Codex – Yellow
The newest issue of our zine, Codex, is now in the Patreon feed!
Codex – Yellow is all about Carcosa, a setting introduced in an 1886 short story by Ambrose Bierce, but since adopted and reinterpreted by numerous science fiction and fantasy writers, game designers, and TV and film producers. Codex – Yellow is our little slice of the Carcosa mythology, principally inspired by some of the roleplaying game interpretations of the setting that have come before.
Here is an overview of Codex – Yellow…
The cover (pictured below) features an illustration by Dirk Detweiler Leichty.
The Society for Vegan Sorcerers is a micro game by Wendy Gorman about a group of sorcerers trying to find vegan-friendly alternatives to human sacrifice! The piece is hilarious (and deliciously subversive), and has a really fun illustration by Sean Poppe.
The City of Carcosa is a Dungeon World starter by Andrew Shields. It presents a dreamy, arts-focused take on Carcosa, where the citizens are engaged in an endless cycle of revelry, self-discovery and existential dread. It’s a strange, beautiful diversion from the typical Dungeon World adventure, and features a number of dark, gorgeous illustrations by Vandel J. Arden.
The Search for the Yellow City is a Cheat Your Own Adventure scenario by Fred Bednarski. It presents a basic set-up for the story, the text of the first scene you can simply read aloud at the table to kick things off, and a rules hack for planar shifts. This piece features a particularly brilliant bit of layout by Oli Jeffery and an original illustration by Nery Mejicano.
The Yellow Planet is a collection of Dungeon World elements inspired by science fantasy literature and the Lamentations of the Flame Princess book, Carcosa. It presents Carcosa as a planet of impossible ecologies, forgotten histories, and Lovecraftian monstrosities. It was written by myself, Daniel Fowler, Fraser Simons, and Tony Hahn. Illustrations are by Ray Otus.
This month’s miscellany is one of the most diverse and interesting we’ve ever done. It’s called Three Dozen Forbidden Texts, and was inspired by the apocryphal play The King in Yellow, featured in stories about Carcosa by Robert W. Chambers.
Finally, this issue has an updated list of Codex Keepers (Patrons who pledge at the $4 or higher level). If you’d like to see your name added to that list in the future, as well as get a copy of Codex – Yellow, check out our Patreon and make a $4 pledge!
Eyyyy thats hawt!
Eyyyy thats hawt!
It’s one of my favourites from Codex for sure!
It’s one of my favourites from Codex for sure!
I love the variety of the tomes, lots of modern stuff this time.
I love the variety of the tomes, lots of modern stuff this time.
Slade Stolar The Miscellany is SO good this month. I could write whole scenarios based off some of those.
Slade Stolar The Miscellany is SO good this month. I could write whole scenarios based off some of those.
Haha, you managed to get the tasting menu in. I thought that was too long for sure!
Haha, you managed to get the tasting menu in. I thought that was too long for sure!
Isa Wills I think we changed the format expressly to fit that one, haha.
Isa Wills I think we changed the format expressly to fit that one, haha.
Blushes I’ll be sure to stick to the rules from now on.
Blushes I’ll be sure to stick to the rules from now on.
Great to be on board, hope you like my contributions 🙂
Great to be on board, hope you like my contributions 🙂
Weird. It isn’t appearing for me. Probably just weirdness with the Patreon app. I’ll have to try again on PC.
Weird. It isn’t appearing for me. Probably just weirdness with the Patreon app. I’ll have to try again on PC.
Are these available outside the Patreon, like at DriveThruRpg?
Are these available outside the Patreon, like at DriveThruRpg?
Also, if anyone figures out the encrypted message on the cover, don’t share it!
Also, if anyone figures out the encrypted message on the cover, don’t share it!
Chad Stevens Not yet. Probably a little later this year.
Chad Stevens Not yet. Probably a little later this year.
Yep. Definitely there on PC. Odd.
Yep. Definitely there on PC. Odd.
Hail, indeed!
Hail, indeed!
I love the Cheat Your Own Adventure hack. Fred Bednarski and Nery Mejicano, great job!
I love the Cheat Your Own Adventure hack. Fred Bednarski and Nery Mejicano, great job!
Thanks steven watkins! I think those can encourage more people to give CYOA a try. It is really a great game! Also, let’s not forget Oli Jeffery who did a stellar layout job, especially on mimicking CYOA cover styles!
Thanks steven watkins! I think those can encourage more people to give CYOA a try. It is really a great game! Also, let’s not forget Oli Jeffery who did a stellar layout job, especially on mimicking CYOA cover styles!
Also, I never thought about deciphering the message on the font cover, nice touch!
Also, I never thought about deciphering the message on the font cover, nice touch!
Jason Cordova Holy shit! I taught that code to my daughter. Gonna have to have her decipher it for me…
Jason Cordova Holy shit! I taught that code to my daughter. Gonna have to have her decipher it for me…
Tomer Gurantz Do not! It’s not kid-friendly.
Tomer Gurantz Do not! It’s not kid-friendly.
Jason Cordova Heh… I was hoping you’d warn me if that was the case. In that case I’ll have to crack it… just hope it’s sanity-friendly.
Jason Cordova Heh… I was hoping you’d warn me if that was the case. In that case I’ll have to crack it… just hope it’s sanity-friendly.
Hehe good luck Tomer Gurantz if you are familiar with a certain RPG movement from the 80s, you will get a good laugh about it 🙂
Hehe good luck Tomer Gurantz if you are familiar with a certain RPG movement from the 80s, you will get a good laugh about it 🙂