RPG Campaign Tour Challenge: Day 08

8. Tell us about the local peoples and their cultures.

"The Zem are a tribe composed of the refugees of many tribes of all genotypes. Together, we are stronger. We honor many of the traditions of our pre-Zem ancestors according to our individual choices, but we unite as Zem to observe Zem holidays, participate in Zem rituals, and uphold Zem oaths of hospitality, diplomacy, and defense.

"The Z'Nee are a tribe of Humans and Manimals who dwell on the coast to the southwest. They are devoted to a cult of which their leader is the high priest. Attempts at diplomacy have failed. We often call them the Smiling Killers.

"The Zogwor live inland to the south. They are a tribe of Manimals who guard their territory fiercely. They distrust non-Zogwor, but those who know how to approach them and respect their customs can sometimes negotiate or even trade with them. Their tribe is organized into familial packs, and they are primarily Hunters.

"The Zerf reside on the coast to the east. They are a tribe of Humans who fish and gather nutrients and treasures from the sea. They are our nearest trading partners.

"The Bah-Uu are a tribe of Plantients who grow inland to the northwest. The Zem and the Bah-Uu are at peace, but there is little trade. The two tribes primarily exchange information. Both honor the oaths of hospitality.

"Many smaller tribes of varying genotypical composition live in the north, northwest, and far south. Some are friendly; some are hostile; some are isolationist. We are willing to meet with any who abide by the oath of diplomacy."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 07

7. What's the weather like today?

"Today, the weather is like most days in Ridia: hot and humid. Plantlife is abundant. Beastlife also flourishes. It rained heavily but briefly this morning. Now, mist hangs in the air, and by afternoon the sun will shine brightly. Rain may come again before nightfall.

"On rare occasions the air will cool, perhaps for a few days. There may even be frost, which can be uncomfortable or even painful for the plantfolk of this land. Sometimes there are atmospheric disturbances that can cause suffering and ill portents: thunderstorms, negastorms, psiclones, hurricanes, and other dangerous weather phenomena. Today, however, is like most days in Ridia. The world is lush and vibrant.

"The climate and lands of the Great Continent vary. There are regions where nothing grows and the air is dry. There are regions where the frost lasts longer or never ends. There are regions where fires burn for many seasons before they are quenched.

"We are thankful to live in Ridia. We have our hardships, but we live in a beautiful and bountiful land. Today is a good day."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 06

6. Where shall we begin?

"You begin where you are, in your home village of Null, the first village of the Zem tribe. At the end of the Harvest Festival, the Holy Seer conducts the First Rite of Adulthood in the sacred longhouse for all who are eligible. He takes the ashes from the bonfire and traces circles around the eyes of each who undertakes the ritual. Then he covers his own face with ashes and dons the Eye Bracelet [gold eyeglass frames]. He chants. Then he instructs. Before he sends you off on your Quest, he parts a curtain of seashells revealing a tall cabinet. From it he distributes cubes of translucent orange, advising you to hold them by the stick that protrudes from each one. Then he licks one, commanding you to do the same. From that moment on, you have been inducted into the First Mystery of Maturity and initiated as a Contender for Adult Status in the tribe of Zem. May your Quest be fructuous."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 05

5. Can you tell us about the campaign's history?

Once it has a history, I'll be able to tell it, but the campaign hasn't yet begun.

Should I run it for more than one group? If I do, should I have the groups merge at some point if possible? Should I post session reports? I like session reports. They become the history of the campaign and a secondary source of notes accessible to everyone. I'll definitely try to post session reports. If this reads like stream-of-conscious blogging, that's because it is. "Sorry about that, chief." If I decide to post session reports, I will link them here.

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 04

4. Is there a map?

There is no map that I can share... yet. To share it now would be a spoiler hazard to players, and Mutant Crawl Classics RPG is very much a game of exploration in a post-apocalyptic setting that may or may not take place on Earth in the possibly distant future after certain world-changing events may or may not have happened. What I can say is that Jee-Oh is not identical to the default setting presented in MCC RPG, Terra A.D. Jee-Oh is my own creation inspired by Thundarr the Barbarian, early editions of TSR's Gamma World, and what little I've seen of certain out-of-print post-apocalyptic comic books. Plus some Ark II, Logan's Run, Mad Max, Road Warrior, etc. But it's mainly a mash-up of Thundarr and Gamma World. Perhaps I can share a map someday, but not today.

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 03

3. Where the heck are we?

"Our world is called Jee-Oh in the common language of the Zem. It is said that our world is one of many, and that the Ancients could see other worlds in the sky. There are legends of outworlders coming to Jee-Oh and of the Ancients exploring other worlds, but it is impossible to know what is fact and what is folktale. What we do know is that plantkind was the first to grow in Jee-Oh, followed by beastkind who sprouted into humanity, mutantia, and manimalia.

