I'll get one of these sewn on to my "bag of holding" before August.
Want one? Check out the original post over at Tenkar's.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Monday, June 4, 2018
OMG: Babylonian, Sumerian and Akkadian, Part 1
And various Idols through the Heathen World.
- Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 1
For this posting of One Man's God, I thought it best to go back where it all began for me.
The Babylonian myths in the Deities and Demigods are one of the most interesting collections of characters in the book really. I was fascinated by them and when I got to college I jumped at the chance to take a mythology class and learn more. There Professor Joan O'Brien (yes I remember her 30 years later, she was that good) told the story of Gilgamesh and Marduk and many others in the Enûma Eliš, or When On High. So I am likely to spend a couple of posts on this topic just because it is so rich.
Now I want to clear about one thing. I am not here to dismiss or deride the research done by James M. Ward and Robert J. Kuntz. They did what they did without the benefit of computers, the internet and the collected archeological knowledge I have access too since 1980. For example, there were some pretty significant finds in 1984 and published in 1992 that would have changed some things. Plus they were not writing for historical, archeological, or mythological scholarship. They were writing first and foremost for the AD&D game. So let's keep that all in mind when digging through the rubble of ages.
Alas, Babylon
The myths of the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians represent some of the oldest myths and stories mankind has intact. Dating back to 3500 BCE these are quite old. Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon (the Empire, not just the city) roughly share the same area between the Tigris–Euphrates rivers, they also shared related languages; Sumerian, but mostly Akkadian. They used the same cuneiform writing and they recorded them on clay tablets. They shared gods and they shared a culture. While there is more time (more than twice the time really) between the rise of the Sumerian city-states and the fall of the last Babylonian empire than there is between Babylon and now, we tend to view them as related.
Because of this I am more likely to treat the Babylonian Mythos and the Sumerian Mythos of the D&DG as being one and not two.
Druaga
Let's start with what can only be called the Poster Boy for this series. Druaga, Ruler of the Devil World. We really don't know much about this guy other than he is a real monster. We know he never appears to anyone the same way twice, yet he has a true form that frightens others. He is Lawful evil and can summon devils (except Archdevils) and can turn victims of his mace attacks into devils.
Is it me or does his mace remind you of Asmodeus' Ruby Rod?
I have a lot of issues with Druaga here.
If you thought he doesn't really seem to fit the Babylonian gods then you are right. He doesn't appear to be one of their gods at all. There is a connection to "Druj" which is an Avestan (proto-Iranian) spirit of corruption. But that concept comes from later and further away than Babylon. He appears to be made up whole cloth for this book. The only other reference to him in anything like this form is from a 1984 video game and later anime; Doruāga no Tō or The Tower of Druaga. The game features Gilgamesh and Ki, who seems to be based on the Sumerian Goddess Ki (yeah I have some issues with her too...). Druaga even looks similar to the D&DG version.
There is also the issue that despite his obvious power there is no place for him in the devils' hierarchy. He is more powerful than Asmodeus and can create new devils besides. So what gives?
In my own games, I took Druaga and I put him on the first layer of Hell in place of Tiamat (more on her in a bit). First, I figured he was a better fit since I wanted Tiamat to be Chaotic Evil and he had the look. I had already started dividing my devils into the ruling and serving classes. The rulers were the fallen angels or everyone from a pitfiend up. The servers were the less human looking devils (Eventually called "Shedim" or Demons of Rage in my games) Druaga was their leader.
To steal from the greats I had made my Hell already filled with some creatures. Some the Fallen took over and others they kicked out. I also made my first level of Hell the place where the pagans go, ala Dante's Inferno.
Over the years we have gotten a number of Rulers of Avernus; Tiamat, Bel and now Zariel. Maybe Druaga was there first.
Looking at his stats he is pretty powerful. Strength at 24, Intelligence at 18, Dexterity at 23, Constitution at 25, and a Charisma of -4. Only his 13 Wisdom fails to be godly.
He is listed as a 15th level fighter, 15th level magic-user, and 15 level assassin. If we give him 15 HD and maximum hp (d8+7 for Con) then that gives us 225 hp. Not far off from his 230.
He has 75% magic resistance as well as being immune to breath-weapons.
So why is he not ruling hell?
If we go with the Politics of Hell article as a guide, Druaga was the ruler but was deposed when the Angels fell and became Devils.
