Character Codex - Round 20 - Half-Elf Barbarian and Bard

July 16, 2014 Than Gibson

Greetings Chroniclers! Welcome back to the Character Codex!

We're drawing our way through all 77 race/class combinations in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. We're starting with the half-elves today. If you've missed any previous entries you can catch up HERE!

Virtual tabletop players, make sure to pick up some free tokens suitable for use in any virtual tabletop environment.

Want to support the Character Codex? Have me draw your own personal RPG character! RPG Character Sketches are inexpensive and a great way to show off your characters unique qualities. You can find out more about that HERE!

Now, let's take a look at this week's Half-Elves!

As with half-elves in most fantasy settings, the half-elves of Chronicle are sort of stuck as outsiders to society at large. The humans and elves of Chronicle have a better relationship than in some other settings, but a half-elf still feels generally disconnected while they struggle with which side they want to identify with. Some half-elves identify more with humans and act more like humans. Such is the case with this half-elf barbarian.

He comes from one of the barbarian tribes of the southern plains. These barbarians are mostly human though half-elves and half-orcs can be found among them. He carries a greatsword, typical of barbarians and very useful in their wars with the orc tribes.

Next up is the half-elf bard. This half-elf identifies more with her elven side. Taking up the art of song, she offers her aide to adventurers and warriors as a support virtuoso.

Bards in Chronicle are trained at one of several Bardic Colleges throughout the kingdoms. She most likely trained at either the Celeque college or the Belanthian college.

That's it for this week. Check back next week for the Cleric and Druid and make sure to come back tomorrow for the latest Chronicle strip!

Character Codex - Bonus Round! - Halfling Wizard

July 7, 2014 Than Gibson

As promised, here is the Halfling Wizard!

Since I had a break this past holiday weekend, I spent a little bit more time on her than I usually do and added a few details. Since Cauns, halflings in Chronicle, are a nomadic lot, I imagined that any wizards that exist would be hedge wizards, picking up magic as they traveled. So, I gave her lots of knick-knacks and talismans. Her staff has a crystal in it that I imagine she uses for divinations and casting spells into. I also gave the staff a shod point because I can see her drawing magic circles with it.

I've had a lot of fun drawing the halflings! The Caun in Chronicle are my attempt to move halflings further away from the hobbits that they are started out as. By making them a fey race that has a few unique qualities, they can stand apart.

I'll see you on Wednesday, for the first of the Half-Elves!

Character Codex - Round 19 - Halfling Rogue and Sorcerer

July 2, 2014 Than Gibson

Greetings Chroniclers! Welcome back to the Character Codex!

We're drawing our way through all 77 race/class combinations in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. We're showing off the Halfling Rogue and Sorcerer today. The last halfling, the Halfling Wizard, will post up before next week's entry as a bonus entry so stay tuned! If you've missed any previous entries you can catch up HERE!

Virtual tabletop players, make sure to pick up some free tokens suitable for use in any virtual tabletop environment. The halflings will only be around for one more week!

Now, let's take a look at this week's Halflings!

First up is the Halfling Rogue. She is a duelist with expertise in catching her enemy off guard. I gave her a leather jerkin for a bit of armor, but for the most part she relies on her swiftness for defense. I imagine that she uses that scarf as a trip technique.

This rogue is based off one of the original Chronicle characters, a Caun named Demerus. She was a rogue that found a fallen paladin and served as his squire in hopes of helping him find his path again, I loved their story and hate that I've never gotten to tell it. Maybe one day!

Next up is the Halfling Sorcerer. I like to show that sorcerers can be anyone and this guy is another example. There's nothing special about him, just a caun who is probably part of a caravan. But, when the caravan is threatened he can bring the fire and take care of the danger.

He's had a Sorcerer's Surge or two in his time, as shown by the green hair. I also put a crackle of energy inside his fireball. I like the idea that magic effects have a crackle to them as they disperse the raw ethereal energy.

That's it for this week's update! Keep an eye out for the Halfling Wizard, coming in the next couple of days. Next week, we kick off the half-elves!

The Chronicler's Notes - Five months in and many more to go! - June 30, 2014

June 30, 2014 Than Gibson

Greetings Chroniclers!

Welcome to another week here at Chronicle as we close out our fifth month! I want to thank everyone who has continued to support Chronicle and help it grow. As always, I want to let you guys know how things are doing. We leveled off from the huge month of May and seem to be cruising right at 5,000 page views. That is fantastic in my opinion. For such a young comic I am very happy with that number. We passed our 10,000th unique visitor this month and are averaging about 2.5 page views per visit, which means that people are curious enough to click around before leaving.

So, heading towards the half year mark, what does all of that mean? It means that Chronicle has found its footing and is going to keep going. We will most likely hit the end of Chapter One by the six month mark. I had written out this first chapter and thought I would see where the comic went. If it got some attention, we would go further. If not, hey we gave it a good shot. But, there is definitely some attention. So we will wrap up Chapter One soon and keep moving forward!

One of the things that I have had trouble with was a good descriptor for Chronicle. I usually say it's a fantasy rpg based webcomic. But boy is that a mouthful. Instead, I have found a term that fits it very well: Swordpunk. What is swordpunk? Well, better that you ask G. Derek Adams, author of Spell/Sword and James D. Cormier the writer who tipped me to the term through the r/fantasy Subreddit. Basically it's fantasy that is aware it's fantasy and has fun being fantasy.

When I read these two blog posts, I had a moment of clarity. I understand my goal for Chronicle a bit more. I still want to build a world and I still want to breathe life into it, but I don't want to get so mired down in the mechanics and details that I forget to write a fun story. I want to take those fantasy tropes that have sat so long they have grown moss and roll them over exposing something fresh rather than toss them away. I think I've already done that some and will continue to push that envelope.

Finally, I've had a lot of people ask me if their kids can read Chronicle. Absolutely! I grew up with fantasy that could be read by everyone and I want to continue that tradition. There is a time and a place for "grimdark fantasy" like Game of Thrones and I love it. But I also love it when my young cousins or my friends' kids say they're enjoying the comic.

So, what is Chronicle? All-Ages Swordpunk, has a nice ring to it.

Fun Art Friday - Star Wars Kids - Little Han

June 26, 2014 Than Gibson

This is the first in a series of kid Star Wars characters. I grew up playing at being Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. So, I thought it would be fun to see them as kids at play! Obviously I will do the main cast. But what other Star Wars characters would you like to see as a kid? What would they be playing with? Leave a comment below!