We really need to talk about WANDS... (part one)

Wand of Cold (#4/28, #4/365) [EA:V2] (Enchanted Item)

This is a slender wand made from a length of Silverwood or timber from a similar alpine tree, and often stored in a thin tube of grey metal for protection. Using this wand fires off a cone of snowflakes that stream through the air towards a victim up to ten metres away, freezing them and causing them to scream in agony and suffer 5 STAMINA points damage. It can also be used on inanimate objects causing them to become brittle and break easily. When found the Wand of Cold will have 1-6 charges; once these are used up the wand is useless unless recharged. A Barbarian warrior was rumoured to have deployed a Wand of Cold in defeating the evil wizard Zeverin.

Unavailable to buy 

Wand of Ice Spheres (#5/28, #5/365) [EA:V2] (Enchanted Item)

This is a thin wand made from the ivory from a Snow Deer's antler. Using this wand fires off a number of small, glowing, pearly-white spheres that stream through the air towards a victim up to ten metres away, exploding on impact, inflicting unpleasant magical damage. Roll one die and add 1: this is the number of STAMINA points lost by the victim. When found the Wand of Ice Spheres will have 1-6 charges; once these are used up the wand is useless unless recharged. These wands were commonly used by the Ice Elves of northern Allansia prior to their supposed extinction (and indeed are still wielded by the ghosts and spectres of Ice Elves one may encounter among the ruins of their frozen civilization).

Unavailable to buy 

Dreams of more Dragons...

BRIMSTONE DRAGON (#1/28, #1/365) [OOTP IV]

SKILL: 15


STAMINA: 25

ATTACKS: 4

WEAPON: Very Large Claw and Bite

ARMOUR: Heavy

DAMAGE MODIFIER: Double Damage

HABITAT: Demonic Planes, Volcanic areas, Caves, Mountains, Hills

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1

TYPE: Monster

REACTION: Hostile 

INTELLIGENCE: High

"The Brimstone Dragon foe of old

Bring home to court its hoard of gold"

- The Tasks of Tantalon 

Thought to be related to the Hell Dragon, the fire-loving BRIMSTONE DRAGON is known from several places of furnace-level heat in the Demonic Pit, such as the Plane of Obsidian, the Plane of Pain, and the Plane of Steel. They are huge creatures, covered in a tough hide of bronze-coloured scales, with a finned crest running down their spine to the tip of a long serpentine tail, and broad spiny wings like sheets of copper. Brimstone Dragons attack with swipes of their clawed fore-paws and by biting with beak-like jaws lined with sharp spiky teeth.

Every third Attack Round the Brimstone Dragon will breathe a blast of incandescent hellfire at one opponent, who must Test their Luck or be roasted for 4 STAMINA points damage. They are of course immune themselves to all fire-based attacks whether magical or otherwise, and in fact radiate heat and steam. Anyone in combat with a Brimstone Dragon must reduct their SKILL by 1 for the duration of the battle as their energy is drained by the energy-sapping conditions.

As well as existing on warmer Demonic Planes of the Pit, the Brimstone Dragon is occasionally encountered on Titan, usually in mountainous or volcanic areas. The most infamous individual of recent times was a huge specimen that terrorized the Whitewater Valley and surrounds in Gallantaria, flying out from its cave-lair at the base of the Dark Cliffs, among the foothills of the Cragrock Peaks. The hero known as Tantalon's Heir imbibed an Invisibility Potion and stole the creature's treasure hoard of gold coins, but left much wealth and strange items behind. Perhaps they, and the dragon, remain there still?

HELL DRAGON (#2/28, #2/365) [OOTP IV]

SKILL: 16


STAMINA: 30

ATTACKS: 4

WEAPON: Very Large Claw and Bite

ARMOUR: Heavy

DAMAGE MODIFIER: Double Damage

HABITAT: Demonic Planes, Volcanic areas, Caves, Dungeons, Ruins, Mountains

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1

TYPE: Monster

REACTION: Hostile 

INTELLIGENCE: High

One of the most fearsome of foes for any demon-stalker or monster-hunter is the dreaded HELL DRAGON! Thought to be a native of the Demonic Planes, hence the name, the Hell Dragon is a horrific creature covered in armoured red and black scales, with powerful wings and a profusion of spikes and horns sprouting from its skull, spine and tail. When attacking, which is often, for the Hell Dragon is a bad-tempered and irascible beast, it will slash out with iron-hard talons and bite with jaws containing enormous sharp yellow teeth.

