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Clockwork Tower

Created by Penny Blood Adventures

Missed the initial campaign? It's not too late to join the excitement! Clockwork Tower is a meticulously crafted D&D adventure set in a dazzling steampunk universe. Here, cogwheels and magic intertwine, steam-powered machines roam, and every decision leads you down intricate, winding paths. Late backers, this is your last call to climb the Clockwork Tower and plunge into an unforgettable journey. Seize the adventure now!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Dive into a Special Adventure with "The Harvest Haunting"!
over 1 year ago – Sat, Aug 26, 2023 at 04:45:48 AM



Dear Clockwork Tower Backers,

We're thrilled to bring you a special surprise today! To show our appreciation for your incredible support, we've crafted a unique 1-shot adventure, "The Harvest Haunting," and it's now available exclusively to you.

Designed to be completed in 1-2 hours, this adventure offers a taste of the magic, mystery, and creativity you can expect from Penny Blood Adventures. If you're new to our adventures or are curious about the kind of content we love to create, "The Harvest Haunting" will be the perfect introduction!

So, gather your party, sharpen your wits, and dive into this harvest-themed adventure! We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences as you unravel the mysteries of "The Harvest Haunting."

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. We have many more adventures in store for you!

Warm regards,

Matt and the team

Vote on book cover art
over 1 year ago – Tue, Aug 22, 2023 at 01:22:09 PM


We're at yet another thrilling juncture of our project, and once again, we're turning to YOU for guidance. The front cover of the book is often the first impression one gets of the adventure inside, and we want it to be just right. We've been hard at work with our talented artists, and we've shortlisted five potential artworks for the front cover.

And now, we'd love for you to help us decide!

Here are the options:

  1. Original Concept: The art piece that started it all during the campaign launch.
  2. Chronosmith Close-Up: A detailed close-up of Constantine Chronosmith's visage, capturing every intricate detail of our enigmatic mastermind.
  3. Cogs & Wheels: An artistic, abstract portrayal of intertwined cogs and wheels, representing the clockwork essence of our tale.
  4. Tower Amidst Town: A breathtaking scene of the Clockwork Tower standing tall and majestic amidst a medieval town setting.
  5. Alternate Chronosmith: A headshot of a different, equally intriguing interpretation of Constantine Chronosmith.

Each of these artworks carries its own unique charm, and we're genuinely torn about which one to select. Here are the designs:

Option 1


Option 2


Option 3


Option 4




Option 5


How to Vote: Simply click on the option in the poll below and cast your vote for your favorite artwork. Voting will remain open until Friday, after which we'll announce the winning design.

Your feedback has been invaluable throughout this project, and we can't wait to see which design resonates most with our community. Together, we'll ensure our adventure gets the stunning cover it deserves!

Warm regards,

Matt and the team

The Adventure is now in the hands of my editor and gametesters
over 1 year ago – Thu, Aug 17, 2023 at 04:09:30 AM


Today is an exciting day, and we couldn't wait to share the news with all of you. Our adventure, which has grown and evolved with your support and feedback, has now reached a pivotal milestone!

We're thrilled to announce that the manuscript is now in the hands of our professional editor and a dedicated team of game testers! This means they'll be diving deep into the narrative, mechanics, and overall gameplay to ensure everything is polished, balanced, and engaging.

What does this entail?

  1. Editorial Review: Our editor will be going through every line, every paragraph, ensuring that the text is clear, the storyline flows seamlessly, and the lore is consistent. They will help refine the adventure to ensure it's the best it can be.
  2. Game Testing: Our game testers will be playing through the adventure, testing every mechanic, every encounter, and every twist and turn. Their feedback is crucial to ensuring that the game is not just exciting, but also balanced and fair for players of all levels.

This phase is incredibly important. We're committed to delivering a high-quality adventure, and this rigorous review and testing phase will ensure that we're on the right track.

While this process is ongoing, we'll continue to work on the other aspects of the project, including the artwork, design, and logistics. Every piece of the puzzle is coming together, and it's all thanks to your support and belief in our vision.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. Here's to many exciting adventures ahead!

Keep adventuring!

Matt, founder of Penny Blood Adventures

A Sneak Peek into the Artistic Evolution of Constantine Chronosmith! 🎨
over 1 year ago – Mon, Aug 07, 2023 at 07:33:11 AM


Hey there, amazing backers!

We hope this update finds you well and just as excited as we are about the progress of our project. Today, we have a special treat for you: a behind-the-scenes look at the early sketches of Constantine Chronosmith!

