Actual Play - The Mutant Epoch: The High Desert Session 36

 Shrike Queen! Happening Now! 

Actual Play - The Mutant Epoch: The High Desert Session 36

September 3rd 2025

Join Rubble Goblins Tim and the crew for another live play episode of The Mutant Epoch TTRPG

https://www.youtube.com/live/3PyhrU02CYE

#liveplay #rubblegoblins #youtube #mutantepoch #rpg #ttrpg #outlandsystem #thehighdesert #actualplay #game #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #tme #wasteland #tabletoprpg #tabletop #tabletopgame #indiegame #indierpg

Actual Play - The Mutant Epoch: The High Desert Session 32

 Happening Now! 

Actual Play - The Mutant Epoch: The High Desert Session 32

July 23th 2025

Join Rubble Goblins Tim and the crew for session 32 for live, remote play of this post-apocalyptic TTRPG.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WujgijBaerc

Painting Nuke Tower's Cover while camping

 Been doing some camping and painting on a hundred year old easel. This is going to be the cover art for our next book, a massive 3-5th rank adventure called Nuke Tower. Stay tuned for more progress shots as I get back to this one! WM

Digital Being inhabiting a Laptop Computer

 Digital Being inhabiting a Laptop Computer

Ink Art from page 73 of  The Mutant Epoch RPG Expansion Rules

While a digital being can be housed within almost any laptop, and access the programs, files and peripheral devices that it’s hooked up to, only 1 in 10 are specially designed to accommodate digital beings and have a back port that accepts either a palm disk, medallion disk, or the CPU core from a hand mirror or projector aerial drone. To better aid the DB when interacting with physical beings, any laptop will let a digital being’s face appear on the screen as an animated version of its chosen or assigned persona. 

Watch a video intro of this new book at RPG Overviews on Youtube:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmR1zStcU38

Palm Disk housed Digital Being Cowpoke

 

Ink Art from page 72 of  The Mutant Epoch RPG Expansion Rules

These were the most common housings for digital beings and often serve as the core CPU container within larger vessels. Palm disks come in many shapes and sizes but generally perch in an open hand, on a shelf, in a vehicles cup holder or back pocket. 

These disks sometimes feature a bonus add-on. Roll 1d10.

1-3. No add-on.

4. Waterproof and will float if dropped in liquid.

5. Pop out spider legs: climbing 3 skill points, movement rate 4m, scratch opponents SV +0, DMG 1pt

6. Extra encryption: Improved firewall bonus of -20 FW.

7. Ultra memory: Can contain 150TB of data

8. Military Grade Toughness: Add +2d6 Endurance and increase DV by -13.

9. Pop out rotors: This unit can fly like a small drone, although makes the same amount of noise as a bumblebee when active. Movement rate 12m, with flight duration 1 hour before a 12 hour recharge period must take place. While flying, increase defense value -20 DV.

10. Two add-ons (roll 1d6+3, twice on this table but down-pick or re-roll duplicated results).

New to the Mutant Epoch RPG? 

Grab the free quick Start rules PDF and the included Adventure, ‘Muddy Mayhem’: https://www.outlandarts.com/qsr.htm

#palmdisk #cowboy #hologram #palmprojector #digicowboy #digitalbeing #AIentity #selfaware #computerized #hand #projector #relic #cowpoke #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #RPG #ttrpg #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #wastelandweekend #inkartist #gameart #rpgart #TME #williammcausland like #gammaworld or #mutantyearzero or #mutantcrawlclassics

Wristwatch Projector Digital Being

 

Ink Art from page 72 of  The Mutant Epoch RPG Expansion Rules

Besides being an excellent projector that allows hands free use, this watch can also be worn under the wearer’s armor to better protect it — although anything blocking the topside projection emitter will stop the holographic image from appearing, seeing its surroundings or launching its shock generator or most other apps — yet the digital being can still verbally interact with the wearer. This model will normally be a clunky, sports style watch with a digital readout of the current time (once set) plus offer a stopwatch feature, night light mode (which can emit a soft illumination in a meter around the wearer), 

Come say hello at this EN World thread:

https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-mutant-epoch-rpg-expansion-rules-book-is-finally-here.707667/

The Dreaded Pulviss

 

The dreaded pulviss!