Every second Attack Round the Hell Dragon will breathe a blast of coruscating hellfire at up to three opponents at a time, who must all Test their Luck or be roasted for 6 STAMINA points damage. They are of course immune themselves to all fire-based attacks whether magical or otherwise, and in fact radiate heat and steam. Anyone in combat with a Hell Dragon must reduct their SKILL by 1 for the duration of the battle as their energy is drained by the baleful conditions.

The Hell Dragon is found throughout the Demonic Pit, in all abyssal habitats, and occasionally summoned to Titan by reckless Conjurers and Demonologists. Forty years ago the peaceful kingdom of Ruddlestone was menaced by a Hell Dragon that incinerated large swathes of the countryside before being slain by Lady Jorgia of Ide, a Templar-Knight of Telak the Swordbearer. Riding her warhorse Celestaine, Lady Jorgia drove the enchanted weapon known as the Paladin's Lance into the scaly breast of the beast, piercing its heart and killing the creature instantly. Thus were the fields and forests of Ruddlestone free at last from the flaming breath of the vanquished Hell Dragon.

SHADOW DRAGON (#3/28, #3/365) [OOTP IV]

SKILL: 12


STAMINA: 16

ATTACKS: 4

WEAPON: Very Large

ARMOUR: None

DAMAGE MODIFIER: Double Damage

HABITAT: Dungeons, Caves, Ruins, Ethereal Plane, Demonic Planes

NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1

TYPE: Monster

REACTION: Hostile 

INTELLIGENCE: High

The SHADOW DRAGON or Dream Dragon is a tenebrous creature, a denizen primarily of the Ethereal Plane, but also present in dark places across both the Pit and Titan. Some consider it as a Dreamtime reflection of the mighty Night Dragon itself, a projected horror of a truly terrifying enemy. Regardless, this large creature appears as a sleek, long-tailed black-scaled draconid at least twenty metres long, with a two-metre long skull-like head. In combat it will attack with shadowy metre-long talons and fangs that nevertheless cut through flesh like weapons made from black steel.

Every third Attack Round the Shadow Dragon will breathe out a cone-shaped fog of super-frozen magical cold that affects anyone fighting it. They require a successful Test for Luck to avoid losing 6 STAMINA points due to the intense cold of the Shadow Dragon's breath. In addition, it is difficult to wound the shadowy substance that the beast is comprised from; for every successful hit in combat roll one die and on an odd roll, the blow does not fully connect, passing through the beast's insubstantial form, and the Shadow Dragon takes 1 less STAMINA point damage from the hit.

These strange creatures are rarely encountered, but nevertheless some tales of Shadow Dragons do exist. Written accounts such as the Tome of the Reaches claim Priests of the Night Dragon have the power to summon Shadow Dragons to do their bidding, for the creature can be sent to seek and destroy a target across all planes, realms and dimensions. This planar-travelling ability is thought to be an inherent power of the Shadow Dragon, as crusaders who encountered such a creature in Bathoria reported on its propensity to suddenly disappear when the battle was going poorly for it, and considered the Shadow Dragon one of their most vexatious adversaries.

#CCC26 AFF vs MOTU Summary

 

 

Summary of CCC26

I started participating in 2023:

• 2023: I created 31 starting Heroes for Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E, then created a bunch more and put them in a book with John Kapsalis artwork.
• 2024: I created 31 characters using AFF 2E stats from the following films: Hawk the Slayer, Krull, Ladyhawke, and Time Bandits
• 2025: I created 31 characters, steeds and monsters using AFF 2E stats from the following kids' cartoons: Shazzan!, The Herculoids, The Mighty Mightor, Thundarr the Barbarian, and Blackstar
• 2026: I created 31 characters as starting Heroes using AFF 2E stats from the He-Man: Masters of the Universe cartoon (Filmation):

The Heroes of Castle Grayskull

• He-Man/Prince Adam

Heroic Warriors!

