RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 28-Is there anything else we should know before we head home?

This month has been a great opportunity to flesh out pieces of my setting that I hadn't really thought about.

One thing that I thought was clever was my reference to "podcasts" as a sort of live public discussion back on Day 12.

This was inspired by a couple of social media posts.

So the idea of "podcasts" continuing older social and storytelling traditions seemed like a fun thing to bring to a post-apocalyptic society.

But as I was thinking about it, I remembered that there were local television and radio stations. And with radio and music turning up in Fallout 3 (which I recently completed), I think I want to take some time to develop and explore that.

One of the fun things about basing your setting on a real place is that you can do research and look things up. Which just puts the parts that are completely made up into perspective. Specifically, the Bigfoot rulers of Squatch-ville.

On top of the challenge of making up Sasquatch society from whole cloth, I know there are certain threads I clearly want to avoid. Mostly trying to avoid the sort of "Native American fetishism" that is easy to fall into when you're trying to build an "ancient culture that lives in balance with nature."

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 27-Do you have any amusing anecdotes from the campaign?

Forget dramatic, tell us about a moment that made everyone laugh out loud.

I'm thinking about running that one-shot again, using it as a "pilot episode" of a campaign. And while I've talked previously on my blog about putting more effort into pushing the final encounter into violence to put the combat system through its paces, the other thing that happened that I feel like I should be more prepared for is when the party decides to take a slamon from the river.

I designed the encounter as a mini-game rather than a combat for a couple of reasons.

1) The slamon were not directly attacking the party. They were jumping out of the water and over the bridge, making making contact with the bridge before flopping off of it.
2) There was not a limited number of slamon to defeat. The objective was getting across the bridge.

On the fly, I ran it more or less as a simple combat encounter. There are B/X stats for giant fish, so that wasn't hard. But thinking about it, I think there should have been a process of grappling the fish to make sure that it stayed in one place in order to deplete its hit points.

Thankfully, the AWN grapple rules are not as onerous as the D&D 3e grapple rules, which are what ruined grappling for everyone.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 26-Are there any dramatic events from the campaign you can share?

Tell us about a moment of exciting action or tense thrills that has happened during your game. When and where did it take place?

These are the hardest entries because I haven't run this campaign yet. I did run a one-shot using this setting, but part of my hopes for this month was to generate more material to present to the players of an eventual campaign.

As much as I hadn't planned on the "talking solution" to that one-shot, it was a little less "easy mode" than I complained about. Because I had planted some information on a local rumor table that I had cooked up that the mayor had possibly been bribed to take the doctor prisoner. So the PCs were able to locate that rumor and apply it as leverage in the confrontation. I was actually a bit glad to see that come up.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 25-Where can I do some shopping?

 I want to buy some souvenirs from this trip and maybe snacks for the voyage home.

Thinking about my idealized shopping experiences from when I lived in the area, I can't help but think of Globe Imports and Picky Picky Picky. Both places prepared me to take my girlfriend (now wife!) to her Senior Prom.

Globe Imports was the retail version of those catalogs where you can buy cheap knickknacks and kitsch in bulk (It's giving more Oriental Trading Company catalog than necessarily Wish.com or Temu in my mind). I bought a black silk rose and incense-infused matches there. I might have also bought scented tea candles there, as well. (They're out of business, but strong enough in my mind that I might bring them back in the setting.)

Picky Picky Picky sells outdoor equipment as well as military surplus. We had decided to go with a camouflage theme for our prom outfits, so I was able to buy off the rack for my outfit. Getting a camouflage dress for her took a little more effort and creativity, but the result was worth it.

This does make me wonder what the currency of the area is going to be like. I could follow the Fallout tradition of bottle caps. Though a funny idea does occur to me that the main currency could be marijuana. The standard unit would be a dime bag or "dime" though small silver coins might sometimes substitute for product.

Different strains could affect valuation, creating "denominations" of currency, but even a baggie of "ditch weed" will get you somewhere.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 24-What are the major imports to the area?

What is it your campaign region needs but doesn't have and how do they get it? Maybe it's not a need but a want? Some other place has the very best something and the people of your campaign desire some of that action.

Historically, the main things that have been imported into the region are manufactured goods, tools and machines.

While self-sufficiency and local production would be the name of the game for a while after an apocalypse, I'm sure they would still be importing any machines or technologies that can't be produced or maintained locally.