Grab it today at the recession friendly price of Pay What You Want! At

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/524023/monday-mutants-31-pulviss

For the mutant Epoch tabletop role-playing game.

Pulviss Monday Mutant 31

Don’t become the unwilling subscriber and rope-bound follower of this hulking mutie!

The Pulviss gets its name from the word ‘pulverize’. This apt name serves it well for both its brutal, multiple close-in attacks, as well as its bizarre need to dominate, demoralize and crush the willpower and self respect of those that it collects.

We return to the Monday Mutants series with a bang. The pulviss is an epic 8 page creature listing for an unpredictable and grotesque collector of companions — just hope your post-apocalyptic heroes don’t end up roped to the gang of ‘subscribers’ and ‘fans’ for the colossal brute’s sport, or left tied to a post as a decoy when something worse comes along.

This is our 31st Monday Mutant for The Mutant Epoch role-playing game using the Outland System. Our previous 24 Pay What You Want offerings were added into a book along with 6 never before seen, remarkable muties and available in the Monday Mutants Bestiary.

This collector of unwilling playthings, pets, and bait humans includes a 1d8 random mutation table, 2d12 table of possible humanoid thrall captives to rescue, along with a 3d6 table of collectibles that the beast carries as loot, or barter items when in the mood to trade for luxuries.

While we can’t publish a Monday Mutant every week, we are aiming to release one of these freaks every 2nd Monday for this ongoing next dozen. Join us on your favorite social media venue and follow along, links at our website.

Grab your copy today at this link:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/524023/monday-mutants-31-pulviss

Best regards,

William McAusland

Author and Illustrator

#mondaymutants #pulviss #pwyw #paywhatyouwant #free #mutantepoch #mutie #buckteeth #drivethrurpg #ugly #monster #apocalyptic #thrall #inkart #inkartist #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #ttrpg #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #gameart #rpgart #williammcausland like #gammaworld or #mutantyearzero or #mutantcrawlclassics #freak

Montage of Assorted Digital Being Personas

 

Scene from the page presenting Digital Being Rank Gain

Ink Art from page 70  of  The Mutant Epoch RPG Expansion Rules

Digital Beings go up in rank like any other character, however because they have a few features that physical characters do not, they use their own Rank Gain matrix shown below. If this character inhabits a cyborg, android or robotic body, then these bodies also grow stronger, adapts, and improves through adventuresome exploits, and therefore also go up in rank according to their type. See the section on Digital Being Starting Container or Body on the next page for which containers and body types are eligible to go up in rank.

You can play these freaks using the new rule book:

https://www.outlandarts.com/expansionrules.htm

Digital Combat

Ink Art from page 67 of  The Mutant Epoch RPG Expansion Rules

Hacking and Firewall

Besides traits, other details unique to digital beings are their attack and defense modes, with hacking equivalent to strike value, and firewall equivalent to defense value. These traits are abbreviated as HK and FW.

Hacking, or HK, is used to engage other digital beings and robots, androids, and computer systems on board vessels or within installations. Digital combat occurs within the patch cable and port where the target entity has its physical body restrained or the attacker gets adjacent to the target CPU’s container or body. The defending unit might actually be more powerful than the attacker, and turn the tables and instead hack the aggressor — although even if defeating another digital being, either party need not occupy the CPU of the victim but instead merely fragment it or do other harm. Sometimes, wireless hacking attacks can be made, too, although this is a special app described on page 84. Once a target CPU is drained of data, and fragmented, the conquering digital being can flow into the victim’s CPU via a patch cable and claim its robotic body, or machinery, and assume it as its new body.