• Buzz-Off
• Clamp Champ
• Fisto
• Gwildor
• Man-at-Arms ("Duncan")
• Man-E-Faces
• Mekaneck
• Moss Man
• Orko
• Ram-Man
• Snout Spout
• The Sorceress
• Stratos
• Teela

The Villains of Snake Mountain

• Skeletor

Evil Warriors!

• Beast Man
• Clawful
• Evil-Lyn
• Faker
• Jitsu
• Kobra Khan
• Mer-Man
• Spikor
• Stinkor
• Trapjaw
• Tri-Clops
• Two-Bad
• Webstor
• Whiplash
• Zodac

In making these I used a home-brew mash-up of both Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E and its sci-fi ruleset, Stellar Adventures, plus found both the following websites very useful:  Wiki Grayskull, and Writeups' series of articles about Eternia. It's been fun this year, if difficult, as most of these entries were composed on the road while travelling through the northern and central Thai towns of Kamphaeng Phet, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Lopburi, but I've always enjoyed doodling TTRPG ideas into a notebook while slowly sipping a cold pint in the heat of the afternoon in whatever Thai bar I find myself. Future paths from here would be to continue detailing the remaining MOTU heroes and villains, and posting them up in the CC Corrall and possibly executing a concept whereby MOTU Heroes find themselves transported via magic portal to the Fighting Fantasy world of Titan, as played using the AFF solo rules and the city of Ludria from the Adventure Creation System, and detailling the results in a thread.

El ultimo trio...

 

GWILDOR (#29/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Heroic creator of the Cosmic Key!

Thenurian (“Space Dwarf”) INVENTOR, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 5 STAMINA: 12 LUCK: 9 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: 6 (8 in Thenuria)

Talents: Darkseeing, Robust

Special Skills: Eternian Speech 4, Thenurian Speech 4, Crafting (Locksmith) 2, Locks 2, Tech Lore 2, Bargain 1, Flail 1, Drive Vehicle 1, Energy Weapons 1, Engineering 1, Evaluate 1, Siege Weapons 1, Trap Knowledge 1

Equipment:

·      The Cosmic Key (damage as per Flail, unlocks the powers of space, time, and the universe. In practical terms this is a +4 bonus to any Special Skill roll plus the ability to Teleport 2-7 times a day until the Cosmic Key needs to be recharged with 2-12 hours of inactivity)

·      Thenurian Battle Apron (as per Leather Hauberk, plus holds ten encumbrance slots of equipment, though retrieving an item takes one Attack Round)

Money: 12 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“By the power of the Cosmic Key!”

 

“Mmmm... ah... yes... yes, I think I can. I need a few things: a masonic tesseract...”

 

 

 

TWO-BAD (#30/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Double-headed evil strategist!

Mutant STRATEGIST age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 18 LUCK: 8 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: 0

Talents: Ambidextrous, Dark Seeing, (half) Light Armour (any hit, roll 1d6 first; on 4-6 it hits Badraah’s purple scales (as per Light Armour – if this fails roll for regular armour next), Second Head (+1 ATTACK)

Special Skills: Eternian Speech 4, Arnour 2, Battle Tactics 2, Brawling 2,  Crafting 1, Drive Vehicles 1, Energy Weapons 1, Engineering 1, Siege Weapons 1, Strength 1, Tech Lore 1, Trap Knowledge 1

Equipment:

·      Yellowstone Circlet of Badraah (+1 SKILL bonus at all times)

·      Dragontooth-Buckler (as per Buckler and Shortsword)

·      Red Steel Breastplate (+1 to the Armour Roll)

·      Red Steel Gauntlet (as per Armoured Fist with +1 to Armour and Damage Rolls)

·      Belt of Red Steel (as per the Strongarm talent)

·      The Iron Boot (+1 Attack, as per Armoured Fist)

·      Red Steel Cap (+1 Attack, as per Armoured Fist)

Money: 12 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“You watch the prisoner. I’m going to get some sleep.” (Tuvar)

 

“Hey, you want me to try my new defence system?” (Badraah)

 

 

 

STINKOR (#31/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Evil master of odours!