For starters, I am happy with 15 HD, though higher is also nicer. The 1e AD&D Monster Manual sets the Pit Fiend at 13 HD, so 15 HD for a former ruler, reduced in power works for me.
FREQUENCY: Unique
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: -2
MOVE: 12"/24"
HIT DICE: 15 (230 hp)
% IN LAIR: 95%
TREASURE TYPE: J, R
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 6-15/6-15 (1d10+5)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: See below
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +3 or better
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 65%
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
SIZE: L (9' tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
When the Angels fell after the War in Heaven, Druaga was already there. When faced with the legions of the Fallen, Druaga surrendered his ruby mace to the leader of the Fallen. Eventually, it came into the possession of the Arch Duke Asmodeus.
Druaga still holds considerable power. He lives in a giant ziggurat temple on Avernus where the souls of the damned still perform service to him. He can summon any devil of Pit Fiend status or lower to his aid once a day in numbers from 2-20.
Druaga has all the same immunities as do other Devils, he is also 100% immune to the effects of all breath weapons.
Next time we will talk dragons.
You can read Part 2 here.
You can read Part 3 here.
Friday, June 1, 2018
Kickstart Your Weekend: No One Warps For Free
Venger is back and this time he has some new for the universe of Alpha Blue.
The newest and now full color Alpha Blue supplement, Alpha Ass, Hydrogen Gas, or Cosmic Grass... No One Warps For Free! Is being kickstarted today.
I will freely admit. I love Alpha Blue. 70s Sci-Fi sleaze is almost as much fun as 70s horror sleaze and I love them both. Alpha Blue is one of my favorite all time RPG books. Not books Venger has done, but all RPG books. Why? Because it is so over the top and really in an infinite universe a space station like Alpha Blue would exist.
Venger always delivers on his kickstarters so this one should be no different. He is promising a minimum of 30 pages and all full color.
New classes include Bard, Primitive Screwheads and Space sorcerers. Hell, it sounds like so much fun I might need to come up with a sect of my own Sisters of the Aquarian Order to play with this. Oh know! Before they take their final oaths all prospective Sisters are given 24 hours where they are free to do whatever they want. Well, a group of near-graduating space witches have chosen to party on Alpha Blue.
So check this out. Alpha Blue is Venger's best selling line for a reason.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
This Old Dragon: Issue #99
Issue #99 is an often forgotten issue in my mind. On one side we have issue #90, the Tenth Anniversary issue and on the other #100. Poor old 99 kinda gets forgotten. The cover from Clyde Duensing III is fine, but nothing special.
Letters has some questions about the Gorgon from the last Ecology Of article.
Kim Mohan's editorial talks about how Unearthed Arcana will "change the way the AD&D game is played." Not sure it did that, but it certainly began what would later become the edition wars.
The Forum covers some of these questions, in particular, the new Demi-human level limits.
Stephen Inniss is back this time with The Neutral Point of View. Or how to play those lawful, chaotic, and true neutral characters, monsters and NPCs. It's a good read and some of the philosophy would later appear in D&D 3.
Tables and Table of Troops by James Yates is actually a little more than just tables. It does, however, talk a lot about how armies move. I am pretty sure my then DM used these ideas for our world-wide war. The advantage to this article is it can still be used with every version of the D&D game.
Win $10,000 for playing an RPG? Can't be true! But that is what Pacesetter says in this ad.
Nigel D. Findley, a name I associate a lot with later 80s D&D, is up with The Ecology of the Will-o-Wisp. I covers what I always felt was ill-defined at best, the relationship between boggarts and Wisps. I think I prefer the undead version of the Wisp found in D&D 5.
Ah now, this article I do remember. Kevin Anderson and Kristine Thompson team up to give us That's Life in the Big City. We came back to this article a lot when we (my then gaming group) were working on our "Urban Survival Guide". There is not a lot here, but there is a good overview of what a fortified city is like.
Some ads.
Flipping back I see I am missing pages 30 to 39.
Looking at my CD-Rom I see it was History of a game that failed:An essay on mistakes and how not to make them by David F. Godwin. I wonder why the original owner cut this one out?
The World Gamer's Guide. Coming Attractions from TSR. This includes a new RPG, PROTON FIRE by Bruce Nesmith. Can't wait to play that one!! (more later)
The centerpiece here is the Treasure Trove II but mine is gone. No surprise there I guess.
It's too bad really. The article on Swords was good if I recall right.
