RPG’s
Tabletop RPG goodness!
Dragon Age RPG – Second Game
Sep 3rd
We were able to play our second game of dragon age again this week. We played twice in a week, that alone should be able to tell you how much we liked it. We even had a second player join us for this game, and this game turned out just a fun as the first night.
Sorel, Alex’s character, ran up to meet the group just as they finished killing the wolves. He had been trailing behind, hunting for some dinner. Once he got there, the group broke apart the frozen blight wolves and tossed them outside, then they pulled the barn door shut and secured it with ropes and chains from inside the barn. Then they cautiously went up the ladder looking for the source of the noise.
In the loft, they find a very injured female Dalish elf. When they approach, she opens her eyes in fright, wild and unseeing. She tries to flee, but instead, collapses, unconscious. The group checks her over and finds her clothes torn and bloody from many scraps, and one hideous wound in her side. It looks badly infected and her skin is burning with fever. The wound appeared to be made by the same thing that killed all the others.
Sorel, a city elf, tends to the to the girls wounds, but he is barely able to make it better. Without more help, he is convinced she will die. He asks Merril to help her and even though she is worried about another fight during the night, she uses the last bit of magical energy she has to heal her. The Dalish girl looks much better as soon as she is healed, and begins to sleep more peacefully and Merril says that she will wake after a few hours of rest.
The party pulls the ladder up into the loft and decides to spend the night in the barn. Sorel and Blaen agree to take shifts in order to let Merril sleep the full night to regain her energy. Though they could hear different things during the night, scavengers taking care of the bodies, nothing else happened.
In the morning, when the girl awoke, she was very thankful and explained what had happened to her. Her name was Eshara, and she had escaped from something terrible. Her people had been run out of Viventor over heated words between some of the drunken villagers and some of the Dalish hunters. Leaving the town early, they had traveled through the forest for about a day and a half when their scouts had started to disappear.
After several more of their people vanished, they decided to head back to Viventor at a quick pace. They got within a half a days journey from the town when they were attacked by darkspawn. It turns out, they ended up turning the elves into darkspawn as well, and killing those that fought back. Eshara was able to escape from the ruins they had dragged her to, but they followed her. She thought she was safe once she made it to the farms, and hid in the loft, but the darkspawn found the farm, and killed everyone there. They didn’t find her, but she hated that they all died because she was there.
Sorel went to check the rest of the farm houses and found only dead bodies, it was not a pretty sight. They decided to go help the elves after Eshara pleads with them to and debates about warning the town first. They think to send Eshara, but she tells them they would probably not accept her. The party, also being two elves and one human, decide to just take off for the ruins. Eshara sketches out a brief map for them to follow.
Before they leave, they have Eshara read the word written on the barn. She tells them it is “Mythal” the elvish god of vengeance. The party worries about what this could lead the town to believe, so after they send Eshara on the horse away from the farms and the town, the light the barn on fire. They figure it will hide the word and bring people from the town to find out what had happened.
The scene ends with them walking away from the farm at a fast pace, with the giant inferno that was the barn, burning behind them.
This was a great session, and we are looking forward to playing again next week!
Diaspora (Fate) Character Compendium – Sl’th’x Veral’x
Sep 2nd
We are starting a Diaspora campaign, ran by Brennen. I really like the rules so far and am looking forward to playing. So far, we have created the cluster, created our characters and talked about how we are starting out together. I enjoyed both the cluster and character creation process and the results are always fun to read. We had a lot of laughs while creating both, and I am looking forward to playing next week.
I do find the character creation process a lot more difficult than most other games though, simply because there is so much more we have to think of and write. I also believe that when the options are so wide open, I have a much harder time narrowing down what I want and coming up with something that isn’t straight out of a movie or book. I don’t know if anyone else has this problem, but once I powered through it, I was really happy with the results.
I decided that I did not what to play a humanoid. If we were playing hard sci-fi, then I was going to play some weird alien race. What I came up with was a naga creature that behaved more hive-like than humans. They also happen to be a little like dragons in the fact that they desire to acquire a hoard of treasure. The closest picture I could find that is similar to what I have pictured in my mind is the creatures from the world of warcraft game.
