The Hunter, Blacksmith, and Man-Servant were joined by a hard scrabble Farmer of the Zorab mountains to try and finish off exploring the tomb of Rakoss the Undying.
First they had to try and heal up from their current wounds which put them short of rations to last the week. If there is one condition which cannot be overlooked in the gritty world of Sword and Sorcery is where your food, wine, and water is to come from. The heroes of pulp literature were always on the edge of thirst from trekking across endless wastes, or being nailed to a tree, or left to rot in some subterranean dungeon.
With the hills teeming with degenerate hill-men a confrontation is most assured. As far as game to be had, well, the party does consist of a hunter so bagging a mountain goat was assured also. The hunter and the farmer survived their encounter with the three hill-men on the narrow mountain trail and returned to their encampment with meat enough to last a many day.
The tomb itself was clear of overtly malignant forces outside of acid dripping giant ants. The Farmer had purchased a jar of honey during his initial character creation, and he was wise enough to use it in a simple plan to neutralize the animal threat. Unfortunately once again an encounter with the ants left a party member grievously wounded. In this instance, the Blacksmith. Undeterred they proceeded to loot the sarcophagi found in what appeared to be the final resting place of Rakoss, and his lieutenants. The players may have been surprised the mummified remains did not rise to choke the life out of those who defiled them, but they stuffed their bags with their loot, and made all speed back to the city of Dipur.
Concluding their business with Avant the Failed, the party searched out a merchant who would be interested in gems and jewelry from a long dead necromancer. An exchange which Avant warned them to be careful about. The Grand Inquisitor's men would look dimly on items tainted with dark history to be openly traded in the markets of Dipur. But of course such a merchant was found, and after trading the smaller trinkets for more gold then they had ever seen the party revealed the most mysterious object in their possession. This was an artifact of significant blasphemous origins. So much so that the merchant refused to trade with the party then and there. No, the transaction must be concluded in utmost secrecy, discrete arrangements must surely be made. The merchant assured the party he would call for them in a few days time when all such arrangements had been secured.
This left the party free to commence a classic debauch, and banter about future tasks and adventures in which they could involve themselves. The Blacksmith desired to purchase his trade shop back from the corrupt tax collector, while the Farmer mused about assembling a mercenary force or perhaps purchasing a high commission with the Grand Inquisitor's guards. The Hunter, well, he was satisfied with endless wine, wenches, and joints of meat. I decided this traditional approach was well worth an immediate health bump for they all still had wounds from their previous adventure.
I was also determined to start applying the pace of sword and sorcery adventure. The simple elements which keep the players on the go. When it came time to pay for the nights romp in the wine shop one of the player's fat coin purse came up empty. The swarthy gentleman who had purloined it was sauntering out the door pleased with his luck. Of course the players had to pursue. Of course they were to lose the thief in the twisted warrens of the cities slums, and of course horrible screams would lead them to the thief, now dead and absent the fat money purse. A passing sergeant of the guard advised the party to consider the money as good as gone for it was obvious mad cultists had done the poor wretch in. They were in front of the Shrine of the Seekers, and the open gate before them told the tale plainly to the drunken sergeant. Leave it be he spoke once again as he hurried on to safer parts of the city.
While the Farmer and the Blacksmith debated the wisdom of penetrating the evil shrine in the dead of night, the Hunter was obviously wise to the cannon and declared his intent to win back his gold, and win it before the morning sun gilded the spires of the Grand Inquisitor's city! So onward and inward they went...
Contact Information:
jay@vanishingtowerpress.com
Tuesday, December 17
Tuesday, December 10
USR Sword & Sorcery After Action Report
I DM'ed my second game in over twenty years via Google+ Hangouts. It was a Sword & Sorcery game using Scott Malthouse's USR rpg rules. True to all rules-lite systems, the DM is required to embellish the sparse rules with the flavor of the genre you wish to play. For my game I modified character creation by limiting players to human characters. They cannot start with magic capabilities, though this may be acquired through game play. Random rolls on a background table are also required, but the players are free to choose the arrangement of their attribute dice, and their three specialisms. My two players ended up with a Hunter/Hunting Site, and Craftsman(Blacksmith)/Poverty. I encourage the players to embellish these sketchy details, and come up for a reason they find themselves together in the desert city of Dipur mingling with the wine sellers, lotus peddlers, dancing girls, and thieves which are found in the busy South Bazaar. To explain the Blacksmith's poverty the player stated he once had a blacksmith shop in the city, but his competitor had run him out of business by bribing the tax collector to close him down. The Hunter was coming from his prized hunting site in the Zorab mountains with a mountain lion skin to trade for silver. The Blacksmith is a friend who he usually visits to have his hand axes sharpened.
