Discovering Motivations
Item Prerequisite: None
Project Source: None
Project Roll Characteristic: Intuition or Presence
Project Goal: 15 x NPC’s impression score
When you begin this project, you select an NPC whose motivations or pitfalls you wish to uncover. When you complete this project, you learn one of their motivations or pitfalls(Director’s choice).

At the Director’s discretion, you may be asked to justify how you will uncover the motivations of NPCs that are remote or secretive, such as a reclusive hag or a demon from the depths of the Timescape.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Apr 9

Scene from Good Omens season 1, three panels, each showing the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley having a conversation at the crucifixion.

Crowley: “What was it he said that got everyone so upset?”
Aziraphale: “Be kind to each other.”
Crowley: “Oh yeah. That’ll do it.”

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Mar 31

Saw the phenomenal Dylan Wood and Desmonda Cathabel last night performing Doomed Lover Duets, fresh off their run on Hadestown West End. It was amazing, been a fan of Dylan’s since Orphans the Musical almost 3 years ago. Damn I wish that show was still on!

Illuminated red sign saying “ Le ‘Crazy Coqs’” above the doorway to an intimate bar.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Mar 16

Nerd pilgrimage today was surprisingly emotional. Alas my very own Huan had to wait in the car.

Flowerbed topped by a gravestone that reads.
Edith Mary Tolkien
Luthien
1889-1971
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Beren
1892-1973

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Mar 10

Chrysopolis sighted over Glasgow #drawsteel

Large black box with an ornate sword on it, siting upon a white bookcase before a window with closed blinds.
The box reflects a man giving a thumbs up.

Large black box with an ornate sword on it, siting upon a white bookcase before a window with closed blinds.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Feb 5

I was reminded of this mechanic this morning and now I really wanna go back to developing this RPG😫

The Night is a unique mechanic that represents the encroaching metaphorical darkness. It reinforces the themes of the game and can influence the game using a unique resource, Night, which can be spent by the Villains and certain Slayers.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 20

We have a new Nomas update, rounding up our new from the past week and showing off one of our villains, Qynn, the Blazing Brand! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s... Featuring incredible art by @dojikaan.bsky.social #ttrpg #drawsteel #ttrpgrising #ttrpgcommunity #dnd #daggerheart #mcdm

A two page spread featuring a draw steel stat monster stat block and an image of a synthetic woman, with porcelain skin, black hair, segmented armour and black gloves. She is leaping forward with her rock billowing and red, orange and yellow energy blade pointing back.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 16

I’m two months in with Blair, it’s so much work, but so worth it!

A black Labrador puppy sitting down staring up at the camera.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 16

We’re hurtling towards the midpoint and so I thought it was time to talk about another part of our preview: Belor the Dream-Drowned: Belor is a solo villain, also found in our preview adventure, Visions In The Water, along with his faerie allies. www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s... #drawsteel #mcdm

Concept art showing three humanoid heads with 3, 3, and one eye respectively they are muscular, with angular faces and stoic expressions.

Dark page with white writing showing Malice features for the villain Belor as well as biographical information.

Belor the Dream Drowned
Belor the Brave. Belor the Wise. Belor the Dream-Drowned, as some dare call him. He is the king of all the fomor, mighty of arm and swift of mind. Beggar and thief, warlord and wild one, he sees many futures and seizes only those he deems fitting for one of his stature.

Cursed By Foresight
Many fomor experience strong visions of the past and future, but some are so plagued by them that they eventually become unable to tell their dreams from reality. Belor thrives upon this, seeking to bring about his chosen futures, those where he grows in power and influence.

Charismatic Presence
Cast out from fomor circles for his malice and treachery, Belor nonetheless carves out a living in Maywood, wielding an uncanny influence over impressionable faeries to serve his ends. He knows he has a tenuous grip on his sanity, but uses his lucid moments to plot and scheme, usually inflicting misery and harm on others to bring about the events he has seen in his visions.

Draw Steel solo monster stat blocks for Belor.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 10

The power roll should be:

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 10

Thank you Backerkit, but respectfully there are about 4000 people I’d really love you to recommend it to😬

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 10

****And a small sample of our new District Malice features: The Maywood is our Chronopathy district, largely populated by faeries and fomor and connected to the Great Wode by the Gate of Mirth. (5/5)

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 10

***New title:**** Thresh-Kallik is an olothec, who slumbers deep beneath the Riam’s Tears district. (4/5)

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 10

**Two new treasures*** (I thought canoes/shoes was Cockney rhyming slang but now I think I might have made it up?) (3/5)

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 10

*and the 5 new faerie stat blocks** I wanted the faeries to be quick and deadly, with plenty of allies and a healthy dose of panache. The Knucklebone is not legally speaking, a Feegle. (2/5)

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 8

This is our only semi-aquatic ancestry in the book but I’m really interested on exploring Quintessence through the Gate of Tears in a future supplement.

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 8

Saw a jewellery shop in Glasgow with the best name and forgot to take a picture. Thankfully the internet helped!

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 8

The Naia - Draw Steel Ancestry Preview “We’ll do what we always do. Adapt.” Long before they settled in the psionic city, the naia had mastery over their form. They came from the depths of Quintessence, where the extreme environment forged them into consummate survivors. #trrpg #dnd #merfolk

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 7

Très bien weekend á Paris! Now for the Eurostar back to London 😴

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 7

Must be the universe sending signs…👀 #paris #tacos #nomas #crowdfunder #drawsteel

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 5

I’ll just write a little adventure using our Nomas preview materials… 13 pages later. #drawsteel

Sam McGurran@sammcgurran· Dec 3

“Your objective is to reach Lord Crispin.” “Just us? Us happy few? Us band of brothers? #drawsteel #henryv #ttrpg #shakespeare