Merle and Jackie Rasmussen are back with Authentic Agencies, Part III. This time they cover the Communist Bloc including the KGB and SSD, and the Middle East. It's like a trip down memory lane.
Another ad from our good friend Ramal LaMarr.
After the fiction bit we come to the Ares section.
Let's see. Alex Curylo gives us some tanks for Star Frontiers in Tanks a Lot!
It's actually kind of a great article and I remember cutting it out and putting it in my KnightHawks boxed set.
Psybots and Battle Mechs gives us a look at the new PROTON FIRE game. Look closely, because to my knowledge this is all we will ever see of that game. I have no idea why it never saw the light of day.
Marvel-Phile has some Russian super-heroes.
A Gamma-World article that has been cut out.
Lots of Cons in the Convention Calendar.
Gamer's Guide has the small ads.
Wormy weighs in at 2 pages. Snarf at 3.
All in all not a real memorable issue, minus the magic items and the article on the cities.
Want to know what was going on over the pond at this time? Check out my review for White Dwarf #67.
Take us home Ramal!
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Wayward Sisters for Amazing Adventures
Ah. I have never met a windmill I couldn't joust with.
Anyway it's AMAYzine May AND it is Wayward Wednesday. So today you can watch your favorite Supernatural episode featuring the Wayward girls on Netflix.
Amazing Adventures is a really awesome game with a lot of character development and customization built right in. Today I want to just work from the core rulebook and figure out how to add some different quirks to some characters with similar backgrounds.
Jody and Donna are both sheriffs working in the northern part of the Midwest.
Anne/Alex and Clare are both survivors that have turned to less-legal pursuits for hunting monsters. AA gives me the means to get a little more finesse out of these characters.
Links lead to their pages on the Supernatural Wiki.
Jody Mills
Class: Gumshoe (Police officer)
Level: 7
Lawful Good
hp: 46
AC: 12
BtH: +7
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
*DEX: 14 (+1)
CON: 15 (+1)
INT: 15 (+1)
WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 15 (+1)
Class Abilities
Climb, Cat & Mouse, Hide, Move Silently, Take em Down, Precision Shot, Face in the Crowd
Adversary (Monsters)
Traits
Abrasive, Honest
Background: Law enforcement
Knowledge: Law
Donna Hanscum
Class: Gumshoe (Police officer)
Level: 7
Lawful Good
hp: 46
AC: 12
BtH: +7
Attributes
STR: 13 (+1)
*DEX: 12 (0)
CON: 12 (0)
INT: 14 (+1)
WIS: 17 (+2)
CHA: 16 (+2)
Class Abilities
Climb, Cat & Mouse, Hide, Move Silently, Take em Down, Precision Shot, Face in the Crowd
Adversary (Monsters, mostly Vampires)
Traits
Cautious, Easy going, Honest
Background: Law enforcement
Knowledge: Law
The differences between Jody an Donna are subtle in terms of stats, but they are role-played very differently. Jody has a longer history of hunters and hunting, but Donna has made up for lost time.
Jody can be a bit abrasive with others and with her family, but that is only becuase she worries about them. Her first family were all killed.
Donnan can act all sunshine and Minnesota good cheer, but never doubt that she has already figured out the monster and knows a couple of different ways to kill it "doncha know".
Alex/Anne Jones
Class: Socialite/Hooligan (Multi-class)
Level: 1 / 3 (3)
Neutral Good
hp: 24
AC: 10
BtH: +1
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
*DEX: 12 (0)
CON: 15 (+1)
INT: 15 (+1)
WIS: 16 (+2)
*CHA: 15 (+1)
Class Abilities
(s) Charm, Connected (Vampire clans),Exalt (Vampire clans) (no clan)
(h) Back Attack, Case Target, Climb, Hide, Lingo (Vampire slang), Listen, Move Silently, Open Locks, Pick Pockets,Traps, Medicine (from Nurse's training)
Traits
Passionate, Focused
Background: Mean streets
Knowledge: Vampires
Anne has two classes to cover the time when she was living bait for a clan of vampires (Socialite) and when she was later hunting and acting out (Hooligan) or as Jody put it, she was not a cheerleader but the one smoking pot under the bleachers.