The story hook revolved around a cairn the Hunter had discovered near his hunting site. Wrought with undecipherable glyphs, the Hunter hopes the Blacksmith knows someone in the city who could explain these strange signs. Of course a city dweller such as the Blacksmith would know that Avant the Failed, an aged scholar, might be able to shed light on such archaic symbols. Another story hook I floated was that the Game Master of the gladiator arenas was paying a princeley sum for exotic animals from the "Spires" found northwest of the city deep in the unholy Ash Plains. I was prepared to pepper the group with other prepared rumors, and story hooks if they spent more time in the city, but they were happy with the scholar's grim tale of Rakoss the Undying, and his supposed tomb sealed and forgotten in the Zorab Mts. Could this cairn with the long ago defeated necromantic lord's symbol indicate the location of this tomb? The aged scholar was most anxious to confirm such a discovery. Such a historical discovery would revive his dim reputation among his peers. The party negotiates for additional muscle, some expedition supplies, and strike a deal; treasure and loot for the players, relics which prove the place is the last resting place of Rakoss for the scholar.
In the morning the party heads due east towards the towering mountains with Gomar the man-servant, and a compliant donkey loaded with supplies in tow. The trek is not uneventful. A wandering monster check brings the degenerate hill men of Zorab down upon them in the night. Since this is the first combat I had run in a dogs age I only sent three of these desperate savages at them. The man-servant was grievously wounded while the ax wielding Hunter chopped all in front of him down. He chased down the last fleeing hill man, and split his skull with ease. In the morning the small group pushes on to the Hunter's prized hunting site to rest, and heal.
Inspection of the weird cairn by Avant's man-servant suggests that the writings are a warning, and indicate the location of the tomb is due east against the towering walls of the mountains a short distance away. After hours of exploration the Hunter locates a narrow ravine which opens up into a large chamber, and behold, at the end of the chamber is a large sturdy door! While the door is locked with no visible means of opening it does help to have a Blacksmith, and a donkey in your group. It takes some time, but the group is able to pry the door open enough to slide on in.
So far the party has survived the initial horrors found within, but they have just scratched the surface. What terrors lay withing the unexplored chambers, well, we shall see!
Inspection of the weird cairn by Avant's man-servant suggests that the writings are a warning, and indicate the location of the tomb is due east against the towering walls of the mountains a short distance away. After hours of exploration the Hunter locates a narrow ravine which opens up into a large chamber, and behold, at the end of the chamber is a large sturdy door! While the door is locked with no visible means of opening it does help to have a Blacksmith, and a donkey in your group. It takes some time, but the group is able to pry the door open enough to slide on in.
So far the party has survived the initial horrors found within, but they have just scratched the surface. What terrors lay withing the unexplored chambers, well, we shall see!
Saturday, December 7
Equipment List for my USR Sword & Sorcery Campaign
Equipment List for the World of Xoth
The common coin of the realm is
silver, and following equipment list costs are in silver. 10 silver pieces make
for one gold. Copper is the lowest coin, needing ten of these beggar chips to
make one silver. Copper is usually only good for buying moldy bread, and cheap
clothing. The sourest of wines can be had for a few copper, but only slaves
would be found drinking such foul fare.
Gems are
the most concentrated form of wealth, ranging in value from 100 to 1,000 gp’s and
up! Most cutthroats would sell their soul for a chance to steal but a few gems.
Player
characters start with basic equipment relative to their character backgrounds,
and therefore get to list three such items for free. They also get to roll
3d6x20 starting silver to purchase some additional gear. Remember to keep some
silver on your person to by that first nights round of ale, and mutton.
Rules for the game using Scott Malthouse's USR mechanics can be found here!
