Happy Krampusnacht!

Tonight is the night when Krampus the Christmas Devil stalks the world, searching for naughty children to beat with his birch broom before stuffing them into his basket and carrying them away to Hell.

Krampusnacht is rather like Halloween, in that it comes before a Christian celebration. In the case of Halloween it's All Souls' Day, and for Krampusnacht it's Saint Nicholas' Day.

So, to mark these 48 hours of Pagan Vs. Christian festivities, every ACE Gamebooks Roleplay product on DriveThruRPG is on sale at 30% off. In some cases, some products were already discounted so the new discount has taken them even lower. Not only that, but the new The 'TWAS Advent-ure Calendar is included in the sale. So if you've been considering picking it up, now would seem like the perfect time.

I'm off to watch the Krampus movie. Enjoy your Krampusnacht, whatever you're doing tonight.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas LIVE - Part 5!

Ken left us on a cliffhanger last time, at the start of the climactic battle at the end of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas. There may not be much of the adventure left, but be sure to checkout You Decide! Part 5: ‘Twas the Krampus Night Before Christmas by Jonathan Green tomorrow, from 7:00pm.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas LIVE - Part 4!

It may not be Christmastide anymore, it may not even be New Year, but this evening, from 7:00pm GMT on Facebook, Ken Boyter, of The Bottled Imp Fellowship and Mythical Tales from Edra, will be undertaking his final live readthrough of my festive ACE Gamebook, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

Will he make it to the end? You'll just have to tune in tonight to find out.

If you haven't managed to pick up a copy of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas yet, you can do so here, ready for next Christmas, which is only 347 days away, so don't delay!

Gamebook Friday: 'TWAS the Krampus Night Before Christmas

It's the last day of the 12 Days 'Til Christmas Sale over on the ACE Gamebooks Roleplay page on DriveThruRPG, so don't delay and grab yourself a bargain today!

Recently, I have been enjoying listening to and watching other people playing through my games, and if you're wondering if 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas is for you, why not enjoy a preview taster by doing the same?

First up there is K. R. Boyter, from the Mythical Tales of Edra, with Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of his playthrough.

Then there's Brian Hazzard, over on the Instadeath Survivors Support Group, with his Xmas Special podcast.

And finally, Vicki from Girls That Game, played through the book on her Twitch channel last year.

DMs After Dark recently undertook a festive one-shot using 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, but what was really nice about this session was that the Gamesmaster used the rules and background to create their own adventure. You can see how the party got on below...

 

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas LIVE - Part 3!

Today is the Winter Solstice, and so it seems particularly appropriate that this evening, from 7:00pm GMT on Facebook, Ken Boyter of The Bottled Imp Fellowship will be undertaking his live readthrough of my festive ACE Gamebook, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

Will he make it to the end? You'll just have to tune in tonight to find out.

If you haven't managed to pick up a copy of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas yet - you can do so here.

In other Krampus-related news, the fourth part of Talking About Games' review of 'TWAS the RPG is now live on YouTube.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas LIVE - Part 2!

This evening, from 7:00pm GMT on Facebook, Ken Boyter of The Bottled Imp Fellowship will be continuing his live readthrough of my festive ACE Gamebook, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

If you haven't managed to pick up a copy of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas yet - you can do so here.

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas LIVE - Part 1!

This evening, from 7:00pm GMT on Facebook, Ken Boyter of The Bottled Imp Fellowship will be kicking off another live readthrough of one of my ACE Gamebooks, this time, the seasonally appropriate, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

Don't worry if you haven't managed to pick up a copy of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas yet - you can do so here.

Cover reveal! A krampusz éjszakája

I am pleased to say that there are various translations of my ACE Gamebooks in the works, including a Polish edition of Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland from Muduko.

But the cover I want to reveal to you today is the one for the Hungarian translation of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas, which is to be published by Chameleon Comix later this year.

A krampusz éjszakája translates as 'Night of the Krampus'*, while the tagline at the top reads 'Brand new gamebook from the author of Demon Knights!'

In the UK, 'Demon Knights' was published as Knights of Doom.

Here's a mock-up of the hardback edition of the new translation...

And here it is as a paperback...

Those of you who know the adventure already, or who have played the 'TWAS RPG, will recognise the cover art by my long-time collaborator Tony Hough.

* Continuing the theme started by other gamebooks of mine including Night of the Necromancer and Night of the Kraken.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 9: 'TWAS Live!

If you are free around 2:00pm GMT today (Saturday 19 December) why not check out Vicki from Girls That Game's* Twitch stream? She is going to be playing through the fifth ACE Gamebook, 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas.

Vicki has spent a great deal of effort making it look and sound amazing. And if you can't watch it live, don't worry - it will be available to view later on both Twitch and YouTube.

If you're looking for a suitable 'TWAS soundtrack to listen to whilst reading through the gamebook yourself, I would suggest a mixture of the Krampus movie OST, Batman: Arkham Origins, and the Home Alone OST.