Clare Novak
Class: Hooligan
Level: 4
Chaotic Good
hp: 20
AC: 11
BtH: +1
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
*DEX: 12 (0)
CON: 15 (+1)
INT: 15 (+1)
WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 15 (+1)
Class Abilities
Back Attack, Case Target, Climb, Hide, Lingo (Hunter slang), Listen, Move Silently, Open Locks, Pick Pockets, Traps, Sneak Attack
Traits
Passionate, Reckless
Background: Mean Streets
Knowledge: Angels and demons
Anne and Clare would normally by the rules appear to be Hooligans. Anne/Alex starts out as a "Socialite" since that is the closest thing in the rules to "pretty vampire bait". Though she did do all of the things a socialite did for her vampire clan. After she was freed she became every bit the rebellous teen Hooligan that Clare is. Using the rules to swap out powers I took out her "Traps" ability and replaced it with "Medicine" to cover her training as a Nurse. I am thinking that for now she is an LPN, not an RN, so maybe as she gets better I might have to rule of taking out some of her other hooligan abilities that no longer fit.
I also removed her Exalt since she is not running with a vampire clan/nest anymore.
Patience Turner
Class: Mentalist
Level: 1
Lawful Good
hp: 6
AC: 10
BtH: +0
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
DEX: 14 (+1)
CON: 12 (0)
INT: 18 (+3)
*WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 17 (+2)
Class Abilities
Meditation, Psionic Power, Psychic Senses
Traits
Focused
Psionic Powers
Basic: Clairvoyance w/ Pre-cognitive
Background: Student
Anyway it's AMAYzine May AND it is Wayward Wednesday. So today you can watch your favorite Supernatural episode featuring the Wayward girls on Netflix.
Amazing Adventures is a really awesome game with a lot of character development and customization built right in. Today I want to just work from the core rulebook and figure out how to add some different quirks to some characters with similar backgrounds.
Jody and Donna are both sheriffs working in the northern part of the Midwest.
Anne/Alex and Clare are both survivors that have turned to less-legal pursuits for hunting monsters. AA gives me the means to get a little more finesse out of these characters.
Links lead to their pages on the Supernatural Wiki.
Class: Gumshoe (Police officer)
Level: 7
Lawful Good
hp: 46
AC: 12
BtH: +7
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
*DEX: 14 (+1)
CON: 15 (+1)
INT: 15 (+1)
WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 15 (+1)
Class Abilities
Climb, Cat & Mouse, Hide, Move Silently, Take em Down, Precision Shot, Face in the Crowd
Adversary (Monsters)
Traits
Abrasive, Honest
Background: Law enforcement
Knowledge: Law
Class: Gumshoe (Police officer)
Level: 7
Lawful Good
hp: 46
AC: 12
BtH: +7
Attributes
STR: 13 (+1)
*DEX: 12 (0)
CON: 12 (0)
INT: 14 (+1)
WIS: 17 (+2)
CHA: 16 (+2)
Class Abilities
Climb, Cat & Mouse, Hide, Move Silently, Take em Down, Precision Shot, Face in the Crowd
Adversary (Monsters, mostly Vampires)
Traits
Cautious, Easy going, Honest
Background: Law enforcement
Knowledge: Law
The differences between Jody an Donna are subtle in terms of stats, but they are role-played very differently. Jody has a longer history of hunters and hunting, but Donna has made up for lost time.
Jody can be a bit abrasive with others and with her family, but that is only becuase she worries about them. Her first family were all killed.
Donnan can act all sunshine and Minnesota good cheer, but never doubt that she has already figured out the monster and knows a couple of different ways to kill it "doncha know".
Class: Socialite/Hooligan (Multi-class)
Level: 1 / 3 (3)
Neutral Good
hp: 24
AC: 10
BtH: +1
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
*DEX: 12 (0)
CON: 15 (+1)
INT: 15 (+1)
WIS: 16 (+2)
*CHA: 15 (+1)
Class Abilities
(s) Charm, Connected (Vampire clans),
(h) Back Attack, Case Target, Climb, Hide, Lingo (Vampire slang), Listen, Move Silently, Open Locks, Pick Pockets,
Traits
Passionate, Focused
Background: Mean streets
Knowledge: Vampires
Anne has two classes to cover the time when she was living bait for a clan of vampires (Socialite) and when she was later hunting and acting out (Hooligan) or as Jody put it, she was not a cheerleader but the one smoking pot under the bleachers.
