Xena & Gabrielle: Blue Rose 2nd Edition

It's June and I think I'll spend a good part of this month going over the new AGE version of Blue Rose.  What better choice than a couple of characters I have done in the past and ones I think will work great under Blue Rose.  Xena and Gabrielle.

I have done Xena and Gabby for Army of Darkness and Spellcraft & Swordplay in the past.  So I am basing this on those versions.  I might have some of my stats for Blue Rose a little off, I am still figuring out this game.  But I am having a great time doing it!

Why Xena?
I make no excuses of my enjoyment of Xena: Warrior Princess.  The show was silly, irreverent and always a fun time. Frankly, with it's mix of comedy, drama, memorable characters and a mish-mash of historical and mythological events, it really was the perfect D&D TV show.

There is one thing that Xena does better than any RPG.  It attracted a huge female audience and kept them.  Granted, one could argue that "Friend in Need" might have killed that, but up until then.  I think Xena works for the same reason that other successful shows do.  Great characterizations and great characters.  You know all about Xena and Gabrielle, but they are still great to watch.  Adding them to your game might just be that spice you didn't know you were missing.

Adding Xena and Gabrielle to your Game
Given their wanderings across the world it should actually be only a matter of time before the characters would run into her.  Maybe they know of her infamy as a conqueress.  Maybe they know of her turn and desire to do good to atone.  Or maybe it is just one of those things where the PCs and Xena arrive in the same place at the same time.  Fate is funny that way.

Like with my other builds I am setting these AFTER "Friend in Need". Obviously, Xena had to come back to life for some reason and now her and Gabrielle are back to doing what they do best.

Friend in Deed
"Friend in Deed" (FinD, and it is "in Deed" and not "indeed") is my let'sts go find Xena and bring her back to life because she is the Promised One" adventure/episode. Takes place after the series finale ("Friend in Need", get it?), Gabrielle is struggling to live up to Xena's legacy and struggling to continue living without Xena. While her intentions were initially good, she has been spiraling into darkness and depression. She has forgotten what she had learned as Eli's student. She has been traveling on the Path of the Warrior, trouble is she is close to leaving that and been straying onto the Path of Vengeance.

And that was about as far as I got.

I know the plot is not only to rescue Xena (she is in an in-between spiritual plane) but to rescue Gabrielle as well. I always imagined Gabrielle trying to continue Xena's journey, but feeling like she was failing and sinking deeper into depression. That is where your characters come in and help her save the day! Or something.


Xena, Warrior Princess of Amphipolis (Kern)

Level 13 Warrior

	ABILITIES (FOCUSES)
4	Accuracy (Brawling)
2	Communication (Leadership, Persuasion)
4*	Constitution (Drinking, Stamina)
4*	Dexterity (Acrobatics, Riding, Stealth)
5*	Fighting (Bludgeons) *many are part of Warrior
1	Intelligence (Cultural lore, Heraldry)
2	Perception (Tracking)
4*	Strength (Intimidation, Might)
4	Willpower (Courage)

COMBAT RATINGS

SPEED        HEALTH       DEFENSE       ARMOR RATING

12                82                  14                           5

ATTACKS

WEAPON           ATTACK ROLL          DAMAGE

Sword                        + 7                           1D6 + 3 (slash) Chakram                    + 7                           1D6 + 2 (slash)

POWERS, TALENTS, AND SPECIALIZATIONS

Favored Stunts: Disarm, dual strike, lighting attack, mighty blow

Talents:  Quick Reflexes (J), Thrown Weapon (M), Armor Training (J), Single-weapon style (sword) (M)

Specializations: Champion Talent (M), Outrider (N)

Medium Armor: Studded leather

Calling: Atonement (Judgement)
Destiny/Fate: Compassionate/Despondent (Nine of Swords)
Corruption: 1 (might have paid off by now)
Goals: To atone for past misdeeds. To bring good into the world. To stop the machinations of cruel gods.

Relationships
Gabrielle (5), "Gabrielle is the best part of me. I do everything to be worthy in her eyes."
Ares (3), "Ares is everything that I hate about the gods, and in my former self."
Joxer (1), "Gabrielle's friend, useful but a pain. Still, his heart is good."
Autolycus (1), "Prince of Braggarts more like it. He is a good friend and helpful in a tight situation."