Good luck, Vicki! Krampus is on his way...

* Vicki is actually the founder of Girls That Game.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 6: Claws

Last weekend was Krampusnacht.

Now, as anyone who has been reading this blog for some time will know, I am a little bit obsessed with Krampus the Christmas Devil. Not only have a written a gamebook that features him as the Big Bad, I have also published a roleplaying game which features him in the same role.

However, I first wrote about Krampus in 2012 for the Ain't No Sanity Clause anthology of festive horror stories, in a tale called Claws.

Here's what one reviewer had to say on Amazon about my story:

"This anthology is a cut above the norm with every story being well written and some approaching perfection. 'Claws' by Jonathan Green, with its shades of the Brothers Grimm, introduces us to a very early traditional Santa and his less welcome counterpart... So evocative is the writing, I was almost shivering along with Gretel in her snowy woodland home despite it being a balmy day in mid May!"

You can download a pdf of Claws here.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 5: The Krampus Night Before Christmas

Happy Christmas Jumper Day, everyone!

Yes, today's entry in my 12 Days of Christmas is 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas, which was the inspiration for the recently-released 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas.

As the blurb puts it:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... 

And then the clock strikes thirteen and you wake to hear a thud downstairs. Investigating, you discover that your home has been invaded by two red-cloaked, and bearded, strangers. Before you know what is happening, Krampus the Christmas Devil has abducted Santa Claus, and it's up to you to save Saint Nick before Christmas Day dawns and the cruel, birch-wielding, goat-leggéd one usurps the generous gift-giver's position, taking his place forever. 

He knows if you've been good or bad, so be good for goodness sake... 

Throughout the course of the adventure, YOU decide which path to take, which risks to brave, and even which of the strange creatures you will meet along the way to engage in battle. Success is by no means certain and you may well fail to complete the adventure at your first attempt. However, with experience, skill, and maybe even a little luck, each new attempt should bring you closer to your ultimate goal. But whether you succeed in your quest will be down to the choices YOU make.

If you would like a signed copy, you can buy a paperback or a hardback direct from the author, but order by Thursday 17th December if you want to ensure you receive you book before Christmas.

Sorry, but the Krampuses (Krampi?) are not for sale.

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 3: Krampus Kards

Looking for an alternative to the usual Christmas Cards this year? Then why not grab yourself a set of Krampus Kards, featuring 10 of Tony Hough's original illustrations for 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas, but now in glorious technicolour?

One pack of 10 cards includes 10 different designs and 10 envelopes as well and costs just £8 plus post and packing. But hurry - there is a very limited quantity available!

1 pack of 10 Krampus Kards

Just £8 + P&P

Price including post and packing

UK P&P £12.00 GBP Europe £18.00 GBP Rest of World £20.00 GBP

And while you're at it, why not pick up a signed copy of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas as well?

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas (paperback)

(£12 including UK P&P)

500 section ACE Gamebook

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas

UK P&P £12.00 GBP  Europe P&P £23.00 GBP  Rest of World P&P £26.00 GBP

 

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas (hardback)

(£28 including UK P&P)

500 section ACE Gamebook

'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas

UK P&P £28.00 GBP  Europe P&P £36.00 GBP  Rest of World P&P £43.00 GBP

 

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 2: Gruss vom Krampus

Today is 5th December, which means that this evening is Krampusnacht, the night when the Christmas Devil stalks the streets of Austrian and German mountain settlements, searching for naughty children to whip with his birch switch and carry away to hell in his wicker basket.

Krampusnacht feels more like Halloween than Christmas. To mark this occasion in the winter calendar, men dressed as Krampus drink alcohol, run through the streets, and frighten children. Often, they chase delinquent children around and actually hit them with sticks! The Krampus costume itself traditionally consists of a hand-carved wooden mask and a suit made from sheep or goat skin. Cowbells are worn around the wearer’s hips.

Of course, Krampus is the villain of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas (which is accepting reviews on Amazon now), but he is also the Big Bad of 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, which is chock full of Tony Hough's glorious full-colour art and available now from DriveThruRPG.

Gamebook Friday: 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas

This time last year, I was preparing for the publication of 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas (and a signed copy makes the perfect Christmas gift or stocking filler, by the way).

This year I am preparing for the publication of 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas, a multi-player RPG inspired by the ACE Gamebook.

The RPG features the art originally produced for the gamebook, but this time in full colour, and I am delighted to be able to report that Tony Hough has returned to provide additional illustrations for the rulebook and the supplement The Lion, the Snitch and the Wardrobe. Illustrations like these...

Anyone who has read 'TWAS - The Krampus Night Before Christmas will doubtless be able to identity this pair.

'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas Late Pledges

LATE PLEDGES ARE NOW CLOSED!

If you missed 'TWAS - The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas on Kickstarter, you can place a Late Pledge now.

Simply check out the rewards below, and click on the PayPal button for the one you would like to select. And thank you in advance for your support.