Class: Hooligan
Level: 4
Chaotic Good
hp: 20
AC: 11
BtH: +1
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
*DEX: 12 (0)
CON: 15 (+1)
INT: 15 (+1)
WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 15 (+1)
Class Abilities
Back Attack, Case Target, Climb, Hide, Lingo (Hunter slang), Listen, Move Silently, Open Locks, Pick Pockets, Traps, Sneak Attack
Traits
Passionate, Reckless
Background: Mean Streets
Knowledge: Angels and demons
Anne and Clare would normally by the rules appear to be Hooligans. Anne/Alex starts out as a "Socialite" since that is the closest thing in the rules to "pretty vampire bait". Though she did do all of the things a socialite did for her vampire clan. After she was freed she became every bit the rebellous teen Hooligan that Clare is. Using the rules to swap out powers I took out her "Traps" ability and replaced it with "Medicine" to cover her training as a Nurse. I am thinking that for now she is an LPN, not an RN, so maybe as she gets better I might have to rule of taking out some of her other hooligan abilities that no longer fit.
I also removed her Exalt since she is not running with a vampire clan/nest anymore.
Class: Mentalist
Level: 1
Lawful Good
hp: 6
AC: 10
BtH: +0
Attributes
STR: 12 (0)
DEX: 14 (+1)
CON: 12 (0)
INT: 18 (+3)
*WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 17 (+2)
Class Abilities
Meditation, Psionic Power, Psychic Senses
Traits
Focused
Psionic Powers
Basic: Clairvoyance w/ Pre-cognitive
Background: Student
Knowledge: School topics
Patience is the easiest one. She is, by any definition I can think of, a 1st level character. She has some skills (she is top student and athlete) but she only has one trick right now and that is her visions. So she is a perfect level 1 Mentalist with very, very minimal customization.
Ok. Now, these are builds I can enjoy and get behind. These would be some kick-ass characters to play. Everything from Patience discovering what her own powers mean and what she can do, to Clare's unresolved anger issues and the new mother/daughter relationship to Jody (who is basically Clare in few more years). Even Anne trying to put the horror of her life behind her to do something normal.
It would make for a great game and a great TV show.
Don't forget that Petition!
https://www.change.org/p/the-cw-save-wayward-sisters
Patience is the easiest one. She is, by any definition I can think of, a 1st level character. She has some skills (she is top student and athlete) but she only has one trick right now and that is her visions. So she is a perfect level 1 Mentalist with very, very minimal customization.
Ok. Now, these are builds I can enjoy and get behind. These would be some kick-ass characters to play. Everything from Patience discovering what her own powers mean and what she can do, to Clare's unresolved anger issues and the new mother/daughter relationship to Jody (who is basically Clare in few more years). Even Anne trying to put the horror of her life behind her to do something normal.
It would make for a great game and a great TV show.
Don't forget that Petition!
https://www.change.org/p/the-cw-save-wayward-sisters
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Willow and Tara: Amazing Adventures, 2018 update
In many ways I still associate Tuesdays with Buffy.
Hard to believe, but five an half years ago I posted Amazing Adventures stats for Willow and Tara. The idea then, and now, was to experiment with different types of Arcanists. Willow is a very typical Intelligence-based spell caster while Tara was always a more Wisdom-based one. I have also done a Charisma-based Aracanist, in the form of Rachel Morgan.
As you can imagine I am trying to replicate my C&C Witch in a modern format.
The Amazing Adventures of Willow & Tara, 2018
Recently I have been using Amazing Adventures as a modern game as opposed to a pulp game. So instead of thinking about Tommy Guns and the like I am more interested in smart phones, computers and GPS. The shift has been an interesting one. Thankfully Amazing Adventures is based on a core of d20 so finding extra material is very easy.
So what have my witches been up to?
Given what I have been doing with the characters for the last few years I would have to say they have been largely retired. So taking the reunion staged by Entertainment Weekly, I would say something pulled them out of retirement. Maybe a horrible orange monster threatening to take over the world. Or something. Of course I do want to figure out an adventure to pull all my favorite supernatural shows together in one mega-episode crossover.