Gabrielle, The Battling Bard of Potidaea (Matriarchy of Lar'tya)

Level 12 Expert

	ABILITIES (FOCUSES)
4*	Accuracy (Brawling, Light blades, Staves)
2*	Communication (Investigation, Persuasion)
4	Constitution (Stamina)
4*	Dexterity (Calligraphy)
5	Fighting (Bludgeons, Heavy blades)
1	Intelligence (Historical lore, Natural lore, Writing)
2*	Perception (Empathy)
4	Strength ()
4	Willpower (Self-discipline)

COMBAT RATINGS

SPEED        HEALTH       DEFENSE       ARMOR RATING

12                74                  11                            3

ATTACKS

WEAPON           ATTACK ROLL          DAMAGE

Staff                         +5                            1D6 (bludgeon) Sai (2)                      +5                            1D6 (bludgeon) Grand Katana            +5                           1D6+3 (slashing)

POWERS, TALENTS, AND SPECIALIZATIONS

Favored Stunts: New friends

Talents:  Pin-point attack, Oratory (J), Performance (N), Linguistics (J), Inspire (N), Unarmed style (N), Take aim, Stunning attack, Lethality

Specializations: Bard (verse) (M), Martial Artist (N)

Light Armor: Soft leather

Calling: Explore and Discovery (The World)
Destiny/Fate: Curious/Jaded (Queen of Rods)
Corruption: 1 (might have paid off by now)
Goals: To aid in Xena's redemption by letting the world know of her good deeds. To recover Xena's soul.

Relationships
Xena (5), "Xena is everything I ever live or die for."
Joxer (2), "He loves me, but he can only be my very good friend."
Autolycus (1), "He is not as evil or as mercenary as he lets on. One day he also discover that."

--
Ok. THAT was a lot of fun.  Can't wait to try out some more!

A couple of things I am not sure about. Xena's nerve pinch "touch" and Gabby's anti-magic dragon tattoo from the last episode.

I think these numbers are good, but I will need to try some more to be sure.

Xena & Gabrielle: Spellcraft & Swordplay

Note: This is my first (albeit late) post for the YAM Magazine LBGT Blogathon.  I am going to go over some of my favorite characters from TV, Books, and Movies and talk about how to use them in various games.

In some cases I'll also talk about why I picked the characters I did and why I paired them with the game I did.

Xena & Gabrielle: Spellcraft & Swordplay

I make no excuses of my enjoyment of Xena: Warrior Princess.  The show was silly, irreverent and always a fun time. Frankly, with it's mix of comedy, drama, memorable characters and a mis-mash of historical and mythological events, it really was the perfect D&D TV show.

I have discussed Xena in the past, with both M&M3/DCA stats and Ghosts of Albion/Army of Darkness. The unisystem versions has been one of my most popular posts. Xena certainly has earned a place in many game worlds, but in particular mine.  So here are some more stats.

This is Xena and her anamchara Gabrielle for the Spellcraft & Swordplay RPG.  Unlike my other stats, these assume that Xena and Gabrielle are still together and travelling the world.

Xena, Warrior Princess of Amphipolis
Warrior (Fighting Woman): 9th Level

Strength: 18
Dexterity: 18
Constitution: 17
Intelligence: 11
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 15

Attacks: 7+5 (7 attacks per round, +5 to any one attack)
Hit Points: 40
Alignment: Neutral (Unaligned)
AC: 5
Sword: 1d6+3
Chakram 1d6+1, decapitates on "box cars" (double 6s), on any double that hits can knock out instead of doing damage.

+2 to Con-based Saves

Gabrielle, The Battling Bard of Potidaea
Bard: 7th Level (Bards are found in Monstrous Mayhem)

Strength: 14
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 15
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 16

Attacks: 4+3
Hit Points: 25
Alignment: Neutral (mostly Good)
AC: 7
Sword: 1d6+3
Favored: Charisma, Intelligence
Oration: Gabrielle is a teller of tales, in particular the tales of Xena.  She is the author of the so called "Xena Scrolls" which could be a fabled magical tome in your game.

Staff: 1d6
Sais: 1d6 can attack with both hands (used later in the series)

Why Xena?
There is one thing that Xena does better than any RPG.  It attracted a huge female audience and kept them.  Granted, one could argue that "Friend in Need" might have killed that, but up until then.  I think Xena works for the same reason that other successful shows do.  Great characterizations and great characters.  You know all about Xena and Gabrielle, but they are still great to watch.  Adding them to your game might just be that spice you didn't know you were missing.

Adding Xena and Gabrielle to your Game
Given their wanderings across the world it should actually be only a matter of time before the characters would run into her.  Maybe they know of her infamy as a conqueress.  Maybe they know of her turn and desire to do good to atone.  Or maybe it is just one of those things where the PCs and Xena arrive in the same place at the same time.  Fate is funny that way.

Plus they are kick-ass characters that bring a lot of fun to the game.

Happy Birthday Lucy Lawless

In celebration of who might very well be the biggest reason most people come to my blog, here is a happy birthday to Lucy Lawless, aka Xena.

And since DC Women Kicking Ass has declared Xena an honorary DC ass-kicking woman, here are some stats for her for DC Adventures/Mutants & Masterminds 3rd Ed.

I am going with the idea here that Xena might be more than just human.