Here is my character in our upcoming game. Let me know what you think!
Sl’th’x Veral’x
Tracks – stamina 4, assets 3
Health – 000 00
Resolve – 000
Wealth -000 00
Fate Points – 4
Phase One: Growing Up
Hatched on the planet Zemm, Sl’th’x was trained in two primary categories; piloting and engineering. Sl’th’x showed much more aptitude than normal for learning, than normal workers need, and was assigned to Ryth colony learning center. Ryth are much larger than Zemmese and Sl’th’x had to make up for it by being quick of both mind and body. Sl’th’x quickly learned that technology and speed can make for his weaknesses among the Ryth. Many Ryth suffered malfunctioning equipment or shocking surprises due to their harassment of Sl’th’x, of course, sometimes his own devices backfired on him.
Aspects:
You may be bigger, but I’m smarter…
That malfunctioned? How shocking…
Phase 2: Starting Out
Once he finished learning center, Sl’th’x was assigned upgrade most of the systems on planet Olynks. Olynks was mostly a mining planet, and far from exciting. Sl’th’x worked hard so that he could get off that planet as soon as possible and due to his work ethic, he was assigned to ship piloting and maintenance when his work order was complete. Sli’th’x piloted many of the different ships throughout the Crichton system. Once, at the edge of the Crichton system, Sl’th’x saw a ship from outside their system and thought it was beautiful. He grew determined at this point to explore other systems once his service is up.
Technology is power in the Crichton system, and Sl’th’x is determined to learn and use all available. Sl’th’x has admired the hoards of many of the older colleagues that he learns from and looks forward to growing his own one day.
Aspects:
Connoisseur of Fine Spacecraft
No Job Left Unfinished
Phase 3: Moment of Crisis
Noting Sl’th’x desire to see other star systems and his abilities with both piloting and technology, the Nests decide to assign Sl’th’x to the Foreign Technology Acquisition Division (FTDA). Here they train Sl’th’x in subterfuge, acquisition, and fighting. He then is sent with a team on a mission and gets to pilot his first ship outside his system, a big mining vessel. The mining vessel has some hidden capabilities in both weapons and stealth and they are sent to capture a newly designed ship in the Herbert system. They are taking a cargo load of special ore to one of the houses in Herbert as their cover.
Something goes wrong, I’m still not sure what, maybe we underestimated one of the bribes or something, but some of the crew died leaving Sl’th’x in charge. The mission unaccomplished thought, and he had to figure out someway to salvage it. Luck came in the most unexpected way, a request for discrete transport from a humanoid girl. He could not resist giving a ride to a humanoid girl, Mara, when she shows him the pouch full of gems she is offering for the ride.
Once he takes her to where she needs to go, she also helps him by letting slip a couple of locations of private house ports that have the ship he is looking for. He is able to use the gems to make bribes to get into one of the ports and is able to steal the ship and complete his mission, earning him a lot of status from the Nests.
Sl’th’x has now completed his required service to the Nests and has set out on his own. Deciding to go into the outside world, the Nests insisted on training him in the way of combat before sending him off to collect his own hoard. This training comes with an understanding that he can be tapped, and paid well, for Nest missions if required.
Aspects:
All That Glitters…
With Strings Attached…
Phase 4: Sidetracked
Captain Jack Mattson assembled a tight crew for his infiltration and retrieval mission. He was the leader with all the plans and contacts, I was the pilot, Mara would handle entry, and Lena could handle the silent and non-lethal method for dealing with the guards as well as be able to patch us up if necessary or enhance abilities with drugs for a short time. We could all handle ourselves in a fight, and I probably the least experienced in that area.
The plan went flawlessly, until the end. Then we had to fight our way back to our ship. Even that wouldn’t have held us up if there hadn’t been a military ship arriving in orbit just off world. They tagged the ship I had been promised in payment, as well as my image before I jammed them. Fortunately for me, most of my race look alike to humanoids.