Our talented artist has been hard at work bringing our time-bending protagonist to life. As we've been discussing his design, three distinct styles emerged. Each captures a different essence of Chronosmith, and to be honest, we're a bit torn about which direction to finalize!

But here's the exciting part: We want YOU to be involved in this decision.

Below, you'll find the three preliminary sketches of Constantine:

Version A: B/W full body sketch

Version B: Full-color, moody headshot of Constantine


Version C: Torso b/w sketch



Please take a moment to review these early designs and cast your vote for the one that resonates most with you. The design with the most votes will be the one our artist develops further for the final book!

I'd like to thank Aishbil, Art Team, and JP Vilela, who developed these concepts. I found them on Fiverr, and I encourage you to support their work. 

Warm regards,
Matt

Scaling Encounters
over 1 year ago – Sat, Aug 05, 2023 at 05:50:59 AM

A lot of backers asked if I could write encounters for PCs at different levels. Below is a draft encounter in the game. There are two main ways to scale the encounter:
  • I give options for low, medium, and high-level PCs
  • Lair Actions are always a good way to shake things up

Can you vote in the poll and let me know your thoughts in the comments on the approach?

Cheers,

Matt, founder of Penny Blood Adventures

======================
The Great Junkyard

Read Aloud
As you crest a hill on the outskirts of Esherton, the sprawling expanse of the Great Junkyard unfurls before you. A graveyard of discarded machinery and forgotten inventions, it spans as far as the eye can see. Mountains of rusted gears, shattered clockwork mechanisms, and the skeletal frames of obsolete automata lie in organized chaos. Despite the decay, the air hums with an uncanny energy, and you can't shake the feeling of countless invisible eyes watching you.
Encounter Setup
This encounter takes place as the party ventures into the junkyard seeking parts to repair the grand clock in the Chronos Lobby of the Clockwork Tower. The main opponents are the Rust Engineers, the spectral remnants of mechanics forever bound to their last moments of life. They are not innately hostile but will fiercely defend the machinery they are committed to repair.
Items in The Great Junkyard
The following items can be found in The Great Junkyard. Some items are necessary to fix broken parts within the Clockwork Tower:
  • Echoing Cog: A seemingly ordinary cog, but when listened to closely, whispers of past conversations can be heard. The cog can be used to replay any conversation that occurred within 30 feet of it during the last 24 hours. This cog is found near an old assembly line of automatons, having heard and stored countless dialogues over the years (Investigation DC 20).
  • Constantine's Chronoscrews: These incredibly rare screws crafted by Constantine himself. A construct or mechanical device repaired using these screws has its hit points maximized. The screws are found in a small, rusted tin box buried under layers of dust and discarded mechanical parts (Investigation DC 24).
  • Resonating Wire: This length of wire vibrates with a faint hum. When attached to a musical instrument, it can play any tune the user has heard before, perfectly and without need for a performer. This wire can be found wrapped around the neck of a broken violin, its previous owner having left it behind (Investigation DC 16).
Scaling the Encounter
  • Low Level (1-5): The party encounters a single Rust Engineer in the junkyard. The engineer will primarily focus on repairing broken machinery around it, ignoring the party unless they interact with the machines it is fixing. Reduce the hit points of the Rust Engineer to 22 (4d8 + 4).
  • Mid Level (6-10): Two Rust Engineers haunt the junkyard. They work in tandem to repair and animate the discarded machines. Add in several animated constructs (consider using stats for animated armor or flying swords from the Monster Manual, adjusted for the party's level).
  • High Level (11+): The junkyard is teeming with spectral activity. Three Rust Engineers and a host of animated machinery await the party. Consider adding an additional mechanic such as the engineers using their Haunting Repair to assemble a more significant construct (like a shield guardian) if the battle goes on for too long.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the junkyard takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the same effect can't be used two rounds in a row:
  • The junkyard rumbles as discarded machines spontaneously assemble themselves into hostile constructs. Summon 1d4 animated armors (or other suitable constructs) that will join the battle at the start of the next round.
  • A spectral wind sweeps through the junkyard, stirring up a cloud of rust and debris. The area within 120 feet of the party becomes heavily obscured until initiative count 20 on the next round.
  • The spectral essence of the Rust Engineers infuses the machinery in the junkyard. All creatures within 30 feet of a piece of machinery must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 3d6 necrotic damage as spectral tools emerge from the machinery to attack.
Monster
  • Rust Engineer