Xena, Warrior Princess - PL 8
Strength 4, Stamina 4, Agility 4, Dexterity 3, Fighting 5, Intellect 2, Awareness 2, Presence 3

Advantages
All-out Attack, Attractive 2, Chokehold, Connected, Contacts, Defensive Roll 3, Diehard, Equipment 2, Improved Critical: Nerve Pinch: Suffocation 1, Improved Grab, Improved Hold, Leadership, Power Attack, Precise Attack (All) 4, Skill Mastery: Close Combat, Skill Mastery: Ranged Combat

Skills
Acrobatics 6 (+10), Athletics 6 (+10), Close Combat: Sword 4 (+9), Insight 2 (+4), Intimidation 6 (+9), Perception 6 (+8), Persuasion 6 (+9), Ranged Combat: Chakram 8 (+11), Stealth 4 (+8), Treatment 1 (+3)

Powers
Leaping: Leaping 1 (Leap 15 feet at 4 miles/hour)
Nerve Pinch: Suffocation 1 (DC 11, Advantages: Chokehold; Grab-based)
Protection: Protection 2 (+2 Toughness)
Regeneration: Regeneration 1 (Every 10 rounds)
Equipment
 Chakram (Boomerang), Sword

Offense
 Initiative +4
 Chakram, +11 (DC 20)
 Grab, +5 (DC Spec 14)
 Nerve Pinch: Suffocation 1, +3 (DC Fort 11)
 Sword, +9 (DC 22)
 Throw, +3 (DC 19)
 Unarmed, +5 (DC 19)

Complications
 Honor
 Motivation: Doing Good
 Relationship

Languages
 Greek

Defense
 Dodge 7, Parry 7, Fortitude 8, Toughness 9/6, Will 4


Power Points
 Abilities 54 + Powers 8 + Advantages 22 + Skills 25 (49 ranks) + Defenses 11 = 120

Xena and Gabrielle

For your enjoyment.

Xena and Gabrielle stats for use with the Ghosts of Albion and Army of Darkness games!

I am setting these AFTER "Friend in Need". Obviously Xena had to come back to life for some reason and now her and Gabrielle are back to doing what they do best.

Friend in Deed
Friend in Deed (FinD, and it is "in Deed" and not "indeed") is my "lets go find Xena and bring her back to life because she is the Promised One" adventure/episode. Takes place after the series finale ("Friend in Need", get it?), Gabrielle is struggling to live up to Xena's legacy and struggling to continue living without Xena. While her intentions were initially good, she has been spiraling into darkness and depression. She has forgotten what she had learned as Eli's student. She has been traveling on the Path of the Warrior, trouble is she is close to leaving that and been straying onto the Path of Vengeance.

And that was about as far as I got.

I know the plot is to rescue not only Xena (she is in an in-between spiritual plane) but also Gabrielle. I always imagined Gabrielle trying to continue Xena's journey but feeling like she was failing and sinking deeper into depression. That is where your characters come in and help her save the day! Or something.

One idea I had was to have a group of characters, hearing of the prophecies in The Dragon and the Phoenix believe they apply to Xena and Gabrielle instead of Willow and Tara. In the end they discover the truth, but still Xena is brought back.  Besides killing off Xena was kind of stupid.

Either way I am a sucker for happy endings.

I gave them both Anamchara.  I think it is appropriate.

Here they are!

Xena, Warrior Princess of Amphipolis

Very Experienced Hero

Life Points 83
Drama Points 20

Attributes
Strength 6
Dexterity 6
Constitution 6
Intelligence 3
Perception 4
Willpower 6

Qualities
Promised One (regenerate 6 LP per hour)
Anamchara (Gabrielle)
Attractiveness +2
Hard to Kill 7
Fast Reaction Time
Natural Toughness (+4 to Armor)
Nerves of Steel
Situational Awareness

Drawbacks
Adversary (lots, old enemies, forces of evil, Greek Gods-Ares in particular, Caesar)
Honorable (Minimal)
Love, Tragic (various significant others and offspring)
Love (Gabrielle)
Mental Problems (Mild Cruelty)

Useful Information
Initiative 11
Actions 3
Natural Armor 4
Perception 1d10 + 9
Fear 17

Skills
Acrobatics 8
Art 1
Crime 4
Doctor 1
Driving 3
Getting Medieval 8
Influence 2
Knowledge 4
Kung Fu 8
Languages 4
Notice 5
Occultism 3
Science 1
Sports 3
Wild Card

Combat
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Nerve Pinch 14 * Incapacitates the target by cutting off oxygen to their brain
Must make survival checks. See suffocation rules.
Sword 14 24 Slash/stab
- Decapitation 9 24 x5 damage
Chakram 14 24 Slash or Bash (depending on how thrown)
Punch 14 12 Bash
Kick 13 14 Bash
- Flying/spin kick 11 21 Bash, war cry optional, but very cool
- Sweep kick 13 6 Bash
Dodge 14 Defense action
Parry 14 Defense action