From the Mutant Epoch RPG Expansion Rules Book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994923791

Bestial Human Woodpecker

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Colin Chapman

Bestial human woodpeckers are opportunistic omnivores but particularly enjoy eating bugs and tree sap. While not necessarily offensive themselves, their tendency to keep their beaks in excellent condition by jack hammering wooden constructions such as poles, shop signs, palisades and towers, labels them a pest in many communities. They will be accepted if accompanied by humans and mutant humans, but will quickly be ousted if they cause any property damage.

Humanoid woodpeckers have pronounced wing-arms can fly (20m per round). With their misshapen hands that protrude from their wings they can both drop objects on ground targets or wield a one handed weapon. Should they choose to cease flapping their wings to employ a crossbow, long gun or other two-handed weapon while in the air, they will need to get plenty of altitude first since they’ll plummet to the ground at a rate of 10m per round. 

New to the Mutant Epoch RPG? 

Grab the free quick Start rules PDF and the included Adventure, ‘Muddy Mayhem’: https://www.outlandarts.com/qsr.htm

#woodpecker #pecker #bird #birdman #avian #beast #bestial #manimal #RPG #ttrpg #characterdesign #bestialhuman #characters #noaiart #williammcausland #wasteland #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #inkartist #Kamloopsartist #fallout like #gammaworld
 #humanoidanimal #roleplayinggame #indiegame #flyer

Bestial Human Weasel

 Bestial Human Weasel

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Colin Chapman

Bloodthirsty and insatiable, bestial human weasels and stoats are swift carnivores with a reputation for viciousness out of all proportion to their size. They act with blinding speed (+2 initiative), and can divide their bite and two rear-claw attacks up to make three separate strike attempts on three separate foes (SV +10/ DMG 1d8+1 each) or combine all into a single flurry against one victim (SV +20/ DMG 3d8+4).

Stoat- and weasel-men are stealthy hunters (add 1d3+2 in the stealth skill), and their fur turns white in winter, a time when they can also endure twice the cold a human can, even without winter clothing.

Watch a video intro of this new book at RPG Overviews on Youtube:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmR1zStcU38

#weasel  #weaselman #predator #carnivore #beast #bestial #manimal #RPG #ttrpg #mammal #bestialhuman #characters #noaiart #williammcausland #wasteland #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #inkartist #Kamloopsartist #apocalyptic #fallout like #gammaworld
 #humanoidanimal #roleplayinggame #indiegame #meateater

Bestial Human Squirrel

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Blood Axe and W. McAusland

These agile tree rodents are excellent climbers and do so at their normal speed (add 1d3+2 points to their climbing skill) and are quite alert (+3 initiative). Their fur helps protect them from the elements so they can withstand cold weather twice as well as a human. They prefer fruit, nuts, seeds and berries, but are omnivores and will eat meat in a pinch — although few people realize this.

They are welcome in most trading settlements as normal squirrels are recognized as friendly furry critters that were fed peanuts in public parks in better times, although in the Epochian era there are strains of dangerous or predatory squirrels such as the whiptail, carnivorous and freakish variants (all described on pages 113 and 114 of the Mutant Bestiary One book). Only people familiar with these other strains might be especially frightened by meeting a child sized squirrel in their community. Other people, as well as bestial human predators, hunt and eat normal squirrels and tend to see bestial human squirrels as food, a fact that these furry, bushy tailed humanoids are quite aware.

New to the Mutant Epoch RPG? 

Grab the free quick Start rules PDF and the included Adventure, ‘Muddy Mayhem’: https://www.outlandarts.com/qsr.htm

Bestial Human Skunk

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Blood Axe

Bestial skunks are quite distinctive with their white stripe and luxurious, cold resistant fur coats and well-known ability to spray a streamer of stench. They are not welcome in human settlements unless disguised, already a trusted resident, arriving with more normal looking humans, or the gate guards are offered a hefty bribe (30+3d6sp). Likewise, a skunk-man will not be allowed into an eatery or saloon in an unfamiliar community and must take its food outside.