Rules for the game using Scott Malthouse's USR mechanics can be found here!
Weapons
Dagger 20 +1
Mace 50 +1
Sickle 60 +1
Club 2 +1
Heavy Mace 120 +2 2H
Morning Star 80 +1
Spear 20 +1 ranged
weapon
Long Spear 50 +1 first
strike opportunity, set against charge
Quarter
Staff 5 +1
Heavy
Crossbow 500 +2 ranged
weapon
Light
Crossbow 350 +1 ranged
weapon
Dart 5 ranged weapon
Sling 1 ranged weapon
Throwing Axe 80 +1 ranged
weapon
Miners
Hammer 10
Hand Axe 60 +1
Light Pick 40
Short Sword 100 +1
Battle Axe 100 +2
Flail 80 +1 first
strike opportunity
Long Sword 150 +2
Scimitar 150 +2
War Hammer 120 +1/+3 vs. Plate
Pole Axe 85 +2 2H,
first strike opportunity, set against charge
Great Axe 200 +3 2H
Great Sword 500 +4 2H
Long Bow 750 +2 ranged
weapon
Short Bow 300 +1 ranged
weapon
Armor
Leather coif 100 +1 head
only
Steel Cap 100 +3 head
only
Leather
Jerkin 600 +1 body
and arms
Quilted
Jerkin 400 +1 body
and arms
Chain Shirt 600 +2 body
Leather
Leggings 350 +1 legs
Quilted
Leggins 250 +1 legs
High Leather
Boots 250 +1 legs
Chain Cowl 250 +2 head
Full Helm 350 +3 head
Chain Jerkin 1,500 +2 body
and arms
Hide Coat 900 +1 body
and arms
Scale
Corselet 1,500 +2 body
and arms
Bracers 100 +1 arms
Armored
Gauntlets 200 +2 arms
Greaves 100 +1 legs
Chain Skirt 100 +1 legs
Breastplate 900 +3 body
Banded 750 +2 body
Fully
Armor Suits
Quilted 1,500 +1 all
Leather 2,000 +2 all
Chainmail 5,000 +3 all
Scale 5,000 +3 all
Plate 15,000 +4 all
Shields
Buckler 150 +1 you
may use a bow or crossbow while equipped
Small Shield 70 +1
Large Shield 100 +2
Tower Shield 300 +4 provides
cover from aimed ranged weapons
Mundane gear can be bought using
the same prices in the Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook. Keep in mind
that most of the prices there are listed in gold coins, so multiply the cost by
ten to determine the price in silver!
Friday, November 29
USR Halberd Character Generator
Peter Gagliardi has made a fine character generator for Scott's USR fantasy rules. Link to the generator can be found at Gags Dev website here.
Gets one into a game quick!
Gets one into a game quick!
Sunday, October 27
So I'm playing now
Instead of talking about how I want to play role playing games now.
Not truly face to face, but on line.
Outside of my face to face scrum of a railroad adventure mashing up B10 Night's Dark Terror with Chaosium game mechanics, I have not enjoyed face to face play since 1988.
But the live play via on line video chat has been really enjoyable, and has let me try these lovely games once again.
But answer me this. Why are people thirty years later playing D&D the same way I played it when I was eleven? Seasoned gamers wax poetically on player agency, sandbox play, collaborative story building, the thrill of open ended adventure and what if. Why role playing games are so off the hook when it comes to social entertainment compared to watching sports or pitching horseshoes with your buds. All sorts of heady stuff.
Finally, it seems to me, there are a plethora of experienced players loose on line available buying into the greatness of the medium. I find them blogging, playing, creating, publishing here on line.
While available technology such as video chat has allowed instant gaming opportunities gathering a good gaming group is still something to cherish, and takes work. I feel very lucky to meet complete strangers on line and get nothing but good vibes, good cheer, and a good time. Now lets play. Okay, we head to the caves. How many days travel? Okay, what do we hear? We rush in. What do we see? Faaack. My first on line game with the OSR was a trip down eleven year old lane.
Yeah we were playing B2 Keep on the Borderlands, a well known adventure relic, but that whetted my appetite all the more. I looked forward to tackling a long ago played treasures with a more informed, and enthusiastic intent.