Gabrielle, The Battling Bard of Potidaea
Very Experienced Primitive Screwhead

Life Points 46
Drama Points 15

Attributes
Strength 3
Dexterity 3
Constitution 3
Intelligence 4
Perception 5
Willpower 4

Qualities
Anamchara (Xena)
Artist (Bard)
Attractiveness +3
Hard to Kill 4
Fast Reaction Time
Nerves of Steel
Situational Awareness

Drawbacks
Adversary
Honorable (Serious)
Love, Tragic (various significant others and offspring)
Love (Xena)

Useful Information
Initiative 8
Actions 2
Perception 1d10 + 7
Fear 13

Skills
Acrobatics 4
Art (writing) 5
Crime 1
Doctor 3
Driving 2
Getting Medieval 5
Influence 3
Knowledge 4
Kung Fu 4
Languages 2
Notice 2
Occultism 3
Science 1
Sports 2
Wild Card

Combat
Maneuver Bonus Base Damage Notes
Nerve Pinch 7 * Incapacitates the target by cutting off oxygen to their brain
Must make survival checks. See suffocation rules.
Xena taught this to Gabrielle in Friend in Need.
Grand Katana 13 17 Slash/stab (+5 to hits and damage)
- Decapitation 8 17 x5 damage
Chakram 8 12 Slash or Bash (depending on how thrown)
Sais 8 6 Slash/stab
Punch 7 6 Bash
Kick 6 8 Bash
Dodge 8 Defense action
Parry 8 Defense action


Weapons of note

The Chakram of Darkness

Xena's (and used by Gabrielle after FIN) weapon of choice is her Chakram. A metal throwing ring, the Chakram is razor sharp. Xena was able to throw the chakram in such a way that it could hit multiple opponents and fly back to her. Despite its razor sharpness she could catch it and she could also use it to inflict slash damage or bash damage.
It was later revealed that this was in fact the Chakram of Darkness and had the ability to kill a god. Xena balanced it with the Chakram of Light and this ability was lost.

The Grand Katana

Made of the finest craftsmanship in the world, all other swords are toys compared to the Grand Katana.
Back in her evil warrior days Xena challenged the Sensei. The girl Akemi used it to kill her father. In order to regain her honor Akemi begged Xena to kill her with it. When Xena returned to Akemi's home, Akemi's ghost lead her to the sword. It was given the ability to harm malicious spirits and Gabrielle used it to avenge Xena's murder.

Its craftsmanship is so fine and the enchantments are such that it adds +5 to any attack and damage. The Grand Katana is also a unique weapon with a long history. Possessing it automatically gives the wielder a reputation and an extra 2 points of Adversaries representing those who want the sword for themselves or to return it to its rightful owners.

Anti-Magic Tattoo

Gabrielle has a large coiled dragon tattoo on her back that makes her immune to most forms of evil magic. She is immune to effects of any offensive spell below PL 4 and can negate up to 40 points of LP damage from any malicious spell-like supernatural attack.
Akemi's ghost tattooed Gabrielles back in long and painful procedure. It is unknown if others have learned this skill or at what level they are capable of enchanting the tattoo.

Directors Note: This is Level 4 tattoo. Anti-Magic tattoos cost 3 points per level and require someone with the knowledge to apply it. The Cast member then can no longer use Magic.

Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xena:_Warrior_Princess
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112230/
Whoosh!, the largest Xena related website on the web. http://www.whoosh.org/

Nerd Girls of Note: Lucy Lawless


Why is Xena important?
I get asked why I like a show that was so obviously full of fluff and a terrible butchering of history and myth.

Simple.
Xena is important.

Xena concluded her run in 2001.  At the time she started there were not a lot of strong female characters on TV and certainly very, very few in the lead role.  Sure X-Files had Dana Sculley, but she was supposed to be the "straight man" to Mulder.
Once Xena got popular we got Buffy, Charmed, Dark Angel, Alias, Birds of Prey, the list goes on.  More than any of these other shows (yes, even Buffy) Xena has been studied by academics on it's effects on media, pop-culture and women's studies.  We have (well...had) planets named after her, she has become a pop cultural reference and an icon to many.

In my games certainly Xena and Gabrielle are spiritual ancestors (but not actual ancestors as in some Uberfics) of Willow and Tara.  Something I had hoped to demonstrate in "Friend in Deed".
Maybe I'll get around to running it one day.

B/X Blackrazor is also talking about Xena on his Blog.
B/X BLACKRAZOR: The Problem with Xena


Purchase the Buffy the Vampire Slayer game from Noble Knight Games.