Willow Danielle Rosenberg-Maclay
Arcanist (INT) 12
Human Female, Lawful Good
Age: 37, Ht: 5'3", Hair: Red, Eyes: Green
hp: 45
MEP: 114
AC: 12 (locket of protection)/ 15 (when in physical contact with Tara)
Move: 30'
STR: 9 (0)
DEX: 11 (0)
*CON: 11 (0)
*INT: 18 (+3)
WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 17 (+2)
Languages: English, Latin, Hebrew, French* (extra language)
Background: Computers +4 (+2 initial, improved at 5th, 10th level), Science +2
Traits: Spellgifted (offensive),Reckless
Skill: Knowledge (Arcana)
Spells per Level 9/6/6/5/3/2/1
0: Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Open/Close, Prestidigitation
1: Arcane Bolt, Burning Hands, Identify, Read Magic, Shocking Grasp, Sleep
2: Bullet Proof, Darkness, Enhance Attribute, Invisibility Scare, Shatter
3: Blink, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Fly, Lightning Bolt, Magic Circle
4: Confusion, Locate Creature, Scrying,
5: Telekinesis, Telepathic Bond
6: Chain Lightning
Willow's class is Arcanist, but her backgrounds are computers and science. She does have increased knowledge skill in Arcana. It is also likely that Willow has bought off her Reckless by now. Compared to my earlier version, I have dropped the unneeded Gadgeteer level.
Tara Ann Rosenberg-Maclay
Arcanist (WIS) 11
Human Female, Lawful Good
Age: 38, Ht: 5'5", Hair: Blonde, Eyes: Blue
hp: 42
MEP: 100
AC: 12 (locket of protection)/ 15 (when in physical contact with Willow)
Move: 30'
STR: 12 (0)
DEX: 9 (0)
CON: 12 (0)
INT: 16 (+2)
WIS: 18 (+3)
CHA: 16 (+2)
Languages: English, Latin, Gaelic, Japanese (bonus free language)
Background: Historian +4 (+2 initial, improved at 5th, 10th level), Artist +2
Traits: Spellgifted (defensive), Polite
Skill: Knowledge (myth and legend)
Spells per Level 9/6/6/5/3/2
0: Blinding Flash, Detect Evil, Detect magic, First Aid, Know Direction, Light, Purify Food & Drink, Message, Prestidigitation
1: Animal Friendship, Command, Cure Light Wounds*, Protection from Evil, Remove Fear, Shield of Faith
2: Aid, Darkness, Delay Poison, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration*, Speak with Animals
3: Cure Serious Wounds, Dispel Magic, Magic Circle against Evil, Remove curse, Spiritual Weapon
4: Dismissal, Restoration*, Wall of Force
5: Dispel Evil, Scrying
*Tara still retains her healing touch divine powers from when she was brought back from the dead.
To fit my general idea of Tara more I would like to up her MEP to the maximum amount. She might not have a lot of different spells, but she has a lot of power.
So for me it has been nearly 10 years since I used these characters in these incarnations.
What have they been doing? Well in the Dragon and the Phoenix/Season of the Witch timeline they moved to Boston, been married for years. Willow owned a software security firm ("RedWitch") that she later sold making millions. Tara has degrees in art history and counseling. She teaches at a school for young magicians and witches (no not Hogwarts). They have two daughters Brianna 12 and Chole 9.
Reading over this I think what I really need to try is to start these characters over again at 1st level and see what it is like to run them under AA. It makes perfect sense if you think about it.
Buffy = Demon Hunter
Xander = Hooligan
Willow = Arcanist (Int)
Tara = Arcanist (Wis)
Cordelia = Socialite
Giles = Occultist
Oz = Werewolf
Angel, Spike = Vampire
I could be a lot of fun.
Hard to believe, but five an half years ago I posted Amazing Adventures stats for Willow and Tara. The idea then, and now, was to experiment with different types of Arcanists. Willow is a very typical Intelligence-based spell caster while Tara was always a more Wisdom-based one. I have also done a Charisma-based Aracanist, in the form of Rachel Morgan.
As you can imagine I am trying to replicate my C&C Witch in a modern format.
Recently I have been using Amazing Adventures as a modern game as opposed to a pulp game. So instead of thinking about Tommy Guns and the like I am more interested in smart phones, computers and GPS. The shift has been an interesting one. Thankfully Amazing Adventures is based on a core of d20 so finding extra material is very easy.
So what have my witches been up to?
Given what I have been doing with the characters for the last few years I would have to say they have been largely retired. So taking the reunion staged by Entertainment Weekly, I would say something pulled them out of retirement. Maybe a horrible orange monster threatening to take over the world. Or something. Of course I do want to figure out an adventure to pull all my favorite supernatural shows together in one mega-episode crossover.