I made it to the next world before the military was on us too hot to evade. Captain gave a command then that me me think he was crazy. Crash the ship he said.
Using some of my best maneuvers, I got our ship over the water close to a city. Lena administered some drugs to the others, but did not know how they would affect me. I told her they were not necessary. The captain nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t sure if I would survive or not.
I allowed the ship to take a direct hit, and then crashed it into the water, making sure it would make a big explosion. Fortunately, we jettisoned into the water just before, making sure we went deep. I had no problem, we can breathe under water, and thanks to the drugs, the others didn’t either.
When we made it to the city, we were glad to learn that the military counted no survivors of the unfortunate ship malfunction and crash landing into the water off. Captain asked what he could pay me for sacrificing the ship like that to save us all. I smiled and said a copy of the plans we stole would do. He didn’t like the idea, but he agreed to it. Humanoids don’t mind stealing for other humanoids I guess, but they don’t like the idea of my kind getting ahold of some of these secrets.
Those plans made me a modest fortune when I turned them over to the Nests. Military technology is always among the best technology. I was able to by my own small ship with that. Looks like I could go into business for myself now.
Aspects:
Any landing is a good landing
Seen one Eel, seen em all…
Phase 5: On Your Own
Sl’th’x has made his way to the Pohl galaxy and has been content to get a good base of operations going as a transporter of goods. His ship may not be the largest or fastest, but he is a reliable pilot that is not afraid to travel to any galaxy. He has built up his reputation as a dependable transporter and has been able to use it as cover to move some of the Nests operatives when the need arises. He continues to look for information about new or rediscovered technology of interest, as well as anything that can make him money. He has started to collect items from the worlds and systems he visits. He is now seeking a rare book that is said to detail how to use the mystic power of the Pohl monks and the ways to use N’Aurbeen spice to alter the minds of others. This book is only rumored to exist and the rumors stats that the monks will go to any length to destroy copies outside of their hands. If it exists, the Nests would find it very interesting.
Aspects:
Dependable transporter
Curious Collector of the Dangerous
Skills:
Agility, Aircraft, Archeology, Assets (the Nests), Brawling, Computer (space), Engineering (space), Intimidation, Navigation (space), Pilot (space), Repair, Science, Stealth, Vehicle, Stamina (track), MicroG (combat), Energy Weapons (combat)
1: Energy Weapons (combat), Aircraft, Science, Stealth, Vehicle
2: Brawling, Agility, Navigation (space), Engineering (space)
3: Assets (track), Computer (Space), Archeology
4: Stamina (track), Repair
5: Pilot (Space)
Stunts:
Claws, Toughened hide, Military-grade pilot
Gear:
Ship, Repair tools, Hand computer, Nests papers, Energy Trident
Ship:
T2 Personal Starship
Sometimes you just want to get away from it all.
V-shift 3, Beam 0, Torpedo 2, EW 0, Trade 2
Frame OOO OO
Data OOO
Heat OOO
Civilian: can be piloted without military training.
Slipdrive: can traverse slipstreams.
Skeleton crew: can be piloted with as few as one crew member.
Interface vehicle: has a separate vehicle capable of landing on planet surfaces.
Firewall: base defense 2 against EW.
The freedom of solitude
Navigating by the stars
Every single control within reach of one seat
Walnut and brass
Nautical tradition
Dragon Age RPG – First Game
Sep 1st
Last weekend I finally had the time to finish reading the Dragon Age RPG and run it too! It was a pretty easy read and the rules are light, so there is not too much you have to remember. The good thing though is that the game has enough rules to make leveling up and actually running a campaign fun. To often I feel that rules light games have no feeling of advancement, and that is not the case the Dragon Age.
I decided to run my online game in Fantasy Grounds, with voice through Skype. I hadn’t used Fantasy Grounds in a while, and I found that I had missed it. I enjoyed look and feel of the program, but it does take a little bit of work to run a game in. I ended up taking a lot of time over the weekend making a character sheet. It turned out looking pretty good, but I would like to make it look better, as well as add the rules into Fantasy Grounds as well. You can see the character sheet below.