I'm not entirely clear on what kinds of technologies those might be, because I'm leaving things deliberately open in terms of exactly what sort of technology does or did exist before the War That Ended Everything. Especially with the Fallout franchise hanging over the genre right now, the ability to include some of the more gonzo elements and technologies, which are supported by Ashes Without Number.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 23-What are the major exports of the region?

A campaign can be big and different places within it will be known for different products. Pick a few of the best sellers or most interesting things and tell us about them.

Logging has been the economic engine of the area almost from its initial settlement. I expect some version of that to continue, though nowhere near the scale it achieved in the 20th century.

Cow Town was able to export farm products to the local settlements of Sohum and even as far south as Willits before their current famine.

Squatch-ville actually has easier access to points east along Highway 96, so would likely have trading partners in Yreka (a real place, believe it or not!). My current thinking is that Squatch-ville is actually the most successful of the region's Enclaves, so there would likely be a good bit of surplus for them to export, typically in the form of hides and meat from deer, bear and other forest creatures, as well as acorns and other nuts. Woodcrafts are also popular exports.

Marijuana is an actively cultivated crop throughout the region, with growing operations large and small all over the place. Enclaves have large grows, but even homesteaders might grow some to trade for other things that they can't produce. Mutated and weaponized forms of the plant are probably lurking in the Ruin of Calpoly.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 22-Tell use about notable Flora and Fauna!

 Take us on safari around your campaign and its setting. What are some of the unique and/or unusual creatures and plants in your game?

One of the fun things about Ashes Without Number is that it is intended to be compatible with B/X D&D, so there are a number of OSR monster manuals that I can draw from for mutated versions of local wildlife. Though my wife just gave me the best version of this: A carrion crawler descended from the common banana slug.

While the banana slug is not strongly associated with the area (It's currently a mascot at UC Santa Cruz, a good distance south), it does live here, and my wife and I both have formative memories of encountering them in their small version. A huge mutated banana slug feels very right.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 21-What are the major organizations of the campaign? How do they deal with visitors?

Corporations, guilds, secret societies; what groups with influence exist in the campaign and how do they interact with the setting and its denizens?

I haven't laid down any major factions beyond the Enclaves themselves. The big challenge is that there's not a lot of development in the area and I wound up expecting less and building less to make this area work. There are fewer Enclaves and Ruins here than is expected for a "typical" Ashes Without Number setting

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 20-Are there any mysteries as yet unsolved?

 Legendary tales, lost civilizations, or cryptid creatures; does the setting have anything for the amateur detective?

The main mystery I have currently set up is "What's going on with Hupa?" There are certainly details to be established in a lot of places that could qualify as mysteries, but a lot of this is still in development until it's needed for a scenario.

Even though I have established that Sasquatch are real, I have not touched on other potential cryptids that might or might not be real in the setting.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 19-Any 'Must See' sites?

Are there any places or things a visitor to the setting just has to check out?

One of the main draws of the area in the present day is its natural beauty. The other is the number of homes with elaborate Victorian architecture. The Carson Mansion (which I have placed as the seat of Ureka government) is one of the most photographed homes in the world.

Even in the post-apocalyptic future, I think most of that would still be intact. Nothing in this area would be a major conventional military target. (Though the Hupa backstory might reveal some twists. We'll see what happens as things develop.)

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 18-Forgot to ask; How do we get around?

 What modes of transportation are available to people in the setting.

There aren't a lot of cars or other vehicles, mostly due to the terrain. There are only a handful of major roads and they have not been maintained properly since the collapse. Off the roads, the area is pretty heavily forested.

Boat travel is pretty significant. My current placement of Squatch-ville is primarily accessible by water. Also, the ferry service enables travel and communication with smaller communities surrounding the bay. water travel is also useful when leaving the region. In order to avoid the psychic overlords of Crescent City, those wishing to travel to Brookings, Oregon and other points north will typically do so by boat.

The most unique thing would have to be the Kinetic Sculptures. In the present day, the Kinetic Sculpture Race is a fun and wacky thing. After the collapse, it's become inspiration. Because of the engineering requirements to participate (the vehicle must be people-powered and capable of travel on water as well as varied terrain), the Kinetic Museum in Ureka and the oddball vehicles on display have been vital examples to building vehicles that can be used in a variety of environments without needing power beyond what the user can provide.