So I was completely mystified why most PC's were against any other plan than to march directly to the caves, charge in, and have to with whatever came our way. My PC has survived three hack and slash approaches. Just barely. Bumping and grunting against psychotic subterranean foes. Jabbing spears into each others vitals, letting the probability die fall where they may. It has left me with meager gains, and a character still breathing. Not much else. I ponder a better way to ring the caves like a blood soaked rag filled with diamonds. I ponder the absurdity of the economic system of the Keep itself. I ponder the validity of stumping into someone's home, slaughtering them and their family, and taking their valuables.
My mistakes in this situation are numerous. I've not asked other players around the virtual table what their expectations for the game are. I have not asked my DM what his expectations for the game are. I have not stated my expectations for the game at the outset. And I sure as shit did not think to make the Thief take a full wineskin of oil with him into the ogre cave. We could have easily torched the beast while he slumbered on his rancid bear skin bedding. Could have spared Anselm the retainer's poor life.
A lot of it probably has to do with going along to get along. Finding a game to play live, whether in the flesh or through the internet, with others which fits your time schedule isn't always easy. And I truly enjoy talking with all the players around the table trying to forge an exciting adventure.
But I find a lot of resistance from the group to. No one seems interested in, say, muck stables for three months at the Keep. Watch the coming and goings of the place. How many wagons of food a day does it take to keep people fed, how far do these goods come from, do the hired guards seem satisfied with their pay or is their a high turnover, is the Keep ever attacked by the monsters from the caves, do the people love their Lord, what relationships exist among the inhabitants of the Keep? Does anyone live outside its walls? If I'm working out of this place paying top dollar for food and lodging why doesn't the group start wholesaling to the Tavern, Provisioner, Smithy, etc? Why are players reluctant to approach the caves of chaos from above, and spend days watching the comings and goings of the place? To recon, gather information of the world in which our PC's inhabit so as to begin to find the tools we need to exploit our surroundings, satisfy our ambitions and goals? But I only find my character in front of some cave entrance trusting to the luck of a d20 roll.
It is most likely these interests of mine are just not the interest of anyone else in the group. Then clearly I am barking up the wrong tree. I'm sure I'm barking up the right game though :)
Not truly face to face, but on line.
Outside of my face to face scrum of a railroad adventure mashing up B10 Night's Dark Terror with Chaosium game mechanics, I have not enjoyed face to face play since 1988.
But the live play via on line video chat has been really enjoyable, and has let me try these lovely games once again.
But answer me this. Why are people thirty years later playing D&D the same way I played it when I was eleven? Seasoned gamers wax poetically on player agency, sandbox play, collaborative story building, the thrill of open ended adventure and what if. Why role playing games are so off the hook when it comes to social entertainment compared to watching sports or pitching horseshoes with your buds. All sorts of heady stuff.
Finally, it seems to me, there are a plethora of experienced players loose on line available buying into the greatness of the medium. I find them blogging, playing, creating, publishing here on line.
While available technology such as video chat has allowed instant gaming opportunities gathering a good gaming group is still something to cherish, and takes work. I feel very lucky to meet complete strangers on line and get nothing but good vibes, good cheer, and a good time. Now lets play. Okay, we head to the caves. How many days travel? Okay, what do we hear? We rush in. What do we see? Faaack. My first on line game with the OSR was a trip down eleven year old lane.
Yeah we were playing B2 Keep on the Borderlands, a well known adventure relic, but that whetted my appetite all the more. I looked forward to tackling a long ago played treasures with a more informed, and enthusiastic intent.
So I was completely mystified why most PC's were against any other plan than to march directly to the caves, charge in, and have to with whatever came our way. My PC has survived three hack and slash approaches. Just barely. Bumping and grunting against psychotic subterranean foes. Jabbing spears into each others vitals, letting the probability die fall where they may. It has left me with meager gains, and a character still breathing. Not much else. I ponder a better way to ring the caves like a blood soaked rag filled with diamonds. I ponder the absurdity of the economic system of the Keep itself. I ponder the validity of stumping into someone's home, slaughtering them and their family, and taking their valuables.