I did get some of the rules into Fantasy Grounds, but I cheated a little. I took pictures of the PDF and inserted them in as pictures. It worked well though, for the few rules that we had to remember for the first session. You can see them in the picture below. Again, hopefully I’ll be able to program in some of these rules when I get the chance. I’m not really good at creating rule sets for Fantasy Grounds, but I am trying to learn.
The game is the beginning of a mini-campaign that will last several game sessions. We wanted to run a game for longer than one or two sessions so that we could get back to that old school feeling of running with one character for several levels. Snikle was my only player for the first game. He ended up running two characters, and the rules were simple enough that he had no problem running both. We hope for some more players as we continue the mini-campaign.
Snikle played a rogue by the name of Blaen, and a mage named Merril. While they were traveling, they encountered a body in the road in the middle of a couple of farms. Upon close examination, the body appeared to be that of a farmhand, and it was badly torn up by something with big claws and big teeth. The blood was mostly dry, so it hadn’t happened in the last few hours, but the party still was a little nervous. It didn’t help that the sun had already set.
Of in the distance, Blaen could see the lights of a town, about 20 minutes or so journey away. Looking around at the other farms though, he didn’t see any lights at all. He did notice crows, perched upon the house to his left. He could feel them watching, waiting for him to leave so they could resume their meal. Blaen suggested they camp-out the night in one of the barns, thinking that whatever had done this, would not be returning. Merril agreed and they headed for the nearest barn.
Before they got to the barn, they encountered two more bodies. One was just outside of the barn door, and all the barn wall, there was a word written in blood. Merril said it was in Elvish script, but she could not read it. They grew a little more nervous here and decided to get out a light and look into the doorway with the light before going in. Looking in, they saw the barn contained a horse and a couple of cows, all still alive. Nothing else looked troubling, so they headed in and when looking en every corner to make sure nothing was hiding. They did not find anything, but they did hear a moan, as if someone hurt, from the loft.
Before Blaen could head up the ladder into the loft, three blight wolves appear in the doorway. Everyone rolled initiative and the battle began. I had to draw a little battle map quickly, then we got some tokens to represent the wolves. The tokens look like spiders, but don’t let that fool you, they are definitely wolves. Blaen held them at the doorway, allowing only two to attack while the other one waited to for a way in. Blaen did okay, but he was no match on his for the two wolves. Blaen sliced them up while Merril cast spells, but Blaen ended up taking a lot of damage and needed a heal. Merril was able to freeze both of the wolves solid and when the third wolf saw his two companions slain, she ran off.
We ended the night with the battle and plan on playing again tonight. Even with both of us being new to the system, the battle went pretty quick. It was much easier than most systems and we really enjoyed playing. The system uses 3d6 to determine all rules. I really think this is what made it so easy for the player, even running two characters. We both liked the system and had a fun time and we are looking forward to playing tonight. Check it out if you have a chance!
Risus Character Compendium – Richard Castle
Apr 21st
I’ve often used other sites character’s when I need some good NPC’s at times, instead of making up my own. Plus, I often like to see the characters that other people come up with. Since I like character compendium’s so much, I thought I would continue to add to my own using either actual NPC’s that I have or famous characters or people.
With that, I give you the Risus version of Richard Castle from ABC’s series Castle:
Richard Castle
Clichés
Wealthy, Best-Selling Mystery Writer (4)
Ruggedly Handsome and Eccentric Aristocrat (4)
Honorary NYPD Detective (2)
Backstory
Richard Castle is a well-connected and wealthy best-selling mystery novelist. He has friends in high places in New York and through these friends are able to ghost with an NYPD Detective Kate Beckett in order to do research for his new mystery novels. He actually ends up being useful during investigations due to his inquisitive mind and being able to see how things might fit together in a unique way that the others do not.
Let me know what you think!