"We of the tribe of Zem dwell in the land of Ridia, which is an offshoot of the Great Continent. The climate varies greatly across the continent, but in Ridia it is hot and wet, with plentiful rain and vast vegetation. Here and there, we find ruins of the Ancients on land or undersea. Our Seekers map them and retrieve artifacts for cataloguing, study, and potential use for the betterment of life.

"Within Ridia, the tribe of Zem inhabit a slowly expanding patulous cluster of villages including Null, Onay, T'Woh, T'Hree, Foh-Ur, Feevay, Zix, and Seh-Ven. All Zem are free regardless of genotype. Each village elects a chief, and the village chiefs elect a tribal chief. In this way, the tribe defends itself from pests, maintains its health, and grows.

"I, Fernettica, am the chief of the village of Null, the original Zem settlement, and the eldermost of all the Zem. The Zem in Null have pride, but also wisdom. We remember the hardship. We remember the unity that enabled us to survive. We honor our ancestors and their pacts of friendship."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 02

2. About Your Tour Guide

"I am the chief and veg-matron of the village of Null of the tribe of Zem. I am called Fernettica by those who cannot speak the subtle language of plants. I am the progenitor of all living Fern Plantients, for I am the only survivor of the Mass Herbicide of long ago. Amid the devastation, a Human called Botta Nist found me and brought me to a safe place where many others were given sanctuary. Over many seasons, this place, Null, became a new home to refugees who formed a new tribe called the Zem. The Zem have founded more villages and all follow the same tribal laws of hospitality and cooperation. All are welcome who share."

Fernettica's Mutant Crawl Classics RPG stats might be forthcoming. I'm just concerned about spoilers for my players. Suffice it to say she is a wise and majestic Plantient of the fern variety whose maternal instinct is extended to the entire tribe.

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 01

1. Campaign Introduction and Overview

This month, I shall attempt to participate in Adam Dickstein's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 with two different campaigns in two different blogs. In Decidedly 6-Sided, I am discussing my Toledo Ghostbusters campaign. For Applied Phantasticality, I shall be using a campaign I have been preparing for, but have not yet run. (I would very much like to start it by this spring.) My responses to this challenge's prompts will likely be brief as this campaign world is a work in progress, but I think it may help in shaping its direction.

The campaign is called The Zem of Null. The system is Mutant Crawl Classics RPG. As with most MCC RPG campaigns, it starts with a rite of passage for the youths of a primitive tribe in a post-apocalyptic world and leads to an exploration of that world far beyond the travels of their elders where they will discover the ruins and artifacts of the Ancients and possible clues as to their disappearance. Player characters will be seeking to prove themselves to their tribe, improve their status, help their village, and expand their knowledge. They may also have other goals dictated by their own personal aspirations, codes, relationships, and interests.

The Zem is a tribe of all genotypes (Humans, Mutants, Manimals, and Plantients), essentially a confederation of the refugees of many different tribes that had been decimated by various hostile tribes, natural disasters, and monstrous rampages. They banded together for mutual protection and, through cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and traditions, prospered and expanded. There are now many villages in the Zem tribe including Null, Onay, T'Woh, T'Hree, Foh-Ur, Feevay, and others. The player characters begin as Zem in the village of Null about to take part in the rite of passage that will confer the privileges of adulthood in their society.

Each player will start with four 0-level characters in the standard manner of MCC RPG (eight 0-level characters each if I can't find more than two players). The house rules are here. As mentioned there, all human classes from both Mutant Crawl Classics RPG and Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG are permitted. Non-human classes from DCC RPG will be considered, but will probably have to be reskinned for this setting. In general, this is a science fantasy campaign where the line between sorcery and super science is blurry and the sword can be as mighty as the laser pistol.

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

Old School XP Heresy?

I enjoy both old school aesthetics and the very old school mindset of relying on one's own inventiveness, but I am not an idolator and there are certain aspects of the Original Fantasy Adventure Game I have always been more than willing to entertain the notion of tossing into a sphere of annihilation. One such thing is the concept of experience points—how they are gained, how they are calculated, how many are needed for levelling up. I have no use for it. If I were to run the earliest edition of Dungeons & Dragons or return to Swords & Wizardry White Box, I would be strongly tempted to use the experience system from Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, create my own, or just wing it free-form-style. Anything, to my mind, would be better than the pitiless bean-counting obstacle of fun and adversary of immersion that is the traditional experience point system unless it serves the fictional genre and/or can be referenced in character (such as video games or game shows). It may be heretical to the "rules as written" tribe, but I have always subscribed to the philosophy of necessary rules tinkering: If something doesn't work for you, replace it with something that does. When it hits your table, it's your game. You can craft it to suit the needs of your gaming group. It's the original old school way.

My Blogging Challenge Sense Is Tingling

Adam Dickstein is starting a new blogging challenge in February called Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026. I think it's an excellent idea, and I think it behooves us as bloggers to share this idea widely.

[This article is cross-posted here in Decidedly 6-Sided.]