Arcanist (INT) 12
Human Female, Lawful Good
Age: 37, Ht: 5'3", Hair: Red, Eyes: Green
hp: 45
MEP: 114
AC: 12 (locket of protection)/ 15 (when in physical contact with Tara)
Move: 30'
STR: 9 (0)
DEX: 11 (0)
*CON: 11 (0)
*INT: 18 (+3)
WIS: 16 (+2)
CHA: 17 (+2)
Languages: English, Latin, Hebrew, French* (extra language)
Background: Computers +4 (+2 initial, improved at 5th, 10th level), Science +2
Traits: Spellgifted (offensive),
Skill: Knowledge (Arcana)
Spells per Level 9/6/6/5/3/2/1
0: Arcane Mark, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Open/Close, Prestidigitation
1: Arcane Bolt, Burning Hands, Identify, Read Magic, Shocking Grasp, Sleep
2: Bullet Proof, Darkness, Enhance Attribute, Invisibility Scare, Shatter
3: Blink, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Fly, Lightning Bolt, Magic Circle
4: Confusion, Locate Creature, Scrying,
5: Telekinesis, Telepathic Bond
6: Chain Lightning
Willow's class is Arcanist, but her backgrounds are computers and science. She does have increased knowledge skill in Arcana. It is also likely that Willow has bought off her Reckless by now. Compared to my earlier version, I have dropped the unneeded Gadgeteer level.
Arcanist (WIS) 11
Human Female, Lawful Good
Age: 38, Ht: 5'5", Hair: Blonde, Eyes: Blue
hp: 42
MEP: 100
AC: 12 (locket of protection)/ 15 (when in physical contact with Willow)
Move: 30'
STR: 12 (0)
DEX: 9 (0)
CON: 12 (0)
INT: 16 (+2)
WIS: 18 (+3)
CHA: 16 (+2)
Languages: English, Latin, Gaelic, Japanese (bonus free language)
Background: Historian +4 (+2 initial, improved at 5th, 10th level), Artist +2
Traits: Spellgifted (defensive), Polite
Skill: Knowledge (myth and legend)
Spells per Level 9/6/6/5/3/2
0: Blinding Flash, Detect Evil, Detect magic, First Aid, Know Direction, Light, Purify Food & Drink, Message, Prestidigitation
1: Animal Friendship, Command, Cure Light Wounds*, Protection from Evil, Remove Fear, Shield of Faith
2: Aid, Darkness, Delay Poison, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration*, Speak with Animals
3: Cure Serious Wounds, Dispel Magic, Magic Circle against Evil, Remove curse, Spiritual Weapon
4: Dismissal, Restoration*, Wall of Force
5: Dispel Evil, Scrying
*Tara still retains her healing touch divine powers from when she was brought back from the dead.
To fit my general idea of Tara more I would like to up her MEP to the maximum amount. She might not have a lot of different spells, but she has a lot of power.
So for me it has been nearly 10 years since I used these characters in these incarnations.
What have they been doing? Well in the Dragon and the Phoenix/Season of the Witch timeline they moved to Boston, been married for years. Willow owned a software security firm ("RedWitch") that she later sold making millions. Tara has degrees in art history and counseling. She teaches at a school for young magicians and witches (no not Hogwarts). They have two daughters Brianna 12 and Chole 9.
Reading over this I think what I really need to try is to start these characters over again at 1st level and see what it is like to run them under AA. It makes perfect sense if you think about it.
Buffy = Demon Hunter
Xander = Hooligan
Willow = Arcanist (Int)
Tara = Arcanist (Wis)
Cordelia = Socialite
Giles = Occultist
Oz = Werewolf
Angel, Spike = Vampire
I could be a lot of fun.
Monday, May 28, 2018
Amazing Adventures for AMAYzing May!
I figured I would give AA another spin, but this time as a Modern, 21st Century game.
I also wanted a game where I could pull in all my favorite urban supernatural, modern horror characters under one system to see how they would all fare with each other. I have a lot of things I want to try.
For this last week of AMAYzing May I want to link some of my past reviews and some characters that fit in my supernatural world.
Some characters for this world
- Willow & Tara (Pulp versions)
- Giovanni "John" Zatara & Zatanna
- Universal Monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Creature from the Black Lagoon)
- Libby Sawyer
- Rachel Morgan
Will have more this week!
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