The following are a collection of rules for changing the background of Stomp! to various other Chaosium games. In all cases, the base rules remain the same, but a few are added to adapt it a bit to the listed game system. For those who don't know the game, the basic idea is that a bunch of elves got into Lord Darn's garden and Thunderpumper the giant is hired to get rid of them. He locks the gate and starts squishing. The elves attempt to spear his sandals to the ground to immobilize him until they can lasso him and pull him to the ground. His fall will break the wall and the remaining elves will be able to escape.Call of Cthulhu
The elves are now investigators. Thunderpumper is now Cthulhu. Placement and movement remain the same. Go ahead and add the extra three investigators, as if you believe it will help. Stomping remains the same, but Cthulhu needs no club. Instead, in the club phase, he hands a copy of the Necronomicon to any nearby investigator, who must read it. The investigator must then do a two-finger resolution to remain sane. Failure indicates insanity: The investigator must wander randomly while gibbering until Cthulhu finally decides to squish him.
The elf spear phase is not needed, but should be done anyway. Speared sandals do not affect Cthulhu or his movement. The two ropes are now shotguns and the investigators are encouraged to shoot them at Cthuhlu every turn. Unfortunately, they have no effect on Cthulhu. When the investigators are finally all squished, the world will end. The elf player is considered to have done well if this happens after turn 25.
Elfquest
By marking the backs of the counters, group six of the elves into three pairs. These are recognized pairs. If one of them is squashed the other in the pair will be emotionally stunned for two rounds and unable to move. On three different elves add a W. These elves have wolves and their move is increased by 2 hexes. Make sure you name all the elves so that you feel bad when they get squished. While playing, comment frequently about the fact that there are two moons. Thunderpumper the giant is now officially a really, really big troll.
Elric!
The elves are all now eternal champions and Thunderpumper is Agak. The ropes are now both black swords (Stormbringer and Mournblade), but still must have an immobile Agak to be used effectively. During the game the eternal champions should be referred to as the eighteen who are one, then the seventeen who are one, then the sixteen who are one, etc .... Other rules remain the same.
Nephilim
Thunderpumper is now a Devil Arcanum Nephilim in Khaiba and under the effect of Gigantism. The elves are now all Nephilim belonging to the Temperance Arcanum. They don't want to hurt the giant, who is really named Ranto-ArthoHotep, so they must topple him and tie him up to heal him. The Nephilim will not use their hidden powers for fear of falling into Khaiba themselves. They should also all be given strange-sounding Egyptian names.
Panzer Pranks
Movement may now be saved from turn to turn. Feel free to discuss which other rules to ignore, then do so. Add things like off-board artillery fire and a spear-in-sandal remover to the garden. All actions must be accompanied by sound effects.
Pendragon
The elves must now be called knights. The extra three counters should be marked as Arthur, Merlin, and Guenever. A knight on a hex adjacent to one of these counters counts as two knights for spear (now lance) resolution. However, if any of these counters are squished, then all the knights will be too depressed to lance or rope that turn. The extra counters may not aid in the battle. At the beginning of the game the knights must let the giant strike first, to be polite.
Prince Valiant
As with Pendragon, the elves are now knights. When completing any action you must describe it to the other player (like, "I squash the knight between my big toe and its neighbor, enjoying the sound of the gentle crackling of its bones."). If the description is not given, the other player may complain and disallow the last move. If the description is particularly good, the player should give his opponent some sort of bonus in the next round (like extra movement).
Ringworld
The Kzinti are hunting Bandersnatchi and have managed to corner one! Now they must move and spear fast before the berserk Bandersnatchi smushes them or smacks them with its artificial prosthetic limb. The Kzinti do not use any of the available technology, as it would lessen the challenge of the hunt. When attempting to spear down the feet of the giant food source the Kzinti player must always remember to scream as he pounds his fist for the finger resolution. The Bandersnatchi player should occasionally think of the taste of yeast.
Superworld
Thunderpumper is now an evil mad scientist who has consumed a growth potion and the player must insist upon being called Doctor Thunderpumper. The elves are all superheroes. They should each be given nifty names like Starburst and Firewalker. The whole group is considered a super-team and should also be named. Detailed powers and weaknesses should be given to each one, then ignored as the mad doctor has placed a power draining device in his evil garden hide-out. The heroes must use their wits, a bunch of sticks, and a pair of ropes someone left lying around to take down the bad guy. They should continually remark how they could have just wasted the mad scientist if they only had use of their special powers.
Troy
Thunderpumper is now an angered Zeus who feels like squishing some Trojans or Achaeans. Pick a side and name all your elves after heroes from that culture. If two heroes both spend three turns in woods next to each other they may build a giant horse. If it is made, Zeus must head for it during his turn. When he reaches it, he must spend a turn examining it, ignoring the heroes for that turn. During the game, Zeus may throw one lighning bolt which will automatically kill the poor hero so targeted. Three heroes should be given chariots which add 2 to their move, but they may not enter woods or marsh.
This article was drawn from Starry Wisdom V1 #3, Summer 1997.