Risus Super Heroes Actual Play (GMing)
Apr 11th
Our group got together the other night to play a game and we ended up deciding on a super heroes game using Risus. Snikle already did a great write-up on the game, so, instead of repeating the process, I thought I would do a little write-up on how we came up with the game and how I GMed it.
First off, we started out getting together a little before our regular meeting time. Now here I need to say, we play exclusively online since we are all in different states. We use Skype to communicate and we usually just text during the week, but for game night, we use voice. We have all used different virtual tables, such as Maptool and Fantasy Grounds, but because of the free form nature of the games we have been playing, we’ve just been using Google docs and a die roller.
Now, we like to Google up different images and something that catches our interest. This night, it was the Kick-Ass movie trailer that caused us to choose super heroes and Risus seemed to be the easiest system to implement on the fly. I said I would GM and off we went.
The guys made very colorful characters, as you can see below:
John’s Character: The Night Owl (Spencer Morgan)
Hotel Lounge Hypnotist (4)
“Insecuricist” (3) – Able to make people feel insecure through the use of backhanded compliments.
“Sorta Sleepless” (2) – Never, ever sleeps, except sometimes in times of stress.
Motivational Poster Photographer (1)
Snikle’s Character: Pittfall (Angelina Pitt)
A Teen Drama Queen Band Geek who can KICK-ASS with her dual clarinets(4) current (4)
Never fully dressed and can use it to her advantage(4) current (4)
A dreamer who thinks that she the bastard child of John Woo and an Anime character(2) current (2)
Brennen’s Character: The Hoodoo Doctor (aka Orangelo ‘Gelo’ Lincoln)
Mysterious Spiffy Dressing Voodoo Priest (4)
Womanizing North Country Blues Guitarist (3)
Can speak fluent Spanish, but only when stoned (2)
Insecure Barbecue Chef moonlighting as a graphic arts student (1)
Now we decided on the location of Memphis Tennesee and off we went to create an adventure. I decided to throw in a little of one of my favorite games, Inspectres!, and had them tell me about their head quarters. I even made them roll for the stuff they came up with. Here is pretty much how the HQ part went:
Base:
A small three room flat above the Beer-O-Mat.
Matt want’s a pet guinea pig. Matt rolls a 13, A pet guinea pig that is dyed green that is named Henry Rollins that Matt’s character believes is physic that she consults for cases. He lives off weed grown by Ogranoloo.
Brennen: vintage suitcase with hot sauce collection with medicinal properties.
Rolls a 15
John wants ventriloquist dummy that he used to have in his act before it starting freaking him out. Believes the dummy is a master interrogator. Tommy Pines, hewn out of rough Pine.
Rolls a 12.
Brennen wants a mid 70′s conversion van with a water bed interior hydroponic garden, wet bar, and it is a low rider.
Rolls a 15. Driver of the copped van is Eye-Patch Jan. She lost her eye in one of the acts with John’s character.
Now, they had to come up with images that suited each of these, so we spent a lot of time googling for the best pictures with lots of fun and laughter. You can see two of the great images above. This is of course one of the things I really like about our group, we have a lot of fun playing, but usually have just as much fun coming up with characters or games.
Now as for DMing the game, I asked the players what they wanted to do. We ended up bantering around in their base, doing laundry, when a Thug came in to hold up the place. The great thing about Risus is it was really easy to come up with the bad guys. Here is my stated out bad guy:
Drunk Gang-banger (5)
Slow 6-shooter (3)
Wannabe ninja moves (2)
They took care of him very fast and ended up getting into a cooking contest with the chef, which they also won. Again, I stated up the chef and actually had a cooking duel, which was easy to use do with Risus.
The rest of the night went as you read in Snikle’s post. They fought a few more thugs, then went on to the hideout where they took out guards and guests alike with a combination of pretty girl and great BBQ sauce. However, they did let one guy go, the guy that had been standing at the bar. One of the guys commented that it had been too easy and then realized they hadn’t found the big bad guy. Remember the guy they let go? Oh yeah, that was him. They were surprised and happy (I think) that the adventure could continue. All in all it was a good little adventure and I think the guys had fun.
