Sword’s Edge Publishing

So, I think I’ve gone through the entire definition of sword noir. Over at Sword’s Edge, I’ve even got a story going up to which much of the definition applies. Funny thing is, I wrote it long before I was even thinking about sword noir, and actually before I had seen either of my noir [...]

[Read more →]

I’m still talking about sword noir. I’m wondering if anyone is still listening? Er, I guess that would be writing and reading, but you know what I mean. The basis for all this has been a definition of sword noir I provided here. So what is sword noir as a genre? Characters morals are shifting [...]

[Read more →]

I’m back to talk about adapting sword noir into a campaign. This is all based on a rather flippant but workable definition of sword noir I shared here. So what is sword noir as a genre? Characters morals are shifting at best and absent at worst. The atmosphere is dark and hope is frail or [...]

[Read more →]

There are a lot of different factors to playing a role-playing game. One of those, at least in most of the ones that I play, is resource management. Whether it is making considerations based on remaining hit points, or deciding when to use that last remaining conviction point, there are resources that impact on our [...]

[Read more →]

I wrote about Sword Noir characters in the last post, and I mentioned this was not the hardest part about Sword Noir. What is the hardest part? The atmosphere. Listen, giving an actual description of what constitutes film noir is pretty tough. That’s true of a lot of genres. A lot of people know what [...]

[Read more →]

Reason # 3 to buy the current issue of On Spec: it may lead to the wholesale adoption of Sword Noir as a genre . . . that or it goes into the dustbin of history, either way you have an issue of On Spec! Yes, this article is going to be about Sword Noir. [...]

[Read more →]

It’s always tough to fight a villain (or other opposition) who seems to know everything you are doing and is one step ahead. Unfortunately, too often, this looks like GM fiat, like the GM is using the knowledge gleaned from running the game to run the opposition. This isn’t any fun, and leads the players [...]

[Read more →]

“This is fucking bad,” Dyck said. “This is way fucking bad.” “You’ll be okay.” Mads searched his memory for what Harvey Keitel had said in that movie. “It takes a long time to die from a gut wound. Hurts like hell, but you’ve lots of time. We’ll get you patched up. It’ll be good.” In [...]

[Read more →]

Do I need to use spoiler tags? I don’t think so. I don’t think talking about anything that happens in Dark Horizons requires spoiler tags. Why would you be reading this if you haven’t been reading that? When last we left our heroes, they were being betrayed. One of the special operations team in Kathmandu [...]

[Read more →]

In “. . . I Would’ve Baked a Cake,” the characters get caught in a sniper trap. Well, more of a “marksmen” trap, but you take my meaning. In a game, that could lead to character deaths. That’s not always desirable, even when you want the sniper to be a frightening opponent and capable of [...]

[Read more →]