Pelleezeean SABOTEUR, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 16 LUCK: 7 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: -1

Talents: Ambidextrous, Darkseeing, Foul Stench (all opponents at -2 SKILL unless have Nose Filters or Plugs), Small Claw

Special Skills: Eternian Speech 4, Armour 2, Sneaking 2, Thrown 2, Awareness 1, Dodge 1, Forest Lore 1, Herb Lore 1, Hunting 1, Navigation 1, Poisons 1, Strength 1, Trap Knowledge 1

Equipment:

·      Blue Steel Shield (as per Large Shield and can be thrown as a Chakram, with a +1 bonus to both Armour and Damage Rolls)

·      Armour of Odiphus (as per Breastplate, with +1 bonus to the Armour Roll, and also acts as automatic Nose Filters)

• Red Steel Belt (as per the Strongarm talent)  

Money: 7 GP (all taintedwith the Stench), Provisions: 2 (ditto)

 

“Taste this, boys and girls!”

 

“That was a good one!”

 

Spiky Bits and Extendable Necks...

MEKANECK (#27/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Heroic human periscope!

Cyborg SPY, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 16 LUCK: 9 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: 8

Talents: Hawkeye

Special Skills: Eternian Speech 4, Awareness 2, Clubs 2, Sneaking 2, Armour 1, Assess Enemy 1, Climb 1, Dodge 1, Drive Vehicle 1, Energy Weapons 1, Hunting 1, Sleight of Hand 1, Strength 1, Trap Lore 1

Equipment:

·      Cybernetic Head Extensor (goggles provide Darkseeing and Farseeing talents; neck can extend up to ten metres)

·      Red Steel Breastplate (+1 to the Armour Roll, half damage from electrical or energy based attacks)

·      The Amber Club of Orius (damage as per Greathammer, +1 to the Damage Roll)

·      Belt of Green Metal (provides the Strongarm talent)

·      Silver Boots of Leaping (as per the Jump spell three times a day)

Money: 8 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“I have a little trick up my neck for snake-face!”

 

“I’ll go ahead and scout it out!”

 

 

SPIKOR (#28/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Untouchable master of evil combat!

Mutant WEAPON-MASTER, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 16 LUCK: 8 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: 0

Talents: Ambidextrous, Weaponmaster, Mutant (Darkseeing, Spikes: as per Medium Armour, any saved hits cause 1 STAMINA damage to the attacker)

Special Skills: Eternian Speech 3, Club 2, Strength 2, Trident 2, Awareness 1, Brawling 1, Crafting (Blacksmith) 1, Dodge 1, Drive Vehicle 1, Energy Weapons 1, Martial Arts 1, Mountain Lore 1

Equipment:

·      Trident-Fist of Kleffton  (as per Trident with +1 to the Damage Roll; can be fired as a missile weapon as per standard ranges but needs to be regained and reloaded to be used again)

·      Dragon-Tooth Battle-Club (one handed to use, damage as per Greathammer with +1 to the Damage Roll)

·      Red Steel Belt of Nordling (provides the Strongarm talent)

Money: 4 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“I am called Spikor, greatest of evil warriors!”

 

“Spikor is the strongest!”

Yet another dynamic duo of Eternian enemies...

  

SNOUT SPOUT (#25/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Heroic water-blasting firefighter!