Bestial Skunks can make 1 bite and two claw attacks, each SV +5, DMG 1d8, or combine them in one flurry attack at +22 doing 3d8+6 damage. They can also use their infamous stench spray. Treat as Gaseous Discharge mutation: Stink, page 67 of the hub rules.

You can play these bestial human critters using the new rule book.

Check it out: https://www.outlandarts.com/expansionrules.htm

#skunk #skunkgirl #pepelepew #stinky #smelly #beast #bestial #manimal #RPG #ttrpg #mammal #bestialhuman #characters #noaiart #williammcausland #wasteland #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #inkartist #Kamloopsartist #apocalyptic #fallout like #gammaworld
 #humanoidanimal #roleplayinggame #indiegame #smell

Bestial Human Skink

 

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Colin Chapman

Bestial human skinks are typical lizardoids, and so aggressive and territorial carnivores with a taste for bugmeat. They have strong bites (SV +9/ DMG 1d12), and are capable climbers (1d2 skill points in climbing), as well as secretive (1d2 skill points in stealth) and quick to act (+1 initiative).

Skink-men can grow back a lost leg, tail, or arm within 2+d3 months and may even voluntarily shed their tail to escape predators, which often break off their chase for the rest of the character to eat the still moving, fleshy tail.

Due to their aggressive, defensive nature, bestial human skinks are only permitted entry to human habitations when accompanied by friendly humans and human mutants, and even then will be observed. That reptile meat is considered palatable simply makes their position more precarious, and skinkoids are frightened of many larger predators.

Check it out: https://www.outlandarts.com/expansionrules.htm or

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/499645/the-mutant-epoch-rpg-expansion-rules 

or https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994923791

#skink #lizard #lizardman #reptile #beast #bestial #manimal #RPG #ttrpg #characterdesign #bestialhuman #characters #noaiart #williammcausland #wasteland #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #inkartist #Kamloopsartist #apocalyptic #fallout like #gammaworld
 #humanoidanimal #roleplayinggame #indiegame #reptilius

Bestial Human Shrew

 Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Colin Chapman

Although small and rodentine in appearance, bestial human shrews are actually fierce, voracious and hyperactive omnivores armed with a mouthful of sharp teeth, poisonous saliva (Type A, paralysis), and a decided preference for meat.

They can make a bite attack (SV +8/ DMG 1d10+poison) as well as use one-handed weapons; however, their tiny fists deliver a punch that inflicts only d4 damage. Because they are quite diminutive as far as humanoids go, they cannot use heavy two handed weapons such a battle axes, pikes, halberds, pikes, heavy crossbows, longbows, great swords, chainsaws and similar large weapons. Likewise, discharging powerful firearms such as shotguns and high caliber rifles will knock them back 1d3 meters and down, expending their next round as they get up again.

Humanoid shrews are swift-acting and alert (+1 initiative), quick for their size (9m), capable climbers (1d2 skill points in climbing) and adept at hiding and sneaking (add 1d3 skill points in stealth).

Watch a video intro of this new book at RPG Overviews on Youtube:


  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmR1zStcU38

#shrew #shrewman #mammal #rodent #beast #bestial #manimal #RPG #ttrpg #bestialhuman #characters #noaiart #williammcausland #wasteland #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #inkartist #Kamloopsartist #apocalyptic #fallout like #gammaworld
 #humanoidanimal #roleplayinggame #indiegame #tiny

Bestial Human Salamander

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Colin Chapman

Bestial human salamanders are patient carnivores and are fully amphibious, able to breathe water or air, and can withstand twice as much cold as a normal human even without protective gear or clothing. They are also excellent swimmers (12m) thanks to their short, paddle-like hands and feet. Unfortunately, they face drying out in hot climates, suffering 1d4 damage per hour when exposed to the likes of desert conditions without proper covering and constant moisture.

