TheMandragora.com site is dedicated to roleplaying games (RPGs). I’m Bill, a gamer of more than 29 years, both as a player and GM. Much of this site details with my creation, the Mandragora (in the wiki). Created as a nemesis for my PCs in an AD&D game, the draconic beings have since featured in two play-by-mail games, as well as being a recurring race of villains in my Ashes of Freedom D&D campaign setting. Descended from Dragons, they possess a long life, powerful magical abilities, an arsenal of natural weaponry, and years of training and experience. The Mandragora themselves dwell on the Isle of Lonaraban, far from humanity but their plotting and scheming extends to Volkrania and other lands (and worlds).

The Mandragora: Ashes of Freedom RPG

As of September 2011, I’ve begun planning my own RPG, based on the Mandragora, and Ashes of Freedom – the title of this will be Mandragora: Ashes of Freedom. I’ll be blogging about this experiment – I’m planning to use the FATE system to build it, as it is OGL (Open gaming License). The game setting is likely to be one of intrigue where magic has replaced technology.

Games I play

I run or play a variety of roleplaying games (RPGs). As a player, I’ve probably actually played in more systems than I can remember. Here’s a summary of what I’m up to (or have been up to) – as a player or a GM:

• I’m currently playing the Rogue Trader wh40k RPG. My current character is Diogenes Valexos aka Basilisk, a Navigator.
• Cthulhutech. I run a fortnightly game at ORC. The setting is called “Through the Looking Glass”, set in the Edinburgh of 2085.
• Dresden Files RPG – I’m playing Alex Tregardo, an Emissary of Power for the Dragon Adonnax.
• Against the Odds (D&D 4e).
• Ashes of Freedom (D&D3.5)
• The New World Setting (D&D3.5)
• Star Wars (1st Ed. d6)
• eBranch (using the Call of Cthulhu rules and set in the world of Brian Lumley’s Necroscope series).

What I’m currently working on

Concepts-wise, I’m working on a few ideas.

• A mini-campaign for Marvel Super Heroes RPG – either the new version or the old FASERIP system.
• The Dark Edinburgh theme, my thematically loosely-linked games set in Edinburgh, including the Call of Cthulhu setting called Arunstoun.
• Getting the first part of the Mandragora: Ashes of Freedom RPG written.

Hopefully you’ll stick around and find some of the little nuggets of info I have scattered around the site of use. Not all of the articles are gaming-related: I work in IT, and I also enjoy cooking.

IT Articles

• IT security
• Netropolis – Building a Website Part 1
• Netropolis – Building a Website Part 2
• Netropolis – Building a Website Part 3
• RSS feeds and blog publishing for RPG bloggers
• Upgrading Joomla from 1.5 to 2.5

RPG Articles

• Writing a Script
• Writing and drawing – How to submit your work for an RPG
• The World is not enough: RPG Settings
• How to GM without going insane
• RPGing on a budget
• Building a city (Part 1)
• Building a city (Part 2)
• PC groups – how PCs meet in RPGs
• Joining the Dark Side
• Gamer Friendly Venues in Edinburgh
• Narrative Games
• Playtesting RPGs
• Building the Mandragora: Ashes of Freedom RPG pt.1 – Initial Thoughts
• Building the Mandragora: Ashes of Freedom RPG pt.2 – Alignment
• Building the Mandragora: Ashes of Freedom RPG pt.3 – Systems & Implementation
• GM Burnout
• The Art of “Winging it”
• Cthulhutech – running CT campaigns
• Building the Mandragora Ashes of Freedom RPG pt.4 – Noble Houses
• RPG Piracy
• The Secret Fire RPG: The Demons Shall Arise!
• RPG Meta-plot: is it needed?
• Spy RPGs – keep them intriguing!
• RPG groups for under 18s
• Deep Ones! With Guns!
• May of the Dead

Recipes

• Recipe: Potato Wedges
• Recipe: Bills Meatball Sauce

Some of these pages contain links to Amazon via an affiliate link. Check out my blog to find out about the games I’m running at ORC or elsewhere. If you’ve really found the stuff on the website useful, why not send me something from my Amazon wishlist?

This site uses a number of technologies: MySQL, combined with PHP, along with WordPress and MediaWiki.