Suddenly I'm imaging a version of Mad Max: Fury Road with Kinetic Sculptures instead of motorized vehicles.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 17-Can you tell us about any famous battles or wars?

Tales of conflicts and combats abound across the multiverse! Any interesting ones in your setting we should know about?

The main war of note is the War That Ended Everything. Details on that war are sparse, both because the War ended everything, and also because I haven't decided on them yet.

A few generations back, a group of humans left Squatch-ville and decided to re-occupy Ureka. This did result in armed conflict as the humans pushed the ratfolk who had lived there at least since they first gained sentience out of the northwest section of the city. 

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 16-Are there any direct threats?

Who or what in your campaign actively means the people in it - including the PCs - harm?

Assuming that the PCs home base is Ureka (which I currently am), the main conflict is with the ratfolk next door. There are also raider camps scattered throughout the area.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 15-What are some things in the setting that are best avoided?

Dangerous terrain, haunted places, angry natives, and even unpleasant beverages; name some elements in your campaign that should be given a wide berth.

Obviously these are beings and things in the setting the tourist should avoid but which Player Characters would likely run towards.

A number of these have already been mentioned, Ratfolk infested Old Eureka. The bizarre ecosystem inside the ruins of Calpoly. There are a few more Ruins that I  haven't delved into, though.

The main one that might be spoken of would be Crescent City. I haven't come up with a cool post-apocalyptic name for it yet, so that's just the present day name. It is dominated by a few, immensely powerful telepaths who control the rest of the population. The control is so complete that the people of the city are functionally zombies. Travelers exploring the region have noted the mindless hordes and fearfully speculate what would cause a person to join them.

There are two other Ruins that might not get talked about much. McKinleyville (again, just the modern name) is a graveyard. In one of my previous posts here, I linked it to the pilgrimage from Squatch-ville to Ureka, but that's the most development it's received thus far.

Hupa is actually very exciting. I believe I've compared it to a Native American Area 51. But one of the reasons it's comparable to Area 51 is that nobody really knows about it. I'm assuming it came to be in a very turbulent time, during the War That Ended Everything, so whatever happened there didn't make it into either local lore or the history books. Maybe rumors, but not strong ones.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 14-What to order to 'Eat like a local'.

Are there any foods unique to the campaign setting? If so, what are they like?

While the slamon is large enough to be a hazard throughout the area's waterways, there's a lot of good eating to be had should you be able to catch one.

Like just about anywhere else, there are a number of microbreweries operating in the area. I like to think that Lost Coast Brewery is still in operation in some form, with Duane Flatmo's cubist label art.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 13-Where can we get a drink and a bite to eat?

Give us a few of your most notable restaurants and bars in the campaign setting. Tell us something about these places and what makes them distinctive.

The most unique restaurant in the area in the present day is the Samoa Cookhouse, effectively the last remaining lumberjack cookhouse. I'd like to see it continue into my setting, if possible. It is, as the name implies, in Samoa, across the bay from Ureka.

Meals are still served "cookhouse style:" a fixed menu with food brought out on serving platters so that each diner may serve themselves.

There's also a local dive bar called The Shanty that I think would be fun to keep around. Especially since it is a dive bar, but the collapse of civilization can cause a lot of recontextualization and idealization of a past that never was.

A friend of mine reminded me of a food truck called Speedy Taco that both of us enjoyed. The location that truck usually parked at is ratfolk territory according to my map. So I could go a number of directions. Maybe the humans took it when they tried to claim more territory, but couldn't hold the Broadway Cinema (where the truck was typically parked). Or it expanded to multiple Speedy Taco trucks and that becomes a recognizable brand throughout the area. Or maybe the ratfolk still have it and operate it, making tacos and burritos tuned to their diets. 

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 12-What do people do for entertainment around here?

Music? Theatre? Sports? Gambling? What do the adventurers in your campaign do on their 'day off'? What is there for tourists to spend money on?

In the Enclave of Ureka, there is a performing arts center, a movie theater, a fairground with race track and a high school with a football stadium and basketball courts. The movie theater is used to show classic films. The performing arts center hosts various performances, such as plays and ballets, as well as podcasts (typically panel discussions regarding current events or other topics, though the discussions are not typically recorded and there's no real method of distribution, unlike present day podcasts). The high school football field is used for gladiatorial games and arena sports like jugger. Its proximity to ratfolk territory does mean that some of these games involve ratfolk gladiators, some of which are prisoners and some are volunteers. (Where is Ratacus?)