Cyborg FIRST RESPONDER, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 18 LUCK: 10 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: 6

Talents: Natural Physician

Special Skills: Eternian Speech 4, Axes 2, Healing 2,Trap Lore 2, Awareness 1, City Lore 1, Climb 1, Dodge 1, Engineering 1, Jump 1, Locks 1, Navigation 1, Strength 1, Underground Lore 1

Equipment:

·      Elephant Helmet (as per Great Helm, +1 ATTACK with Trunk (Small Claw), provides Darkseeing and Excellent Hearing and fires a jet of water up to three times a day before needing a refill. The water jets can be chilled to do 1-3 STAMINA damage per hit)

·      Axe of Cleaving (one-handed, as per Battleaxe with +1 to the Damage Roll)

·      Gloves of Fire Resistance (wearer takes half damage from all fire and heat atttacks)

·      Safety Harness (as per Leather Hauberk, plus stores enough water for 3 blasts)

·      The Belt of Tusks (as per Strongarm talent)

Money: 8 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“They call me Hose Nose for a reason!”

 

“In Eternia or Etheria I help where I can!”

 

WHIPLASH (#26/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Evil tail-thrashing warrior!

Caligar AGITATOR, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 18 LUCK: 9 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: 0

Talents: Beastfriend, Darkseeing, Tail (+1 ATTACK, as per Large Claw), Light Armour

Special Skills: Caligar Speech 4, Eternian Speech 4, Brawling 2, Spear 2, Thrown 2, Drive Vehicle 1, Energy Weapons 1, Leadership 1, Monster Lore 1, Sneaking 1, Strength 1

Equipment:

·      Spear of Torrant Krazut (+1 to Damage Roll, can be thrown as per Javelin, can fire a Force Bolt three times a day)

·      Girdle of Ceratus (as per Strongarm talent)

Companions: 1-3 KROOMS (short, pig-faced goons, SKILL 5 STAMINA 5, Spear, Light Armour) mounted on GEKS (riding lizards, SKILL 6 STAMINA 8, Large Bite, Medium Armour)

Money: 5 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“Who would dare to challenge me?”

 

“Keep your fins to yourself!”

I'm not going to make it...but I am going to finish it.

  

MOSS MAN (#23/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Heroic master of camouflage!

Floranian (Moss Person) PLANT MASTER, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 16 LUCK: 8 MAGIC: 5 

Magic Points: 15 Plant Power: 7 Social Class: 6 (8 in the Evergreen Forest)

Talents: Plantfriend, Darkseeing

Special Skills: Eternian Speech 4, Floranian Speech 4, Forest Lore 2, Magic-Plant Mastery 1, Plant Lore 2, Awareness 1, Brawling 1, Dodge 1, Climb 1, Herb Lore 1, Maces 1, Navigation 1, Sneaking 1, Strength 1

Spells (Plant Master): Speak to Plant (1), Plant Senses (2), Control Plant Monster (4), Grow (4), Power of the Plant Monster (4; Constriction, Sleep Poison)

Equipment:

·      Hardwood Mace of the Woodlord  (+1 bonus to the Damage Roll)

·      Belt of Changing (allows the wearer to Shapechange to current foliage once per day)

Money: 0 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“Wait! The moss says it might be a trap.”

 

“There, now for some help from my seaweed cousins.”

 

WEBSTOR (#24/31)

[Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2E/Masters of the Universe (Filmation)]

Evil master of escape!

Arachnan INFILTRATOR, age unknown, Male

 

SKILL: 6 STAMINA: 16 LUCK: 9 MAGIC: 0 

Magic Points: 0 Social Class: 0 (6 in the subterreanean Arachnos kindgom)

Talents: Darkseeing, Escape Artist

Special Skills: Arachnan Speech 4, Eternian Speech 4, Climb 2, Energy Weapons 2, Sneaking 2, Awareness 1, Con 1, Dodge 1, Drive Vehicle 1, Jump 1, Navigation 1, Strength 1, Trap Lore 1, Underground Lore 1

Equipment:

·      Golden Belt of Agility (+4 bonus to all Stealth tests)

·      Battle-Harness of Araneus (as per Breastplate, plus contains 50’ of rope and an attached Grappling Hook)

·      Laser Pistol

Money: 7 GP, Provisions: 2

 

“I think we better make a quick getaway!”

 

“I’m right here, boney!”