My mistakes in this situation are numerous. I've not asked other players around the virtual table what their expectations for the game are. I have not asked my DM what his expectations for the game are. I have not stated my expectations for the game at the outset. And I sure as shit did not think to make the Thief take a full wineskin of oil with him into the ogre cave. We could have easily torched the beast while he slumbered on his rancid bear skin bedding. Could have spared Anselm the retainer's poor life.
A lot of it probably has to do with going along to get along. Finding a game to play live, whether in the flesh or through the internet, with others which fits your time schedule isn't always easy. And I truly enjoy talking with all the players around the table trying to forge an exciting adventure.
But I find a lot of resistance from the group to. No one seems interested in, say, muck stables for three months at the Keep. Watch the coming and goings of the place. How many wagons of food a day does it take to keep people fed, how far do these goods come from, do the hired guards seem satisfied with their pay or is their a high turnover, is the Keep ever attacked by the monsters from the caves, do the people love their Lord, what relationships exist among the inhabitants of the Keep? Does anyone live outside its walls? If I'm working out of this place paying top dollar for food and lodging why doesn't the group start wholesaling to the Tavern, Provisioner, Smithy, etc? Why are players reluctant to approach the caves of chaos from above, and spend days watching the comings and goings of the place? To recon, gather information of the world in which our PC's inhabit so as to begin to find the tools we need to exploit our surroundings, satisfy our ambitions and goals? But I only find my character in front of some cave entrance trusting to the luck of a d20 roll.
It is most likely these interests of mine are just not the interest of anyone else in the group. Then clearly I am barking up the wrong tree. I'm sure I'm barking up the right game though :)
Thursday, October 10
New games, new posts, old music to my ears
Feeling to full of myself I demanded Treasure Island was the best adventure ever written. Pacing, dialogue, immersion, character development; the whole work is entirely off the hook. The electricity coming off the fingers while the quill dipped the inkwell, well, if I could capture that call me Stephen King!
This was orated in front of the television before a not too interested roommate who had just completed a Jules Verne story.
While Jules Verne illuminated great ideas Stevenson breathed stale breath in my face, forcing involuntary fingers to twist powder in the breach of my flintlock.
That is story telling. That is TRPG!
This was orated in front of the television before a not too interested roommate who had just completed a Jules Verne story.
While Jules Verne illuminated great ideas Stevenson breathed stale breath in my face, forcing involuntary fingers to twist powder in the breach of my flintlock.
That is story telling. That is TRPG!
Sunday, September 29
Google Hangout blues
So I joined a Google+ Hangout to actually play TRPG's in earnest since finding players to sit across a table on the western slope of CO is impoooosible.
The advantages of such technology in which to play are wonderful. Besides no one has to smell your ass gas while you verbally flatulent fantasy nonsense for four hours at a time, and you never have to leave your own gaming sanctum; I imagine the ability to find the game you want to play becomes much easier.
But how does one begin to find additional gaming Hangouts? The current, and only Google+ Hangout game I am involved in was from a direct invitation. As is how I would want such a gaming invitation to come. I gingerly try and cultivate a quality gaming relationship through my blog, comment on people who post wonderful content and game theory, and look to play the game everyone seems to be shooting for
...but where are all these great games being played? Cause I waited two weeks for my next game, and while some great players showed up on time the DM was no where to be found. With such a disposable medium, and commitment is just a click away I got the distinct feeling I would have to spend just as much time on searching for a Google+ Hangout group I can relish in as much as playing the game I want to play.
Therefore, if anyone has some great sources for finding TRPG Hangouts let me know, I look forward to the play!
The advantages of such technology in which to play are wonderful. Besides no one has to smell your ass gas while you verbally flatulent fantasy nonsense for four hours at a time, and you never have to leave your own gaming sanctum; I imagine the ability to find the game you want to play becomes much easier.
But how does one begin to find additional gaming Hangouts? The current, and only Google+ Hangout game I am involved in was from a direct invitation. As is how I would want such a gaming invitation to come. I gingerly try and cultivate a quality gaming relationship through my blog, comment on people who post wonderful content and game theory, and look to play the game everyone seems to be shooting for
Therefore, if anyone has some great sources for finding TRPG Hangouts let me know, I look forward to the play!
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