In Cow Town, there is a small theater, as well as rodeo grounds. The rodeo grounds haven't been used in some time, as none of the animals that survive can be spared to perform or serve as show animals. The local podcasters are storytellers and gossips primarily, appearing on the theater stage when  a play or other production isn't happening.

In Squatch-ville, most of the entertainment is morality tales and stories from the ancient Sasquatch culture. Like many other aspects of life in Squatch-ville, the arts and entertainment follow Sasquatch models more than human ones.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 11-Where would we go to find 'adventure'?

 We've left the relative safety of the starting area and now we're looking for action!

The most immediate location for adventure is "Old Ureka," the inland portions of the city that have been occupied by the ratfolk.

Beyond the city of Ureka, there are populations of raiders throughout the redwood forests. In the present day, the area is full of small communities of hippies, pot growers, back-to-the-landers, and other misfits. In a post-apocalyptic context, it's easy to imagine these as raider communities.

The ruins of Calpoly are one of the most dangerous areas to explore. The remains of Cal Poly Humboldt and the city of Arcata have been overrun by plants and animals created in the genetics lab. The university's specialties in the modern day include marine biology, green tech, and marijuana. In a politically unstable and technologically aggressive future, I can imagine all of those things being weaponized. After the collapse, the results of these projects are unrestrained.

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 10-What's the first thing we should do?

When heading out on a trip through the campaign setting (even just the 'starting area'), where should you go first?

There are other places to go and things to do that are a bit more adventurous, so they're getting saved for later entries, but one definite thing to do would be to take a boat tour of Humboldt Bay.

I don't know if the Samoa Bridge (both of them) would survive, but I think it would be more fun if it didn't because it would bring back boat travel to the bay. The last ferry boat in Humboldt Bay, the Madaket, is currently run as a tour boat. Madaket Ferry Lines has emerged from the ashes, providing transportation to those who live around the bay.

Even if the communities of Manila and Samoa on the North Spit have fallen to just a few families, building a simple dock means that they can be connected to Ureka by the ferry.

Though like many waterways in the area, there are the slamon to contend with. Overgrown variations of the pre-collapse salmon species, the slamon gets its name from its tendency to attack boats by ramming them and tipping them over. Also, the slamon are not above eating any people that fall out of the boats they tip over, either.

This is making me wonder about Tuluwat, the largest island in Humboldt Bay. As much as is feasible, the island is the property/territory of the Wiyot tribe in the present day. It's also presently linked to Eureka and Samoa via the Samoa Bridge, but if that fails in our post-apocalyptic future, the only access will be by water. As part of the backstory for what's going on in the Ruin of Hupa, I posit that indigenous Americans industrialized and militarized independently from (and in response to) the US as a whole. Was Tuluwat involved in any of this? Is there a military installation there? Is or was there a navy of some sort patrolling the bay? What people still live there and what are their opinions on the people of the mainland?

RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026 Day 9-Who's in charge here?

Who are the major movers and shakers in the campaign?

Eureka is run by Mayor William Henry Carson, who occupies the formerly glorious Carson Mansion. While I like the name, I don't think he's strongly related to William McKendrie Carson, who was its original owner and inhabitant. I'm tempted to suggest that he took the last name Carson to legitimize his power.

Order is kept in Eureka by the Ratcatchers. As the name suggests, they are primarily focused on keeping ratfolk out of the human-occupied portions of the city, but they do also protect Ureka from human troublemakers as well. The Ratcatchers are led by Sheriff Allen Ross.

The Sasquatch run things in Squatch-ville, though I haven't taken the time to set any of them up as individuals. They never sought power, but the humans in their care placed it into their hands. This is likely some of the core friction in Sasquatch politics. How much are they guiding and how much are they controlling? How much control do they need to have over the humans and at what point are they ultimately causing them harm? How much are the humans their "children," in need to care and support, and how much are they "adults," capable of making mature decisions?

Cow Town's influence has waned as its population has withered. They were previously able to export food crops to Ureka and other small communities, but now can barely feed themselves. What trouble breaks through the apathy of the citizenry is addressed by a small Town Watch under Mayor Bruce Garbutt.