    These amphibious human hybrids are able to grow back a lost leg, tail, or arm within 2+d3 months, and can deliver a nasty bite (SV +8/ DMG 1d12). They also secrete toxins through their skin which grants them the benefit of the poison blood mutation (Type A, death as described on page 71 of the hub rules), but without it being necessary to break the skin; there is a good reason they advertise their toxic nature with vibrant patterning. Simply licking or otherwise ingesting the slimy mucous that coats a salamander’s skin is enough for the poison to take effect.

Check it out: https://www.outlandarts.com/expansionrules.htm or

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/499645/the-mutant-epoch-rpg-expansion-rules 

or https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994923791

Bestial Human Road Runner

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Colin Chapman

Long-legged and quick (move 12m per round), bestial human road runners are omnivores with a taste for bugs, lizards, snakes, and rodents, as well as vegetation. They have a sharp beak and talons (SV +7/ DMG 1d10), and react quickly to opportunity and danger (+1 initiative).

Humanoid road runners can fly clumsily with their wing-arms (10m per round), and while airborne can use their misshapen hands, to either employ a one handed weapon or drop a rock or grenade from each hand. Alternatively, they can gain considerable altitude and then stop flapping their wings to bring their hands together to use a two handed device or ranged weapon, such as a crossbow, rifle or bow. When not flapping they drop at a rate of 10m per round.

Check it out: https://www.outlandarts.com/expansionrules.htm or

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/499645/the-mutant-epoch-rpg-expansion-rules 

or https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994923791

#roadrunner #bird #birdman #runner #beast #bestial #manimal #RPG #ttrpg  #bestialhuman #characters #noaiart #williammcausland #wasteland #mutantepoch #apocalyptic #expansionrules #postapocalyptic #themutantepoch #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #inkartist #Kamloopsartist #apocalyptic #fallout like #gammaworld
 #humanoidanimal #roleplayinggame #indiegame #beepbeep

Bestial Human Rabbit

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Blood Axe and Colin Chapman

Rabbit humanoids are herbivores and will not eat meat of any type. They have incredibly powerful legs and can jump x2 that of a regular human normal distances. Their keen hearing and sense of smell makes them difficult to surprise (+1 initiative). In emergencies they can bite with their large front teeth (+4 SV, 1d6 damage) but prefer to kick with their strong legs. (+10 SV, 2d8 damage)

They are not seen as a threat and are regarded as cute and cuddly by most humans, so are welcome in trading settlements if they accept mutant humans, although during times of famine, these rabbitoids are also welcome because they are edible and their skins make for splendid pelts. For this reason, these hybrids are always on their guard, especially around the likes of normal and bestial human felines, raptors, canines, snakes, and weasels.

Check it out: https://www.outlandarts.com/expansionrules.htm or

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/499645/the-mutant-epoch-rpg-expansion-rules 

or https://www.amazon.com/dp/0994923791

Bestial Human Porcupine

Hand drawn Ink art by William McAusland, writing by Colin Chapman

Armored with a multitude of long quills, humanoid porcupines are dangerous to tackle even if they are otherwise inoffensive and slow. These bestial humans are herbivores capable of digesting most vegetable matter including twigs, bark, pine needles, and other foodstuffs that might be considered inedible.

Their quills act as the Spines mutation (TME, page 73), providing armor, adding an additional 1d6 damage to the porcupine-man’s unarmed attacks (fist or kick thus does 2d6 damage), and automatically cut and pierce the insides of any animal that swallows the rodentoid for 2d6 damage per round. 

Except for specially designed junk and scrap relic armor, humanoid porcupines cannot wear relic armor; unless they spend an hour a day clipping off the quills with wire cutters or a small saw. These quills do not cover the head, limbs, stomach or groin area, and cannot be shot out unless the porcupinoid also has the Throwing Quills mutation.

Watch a video intro of this new book at RPG Overviews on Youtube:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmR1zStcU38